State Of Panic?

   With ten games remaining in the regular season, the Spartans find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Losers of 3 games in a row, including a loss to Michigan, at home, for the first time since 97, Michigan State needs to get things turned around before it’s too late. If the Spartans are going to add to their streak of 13 straight NCAA tournament appearances, Tom Izzo will have to pull off his best coaching performance of his career. Let’s asses the situation…

   I all began before the season even started. After another trip to the Final Four, Tom Izzo seemed to flirt with Cleveland in the offseason about there head coaching job, which came as a shock to a lot of people. Then Izzo decided to send Chris Allen packing due to disciplinary issues. Not to mention…Kalin Lucas was coming off achilles surgery. So…there were many questions heading into the regular season. Who will fill Allen’s shoes? Will Lucas be healthy? Can Summers and Roe take the next step? We now have the answers.

   The Spartans are currently 115^th in scoring and 145^th in field goal percentage. They have had major problems scoring. There is no doubt that Chris Allen has been severely missed. With him gone, they lost a good ball handler and a deadly shooter. Korie Lucious was supposed to be that guy, but he was dismissed from the team earlier this week. They just haven’t found someone to step in and fill that role yet. Is it too late? I don’t think so. Yes…Appling has played ok and I’m sure his role will be significantly increased.  He’s actually shooting 43% from 3 point line, but after him…there’s nobody. Thornton or Kebler must step up going forward. As for Lucas…he’s been good. He is leading the Spartans in scoring and is obviously the leader of the team. But…he can only do so much. He just hasn’t gotten enough help. Another key to Michigan State’s success last year was Durrell Summers. After the tournament he played last year, I was looking for him to come back and dominate. It hasn’t really been the case. Summers is only averaging 14 points per game and is shooting a bismol 40% from the field. He definitely needs to play better down the stretch if the Spartans are going to make a run. That brings us to Delvon Roe. After all of the hype coming in, Roe was finally supposed to be healthy this year. That being considered, he hasn’t really been the player they expected. He’s only averaging 7 points and 5 rebounds per game. There is no doubt the Spartans have the talent, it’s about them all playing to their potential. 

   So yes…State has underachieved and their in a tough spot right now, but the Spartans do have one thing no other team has. Tom Izzo. Some people have criticized Izzo for his disciplinary actions, but I trust that he made the decision that was best for the team. It’s nice to see a coach who will stand up and make the tough decisions, even if they are unpopular. So…with 10 games remaining and 5 of them against ranked opponents, it is time for the Spartans to make their run. State is 12-8 overall and  4-4 in the Big Ten. State has Purdue and Illinois at home, but must travel to Ohio State, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Spartans need to get to at least 18 wins to make the tournament. If not…they will more than likely have to win the Big Ten Tournament to get in.  Is it time to panic? Not yet. Yeah…its been a disappointing season so far, but there’s time to right the ship. Either way…it has to start now. Can it be done? I don’t know, but if anybody can make it happen...it’s Izzo.

   It all starts today as the Spartans host Indiana at the Breslin Center. Start time is scheduled for 6:00 P.M.

               

      

Pistons Steal One From The Magic

Pistons impressive In Victory Over Magic

   Tracy McGrady sparked the Pistons with 17 1^st half points as Detroit won for the 5^th time in 7 games, defeating Orlando Monday night103-96.  Tayshaun Prince added 20 points as his buzzer beater towards the end of the 4^th, all but secured victory for Detroit.

  McGrady kept the Pistons close in the first quarter by scoring in a variety of ways. He had multiple drives to the lane, a couple mid-range jumpers, including a 20 footer to end the quarter. After clinging to a 1 point lead after 1, the Detroit bench came in and helped push the lead to 10 at the half. Ben Gordon and Austin Daye led the way for Detroit in the second quarter, combing for 19 points, as the Pistons lead 56-46 at the half.

  Dwight Howard led the Magic in scoring with 20 points and added 16 rebounds. Even after sitting for most of the 2^nd quarter. Orlando, who trailed by 10 at the end of the 3^rd quarter used the 3 ball to cut into the lead throughout the 4^th quarter. Ryan Anderson led the Magic with 12 of his 21 points in the final quarter, including a couple 3’s of his own.

