Paul's having some technical difficulties but I did just receive his pick for the Super Bowl.
via Paul: "So I am picking San Fran to win. Final score 27-13. It goes against my whole saying about championships are won with pocket passers. However, I go back to Dallas game against Baltimore when they rushed for over 200 yds. Jimmy is gonna pound the rock...this will be a similar game plan that he used in Stanford v Va Tech. Colin will throw from the pocket...but 49ers will try and wear down the front 7 of Baltimore. Plus they will take Ed Reed's play-making ability away."
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Cowboys Season Review and SB Pick
Cowboys (8-8, 3rd in NFC East)
Another year of really high expectations that were no where close to being met. Jerry Jones is now on the war path trying to prove Jason Garrett is the right choice as Head Coach when the play on the field would say otherwise. In fairness to Garrett (and Rob Ryan who is still jobless), the Cowboys did face a rash of injuries on defense; literally think they picked up Ernie Sims from Curbside Check-In at the airport. In reality, I think it's fair to say the Cowboys overachieved this season or atleast were par for the course. They had their big wins (@NYG and @Cincy) and their bad losses (@SEA, v CHI, @BAL, and both games v Redskins)...the typical Dallas Cowboys way.
A lot of criticism/blame was once again put on the shoulders of Tony Romo, but he isn't the problem. Yeah he makes some bad decisions, but he was the only reason they won 8 games. It may not be time to change the head coach, but they really need a new look on offense in terms of play calling. I don't know how Dez Bryant struggled to learn an offense that consisted of the same 15-20 plays run every week. If I had to see that Dallas draw play one more time I was going to throw something at the TV!! With the Redskins and Giants holding strong, I think it will continue to be a struggle for Boys to make it back to playoffs. We are just falling behind in a very competitive NFC.
Super Bowl Prediction:
Baltimore Ravens 31
San Fran 49ers 27
Pistol offense must die! Keep that stuff in college where it belongs!
-Brian
Another year of really high expectations that were no where close to being met. Jerry Jones is now on the war path trying to prove Jason Garrett is the right choice as Head Coach when the play on the field would say otherwise. In fairness to Garrett (and Rob Ryan who is still jobless), the Cowboys did face a rash of injuries on defense; literally think they picked up Ernie Sims from Curbside Check-In at the airport. In reality, I think it's fair to say the Cowboys overachieved this season or atleast were par for the course. They had their big wins (@NYG and @Cincy) and their bad losses (@SEA, v CHI, @BAL, and both games v Redskins)...the typical Dallas Cowboys way.
A lot of criticism/blame was once again put on the shoulders of Tony Romo, but he isn't the problem. Yeah he makes some bad decisions, but he was the only reason they won 8 games. It may not be time to change the head coach, but they really need a new look on offense in terms of play calling. I don't know how Dez Bryant struggled to learn an offense that consisted of the same 15-20 plays run every week. If I had to see that Dallas draw play one more time I was going to throw something at the TV!! With the Redskins and Giants holding strong, I think it will continue to be a struggle for Boys to make it back to playoffs. We are just falling behind in a very competitive NFC.
Super Bowl Prediction:
Baltimore Ravens 31
San Fran 49ers 27
Pistol offense must die! Keep that stuff in college where it belongs!
-Brian
The Pack Year End Review and SB Pick
I can't complain too much about the Packers season, besides the not making the Super Bowl fact. I've seen the green and gold make many a short run in the playoffs in my fandom. Let's face it, as a fan, even a Yankee fan, your team is going to lose the big one more often than win it. (That doens't mean I don't root hard for the Yanks to finish dead last every year.)
I think the blowout loss to the 49ers in the playoffs showed what we need to fix in terms of defense. Scheming was a major issue as well as front four pressure. Where did B.J. Raji go this year? He was on the field but mostly invisible in terms of impact. We definitely need a stronger presence there next season.
And as always, are we ever going to find a running game!? Dorsey Levens or Edgar Bennett now, years past their careers, would be better than what we've had over the past couple seasons. Our running back situation was a catastrophe from the start this season and never really improved. I can only imagine how unstoppable A-Rod could be with a running game.
The last area would be the WR core. It's sad to see Donald Driver go, but man did he give us some good years. 14 years, all in the green and gold. Greg Jennings is also most likely gone as a FA, but I don't think that hurts us all that much. James Jones, Jordy Nelson, and Randall Cobb have been groomed up as a solid group of receivers and we still have Jermichael Finley at the TE position. I'm sure the team will try and find another Cobb or Nelson in the draft, and hopefully they will fit in well to an already strong receiving core.
As for the Super Bowl, it feels like a toss-up. My main question is can the Ravens' old legs on D keep with the 49ers for 4 quarters?
I'm going to pick the Ravens (let's say 28-24) just because I want to wake up on Monday and not have to here about how magical, awesome, and revolutionary the pistol offense is for the next 7 months until the 2013 season starts. The pistol is great if your QB is 24, but at some point you're gonna have old legs behind the line. At that point, you need a guy that just knows how to read a D and get the job done delivering the ball around the field.
