I have to say that the preseason snuck up on me this year. I could've sworn that the draft just happened, then suddenly I turn around and Training Camp is opening.
Here's what I'm going to be watching for tonight, since it doesn't make sense to put much stock in who wins and loses. It's only the preseason, but there are some interesting things to watch.
Zone Blocking Scheme:
They're implementing a new blocking scheme this year and it's a zone blocking scheme instead of the traditional "everyone has a guy they're assigned to block" scheme that they've used since The Chief bought the team.
It's a change in strategy, but the word on the street is that it's not Todd Haley's idea/fault. The Steelers wanted to move to this kind of blocking scheme since 2011, but they didn't have the athletes at tackle to pull it off.
This is just for the running game, not the passing game. The idea is that, unlike a man blocking scheme, where you "put a hat on a hat" and everyone blocks their assigned guy, each lineman is responsible for a zone and needs to block anyone that is in that zone/comes into that zone. The tackles push to the sidelines and interior linemen push towards the middle of the field. In theory, that creates seams and cut-back lanes in the defense that the running backs will then be able to run through.
Honestly, I don't think we have the athletes at running back to pull this off, but I am willing to try anything that will improve the running game. In this blocking scheme, the running back needs to have great short area quickness to burst through the seams and cut-back lanes, excellent vision to see those openings develop, and good decision-making ability (or at least the ability to make quick decisions and commit to them) so that he hits the hole before it closes. No one on the roster in 2012 fits that bill, with the possible exception of Rashard Mendenhall. He might have been a good fit, but he's now in Arizona. Word is that Le'Veon Bell has the right kind of skillset to run behind this scheme and be successful, so that's another thing to watch.
The Rookies:
Really, there are two rookie classes to evaluate in this game, since DeCastro and Adams were hurt most of last season, third round pick Sean Spence missed all of last season on injured reserve, and Alameda Ta'amu went on a drunken rampage through South Side, which hurt his chances to crack the line-up.
Adams and DeCastro will be in starting roles and it'll be nice to see them in action, along with the fact that they'll be working in the new zone blocking scheme. Spence and Ta'amu will be playing more, because they're lower on the depth chart, but they're both playing positions -- Spence at inside linebacker and Ta'amu at defensive tackle -- where there isn't an entrenched, established guy. If they play well, they could unseat the guy in front of them on the depth chart, which is always interesting to watch.
I mentioned Bell, who has apparently had a great camp. Jarvis Jones has also done extremely well by all accounts and I'm most excited to see him play. I really need to see him step into the void that James Harrison left behind, especially since I don't trust Jason Worilds any farther than I can throw him.
Since all the cornerbacks on the roster are working through some type of injury, Shamarko Thomas will be playing nickel back with the first team defense tonight. I'm really looking forward to seeing him play. His natural position is safety, but if he can also help out as a nickel cornerback, then that's another thing he can do to help this team. Ryan Clark and Troy aren't getting any younger, Ryan Mundy will be on the other team's sideline, and it would be super nice if this kid stepped up and started playing well from the get-go.
Rookie receivers Justin Brown and Markus Wheaton should get a lot of work, since there are now open spots at 4th and 5th receiver after the Plaxico Burress injury. There are actually a lot of warm bodies at the position -- there are 11 guys in total, counting Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, Jerricho Cotchery, and Plax, who probably won't have to fight for their roster spots -- and I'm hoping that this fosters competition for remaining roster spots. The more tough decisions these young guys can make the coaches make, the better the depth at the position.
Explosive Plays:
The Steelers were a really, really boring team last year. They didn't generate a lot of explosive plays on offense and they played things ultra-conservative on defense. Dick LeBeau knew that he didn't have the personnel to take a lot of chances and try to make a lot of splash plays, so he tried to teach the guys on defense to keep everything in front of them and not be a hero. The result was that they didn't allow a lot of 20+, 30+, or 40+ yard plays, but they also didn't record a lot of sacks or force very many turnovers.
On offense, they were hesitant to stretch the field and go for the big play and their running backs were mostly "two yards and a cloud of dust" guys that didn't get yards in chunks.
You ended up with an 8-8 team that played vanilla games that didn't feature many big plays on offense or defense, not a lot of sacks or turnovers, and a lot of low-scoring slugfests. The 2009 Steelers finished 8-8, but at least they were exciting. They forced turnovers like crazy, turned the ball over like crazy, and big plays were all over the place. Another team like that may kill me, but it's a chance I'm wiling to take.
At this point, I suspect that the 2013 Steelers will finish anywhere from 6-10 to 8-8 and I'm prepared for that. I just don't want it to be boring.
