S: Pittsburgh looked really good last night.
I: Yeah, they're good. Definitely better than Miami, AKA the most overrated team heading into the season. I think the AFC North might be football's toughest division, though the NFC East and South are right there too.
Yeah, the AFC North is tough. I still think Miami makes the playoffs. They're too good to not beat up on Buffalo and New York.
Are they too good? I don't think they are. I think they go 3-1 against those two teams if Miami plays well. Losing in Buffalo and New York is not out of the question. Miami has had far better teams since we started following the sport, and they lost in cold weather anyway.
Three teams in the AFC North are better than Miami. And so are three teams in the AFC West.
I don't think that's necessarily true. Besides San Diego or KC or Denver could go 2-4 in their division. The same goes for Cincy and Baltimore. Miami won't do worse than 3-3.
But they're better teams, yes?
Cincy yes, Denver and KC yes, but San Diego and Baltimore I dont know. Better teams don't mean playoffs.
I know they don't. But people have gone beyond Miami just making the playoffs. Some people say they win the division, and some people think they win a game or two in the playoffs. That's nuts. They won't win the division, which puts them on the road in the playoffs, and they'll have to go north.
So, yeah, Miami has a better chance of making the playoffs than the 3rd best team in the two stronger divisions, but those 3rd best teams have a better chance to make noise in the playoffs.
Yeah, no way they beat a cold weather team on the road in the playoffs. daunte just can't get the ball to his receivers against good secondaries.
Friday, September 08, 2006
Friday, September 01, 2006
Tennis: Andre's Chances
S: Did you watch the Andre match? Unbelievable.
I: You bet I did. It was really amazing, especially for a 2nd round match. B. Becker from Germany next!
I'm glad Simmons gave it cred. He said it was the top sporting event of this year and I agree with him. I live and die with those points.
If he can somehow fight off the incredible back pain he has right now and defeat Becker, he's got Roddick next, which will probably be the end of the road, but of course will be looked at as the changing of the American guard. Look at the road Andre has if he keeps pulling off these uspets.
Roddick, Hewitt, Nadal, Federer. All US Open winners but Nadal, right? And Nadal owns Andre and beat him at the last major. Yeah, tough road.
Yeah that'd be quite the gauntlet. I saw some clips of Nadal, he looks very impressive. Who else can hit a ball with that much pace and topspin with regularity?
Forehands - Roddick and Hewitt can. Back hands - Federer and Andre can. Both? No one. Though Federer, Andre, and Hewitt aren't that far off.
I hate Nadal. This is going to be a great rivalry. I wish an American could insert himslf as a 3rd powerhouse. I don't think Blake has that ceiling. Roddick has that ceiling, but doesn't have Blake's consistency.
I: You bet I did. It was really amazing, especially for a 2nd round match. B. Becker from Germany next!
I'm glad Simmons gave it cred. He said it was the top sporting event of this year and I agree with him. I live and die with those points.
If he can somehow fight off the incredible back pain he has right now and defeat Becker, he's got Roddick next, which will probably be the end of the road, but of course will be looked at as the changing of the American guard. Look at the road Andre has if he keeps pulling off these uspets.
Roddick, Hewitt, Nadal, Federer. All US Open winners but Nadal, right? And Nadal owns Andre and beat him at the last major. Yeah, tough road.
Yeah that'd be quite the gauntlet. I saw some clips of Nadal, he looks very impressive. Who else can hit a ball with that much pace and topspin with regularity?
Forehands - Roddick and Hewitt can. Back hands - Federer and Andre can. Both? No one. Though Federer, Andre, and Hewitt aren't that far off.
I hate Nadal. This is going to be a great rivalry. I wish an American could insert himslf as a 3rd powerhouse. I don't think Blake has that ceiling. Roddick has that ceiling, but doesn't have Blake's consistency.
NFL: The Pats and the AFC
I: We haven't talked Pats at all. What's our record this year?
S: An unimpressive 11-5. Question marks all over the place come playoff time. What I really want to see: 13-3, Caldwell steps up, Watson has a huge year, and Maroney emerges at a 1,000 yard back. And our defense finally shows some balls. They looked terrible against the run last night. Your thoughts?
Harrison has one more good year in him, and he's the heart and soul of the shallow secondary. Our defensive struggles last year began with Rodney's injury. Having Bruschi or Vrabel in the linebacking core, and Seymour on the front line, are just as important. If we have one at each spot, combined with Belechik, the defense will be top 5. But put an absence of those guys in one of those cores, and it's trouble. Such was the case with Harrison and the DB's last year.
I see 11-5 and a division championship by the end of Week 15. It might be a 2 or 3 seed in the playoffs.
Other AFC contenders: Indy, Pitt, Cincy, Denver, Baltimore, KC. NOT Miami, Tennessee, Oakland.
Yeah, the AFC is tough again. Thank God for playing the Jets and Bills 4 times.
Tennessee with Kerry Collins = huge mistake. I don't see Pitt having that great of a season, Parker won't be that good. Indy too, without Edgerrin James, they'll throw more which means their defense will be on the field more which does not bode well for them. Denver won't be able to run the ball as they have in the past. I like Baltimore with McNair and that defense still around. Cincy too with Johnson, Johnson, and Palmer; assuming palmer is healthy mentally and physically. KC scares me. Anytime you have a runningback that can change the game like LJ, you're going to be dangerous. Plus there is nothing more frustrating for a defense than giving up 5 to 6 yards a carry. I like Miami this year with Daunte, Chambers, and Ronnie Brown. They won't win the division, but they might get a wildcard birth. Good coaching goes a long way as we know with Belicheck.
