Now that the dust has settled, let's take a look at what the Selection Committee has given us for the inaugural College Football Playoff.
(1) Alabama will take on (4) Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl while (2) Oregon will face (3) Florida State in the Rose Bowl. Those two semifinal matchups may be the best possible outcomes in terms of football and storylines for the first go of the CFP. The brand recognition is off the charts and I'm sure that many casual fans will be thrilled with these matchups. I am not a big Ohio State fan but as much as I hate to admit it, the committee got this one right...based on what they were given/presented to us as criteria for selection. It was also a thrill to see CFP Committee chair Jeff Long (AD at Arkansas) live on television explaining the process to the nation. That transparency is important and it also provides legitimacy to this whole deal while setting a clear set of expectations for future versions of the CFP. That being said, there are many in Fort Worth and Waco who will be complaining all the way to next September. I believe that both sides have fair gripes and could have been the fourth team in just as easily as Ohio State. So, let's vent.
Starting with Ohio State: What Ohio State has done with three different quarterbacks this season has been nothing short of impressive. It's hard enough when you lose one Heisman Trophy-caliber quarterback (Braxton Miller) but to lose another (J.T. Barrett) and still end up winning the Big Ten is quite the feat. Regardless of what the committee says, I believe the Buckeyes got a huge boost from their 59-0 pasting of Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. I don't believe their "body of work" (the catchphrase that has been introduced to the college football lexicon this year) was what got them in. I wonder if Ohio State hadn't been as impressive against Wisconsin, would they have been invited to the big boy table. I know everyone says it's about the "body of work" but the human element naturally lends itself to being a bit swayed by that last impression. Plus, Ohio State was number six in the most recent ranking heading into Championship Weekend. I understand that a win doesn't necessarily hold serve like it does in the poll but I'm not sure about this. Ohio State was on the outside looking in the entire time and then manages to jump to number four in the end. TCU falls from three to six. Baylor sits at five. Based on all we have seen, it's just very hard for me to believe that Ohio State was rewarded for their body of work and not just on that last impression in the Big Ten Championship Game. That being said, Ohio State's body of work does look pretty solid. Their strength of schedule (45th) was the highest among the three teams fighting for that last spot (TCU 53rd; Baylor 59th). Ohio State also has a 7-1 record against the Top 60. That's a pretty nice body of work but their loss to Virginia Tech, even though it was in September, is still a sizable blemish. Of the three teams in question, Ohio State's loss is easily the worst. We are talking about a Virginia Tech team that lost to Wake Forest 6-3...in overtime. Even worse, that loss was at home in "The Horseshoe." Not exactly a completely forgivable slip-up for a playoff team.
Let's move on to TCU: The Horned Frogs were an impressive 11-1. Their strength of schedule was 53rd and they had a 6-1 record against the Top 60. TCU also had the best points-per-game differential in the country, beating its opponents by an average of 26.5 PPG. Further enhancing the Horned Frogs case is the fact that their loss (at Baylor) was easily the best among the three teams in question despite the fact that TCU blew a 21-point lead in that game. Losing to the #5 team in the country by three isn't the worst blemish on your record. TCU gets hurt by the fact that they were declared co-champions of the Big XII. This hurts because the reality of the situation is the Baylor beat them head-to-head so anyone who exhibits the slightest bit of common sense would tell you that the Horned Frogs are not the co-champions of anything. That being said, if you've watched them play at any point over the last month and a half, you would be hard-pressed to find a better football team in the country, Alabama included. Also, how does your "body of work" put you at #4 and then #3 for a good chunk of the rankings and then all of a sudden drop you to #6?
That brings us to Baylor: Baylor was 5-1 against the Top 60 and had a strength of schedule that ranked 59th, not terrible numbers but a bit short in comparison to both Ohio State and TCU. The Bears also strengthen their argument with the reality that they are the Big XII Champions. They beat TCU head-to-head. It's as simple as that. The "human element" of this whole thing should have been able to see right through the Big XII and Commissioner Bob Bowlsby's declaration of "co-champions." Baylor also plays a style of offensive football that would be very attractive to the television networks and the casual fans. They were second in Division 1-A (or FBS) to TCU in points-per-game differential, outscoring their opponents by an average of 24.7 PPG. Their one loss (at West Virginia) was not devastating as one might think. Yes, West Virginia wrapped up at 7-5, fading down the backstretch with losses in three of their last four games. However, they played Alabama tough on national television, played TCU and Kansas State within one score, and battled Texas in the midst of the Longhorns' hot streak. The thing that hurts Baylor (besides the whole co-champions nonsense) is their soft non-conference schedule, ranked the worst in the nation. Playing SMU, Northwestern State, and Buffalo in your non-conference slate when the CFP committee made it clear there would be a premium value placed on non-conference matchups was a huge mistake for the Bears and something they need to look into in the future. However, I would like to point out that the SEC never gets punished for playing cupcakes.
After poring after the numbers, you really could make a case for any of these three teams to be in that fourth spot. At the end of the day, it pains me to say it, but the committee did get it right. Ohio State's resume has the fewest holes and the Buckeyes were rewarded accordingly.
I do have one other concern though. I understand the concept of ranking the teams regardless of record but I just can't justify Florida State not being number one. It doesn't matter how you slice it, the bottom line is that the Seminoles have beaten everyone in front of them and they are the ONLY undefeated team in the country. Whether you like them or not, that is fact. If they're the only undefeated team in the country, then how are they not number one? Alabama and Oregon are strong but they have flaws. There is no clearly dominant team this year like Miami in 2001 or Alabama in 2009 or even Florida State last year. Nick Saban has put together another impressive squad in Tuscaloosa but they certainly didn't look dynamite in the Iron Bowl. Auburn moved the ball at will and Ole Miss certainly didn't have a problem putting points on the board either. Alabama is very good. I'm not arguing that. They also may very well be the number one team in the country but the fact remains that they did not win all of their games and should not be rewarded as such.
All things considered, if this is the biggest gripe we have with this year's CFP field then kudos to the committee. A job well done in Year One. Can't wait to see how this all plays out on the field. Needless to say, I will be rooting for whomever comes out the Oregon/Florida State game. No doubt about it.
I'll save my "Why does the SEC never get grief for playing cupcakes" and my "Why would the Big XII actually declare co-champions" rants for another time.
-Meech
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Florida State: Playoffs?.....Florida: The "Interesting" Dismissal of Will Muschamp - 12/4/14
1. We are less than one week away from finding out which four teams will be playing in the inaugural College Football Playoff. There is wild excitement across the college football nation. However, for many, the tension is also palpable. I recall pundits arguing for years that a playoff would rid college football of controversy in deciding its national championship. I also recall many of my friends arguing the same point. I have always maintained that you can't rid Division 1-A (I still refuse to call it FBS.) of controversy without a large-scale playoff similar to the one they use at the 1-AA (FCS) level. The only thing a playoff would do is change the topic or focus of the controversy. Instead of arguing who the second-best team in the country was, we would all be arguing about who the fourth or fifth best team in the country was. The CFP was supposed to be similar to the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee in men's basketball. The "human element" was going to put everyone at ease and replace the BCS computers. Yet here we are with just one week left before the CFP is finalized and we have a realistic possibility that the only undefeated team in the country could be on the outside looking in.