What I'm looking for tonight is whether or not the young kids have the swagger and the skill to go out and try and make something happen. They may let up some big plays, they may make some big plays, but in the end what I'm looking for is something interesting and exciting. With the number of players that are going to either retire or get cut in the next couple of seasons, I want to see what this next generation is made of.
No Injuries:
Just wanted to make sure I said it. As long as we make it through tonight without anyone getting seriously hurt, that's a net win.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Friday, August 09, 2013
Buccos Fever: Time to Catch It
(Editor's Note: When I got home from work, I was bound and determined to write a positive post about the Pirates and I'm gonna do it. Even though they're currently losing to the Rockies by 4 after 1 inning.)
I've been doing everything I normally do throughout the course of a Pirates season: Going to games, watching a few here and there on TV, keeping track of stats and trends to see if they're playing over their heads, under their heads, or about where they should be. This season, I did all these things wincing, with one eye closed. That's because I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, for them to blow it all by collapsing.
Well, they're 114 games in, they have the best record in baseball, and they already have 70 wins. They could go 12-36 for the remainder of the season and still finish above .500. If they continue at their current pace, then close out the season 9-23 like they did last season when they were in full Collapse Mode, they'll still win 89 games.
I've stopped wincing and I have both eyes open. That actually happened a while ago, but I assumed that the reason they hadn't started their collapse yet was because I was keeping my big mouth shut.
OK... at this point I am going to guarantee that the Pirates win 82 games this year. There, I said it.
Here's the thing: This team isn't thinking about 82 wins, they're thinking playoffs. They're trying to win the division and will settle for the Wild Card. Sure, there was a lot of lip service paid to this idea -- most notably by Clint Hurdle -- but now I get the sense that they actually believe it. I think this is a team that's confident and expects to win. That's a huge change between now and the past 20 years or so.
They're playing better defense. Russell Martin alone has thrown out more base stealers already this season than Rod Barajas and Mike McKenry combined did all of last season (27-19). Pedro Alvarez has shown more range and his glove work has improved dramatically; he just needs to work out the kinks on his throw to first. Starling Marte has settled in at left field, Cutch is playing his usual stellar defense in center, and Neil Walker isn't letting his struggles at the plate affect his fielding.
The bullpen isn't as over-worked as they were last season. Provided he comes back healthy, Jason Grilli will be well-rested for the posteason and they'll have a great back-up closer and eighth inning set-up man in Mark Melacon. There really isn't a weak link and, even though the Pirates are 22nd in Quality Starts, you get the feeling that the bullpen is being used correctly, not that Hurdle is going to the well too early too often.
The starting pitching has been very efficient and AJ Burnett hasn't had to carry the staff. James McDonald wasted no time imploding and they've been able to get along very well without him. Guys like Gerrit Cole, Charlie Morton, Brandon Cumpton, and Jeanmar Gomez have filled in admirably and I can see one of them becoming a long reliever when the roster expands in September.
(Well, crap. The Rockies are now winning 7-1 in the bottom of the second. I'm still going through with this.)
On offense... well, the offense has been pretty dreadful. They're 21st in runs, 22nd in batting average, 19th in on-base percentage, and 20th in slugging percentage. Those numbers have actually improved in the last month or so. However, the big issue last season was that they were hot and cold and relied too much on timely hitting. Their numbers have stabilized this season and even Pedro has been more consistent. With runners in scoring position, Cutch and Walker have taken a big step down and everyone else has had to pick up the slack. That means that they don't have that one guy you need to be afraid of, but it also means that someone different can (and has) step up every night.
They still have a major hole in right field, where they're dead last in OPS at that position. Travis Snider probably did us all a favor when his .219 average and .609 OPS went on the DL, but Jose Tabata and Alex Presley haven't been much better. Presley has one freakin' walk in 66 plate appearances and the two have combined for only 18 extra base hits. After they stood pat at the trade deadline and with Alex Rios getting traded from the White Sox to the Rangers, it looks like there aren't any options on the open market. I think they'll need to give the Tabata/Presley platoon a couple more weeks, then call in Andrew Lambo. They have nowhere to go but up, OPS-wise.
Right field OPS will either stay at its current horrid state or improve. If Neil Walker can get back up in the .280 or .290 range, that would be a huge boost. Cutch is really starting to catch fire and Pedro's due for another hot streak. They've already overcome some pretty significant injuries to their starting pitching and bullpen and might be able to overcome more (though I really hope no one else gets hurt, please). Their prospects -- either guys they drafted or guys they traded for -- have paid off and they're finally starting to hit on bargain free agents and low risk trades (Martin and Francisco Liriano this year, AJ Burnett last season).
