Jody Mac
02-07-2011, 09:27 AM
In the year of the Lombardi revival on both Broadway and on HBO, it's only fitting that the trophy named after him returns to title town, Green Bay. In what turned out to be a peak and valley, somewhat sloppy, penalty-marred game the Packers won because they did a better job of protecting the football. Three turnovers to none will get you almost every time. With a limited running attack Aaron Rodgers was called upon to throw it 39 times, and he had more than a couple dropped and he still completed 24, three of which went for touchdowns. The key being he threw none to the guys in white, unlike Rothlisberger, whose two picks were very costly. The amount of injuries that they overcame and the fact that they made it through the playoffs as a 6th seed makes this one of the more impressive championship runs in NFL history. Seems like a long time ago but don't forget Eagles fans Michael Vick had a throw into the end zone that could have ended this historic Packer run before it ever got started. The beauty and frustration of the National Football League. So close and yet so far. Why does so far always seem to be the Eagles fate??
Speaking of the Eagles, Juan Castillo as defensive coordinator?? I've heard Coach Castillo interviewed on why he's up to the task. I've heard Andy Reid’s explanation on the process that led him to alleviate his former o-line coach to head man for the defense. They did the best spin job imaginable...and I just don't see it. The only explanation that I can wrap my head around (sorry Andy, the fact that he loved to talk defense with Jim Johnson is not good enough) is that the head coach is still loyal to a fault and wanted to give one of his long term lieutenants a shot as a coordinator, even if he had to flip him from the other side of the ball. Whether or not Andy decided to go down this radical route is because of the shove he may have been given by the other powers that be in the organization that a change at defensive coordinator was in line, would be purely speculation on my part at this time. Stranger things have happened. Will it work? Maybe. It better or both Castillo and Reid will come under some significant heat. The defense needs an upgrade in talent and performance. That's if there's a 2012 season to be had!
The Sixers weekend was a microcosm of their entire season. Great come-from-behind 4th quarter rally to pull one from the jaws of defeat to get within two games of the Knicks and the 6th playoff spot in the East. Then on Sunday they had no answer for Amare Stoudemire as he rings up 41 against them. Jrue Holiday continues to struggle against physical guards who are willing to bang bodies like Raymond Felton. Early fouls, some of which were pretty weak, kept Andre Iguodala off the floor when they needed him to distribute the ball. Ed Stefanski will keep his ears open, but in truth, the Sixers really need Iguodala's diverse skills right now. Plus with the league's impending labor strife, I still say there is no one willing to take on that contract going into the unknown financial future of the Association. Hey, finishing seventh probably means a first round match-up with South Beach's three musketeers. Guaranteed two post-season sellouts and find a way to win 2 games and you get that third big house back at the Wells Fargo. That's not too optimistic is it??
Gutsy wins at home against Nashville and Dallas, one behind the Bob and one behind the Bouche, doesn't completely erase Tuesday's loss to the Lightning. The Flys are now 0-3 against Tampa this year. The Gagne return to Philly back in the first week of the season, a wild 8-7 loss in November in which the Flyers blew a two goal lead three different times, and this week’s 4-0 white wash at the hands of retread Dwayne Roloson who turned aside Philly's 38 shots on goal. They've got to handle the Lightning at sometime this year. Before the playoffs start would be nice. The fourth and final in-season match-up is a week from Tuesday down in sunny FLA. If coach Lav is looking for ways to keep his squad motivated, this is as good a match-up as any. Much like his Sixers counterpart, the Flyers GM will keep his ears open and feel the pulse of the league trade market before the deadline at the end of the month, but don't look for Mr. Holmgren to do anything of a large scale between now and the 28th.
I've been doing some number crunching of baseball stats to prepare for my upcoming fantasy baseball draft early next month. It's a keeper league where you get to hold onto up to 18 players from your previous year's team to fill your 30 man roster. Most Phillies are already spoken for in the upcoming season. Cole Hamels and Ryan Howard are already on McDonald's "Golden Arches." Only a few Phils are available for draft. Joe Blanton could be had but there's a chance he's a number three starter elsewhere by the time the season rolls around rather than the fifth starter on the Phillies 90+ win team. Gotta pass. Raul Ibanez is also available. He finished up the season very strongly in September when he got healthy and actually was the 14th ranked outfielder in the NL in total bases. He's probably going to hit 6th again this year which means he'll get plenty of walks hitting in front of Brown or Francisco so he needs to have good plate discipline again. He could be sitting on a nice bounce back year and that 3 year 31.5 million dollar deal he signed back in 2009, that many were lamenting mid-way through last year, may actually turn out to be a bargain. Next week when pitchers and catchers report, we'll take out first look at some of the competition in the NL East.