This week, 10-1 TCU leapfrogged the defending national champions, 12-0 Florida State. FSU has had an interesting stay in the CFP rankings. In Weeks 10 & 11, they were #2, trailing Mississippi State. Week 12 saw Oregon jump ahead of the 'Noles. Week 13 saw Alabama take the top spot and Oregon retain its hold on #2. Now, with a win over Texas (6-6), TCU has jumped to #3. FSU, despite beating rival Florida (6-5) has dropped to #4. Ohio State has jumped up to #5 despite losing their second starting quarterback of the season to injury. Baylor sits at #6 with a big game against #9 Kansas State this weekend. Arizona and Michigan State are very much in the hunt as well. Looking at the patterns of the committee, it is actually realistic to envision some scenarios in which Florida State could win the ACC Championship and still be left out in the cold.
Seriously, let's think about that. For starters, Florida State beats Georgia Tech in the ACC Title Game, but not convincingly. That would mean either a late 4th quarter comeback, a large lead that was nearly lost, or a win that simply wasn't dominant despite leading the whole way. Regardless, FSU would be 13-0. Now let's say that Ohio State beats Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game with its third-string quarterback. Does the committee see that Ohio State is stronger than they think and discount the injuries to both Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett? What if Arizona knocks off Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game? Do two wins over Oregon, including one in Eugene, give Arizona enough juice with the selection committee to warrant inclusion? What if Baylor really piles it on Kansas State and TCU easily handles Iowa State? Considering how tightly TCU and Baylor played each other earlier this season, combined with the aforementioned results this weekend, does the Big XII make a case to have both teams included in the CFP? There's also Alabama and Oregon. If they win their conference title games, there is no doubt they are in. If one of them ends up falling, the CFP will be in flux to say the very least.
Now, I understand that a record can be deceiving. Games can be won or lost in a variety of ways. Schedules can vary in strength. No two games look the same when weighed against one another. I understand this from experience. Over the last five years at MHS, we have been quite fortunate to have the run of success that we have: five straight state championship appearances, two titles in a row (looking to make it a third this weekend). We have won some games pretty convincingly and not been on the losing side often (52-7 since 2010). Every now and again I think back to that 2010 team. That squad started 2-4 before running off five straight wins to sneak into that state finals before falling to Randolph 19-0. No one remembers how we squeaked by, sneaked in, or managed to win any of those games. All they remember is that we won them. Then I think about this year's squad. We have not blistered opponents quite the way we did over the previous two seasons (outscoring our opponents by nearly 600 points combined) but the only thing that matters is that the defending state champions continue to win games...just like Florida State. Until someone actually knocks you down, you are still the king of the mountain. What an injustice it would be if Florida State were to win all of its games and yet be denied the opportunity to defend its crown.
All that being said, you can only play the teams that are on your schedule and Florida State has beaten them all, 28 in a row as a matter of fact. It's not like the ACC is the Sun Belt. Give the defending champs some credit here. They may not always be pretty but the 'Noles find ways to win games. And at the end of the day, isn't winning the bottom line in the business of major college football?
2. Speaking of which, that brings me to the Florida head coaching gig. Colorado State head coach Jim McElwain has reached an agreement to become the next head coach of the Gators. McElwain appeared to be the top target from the moment Will Muschamp was dismissed. McElwain has some history in the SEC, working as Nick Saban's offensive coordinator from 2008 to 2011. He and the Crimson Tide were renowned for their offensive balance. In 2011, on their way to a national championship, Alabama was the only SEC team to average both 200 yards passing and 200 yards rushing per game. McElwain also made quick work of turning around the Colorado State program. The Rams currently sit at 10-2 and have won 16 of their last 20 games. CSU lost 27 of 36 games before McElwain was hired in 2012. McElwain appears to check all the boxes laid out by Florida AD Jeremy Foley: head coaching experience (a must after Muschamp), several high-level assistant jobs, offensive philosophy and resume (CSU currently ranks 13th in the nation in total offense), and time spent coaching in the SEC.
This all seems to add up to a good hire for Florida. But as I read on, I keep thinking about the strange circumstances surrounding this whole thing. Usually when a coach is on his way out, there are countless rumors and groans from alumni (i.e. Brady Hoke at Michigan), epic clashes with the media surrounding the team (i.e. Bo Pelini at Nebraska), or billboards, websites, and television ads galore (i.e. Ron Zook at Florida in 2005 before Urban Meyer came aboard). That just didn't seem to be the case this time around in "The Swamp."
Will Muschamp took the Gators to the Sugar Bowl in his second season after replacing Urban Meyer. It looked like the Gators were trending upward after a 7-6 debut season for Muschamp in 2011. The bottom fell out though in 2013, as the Gators stumbled to a 4-8 record, their worst finish since 1979. Muschamp's offenses never got off the ground and this year's version ranked 109th in the nation in total offense. From an outside perspective, despite his failures in the win column, there was not a lot of overall negativity surrounding Muschamp. Even those vehemently calling for his dismissal seemed to be doing so without the usual vitriol. When Florida AD Jeremy Foley finally let Muschamp go, he said things such as:
"I will be forever grateful to Will and his staff for their unwavering commitment to the University of Florida and the mission of our athletic program. He will be missed by everyone in our athletic department - from the people that worked in his office to the people that painted the fields. Will knew everyone and they knew him and everyone in the building loved working with him. Will is as fine a man as you will ever meet, and I will always cherish our relationship with him and his family."
Those are pretty powerful words from Foley. You always hear the athletic director talk about the positive influence a coach had on the kids and the program but you don't see an AD cut to the core of the issue so openly like Foley did. Foley is not a typical AD either. He is well-respected in practically every football circle out there and, by all accounts, an absolute joy to work for. Still, it's uncharacteristic to see an administrator so openly distraught about having to fire an employee.
I keep searching for more negativity in the never-ending internet world and nothing of consequence pops up. There were a few "Hire Dan Mullen" websites but otherwise the words uttered by Foley after Muschamp's dismissal seemed to be the consensus. Even upon his firing, there were few negative words written about him. Most journalists said some version of "great guy, just didn't win enough games" and then focused on where he would end up as a well-compensated defensive coordinator. In a strange way, it's kind of refreshing to see this. Although college football has become quite the business monolith, these are still human beings. Coaches have family obligations and essentially act as a father or guiding hand to the 100+ kids on their teams and are also responsible for plenty of support staff. Many outsiders don't realize that even office assistants and equipment staff can be removed by an incoming coach who wants to be surrounded by his own people. Despite that simple truth, many people throw negativity around as if these coaches don't matter or don't care. It amazes me that Muschamp's dismissal was handled so professionally by all involved: the AD, the AD's administration, the players, the assistant coaches, the media, and ultimately Muschamp himself. I understand that not all individuals are as grounded as Foley and Muschamp and that some firings are nowhere near as simple as this one, but I hope that more of these moves can be conducted in this manner in the future. It's a refreshing and humane way to deal with such matters.
- Meech
This week, 10-1 TCU leapfrogged the defending national champions, 12-0 Florida State. FSU has had an interesting stay in the CFP rankings. In Weeks 10 & 11, they were #2, trailing Mississippi State. Week 12 saw Oregon jump ahead of the 'Noles. Week 13 saw Alabama take the top spot and Oregon retain its hold on #2. Now, with a win over Texas (6-6), TCU has jumped to #3. FSU, despite beating rival Florida (6-5) has dropped to #4. Ohio State has jumped up to #5 despite losing their second starting quarterback of the season to injury. Baylor sits at #6 with a big game against #9 Kansas State this weekend. Arizona and Michigan State are very much in the hunt as well. Looking at the patterns of the committee, it is actually realistic to envision some scenarios in which Florida State could win the ACC Championship and still be left out in the cold.
