You can run but you can't hide who you are-- or how you can be beaten. Mid January in college hoops means one can't hide behind a cupcake filled non-conference schedule; actual road games on enemy campuses have been played... and coaches who recruit and gameplan against your team 12 months a year are preparing to exploit your weaknesses.
Georgetown has won ugly more than once this January-- a 52-50 slugfest against Rutgers will not be used in shooter's camps-- but 6-2 in the Big East is still 6-2 in the Big East. While Jason Clark outside and Henry Sims inside get most of the attention... players like Otto Porter (15 rebounds against DePaul, winning FT's against Rutgers) do the little things to help the Hoyas contend. After seven days to prepare for massive mystery Pitt (from #1 seed last year to 0-7 in the conference?) Coach John Thompson III's team has a tight turnaround to prepare for UConn.
Alma Mater Update-- it had to happen sooner or later... Syracuse took 21 games to stumble for the first time this season (67-58 at Notre Dame) amongst the backdrop of a player leaving (Mookie Jones) and a player with academic issues (Fab Melo). They won't miss Mookie's 27% shooting over 5 minutes a game... but they will miss Fab's 6 rebounds and 3 blocks a contest. And 7-0 in the Big East can become 7-3 in a hurry: Cincinnati and West Virginia look like tournament teams... and SU hasn't even gone through facing Georgetown, UConn and Louisville over a six day span. Look for Sign of the Whale to be ordering extra bleu cheese next month.
Maryland finds itself in a 5-team rugby scrum separated by a half game in the race for 5th place of the ACC. Turnovers and poor free throw shooting doomed the Terps at Florida State (welcome to the grownups' table, FSU, after beating UNC and Duke on consecutive Saturdays) and at non-league foe Temple. Terrell Stoglin has the misfortune of being the best shooter and scorer in an offense that is at its best when there are multiple options. Alex Len's ACC fade (after notching a double-double against NC State, the Ukrainian has scored 8 points over 4 games on 2-8 shooting) was accelerated with an ankle injury against Temple. The University officially renames the court at Comcast after Gary Williams Wednesday-- against a Duke smarting from a tough loss to Florida State. No sweat.
Cruising the Commonwealth-- Virginia had a chance to make Virginia Tech 0-5 in the ACC and came up short. Shooting 1 for 14 from three-point range does that sometimes. The 47-45 loss to the Hokies means that Virginia may be ranked... but the Cavaliers are more pretender than contender right now. The win also keeps coach Seth Greenburg's team from officially being buried-- although they still have a lot of work to do.
George Mason finds itself atop the CAA after eight games at 7-1... and has a chance to get fat with four straight games against schools with non-winning conference records. And the Patriots are more than merely Ryan Pearson-- although the forward leads the team with 17 points and 8 rebounds a game there are more than a few interchangeable parts capable of doing damage. Sherrod Wright scoring 22 points off the bench against Towson just one example. Although his name doesn't sound like a fancy shirt.
George Washington finds itself 3-2 in the Atlantic Ten-- but 8-11 overall. Their ability to continue the current January storm hinges on a two game roadtrip-- while LaSalle and Fordham are gimmes both schools do have losing records in conference play-- because GW faces tough tests in Xavier, Massachusetts and Temple back to back to back.
Maryland Womens' Moment-- the Terps tumbled at #5 Duke Sunday 80-72... despite a career high 29 points for Alyssa Thomas. Unfortunately the team shot 36% after halftime and was outrebounded by ten. Home games against ACC bottomfeeders Virginia Tech and Boston College are next-- followed by a trip to Georgia Tech (the team they rallied from 20 points down to beat January 6th). The question as the team nears the second half of league play-- how deep are they? While Lynetta Kizer and Brene Moseley provide punch off the bench... Kim Rodgers and Whitney Bays have been used sparingly the last few weeks.
