If you're a sports enthusiast and interested in writing, send me an e-mail at jacob.l.lerman@gmail.com and we will get you set up as a columnist for the blog.
Ideally, this will become a forum where sports fans (more specifically, Bay Area sports fans) can voice their opinions and run debates throughout the blog site.
Thanks for reading and stay tuned...
Thursday, May 6, 2010
The Best Month of the Year
April is the best sporting month of the year. You could argue that October is (and if it were October now, I would probably agree), but April is pretty amazing. NBA and NHL Playoffs are among us, and in the Bay Area, our Sharks are making mincemeat out of the rival Detroit Red Wings (I would like to write a more in-depth article on the Sharks, but I don't consider myself any kind of expert). The Warriors…ehh, not so much. Furthermore, Major League Baseball has begun, which allows Giants fans to mutter the words: “Maybe next year our offense will be better.”
If April was just filled with those three sports, I would still agree with my first statement. Fortunately, it’s not. The NFL Draft occurred two weeks ago, finishing off the quad-fecta of sports. The 49ers were one of four teams to have two picks in the first round, and they targeted their needs in a big way (and I mean BIG).
Prior to the draft, there were five essential needs that the 49ers needed to attack to not only win the NFC West (why are we so content with winning the worst division in football?), but most importantly, compete in the playoffs.
1. The Offensive Line: With Joe Staley already anchoring the blind side and Eric Heitmann at center, we needed to secure two of our other three line spots through the draft. There were four names that stood out at a tackle position (Okung, Williams, Davis, and Bulaga), and we got our hands on Anthony Davis, a future right tackle who was originally thought of as the best tackle in the draft merely two months ago. Well, some character issues allowed the 49ers to trade up and get him at 11 (was the trade up REALLY necessary, though?), and new Player Personnel director Trent Baalke got the man they thought would make an instant impact protecting our quarterback.
Mike Iupati is a behemoth that can immediately bring toughness to our LG position, and his fiery side fits in perfectly with the intensity that coach Mike Singletary shows each and every day.
These two additions should immediately help the Niners on the offensive side of the ball, allowing us to play the clock-management game and thus exhausting opposing defenses throughout the fourth quarter.
2. Defensive Backs: I’d say we went 1 for 2 here, with the addition of Taylor Mays (but as much as I like him for the potential, we shouldn’t be expecting a Ronnie Lott-like impact in his first year in the league). Mays has a lot to learn, and he “may” be a big project (no pun intended).
3. A Return Game: Without a return game, I figured anyone during the offseason would be a vast improvement. Two weeks prior to the draft, we trade a 2010 5th round pick for Ted Ginn Jr. and immediately upgrade the position. Even if his impact is minimal in the passing game, his returning abilities (as long as he can improve on punts) instantly improve us for this upcoming season.
4. A Quarterback: Say what you want, I am still not a believer. It’s not that I don’t want to be, it’s that Alex Smith has not given me a reason to be. When Alex Smith excelled in 2009, we had to change our offense and playbook to get him going. If we want to be the running team that Singletary wants to be, the spread offense will not succeed. Frank Gore is not a “draw” running back, and we are taking away our best offensive player by spreading out the offense.
Smith will have to learn how to play under center. I don’t know how we didn’t go after Donovan McNabb who would have given us the best chance at a Super Bowl berth in 2010-2011.
5. A Change of Pace Back: Frank Gore, Glen Coffee, and Anthony Dixon are all big, powerful, downhill runners but they don’t flash the burst that a change of pace back (CoPB) would bring. Hopefully we bring in a pass-catching CoPB via free agency (or a rookie), to show the 49ers the need for an elusive, explosive runner.
For those upset that LeGarrette Blount bailed on the 49ers, understand that he was fourth in line on the totem pole with three eerily-similar power backs ahead of him. His best chance to play was with a Tennessee Titans team sans LenDale White.
All in all, it’s been a successful offseason for the 49ers. I believe there is still a need at the QB position, but like most 49ers faithful, I’m hoping that Alex Smith can be the answer.
What are your thoughts? Can Alex Smith lead an improving defensive team to a playoff win or three?