Seriously, let's think about that. For starters, Florida State beats Georgia Tech in the ACC Title Game, but not convincingly. That would mean either a late 4th quarter comeback, a large lead that was nearly lost, or a win that simply wasn't dominant despite leading the whole way. Regardless, FSU would be 13-0. Now let's say that Ohio State beats Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game with its third-string quarterback. Does the committee see that Ohio State is stronger than they think and discount the injuries to both Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett? What if Arizona knocks off Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game? Do two wins over Oregon, including one in Eugene, give Arizona enough juice with the selection committee to warrant inclusion? What if Baylor really piles it on Kansas State and TCU easily handles Iowa State? Considering how tightly TCU and Baylor played each other earlier this season, combined with the aforementioned results this weekend, does the Big XII make a case to have both teams included in the CFP? There's also Alabama and Oregon. If they win their conference title games, there is no doubt they are in. If one of them ends up falling, the CFP will be in flux to say the very least.
Now, I understand that a record can be deceiving. Games can be won or lost in a variety of ways. Schedules can vary in strength. No two games look the same when weighed against one another. I understand this from experience. Over the last five years at MHS, we have been quite fortunate to have the run of success that we have: five straight state championship appearances, two titles in a row (looking to make it a third this weekend). We have won some games pretty convincingly and not been on the losing side often (52-7 since 2010). Every now and again I think back to that 2010 team. That squad started 2-4 before running off five straight wins to sneak into that state finals before falling to Randolph 19-0. No one remembers how we squeaked by, sneaked in, or managed to win any of those games. All they remember is that we won them. Then I think about this year's squad. We have not blistered opponents quite the way we did over the previous two seasons (outscoring our opponents by nearly 600 points combined) but the only thing that matters is that the defending state champions continue to win games...just like Florida State. Until someone actually knocks you down, you are still the king of the mountain. What an injustice it would be if Florida State were to win all of its games and yet be denied the opportunity to defend its crown.
All that being said, you can only play the teams that are on your schedule and Florida State has beaten them all, 28 in a row as a matter of fact. It's not like the ACC is the Sun Belt. Give the defending champs some credit here. They may not always be pretty but the 'Noles find ways to win games. And at the end of the day, isn't winning the bottom line in the business of major college football?
2. Speaking of which, that brings me to the Florida head coaching gig. Colorado State head coach Jim McElwain has reached an agreement to become the next head coach of the Gators. McElwain appeared to be the top target from the moment Will Muschamp was dismissed. McElwain has some history in the SEC, working as Nick Saban's offensive coordinator from 2008 to 2011. He and the Crimson Tide were renowned for their offensive balance. In 2011, on their way to a national championship, Alabama was the only SEC team to average both 200 yards passing and 200 yards rushing per game. McElwain also made quick work of turning around the Colorado State program. The Rams currently sit at 10-2 and have won 16 of their last 20 games. CSU lost 27 of 36 games before McElwain was hired in 2012. McElwain appears to check all the boxes laid out by Florida AD Jeremy Foley: head coaching experience (a must after Muschamp), several high-level assistant jobs, offensive philosophy and resume (CSU currently ranks 13th in the nation in total offense), and time spent coaching in the SEC.
This all seems to add up to a good hire for Florida. But as I read on, I keep thinking about the strange circumstances surrounding this whole thing. Usually when a coach is on his way out, there are countless rumors and groans from alumni (i.e. Brady Hoke at Michigan), epic clashes with the media surrounding the team (i.e. Bo Pelini at Nebraska), or billboards, websites, and television ads galore (i.e. Ron Zook at Florida in 2005 before Urban Meyer came aboard). That just didn't seem to be the case this time around in "The Swamp."
Will Muschamp took the Gators to the Sugar Bowl in his second season after replacing Urban Meyer. It looked like the Gators were trending upward after a 7-6 debut season for Muschamp in 2011. The bottom fell out though in 2013, as the Gators stumbled to a 4-8 record, their worst finish since 1979. Muschamp's offenses never got off the ground and this year's version ranked 109th in the nation in total offense. From an outside perspective, despite his failures in the win column, there was not a lot of overall negativity surrounding Muschamp. Even those vehemently calling for his dismissal seemed to be doing so without the usual vitriol. When Florida AD Jeremy Foley finally let Muschamp go, he said things such as:
"I will be forever grateful to Will and his staff for their unwavering commitment to the University of Florida and the mission of our athletic program. He will be missed by everyone in our athletic department - from the people that worked in his office to the people that painted the fields. Will knew everyone and they knew him and everyone in the building loved working with him. Will is as fine a man as you will ever meet, and I will always cherish our relationship with him and his family."
Those are pretty powerful words from Foley. You always hear the athletic director talk about the positive influence a coach had on the kids and the program but you don't see an AD cut to the core of the issue so openly like Foley did. Foley is not a typical AD either. He is well-respected in practically every football circle out there and, by all accounts, an absolute joy to work for. Still, it's uncharacteristic to see an administrator so openly distraught about having to fire an employee.
I keep searching for more negativity in the never-ending internet world and nothing of consequence pops up. There were a few "Hire Dan Mullen" websites but otherwise the words uttered by Foley after Muschamp's dismissal seemed to be the consensus. Even upon his firing, there were few negative words written about him. Most journalists said some version of "great guy, just didn't win enough games" and then focused on where he would end up as a well-compensated defensive coordinator. In a strange way, it's kind of refreshing to see this. Although college football has become quite the business monolith, these are still human beings. Coaches have family obligations and essentially act as a father or guiding hand to the 100+ kids on their teams and are also responsible for plenty of support staff. Many outsiders don't realize that even office assistants and equipment staff can be removed by an incoming coach who wants to be surrounded by his own people. Despite that simple truth, many people throw negativity around as if these coaches don't matter or don't care. It amazes me that Muschamp's dismissal was handled so professionally by all involved: the AD, the AD's administration, the players, the assistant coaches, the media, and ultimately Muschamp himself. I understand that not all individuals are as grounded as Foley and Muschamp and that some firings are nowhere near as simple as this one, but I hope that more of these moves can be conducted in this manner in the future. It's a refreshing and humane way to deal with such matters.
- Meech
Sunday, August 10, 2014
3-Down Football??? - 8/10/14
My love for and involvement in the game of football over most of my life is both well-known and well-documented. As football has become a year-round sport and my experiences as both a coach and a player have developed, my love of the game has grown exponentially. The NFL season goes from August to February. The college football season goes from August to January. The NFL has the draft and minicamps to occupy fans from March to June. College football has its annual rite of passage known as spring practice that takes care of March and April. But the end of June through July is a rare quiet period for football. Thankfully, there is something out there to rescue us from that quiet period and provide us with competitive football while our college and NFL teams are knee-deep in practice and reorganization.
Enter the wonder that is the CFL...the Canadian Football League.
The CFL has been a bit of a passing fascination for me...for the better part of the last twenty years. I remember growing up and watching the "Run and Shoot" Houston Oilers, led by quarterback Warren Moon. There were many times when the announcers made a reference, veiled or blatant, to Moon's time in the CFL with the Edmonton Eskimos. Then we had the Doug Flutie experience with the Buffalo Bills in 1998. His wild success story, after washing out of the NFL in the mid-'80s, was accompanied by plenty of film of Flutie in a Calgary Stampeders uniform. A few years later, Jeff Garcia worked wonders for San Francisco. He, too, spent some time with the Stampeders. In 2010, I remember actually turning on a CFL game for the first time (They're not exactly easy to find in here in the States.). I recall it was the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Riders were running their offense onto the field and quarterbacking the team was Darian Durant. I remember when I was at Syracuse and we played UNC in a home-and-home; Durant was the quarterback for the Tar Heels. My familiarity with a key player led me to continue watching. I caught a few more Riders game that year and the few years following that but I hadn't gone all-in just yet. In 2013, the NBC Sports Network simulcast a few CFL games, as did ESPN, so I was able to watch the Riders capture the 101st Grey Cup. I figured this year would be another year when I would catch a game or two and call it a day. But something was different this time around.
