What Went Well: Running the ball. Shonn Greene and Bilal Powell combined for 39 rushes for 155 yards. Muhammad Wilkerson was unstoppable on the defensive line and Quinton Coples played well. The Jets defense created two turnovers and made quite a few stops on third down.
What Did Not Go Well: Offensively, the Jets gave the ball up twice. The defense allowed Montell Owens to run for 91 yards including a 32 yard scamper. For as well as the defense played, the Jaguars still had the opportunity to tie before Chad Henne threw an interception to Ellis Lankster.
What Else: Ground and Pound. That is the Jets slogan and that was their approach. Powell and Greene each had as many carries as Mark Sanchez had passes. The Jets showed no faith in Sanchez, limiting his throws to be as safe as possible. How many times did the Jets have 7 yards to go and he threw a 2 yard pass? It was because the Jets did not want Sanchez to do anything but the minimum. The Jets had two drives that resulted in touchdowns. The first one was 9 plays which featured 7 Greene runs and 2 Sanchez passes. The second one was 7 plays made entirely of Powell runs. Says all you need right there.
Defensively, the Jets held the Jaguars to 2 and 16 on 3rd down. The key play was Garrett McIntyre hitting Henne on a 3rd and 1 from the Jets 11 leading to a Bart Scott interception. The Jaguars have the longest streak of not scoring a touchdown on the opening drive of the game in the NFL and they used a 14 play drive to try to end this. The Jets game plan might have gone out the window if they went down a touchdown. Luckily that did not occur.
Not going to go on about the Jets quarterback situation. Again it shows poor man management by Rex Ryan. Whether it be for financial reasons are not, Mark Sanchez is going to be the starter for the rest of the season and the quicker we accept that the better. Coples needs to play more. The Jets picked him 16th overall yet have not played him all the time. Ryan lobbied to draft the guy yet does not play him. Coples is not the finished article but can only get better with more game time. The Jets need to give it to him.
Now What: Contrary to what the media will tell you, the Jets are not the worst team in the NFL. They are a mediocre one. Every misstep is discussed like they are 3-10 but they are actually 6-7, only one game out of the playoffs in the AFC. Though I don't think they will make it, they are at least in the hunt which is good. Have the Jets lost to a team that is worse than they are? Did they not beat the darling Colts by 26? Though I still advocate changes for the future, I am happy the team is in the mix. Games against the Titans, Chargers, and Bills are winnable. The Jets do have the opportunity to shock some people. Hope they can do it.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Episode 11
On this week's episode, I talk entirely about college football including the Antonio Cromartie Straight Shooter of the Week.
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Friday, November 30, 2012
Episode 10
On this week's episode, I talk about the latest moves in the wacky world of conference realignment, the quarterback situation of the 49ers, and the Antonio Cromartie Straight Shooter of the Week.
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Friday, November 16, 2012
Episode 9
On this week's episode, I talk about the Lakers coaching moves of the last week, the trade by the Miami Marlins and why the public should not pay for stadiums, and a special Antonio Cromartie Straight Shooter of the Week.
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Tuesday, November 6, 2012
EPL Liverpool 1 Newcastle 1 11/5/12
What Went Well: Yohan Cabaye scored an impressive goal, controlling a Hatem Ben Afra cross and volleying a shot in. Vernon Anita played well in central midfield after being moved there after an injury to James Perch. Steven Taylor was a rock in central defense.
What Did Not Go Well: Fabricio Coloccini and Tim Krul could have done better on the Luis Suarez goal. That would not have been an issue if Jonas Gutierrez did not lose the ball in midfield and if someone chased down Jose Enrique instead of allowing him to pass the ball forward.
What Else: Newcastle have a terrible record at Anfield. In the Premier League, they have only won once and have scored very little. If you told me at kickoff this game would be 1-1, I would have taken it. At the end I was happy with the result, though I feel Liverpool was there for the taking. Liverpool took the impetus at the start of the game and put Newcastle on the back foot. But Liverpool did not manage any shots on target. A lot of noise from the crowd but no end product. Then Newcastle got the goal and you could see the steam coming out of the Liverpool side. They are not good defensively and Newcastle can be great on the counter attack. Half time saved Liverpool in my opinion.
Liverpool came out fast again in the second half but Newcastle failed to adjust as quickly. James Perch succumbed to injury in the first half and Demba Ba joined him on the treatment table soon after the restart. Cabaye was also injured which may have led to the uncertainty over where Gutierrez should pass the ball and no one challenging Enrique. The goal by Suarez was fantastic but could have been prevented if there was no bad pass, Enrique was chased, or Krul or Coloccini read the danger faster.
One of the things I love about the English Premier League is that you have to earn your keep every year. If you don't produce the goods you are out. This happened to Newcastle when they were relegated after the 2008-09 season. But some teams have a favored status from the media no matter how good they are or are not. Liverpool is in this situation. They are an average side but because of their history they have a lot of fans in the media and there is a belief that they should be at the top of the table. Liverpool showed in this game all the reasons why they are a mid table side and the irony was not lost on me that their goal was scored on a hopeful punt up the field. Not part of the Brendan Rodgers style. But the media hails their effort even if all their possession only lead to one goal. I thought goals won games but I guess possession statistics are more important.
