This season has been a terrible one for me. I've been a season ticket holder for the Denver Pioneers hockey team. I've never rooted for another team other than WI or CC and from everything I see going on at Magness, I'm shocked that Gwozdecky was fired. Attendance has been minor, with one sellout.....ONE! I mean this is a 7 time national championship team. They sold out against Brown. Needless to say I won't be attending any more games next season as a Pioneer fan.
I'm not impressed with this edition of the Colorado College Tigers. Unless Scott Owens has been taking a few years off the recruiting pipeline, things don't appear to be getting much better. My hope is that after this year, the remaining athletes can take the summer to re-group and come back firing for next season. I don't know that they won't run the NCHC tourney, but this season has been a debacle.
Miami of Ohio is probably the most disappointing team in the NCHC right now. Some might call me clueless, but for a team picked to win the conference this is a very poor showing. Rico Blasi has some work to do, but I have no idea where he needs to pick up. I think a second season in the NCHC will show the league what type of team we get to see on the weekends.
Duluth has become a stronger team one year after having a sub-par performance. They look stronger and I think they are about 2 years away from a solid national championship team. However this is not a set sport, so let's hope they play hard every game.
This is the first time in about 8 years that the University of North Dakota has not had a premier goalie. They don't look horrid, but I think this is the dip in Dave Hakstol's career that he will look back on. Pretty good teams every year. Never the less, I always have faith in the nickname removed Fighting Sioux. They play good in the second half of the year and are always a potential snake bite in the post season.
I'm truly impressed with SCSU. They have been solid for two straight years now. A great showing last year and this year has been nothing short of greatness.
Prior the start of this year, I have been extremely pessimistic about the B1G conference. I was angry with the formation of this conference as it removed Minnesota and Wisconsin from yearly visits to Colorado. It also took the money out of the WCHA, and forced a great conference in the CCHA to fold. However after some time watching, I can say that I am a fan. I've only really picked up on the B1G network games recently, so I'll have more to say next year than now. However I have noticed the rise of Penn State, Ohio State, and Michigan State in the collegiate level. Aside from Penn State just starting, the B1G gave these three schools a bigger platform than they had before.
Hockey East always seems foreign to people from the western side of the states. That's because roughly 1/4 of their teams play inside of Boston. The addition of Notre Dame has been a disaster in my mind. They are so distant from any other team in hockey east, but their payroll with NBC will always benefit them.
Atlantic Hockey has always been an also ran conference. While I do love these smaller schools competing night in and night out, they just don't command the recruiting that upper echelon conferences do. Unless they pick up a new team with money, I don't see their status changing anytime soon.
Once upon a time, the ECAC was another also ran conference. Then we got this influx of playoff runs from Yale, Quinnipiac, and Union. This year Clarkson has proved better, combined with the return to Lake Placid makes for a stunning conference.
The WCHA will take time. Ferris State is 2 years removed from a title loss, and Minnesota State is not the team they were last year. I think the next two years will prove to be difficult for a conference stretched from Alaska to Alabama. Let's hope that these teams can retain the glory they once basked in prior to the hockey shakeup.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Superbowl 48
The air was slightly damp, with a steady beam of sun making for a hot day. The grass was green, and children played. Families rented pavilions and celebrated with reunions, barbeque's and music. Cars drove by on the busy streets while motorcycle clubs roamed the small suburban area.
No this was not a scene or the opening from a book. This was what I experienced on the first day of the Denver Bronco's training camp last August. I remember all of this going on while radio and television news covered every possible angle of what happened the previous season: a double overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Everybody had something to say about that team, with the good and bad times rolling off of slick tongues.
As the season progressed, story lines came into play. The first was why Joe Flacco had been plastered all over Denver. After all, Joe has never been a Bronco and the last time he played in Denver the result didn't end well. Every player who fell under the flag of Bronco Player had just become destined for the golf course. So naturally this gravitation towards pummeling the Ravens was overpowering.
Soon after, the talk was no longer about Denver making the playoffs. The talk was about how Peyton Manning was set to surpass Tom Brady for touchdowns in a season. As the weeks flew off the calender, the nothing seemed to matter except that record.
When the record was set, the feeling was almost one of "well done, Peyton". Not the typical idea one would want to see from a team desperately needing a super bowl.
Which brings us to the big game. All the hype that surrounded the Bronco's couldn't help them. This was after all, the worst the Bronco's had ever played. As it stands, I cannot seem to find a Bronco fan willing to show some Denver pride after that ass kicking.
So I decided to break this game down a little and possibly piss some people off for what I have to say.