I think that success is sustainable for the next 48 games and I think it's sustainable beyond this season. They've quietly "crept up" to 19th in payroll and they're spending almost four times what the 30th-ranked team (Astros) is spending.
These aren't your father's Pirates. Well, maybe your father's Pirates won the World Series, I'm not sure how old you are. I mean, my father's Pirates won the World Series. They're not your older sibling's Pirates when you were a "change of life" baby.
They're your Pittsburgh Pirates and it's time to catch Bucco Fever.
(FOR THE LOVE OF- now it's 10-1.)
I've been doing everything I normally do throughout the course of a Pirates season: Going to games, watching a few here and there on TV, keeping track of stats and trends to see if they're playing over their heads, under their heads, or about where they should be. This season, I did all these things wincing, with one eye closed. That's because I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, for them to blow it all by collapsing.
Well, they're 114 games in, they have the best record in baseball, and they already have 70 wins. They could go 12-36 for the remainder of the season and still finish above .500. If they continue at their current pace, then close out the season 9-23 like they did last season when they were in full Collapse Mode, they'll still win 89 games.
I've stopped wincing and I have both eyes open. That actually happened a while ago, but I assumed that the reason they hadn't started their collapse yet was because I was keeping my big mouth shut.
OK... at this point I am going to guarantee that the Pirates win 82 games this year. There, I said it.
Here's the thing: This team isn't thinking about 82 wins, they're thinking playoffs. They're trying to win the division and will settle for the Wild Card. Sure, there was a lot of lip service paid to this idea -- most notably by Clint Hurdle -- but now I get the sense that they actually believe it. I think this is a team that's confident and expects to win. That's a huge change between now and the past 20 years or so.
They're playing better defense. Russell Martin alone has thrown out more base stealers already this season than Rod Barajas and Mike McKenry combined did all of last season (27-19). Pedro Alvarez has shown more range and his glove work has improved dramatically; he just needs to work out the kinks on his throw to first. Starling Marte has settled in at left field, Cutch is playing his usual stellar defense in center, and Neil Walker isn't letting his struggles at the plate affect his fielding.
The bullpen isn't as over-worked as they were last season. Provided he comes back healthy, Jason Grilli will be well-rested for the posteason and they'll have a great back-up closer and eighth inning set-up man in Mark Melacon. There really isn't a weak link and, even though the Pirates are 22nd in Quality Starts, you get the feeling that the bullpen is being used correctly, not that Hurdle is going to the well too early too often.
The starting pitching has been very efficient and AJ Burnett hasn't had to carry the staff. James McDonald wasted no time imploding and they've been able to get along very well without him. Guys like Gerrit Cole, Charlie Morton, Brandon Cumpton, and Jeanmar Gomez have filled in admirably and I can see one of them becoming a long reliever when the roster expands in September.
(Well, crap. The Rockies are now winning 7-1 in the bottom of the second. I'm still going through with this.)
On offense... well, the offense has been pretty dreadful. They're 21st in runs, 22nd in batting average, 19th in on-base percentage, and 20th in slugging percentage. Those numbers have actually improved in the last month or so. However, the big issue last season was that they were hot and cold and relied too much on timely hitting. Their numbers have stabilized this season and even Pedro has been more consistent. With runners in scoring position, Cutch and Walker have taken a big step down and everyone else has had to pick up the slack. That means that they don't have that one guy you need to be afraid of, but it also means that someone different can (and has) step up every night.
They still have a major hole in right field, where they're dead last in OPS at that position. Travis Snider probably did us all a favor when his .219 average and .609 OPS went on the DL, but Jose Tabata and Alex Presley haven't been much better. Presley has one freakin' walk in 66 plate appearances and the two have combined for only 18 extra base hits. After they stood pat at the trade deadline and with Alex Rios getting traded from the White Sox to the Rangers, it looks like there aren't any options on the open market. I think they'll need to give the Tabata/Presley platoon a couple more weeks, then call in Andrew Lambo. They have nowhere to go but up, OPS-wise.
Right field OPS will either stay at its current horrid state or improve. If Neil Walker can get back up in the .280 or .290 range, that would be a huge boost. Cutch is really starting to catch fire and Pedro's due for another hot streak. They've already overcome some pretty significant injuries to their starting pitching and bullpen and might be able to overcome more (though I really hope no one else gets hurt, please). Their prospects -- either guys they drafted or guys they traded for -- have paid off and they're finally starting to hit on bargain free agents and low risk trades (Martin and Francisco Liriano this year, AJ Burnett last season).