Tune in to read up on the Giants and their fast start to the 2010 season. Coming soon…
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Quick Thoughts on the NFL Pro Bowl
This is becoming a joke. Scratch that. This has been a joke and will never be taken seriously as a true All-Star Game.
Football is a physical sport. However, the essence of playing a football game without physicality takes everything away from the game. In the first quarter, AFC DE Mario Williams was unabated to QB Aaron Rodgers, and did not hit him. In fact, he didn’t even touch him. He allowed Rodgers to make a throw in his face. What does this prove other than Mario Williams did not want to kill Rodgers who was sacked an NFL high 50 times in 2009?
It proves that the game is not the best way to feature the most talented players in the NFL. It illustrates that half the players look great due to non-tackling, non-physical play, while the other half get taken advantage of and look foolish.
A few quick suggestions on improving the Pro Bowl games and festivities:
Forget the 60-minute game. Play a 7 on 7 game, a la passing league, that can emphasize the quicker guys and passing.
While the little guys are playing their passing league, the big guys are having an eating contest (it doesn’t have to be run at exactly the same time). A hot dog eating contest would be funny, but I think hard-boiled eggs would be the best (I’m just envisioning the Japanese guy, Jumbo, from The Replacements). During the commercial breaks, emphasize childhood obesity issues in America and make sure that people don’t try this at home.
Do skills competitions. QBs do accuracy and distance. RBs do agility drills. WRs/TEs catch balls off the machines, etc.
Do an NFL combine-lite. The players have to run a 40-yard dash, do a vertical jump, bench press, etc.
And last but not least, a punt-pass-and kick competition with all players involved. How great would it be to watch the 340-pound Flozell Adams doing attempting a 30 yard field goal under the lights in Miami?
I’m not saying run every single one of these, but they are all options to make this past weekend a little more interesting. Any other suggestions that I left out?
Football is a physical sport. However, the essence of playing a football game without physicality takes everything away from the game. In the first quarter, AFC DE Mario Williams was unabated to QB Aaron Rodgers, and did not hit him. In fact, he didn’t even touch him. He allowed Rodgers to make a throw in his face. What does this prove other than Mario Williams did not want to kill Rodgers who was sacked an NFL high 50 times in 2009?
It proves that the game is not the best way to feature the most talented players in the NFL. It illustrates that half the players look great due to non-tackling, non-physical play, while the other half get taken advantage of and look foolish.
A few quick suggestions on improving the Pro Bowl games and festivities:
Forget the 60-minute game. Play a 7 on 7 game, a la passing league, that can emphasize the quicker guys and passing.
While the little guys are playing their passing league, the big guys are having an eating contest (it doesn’t have to be run at exactly the same time). A hot dog eating contest would be funny, but I think hard-boiled eggs would be the best (I’m just envisioning the Japanese guy, Jumbo, from The Replacements). During the commercial breaks, emphasize childhood obesity issues in America and make sure that people don’t try this at home. Do skills competitions. QBs do accuracy and distance. RBs do agility drills. WRs/TEs catch balls off the machines, etc.
Do an NFL combine-lite. The players have to run a 40-yard dash, do a vertical jump, bench press, etc.
And last but not least, a punt-pass-and kick competition with all players involved. How great would it be to watch the 340-pound Flozell Adams doing attempting a 30 yard field goal under the lights in Miami?
I’m not saying run every single one of these, but they are all options to make this past weekend a little more interesting. Any other suggestions that I left out?
Monta Ellis: All-Star Snub or Undeserving (Super)Star?
Was Monta Ellis snubbed from the 2010 All-Star Game in Dallas two weeks from now? Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis is currently sixth in the NBA in scoring at 25.8 PPG. Ranking behind Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade; you couldn’t argue that he deserves an All-Star spot ahead of any of those five superstars. But they all made the team, so that’s a non-issue. The list of All-Stars that made it ahead of him follow: Nowitzki, Bosh, Roy, J. Johnson, Stoudemire, Z. Randolph, and so on down the list. None of these players score more points per game than Monta Ellis.
Forget common-fan knowledge that states that the scoring should precede all else. Perhaps scoring isn’t the biggest indicator on which players should be on the All-Star team. It obviously wasn’t the case this season.