American is one of three schools appearing to separate themselves from the rest of the Patriot League. AU's lone league loss is to Lehigh-- and battles Bucknell Wednesday. Gone is the hammer-sickle duo of Vlad & Lumpkin-- instead Charles Hinkle provides the bulk of the scoring while the team is much better shooting from the perimeter (38% from three point range).
Howard had reason for optimism last March-- there appeared to be a young nucleus returning that would only get better. Optimism? No more. The Bison have already clinched a losing regular season-- dropping seven straight games and 11 of 12 after a 3-5 start (in Howard terms, 3-5 is red-hot). The team's had problems offensively-- they're near the bottom of Division I in more than a few categories: 340th in shooting, 338th in assists and 314th in scoring. The only player who averages in double figures shoots less than 30% from the field. But help is on the way: after Savannah State January 28th, the Bison won't face a team currently with a winning record for the rest of the season. Woe are the Bisons and woe is the MEAC.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Beltway Basketball Bonanza-- Mourning Mornings...
It was going to happen sooner or later. We're used to late night tipoffs... especially with Pac Ten and west coast games... but a regular morning basketball window? For the second straight week a ranked team has an 11am tipoff. I'm the first to admit I keep a consistently uneven schedule-- but 11am? On a Saturday? Isn't that when youth leagues hold games and NBC shows really bad live-action programming like "Hang Time"? Once again I'm thinking about the students. My dorm's dining hall didn't open for Saturday and Sunday brunch until 11. I've got to get to the arena at 10:30? On an empty stomach? When the omelet bar is calling? Decidedly not awesome. In other developments, I just ordered my 2012 Girl Scout Cookies-- and have learned they've trimmed their options from 11 to 8. Smart move to get rid of "Shout Outs", "Thanks Alot" and both lemon cookies... although they've added "Savannah Smiles". Dave frowns.
Georgetown coach John Thompson III told me before the Marquette game that the Big East is a very unforgiving league-- and the Hoyas have learned just how rough things can get. In consecutive games Georgetown was tormented by turnovers (a season high 17 against Cincinnati, 10 in the first half against West Virginia) and lost winnable games. Henry Sims had a pair of rough outings (a combined 7 of 19 shooting) as well. But help is on the way-- in the form of a four game stretch against schools currently 5-12 in league play: St. John's, DePaul, Rutgers and Pitt.
Alma Mater Update-- still the #1 team in the nation. Syracuse is doing it with depth so far this winter-- six players average between 8 and 14 points a game and the Orange run ten deep. Four of their five Big East wins have come by double digits (although DePaul and Providence are hardly world-beaters this winter) and the team's win at Villanova was not as close as the score indicated. Today they play Providence for the second time this month-- Exhibit B why I'm okay with SU going to the ACC. Home and home with the Friars and no Georgetown game in DC? At least Sign of the Whale will have a good crowd-- although they've yet to put my suggested "44 Wing Salute" on the menu.
Maryland is 1-1 in the ACC with Georgia Tech coming to Comcast Sunday. One major bright spot in the Terps' 70-64 win over Wake Forest: the play of Ashton Pankey (9 points and 9 rebounds). One area for concern: 34 minutes played by Terrell Stoglin... and no assists for the second straight game. Russian center Alex Len had his roughest outing of the season (1-3, 5 points in 28 minutes)... and the schedule tightens up with 5 of the next 8 away from College Park.
Cruising the Commonwealth-- Virginia led Duke in the second half at Cameron before the Blue Devils went on a 21-12 run... a tough 61-58 loss that will have the Cavaliers stewing over a seven day break. Virginia Tech's 0-2 ACC start doesn't have panic buttons being pressed... but Wake Forest is one year removed from 1-15 in the league. Bring on the Bubblicious.