I think that success is sustainable for the next 48 games and I think it's sustainable beyond this season. They've quietly "crept up" to 19th in payroll and they're spending almost four times what the 30th-ranked team (Astros) is spending.
These aren't your father's Pirates. Well, maybe your father's Pirates won the World Series, I'm not sure how old you are. I mean, my father's Pirates won the World Series. They're not your older sibling's Pirates when you were a "change of life" baby.
They're your Pittsburgh Pirates and it's time to catch Bucco Fever.
(FOR THE LOVE OF- now it's 10-1.)
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Sabercats at Power: Final home game
Pretty much, it's all over but the crying at this point.
Technically, the Power is still playoff eligible, but we would need to
win out and have the Predators lose out. Not gonna happen, but we can
dream.
If nothing else, this weekend will be one last chance to see the Power play at home for the season and -- win or lose -- Sabercats games are fun. Defying all logic, we've always matched up very well against them, despite them being way out of our league. The games are generally close, and we've been capable of winning against them.
So, we should just sit back, relax, and watch some football. It's going to be a short and sweet post, but that's because everything's been said before. Next week, we'll have a better idea of the playoffs and we can get back to it.
The Sabercats are led by one Russ Michna, known primarily as being the long-time QB of the Chicago Rush and looking just like Keller's brother. I'm still not sure why Chicago decided to part ways with him, but their loss has been San Jose's gain. Once they kicked Aaron Garcia all the way back to Florida, Michna turned their offense around. He's accurate and mobile, with the experience that makes him hard to rattle.
Our offense really hasn't been the same since Jason Willis left, and unfortunately, his return is going to be on the wrong side of the line. He already has 31 TDs with the Cats, and I'm sure he'll rack up a few more this weekend.
On defense are Clevan Thomas who is an interception machine and Ken Fontenette, who is a tackling machine. Also, his last name always makes me think that it's the word for the soft spot on a baby's head. I need help, seriously.
Last week in Cleveland, the Power should have won. The refs even did everything they could to give us the game, and we still frittered it away. It was pretty sad. That kind of play will not stack up against the Sabercats, however, I really think that it's more because the Power have already packed it in for the season. The record they've had the last two seasons would demoralize anyone, and these guys are only human. I just hope that they can pull it together one more time for the paying home crowd - especially since the game will be nationally televised.
Elsewhere in the League
If nothing else, this weekend will be one last chance to see the Power play at home for the season and -- win or lose -- Sabercats games are fun. Defying all logic, we've always matched up very well against them, despite them being way out of our league. The games are generally close, and we've been capable of winning against them.
So, we should just sit back, relax, and watch some football. It's going to be a short and sweet post, but that's because everything's been said before. Next week, we'll have a better idea of the playoffs and we can get back to it.
The Sabercats are led by one Russ Michna, known primarily as being the long-time QB of the Chicago Rush and looking just like Keller's brother. I'm still not sure why Chicago decided to part ways with him, but their loss has been San Jose's gain. Once they kicked Aaron Garcia all the way back to Florida, Michna turned their offense around. He's accurate and mobile, with the experience that makes him hard to rattle.
Our offense really hasn't been the same since Jason Willis left, and unfortunately, his return is going to be on the wrong side of the line. He already has 31 TDs with the Cats, and I'm sure he'll rack up a few more this weekend.
On defense are Clevan Thomas who is an interception machine and Ken Fontenette, who is a tackling machine. Also, his last name always makes me think that it's the word for the soft spot on a baby's head. I need help, seriously.
Last week in Cleveland, the Power should have won. The refs even did everything they could to give us the game, and we still frittered it away. It was pretty sad. That kind of play will not stack up against the Sabercats, however, I really think that it's more because the Power have already packed it in for the season. The record they've had the last two seasons would demoralize anyone, and these guys are only human. I just hope that they can pull it together one more time for the paying home crowd - especially since the game will be nationally televised.
Elsewhere in the League
- Utah has nothing left except to play spoiler. Philly clinches the number one seed in our conference with a win (and a Shock win) this weekend.
- Iowa is just about out of this if they lose, and the Preds have buffer space. Given that they have more to play for, the Barnstormers might pull this off - but my money's on the Preds
- Spokane travels to Jacksonville this week and it could go either way
- Cleveland's out if they lose this week, and I'm fairly sure that the Rush can accomplish that objective.
- Tampa pretty much just needs to beat the Talons to get a postseason spot, and they've historically been pretty good when their back is against the wall.