One of Ellis’ biggest flaws is that he is neither a 1 (point guard) nor a 2 (shooting guard/off guard). But for All-Star selections, players are only ranked as guards and there is no distinction between PGs and SGs. Regarding All-Star reserve selections, there are two spots for guards, two spots for forwards, one spot for a center, and two more spots for the last deserving players.
Ellis’ competition for those four spots was Chris Paul, Brandon Roy, Deron Williams, and Zach Randolph. No argument can be made for Ellis over Paul so we’ll leave it at that (Currently though, who knows who fills Paul’s spot on the All-Star team). Brandon Roy and Monta Ellis’ numbers are so similar that you could argue Roy was put in based on his team’s superior record; 29-21 Portland vs. 13-33 Golden State. Personally, I don’t believe that the record has anything to do with the All-Star team because it is not an MVP race. Ellis has no shot at the MVP and that is completely reasonable, but as an All-Star, the win-loss record should not be a factor.
While I will argue that point (that W-L record is not important for an All-Star team), I also will state that I’m not saying that Ellis is more deserving than Roy. Their numbers are so similar that it’s hard not to say that it was a factor in the decision making process. Best player on a winning team versus the best player on a losing team. No contest…as long as those players’ numbers are as close as Roy’s to Ellis’.
As much as I’d like to, I can’t conceivably argue that Ellis deserves a berth over stud PG Deron Williams either. He leads Monta in most of the major categories, only taking a big hit in the PPG statistic (25.8 to 19.0).
The real debate comes with Zach Randolph against Monta. Z-Bo has revived his unbelievably consistent career with a remarkable 21 PPG and 11.7 RPG. Again, the argument is the team; and with essentially the same team in Memphis from 2009 without Randolph, Zach has turned the team from a .293 Grizzlies team in ’09 to a .553 team in ’10.
I would love to say that the All-Star selection doesn’t come down to wins and losses, but it does. Sorry Monta, your team just isn’t good enough. If the Warriors are playing .500 basketball, you are undoubtedly an All-Star. Maybe you should request that trade you mentioned earlier this season…
But in all seriousness, with Chris Paul’s injury, it is hard to find a more deserving guard to replace Paul on the roster. Only time will tell.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
The Impossible Possibilities
The offseason for the NFL season seems so long for the 49er faithful while watching the Saints and Colts compete for the Super Bowl. But speculation about what “might” happen in the offseason is a great way to pass the time. That’s exactly what I’m going to do right now.
QB Possibilities
While the possibilities of us drafting a QB are slim to none (not that any truly stand out to me from the first round perspective), trading for a QB is not out of the realm of possibility. ESPN rumored days ago that Donovan McNabb might be traded to almost a dozen teams, with the 49ers in that mix. While they speculate that the chances are slim, he could instantly create a buzz around our offense that we haven’t seen since the Jeff Garcia days (perhaps Steve Young would be a better choice, but Garcia was completely underrated). McNabb seems best suited for a West Coast Offense, which we can’t offer, but it’s fun to dream isn’t it?
How about Michael Vick coming here? We want to be a running team, and the Vick led-Falcons squad was the best rushing attack in the NFL while he was still, you know…running rampant like a dog (too soon?). Whether or not, he proved he can be a viable offensive threat with his legs and left arm, and those Falcons were constantly winning ball games. RB Possibilities
Let’s note that Frank Gore is a Pro Bowl RB that when healthy can’t do much wrong. If there is one thing we need, it is a change of pace back that can catch out of the backfield. C.J. Spiller is definitely an option at #13 for us and he also fills our hole as a return man as well.
Trading for Josh Cribbs is an option. If we aren’t giving up one of our first round picks (and go defensive back/offensive lineman with our first two picks), it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a trade for Cribbs. While he is apparently making progress with Cleveland, he would fit our need as a returner.
WR Possibilities
One of my biggest problems with the 2009 49ers squad was our lack of speed. While Vernon Davis is a burner at TE, he is also a worthy blocker who typically won’t get a free release off the line. Crabtree showed tons of promise, but he is not a speedster himself. We need a deep threat to open up the field and keep defenses honest against us next season.