It started in mid-June with a few tweets from legendary Sports Illustrated football writer Peter King. King was tweeting about his new Monday Morning Quarterback website and mentioned that he was going to do an entire week devoted to the CFL as their season opened up, complete with guest columnists and game coverage. The first guest column was composed by Chicago Bears head coach Marc Trestman. When the Bears hired Trestman prior to the 2013 season, I recalled his time as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in San Francisco and Oakland (He was the OC for the Raiders when they lost to Tampa Bay in Super Bowl XXXVII.). I overlooked or hadn't even realized (depending on how you want to look at it) that Trestman spent five seasons as the head coach of the Montreal Alouettes, leading them to three Grey Cup appearances and back-to-back Grey Cup Titles in 2009 and 2010. Trestman's column that day was an excellent read. It did a great job of highlighting some of the major differences between American football and the CFL. But in addition to the obvious differences in the rules, Trestman pointed to things such as the rule that seven of a team's 24 starters (There are 12 men on the field at a time) must be Canadian and 20 of the 42 players on your gameday roster must be of Canadian heritage. Or the fact that in the last three minutes of each half the clock stops after every single play. This leaves room for lots of change of possessions and prevents a team from ever really truly being out of the game. Reading about all the rules and the small-town charm/feel of the CFL (The minimum salary in the CFL is $45,000...which is roughly 12 percent of the minimum NFL salary.) pushed me to pay a bit more attention but it was the passion with which Trestman wrote the column that really made me think twice. Here's an individual who is at the pinnacle of his profession yet clearly has such passion and love for his time in the CFL. Seeing this made me want to pay more attention. Then ESPN did me a favor, reaching a broadcast deal in which ESPN will televise all CFL games, giving us the TSN broadcast simulcast over ESPN2 or on the internet with ESPN3/Watch ESPN. Now having such great access, I went right back to where I started and tuned in to the Roughriders.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching the Riders take down Hamilton, 31-10, on opening night and resolved that I would do the best I could to keep up. Having familiarity with several Riders besides Durant (Taj Smith, Macho Harris, Chaz Schilens, Anthony Allen, and Tyron Brackenridge...to name a few) drew me in but it was the passion of the fan base that affectionately calls itself "Rider Nation" that kept me there. The Saskatchewan fans take great pride in their Riders. The passion and enthusiasm they have for their team and their unique brand of football is apparent, even through a computer screen. Peter King highlighted this when recounting his trip to Regina and every game I've watched always had a brief feature highlighting the proud province and its fan base. To boot, the team recently released its new CFL Signature uniforms. The emphasis on the "wheat to the sky" logo pays homage to the province while the "I Am Rider Nation" on the inside collar gives some love to the club's rabid fan base. Furthermore, the Riders have an ownership model similar to that of the Green Bay Packers. The fans and the people of Saskatchewan own the team and there was recently another share offering back in 2011.
As I've continued to watch the Riders, I have become fascinated by the little quirks of Canadian football. With just three downs to go ten yards, most offenses prioritize the passing game. However, on third-and-one, teams are quite inclined to go for it as the defensive line must line up one yard off the line of scrimmage. Throw in the fact that all six receivers are allowed to be in forward motion prior to the snap, a wider field, and a 20-second play clock and you have the making of a very fast-paced, exciting football game. Although it appears many of the CFL's rules favor the offenses, there is plenty of defense to be found across the league as well. Defenses get very creative with their pressure packages and I have seen more sacks per game than I'm used to seeing in the NFL. The differences I enjoy the most, however, come in the special teams department. For starters, there are no fair catches. All kicks have to be returned and coverage teams have to leave a five-yard halo around the returner. Then there's the rouge. Honestly, it's taken me some time to understand this one and I still don't think I quite understand it. If teams miss a field goal or punt the ball out of the end zone, they are awarded a single point. However, if teams return those missed field goals (The 20-yard end zone with the goalposts in the front make this a regular occurrence.), the single point is wiped off the board. The wildest special teams quirk is the rule that if a player is even with or behind the punter when he kicks, that player is eligible to recover and advance the ball. A few weeks ago I was watching the Riders take on Ottawa. Saskatchewan was up 28-0 and Ottawa was having all sorts of trouble moving the football. On third down, Ottawa lined up for a quick kick but motioned a player behind the kicker. That player raced down the field and recovered the football in the end zone for an Ottawa touchdown. Crazy!
All of these rules make the gameplanning process in the CFL so different from that in the NFL, college, and high school football here in the States. As a coach, I am very fascinated by these nuances and all the possibilities that the kicking game holds in Canadian football. And managing the clock is a more developed and valued skill as well. With that 20-second play clock, there isn't much down time. Players have to be in tremendous shape and the fans don't get much opportunity to blink for they may miss something big. It's a constant state of excitement and the pride that the fans, players, coaches, and league officials take in their unique brand of football make enjoying the CFL infectious. It also fits in the perfect time frame. June, July, and August possess no actual competitive on-field football (Sorry, preseason games don't count for fans...only as great evaluation tools for coaches and team personnel.) so the CFL fills a tremendous void stateside. I feel like it's catching on a bit around here but there are many fans who still don't give the game its due. People whine about all the rules and the differences from our game instead of just accepting them. If you just accept the CFL for what it is, I believe you'll find it quite enjoyable as it is highly competitive football. Everyone involved is professional and gives everything he has to the game. It's awesome to see how the CFL connects the entire country. The connection between the CFL and its fans is very obvious no matter what game you may be watching. CFL commissioner Mark Cohon always references how proud he is of the league's "uniquely Canadian football."
And that's what really got me. I absolutely love how everyone involved takes full ownership of the game. They don't make excuses. They don't act like they're minor league. The players who spent time in the NFL take their CFL jobs seriously. Those who used to be in the CFL and are now in the NFL speak of their time in Canada openly and quite fondly. I feel like you don't hear many coaches or players talk about the NFL the way the employees of the CFL talk about their league and their game. Seeing people work so hard yet enjoy their work so much makes you want to be a part of it. It makes you want to pay attention. I also enjoy the familiarity teams have with one another. Playing an 18-game schedule in a league with just nine teams breeds familiarity and plenty of contempt among players, coaches, and fan bases...yet another exciting layer to the product. Hopefully the CFL will take advantage of America's love of football and spread their game stateside. In the mid-'90s the league put teams in Las Vegas, Baltimore, Sacramento, San Antonio, Memphis, Shreveport, and Birmingham but they all folded as stateside fans failed to back these teams and couldn't get used to the differences between the CFL and NFL games.
As the league continues to grow and TSN puts all CFL games on national television, the game will continue to flourish in its home province. Seeing ESPN give its name and resources to the CFL gives me hope that it may stick around stateside and provide a great summer outlet for all of us die-hard football fans. In the meantime, I will continue to follow the Riders and the rest of the league. This American is firmly entrenched in Rider Nation and I intend to further immerse myself by taking the trip to Regina next season and attending a game before the Riders head to the new Mosaic Stadium in 2017. Can't wait!