Should Coloccini have been sent off? By the "letter of the law" I guess except "letter of the law" did not apply in other situations. Nuri Sahin constantly committed fouls and did not receive a yellow card. He was taken off by Rodgers before he could be cautioned. Raheem Sterling made a similar tackle on Papiss Cisse and only got a talking to by the referee. Sterling also kicked out at Danny Simpson after Simpson fouled him. No Sky inquiry, no big deal. Referee Anthony Taylor seemed to let play go in all aspects of the game but the Coloccini tackle was taken out of his hands by a furiously flagging assistant referee who was yelling red. If only he was so upset at the other tackles.
Now What: A quarter of the season has been played and Newcastle is in 10th place. I am alright with this position because there are a host of teams bunched together. Newcastle has the capacity to play better and I believe that they will in the next few games. The fixture list is decent and they can pick up points. Unfortunately injuries have taken its toll on the team. Perch is added to long term absentees Ryan Taylor, Dan Gosling and Haris Vukic while Cheick Tiote and Coloccini are suspended for West Ham. All Newcastle fans have yelled that the squad is too small but this is an opportunity for the young and fringe players to get out there and show something. Newcastle has a game away to Club Brugge in the Europa League followed by the returns of Kevin Nolan, Andy Carroll, and Sam Allardyce to St. James Park. Two winnable games. Howay the lads!!!
What Did Not Go Well: Fabricio Coloccini and Tim Krul could have done better on the Luis Suarez goal. That would not have been an issue if Jonas Gutierrez did not lose the ball in midfield and if someone chased down Jose Enrique instead of allowing him to pass the ball forward.
What Else: Newcastle have a terrible record at Anfield. In the Premier League, they have only won once and have scored very little. If you told me at kickoff this game would be 1-1, I would have taken it. At the end I was happy with the result, though I feel Liverpool was there for the taking. Liverpool took the impetus at the start of the game and put Newcastle on the back foot. But Liverpool did not manage any shots on target. A lot of noise from the crowd but no end product. Then Newcastle got the goal and you could see the steam coming out of the Liverpool side. They are not good defensively and Newcastle can be great on the counter attack. Half time saved Liverpool in my opinion.
Liverpool came out fast again in the second half but Newcastle failed to adjust as quickly. James Perch succumbed to injury in the first half and Demba Ba joined him on the treatment table soon after the restart. Cabaye was also injured which may have led to the uncertainty over where Gutierrez should pass the ball and no one challenging Enrique. The goal by Suarez was fantastic but could have been prevented if there was no bad pass, Enrique was chased, or Krul or Coloccini read the danger faster.
One of the things I love about the English Premier League is that you have to earn your keep every year. If you don't produce the goods you are out. This happened to Newcastle when they were relegated after the 2008-09 season. But some teams have a favored status from the media no matter how good they are or are not. Liverpool is in this situation. They are an average side but because of their history they have a lot of fans in the media and there is a belief that they should be at the top of the table. Liverpool showed in this game all the reasons why they are a mid table side and the irony was not lost on me that their goal was scored on a hopeful punt up the field. Not part of the Brendan Rodgers style. But the media hails their effort even if all their possession only lead to one goal. I thought goals won games but I guess possession statistics are more important.
Should Coloccini have been sent off? By the "letter of the law" I guess except "letter of the law" did not apply in other situations. Nuri Sahin constantly committed fouls and did not receive a yellow card. He was taken off by Rodgers before he could be cautioned. Raheem Sterling made a similar tackle on Papiss Cisse and only got a talking to by the referee. Sterling also kicked out at Danny Simpson after Simpson fouled him. No Sky inquiry, no big deal. Referee Anthony Taylor seemed to let play go in all aspects of the game but the Coloccini tackle was taken out of his hands by a furiously flagging assistant referee who was yelling red. If only he was so upset at the other tackles.
Now What: A quarter of the season has been played and Newcastle is in 10th place. I am alright with this position because there are a host of teams bunched together. Newcastle has the capacity to play better and I believe that they will in the next few games. The fixture list is decent and they can pick up points. Unfortunately injuries have taken its toll on the team. Perch is added to long term absentees Ryan Taylor, Dan Gosling and Haris Vukic while Cheick Tiote and Coloccini are suspended for West Ham. All Newcastle fans have yelled that the squad is too small but this is an opportunity for the young and fringe players to get out there and show something. Newcastle has a game away to Club Brugge in the Europa League followed by the returns of Kevin Nolan, Andy Carroll, and Sam Allardyce to St. James Park. Two winnable games. Howay the lads!!!
Friday, November 2, 2012
Episode 8
On this week's episode, I talk about the Jets at the mid point of the NFL season, the new US broadcaster for the EPL, and a throwback Antonio Cromartie Straight Shooter of the Week.