- Finally, there's NOLA at AZ....which is a freebie for the Ratts.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Voodoo at Power preview
Another tough loss last week. The Power kept it competitive, but at some point they need to start winning games, even if other teams losing keep us in the playoff hunt. There are three teams that need to finish with a worse record than the Power, and they had a chance to beat each of them, one right after the other. So far, that didn't work against the Preds -who were the most important of the three - but we still have NOLA and the Gladiators to go.
This week is the New Orleans Voodoo, a team that the Power successfully beat in their house and is also a team that hasn't won on the road so far this season. Granted, the Power doesn't have a great record at home, but it's a winnable game.
The big problem Saturday night is going to be Captain Morgan himself.
Donovan Morgan is a force of nature on offense. When he's on his game, no one else on the team seems that scary - and given that this game is just as important to the Voodoo as it is to the Power, expect him to be on his game.
The question mark for both teams is quarterback. The Power continue their random roll call for QB every week - it looks like Sheffield will be under center this week, but that's never a sure thing. He might have "family issues" again at the last minute, Austin might be really on it in practice, or Coach Sting might just feel like throwing Cassidy in again. We don't know. On the Voodoo side of things, Kurt Rocco is their starter. He let the team to a strong showing last year, but he's been struggling this season. After a pretty bad showing last week, Chris Dixon might be in. I'd rather that - replacement QBs on the road are generally less dangerous than a troubled starting QB.
Wrapping up the season:
Down the stretch here, the Power is 2 games back from the Preds, and some wins need to stack up. The Preds will face Sharks, Rattlers, 'Stormers, Gladiators and Voodoo. Sharks are a rival, so it's tough to call. Ratts will be a loss. Iowa, Cleveland and NOLA should all be wins, but they'll probably drop one of them. So, optimistically, the Preds will go 2-3 in their last five. Optimistically.
What does that mean for the Power? Nothing good. That would mean that the Power needs to win out. Our final opponents are Voodoo, Gladiators, 'Cats, Storm and Shock. Voodoo and Gladiators are the best bets. Cats are a strong maybe, Storm's unlikely and the Shock ain't happening. Best - absolute best - case, the power goes 4-1, though I'd expecct 2-3, and that won't be enough.
I don't want to be a Debbie Downer about the situation, but that's really what it comes down to - and it's not taking into consideration the Voodoo and Gladiators going on a tear...I mean, the Preds could just as easily fall apart. I'm not putting money on either. The simple fact is, the Power probably won't make the playoffs, but still have a chance of ending the year with a better record than last year.
Baby steps.
Elsewhere in the League
This week is the New Orleans Voodoo, a team that the Power successfully beat in their house and is also a team that hasn't won on the road so far this season. Granted, the Power doesn't have a great record at home, but it's a winnable game.
The big problem Saturday night is going to be Captain Morgan himself.
 |
| I can't count the number of times that's been the case |
The question mark for both teams is quarterback. The Power continue their random roll call for QB every week - it looks like Sheffield will be under center this week, but that's never a sure thing. He might have "family issues" again at the last minute, Austin might be really on it in practice, or Coach Sting might just feel like throwing Cassidy in again. We don't know. On the Voodoo side of things, Kurt Rocco is their starter. He let the team to a strong showing last year, but he's been struggling this season. After a pretty bad showing last week, Chris Dixon might be in. I'd rather that - replacement QBs on the road are generally less dangerous than a troubled starting QB.
Wrapping up the season:
Down the stretch here, the Power is 2 games back from the Preds, and some wins need to stack up. The Preds will face Sharks, Rattlers, 'Stormers, Gladiators and Voodoo. Sharks are a rival, so it's tough to call. Ratts will be a loss. Iowa, Cleveland and NOLA should all be wins, but they'll probably drop one of them. So, optimistically, the Preds will go 2-3 in their last five. Optimistically.
What does that mean for the Power? Nothing good. That would mean that the Power needs to win out. Our final opponents are Voodoo, Gladiators, 'Cats, Storm and Shock. Voodoo and Gladiators are the best bets. Cats are a strong maybe, Storm's unlikely and the Shock ain't happening. Best - absolute best - case, the power goes 4-1, though I'd expecct 2-3, and that won't be enough.
I don't want to be a Debbie Downer about the situation, but that's really what it comes down to - and it's not taking into consideration the Voodoo and Gladiators going on a tear...I mean, the Preds could just as easily fall apart. I'm not putting money on either. The simple fact is, the Power probably won't make the playoffs, but still have a chance of ending the year with a better record than last year.
Baby steps.
Elsewhere in the League
- Orlando at Jacksonville - as I said above, it's a rivalry game and it was a three-point game last time they met up. I need to think positive and say that the Sharks will pull it off again.