I think what would make the Super Bowl really interesting would be if Kaepernick gets off to a bad start. I mean a bad start. What if he has 3 interceptions before halftime and the Niners are down by 14? Would Jim Harbaugh pull him for Smith? That would be an interesting plot, as I think we've run the course on the Harbowl and Ray Lewis storylines over 2 straight weeks of pregame coverage.
Here's to what will hopefully be a watchable game!
-Mike
I think the blowout loss to the 49ers in the playoffs showed what we need to fix in terms of defense. Scheming was a major issue as well as front four pressure. Where did B.J. Raji go this year? He was on the field but mostly invisible in terms of impact. We definitely need a stronger presence there next season.
And as always, are we ever going to find a running game!? Dorsey Levens or Edgar Bennett now, years past their careers, would be better than what we've had over the past couple seasons. Our running back situation was a catastrophe from the start this season and never really improved. I can only imagine how unstoppable A-Rod could be with a running game.
The last area would be the WR core. It's sad to see Donald Driver go, but man did he give us some good years. 14 years, all in the green and gold. Greg Jennings is also most likely gone as a FA, but I don't think that hurts us all that much. James Jones, Jordy Nelson, and Randall Cobb have been groomed up as a solid group of receivers and we still have Jermichael Finley at the TE position. I'm sure the team will try and find another Cobb or Nelson in the draft, and hopefully they will fit in well to an already strong receiving core.
As for the Super Bowl, it feels like a toss-up. My main question is can the Ravens' old legs on D keep with the 49ers for 4 quarters?
I'm going to pick the Ravens (let's say 28-24) just because I want to wake up on Monday and not have to here about how magical, awesome, and revolutionary the pistol offense is for the next 7 months until the 2013 season starts. The pistol is great if your QB is 24, but at some point you're gonna have old legs behind the line. At that point, you need a guy that just knows how to read a D and get the job done delivering the ball around the field.
I think what would make the Super Bowl really interesting would be if Kaepernick gets off to a bad start. I mean a bad start. What if he has 3 interceptions before halftime and the Niners are down by 14? Would Jim Harbaugh pull him for Smith? That would be an interesting plot, as I think we've run the course on the Harbowl and Ray Lewis storylines over 2 straight weeks of pregame coverage.
Here's to what will hopefully be a watchable game!
-Mike
Meet the Brothers--Paul
Michael Jordan, Thurman Thomas, and Edgar Renteria. These are players who shaped my celebratory "fandom." I grew up in Akron, Ohio and have suffered many defeats with few excitements. While Thurman Thomas did nothing to the city of Cleveland, his abilities were well feared in the city of Miami. Over time, I will expand on how I was converted into a Dolphins fan (just know that half of my family is from Western PA and if the famous 83 draft went as expected I may have been a Steelers fan). Well, as for Michael Jordan and Edgar Renteria...I would rather not speak to what they have done.
Now, I spend my days serving the country in the United States Air Force. In addition to protecting the country, I have been presented opportunities to continue my sports passion. I played quarterback for a semi-pro football team in Italy, and just retired from a rugby team in Illinois.
I love watching and analyzing the sports. The aspect of the intelligental aspect part of the game and the work behind the scenes that make what we see happen. Additionally, rooting like hell for something good to happen to Cleveland or the Miami Dolphins...
Now, I spend my days serving the country in the United States Air Force. In addition to protecting the country, I have been presented opportunities to continue my sports passion. I played quarterback for a semi-pro football team in Italy, and just retired from a rugby team in Illinois.
I love watching and analyzing the sports. The aspect of the intelligental aspect part of the game and the work behind the scenes that make what we see happen. Additionally, rooting like hell for something good to happen to Cleveland or the Miami Dolphins...
Meet the Brothers - Brian
My Teams:
MLB- Baltimore Orioles
NFL- Dallas Cowboys (go ahead, make your jokes...I'll probably agree)
NHL- Vancouver Canucks
EPL- Tottenham Hotspur
NBA- Golden State Warriors
My allegiances to sports teams can each be traced back to one player: Cal Ripken Jr., Troy Aikman, Roberto Luongo, Gareth Bale, and Monta Ellis (no way on God's green earth was I switching to the Milwaukee Bucks after he got traded). I have built my whole sports world around "man crushes". Let me clarify, I do not, I repeat DO NOT, mean to say I trick these athletes into falling in love with me online using pictures of my cousin and a fake female voice. Honestly didn't think I would ever have to say that, but Te'o episode has me a little rattled. Anyway, these players are essentially my roles models in their respective sports and once I pick a team, I stay with a team. Over the last decade, this rule has been put to the test numerous times as I watched the Orioles lose night after night (almost switched to Diamondbacks one night but thought better of it) and endured back to back to back 5-11 seasons during the Dave Campo era. However, this past year has proven that you will eventually be rewarded for staying loyal to one team. I have never had a greater fan experience watching a team make a run than seeing the Orioles make it to the ALDS.