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Tuesday, October 30, 2012
EPL Newcastle 2 West Bromwich Albion 1 10/28/12
What Went Well: Demba Ba scored his league leading 7th goal from a flick on from Shola Ameobi. A run from Hatem Ben Afra led to a shot by Sammy Ameobi which deflected off Papiss Cisse for the injury time winner. Tim Krul made some fantastic saves.
What Did Not Go Well: Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson had a long day against Romelu Lukaku. Not quite sure why Shola Ameobi was playing on the right wing.
What Else: Fortune shone on the home team at St. James' Park as a deflected shot to a lucky winner. A draw may have been a fairer result and some could argue that West Brom should have fun. Lukaku was unplayable and Newcastle was happy when he was substituted.
This was another Newcastle lineup that I was unsure about. It looked like 4-4-2 but for some reason it drifted to a 4-3-3 with Shola Ameobi on the wing. Though he put in a great cross for Ba, there was no reason for him to be there. He actually played Lukaku onside for the goal showing his lack of positioning. Why not play Gabriel Obertan to reward him for his Europa League efforts?
This was also another game where Newcastle changed formation during the match. Though it is good to be able to change tactics, too many games have started with Newcastle falling behind. Not having a set formation also does not give the players a set way of playing. I was not happy with Alan Pardew using the Europa League as an excuse for poor Premier League performances. Newcastle played at home and made 9 changes to the starting lineup. The biggest teams in all of Europe have to balance domestic and continental fixtures. If that is where Newcastle wants to be, they need to be able to strike that balance.
Now What: After 9 games, roughly quarter of the season, Newcastle are in 10th place but only 4 points out 4th. I don't expect Newcastle to finish at the heights of last season, trophy please, but I expect a top 10 season. Three fortunate points against a team in good form helps. Next week they are in a high profile game against Liverpool, a team that is not better than Newcastle but is considered better because they were really good in the 70s and 80s. Though Newcastle has a bad record at Anfield, I can see them getting a draw if they start the game well. No Europa League game this week so there is no excuse there. A win over Liverpool will put Newcastle in a good position as they move towards a favorable November schedule on paper.
What Did Not Go Well: Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson had a long day against Romelu Lukaku. Not quite sure why Shola Ameobi was playing on the right wing.
What Else: Fortune shone on the home team at St. James' Park as a deflected shot to a lucky winner. A draw may have been a fairer result and some could argue that West Brom should have fun. Lukaku was unplayable and Newcastle was happy when he was substituted.
This was another Newcastle lineup that I was unsure about. It looked like 4-4-2 but for some reason it drifted to a 4-3-3 with Shola Ameobi on the wing. Though he put in a great cross for Ba, there was no reason for him to be there. He actually played Lukaku onside for the goal showing his lack of positioning. Why not play Gabriel Obertan to reward him for his Europa League efforts?
This was also another game where Newcastle changed formation during the match. Though it is good to be able to change tactics, too many games have started with Newcastle falling behind. Not having a set formation also does not give the players a set way of playing. I was not happy with Alan Pardew using the Europa League as an excuse for poor Premier League performances. Newcastle played at home and made 9 changes to the starting lineup. The biggest teams in all of Europe have to balance domestic and continental fixtures. If that is where Newcastle wants to be, they need to be able to strike that balance.
Now What: After 9 games, roughly quarter of the season, Newcastle are in 10th place but only 4 points out 4th. I don't expect Newcastle to finish at the heights of last season, trophy please, but I expect a top 10 season. Three fortunate points against a team in good form helps. Next week they are in a high profile game against Liverpool, a team that is not better than Newcastle but is considered better because they were really good in the 70s and 80s. Though Newcastle has a bad record at Anfield, I can see them getting a draw if they start the game well. No Europa League game this week so there is no excuse there. A win over Liverpool will put Newcastle in a good position as they move towards a favorable November schedule on paper.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
NFL Miami Dolphins 30 New York Jets 9 10/28/12
What Went Well: Thought long and hard about this one. Could not come up with anything.
What Did Not Go Well: I will make my life easier by saying everything.
What Else: For those like myself who have always valued special teams, this game is a great way to showcase how valuable special teams can be. Over his tenure as Jets special teams coordinator, Mike Westhoff has built the Jets into one of the league's best special team units. For whatever reason, those days have come to an end. This game had many special teams mistakes that put the Jets in a hole. Getting caught off guard on the Dolphins first kickoff is excusable but it shows the mentality that the Dolphins had going into this game. More on that later. After that there was a blocked punt and field goal, Jets players running into Clyde Gates preventing him from a kickoff return for a touchdown, not covering the ensuing kickoff well after the Jets finally scored points, and Jeremy Kerley's ability to field punts inside the Jets 10. It was a total disaster.