George Mason came up short at Drexel 60-53 Thursday night-- the lowest point performance for the Patriots this season. The offense appeared to hit the proverbial wall-getting outscored 10-2 in the last 3 and a half minutes of the game. Credit the Dragons with doing a decent job defendign Ryan Pearson-- the senior was held to 1 of 9 shooting in the loss... continuing a CAA trend: Pearson is shooting 11-of-34 in conference play...and has had either three or four personal fouls in every league game. And unfortunately Vertrail Vaughns looked like Denise Huxtable's Gordon Gartrelle shirt (1-7 FG, no rebounds or assists in 27 minutes) against Drexel.
George Washington scheduled more than a few ranked teams during the non-conference season... Cal, Syracuse and ... Harvard? Yes, the Tommy Amaker led Crimson are #25 this week... although only in the coach's rankings. GW is coming off a 69-61 win against Rhode Island (13th in the Atlantic Ten)... and the Rams are the only other A-10 team with a losing non-conference record. So the first winter for Mike Lonergan at the Smith Center may get worse before it gets better-- especially with just one player (Tony Taylor) scoring in double figures.
Maryland Womens Update-- a nail-biter at North Carolina followed by a tough loss at Miami. The #5 Terps finished regulation with a 7-1 run to send their game at Chapel Hill into overtime... and the 78-72 victory sent them to South Beach unbeaten in league play. Unfortunately they committed 19 turnovers and were outrebounded by the Hurricanes by eight. Now they try to bounce back from a 75-63 loss Monday night against Virginia (14-4, 2-2 in the ACC)... a team on the precipice of the rankings.
American tries to right the ship against a Holy Cross team that's won two straight.
Howard has a five game losing streak entering today's contest against North Carolina A&T.
Georgetown coach John Thompson III told me before the Marquette game that the Big East is a very unforgiving league-- and the Hoyas have learned just how rough things can get. In consecutive games Georgetown was tormented by turnovers (a season high 17 against Cincinnati, 10 in the first half against West Virginia) and lost winnable games. Henry Sims had a pair of rough outings (a combined 7 of 19 shooting) as well. But help is on the way-- in the form of a four game stretch against schools currently 5-12 in league play: St. John's, DePaul, Rutgers and Pitt.
Alma Mater Update-- still the #1 team in the nation. Syracuse is doing it with depth so far this winter-- six players average between 8 and 14 points a game and the Orange run ten deep. Four of their five Big East wins have come by double digits (although DePaul and Providence are hardly world-beaters this winter) and the team's win at Villanova was not as close as the score indicated. Today they play Providence for the second time this month-- Exhibit B why I'm okay with SU going to the ACC. Home and home with the Friars and no Georgetown game in DC? At least Sign of the Whale will have a good crowd-- although they've yet to put my suggested "44 Wing Salute" on the menu.
Maryland is 1-1 in the ACC with Georgia Tech coming to Comcast Sunday. One major bright spot in the Terps' 70-64 win over Wake Forest: the play of Ashton Pankey (9 points and 9 rebounds). One area for concern: 34 minutes played by Terrell Stoglin... and no assists for the second straight game. Russian center Alex Len had his roughest outing of the season (1-3, 5 points in 28 minutes)... and the schedule tightens up with 5 of the next 8 away from College Park.
Cruising the Commonwealth-- Virginia led Duke in the second half at Cameron before the Blue Devils went on a 21-12 run... a tough 61-58 loss that will have the Cavaliers stewing over a seven day break. Virginia Tech's 0-2 ACC start doesn't have panic buttons being pressed... but Wake Forest is one year removed from 1-15 in the league. Bring on the Bubblicious.
George Mason came up short at Drexel 60-53 Thursday night-- the lowest point performance for the Patriots this season. The offense appeared to hit the proverbial wall-getting outscored 10-2 in the last 3 and a half minutes of the game. Credit the Dragons with doing a decent job defendign Ryan Pearson-- the senior was held to 1 of 9 shooting in the loss... continuing a CAA trend: Pearson is shooting 11-of-34 in conference play...and has had either three or four personal fouls in every league game. And unfortunately Vertrail Vaughns looked like Denise Huxtable's Gordon Gartrelle shirt (1-7 FG, no rebounds or assists in 27 minutes) against Drexel.