Until next time...
-Meech
Enter the wonder that is the CFL...the Canadian Football League.
The CFL has been a bit of a passing fascination for me...for the better part of the last twenty years. I remember growing up and watching the "Run and Shoot" Houston Oilers, led by quarterback Warren Moon. There were many times when the announcers made a reference, veiled or blatant, to Moon's time in the CFL with the Edmonton Eskimos. Then we had the Doug Flutie experience with the Buffalo Bills in 1998. His wild success story, after washing out of the NFL in the mid-'80s, was accompanied by plenty of film of Flutie in a Calgary Stampeders uniform. A few years later, Jeff Garcia worked wonders for San Francisco. He, too, spent some time with the Stampeders. In 2010, I remember actually turning on a CFL game for the first time (They're not exactly easy to find in here in the States.). I recall it was the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Riders were running their offense onto the field and quarterbacking the team was Darian Durant. I remember when I was at Syracuse and we played UNC in a home-and-home; Durant was the quarterback for the Tar Heels. My familiarity with a key player led me to continue watching. I caught a few more Riders game that year and the few years following that but I hadn't gone all-in just yet. In 2013, the NBC Sports Network simulcast a few CFL games, as did ESPN, so I was able to watch the Riders capture the 101st Grey Cup. I figured this year would be another year when I would catch a game or two and call it a day. But something was different this time around.
It started in mid-June with a few tweets from legendary Sports Illustrated football writer Peter King. King was tweeting about his new Monday Morning Quarterback website and mentioned that he was going to do an entire week devoted to the CFL as their season opened up, complete with guest columnists and game coverage. The first guest column was composed by Chicago Bears head coach Marc Trestman. When the Bears hired Trestman prior to the 2013 season, I recalled his time as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in San Francisco and Oakland (He was the OC for the Raiders when they lost to Tampa Bay in Super Bowl XXXVII.). I overlooked or hadn't even realized (depending on how you want to look at it) that Trestman spent five seasons as the head coach of the Montreal Alouettes, leading them to three Grey Cup appearances and back-to-back Grey Cup Titles in 2009 and 2010. Trestman's column that day was an excellent read. It did a great job of highlighting some of the major differences between American football and the CFL. But in addition to the obvious differences in the rules, Trestman pointed to things such as the rule that seven of a team's 24 starters (There are 12 men on the field at a time) must be Canadian and 20 of the 42 players on your gameday roster must be of Canadian heritage. Or the fact that in the last three minutes of each half the clock stops after every single play. This leaves room for lots of change of possessions and prevents a team from ever really truly being out of the game. Reading about all the rules and the small-town charm/feel of the CFL (The minimum salary in the CFL is $45,000...which is roughly 12 percent of the minimum NFL salary.) pushed me to pay a bit more attention but it was the passion with which Trestman wrote the column that really made me think twice. Here's an individual who is at the pinnacle of his profession yet clearly has such passion and love for his time in the CFL. Seeing this made me want to pay more attention. Then ESPN did me a favor, reaching a broadcast deal in which ESPN will televise all CFL games, giving us the TSN broadcast simulcast over ESPN2 or on the internet with ESPN3/Watch ESPN. Now having such great access, I went right back to where I started and tuned in to the Roughriders.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching the Riders take down Hamilton, 31-10, on opening night and resolved that I would do the best I could to keep up. Having familiarity with several Riders besides Durant (Taj Smith, Macho Harris, Chaz Schilens, Anthony Allen, and Tyron Brackenridge...to name a few) drew me in but it was the passion of the fan base that affectionately calls itself "Rider Nation" that kept me there. The Saskatchewan fans take great pride in their Riders. The passion and enthusiasm they have for their team and their unique brand of football is apparent, even through a computer screen. Peter King highlighted this when recounting his trip to Regina and every game I've watched always had a brief feature highlighting the proud province and its fan base. To boot, the team recently released its new CFL Signature uniforms. The emphasis on the "wheat to the sky" logo pays homage to the province while the "I Am Rider Nation" on the inside collar gives some love to the club's rabid fan base. Furthermore, the Riders have an ownership model similar to that of the Green Bay Packers. The fans and the people of Saskatchewan own the team and there was recently another share offering back in 2011.
As I've continued to watch the Riders, I have become fascinated by the little quirks of Canadian football. With just three downs to go ten yards, most offenses prioritize the passing game. However, on third-and-one, teams are quite inclined to go for it as the defensive line must line up one yard off the line of scrimmage. Throw in the fact that all six receivers are allowed to be in forward motion prior to the snap, a wider field, and a 20-second play clock and you have the making of a very fast-paced, exciting football game. Although it appears many of the CFL's rules favor the offenses, there is plenty of defense to be found across the league as well. Defenses get very creative with their pressure packages and I have seen more sacks per game than I'm used to seeing in the NFL. The differences I enjoy the most, however, come in the special teams department. For starters, there are no fair catches. All kicks have to be returned and coverage teams have to leave a five-yard halo around the returner. Then there's the rouge. Honestly, it's taken me some time to understand this one and I still don't think I quite understand it. If teams miss a field goal or punt the ball out of the end zone, they are awarded a single point. However, if teams return those missed field goals (The 20-yard end zone with the goalposts in the front make this a regular occurrence.), the single point is wiped off the board. The wildest special teams quirk is the rule that if a player is even with or behind the punter when he kicks, that player is eligible to recover and advance the ball. A few weeks ago I was watching the Riders take on Ottawa. Saskatchewan was up 28-0 and Ottawa was having all sorts of trouble moving the football. On third down, Ottawa lined up for a quick kick but motioned a player behind the kicker. That player raced down the field and recovered the football in the end zone for an Ottawa touchdown. Crazy!
All of these rules make the gameplanning process in the CFL so different from that in the NFL, college, and high school football here in the States. As a coach, I am very fascinated by these nuances and all the possibilities that the kicking game holds in Canadian football. And managing the clock is a more developed and valued skill as well. With that 20-second play clock, there isn't much down time. Players have to be in tremendous shape and the fans don't get much opportunity to blink for they may miss something big. It's a constant state of excitement and the pride that the fans, players, coaches, and league officials take in their unique brand of football make enjoying the CFL infectious. It also fits in the perfect time frame. June, July, and August possess no actual competitive on-field football (Sorry, preseason games don't count for fans...only as great evaluation tools for coaches and team personnel.) so the CFL fills a tremendous void stateside. I feel like it's catching on a bit around here but there are many fans who still don't give the game its due. People whine about all the rules and the differences from our game instead of just accepting them. If you just accept the CFL for what it is, I believe you'll find it quite enjoyable as it is highly competitive football. Everyone involved is professional and gives everything he has to the game. It's awesome to see how the CFL connects the entire country. The connection between the CFL and its fans is very obvious no matter what game you may be watching. CFL commissioner Mark Cohon always references how proud he is of the league's "uniquely Canadian football."
And that's what really got me. I absolutely love how everyone involved takes full ownership of the game. They don't make excuses. They don't act like they're minor league. The players who spent time in the NFL take their CFL jobs seriously. Those who used to be in the CFL and are now in the NFL speak of their time in Canada openly and quite fondly. I feel like you don't hear many coaches or players talk about the NFL the way the employees of the CFL talk about their league and their game. Seeing people work so hard yet enjoy their work so much makes you want to be a part of it. It makes you want to pay attention. I also enjoy the familiarity teams have with one another. Playing an 18-game schedule in a league with just nine teams breeds familiarity and plenty of contempt among players, coaches, and fan bases...yet another exciting layer to the product. Hopefully the CFL will take advantage of America's love of football and spread their game stateside. In the mid-'90s the league put teams in Las Vegas, Baltimore, Sacramento, San Antonio, Memphis, Shreveport, and Birmingham but they all folded as stateside fans failed to back these teams and couldn't get used to the differences between the CFL and NFL games.