A few weeks ago, I had given up on Mark Sanchez as a franchise quarterback. This game displayed why. He is not a difference maker at the position. He has had too many games disrupted by erratic throws. I can't recall another quarterback who has that many batted balls at the line of scrimmage especially on screen passes. I have this worry that Mark Sanchez may be someone's reclamation project in 5 years but nothing can be done about that. For cap reasons, he will probably be on the team for at least one more year. He has to play better. I am not calling for Tim Tebow and I won't be at any point this season. It has become apparent to me and many others that Tebow's presence is cosmetic only and the coaching staff wants to use him as little as possible.
It never concerned me how much the Jets talked trash. It was all in fun for me and did not take away or add to the result of games. However, after the talk this week, I would hope the Jets would have come out with some fire. That did not happen. The Dolphins came out intensely and the Jets did not match that. After playing so well last week, being at home against a division rival was not enough for the team to come out like they cared. A lot of that is on the plate of the coaching staff. They were out thought by their Dolphins counterparts. From the early onside kick, using corner blitzes, or through exposing Tim Tebow as a punt protector the Dolphins beat the Jets at every corner. I never thought that Rex Ryan was on the hot seat this season but the Jets did not show up for 2 games this season and the blame has to be on his door.
The hottest seat in the entire New York Jets organization belongs to Mike Tannenbaum. As I have said before, the Jets roster holes are huge and there is no quick fix. That has to be part of the reason why the special teams have deteriorated over the last few years. Three of the four Jets starting linebackers are older than me and the Demario Davis era may have begun. Sanchez's failings aside, the offensive line has had it. Brandon Moore may be past it, Matt Slauson has regressed, and Austin Howard is shaky. I don't think that Woody Johnson should take a page out of the Jerry Richardson playbook and fire his general manager during the season. It won't change anything now as could be seen in the Panthers vs Bears today where the Panthers again lost a close game they could have easily won. But there is a rebuilding job that needs to be done and it must be decided if Tannenbaum is the man to do that. With the Jets next game taking place after the election, it may be an opportunity for Mr. Johnson to focus on what the Jets need to do in 2013 and beyond.
Now What: I won't be watching too much television over the next two weeks as it pertains to the NFL knowing how much the media loves to take shots at the Jets when there is no reason. After that display, I am sure the ESPN suits are licking their chops. It would be great to find a silver lining in this but there isn't one. The Jets go into the bye week with more questions and the season looks like it is spiraling out of control. The Jets still are in touching distance of a wild card spot but seeing this squad reach 9 wins looks unlikely.
What Did Not Go Well: I will make my life easier by saying everything.
What Else: For those like myself who have always valued special teams, this game is a great way to showcase how valuable special teams can be. Over his tenure as Jets special teams coordinator, Mike Westhoff has built the Jets into one of the league's best special team units. For whatever reason, those days have come to an end. This game had many special teams mistakes that put the Jets in a hole. Getting caught off guard on the Dolphins first kickoff is excusable but it shows the mentality that the Dolphins had going into this game. More on that later. After that there was a blocked punt and field goal, Jets players running into Clyde Gates preventing him from a kickoff return for a touchdown, not covering the ensuing kickoff well after the Jets finally scored points, and Jeremy Kerley's ability to field punts inside the Jets 10. It was a total disaster.
A few weeks ago, I had given up on Mark Sanchez as a franchise quarterback. This game displayed why. He is not a difference maker at the position. He has had too many games disrupted by erratic throws. I can't recall another quarterback who has that many batted balls at the line of scrimmage especially on screen passes. I have this worry that Mark Sanchez may be someone's reclamation project in 5 years but nothing can be done about that. For cap reasons, he will probably be on the team for at least one more year. He has to play better. I am not calling for Tim Tebow and I won't be at any point this season. It has become apparent to me and many others that Tebow's presence is cosmetic only and the coaching staff wants to use him as little as possible.
It never concerned me how much the Jets talked trash. It was all in fun for me and did not take away or add to the result of games. However, after the talk this week, I would hope the Jets would have come out with some fire. That did not happen. The Dolphins came out intensely and the Jets did not match that. After playing so well last week, being at home against a division rival was not enough for the team to come out like they cared. A lot of that is on the plate of the coaching staff. They were out thought by their Dolphins counterparts. From the early onside kick, using corner blitzes, or through exposing Tim Tebow as a punt protector the Dolphins beat the Jets at every corner. I never thought that Rex Ryan was on the hot seat this season but the Jets did not show up for 2 games this season and the blame has to be on his door.
The hottest seat in the entire New York Jets organization belongs to Mike Tannenbaum. As I have said before, the Jets roster holes are huge and there is no quick fix. That has to be part of the reason why the special teams have deteriorated over the last few years. Three of the four Jets starting linebackers are older than me and the Demario Davis era may have begun. Sanchez's failings aside, the offensive line has had it. Brandon Moore may be past it, Matt Slauson has regressed, and Austin Howard is shaky. I don't think that Woody Johnson should take a page out of the Jerry Richardson playbook and fire his general manager during the season. It won't change anything now as could be seen in the Panthers vs Bears today where the Panthers again lost a close game they could have easily won. But there is a rebuilding job that needs to be done and it must be decided if Tannenbaum is the man to do that. With the Jets next game taking place after the election, it may be an opportunity for Mr. Johnson to focus on what the Jets need to do in 2013 and beyond.