Although inconsistency reigns supreme, Braylon Edwards is an enticing player that can get behind secondaries and open the game up for Crabtree, Davis and Gore. He won’t have to be the #1 option in San Francisco like he was in Cleveland, but he can definitely handle the #2 job.
There are so many big name wide receivers that are available for trade/free agency this offseason, but unlike our massive disappointment in Brandon Jones (if you’re asking who? that is the correct question), we aren’t wasting $16 million on another WR who won’t play. Brandon Marshall won’t happen; neither will Anquan Boldin or Terrell Owens.While the prospects of talking about offensive linemen isn’t an interesting one (no offense to offensive linemen, it is the toughest job in the NFL. It’s like being a catcher in baseball.), it is important to grab 1-2 offensive linemen through the draft and free agency. That’s all I have to say about that.
Defensively, making sure we draft a DB/safety is a necessity in the first round. Whether it be Earl Thomas (S from Texas), Eric Berry (S/CB from Tennessee), or Joe Haden (CB from Florida), one of these guys should be on our 2010 roster come NFL draft day. We don’t have that many moves that need to be made on this side of the ball, but seeing as Ahmad Brooks stepped up as a pass rusher, only a huge upgrade at OLB (trade for DeMarcus Ware perhaps?) would be necessary. Two players stand out as possibilities: Elvis Dumervil and Julius Peppers. Peppers is a good enough athlete that he may be able to play the 3-4 OLB, but it is unlikely. Dumervil excelled in Mike Nolan’s 3-4 defensive scheme last year in Denver, but he is on the way out of Denver.
The Tully Banta-Cain signing a few years back didn’t work out, but Dumervil has the talent to truly upgrade our pass rush. His 17 sacks in 2009 would fit nicely onto our roster, right?
Monday, January 25, 2010
Golden State Warriors - Developmentally Challenged
For those that are not into the NBA scene, the D-League stands for the Development League. It also stands for the Golden State Warriors minor league system that is used so beautifully throughout Major League Baseball. The Warriors in the 2009-2010 season have scoured the D-League for any remnants of a future NBA player. Just looking at their roster this season makes non-NBA personnel say, “Who?” With Kelenna Azubuike, Chris Hunter, Cartier Martin, Anthony Tolliver, and C.J. Watson, Warriors fans see five players that went undrafted and signed from the D-League.
What does all this say about the Golden State Warriors? Well, I personally love the fact that they are looking at other options to better their team. Nobody would argue that Kelenna Azubuike has built himself an NBA career because of the Warriors foreshadowing to sign him while he was in the D-League. But are we relying on this league a little too much?
Keep in mind; these are players that were NOT drafted. Probably not even considered by NBA general managers and scouts alike to ever sniff the NBA. Instead of these players going to Europe to play professionally, they all decided to stay in the States where their prospects of playing in the NBA were slim to none…until the Warriors came trudging along. The pros are these players are cheap, they just want an opportunity, and they will bust their asses to stay in the NBA. Did these players just develop later than their college teammates and opponents?
Cartier Martin, from Kansas State, averaged 18 points per game and 6.6 rebounds in his junior year at K-State. Watson, Azubuike and Tolliver were all in between 13-15 points per game in their career best seasons in college. Chris Hunter? His best season was when he was an 18-year-old freshman at Michigan, averaging 8.1 ppg and 3.8 rpg in 20 minutes per contest (the most minutes per game he played in his career).
While injuries have decimated our team like Jack Bauer eliminates terrorists in 24, we need to develop the core of our team through the NBA draft and free agency. Stephen Curry has proven he was worthy of our first round pick while Anthony Randolph and Brandan Wright have showed promise but not much else. Our thought on drafting “projects” because of their potential is truly halting our ability to contend in the NBA. It would be nice to draft a “sure thing” albeit there is never a guarantee in professional sports. It becomes worse when you think about how inconsistent playing time is in the Warriors rotation.
Anthony Randolph posted a 17-point, 13 rebound, 3 steal, and 2-block performance on November 11th in 31 minutes of playing time. The following game? Randolph logged 6 minutes and 21 seconds of playing time. It’s too frustrating to see the promise that Randolph brings to the table to see the Warriors wasting it by not giving him his 28-30 minutes per night. While this all moot with him being shelved with an ankle injury, when he comes back (if he comes back, there are rumors he gets traded) they need to give him playing time to allow the opportunity to be successful.