Two non-football related Super Bowl night topics. The Super Bowl of advertising, the in-game commercials came up pretty small for me. My personal fave was the Detroit/Chrysler commercial featuring Eminem. Feel good and well done. No great surprise, my daughter's favorite was Justin Beiber and Ozzie Osbourne...I'll go with her at least a little bit on that one. What I don't get at all, is Glee. I really don't believe it has anything to my age. I wouldn't have gotten the draw of this show when I was in high school, college or any other time in my life. Do you think it's because I couldn't sing or dance at any time in my life, either in high school college or any other time. Could be!!
Speaking of the Eagles, Juan Castillo as defensive coordinator?? I've heard Coach Castillo interviewed on why he's up to the task. I've heard Andy Reid’s explanation on the process that led him to alleviate his former o-line coach to head man for the defense. They did the best spin job imaginable...and I just don't see it. The only explanation that I can wrap my head around (sorry Andy, the fact that he loved to talk defense with Jim Johnson is not good enough) is that the head coach is still loyal to a fault and wanted to give one of his long term lieutenants a shot as a coordinator, even if he had to flip him from the other side of the ball. Whether or not Andy decided to go down this radical route is because of the shove he may have been given by the other powers that be in the organization that a change at defensive coordinator was in line, would be purely speculation on my part at this time. Stranger things have happened. Will it work? Maybe. It better or both Castillo and Reid will come under some significant heat. The defense needs an upgrade in talent and performance. That's if there's a 2012 season to be had!
The Sixers weekend was a microcosm of their entire season. Great come-from-behind 4th quarter rally to pull one from the jaws of defeat to get within two games of the Knicks and the 6th playoff spot in the East. Then on Sunday they had no answer for Amare Stoudemire as he rings up 41 against them. Jrue Holiday continues to struggle against physical guards who are willing to bang bodies like Raymond Felton. Early fouls, some of which were pretty weak, kept Andre Iguodala off the floor when they needed him to distribute the ball. Ed Stefanski will keep his ears open, but in truth, the Sixers really need Iguodala's diverse skills right now. Plus with the league's impending labor strife, I still say there is no one willing to take on that contract going into the unknown financial future of the Association. Hey, finishing seventh probably means a first round match-up with South Beach's three musketeers. Guaranteed two post-season sellouts and find a way to win 2 games and you get that third big house back at the Wells Fargo. That's not too optimistic is it??
Gutsy wins at home against Nashville and Dallas, one behind the Bob and one behind the Bouche, doesn't completely erase Tuesday's loss to the Lightning. The Flys are now 0-3 against Tampa this year. The Gagne return to Philly back in the first week of the season, a wild 8-7 loss in November in which the Flyers blew a two goal lead three different times, and this week’s 4-0 white wash at the hands of retread Dwayne Roloson who turned aside Philly's 38 shots on goal. They've got to handle the Lightning at sometime this year. Before the playoffs start would be nice. The fourth and final in-season match-up is a week from Tuesday down in sunny FLA. If coach Lav is looking for ways to keep his squad motivated, this is as good a match-up as any. Much like his Sixers counterpart, the Flyers GM will keep his ears open and feel the pulse of the league trade market before the deadline at the end of the month, but don't look for Mr. Holmgren to do anything of a large scale between now and the 28th.
I've been doing some number crunching of baseball stats to prepare for my upcoming fantasy baseball draft early next month. It's a keeper league where you get to hold onto up to 18 players from your previous year's team to fill your 30 man roster. Most Phillies are already spoken for in the upcoming season. Cole Hamels and Ryan Howard are already on McDonald's "Golden Arches." Only a few Phils are available for draft. Joe Blanton could be had but there's a chance he's a number three starter elsewhere by the time the season rolls around rather than the fifth starter on the Phillies 90+ win team. Gotta pass. Raul Ibanez is also available. He finished up the season very strongly in September when he got healthy and actually was the 14th ranked outfielder in the NL in total bases. He's probably going to hit 6th again this year which means he'll get plenty of walks hitting in front of Brown or Francisco so he needs to have good plate discipline again. He could be sitting on a nice bounce back year and that 3 year 31.5 million dollar deal he signed back in 2009, that many were lamenting mid-way through last year, may actually turn out to be a bargain. Next week when pitchers and catchers report, we'll take out first look at some of the competition in the NL East.
Two non-football related Super Bowl night topics. The Super Bowl of advertising, the in-game commercials came up pretty small for me. My personal fave was the Detroit/Chrysler commercial featuring Eminem. Feel good and well done. No great surprise, my daughter's favorite was Justin Beiber and Ozzie Osbourne...I'll go with her at least a little bit on that one. What I don't get at all, is Glee. I really don't believe it has anything to my age. I wouldn't have gotten the draw of this show when I was in high school, college or any other time in my life. Do you think it's because I couldn't sing or dance at any time in my life, either in high school college or any other time. Could be!!