Now What: I won't be watching too much television over the next two weeks as it pertains to the NFL knowing how much the media loves to take shots at the Jets when there is no reason. After that display, I am sure the ESPN suits are licking their chops. It would be great to find a silver lining in this but there isn't one. The Jets go into the bye week with more questions and the season looks like it is spiraling out of control. The Jets still are in touching distance of a wild card spot but seeing this squad reach 9 wins looks unlikely.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Episode 7
On this week's episode, I talk about the legacy of Lance Armstrong, the NBA's power over ESPN's selection of commentators and the backlash on Cam Newton.
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UEFA Europa League Newcastle 1 Club Brugge 0 10/25/12
What Went Well: Gabriel Obertan scored his first goal of the season. Sammy Ameobi and Shane Ferguson played well looking like good squad players.
What Did Not Go Well: Papiss Cisse missed three glorious chances and looked off the pace. Cheick Tiote picked up another booking and played some poor passes.
What Else: Newcastle came out like a house of fire against Club Brugge. They dominated the first half but could not get a goal. Cisse could have had a hat trick in the first half but one goal would have been enough to give the home team a lift that they could push on with. The second half saw the introduction of Shola Ameobi and a switch to 4-4-2. Shola's pass to Sammy led to Sammy's great flick and pass to Obertan. Obertan took his goal well and has been the best player for Newcastle throughout the first 3 Europa League games.
After the goal, Club Brugge forced the action and could have gotten goal. Some good defending and bad finishing contributed to keep the Belgian side out of the net. Newcastle and Leverkusen are the only teams not to concede a goal in the Europa League group stages and that is a good stat to have.
Very happy to win a game where Hatem Ben Afra, Tim Krul, and Demba Ba were spectators and Yohan Cabaye and Fabricio Coloccini made cameo appearances. The absence of Sylvain Marveaux and the quick hook of Vernon Anita are worrying signs but it is a long season and both of those players will play their part at some point.
Now What: With the victory, Newcastle has 7 points in 3 Europa League games putting them in 1st place in the group at the midway point. That puts them in a great position to qualify for the knockout stages. As a fan of a team that has not won a trophy since 1969, I can not take the opportunity to pass up a chance at glory. These games have been beneficial to give some squad players a chance to play. A draw at Brugge and a home win for Maritimo should put Newcastle through to the next phase and after that we can all dream. As for now, a Premier League win against West Brom is next up on the schedule.
What Did Not Go Well: Papiss Cisse missed three glorious chances and looked off the pace. Cheick Tiote picked up another booking and played some poor passes.
What Else: Newcastle came out like a house of fire against Club Brugge. They dominated the first half but could not get a goal. Cisse could have had a hat trick in the first half but one goal would have been enough to give the home team a lift that they could push on with. The second half saw the introduction of Shola Ameobi and a switch to 4-4-2. Shola's pass to Sammy led to Sammy's great flick and pass to Obertan. Obertan took his goal well and has been the best player for Newcastle throughout the first 3 Europa League games.
After the goal, Club Brugge forced the action and could have gotten goal. Some good defending and bad finishing contributed to keep the Belgian side out of the net. Newcastle and Leverkusen are the only teams not to concede a goal in the Europa League group stages and that is a good stat to have.
Very happy to win a game where Hatem Ben Afra, Tim Krul, and Demba Ba were spectators and Yohan Cabaye and Fabricio Coloccini made cameo appearances. The absence of Sylvain Marveaux and the quick hook of Vernon Anita are worrying signs but it is a long season and both of those players will play their part at some point.
Now What: With the victory, Newcastle has 7 points in 3 Europa League games putting them in 1st place in the group at the midway point. That puts them in a great position to qualify for the knockout stages. As a fan of a team that has not won a trophy since 1969, I can not take the opportunity to pass up a chance at glory. These games have been beneficial to give some squad players a chance to play. A draw at Brugge and a home win for Maritimo should put Newcastle through to the next phase and after that we can all dream. As for now, a Premier League win against West Brom is next up on the schedule.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Episode 6
On this week's episode Cillan Flavin joins me to talk about the first 6 weeks of the English Premier League and Matt Schrantz joins me to talk about the University of Buffalo taking on the University of Pittsburgh. For the first time ever, there are multiple Antonio Cromartie Straight Shooters of the Week.
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Tuesday, October 16, 2012
United States 3 Guatemala 1 10/16/12
What Went Well: Clint Dempsey scored two goals tying him with Brian McBride for third most goals in US national team history with 30. Carlos Bocanegra scored his 14th goal surpassing Marcelo Balboa for most goals by a defender. Joe Corona came on as a late substitute ensuring that he was cap tied to the US.
What Did Not Go Well: Not sure if it was miscommunication or an exposure of Bocanegra's lack of pace but the Carlos Ruiz goal showed defensive frailty.