The D-League is widely regarded as the Warriors entire minor league system, and until they can build through the draft and free agency, it will be known that way for the immediate future as well.
Great Kelenna Azubuike story if you’re not too bored from this article:
Mr. Jeremy Reitman, Mr. Mike Boisvert, and myself are in Las Vegas to watch the NBA Summer League (really, it was an excuse to party and gamble). After watching a full slate of games on Saturday (four games while being too hungover to leave the stadium), we decided to get cleaned up and receive a comped $400 dinner at Rare 120 ° at the Hard Rock Hotel. Mike had connections with the ownership to allow us to embrace a lovely, free dinner. While we are finishing up our dinner, Kelenna Azubuike and his table of about 6 other NBA/D-League/NCAA players sit down across the room from us. After conversing with the general manager of the restaurant, we notice that Azubuike is staring directly at us. It was a death glare of sorts considering it was about five minutes and I don’t think he had blinked yet. While we were leaving the restaurant I looked over at him and smiled from ear to ear. He then came up to me while we were departing and asked me who I was and what I did for a living. I gave him a shrug, an autograph and a handshake and left the hotel. (The last part actually didn’t happen, but it made the story sound much better)
What does all this say about the Golden State Warriors? Well, I personally love the fact that they are looking at other options to better their team. Nobody would argue that Kelenna Azubuike has built himself an NBA career because of the Warriors foreshadowing to sign him while he was in the D-League. But are we relying on this league a little too much?Keep in mind; these are players that were NOT drafted. Probably not even considered by NBA general managers and scouts alike to ever sniff the NBA. Instead of these players going to Europe to play professionally, they all decided to stay in the States where their prospects of playing in the NBA were slim to none…until the Warriors came trudging along. The pros are these players are cheap, they just want an opportunity, and they will bust their asses to stay in the NBA. Did these players just develop later than their college teammates and opponents?
Cartier Martin, from Kansas State, averaged 18 points per game and 6.6 rebounds in his junior year at K-State. Watson, Azubuike and Tolliver were all in between 13-15 points per game in their career best seasons in college. Chris Hunter? His best season was when he was an 18-year-old freshman at Michigan, averaging 8.1 ppg and 3.8 rpg in 20 minutes per contest (the most minutes per game he played in his career).
While injuries have decimated our team like Jack Bauer eliminates terrorists in 24, we need to develop the core of our team through the NBA draft and free agency. Stephen Curry has proven he was worthy of our first round pick while Anthony Randolph and Brandan Wright have showed promise but not much else. Our thought on drafting “projects” because of their potential is truly halting our ability to contend in the NBA. It would be nice to draft a “sure thing” albeit there is never a guarantee in professional sports. It becomes worse when you think about how inconsistent playing time is in the Warriors rotation.
Anthony Randolph posted a 17-point, 13 rebound, 3 steal, and 2-block performance on November 11th in 31 minutes of playing time. The following game? Randolph logged 6 minutes and 21 seconds of playing time. It’s too frustrating to see the promise that Randolph brings to the table to see the Warriors wasting it by not giving him his 28-30 minutes per night. While this all moot with him being shelved with an ankle injury, when he comes back (if he comes back, there are rumors he gets traded) they need to give him playing time to allow the opportunity to be successful.
The D-League is widely regarded as the Warriors entire minor league system, and until they can build through the draft and free agency, it will be known that way for the immediate future as well.