As the league continues to grow and TSN puts all CFL games on national television, the game will continue to flourish in its home province. Seeing ESPN give its name and resources to the CFL gives me hope that it may stick around stateside and provide a great summer outlet for all of us die-hard football fans. In the meantime, I will continue to follow the Riders and the rest of the league. This American is firmly entrenched in Rider Nation and I intend to further immerse myself by taking the trip to Regina next season and attending a game before the Riders head to the new Mosaic Stadium in 2017. Can't wait!
Until next time...
-Meech
Monday, August 4, 2014
MLB Trade Deadline, New Dalton Deal, and more..... - 8/4/14
And we're back!
1. Over the past few years, my love of baseball has dwindled tremendously. The combination of constant PED nonsense, a terrible Mets team (I have found myself watching the Oakland A's more than any other MLB team over the past 3-4 years), and 24/7/365 access to football and hockey has taken away much of the joy I possess (and viewing time) for baseball. However, the off-season Hot Stove and the mid-season Trade Deadline always stoke my interest. The trade deadline is tricky day in any professional sport. The NFL trade deadline is not a big deal since the schemes and demands that surround the game of football make it nearly impossible to execute a mid-season trade that would be beneficial to anyone. The NBA and NHL trade deadlines have been subdued in recent years thanks to hard salary cap situations in those leagues. But the MLB deadline always has tremendous possibilities surrounding it. I remember when the deadline used to be at midnight Eastern time and you would stay up late to watch ESPN's Baseball Tonight and try to keep up with the madness, hoping there was a megadeal to be had. Recently, MLB has moved its deadline to 4pm ET on July 31st. I'm sure this shift makes the MLB offices that are processing and cross-checking all the deals a bit happier but it takes away a bit of the allure for the casual fan. My expectations have been moderate at best for a while now but this year's deadline was flat-out awesome, renewing some of my interest in the game.
Watching the Detroit Tigers and Oakland Athletics basically stare each other in the face and try to outdo each other at the trading table was a sight to behold. The A's have been a perennial playoff for the better part of the last ten years under the watchful eye of GM Billy Beane and his "Moneyball" philosophy. The A's have been playoff regulars of sorts but haven't reached the World Series since 1990, where they were swept by the Cincinnati Reds. In the span of about three weeks, the A's have shown they're all-in. Oakland picked up Jason Hammel and Jeff Samardzija from the Cubs and then swung a huge deal for Boston ace Jon Lester. The thing that makes the Lester deal so stunning is that it wasn't a megastar-for-prospects deal. The A's sent their cleanup hitter (outfielder Yoenis Cespedes) to the Sox to complete the deal. Not to be outdone, the Tigers pulled center fielder Austin Jackson in the middle of their deadline day game against the Chicago White Sox to complete a deal for Tampa Bay Rays ace left-hander David Price.
I don't know what was crazier: The A's trading away their cleanup hitter in the middle of a pennant race or the Tigers pulling their center fielder mid-inning. Kudos to both of these clubs. The A's, Tigers, and Angels are clearly the class of the American League (and perhaps all of baseball) and are so close to one another and are the clear AL favorites to reach the World Series. With that in mind, moves needed to made. It was so refreshing to see teams make some "go after it" trades. We've all become accustomed to teams trading away stars and getting nothing tangible in return. To watch what essentially breaks down to a Lester-for-Cespedes swap was awesome, like fantasy baseball come to life. We just don't see many of those trades anymore. And then for the Tigers to go all-in on David Price in response was even crazier. The Tigers and the A's are firmly planted in the win-now window. The Tigers made World Series appearances in 2006 and 2012 but couldn't finish the job. They're also the owners of three consecutive AL Central titles. Their window to win is now. Likewise, the A's have been arguably the most successful regular season team of the past decade but have failed to reach the World Series. With Hammel, Samardzija, and Lester joining Scott Kazmir and Sonny Gray, the A's have a phenomenal rotation that can match up with anyone...especially the Tigers trio of Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and Price.
A few more pieces from the AL: The A's have to be thrilled with their new rotation after throwing the likes of Gil Heredia, Cory Lidle, Ted Lilly, Jarrod Parker, and Dan Straily (courtesy of ESPN.com's David Schoenfield) in recent postseason elimination games. The last time the Red Sox unloaded contract headaches (Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford) was 2012. The next season they were World Series Champions. The biggest loser here...the Angels. When the two biggest postseason threats to you get that much better, a simple move for closer Huston Street isn't nearly enough to move the needle.
2. The Cincinnati Bengals re-signed quarterback Andy Dalton to a 6-year, $115 million deal. The deal is for $96 million with bonuses and incentives that can drive it to $115 million. Only $17 million is guaranteed and apparently the Bengals can walk away (with a small financial penalty) after any year of the deal (All contract terms courtesy of SI's Peter King). There are many critics of this contract and practically all of them point to Dalton's 0-3 postseason record. I have read several columns (including a good read by Grantland.com's Bill Barnwell) citing Dalton's inability to maintain poise and mechanics in the face of pressure. Many columnists have done a great job disproving the theory that the "postseason lights" are too bright for Dalton. They point to plenty of advanced metrics that show massive drops in Dalton's QBR under pressure. My verdict on this deal has nothing to do with numbers or metrics of any kind.
The Bengals were a franchise in a state of disarray, making just two playoff appearances from 1991 to 2010 and only finishing above .500 in those two seasons (They went 8-8 on four other occasions). There was a clear lack of direction and with Carson Palmer recovering from a major knee injury, unhappy with the direction of the team, and looking for a way out, the time for change had arrived. The Bengals spent the next several years drafting well, making smart free agent pickups, and then hit the jackpot in drafting wide receiver A.J. Green. In the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft, Cincy hitched its wagon to Dalton, the former TCU quarterback. Dalton has won 30 regular season contests in three seasons at the helm and has brought the Bengals to the playoffs in each of his three seasons. While I agree that his playoff performance (one touchdown, six interceptions) is not flattering, I believe that he is not the sole reason Cincy has failed to advance in its three recent playoff appearances. Football is the ultimate team game and as important as the quarterback position is, even he can't win it alone. Just ask Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos about last year's Super Bowl. Dalton has brought much-needed stability to the QB position in Cincy and he actually wants to be there. He's a very grounded individual that the organization has a tremendous amount of faith in. I agree with this decision. QBs are highly-paid and better to pay him now then be forced into a franchise tag situation this off-season. Take the evil you know over the evil you don't know. Cincy has a great amount of weapons surrounding him: one of the best offensive lines in the league, Gio Bernard, Tyler Eifert, and Green (just to name a few). Dalton's has tremendous poise and mechanics and is a strong decision-maker against teams that are not blitz-happy. I believe that new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson (Both of last year's coordinators, OC Jay Gruden & DC Mike Zimmer, are now head coaches.) can work with Dalton on his response to pressure. I also understand, though, that there is no coachable cure for "happy feet" in the pocket. Cincy will have to scheme around this as they have done a good job of in the regular season. Hopefully, Dalton can get the Bengals back to the postseason and they won't have to match up with a blitz-happy team like the Houston Texans of 2011 & 2012. I know I'm in the minority but, bottom line, I think this is a good deal for both Dalton and the Bengals. Dalton gets paid and gets some job security. The Bengals aren't paying much more than the going rate for quarterbacks, have a proven commodity, and know exactly what they need to do to make him better and get over the hump. I like this deal a lot and hope to see Dalton pick up a postseason win and quiet some of his critics.