What Else: No heart palpitations occurred after Clint Dempsey's goal in the 20th minute. Before then the US started brightly but allowed a long ball to Carlos Ruiz to expose a defensive weakness. Lack of pace at the back. Bocanegra is the captain and has been a great servant to the national team for the past 7 years or so but at 33 he may be past it as a front line player and will be past his prime at the 2014 World Cup. The problem is what is the alternative to him at center back? Players such as Tim Ream, Omar Gonzalez, and George John have been discussed as the future but none of them have been near a US squad in ages. My belief is that in a national team the best players must play and for Bocanegra to be out someone has to be better than him. Right now there is a no clear answer. The US only kept one clean sheet in the six qualifiers and they must get better defensively as a whole.
The main thing that I enjoyed about this game was the US did not waver after the early goal and Bocanegra's equalizer. They could have gone through with a draw but pushed for a win. To me that was important mentally as the US has slipped into moments of complacency during these qualifiers. They wanted to win and they put in a performance to show that the team was not content with what had gone on in previous games and wanted to do better in front of the home crowd. Getting the third goal was important because it created a barrier that Guatemala was not able to overcome.
I am known for my tendency to criticize Jurgen Klinnsman but I won't today. Though I was not happy with him not bringing in players for the ones who were injured, I felt he put out the right lineup considering the players who were available. The US has played well at home during this round of qualifying and I expect that to continue in the next round. Hopefully they can bring that mentality to some of the road games next year.
Now What: Qualifying processes in soccer are not transitive properties. Once you make it to the next level, everyone starts from scratch and there is little correlation to the past. The US won the group and when you show this to your children on Wikipedia in 20 years you will only remember the table and not the process. The US has moved on to the final round of World Cup qualifying and will join Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, and Jamaica there. The schedule for the games should be within in the next two weeks with the first game coming in February. Though the US needs to make improvements by then and who knows what players will be available at that time, what form they will be in, or what process Klinnsman will have in selecting the squad, the important thing is that these games are there to be played. The alternative was unthinkable and thankfully we don't have to worry about that.
What Did Not Go Well: Not sure if it was miscommunication or an exposure of Bocanegra's lack of pace but the Carlos Ruiz goal showed defensive frailty.
What Else: No heart palpitations occurred after Clint Dempsey's goal in the 20th minute. Before then the US started brightly but allowed a long ball to Carlos Ruiz to expose a defensive weakness. Lack of pace at the back. Bocanegra is the captain and has been a great servant to the national team for the past 7 years or so but at 33 he may be past it as a front line player and will be past his prime at the 2014 World Cup. The problem is what is the alternative to him at center back? Players such as Tim Ream, Omar Gonzalez, and George John have been discussed as the future but none of them have been near a US squad in ages. My belief is that in a national team the best players must play and for Bocanegra to be out someone has to be better than him. Right now there is a no clear answer. The US only kept one clean sheet in the six qualifiers and they must get better defensively as a whole.
The main thing that I enjoyed about this game was the US did not waver after the early goal and Bocanegra's equalizer. They could have gone through with a draw but pushed for a win. To me that was important mentally as the US has slipped into moments of complacency during these qualifiers. They wanted to win and they put in a performance to show that the team was not content with what had gone on in previous games and wanted to do better in front of the home crowd. Getting the third goal was important because it created a barrier that Guatemala was not able to overcome.
I am known for my tendency to criticize Jurgen Klinnsman but I won't today. Though I was not happy with him not bringing in players for the ones who were injured, I felt he put out the right lineup considering the players who were available. The US has played well at home during this round of qualifying and I expect that to continue in the next round. Hopefully they can bring that mentality to some of the road games next year.
Now What: Qualifying processes in soccer are not transitive properties. Once you make it to the next level, everyone starts from scratch and there is little correlation to the past. The US won the group and when you show this to your children on Wikipedia in 20 years you will only remember the table and not the process. The US has moved on to the final round of World Cup qualifying and will join Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, and Jamaica there. The schedule for the games should be within in the next two weeks with the first game coming in February. Though the US needs to make improvements by then and who knows what players will be available at that time, what form they will be in, or what process Klinnsman will have in selecting the squad, the important thing is that these games are there to be played. The alternative was unthinkable and thankfully we don't have to worry about that.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Colts 9 Jets 35 10/14/12
What Went Well: Someone told Shonn Greene it was 2009 as he ran for 161 yards and 3 touchdowns. Joe McKnight had a 61 yard run. Antonio Cromartie played great defense on Reggie Wayne and should have had a pick six. Quinton Coples had 1.5 sacks.
What Did Not Go Well: Injuries to McKnight and Bilal Powell may rule them out for lengthy spells. Too many penalties, 8 in total.
What Else: If I said that Mark Sanchez threw for 82 yards, how much would you have assumed the Jets lost by? This game shows that fantasy football statistics don't correlate to victories. He did not make any mistakes and made some good throws especially the two touchdown passes to Stephen and Jason Hill.
