I love how in mid-March the committee refers to a team's "body of work"... as though it were Al Pacino's film career or Oasis' mind-numbing journey through the 90's and 00's. The expansion of schedules now means 20 wins won't necessarily cut it: and schools are trying to put together resumes high on quality wins or bad losses.
Maryland (12-7, 2-3) dodged a major bullet when Clemson's last-second shot clanged off... but there is still plenty of work ahead for coach Gary Williams' team. In a down year for the ACC, they've got to rack up the gimmes (no offense towards Wake Forest, Miami and NC State) because they don't have that sit-up-and-notice win. Well, there's one more chance: after winnable road games at Virginia and Georgia Tech, the Terps host #3 Duke February 2nd.
ACC in the Dominion-- Virginia and Virginia Tech are both working their way through middling league seasons... and neither has the "signature win" that propels a school into the big dance. Get ready for deja vu-- with the Cavaliers continuing to build towards next year and the Hokies finishing with an impressive record (I guess 21-8 and 11-5 in the ACC) but in the NIT again.
Georgetown (14-5, 3-4) has a major gauntlet ahead with games against St. John's (Red Storm beat the Hoyas at MSG a few weeks ago), #7 Villanova and 19th ranked Louisville. While the Hoyas have proved they can beat ranked teams this winter, the proverbial canary in a coal mine remains Austin Freeman. In their three conference wins, the senior averages 25 points and has shot 65% from the field. In four conference losses Freeman averages 12.5 points on 40% shooting.
Alma Mater Update-- Not awesome. Three straight losses have the Orange looking around wondering what's going wrong and can they get that feeling back in the face of a Big East gauntlet. How do you allow 90 points to Seton Hall? Defensively Syracuse has had issues defending the perimeter... as Villanova sunk 11 3's and Seton Hall went 10-for-17 from outside the arc against the Orange. That is the devil you dance with when you employ the 2-3 zone. And hopefully SU can get their stuff together as three of their next five games are against ranked teams just a little bit better than Seton Hall. Another concern-- the local gamewatching bar has added "Whale Tails" as decoration on their taps... and SU is 1-3 since I saw this "advancement". Just sayin'...
George Washington (10-9, 3-2) had its early conference season exposed with losses to Richmond and St. Bonaventure; with a trip to Xavier does this mean the Colonials are experiencing a hiccup or a freefall? The 300th in the nation shooting team is looking for answers.
George Mason (15-5, 7-2) is winning road games in the CAA--what's going on here? Cam Long, for short. The senior scored 30 points at James Madison and 20 against Delaware. Before going back up against the likes of Hofstra and Old Dominion (combined 14-4 in the league) the Patriots get bottom-feeders Towson plus William & Mary (2-16 composite conference mark).
Maryland Womens' Moment-- from a thriller to a smackdown. The 16-3 Terrapins took an overtime nail biter at Virginia 77-75 thanks to great late play from Diandra Tschatchwong- who knocked down the first Terp three of the game with 14 seconds left to send the game into OT and hit the gamewinning basket in the extra session. Sunday's showdown with #10 North Carolina saw a shorthanded Tar Heel team (Jessica Beland out with a bad knee) tumble to the Terrapins. Alyssa Thomas is likely the runaway freshman of the year in the ACC... doing guard things while having a forward's build. Wake Forest comes to College Park Friday.
American (14-6, 4-1) won consecutive three point games to solidify its status as Patriot League contender... trailing only Bucknell in the standings. The hammer/anvil combo of Lumpkins and Moldoveanu continues to cover the blemish that is AU's three point shooting (4-of-18 against Holy Cross). While they have three straight games against schools with losing league records, recognize that the second half of the Patriot League season often makes no sense whatsoever.
Howard (2-17, 0-7) has a prime opportunity to end its losing streak when Maryland-Eastern Shore (4-15, 1-5) drops by the district. Now there is hope on the horizon-- as sophomores Mike Phillips, Dadrian Collins and Anton Dickerson are all gaining valuable experience.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Beltway Basketball Bonanza-- "show me month"...
Much like college football, college hoops has "show me month", "moving month" and "closing month" (I guess April is "I can't believe we're still playing month" and November is "we're playing again? month" with December being "I've run out of catchy titles month"). And the area schools have shown us quite a bit in the last few weeks-- with just about everyone (sorry again, Howard) dreaming of a magical march in March.