3. I also want to give kudos to the Arizona Cardinals for locking up cornerback Patrick Petersen to a long-time deal. The Cards may have overpaid a bit ($70 million, including $48 million guaranteed) but it was a necessary move. Arizona could not afford to allow Petersen to test free agency. He is in the process of usurping Larry Fitzgerald as the face of the franchise. This is also a team that needs every weapon it can get in the rough and tumble NFC West with Seattle and San Francisco. Petersen is a proven hard-worker and although there are times where he relies too much on athleticism and not enough on fundamental technique, his track record that he will continue to work hard and get better...good news for the Cards.
4. I, for one, really hope the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves make this Kevin Love deal on August 23rd, the first day Andrew Wiggins can be traded after signing his rookie deal with Cleveland. The NBA has done a tremendous job of making its free agency period an all summer long matter of intrigue. From Lebron James returning to Cleveland to Carmelo returning to New York to Eric Bledsoe still sitting in limbo, it's been an entertaining NBA free agency period. It's clear that Cleveland is pushing to win-now mode to appease Lebron, even though he says he understands that it will take time to make the Cavs competitive. To add Love to a core that includes James, Kyrie Irving, Tristian Thompson, Dion Waiters, and Anderson Varejao would instantly make the Cavs favorites in the East. More than that, I just don't want to hear about "a possible Kevin Love trade" anymore. Let's just trade him and get the rebuilding in full swing in Minnesota.
5. I'm absolutely thrilled the Devils have re-signed Cory Schneider. It's still a bit strange to admit that the Martin Brodeur era is over but I truly believe it's time to move forward. Having the 28-year-old Schneider under contract for the next seven years (at a manageable $6 million cap hit) is great stability for Jersey's Team. Schneider has had some of the best numbers in the league over the last few years but has to yet to prove himself as a number one goalie. He gets his chance now as the Devils have firmly hitched their wagon to him. It will be nice to go into next season without any questions about Marty's future and/or playing time hanging over the Devils. Overall, I'm pretty happy with their moves this offseason. Offense was a priority and (as we already know) you've got to overpay to get goals in Jersey so I can live with the 5-year deal inked by Mike Cammalleri. The Martin Havlat deal is low-risk/high-reward, similar to the deal Jaromir Jagr signed with the team last summer. Losing Mark Fayne and Anton Volchenkov doesn't bother me much. There is a wealth of strong defencemen in the system and it's time for them to get playing time to prove themselves, particularly Adam Larsson, the number four overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft.
6. The WWE has become practically unwatchable these days. Daniel Bryan finally made it to the top of the mountain, only to get hurt shortly thereafter. CM Punk walked away from the company. The Undertaker saw his streak end at WrestleMania 30. John Cena is constantly holding or around the WWE Championship. The Shield was broken up. On top of all that, they keep giving huge pushes to Brock Lesnar, a part-timer who magically gets a WWE Title shot at Summerslam. I love Chris Jericho, but the latest Y2J return angle isn't doing much for me at all. Triple H has always been my favorite wrestler, but I'm getting tired of his act as well. Either be an authority figure or get back into the ring and be a wrestler. I understand it's hard to give up the in-ring competition and make that transition but this is tough to watch. Triple H was arguably the best heel of the last 15 years. His run as "The Game" in 2000 was legendary and made for tremendous television. But his cunning heel personality was born of intensity and it's hard to manufacture that when you're on TV in a suit 90% of the time. Perhaps Trips will become a great on-screen villain as an authority figure but no one did it quite like Mr. McMahon himself. There are also no new starts on the horizon. Guys that were tabbed as breakthrough stars such as The Miz, Dolph Ziggler, and Sheamus have fizzled out and faded into the mid-card picture. Will Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose lead the next wave of stars or am I going to be stuck watching John Cena reign as WWE Champion for the next five years. In the meantime, pay attention to Ring of Honor. There is some absolutely tremendous wrestling going on in that company right now.
7. That'll cover it for now.
-Meech
1. Over the past few years, my love of baseball has dwindled tremendously. The combination of constant PED nonsense, a terrible Mets team (I have found myself watching the Oakland A's more than any other MLB team over the past 3-4 years), and 24/7/365 access to football and hockey has taken away much of the joy I possess (and viewing time) for baseball. However, the off-season Hot Stove and the mid-season Trade Deadline always stoke my interest. The trade deadline is tricky day in any professional sport. The NFL trade deadline is not a big deal since the schemes and demands that surround the game of football make it nearly impossible to execute a mid-season trade that would be beneficial to anyone. The NBA and NHL trade deadlines have been subdued in recent years thanks to hard salary cap situations in those leagues. But the MLB deadline always has tremendous possibilities surrounding it. I remember when the deadline used to be at midnight Eastern time and you would stay up late to watch ESPN's Baseball Tonight and try to keep up with the madness, hoping there was a megadeal to be had. Recently, MLB has moved its deadline to 4pm ET on July 31st. I'm sure this shift makes the MLB offices that are processing and cross-checking all the deals a bit happier but it takes away a bit of the allure for the casual fan. My expectations have been moderate at best for a while now but this year's deadline was flat-out awesome, renewing some of my interest in the game.
Watching the Detroit Tigers and Oakland Athletics basically stare each other in the face and try to outdo each other at the trading table was a sight to behold. The A's have been a perennial playoff for the better part of the last ten years under the watchful eye of GM Billy Beane and his "Moneyball" philosophy. The A's have been playoff regulars of sorts but haven't reached the World Series since 1990, where they were swept by the Cincinnati Reds. In the span of about three weeks, the A's have shown they're all-in. Oakland picked up Jason Hammel and Jeff Samardzija from the Cubs and then swung a huge deal for Boston ace Jon Lester. The thing that makes the Lester deal so stunning is that it wasn't a megastar-for-prospects deal. The A's sent their cleanup hitter (outfielder Yoenis Cespedes) to the Sox to complete the deal. Not to be outdone, the Tigers pulled center fielder Austin Jackson in the middle of their deadline day game against the Chicago White Sox to complete a deal for Tampa Bay Rays ace left-hander David Price.
I don't know what was crazier: The A's trading away their cleanup hitter in the middle of a pennant race or the Tigers pulling their center fielder mid-inning. Kudos to both of these clubs. The A's, Tigers, and Angels are clearly the class of the American League (and perhaps all of baseball) and are so close to one another and are the clear AL favorites to reach the World Series. With that in mind, moves needed to made. It was so refreshing to see teams make some "go after it" trades. We've all become accustomed to teams trading away stars and getting nothing tangible in return. To watch what essentially breaks down to a Lester-for-Cespedes swap was awesome, like fantasy baseball come to life. We just don't see many of those trades anymore. And then for the Tigers to go all-in on David Price in response was even crazier. The Tigers and the A's are firmly planted in the win-now window. The Tigers made World Series appearances in 2006 and 2012 but couldn't finish the job. They're also the owners of three consecutive AL Central titles. Their window to win is now. Likewise, the A's have been arguably the most successful regular season team of the past decade but have failed to reach the World Series. With Hammel, Samardzija, and Lester joining Scott Kazmir and Sonny Gray, the A's have a phenomenal rotation that can match up with anyone...especially the Tigers trio of Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and Price.