The game plan was Rex Ryan's dream. Run, run, run some more. Make a few passes in critical times and go home. Greene may have read the stories of his demise or seen his carries shrink and was unhappy but either way he ran like he had something to prove. Hopefully that will continue since he may be solo the next few weeks depending on the injuries to Powell and McKnight. The offensive line also deserves a tip of the cap for opening the holes and only giving up one sack.
The run defense was better. It helps that the Colts only ran the ball 17 times but there were no runs longer than 5 yards. There was a pass rush and the Jets got 4 sacks. Andrew Luck missed some throws but the Jets were able to hold long Colts drives to field goals which helped to keep the gap in the score.
The coaching was better. The play calling was better. Not happy with the use of timeouts but it really did not matter. Good use of Tim Tebow today especially on the fake punt. To be fair, that play was set up by previous plays where he ran up the middle.
Now What: The entire AFC East is 3-3 with the Jets being the only team with 2 division wins. No one in the AFC is running away with anything so 3-3 also keeps them in the Wild Card mix. Next week's game is against the Patriots and everyone knows the rivalry between those two. Win or lose, the Jets are staying around in spite of the media's desire to turn their season into a disaster.
What Did Not Go Well: Injuries to McKnight and Bilal Powell may rule them out for lengthy spells. Too many penalties, 8 in total.
What Else: If I said that Mark Sanchez threw for 82 yards, how much would you have assumed the Jets lost by? This game shows that fantasy football statistics don't correlate to victories. He did not make any mistakes and made some good throws especially the two touchdown passes to Stephen and Jason Hill.
The game plan was Rex Ryan's dream. Run, run, run some more. Make a few passes in critical times and go home. Greene may have read the stories of his demise or seen his carries shrink and was unhappy but either way he ran like he had something to prove. Hopefully that will continue since he may be solo the next few weeks depending on the injuries to Powell and McKnight. The offensive line also deserves a tip of the cap for opening the holes and only giving up one sack.
The run defense was better. It helps that the Colts only ran the ball 17 times but there were no runs longer than 5 yards. There was a pass rush and the Jets got 4 sacks. Andrew Luck missed some throws but the Jets were able to hold long Colts drives to field goals which helped to keep the gap in the score.
The coaching was better. The play calling was better. Not happy with the use of timeouts but it really did not matter. Good use of Tim Tebow today especially on the fake punt. To be fair, that play was set up by previous plays where he ran up the middle.
Now What: The entire AFC East is 3-3 with the Jets being the only team with 2 division wins. No one in the AFC is running away with anything so 3-3 also keeps them in the Wild Card mix. Next week's game is against the Patriots and everyone knows the rivalry between those two. Win or lose, the Jets are staying around in spite of the media's desire to turn their season into a disaster.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Antigua and Barbuda 1 United States 2 10/12/12
What Went Well: Eddie Johnson started and scored both goals in his first national team appearance since 2010. Alan Gordon, making his first appearance for the national team, provided the winning assist. Michael Bradley had a lot of bite in midfield. Graham Zusi played well in the first half but faded badly in the second.
What Did Not Go Well: Jermaine Jones played poorly making bad passes, bad tackles, and getting an intentional handball in a dangerous era. Clint Dempsey was anonymous. Carlos Bocanegra, Clarence Goodson, and Geoff Cameron did not cover themselves in glory on the goal from Dexter Blackstock.
What Else: The US was a 91st minute winner from Eddie Johnson away from disaster. Drawing to a team with a population of a nation under 90,000 would have been a disaster. There is no other way to describe it. Alarm bills rang when the striker who was supposed to be in for his heading ability was put on the left wing. After the goal, the US lacked urgency and allowed Antigua and Barbuda to get back in the game. The US looked unsure of what they are doing. The substitution of Jermaine Jones was nonsensical as he did not offer anything and made no sense since the US needed a goal. It appears the team either does not have a plan or can't execute it. Not finding a way to get the best out of Clint Dempsey is inexcusable.
Now What: A win is a win and the US only needs a draw against Guatemala on Tuesday to qualify for the next section of World Cup qualifying. However, it is imperative that the US play better and Jurgen Klinsmann needs to improve to justify his paycheck.
What Did Not Go Well: Jermaine Jones played poorly making bad passes, bad tackles, and getting an intentional handball in a dangerous era. Clint Dempsey was anonymous. Carlos Bocanegra, Clarence Goodson, and Geoff Cameron did not cover themselves in glory on the goal from Dexter Blackstock.
What Else: The US was a 91st minute winner from Eddie Johnson away from disaster. Drawing to a team with a population of a nation under 90,000 would have been a disaster. There is no other way to describe it. Alarm bills rang when the striker who was supposed to be in for his heading ability was put on the left wing. After the goal, the US lacked urgency and allowed Antigua and Barbuda to get back in the game. The US looked unsure of what they are doing. The substitution of Jermaine Jones was nonsensical as he did not offer anything and made no sense since the US needed a goal. It appears the team either does not have a plan or can't execute it. Not finding a way to get the best out of Clint Dempsey is inexcusable.