George Washington scheduled more than a few ranked teams during the non-conference season... Cal, Syracuse and ... Harvard? Yes, the Tommy Amaker led Crimson are #25 this week... although only in the coach's rankings. GW is coming off a 69-61 win against Rhode Island (13th in the Atlantic Ten)... and the Rams are the only other A-10 team with a losing non-conference record. So the first winter for Mike Lonergan at the Smith Center may get worse before it gets better-- especially with just one player (Tony Taylor) scoring in double figures.
Maryland Womens Update-- a nail-biter at North Carolina followed by a tough loss at Miami. The #5 Terps finished regulation with a 7-1 run to send their game at Chapel Hill into overtime... and the 78-72 victory sent them to South Beach unbeaten in league play. Unfortunately they committed 19 turnovers and were outrebounded by the Hurricanes by eight. Now they try to bounce back from a 75-63 loss Monday night against Virginia (14-4, 2-2 in the ACC)... a team on the precipice of the rankings.
American tries to right the ship against a Holy Cross team that's won two straight.
Howard has a five game losing streak entering today's contest against North Carolina A&T.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Beltway Basketball Bonanza-- let the (conference) games begin!
Wading through the remnants of the 35-game bowl marathon giving 6-6 schools a chance at a trophy... hey, it's the college basketball season! The two month rehearsal for conference play gives the diehards (or fans of schools with not so awesome football teams) a chance to check in from the opening tip... while giving casual or easily distracted fans the opportunity to lazily join the party midway through- with a 10 to 15 game resume.
Georgetown enters today's tilt with West Virginia having won 11 straight... and after being picked by many not to make the top ten of the Big East owns a #9 ranking in the nation. They've won conference games by surprise (at Louisville)... won ugly (Providence) and miraculously (the second half rally against Marquette). While Jason Clark outside and Henry Sims inside remain the axis upon which the offense revolves-- Hollis Thompson has shown the knack for making clutch shots down the stretch. A 3-0 start in an unforgiving league is huge.
Alma Mater Update-- Syracuse is #1 and although nobody finishes the season unbeaten anymore the ride's been pleasant. The team has depth I haven't seen in some time. Unfortunately, there's no SU-Georgetown game in DC this winter. Exhibit A on why I'm not bummed the Orange are moving to the ACC: Syracuse-Georgetown is one of the if not the signature Big East rivalry. They play just once... and haven't squared off in a regular season finale for as long as I can remember. Further proof the people currently in charge of the Big East just don't get it.
Maryland enters ACC play having won seven straight-- although the team has been consistently uneven during the streak. The six game stretch at Comcast has allowed a team still finding its way to solidify and Alex Chen and Pe'Shon Howard to get their feet wet before conference play. The ACC campaign tips off with three games against underbelly schools: North Carolina State and Georgia Tech both have new coaches while Wake Forest is coming off a 1-15 last place finish (and they weren't even that good).
Cruising the Commonwealth-- Virginia's ranked 23rd after wins over the likes of Michigan and LSU... and Mike Scott has recovered well from injury (16 points and 9 rebounds a game). A January 12th date with #3 Duke looms. Virginia Tech's bubble residency is already underway as the Hokies are 11-3 with two wins over Oklahoma State but losses to the other big names on their slate. CBS is already setting up camera positions for Selection Sunday.
George Mason is another school that's 3-0 in conference play; the 11-4 overall start involves two losses in overtime and a defeat at Charlottesville to Virginia. Ryan Pearson has grabbed the headlines averaging 19 points and 9 rebounds while Vertrail Vaughns is the sophomore making the leap from peripheral Patriot to primary contributor. Although I still swear "Vertrail Vaughns" was the name of Theo Huxtable's shirt on the Cosby Show. Tonight the Patriots play Georgia State for first place in the CAA.