- Philly at Cleveland - Philly's better on the road, and Cleveland's not good.
- Another division match-up, and it's between the Talons and Barnstormers. The Barnstormers took the Talons at home last time, and they should be able to do it on their home turf as well.
- As far as I'm concerned, the GotW is once again featuring the Cats, even if it's not the TV game. Last time the Cats and Blaze met up, San Jose won by a point. Utah needs this win hard, but I'm still betting the Cats win the rematch.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Heading to the Jungle - Predators rematch
Okay, yeah...we lost last week. Badly. Definitively. A division loss, no less. But, strangely, it's not that important in the grand scheme of things. We're playing for the 4th spot in the conference. We're not going to get the division, so Philly getting farther out in front isn't going to make them win it any more than they already are. The teams we have to be concerned with are Cleveland, New Orleans and Orlando - which makes this week's game somehow more important than our division game last week.
Right now, the series is tied between these two teams. The Power swept them last season, but lost hard both in their first season and earlier this year. The acquisition of Aaron Garcia was key in starting to turn Orlando around - but they're still down at the bottom of the pack with us. Regardless, he's one of the best in the game, and the Power will be playing on his field.
His prime receiver is T.T. Toliver, but it's really a triple threat of Toliver, Prechae Rodriguez, and Jason Geathers, accounting for almost 50 TDs on the year between them. Last time the two teams met up, the majority of the damage (yards-wise) was Toliver, and that's pretty standard fare for him. Rodriguez put up 3 touchdowns, and Geathers generally just made plays when needed. Marlon Moye-Moore is also a concern in the running game (but not nearly as much as "Boss" Ross last week. Ugh.)
As with most weeks, turnovers were an issue last time the Preds/Power met up, and there is no reason to think that it won't happen again. Dominic Jones is Orlando's player on defense and special teams, but that's not really important - our turnover issue is more of a failing on offense than it is a success for the opponent's defense.
It's an important game in Florida and all-but-a-must-win for the Power. Tune in Saturday to see how it plays out.
Elsewhere in the League
Right now, the series is tied between these two teams. The Power swept them last season, but lost hard both in their first season and earlier this year. The acquisition of Aaron Garcia was key in starting to turn Orlando around - but they're still down at the bottom of the pack with us. Regardless, he's one of the best in the game, and the Power will be playing on his field.
His prime receiver is T.T. Toliver, but it's really a triple threat of Toliver, Prechae Rodriguez, and Jason Geathers, accounting for almost 50 TDs on the year between them. Last time the two teams met up, the majority of the damage (yards-wise) was Toliver, and that's pretty standard fare for him. Rodriguez put up 3 touchdowns, and Geathers generally just made plays when needed. Marlon Moye-Moore is also a concern in the running game (but not nearly as much as "Boss" Ross last week. Ugh.)
As with most weeks, turnovers were an issue last time the Preds/Power met up, and there is no reason to think that it won't happen again. Dominic Jones is Orlando's player on defense and special teams, but that's not really important - our turnover issue is more of a failing on offense than it is a success for the opponent's defense.
It's an important game in Florida and all-but-a-must-win for the Power. Tune in Saturday to see how it plays out.
Elsewhere in the League
- Utah came up big last week against Jacksonville in the Battle of Replacement QBs. The decision to start Jason Boltus instead of Tommy Grady turned out to be the right one. The question is, will it be the right call again this week in a big division match-up against the Shock?
- The two big things to consider in Saturday's match between the Soul and the Barnstormers are Iowa's defense and the Soul's habit of choking at home. I think that those two things might spell a win for Iowa.
- With Bernard Morris on IR and newly acquired Kyle Rowley taking snaps, the Sharks have been on a two-game skid, but they're still at the top of their division. With a game against Cleveland this weekend, they should return to their winning ways and help us out.
- Chicago and Tampa Bay are tied in the standings, and both coming off losses. Tampa is still the better team, but the Rush needs the win to stay on top of their division.
- Likewise, the Talons need a win to catch up to the Rush. New Orleans actually got win number three last week, so I for one, will be rooting for the Talons this week.
- Every now and again, the CBS game of the week gets it right: The game between Arizona and San Jose should be the best game this week. Normally, in a game as unpredictable as this, I'd take the home team...but I've also been predicting a Rattlers fall for weeks now. So I just don't know. Watch the game, it'll be fun.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Soul/Power Round Two
I'm strangely optimistic about this game. Philly hasn't won a division game yet, we've beaten them, they've made some consistent mistakes, and we looked good last week.