Now What: A win is a win and the US only needs a draw against Guatemala on Tuesday to qualify for the next section of World Cup qualifying. However, it is imperative that the US play better and Jurgen Klinsmann needs to improve to justify his paycheck.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Episode 5
This week's episode focuses on the big deal over Drew Brees' touchdown record and the USMNT World Cup qualifiers.
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Thursday, October 11, 2012
Texans 23 Jets 17 10/8/12
What Went Well:
Jets scored a touchdown on offense and special teams. Jeremy Kerley had 94 receiving yards on 5 catches. Antonio Cromartie played shut down defense on Andrew Johnson. Joe McKnight had a 100 yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Short list.
What Did Not Go Well: Run defense was torched for 169 yards, a majority of them by Arian Foster. No pass rush. Inability to run the ball. Offensive line getting knocked over. Red zone turnovers. Poor play calling and usage of timeouts. Sanchez having balls batted down.
What Else: It was a positive to not be embarrassed on national television especially with ESPN looking for anything to jump on at any moment. That was accomplished but fact of the matter is that was a winnable game at home. The Texans are my pick to win the Super Bowl but a combination of conservative play calling and poor pass defense kept the Jets in the game. The Jets were not able to capitalize on the opportunity.
The run defense is bad, currently ranked 31st in the NFL. Though everyone goes crazy over the pass, the inability to stop the run can be demoralizing. The Jets have become a bad tackling team that can't get off the field on third. There is also no pass rush which has been a staple of Rex Ryan's time as head coach.
The offensive play calling was abysmal. The interchange of Sanchez and Tebow only lead to confusion between the offense. The Jets used two timeouts due to having the wrong personnel on the field. This cost them at the end of the game. The Jets have to abandon the run because it is not working.
The coaches brought out all the gimmicks including onside kicks, going for it on 4th down, and more gimmick wildcat plays. To me it showed the desperation of the game and the team admitting that they are not able to beat the Texans head on. Having 12 men on the field to start a defensive series shows a team that is not prepared.
Now What: The Jets play the Colts on Sunday and it is a winnable game. If you looked at the Jets schedule after the first five games, 2-3 would not be a crazy record. But they need to perform better in all phases including coaching. The AFC is wide open and being 3-3 will keep them in the playoff hunt.
What Did Not Go Well: Run defense was torched for 169 yards, a majority of them by Arian Foster. No pass rush. Inability to run the ball. Offensive line getting knocked over. Red zone turnovers. Poor play calling and usage of timeouts. Sanchez having balls batted down.
What Else: It was a positive to not be embarrassed on national television especially with ESPN looking for anything to jump on at any moment. That was accomplished but fact of the matter is that was a winnable game at home. The Texans are my pick to win the Super Bowl but a combination of conservative play calling and poor pass defense kept the Jets in the game. The Jets were not able to capitalize on the opportunity.
The run defense is bad, currently ranked 31st in the NFL. Though everyone goes crazy over the pass, the inability to stop the run can be demoralizing. The Jets have become a bad tackling team that can't get off the field on third. There is also no pass rush which has been a staple of Rex Ryan's time as head coach.
The offensive play calling was abysmal. The interchange of Sanchez and Tebow only lead to confusion between the offense. The Jets used two timeouts due to having the wrong personnel on the field. This cost them at the end of the game. The Jets have to abandon the run because it is not working.
The coaches brought out all the gimmicks including onside kicks, going for it on 4th down, and more gimmick wildcat plays. To me it showed the desperation of the game and the team admitting that they are not able to beat the Texans head on. Having 12 men on the field to start a defensive series shows a team that is not prepared.
Now What: The Jets play the Colts on Sunday and it is a winnable game. If you looked at the Jets schedule after the first five games, 2-3 would not be a crazy record. But they need to perform better in all phases including coaching. The AFC is wide open and being 3-3 will keep them in the playoff hunt.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Episode 4
This week's episode focuses on baseball. I talk about the new MLB postseason format and the race for the AL MVP award.
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Thursday, September 27, 2012
Episode 3
The third episode discusses the NFL referee situation and how Roger Goodell became commissioner of the NFL. Was recorded before the referees and the league reached an agreement.
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Friday, September 21, 2012
Episode 2
The second episode of Mind of Maitland is a solo effort where I talk about the 5 media myths of NFL Coverage.
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Friday, September 14, 2012
Episode 1
In the first episode of Mind of Maitland, I am joined by Rich Fann and Matt Schrantz to discuss the Jets 48-28 victory over the Buffalo Bills and other happenings of Week 1 of the NFL season. I will also talk about Notre Dame's move to the ACC and US soccer's performance against Jamaica. The first ever Antonio Cromartie Straight Shooter of the Week award will also be presented. Good way to start the weekend if I do say so myself. I apologize in advance for any sound difficulties. This is my first attempt.
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