Maryland (11-6, 1-2) had two prime opportunities to upend a top ten team last week-- and lost at #1 Duke as well as #7 Villanova. Three point shooting (2-11 against the Wildcats) and free throw shooting (combined 19-36 against the Blue Devils and Nova) continue to be eyesores as the Terps missed a chance to lock down a "sit up and notice" victory for the committee.
Around the ACC-- Virginia (ten point lead at Duke) and Virginia Tech (sixteen point lead at UNC) are off to middling starts in league play... with a wide-open conference after the Blue Devils (ouch-- did anyone see the Tar Heels get roasted by 20 at Georgia Tech?) there are opportunities to play their way into position-- but not if one coughs up leads like they have.
Georgetown (14-5, 3-4) learned that the state of New Jersey can be a friendly place come Big East season-- back to back wins over Rutgers and Seton Hall has the Hoyas back near .500... a split or heaven forbid would have gotten the NIT drums beating. GU continues to live and die by its perimeter shooting-- which in the rough and tumble Big East can turn every which way.
Alma Mater Update-- Syracuse fell for the first time this winter (at #5 Pitt) after answering a 19-0 run with a 17-0 run of their own... and this was minus a banged in the head Kris Joseph. After a Saturday matinee against #7 Villanova-- the Orange have a somewhat softer slate (Seton Hall, South Florida, Marquette). I can't wait to see how TCU fits into the hoops schedule.
George Washington (10-7, 3-0) remains unbeaten in Atlantic Ten play-- but was schooled on the boards by Harvard at the Smith Center Saturday. How legit is their conference mark? GW's victims (LaSalle, Fordham and St. Joes) are a combined 0-10 in league play.
George Mason (12-5, 4-2) ended a two game conference road losing streak with a victory at Northeastern. The Patriots have just two home tilts until February-- but four of their five games are against schools with non-winning CAA records.
Womens hoop moment-- Maryland is 1-2 in the ACC ... and in the mix was a bewildering loss to Boston College. The Terps went 1-for-20 from three point range and 12-for-27 at the free throw line. BC attempted 57 shots; Maryland missed 57 shots (28-85). After that hiccup the club took care of business at Clemson... but the team needs one of its perimeter players to step up and make opponents honest.
Broadcasting bit-- I announced the BC game on Terps TV with legendary Terp Laura Harper-- #15 is currently rehabbing her knee after microfracture surgery and hopes to catch on with a WNBA team this summer. Crystal Langhorne and Emery Wallace dropped by to cheer on their former teammate-- and Harper handled herself well on the mic (although her point guard turned the ball over a few times). And there's no truth to the rumors "Miss Harper" demanded skittles in the green room seperated by color.
American (12-6, 2-1) bounced back from a tough loss against Patriot League leading Bucknell with a nine point win at Colgate. The Hammer/Anvil combo of Vlad/Stephen continues to propel the Eagles towards a home court quarterfinal game.
Howard (2-15, 0-5) has the famed worst to first weekend ahead... a trip to tied for last Florida A&M before facing league-leading Bethune Cookman. The road has not been kind to the Bison: their closest game away from DC's been a 14 point loss.
Maryland (11-6, 1-2) had two prime opportunities to upend a top ten team last week-- and lost at #1 Duke as well as #7 Villanova. Three point shooting (2-11 against the Wildcats) and free throw shooting (combined 19-36 against the Blue Devils and Nova) continue to be eyesores as the Terps missed a chance to lock down a "sit up and notice" victory for the committee.
Around the ACC-- Virginia (ten point lead at Duke) and Virginia Tech (sixteen point lead at UNC) are off to middling starts in league play... with a wide-open conference after the Blue Devils (ouch-- did anyone see the Tar Heels get roasted by 20 at Georgia Tech?) there are opportunities to play their way into position-- but not if one coughs up leads like they have.
Georgetown (14-5, 3-4) learned that the state of New Jersey can be a friendly place come Big East season-- back to back wins over Rutgers and Seton Hall has the Hoyas back near .500... a split or heaven forbid would have gotten the NIT drums beating. GU continues to live and die by its perimeter shooting-- which in the rough and tumble Big East can turn every which way.