   It wouldn’t be enough though, as the Pistons were able to fight off the Magic at the end, which has been a problem for the Pistons this season. Daye and Gordon connected on 3 consecutive triples early in the 4^th and combined for 17 points in the 4^th quarter. Rodney Stuckey ultimately finished off the Magic as he scored 7 points from the free throw line in the final 4:20. Stuckey, who replaced Rip Hamilton once again, had 16.

  Austin Daye played a career high 34 minutes Wednesday night and had a career high 20 points to go along with 7 boards and 4-4 from downtown. There is no denying the Piston are high on Daye, so it’s nice to see him play well and mature along with the other young talent on the roster. Actually, over the past 10 games, Greg Monroe has been averaging 10 points and 9 rebounds a game. We all know the Pistons probably won’t make the playoffs this year, but it should be interesting to see how these young players develop throughout the season.

   The Pistons go for their 3^rd victory in a row on Wednesday at the Palace against the Denver Nuggets and then will travel to Miami to face the Heat on Friday.

Championship Sunday 2011

              
                                              

QB’s will be the key on Championship Sunday

   All 4 teams playing this Sunday have one thing in common…a great defense. All 4 teams ranked in the top 6 in points allowed over the regular season and all ranked in the top ten in overall defense. Though playoff football is unpredictable and anything can happen…I’m not expecting a ton of points to be scored on Sunday. So each game could come down to a handful of plays. To get to the point, all 4 teams are very good, but they all have strengths and weaknesses. It all boils down to matchups and who can step up in the biggest game of the year and lead their team to the Super Bowl. Let’s take a look at each team’s strengths and weaknesses, what their challenges will be, and who will have to play well in order for their team to win. 

Jets@ Steelers

   The Jets and the Steelers have the two best defenses playing today. Pittsburgh has the best rush defense in the league holding opponents to a ridiculous average of a 62.8 rushing yards per game during the regular season. On the other hand…New York was 3^rd against the run allowing a very respectable 90.9 yards per game. Both teams run a 3-4 defense and have a phenomenal core of linebackers who will most certainly make running the ball very difficult. The Jets ran the ball for 106 yards in a win at the Pittsburgh one month ago, but the Steelers have taken notice and expect different results this Sunday. I anticipate both running games will be neutralized and the game will have to be won through the air. The key to any passing game is protection. The Jets passing game ranked in the bottom third of the league during the regular season, but ranked in the top 5 in sacks allowed with 28. The Pittsburg defense ranked 1^st in sacks this year and have a genius Defensive Coordinator in Dick Labeau. So it seems simple enough…right? New York has to give Sanchez time to throw and he needs to take advantage of his opportunities.  I think the Jets have more playmakers on offense with LT and Green in the backfield, not to mention that New York has a better receiving core, including a former Super Bowl MVP and a good young TE in Dustin Keller. Can Sanchez go into Heinz Field and beat the Steelers for the second time in just over a month? Yes…I do! Can Sanchez join the likes of Namath as the only other Jets QB to play in a Super Bowl? Yeah…he’s a young, but he has a great team around him. Not to mention, he’s won 4 road playoff games over the past two years. Plus…I think Sanchez has more going for him. Let me explain…

   The Steelers were middle of the pack in passing offense during the regular season, just ahead of the Jets. But…this is what scares me if you’re Pittsburg? The Jets are just as good stopping the run and your going against one…if not two…of the 10 best corners in the league. To be honest…I don’t like Pittsburgh’s receivers as much as New York’s either. But…the Steelers have Big Ben! It all rests on his shoulders. This season, Pittsburgh allowed 43 sacks, 8^th most in the league. Imagine what that number could have been if Roethlisberger wasn’t 6-5, 250 with a freakish ability to get him self out of trouble, scramble and create a big play. To make things worse, they allowed 6 sacks and Roethlisberger also fumbled once, which was taken in for a score. With Rex Ryan at the helm, I anticipate the Jets will be able to get pressure and Ben will have to escape, protect the ball and find open receivers. Also, a big play to a burner like Mike Wallace would be huge and would open the run game a bit more for Pittsburgh.