As far for the Patriots: you're dead on. If harrison is healthy last year we're a completely different team on defense. That means less guys playing out of position, no Earthwind or Gay as defensive backs on normal downs. Everything changes.
I think Miami is a year away from the playoffs. KC does scare me, maybe more than any team in the conference. Thankfully, their head coach is Herm Edwards. Baltimroe will be good, but borderline playoff good. Indy will be very good again. The running back will have all the room in the world.
Top 3 teams in no order, Pats, KC, Indy. Then Cincy, Pitt, Bmore.
Who is the Pats' #1 running back in January?
Dillon. I think he has flashes of his old self. And Maroney's not gonna be that great of a back right off the bat. There's a reason he fell to us despite his talent.
S: An unimpressive 11-5. Question marks all over the place come playoff time. What I really want to see: 13-3, Caldwell steps up, Watson has a huge year, and Maroney emerges at a 1,000 yard back. And our defense finally shows some balls. They looked terrible against the run last night. Your thoughts?
Harrison has one more good year in him, and he's the heart and soul of the shallow secondary. Our defensive struggles last year began with Rodney's injury. Having Bruschi or Vrabel in the linebacking core, and Seymour on the front line, are just as important. If we have one at each spot, combined with Belechik, the defense will be top 5. But put an absence of those guys in one of those cores, and it's trouble. Such was the case with Harrison and the DB's last year.
I see 11-5 and a division championship by the end of Week 15. It might be a 2 or 3 seed in the playoffs.
Other AFC contenders: Indy, Pitt, Cincy, Denver, Baltimore, KC. NOT Miami, Tennessee, Oakland.
Yeah, the AFC is tough again. Thank God for playing the Jets and Bills 4 times.
Tennessee with Kerry Collins = huge mistake. I don't see Pitt having that great of a season, Parker won't be that good. Indy too, without Edgerrin James, they'll throw more which means their defense will be on the field more which does not bode well for them. Denver won't be able to run the ball as they have in the past. I like Baltimore with McNair and that defense still around. Cincy too with Johnson, Johnson, and Palmer; assuming palmer is healthy mentally and physically. KC scares me. Anytime you have a runningback that can change the game like LJ, you're going to be dangerous. Plus there is nothing more frustrating for a defense than giving up 5 to 6 yards a carry. I like Miami this year with Daunte, Chambers, and Ronnie Brown. They won't win the division, but they might get a wildcard birth. Good coaching goes a long way as we know with Belicheck.
As far for the Patriots: you're dead on. If harrison is healthy last year we're a completely different team on defense. That means less guys playing out of position, no Earthwind or Gay as defensive backs on normal downs. Everything changes.
I think Miami is a year away from the playoffs. KC does scare me, maybe more than any team in the conference. Thankfully, their head coach is Herm Edwards. Baltimroe will be good, but borderline playoff good. Indy will be very good again. The running back will have all the room in the world.
Top 3 teams in no order, Pats, KC, Indy. Then Cincy, Pitt, Bmore.
Who is the Pats' #1 running back in January?
Dillon. I think he has flashes of his old self. And Maroney's not gonna be that great of a back right off the bat. There's a reason he fell to us despite his talent.
USA basketball: Loss to Greece
S: We lose to Greece? I mean honestly. Disgraceful.
I: Yeah, it's awful. But Greece knows what its doing. They sent a more cohesive team.
I blame coach K, for no other reason than I hate Duke.
Logical to the end.
I: Yeah, it's awful. But Greece knows what its doing. They sent a more cohesive team.
I blame coach K, for no other reason than I hate Duke.
Logical to the end.
General: Federer vs. Roddick, Tiger
I: You gotta love Federer. Why do I love Federer but hate Tiger?
S: You like Federer because he's likeable, he's unassuming. He never over-celebrates. He's always humble and quiet. And what he does never seems that physically impossible. It honestly feels like you could go out and hit a backhand like that if you wanted to, he's so fluid to watch. Watch his feet when he plays, his footwork is amazing, like he never touches the ground. Lastly, you like Federer because his girlfriend is so much less hot than Elin. Plus we've been saturated with tiger for 8 to 9 years now.
You're spot on with Federer. What do you think of Roddick?
Roddick: I want to like him because he's American, but he's so easy to just feel apathy towards. When his big serve is going and his big forehand is too, I love watching him. Big servers are great to watch. But he's no ambassador to the sport as Federer is.
Not, not an ambassador. Rich hates him, I know that. But just like you, I love that big serve and forehand. It's crazy to watch him just pound the ball. Hewitt is like that with his ground strokes, too.
S: You like Federer because he's likeable, he's unassuming. He never over-celebrates. He's always humble and quiet. And what he does never seems that physically impossible. It honestly feels like you could go out and hit a backhand like that if you wanted to, he's so fluid to watch. Watch his feet when he plays, his footwork is amazing, like he never touches the ground. Lastly, you like Federer because his girlfriend is so much less hot than Elin. Plus we've been saturated with tiger for 8 to 9 years now.
You're spot on with Federer. What do you think of Roddick?
Roddick: I want to like him because he's American, but he's so easy to just feel apathy towards. When his big serve is going and his big forehand is too, I love watching him. Big servers are great to watch. But he's no ambassador to the sport as Federer is.
Not, not an ambassador. Rich hates him, I know that. But just like you, I love that big serve and forehand. It's crazy to watch him just pound the ball. Hewitt is like that with his ground strokes, too.
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