Alma Mater Update-- Syracuse fell for the first time this winter (at #5 Pitt) after answering a 19-0 run with a 17-0 run of their own... and this was minus a banged in the head Kris Joseph. After a Saturday matinee against #7 Villanova-- the Orange have a somewhat softer slate (Seton Hall, South Florida, Marquette). I can't wait to see how TCU fits into the hoops schedule.
George Washington (10-7, 3-0) remains unbeaten in Atlantic Ten play-- but was schooled on the boards by Harvard at the Smith Center Saturday. How legit is their conference mark? GW's victims (LaSalle, Fordham and St. Joes) are a combined 0-10 in league play.
George Mason (12-5, 4-2) ended a two game conference road losing streak with a victory at Northeastern. The Patriots have just two home tilts until February-- but four of their five games are against schools with non-winning CAA records.
Womens hoop moment-- Maryland is 1-2 in the ACC ... and in the mix was a bewildering loss to Boston College. The Terps went 1-for-20 from three point range and 12-for-27 at the free throw line. BC attempted 57 shots; Maryland missed 57 shots (28-85). After that hiccup the club took care of business at Clemson... but the team needs one of its perimeter players to step up and make opponents honest.
Broadcasting bit-- I announced the BC game on Terps TV with legendary Terp Laura Harper-- #15 is currently rehabbing her knee after microfracture surgery and hopes to catch on with a WNBA team this summer. Crystal Langhorne and Emery Wallace dropped by to cheer on their former teammate-- and Harper handled herself well on the mic (although her point guard turned the ball over a few times). And there's no truth to the rumors "Miss Harper" demanded skittles in the green room seperated by color.
American (12-6, 2-1) bounced back from a tough loss against Patriot League leading Bucknell with a nine point win at Colgate. The Hammer/Anvil combo of Vlad/Stephen continues to propel the Eagles towards a home court quarterfinal game.
Howard (2-15, 0-5) has the famed worst to first weekend ahead... a trip to tied for last Florida A&M before facing league-leading Bethune Cookman. The road has not been kind to the Bison: their closest game away from DC's been a 14 point loss.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Beltway Basketball Bonanza-- 2011 debut...
Well, it's about time, isn't it? The over extension of the college football and basketball seasons mean one really doesn't get into college hoops until it's halfway complete. And the early returns are promising as most of the beltway schools either are in conference contention or enter January off a strong non-conference run.
Maryland (10-5, 0-2) actually led #1 Duke by six in the second half before falling 71-64 to the Blue Devils. Instead of trying to manage overconfidence the Terps find themselves trying to avoid an 0-3 start in the league with a non-conference trip to Villanova on the horizon. Wake Forest is a bad team in its first year under a new system-- but the Terps free throw shooting (9-18 against Duke) is worse.
Georgetown (12-4,1-3) tries to avoid a January slide down the Big East standings with a visit to #5 Pitt. The Hoyas actually built quite a non-conference resume with victories over Missouri and Memphis in December. Austin Freeman is having one of those signiature senior seasons (18ppg) but this team has had issues early and often shooting from three point range (4-17, 5-17 and 4-22 in three conference losses).
Alma Mater Update-- Syracuse is off to a 16-0 (3-0) start and a #4 ranking... despite losing 2009 meal ticket Wes Johnson. The ability the last two seasons by the Orange to reload despite losing talent (Jonny Flynn the year before) keeps this alum in good spirits. The inability to purchase game tickets to the Orange game at Verizon leaves me shrugging and my fellow alums irate. It's as though the GU athletic department is diverting all of its energy into keeping the SU faithful out of the arena come February 26th. Now it is their right to have a home court advantage in their own gym... and I'm sorry if their frontrunning fairweather ticket base can't be trusted to sell out an 18,000 seat arena. And I don't care if I'm stuck in section 426-- just let me see my school. Perhaps if they focused as much energy on three-point shooting...
George Mason (10-5, 2-2)-- if you've followed the Patriots recently, you know where the wins and where losses have come from in CAA play. Once again Jeckyll has charmed the faithful (with Doc Nix and the best band around the beltway) while Hyde has hidden away from Fairfax. Every year coach Jim Larranaga has one player make "the leap" from peripheral player to contributor-- and this winter it appears as though sophomore forward Luke Hancock (12pts, 5reb and 5 ast) fits the bill.