In the last couple of years I have done internships for the FedEx St. Jude Classic and the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. These have given me a "behind the scenes" look at how major events are run real time. Also, I met and handled the luggage of names like Dustin Johnson, David Toms, and Davis Love III (just sayin'). I'm a senior at Christian Brothers University where I worked as a manger for the men's basketball team (Div II) for 3 1/2 years. I like to tell myself we made it to the Sweet 16 last year behind my expertise in doing laundry, running clock, and mopping floors.
I try to watch as much sports as possible, including mass amounts of soccer (hate people who say they are soccer fans but can only name Manchester United and Chelsea when questioned). I'm all over all leagues, EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1, etc. Tennis and Golf are also a regular part of my sports viewing. I'll eventually put out a list of my top "man crushes" for criticism and debate and keep you updated on my latest ESPN Streak for the Cash picks. Looking forward to sharing opinions!!!
-Brian
MLB- Baltimore Orioles
NFL- Dallas Cowboys (go ahead, make your jokes...I'll probably agree)
NHL- Vancouver Canucks
EPL- Tottenham Hotspur
NBA- Golden State Warriors
My allegiances to sports teams can each be traced back to one player: Cal Ripken Jr., Troy Aikman, Roberto Luongo, Gareth Bale, and Monta Ellis (no way on God's green earth was I switching to the Milwaukee Bucks after he got traded). I have built my whole sports world around "man crushes". Let me clarify, I do not, I repeat DO NOT, mean to say I trick these athletes into falling in love with me online using pictures of my cousin and a fake female voice. Honestly didn't think I would ever have to say that, but Te'o episode has me a little rattled. Anyway, these players are essentially my roles models in their respective sports and once I pick a team, I stay with a team. Over the last decade, this rule has been put to the test numerous times as I watched the Orioles lose night after night (almost switched to Diamondbacks one night but thought better of it) and endured back to back to back 5-11 seasons during the Dave Campo era. However, this past year has proven that you will eventually be rewarded for staying loyal to one team. I have never had a greater fan experience watching a team make a run than seeing the Orioles make it to the ALDS.
In the last couple of years I have done internships for the FedEx St. Jude Classic and the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. These have given me a "behind the scenes" look at how major events are run real time. Also, I met and handled the luggage of names like Dustin Johnson, David Toms, and Davis Love III (just sayin'). I'm a senior at Christian Brothers University where I worked as a manger for the men's basketball team (Div II) for 3 1/2 years. I like to tell myself we made it to the Sweet 16 last year behind my expertise in doing laundry, running clock, and mopping floors.
I try to watch as much sports as possible, including mass amounts of soccer (hate people who say they are soccer fans but can only name Manchester United and Chelsea when questioned). I'm all over all leagues, EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1, etc. Tennis and Golf are also a regular part of my sports viewing. I'll eventually put out a list of my top "man crushes" for criticism and debate and keep you updated on my latest ESPN Streak for the Cash picks. Looking forward to sharing opinions!!!
-Brian
Meet the Brothers - Mike
The year I was born...
- Michael Jordan hit “The Shot” over Ehlo.
- Pete Rose was banned from baseball.
- An earthquake shook the World Series.
My Teams
NFL – Green Bay Packers (part-owner
with 1 share of stock), Cleveland Browns
MLB – Cleveland Indians
NHL – Detroit Red Wings
NCAAFB & BB – Akron Zips (the
rubber capitol of the world!)
My Favorite Sports Moment
The Packers winning Super Bowl XLV.
It's
weird the way one's fandom is shaped, and it's always interesting to look
back on.
Favre made me a Packer fan. Yzerman a Red Wings fan. When you're 8, you pick the team that wins the big one. Being born in Akron, the Tribe was in my blood (plus my Gran would kill me if I rooted for any other team). The Browns weren't there when I started watching football but came back in '99, so they became my secondary team and haven't done much for me since.
Favre made me a Packer fan. Yzerman a Red Wings fan. When you're 8, you pick the team that wins the big one. Being born in Akron, the Tribe was in my blood (plus my Gran would kill me if I rooted for any other team). The Browns weren't there when I started watching football but came back in '99, so they became my secondary team and haven't done much for me since.
I'm a sports logo geek. Ever since I
was 8 years old I have been fascinated by logos, jerseys, posters—if
it's got a design on it, I've got to look at it and say something
about it. My love for the artistic side of sports was furthered when
I realized there weren't a lot of teams in any sport looking for a
5'9”, 150 lb. string bean with a horrible 40 time and even worse
endurance.
This love has driven me to become a
sports graphic designer. I eat, sleep and breathe the stuff along
with the sports themselves. I've worked with the Univ. of Memphis,
the Knoxville Ice Bears, and UT-Chattanooga to name a few. I will be
concentrating the majority of my design time in minor league baseball
when I start working with the Tennessee Smokies, the AA-affiliate of
the Chicago Cubs, this upcoming week.
As you can see, I've sampled most all
the sports in my design life, and have certainly watched enough of
them over the years. Here's to an highly opinionated and over debated
2013!
-Mike
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