George Washington began Atlantic Ten play with a 66-56 loss at St. Bonaventure... the Colonials were actually overachieving under first year coach Mike Lonergan until a seven game losing streak blew up their non-conference slate. The offensively challenged (302nd in scoring) bunch has reached 60 points just twice in the last month... and Tony Taylor is the only player averaging in double figures.
Maryland Womens' Moment-- the Terrapins are 15-0 and 2-0 in ACC play after a thrilling 77-74 win over Georgia Tech. The Yellowjackets have long been a team that's caused problems for Maryland-- and with 17 minutes to play the Terps trailed 56-36. But then sophomore Alyssa Thomas scored the game's next nine points... and a 17-1 run was underway. A tight turnaround has the Terps taking on #25 North Carolina Sunday afternoon-- followed by a trip to #12 Miami.
American finished non-conference play with four straight losses-- two of them to Big East teams Georgetown and Villanova. Charles Hinkle's play has been one of the highlights of the season... but a banged up Troy Brewer gives coach Jeff Jones cause for concern.
Howard has played four ranked teams in the early going... and is 4-12 the first weekend of the new year. Coach Kevin Nickelberry hopes Tulsa transfer Glenn Andrews can make a difference as the Bison get into MEAC play.
Georgetown enters today's tilt with West Virginia having won 11 straight... and after being picked by many not to make the top ten of the Big East owns a #9 ranking in the nation. They've won conference games by surprise (at Louisville)... won ugly (Providence) and miraculously (the second half rally against Marquette). While Jason Clark outside and Henry Sims inside remain the axis upon which the offense revolves-- Hollis Thompson has shown the knack for making clutch shots down the stretch. A 3-0 start in an unforgiving league is huge.
Alma Mater Update-- Syracuse is #1 and although nobody finishes the season unbeaten anymore the ride's been pleasant. The team has depth I haven't seen in some time. Unfortunately, there's no SU-Georgetown game in DC this winter. Exhibit A on why I'm not bummed the Orange are moving to the ACC: Syracuse-Georgetown is one of the if not the signature Big East rivalry. They play just once... and haven't squared off in a regular season finale for as long as I can remember. Further proof the people currently in charge of the Big East just don't get it.
Maryland enters ACC play having won seven straight-- although the team has been consistently uneven during the streak. The six game stretch at Comcast has allowed a team still finding its way to solidify and Alex Chen and Pe'Shon Howard to get their feet wet before conference play. The ACC campaign tips off with three games against underbelly schools: North Carolina State and Georgia Tech both have new coaches while Wake Forest is coming off a 1-15 last place finish (and they weren't even that good).
Cruising the Commonwealth-- Virginia's ranked 23rd after wins over the likes of Michigan and LSU... and Mike Scott has recovered well from injury (16 points and 9 rebounds a game). A January 12th date with #3 Duke looms. Virginia Tech's bubble residency is already underway as the Hokies are 11-3 with two wins over Oklahoma State but losses to the other big names on their slate. CBS is already setting up camera positions for Selection Sunday.
George Mason is another school that's 3-0 in conference play; the 11-4 overall start involves two losses in overtime and a defeat at Charlottesville to Virginia. Ryan Pearson has grabbed the headlines averaging 19 points and 9 rebounds while Vertrail Vaughns is the sophomore making the leap from peripheral Patriot to primary contributor. Although I still swear "Vertrail Vaughns" was the name of Theo Huxtable's shirt on the Cosby Show. Tonight the Patriots play Georgia State for first place in the CAA.
George Washington began Atlantic Ten play with a 66-56 loss at St. Bonaventure... the Colonials were actually overachieving under first year coach Mike Lonergan until a seven game losing streak blew up their non-conference slate. The offensively challenged (302nd in scoring) bunch has reached 60 points just twice in the last month... and Tony Taylor is the only player averaging in double figures.