First off, even though the Power lost in San Jose last week, it kind of felt like a win. Cassidy took the snaps and looked confident the whole game. In fact, in the last minute of the game, it was tied up. Everything after that was a matter of risk/reward that didn't fall our way. San Jose is one of the toughest teams in the league, and the Power hung in against them and played a good, clean game.
Philly, on the other hand, very nearly lost to New Orleans at home last week. It was a sloppy, sloppy game where they never held a lead until almost the end. Also, they continued messing up in a critical area they've repeated week after week: Blowing it in the fourth with stupid mistakes. When the Power was out there, they were in the driver's seat until Dirty Dan threw a pick right at the end. When the Rattlers were out there, they were looking good until Dirty Dan tried to throw it away between the wall and the iron...and had the ricochet picked. This past week with NOLA, they actually had to burn their last time out or they would have lost by one point because the clock ran out!
I know, a Power fan ragging on a team for 4th quarter meltdowns is a bit hypocritical. However, when the Power melts down in the fourth, it's generally because they gave up in the third. Philly, on the other hand, lets sub-par teams hold in way longer than they should and/or make one truly stupid mistake late in the game that turns things around.
So we've got it made in the shade, right?
Well, no. The first catch is that Philly tends to do these things to themselves at home, not on the road. Secondly, they have a very solid team on paper - one that is pretty similar to the Arena Bowl team from last year.
As usual, Tiger Jones is going to be the aerial threat that we need to watch out for. The most annoying part is, every time he scores, he'll do an obnoxious dance (that tends to be fun to watch...) Also, we have to accept the fact that Derrick "the Boss" Ross is going to set an AFL record this week. It's going to happen. He's 7 yards shy of the all-time rushing record, and he can get that on one carry. Philly is just about the only team in the league that actually plays a running game, and they play it a lot. (Side note: The record Ross is going to beat took Bo Kelly 12 years to set - and Ross has been in the league for three. So, he's going to push it out of reach by the time he's done playing.)
One last player to note for this week is Ryan McDaniel. In many ways, he reminds me of an evil Gary Butler. He's Philly's big time hot-head. He's been playing great on offense, but at the same time, he's drawn some big-time penalties because of his short fuse. Here's where the Bully can come in - if Butler and McDaniel clash enough, they might get each other ejected, and that could be exactly what we need. Regardless, getting him to lose his cool could be that 4th quarter screw-up for this week.
Elsewhere in the League
First off, even though the Power lost in San Jose last week, it kind of felt like a win. Cassidy took the snaps and looked confident the whole game. In fact, in the last minute of the game, it was tied up. Everything after that was a matter of risk/reward that didn't fall our way. San Jose is one of the toughest teams in the league, and the Power hung in against them and played a good, clean game.
Philly, on the other hand, very nearly lost to New Orleans at home last week. It was a sloppy, sloppy game where they never held a lead until almost the end. Also, they continued messing up in a critical area they've repeated week after week: Blowing it in the fourth with stupid mistakes. When the Power was out there, they were in the driver's seat until Dirty Dan threw a pick right at the end. When the Rattlers were out there, they were looking good until Dirty Dan tried to throw it away between the wall and the iron...and had the ricochet picked. This past week with NOLA, they actually had to burn their last time out or they would have lost by one point because the clock ran out!
I know, a Power fan ragging on a team for 4th quarter meltdowns is a bit hypocritical. However, when the Power melts down in the fourth, it's generally because they gave up in the third. Philly, on the other hand, lets sub-par teams hold in way longer than they should and/or make one truly stupid mistake late in the game that turns things around.
So we've got it made in the shade, right?
Well, no. The first catch is that Philly tends to do these things to themselves at home, not on the road. Secondly, they have a very solid team on paper - one that is pretty similar to the Arena Bowl team from last year.
As usual, Tiger Jones is going to be the aerial threat that we need to watch out for. The most annoying part is, every time he scores, he'll do an obnoxious dance (that tends to be fun to watch...) Also, we have to accept the fact that Derrick "the Boss" Ross is going to set an AFL record this week. It's going to happen. He's 7 yards shy of the all-time rushing record, and he can get that on one carry. Philly is just about the only team in the league that actually plays a running game, and they play it a lot. (Side note: The record Ross is going to beat took Bo Kelly 12 years to set - and Ross has been in the league for three. So, he's going to push it out of reach by the time he's done playing.)
One last player to note for this week is Ryan McDaniel. In many ways, he reminds me of an evil Gary Butler. He's Philly's big time hot-head. He's been playing great on offense, but at the same time, he's drawn some big-time penalties because of his short fuse. Here's where the Bully can come in - if Butler and McDaniel clash enough, they might get each other ejected, and that could be exactly what we need. Regardless, getting him to lose his cool could be that 4th quarter screw-up for this week.