George Washington (9-6, 2-0)-- the hottest team around the beltway? Don't laugh-- the Colonials have won four straight and are 2-0 in the Atlantic Ten. Now before you start making St. Patrick's Day plans-- keep in mind their wins have come against St. Joseph's and LaSalle (12-19 combined and 0-4 in league play). Tony Taylor (14 points and 5 assists a game) leads the way for a team that needs to upgrade offensively (ranked 294th in FG pct) for GW to become a consistent threat in A-10 play.
BCS Wrapup-- I'm just thankful it's over. 35 bowls over three weeks with the championship game being played 37 days after both teams had last played? I wish it weren't as successful as it was. I have more than a few friends who feel a playoff is imminent-- like the one who shrugged off a Bills Super Bowl loss by saying "when we get a major league expansion franchise..."-- and I just have to think we're not close to having a 4-team tournament, let alone an 8 or 16 team field. Congratulations, Auburn. Bring on 2011.
American (11-5, 1-0) quietly put together a nice non-conference run and took its Patriot League opener against Lehigh. The hammer and anvil combination of Vlad Moldeveanu (22ppg) and Stephen Lumpkins (12ppg and 8rpg) look like the conference's dynamic duo
Howard (2-13, 0-3)-- it's been a rough winter for the Bison--all thirteen of their losses coming by double digits. Mike Phillips is well on his way to the Eugene Myatt Award (averaging 13 points and 7 rebounds a game). There are opportunities on the horizon for first year coach Kevin Nickelberry's team to make noise-- they play one team currently with a winning overall record (Bethune Cookman) between now and March 3rd.
Maryland (10-5, 0-2) actually led #1 Duke by six in the second half before falling 71-64 to the Blue Devils. Instead of trying to manage overconfidence the Terps find themselves trying to avoid an 0-3 start in the league with a non-conference trip to Villanova on the horizon. Wake Forest is a bad team in its first year under a new system-- but the Terps free throw shooting (9-18 against Duke) is worse.
Georgetown (12-4,1-3) tries to avoid a January slide down the Big East standings with a visit to #5 Pitt. The Hoyas actually built quite a non-conference resume with victories over Missouri and Memphis in December. Austin Freeman is having one of those signiature senior seasons (18ppg) but this team has had issues early and often shooting from three point range (4-17, 5-17 and 4-22 in three conference losses).
Alma Mater Update-- Syracuse is off to a 16-0 (3-0) start and a #4 ranking... despite losing 2009 meal ticket Wes Johnson. The ability the last two seasons by the Orange to reload despite losing talent (Jonny Flynn the year before) keeps this alum in good spirits. The inability to purchase game tickets to the Orange game at Verizon leaves me shrugging and my fellow alums irate. It's as though the GU athletic department is diverting all of its energy into keeping the SU faithful out of the arena come February 26th. Now it is their right to have a home court advantage in their own gym... and I'm sorry if their frontrunning fairweather ticket base can't be trusted to sell out an 18,000 seat arena. And I don't care if I'm stuck in section 426-- just let me see my school. Perhaps if they focused as much energy on three-point shooting...
George Mason (10-5, 2-2)-- if you've followed the Patriots recently, you know where the wins and where losses have come from in CAA play. Once again Jeckyll has charmed the faithful (with Doc Nix and the best band around the beltway) while Hyde has hidden away from Fairfax. Every year coach Jim Larranaga has one player make "the leap" from peripheral player to contributor-- and this winter it appears as though sophomore forward Luke Hancock (12pts, 5reb and 5 ast) fits the bill.
George Washington (9-6, 2-0)-- the hottest team around the beltway? Don't laugh-- the Colonials have won four straight and are 2-0 in the Atlantic Ten. Now before you start making St. Patrick's Day plans-- keep in mind their wins have come against St. Joseph's and LaSalle (12-19 combined and 0-4 in league play). Tony Taylor (14 points and 5 assists a game) leads the way for a team that needs to upgrade offensively (ranked 294th in FG pct) for GW to become a consistent threat in A-10 play.