Maryland Womens' Moment-- the Terrapins are 15-0 and 2-0 in ACC play after a thrilling 77-74 win over Georgia Tech. The Yellowjackets have long been a team that's caused problems for Maryland-- and with 17 minutes to play the Terps trailed 56-36. But then sophomore Alyssa Thomas scored the game's next nine points... and a 17-1 run was underway. A tight turnaround has the Terps taking on #25 North Carolina Sunday afternoon-- followed by a trip to #12 Miami.
American finished non-conference play with four straight losses-- two of them to Big East teams Georgetown and Villanova. Charles Hinkle's play has been one of the highlights of the season... but a banged up Troy Brewer gives coach Jeff Jones cause for concern.
Howard has played four ranked teams in the early going... and is 4-12 the first weekend of the new year. Coach Kevin Nickelberry hopes Tulsa transfer Glenn Andrews can make a difference as the Bison get into MEAC play.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Redskins Rehash: 5-11... not too good...
So ends an incredible journey from lockout to fadeout. For the second straight year the Redskins stood atop the division after week one and in the cellar after week seventeen. Another double digit losing season -- the sixth in nine years. Four straight last place finishes in the NFC East -- first time that's ever happened for any team in the division's storied history. How did the Burgundy and Gold get here? And how do they get back to respectability? If only the season ending 34-10 loss to Philadelphia was the topic.
Turnoverasaurus Rex-- the beast was quiet through the first quarter... but Mr. Grossman responded on the team's first possession in the second quarter with an interception-- giving him 20 for the season to go with 5 fumbles. One can only wonder what sort of numbers he would have put up had he not been benched for John Beck midway through the season.
Eternal Optimism-- before the season began, Grossman said he thought this team could win the NFC East. Given the sad state of the division-- maybe that wasn't too much of a stretch. But during the freefall from contender to pretender Grossman and even coach Mike Shanahan's comments have been rather interesting-- both brimming with confidence that this team is almost there despite the fact that they were closer to the #1 draft pick than the #6 seed. I'm all for feeling good about being on the road to greatness... but when you're last for the fourth straight year-- just say you'll try to get better.
Cue the Benny Hill Theme-- if one listens to "Yaketty Sax" while watching the games... the Burgundy and Gold are that much more easy to deal with. The last four drives of the first half involved Rex's INT, a blocked Field Goal attempt, turning the ball over on downs, and a keystone coplike special teams dash on the field to try a field goal attempt as the clock ran out.
Running with the Royster-- the rookie from Penn State notched his second straight 100 yard game on the ground while leading the team with 5 catches... giving the Skins two intriguing options heading into next year with Roy Helu posting three century efforts plus a 14 catch day. And he scored the lone touchdown for the Burgundy and Gold on a 47 yard pass play. On this front... even with a banged up offensive line-- maybe this is what coach and Rex are focusing on when they're ridiculously over-optimistic.
Fourth Quarter Flameout-- no, this wasn't the Jets game all over again. Or maybe it was. Trailing 13-10 early in the fourth quarter the Skins defense allowed three touchdowns in four drives... tallying 185 of their 390 total yards in the final stanza. We've seen this happen all season -- where the defense will play well for stretches and then put together four or five drives where they just can't stop anybody.
Offensive Offense-- of course when you can't get first downs, the defense always suffers. After drawing to within 3 points early in the fourth quarter, the Skins gained 5 yards on 11 plays before getting the ball back down 24 after the two-minute warning.
Past is present-- the year began as if the Skins were partying like it was 1999... the last year they won the NFC East. Instead, we were treated to a 2003 replay: where a big name coach was in his second year... the team started 3-1 before losing to a hurting Philadelphia team... the Skins imploded with a losing streak that included falling to 3-5 at the hands of the Buffalo Bills... and a 5-11 campaign that ended with a loss to the same Eagles that started the slide. Still no word if we'll have a resignation via fax from the golf course.
Dissecting the Division-- the Giants win over Dallas gave them the NFC East at 9-7... the worst record for a division winner in NFC East history. In a division known for dominant defenses, this year's champion allowed 400 points during the season. Ouch. The Cowboys fall to third at 8-8 because they were swept by Philadelphia. And the Redskins bring up the rear again.