A few more pieces from the AL: The A's have to be thrilled with their new rotation after throwing the likes of Gil Heredia, Cory Lidle, Ted Lilly, Jarrod Parker, and Dan Straily (courtesy of ESPN.com's David Schoenfield) in recent postseason elimination games. The last time the Red Sox unloaded contract headaches (Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford) was 2012. The next season they were World Series Champions. The biggest loser here...the Angels. When the two biggest postseason threats to you get that much better, a simple move for closer Huston Street isn't nearly enough to move the needle.
2. The Cincinnati Bengals re-signed quarterback Andy Dalton to a 6-year, $115 million deal. The deal is for $96 million with bonuses and incentives that can drive it to $115 million. Only $17 million is guaranteed and apparently the Bengals can walk away (with a small financial penalty) after any year of the deal (All contract terms courtesy of SI's Peter King). There are many critics of this contract and practically all of them point to Dalton's 0-3 postseason record. I have read several columns (including a good read by Grantland.com's Bill Barnwell) citing Dalton's inability to maintain poise and mechanics in the face of pressure. Many columnists have done a great job disproving the theory that the "postseason lights" are too bright for Dalton. They point to plenty of advanced metrics that show massive drops in Dalton's QBR under pressure. My verdict on this deal has nothing to do with numbers or metrics of any kind.
The Bengals were a franchise in a state of disarray, making just two playoff appearances from 1991 to 2010 and only finishing above .500 in those two seasons (They went 8-8 on four other occasions). There was a clear lack of direction and with Carson Palmer recovering from a major knee injury, unhappy with the direction of the team, and looking for a way out, the time for change had arrived. The Bengals spent the next several years drafting well, making smart free agent pickups, and then hit the jackpot in drafting wide receiver A.J. Green. In the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft, Cincy hitched its wagon to Dalton, the former TCU quarterback. Dalton has won 30 regular season contests in three seasons at the helm and has brought the Bengals to the playoffs in each of his three seasons. While I agree that his playoff performance (one touchdown, six interceptions) is not flattering, I believe that he is not the sole reason Cincy has failed to advance in its three recent playoff appearances. Football is the ultimate team game and as important as the quarterback position is, even he can't win it alone. Just ask Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos about last year's Super Bowl. Dalton has brought much-needed stability to the QB position in Cincy and he actually wants to be there. He's a very grounded individual that the organization has a tremendous amount of faith in. I agree with this decision. QBs are highly-paid and better to pay him now then be forced into a franchise tag situation this off-season. Take the evil you know over the evil you don't know. Cincy has a great amount of weapons surrounding him: one of the best offensive lines in the league, Gio Bernard, Tyler Eifert, and Green (just to name a few). Dalton's has tremendous poise and mechanics and is a strong decision-maker against teams that are not blitz-happy. I believe that new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson (Both of last year's coordinators, OC Jay Gruden & DC Mike Zimmer, are now head coaches.) can work with Dalton on his response to pressure. I also understand, though, that there is no coachable cure for "happy feet" in the pocket. Cincy will have to scheme around this as they have done a good job of in the regular season. Hopefully, Dalton can get the Bengals back to the postseason and they won't have to match up with a blitz-happy team like the Houston Texans of 2011 & 2012. I know I'm in the minority but, bottom line, I think this is a good deal for both Dalton and the Bengals. Dalton gets paid and gets some job security. The Bengals aren't paying much more than the going rate for quarterbacks, have a proven commodity, and know exactly what they need to do to make him better and get over the hump. I like this deal a lot and hope to see Dalton pick up a postseason win and quiet some of his critics.
3. I also want to give kudos to the Arizona Cardinals for locking up cornerback Patrick Petersen to a long-time deal. The Cards may have overpaid a bit ($70 million, including $48 million guaranteed) but it was a necessary move. Arizona could not afford to allow Petersen to test free agency. He is in the process of usurping Larry Fitzgerald as the face of the franchise. This is also a team that needs every weapon it can get in the rough and tumble NFC West with Seattle and San Francisco. Petersen is a proven hard-worker and although there are times where he relies too much on athleticism and not enough on fundamental technique, his track record that he will continue to work hard and get better...good news for the Cards.
4. I, for one, really hope the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves make this Kevin Love deal on August 23rd, the first day Andrew Wiggins can be traded after signing his rookie deal with Cleveland. The NBA has done a tremendous job of making its free agency period an all summer long matter of intrigue. From Lebron James returning to Cleveland to Carmelo returning to New York to Eric Bledsoe still sitting in limbo, it's been an entertaining NBA free agency period. It's clear that Cleveland is pushing to win-now mode to appease Lebron, even though he says he understands that it will take time to make the Cavs competitive. To add Love to a core that includes James, Kyrie Irving, Tristian Thompson, Dion Waiters, and Anderson Varejao would instantly make the Cavs favorites in the East. More than that, I just don't want to hear about "a possible Kevin Love trade" anymore. Let's just trade him and get the rebuilding in full swing in Minnesota.
5. I'm absolutely thrilled the Devils have re-signed Cory Schneider. It's still a bit strange to admit that the Martin Brodeur era is over but I truly believe it's time to move forward. Having the 28-year-old Schneider under contract for the next seven years (at a manageable $6 million cap hit) is great stability for Jersey's Team. Schneider has had some of the best numbers in the league over the last few years but has to yet to prove himself as a number one goalie. He gets his chance now as the Devils have firmly hitched their wagon to him. It will be nice to go into next season without any questions about Marty's future and/or playing time hanging over the Devils. Overall, I'm pretty happy with their moves this offseason. Offense was a priority and (as we already know) you've got to overpay to get goals in Jersey so I can live with the 5-year deal inked by Mike Cammalleri. The Martin Havlat deal is low-risk/high-reward, similar to the deal Jaromir Jagr signed with the team last summer. Losing Mark Fayne and Anton Volchenkov doesn't bother me much. There is a wealth of strong defencemen in the system and it's time for them to get playing time to prove themselves, particularly Adam Larsson, the number four overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft.
6. The WWE has become practically unwatchable these days. Daniel Bryan finally made it to the top of the mountain, only to get hurt shortly thereafter. CM Punk walked away from the company. The Undertaker saw his streak end at WrestleMania 30. John Cena is constantly holding or around the WWE Championship. The Shield was broken up. On top of all that, they keep giving huge pushes to Brock Lesnar, a part-timer who magically gets a WWE Title shot at Summerslam. I love Chris Jericho, but the latest Y2J return angle isn't doing much for me at all. Triple H has always been my favorite wrestler, but I'm getting tired of his act as well. Either be an authority figure or get back into the ring and be a wrestler. I understand it's hard to give up the in-ring competition and make that transition but this is tough to watch. Triple H was arguably the best heel of the last 15 years. His run as "The Game" in 2000 was legendary and made for tremendous television. But his cunning heel personality was born of intensity and it's hard to manufacture that when you're on TV in a suit 90% of the time. Perhaps Trips will become a great on-screen villain as an authority figure but no one did it quite like Mr. McMahon himself. There are also no new starts on the horizon. Guys that were tabbed as breakthrough stars such as The Miz, Dolph Ziggler, and Sheamus have fizzled out and faded into the mid-card picture. Will Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose lead the next wave of stars or am I going to be stuck watching John Cena reign as WWE Champion for the next five years. In the meantime, pay attention to Ring of Honor. There is some absolutely tremendous wrestling going on in that company right now.
7. That'll cover it for now.
-Meech
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