   It’s all going to come down to the quarterbacks and protection. I think the Jets will protect Sanchez well enough for him to make the throws he needs to win the game. With the Jets ability to confuse offenses and apply pressure, along with corners that have the potential to completely shut down WR’s, I tend to be leaning towards New York in this matchup. In the end, the quarterback who protects the ball the best, escapes pressure, extend plays with their feet and makes good throws in big situations will have their team playing in Dallas. I found this game very hard to pick but…

I like the Jets

24-23

Packers@ Bears

   Yeah…it’s a great matchup. The Packers and Bears are playing in the playoffs for only the second time ever in their 89 year history. The only other time was way back in 1941, when Chicago defeated Green Bay 33-14 for the Western Division title. But…I found this game a little easier to pick. Let me tell you why…

   Like the other game…both teams have tremendous defenses. The Bears had the number 2 rush defense in the NFL during the regular season, allowing just over 90 yards a game, but that’s about all the Bears can hang their hat on. Even if the Bears shut down the run, it shouldn’t really matter so much to Green Bay because they haven’t run the ball well all year anyway. Even though, James Starks has stepped up for them this post-season. Chicago’s defense was 17^th in sacks and 20^th in pass defense this season and are about to face the hottest quarterback on the planet. It sure doesn’t look too promising for Chicago, but they do have Peppers, Urlacher, and Briggs on that defense, so that’s a plus. The problem is Chicago’s offense allowed the most sacks in the NFL this year by far with 56 and Jay Cutler has a track record of throwing bad interceptions. Even worse news, the Packers defense ranked 2^nd in sacks with 47. Cutler also has to deal with Charles Woodson and Tramond Williams lurking on the outsides. And honestly…does anybody think the Bears have one good receiver? Maybe Bears fans…I suppose. Anyways…besides playing at home, Chicago doesn’t have a whole lot going for them. But…that’s why they play the game. I expect the Packers to get good pressure and Cutler must avoid making mistakes. Actually…last week Cutler used his legs to get one score and escaped pressure multiple times, extending plays and moving the chains. This is exactly what he has to do if the Bears are going to win.

   As for Green Bay…what’s not to like? They have a quarterback who is absolutely dialed in! Last week, Rogers ran and threw all over Atlanta’s defense from start to finish, narrowly avoiding sacks multiple times, and seemed to make the Falcons pay for it every time. Rogers has multiple playmakers at wide receiver with Jennings and Driver, but he also has depth with Jones and Nelson who are definitely capable receivers. Defensively, the Packers are one of the best against the pass. Green Bay has 3 Pro Bowlers, led by corners Charles Woodson and Tramond Williams, along with Nick Collins at safety. Woodson always seems to find his way to the ball and will be a nightmare for Cutler all game. Also, with names like Clay Mathews, A.J. Hawk and B.J.Raji in the front 7, I think the Packers have the advantage defensively. That being said…I still believe the Packers fate will rest on the shoulders of Aaron Rodgers.

   As with the other game, I don’t expect either team to run the ball particularly well. I do expect the Bears to get some pressure, but…I think Rogers escape ability and accuracy throwing on the run will be the difference in this game.

I like the Packers

31-17

   Now of course, other factors can impact the game, such as special teams, but I believe QB play is the most important facet in the game of football. Quarterbacks can bail you out of bad situations every time. It’s always been hard to run the ball in the playoffs and I don’t expect that to change now. I know stats aren't everything, but it gives you a good idea of what to expect. So…a trip to Super Bowl XLV will most likely rest on the play of the 4 quarterbacks. This is where legends are made…and legends grow bigger….

Crucial Offseason For The Lions

After an obviously improved 2010 regular season for the Detroit Lions, there is no time to rest as the offseason is the time where teams can improve their rosters by adding and replacing players and coaches. This is a crucial period for the Lions as they look to make the leap from being a consistently bad team to being a team who can contend for a playoff spot year in and year out. Detroit had a better offseason last year, as opposed to previous years where it seemed neither the players drafted nor the free agents brought in ever translated into wins. Last of season the Lions were able to acquire some key pieces which made the team better last year and going into the future. With free agency and the NFL Draft looming, another successful offseason will give the Lions have a chance to build something special. Let’s take a look at what the Lions have and what they need to get better.