Conference Contests... and North Stars-- the NFC won the intra-conference contest, 33-31. This is the first time since the 90's that this has happened. With three of the last four Super Bowl winners hailing from the old guard, does this represent a pendulum swing? As for best division, the AFC North posted the best record (37-27) and brings three playoff teams to the fold. But remember, last year the NFC South had the best regular season mark only to go 0-2 in the playoffs. Division of depression? The AFC South won just 26 games ... the only division to fail to reach 30 victories.
Turnoverasaurus Rex-- the beast was quiet through the first quarter... but Mr. Grossman responded on the team's first possession in the second quarter with an interception-- giving him 20 for the season to go with 5 fumbles. One can only wonder what sort of numbers he would have put up had he not been benched for John Beck midway through the season.
Eternal Optimism-- before the season began, Grossman said he thought this team could win the NFC East. Given the sad state of the division-- maybe that wasn't too much of a stretch. But during the freefall from contender to pretender Grossman and even coach Mike Shanahan's comments have been rather interesting-- both brimming with confidence that this team is almost there despite the fact that they were closer to the #1 draft pick than the #6 seed. I'm all for feeling good about being on the road to greatness... but when you're last for the fourth straight year-- just say you'll try to get better.
Cue the Benny Hill Theme-- if one listens to "Yaketty Sax" while watching the games... the Burgundy and Gold are that much more easy to deal with. The last four drives of the first half involved Rex's INT, a blocked Field Goal attempt, turning the ball over on downs, and a keystone coplike special teams dash on the field to try a field goal attempt as the clock ran out.
Running with the Royster-- the rookie from Penn State notched his second straight 100 yard game on the ground while leading the team with 5 catches... giving the Skins two intriguing options heading into next year with Roy Helu posting three century efforts plus a 14 catch day. And he scored the lone touchdown for the Burgundy and Gold on a 47 yard pass play. On this front... even with a banged up offensive line-- maybe this is what coach and Rex are focusing on when they're ridiculously over-optimistic.
Fourth Quarter Flameout-- no, this wasn't the Jets game all over again. Or maybe it was. Trailing 13-10 early in the fourth quarter the Skins defense allowed three touchdowns in four drives... tallying 185 of their 390 total yards in the final stanza. We've seen this happen all season -- where the defense will play well for stretches and then put together four or five drives where they just can't stop anybody.
Offensive Offense-- of course when you can't get first downs, the defense always suffers. After drawing to within 3 points early in the fourth quarter, the Skins gained 5 yards on 11 plays before getting the ball back down 24 after the two-minute warning.
Past is present-- the year began as if the Skins were partying like it was 1999... the last year they won the NFC East. Instead, we were treated to a 2003 replay: where a big name coach was in his second year... the team started 3-1 before losing to a hurting Philadelphia team... the Skins imploded with a losing streak that included falling to 3-5 at the hands of the Buffalo Bills... and a 5-11 campaign that ended with a loss to the same Eagles that started the slide. Still no word if we'll have a resignation via fax from the golf course.
Dissecting the Division-- the Giants win over Dallas gave them the NFC East at 9-7... the worst record for a division winner in NFC East history. In a division known for dominant defenses, this year's champion allowed 400 points during the season. Ouch. The Cowboys fall to third at 8-8 because they were swept by Philadelphia. And the Redskins bring up the rear again.
Conference Contests... and North Stars-- the NFC won the intra-conference contest, 33-31. This is the first time since the 90's that this has happened. With three of the last four Super Bowl winners hailing from the old guard, does this represent a pendulum swing? As for best division, the AFC North posted the best record (37-27) and brings three playoff teams to the fold. But remember, last year the NFC South had the best regular season mark only to go 0-2 in the playoffs. Division of depression? The AFC South won just 26 games ... the only division to fail to reach 30 victories.
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