BCS Wrapup-- I'm just thankful it's over. 35 bowls over three weeks with the championship game being played 37 days after both teams had last played? I wish it weren't as successful as it was. I have more than a few friends who feel a playoff is imminent-- like the one who shrugged off a Bills Super Bowl loss by saying "when we get a major league expansion franchise..."-- and I just have to think we're not close to having a 4-team tournament, let alone an 8 or 16 team field. Congratulations, Auburn. Bring on 2011.
American (11-5, 1-0) quietly put together a nice non-conference run and took its Patriot League opener against Lehigh. The hammer and anvil combination of Vlad Moldeveanu (22ppg) and Stephen Lumpkins (12ppg and 8rpg) look like the conference's dynamic duo
Howard (2-13, 0-3)-- it's been a rough winter for the Bison--all thirteen of their losses coming by double digits. Mike Phillips is well on his way to the Eugene Myatt Award (averaging 13 points and 7 rebounds a game). There are opportunities on the horizon for first year coach Kevin Nickelberry's team to make noise-- they play one team currently with a winning overall record (Bethune Cookman) between now and March 3rd.
Friday, January 7, 2011
College Football Corner-- bowled under...
The beauty of the college football regular season is each week there are tests and everything (in theory) is on the line for division, conference or national standing. Fast-forward to the Bowl season when there's a whole lot of stuff before a title game delayed by a month.
Maryland ripped East Carolina in the Military Bowl 51-20 thanks to a big-play offense and a more than cooperative Pirate defense (ECU ranked 118th in points allowed--118th!). Nice way to send coach Ralph Friedgen out in style (more on the musical coaching chairs later). Terrapin Triumphs-- Da'Rell Scott went out in style with 200 yards rushing and two touchdowns (61 and 91 yards)... and freshman DJ Adams' four touchdowns are a nice omen for the future. Danny O'Brien didn't shine but played a smart game...and the defense held one of the most explosive offenses (top 20 in scoring) in check all day (5 yards per pass attempt and 1.5 yards per rush). Terrapin Troubles-- 11 penalties isn't ideal... but an otherwise solid afternoon at RFK.
Virginia Tech played Stanford tight for 30 minutes before succumbing to the Cardinal 40-12. Once again the ACC's exposed come January...and once again the Hokies are unable to climb into elite land by falling to a top 5 team (1-28 I think is their record under Beamer). Hokie Highlights-- Danny Coale (7 catches for 92 yards) gave Tyrod Taylor a decent target while the Cardinal contained Jarrett Boykin... and the defense holding Stanford to 13 first half points was no small task. Hokie Humblings-- butchered by the big play. Four of Stanford's touchdowns were of 35 yards or longer-- especially the last three that put the game away. The running game was held to a paltry 1.9 yards a carry. No big special teams play as BEAMER BALL! became beamer ball.
A whole bowl of you know what-- Thanks, BCS for ruining January 1st. This used to be the day that I would focus from noon to midnight on a buffet of games... and although only a few (sometimes even just one) had national title implications-- there was immediate momentum from the Citrus to the Cotton to the Fiesta to the Rose to the Sugar to the Orange. You watched the early games because you knew there would be a payoff at the end of the night. Now unless I have a school involved (SU creeping closer to respectability), I could care less who wins which New Years Day game... because not only is the Championship game NINE DAYS LATER, but there are SIX bowls before you get to the BCS title game. And I'm not even going to focus on the ridiculous names... from "Go-Daddy-dot-com" to "Fight Hunger" to "DONNA MARTIN GRADUATE!" (okay, I stretched a bit on the last one there). I grew up loving college football and January 1st's place along Super Bowl Sunday and the Final Four... and I held out against a playoff through much of the 90's-- but now I could easily do without the overbloated bowl system the way it's set up. Bring on the Brackets...
Trading in a Fridge for an Edsall-- what is this, a football program or a West Virginia lawn (sorry, it was either that or say "instead of a Cadillac hire, Maryland brings in an Edsall"). Maryland made its big splash hire by going into the Big East (yes, the league plundered by the ACC still has 8 gridiron members after taking Conference USA's best). Edsall reportedly had said that Maryland was his dream job. I'm sure the same could have been said about his predecessor. Edsall guided the Huskies to the top of a lower tier BCS league and finished 8-5. In fact his last three years saw 8-5 marks in a substandard conference (Rutgers, anyone?). I'm trying to see how this is a major upgrade from the previous administration. The University had the opportunity to make the right decision (keeping an alum and a lifetime devotee in a job he had performed well in and with dignity) or make a big splash. The school chose to do the wrong thing-- and this is the splash? Best of luck to Coach Edsall... he seems like a class act. But how high will the standard be for him? Are we talking ten win seasons and sellouts at Byrd? Because if not, isn't that what we had with Ralph Friedgen?