What they have…

It all starts up front with the D-line. There is absolutely no doubt that Ndamukong Suh is all and much more than they could of ever imagined. He was named as the NFL Defensive rookie of the year and not only did he lead the team in sacks, he lead all defensive tackles with 10. He did have plenty of help though. New additions like Kyle Vandenbosh and Cory Williams played very well along side up and coming DE Cliff Avril, who had a career high 9 sacks, to give the Lions one of the better defensive lines in the game. That’s not including Turk McBride and Lawrence Jackson who also had productive seasons. You can never have enough depth…though it could be used as a bargaining tool to upgrade in other areas. We’ll just have to wait and see.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Lions have amazingly abilities at wide receiver and tight end. Calvin Johnson is one of the best, if not, the best WR in football…hands down. He led Detroit in receptions, yards, and TD’s with 12. (minus one from the Bears game) Nate Burleson showed that he could be a playmaker if given the opportunity and TE Brandon Pettigrew had a Pro Bowl caliber season hauling in a franchise record 71 grabs.  Though Javid Best struggled with turf toe all season, we were able to see the big play ability he brings to the table. He might not be an every down back, but he will most certainly be a explosive weapon for the Detroit offense. That brings us to Matt Stafford. What can I say…I think he’s a star in the making! Now…there is no hiding my concerns about the shoulder and rightfully so, but I’d like to think that the doctors and strength/conditioning coaches will have him thoroughly healed and stronger than ever before. Yeah…I know he only played 3 games last year, but everybody seen what he can do when he’s healthy. He piled up 4 TD’s against the Redskins and 3 against the Jets who they would have beaten if he doesn’t go down. Stafford has tremendous upside and I believe that he is on his way to stardom. And don’t be fooled, Stafford is without a doubt the key to the Lion’s success. So…The Lions are good at QB, incase the unthinkable happens…again.

What they need…

Even though Detroit had a promising season, there are still many holes to fill. I’ll start with the offense. There is no question that the offensive line must be improved. There are some free agent lineman that will be available, but I think the Lions should get one through the draft so they can have that rock at left tackle for the next 10 years. I don’t know offensive lineman that well, so I can’t comment on what to do. As far as I’m concerned, there is nobody who is safe on that line (except Sims) and can only hope they put a better unit out there next season. I also think they could add in another runningback…a guy who can run hard between the tackles. It’s been proven that a two-headed running attack can work quite well. I would look to free agency or late rounds of the draft for another back.

As for the defense…where do we start? Everybody knows that Detroit’s back 7 was the weakness of the defense. Besides DeAdre Levy, I’m sure the Lions will be looking to bring in new linebackers. With high caliber players such as Chad Greenway, LaMarr Woodley, Tamba Hali, and David Harris due to be free agents, it would be a significant upgrade if the Lions could pluck one of those guys. Though it doesn’t seem likely, considering Greenway is the only one who played in a 4-3 defense last year. There is a possibility Detroit can find a diamond in the rough through free agency, bit I still expect them to draft at linebacker as well. Defensive backs have always been the weakest link to the Lions franchise as far as I can remember. For the first time in quite a while, I saw some promise. Free agent pick-up Chris Houston and in season pick-up Alphonso Smith made for a reasonable tandem at CB. Do I think they can do better? Yes!  This year’s free agent pool at CB is deeper than any other position, including players like Nnamdi Asomugha, Champ Bailey, Brent Grimes, Ike Taylor, and Antonio Cromartie. (just to name a few) This is a golden opportunity for the Lions to get the top notch corner they have always been lacking.. A player like Asomugha can damn near shut down one half of the field, making the defensive line that much more lethal. Yes…there going to have to shovel out some money, but it’ll be well worth it. Finally, we look at the safety position. After having somewhat of a disappointing year, Louis Delmas will remain one of the key players in Detroit’s defense. Rookie Amari Spievey filled in well as a run stopper, but struggled in pass coverage. I think it would be wise to bring in someone to take his spot or at least someone to compete for it.

Not only is it important to have good starters, it is just as important to have depth. The Lion’s have been one of the most injury plagued teams in the NFL and it is essential they have players who can step in when their number is called. I think Detroit’s depth is better than it has been in a while, but it needs to be strengthened in order to get where they want to be.

So the time is now! Team President Tom Lewand and GM Martin Mayhew along with Jim Schwartz and his staff have a lot of work to do and big decisions to make. It’s not going to easy, but this is what they get paid for. What happens now and until training camp, could decide the Lions fate for years and years to come. No pressure guys…lol.