Great Kelenna Azubuike story if you’re not too bored from this article:
Mr. Jeremy Reitman, Mr. Mike Boisvert, and myself are in Las Vegas to watch the NBA Summer League (really, it was an excuse to party and gamble). After watching a full slate of games on Saturday (four games while being too hungover to leave the stadium), we decided to get cleaned up and receive a comped $400 dinner at Rare 120 ° at the Hard Rock Hotel. Mike had connections with the ownership to allow us to embrace a lovely, free dinner. While we are finishing up our dinner, Kelenna Azubuike and his table of about 6 other NBA/D-League/NCAA players sit down across the room from us. After conversing with the general manager of the restaurant, we notice that Azubuike is staring directly at us. It was a death glare of sorts considering it was about five minutes and I don’t think he had blinked yet. While we were leaving the restaurant I looked over at him and smiled from ear to ear. He then came up to me while we were departing and asked me who I was and what I did for a living. I gave him a shrug, an autograph and a handshake and left the hotel. (The last part actually didn’t happen, but it made the story sound much better)
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Defense wins Championships
Defense wins Championships
With the NFL Draft three months away, the San Francisco 49ers can make a huge push towards the playoffs during the spring. With an offseason that will hopefully be highlighted by a massive right tackle through the draft, a sure-tackling safety, a physical cornerback, and a drastic improvement in our return game; the 49ers are definitely not more than these few pieces away from “goodness” (greatness may be a stretch).
For those who are unaware, the New York Jets headed by rookie coach Rex Ryan and rookie QB Mark Sanchez are one game away from the Super Bowl. They have relied on a consistent rushing attack and a hard-hitting, ball-hawking defense to propel them to two straight road playoff victories. Was this the type of transformation we were hoping for when we hired Mike Singletary halfway through the 2008 season? Absolutely. However, we are not as far from these goals as our 8-8 record might illustrate.
Our rushing attack had some great highs in 2009. For instance, during week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, Frank Gore rushed for 207 yards to go along with his two TD scampers (79 & 80 yard variety). But, our rushing attack’s failures are duly noted. We ranked 25th in the NFL logging 1,600 rushing yards on the season. If the San Francisco 49ers can improve on that number and perhaps sign/draft a change of pace third down back (a la Darren Sproles), we can limit the wear and tear on Frank Gore and allow him to do his work in the trenches (where he has dominated in his 5-year career).
Who do I believe the 49ers should target in the April draft? As of right now, it is not so much the players as it is the positions (The NFL Draft portion below will explain why). As I mentioned earlier, an offensive tackle at 13 or 17 seems mandatory. Joe Staley has proven he can handle the rigors at left tackle, but we need someone to anchor the right side (I’ll predict Brian Bulaga from Iowa). With our other pick in the first round, a defensive back is a must. The only chance we will probably have at Eric Berry (Tennessee safety) is if teams worry that he may have to transform into a cornerback (a legitimate idea in the minds of scouts).
With a few improvements to the offensive line and defensive secondary (along with a return man), the 2009 New York Jets could quickly become the 2010 San Francisco 49ers. It is not that big of a stretch, it is not a pipe dream, and within a year, it could become reality.
The NFL Draft
I don’t know about many football fans, but to me, the weeks leading up to the draft are filled with excitement, bold draft predictions, and a dream for the upcoming season. The mock drafts that you glance at are exactly that: Mock. Imposter. Fake. It’s great to see the 49ers drafting Eric Berry in one draft, but according to others, he will go third to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Don’t get caught up in the hype of a mock draft.
These so-called experts just try and create a buzz. The reality? Future NFL players win and lose in the draft based on their combine and individual workouts. The combine is scheduled for the last two weeks in February. The individual workouts follow thereafter. “Great” players in college fall by the wayside when they run a 4.62 40-yard dash instead of the 4.5 they “should be” recording. San Francisco 49ers fans know this all too well; our 11th pick overall, Michael Crabtree, fell this far because he did not compete in the combine. It can be a blessing or a curse. After his exciting 2009 debut, I call it a blessing. Oakland Raiders fans…you can call that a curse.
NFL players drafted later than their advisors had them pegged, try to prove the skeptics wrong. It is one thing that keeps the NFL interesting year in and year out. Young players who are drafted high feel the pressure and crap out. Players drafted low exceed expectations to prove that they deserved to be higher. If only they had shaved milliseconds off their 40-yard dash, they would have banked millions more.
These next three months are sure to be exciting, especially in the minds of San Francisco 49ers fans everywhere. With two picks in the first round, we are sure to improve on our needs. We have already proven we can compete with some of the NFL’s best (2-4 against playoff teams in 2009, lost by three to Minnesota, lost by four to Indianapolis, lost by six to Green Bay, and lost by 14 to Philadelphia). A few small upgrades to our team, and we are still playing in late January.
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