Maryland ripped East Carolina in the Military Bowl 51-20 thanks to a big-play offense and a more than cooperative Pirate defense (ECU ranked 118th in points allowed--118th!). Nice way to send coach Ralph Friedgen out in style (more on the musical coaching chairs later). Terrapin Triumphs-- Da'Rell Scott went out in style with 200 yards rushing and two touchdowns (61 and 91 yards)... and freshman DJ Adams' four touchdowns are a nice omen for the future. Danny O'Brien didn't shine but played a smart game...and the defense held one of the most explosive offenses (top 20 in scoring) in check all day (5 yards per pass attempt and 1.5 yards per rush). Terrapin Troubles-- 11 penalties isn't ideal... but an otherwise solid afternoon at RFK.
Virginia Tech played Stanford tight for 30 minutes before succumbing to the Cardinal 40-12. Once again the ACC's exposed come January...and once again the Hokies are unable to climb into elite land by falling to a top 5 team (1-28 I think is their record under Beamer). Hokie Highlights-- Danny Coale (7 catches for 92 yards) gave Tyrod Taylor a decent target while the Cardinal contained Jarrett Boykin... and the defense holding Stanford to 13 first half points was no small task. Hokie Humblings-- butchered by the big play. Four of Stanford's touchdowns were of 35 yards or longer-- especially the last three that put the game away. The running game was held to a paltry 1.9 yards a carry. No big special teams play as BEAMER BALL! became beamer ball.
A whole bowl of you know what-- Thanks, BCS for ruining January 1st. This used to be the day that I would focus from noon to midnight on a buffet of games... and although only a few (sometimes even just one) had national title implications-- there was immediate momentum from the Citrus to the Cotton to the Fiesta to the Rose to the Sugar to the Orange. You watched the early games because you knew there would be a payoff at the end of the night. Now unless I have a school involved (SU creeping closer to respectability), I could care less who wins which New Years Day game... because not only is the Championship game NINE DAYS LATER, but there are SIX bowls before you get to the BCS title game. And I'm not even going to focus on the ridiculous names... from "Go-Daddy-dot-com" to "Fight Hunger" to "DONNA MARTIN GRADUATE!" (okay, I stretched a bit on the last one there). I grew up loving college football and January 1st's place along Super Bowl Sunday and the Final Four... and I held out against a playoff through much of the 90's-- but now I could easily do without the overbloated bowl system the way it's set up. Bring on the Brackets...
Trading in a Fridge for an Edsall-- what is this, a football program or a West Virginia lawn (sorry, it was either that or say "instead of a Cadillac hire, Maryland brings in an Edsall"). Maryland made its big splash hire by going into the Big East (yes, the league plundered by the ACC still has 8 gridiron members after taking Conference USA's best). Edsall reportedly had said that Maryland was his dream job. I'm sure the same could have been said about his predecessor. Edsall guided the Huskies to the top of a lower tier BCS league and finished 8-5. In fact his last three years saw 8-5 marks in a substandard conference (Rutgers, anyone?). I'm trying to see how this is a major upgrade from the previous administration. The University had the opportunity to make the right decision (keeping an alum and a lifetime devotee in a job he had performed well in and with dignity) or make a big splash. The school chose to do the wrong thing-- and this is the splash? Best of luck to Coach Edsall... he seems like a class act. But how high will the standard be for him? Are we talking ten win seasons and sellouts at Byrd? Because if not, isn't that what we had with Ralph Friedgen?
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Redskins Rehash-- this is not the end; it is only the beginning...
Well, what did you expect? After fifteen games over sixteen weeks... the Skins lose a tight game in which they score under 20 points. You could have written half of the season with a mad-libs script. At 6-10 the franchise enters a third straight offseason as the NFC East cellar-dweller.