Elsewhere in the League
- First up is Cleveland at Orlando. Really, this game can't work out badly for us - merely "good" and "better." Obviously, we want Cleveland to lose, on principle and because they're in our division. But, if they happen to win, Orlando losing is good as well. Even if we lose, whichever of those teams win can only tie our record, and we have more division wins than Cleveland. Right now, 4th place in the conference is a playoff spot, and we're still on pace for that.
- I don't have nearly as much to say about Tampa Bay at NOLA. They're gonna beat the Voodoo, and that's good for us - the Voodoo is the other team we need to stay at a worse record than us to get into the playoffs.
- Likewise, San Jose shouldn't have much trouble against the Barnstormers.
- The match-up between Spokane and Arizona is being touted as a preview of the division championship. It might be - regardless, it's going to be a great match-up. I'm not going to feel comfortable until the Ratts lose again. I mean, they can beat the Shock, but they've won 8 in a row and are still due for a stumble.
- The main thing San Antonio's meeting with the Chicago Rush has going for it is that it's a division match. They're pretty evenly matched, and I'm going to give a slight edge to the Talons.
- I'm still baffled that Utah has had such a crappy season. I honestly haven't watched enough of their games to really get a feel for why, but the fact is, things haven't gone their way. Jacksonville, on the other hand, is in it to win it.
Friday, June 07, 2013
Power at Sabercats preview
Three things are true about last week: We got our asses kicked, the Sabercats got their asses kicked, and both other teams in our division lost. So, we're all starting from a blank slate this week.
That being said, the Sabercats are going to crush the Power on Saturday. They're just too solid of a team to begin with, and they've gotten stronger in the second half of the season with the addition of Russ Michna at quarterback. As mentioned in past posts, the Cats had trouble with veteran QB Aaron Garcia, but when they swapped him out for Michna, everything gelled.
We will also get to see former Power receiver Jason "Watchu Talkin' Bout" Willis in action again...which isn't so hot in this situation. He primarily headed out to San Jose to follow Garcia, but seems to like it out there. The short version is - he's a scary, scary individual and their current top scorer.
What concerns me is their defense, which is second in the league. Last week, the Power hung in there the first half and kept it respectable, if not hopeful. The announcers - who were super, pro-Jacksonville - spent the first half lamenting how lack-luster the Sharks were playing. The second half was a different story. The trademark Power Critical Turnover happened, and the wheels fell off. That one magic turnover that causes more to follow until the team is just trying to get the game over with.
Against a normal team, this is bad. Against a team that plays as dirty as the Sabercats, this could, and would, be disastrous.
Elsewhere in the League
That being said, the Sabercats are going to crush the Power on Saturday. They're just too solid of a team to begin with, and they've gotten stronger in the second half of the season with the addition of Russ Michna at quarterback. As mentioned in past posts, the Cats had trouble with veteran QB Aaron Garcia, but when they swapped him out for Michna, everything gelled.
We will also get to see former Power receiver Jason "Watchu Talkin' Bout" Willis in action again...which isn't so hot in this situation. He primarily headed out to San Jose to follow Garcia, but seems to like it out there. The short version is - he's a scary, scary individual and their current top scorer.
What concerns me is their defense, which is second in the league. Last week, the Power hung in there the first half and kept it respectable, if not hopeful. The announcers - who were super, pro-Jacksonville - spent the first half lamenting how lack-luster the Sharks were playing. The second half was a different story. The trademark Power Critical Turnover happened, and the wheels fell off. That one magic turnover that causes more to follow until the team is just trying to get the game over with.
Against a normal team, this is bad. Against a team that plays as dirty as the Sabercats, this could, and would, be disastrous.
Elsewhere in the League
- First up is Iowa at Cleveland. Both teams are at the bottom of their divisions and on a three-game slide, badly in need of a win. Iowa is the slightly better bet here.
- NOLA at Soul. Philly can take the Voodoo without much difficulty, but I'm hoping for an upset!
- The Blaze continues to struggle and I think that the Rush, who continue to heat up, have a good shot at beating them
- Arizona travels to Texas to play the Talons this weekend. As powerful as the Ratts continue to be with only one loss on the season, I can't help but think that a stumble is coming at some point.
- Spokane and Jacksonville are too evenly matched to call. Both whooped the crap out of their opponents last week (Sabercats and Power, respectively) and have tied records. When in doubt, take the home team, which in this case is Spokane.
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