Close Calls-- another three point loss... five of the team's ten defeats in 2010 were by three points or less... but once again before you start printing 2011 NFC East banners, get this-- all six wins were by six points or less... meaning this team was closer to 3-13 than they were 11-5.
And they went winless against the division and conference after their mid-season bye.
Turnoverasaurus Rex-- 336 yards passing and two touchdowns for Mr. Grossman... but two fumbles and an interception remind one why he's not in Chicago anymore. After the game he remarked how there was a lot of talent on this team and they had a shot at the NFC East championship next fall.
Defense getting better!-- the D held five of their last seven opponents to less than 20 points... and avoid the last in the league distinction (thank you Denver for falling to the opportunity). After the game DeAngelo Hall stressed that the unit was still getting adjusted to the 3-4 and was improving each week... unfortunately the top-ten defense under Greg Blache didn't have the personnel to easily transform into Jim Haslett's vision.
Dissecting the Division-- Philadelphia despite a second straight loss sails into the playoffs while the Giants at 10-6 stay home. Dallas thanks to a 5-3 second half that handed the head coaching job to Jason Garrett take third place because of tiebreakers-- and the Skins after leading the division after opening weekend find themselves in a familiar place.
Playoff Road Rage-- three of the four visiting teams in Wildcard Weekend have better records than the home team... including 11-5 defending Super Bowl champ New Orleans at 7-9 (not a typo) Seattle. Even in the one game pitting teams with equal records-- Green Bay at Philadelphia-- the Packers own the tiebreaker having beaten the Eagles in week one. Don't be surprised if during the offseason the league tweaks wildcard weekend with true seeding-- aka better record gets the home game (if they did that this year, they'd just flip-flop home teams in each matchup).
Where do you go from here?-- after one year (and a two-win improvement) under coach Mike Shanahan, one would think the talent building will continue in the offseason with smart free agent decisions and quality/quantity drafting. You know, the exact opposite of the previous regime. Did they handle the Haynesworth/McNabb situations smartly? Not by a longshot. And that's why there has to be confidence in having a two-time Super Bowl winning coach in Ashburn, there has to be a nervous eye on any developments on and off the field.
Close Calls-- another three point loss... five of the team's ten defeats in 2010 were by three points or less... but once again before you start printing 2011 NFC East banners, get this-- all six wins were by six points or less... meaning this team was closer to 3-13 than they were 11-5.
And they went winless against the division and conference after their mid-season bye.
Turnoverasaurus Rex-- 336 yards passing and two touchdowns for Mr. Grossman... but two fumbles and an interception remind one why he's not in Chicago anymore. After the game he remarked how there was a lot of talent on this team and they had a shot at the NFC East championship next fall.
Defense getting better!-- the D held five of their last seven opponents to less than 20 points... and avoid the last in the league distinction (thank you Denver for falling to the opportunity). After the game DeAngelo Hall stressed that the unit was still getting adjusted to the 3-4 and was improving each week... unfortunately the top-ten defense under Greg Blache didn't have the personnel to easily transform into Jim Haslett's vision.
Dissecting the Division-- Philadelphia despite a second straight loss sails into the playoffs while the Giants at 10-6 stay home. Dallas thanks to a 5-3 second half that handed the head coaching job to Jason Garrett take third place because of tiebreakers-- and the Skins after leading the division after opening weekend find themselves in a familiar place.
Playoff Road Rage-- three of the four visiting teams in Wildcard Weekend have better records than the home team... including 11-5 defending Super Bowl champ New Orleans at 7-9 (not a typo) Seattle. Even in the one game pitting teams with equal records-- Green Bay at Philadelphia-- the Packers own the tiebreaker having beaten the Eagles in week one. Don't be surprised if during the offseason the league tweaks wildcard weekend with true seeding-- aka better record gets the home game (if they did that this year, they'd just flip-flop home teams in each matchup).
Where do you go from here?-- after one year (and a two-win improvement) under coach Mike Shanahan, one would think the talent building will continue in the offseason with smart free agent decisions and quality/quantity drafting. You know, the exact opposite of the previous regime. Did they handle the Haynesworth/McNabb situations smartly? Not by a longshot. And that's why there has to be confidence in having a two-time Super Bowl winning coach in Ashburn, there has to be a nervous eye on any developments on and off the field.
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