Say is where I will begin. You can say what you want about the pregame, but getting a coin toss one way or another is the beginning of a game. This decides who gets what advantage and when. It's the first chance for a team to manage something. It's also the first chance for the other team to display the offense they prepared. So I am not buying into the idea that the league's best offense was set back because they didn't start the game off on defense.
I want to point out something about Denver's special teams. Early this season when the rave about Peyton was flying, praises were coming for Trindon Holliday. After all, he was cut by the Texans and he seemed to be doing well last season. By the time this game started, the best chance Mr. Holliday could get at a game was to hope John Fox forgot that he had fumbled so many footballs.
When the kickoff came, I didn't think anything of the kick. I was questioning why the football didn't clear the endzone considering the new kickoff rules. I remember thinking that either this kicker sucked, or the wind really got a hold of that ball. My next thought was if the ball is 9 yards deep, why didn't a guy stop Holliday from pursuing a run out?
A: Trindon Holliday was not stopped because the Bronco's had planned to attack Seattle's defense in every way possible. The thought was not how to overcome them, but when they could sneak in passes. This kickoff showed that the Bronco's did not have confidence to run their normal scheme.
On the first snap, the noise in the stadium appeared to be so loud that I thought this might have been Centurylink Field. At this point in the game, everyone in the stands is super happy to be at the superbowl. The biggest game in American sports, and what is usually the most watched event of the year. This proposes another question: Why didn't John Fox script the Bronco's offense for the first couple of plays?
A: Denver is not a team set up to take commands from the tower. Peyton knows all of the play calls and can quick snap (Omaha) when he get's the package he wants. Restricting Peyton is not something the Bronco's have done all year. This makes me believe that the Bronco's were coming into this game thinking they were playing for the same result that week 2 of the regular season would bring: a win. Wrong answer in my opinion for the last game of the year.
As the ball entered the endzone, Peyton didn't seem anywhere close and Moreno didn't even try to throw the ball forward for the chance to be outside of the endzone. Why didn't he try to do something with the ball?
A: Take a look at the Bronco's offensive line. They are built to hold for Peyton. Had RGIII, Cam Newton, or even Russel Wilson been under center this line would not prove of any use. They are built to hold for a guy who does not move well. Once they are beat, they hope that their QB can make a play or just accept the sack. In this case, the entire defense came as a force and Moreno decided to take the safety instead of giving up a touchdown.
On the next possession, Denver held Seattle's offense in very good check. They only allowed a field goal. In fact on the next two possessions, Denver only allowed six points. Considering how depleted they were in depth and old they were in presence, this was pretty good. So why were the Bronco's unable to hold an offense no where near the top in any category?
A: The defense on the field is what it is: a bunch of guys going for the best result possible. With Derrick Wolfe, Von Miller, and Chris Harris out, this team was only built for taking what the other team was giving up.
On Denver's next possession, Peyton threw a ball to Demaryious Thomas who ended up getting decked pretty hard. After watching this play, most radio pundits put that play as the game changer. I didn't think so. Which begs the question: Did the DT hit by Earl Campbell seal Denver?
A: No. However this showed how little Denver had spent working on the basic mechanics of the game. Thomas had a good 3 yard box around him to make a move. Normally this would have been enough to break open for some good yards. However, Campbell is incredibly fast and will nose dive against anyone. With the proper mechanics, Thomas could have had a five to seven yard gain instead of the three he got popped for.
Following this significant play, Manning threw his first interception. With a 8-0 lead, Seattle was getting the ball back in a way that Denver has rarely shown this year. I honestly couldn't believe that Manning didn't sharpen that play up. Which makes me wonder: What really went on during that play?
A: Crowd Noise. Manning is a defensive mind game. He calls fake plays to see which player will address his pass and then calls that player out. This is why you hear " X is mike". He's identifying the mike linebacker, or the guy who's going to come after Manning in the first blitz situation. This screws the defense because everyone on offense knows who is coming. Then the lineback backs off and the safety moves. Before the safety get's to his destination, manning throws in an audible followed by the world "Omaha" and then hut. The safety has momentum, just not in the way that he wanted. The receivers can take advantage of this fade and get a good route. On this particular play, Manning didn't get to move the safety. So he threw to the call of the play.
At the start of the second half, Seattle had a 22-0 lead. The superbowl record is a 10 point come from behind win. So this would mean shattering this record. I still do not believe that a 22 point lead was the end for Denver. Not for this offense anyways. So I wondered, did the kick off return for a touchdown seal the game, and why did Prater not kick into the endzone?
First A: Many people felt that the safety on the opening possession of the first half was the end for the Bronco's. I didn't see this game from that perspective. I saw the ultimate failure of an offense AND defense in the first half, and the kickoff assured me that nothing about this team was running at a pro level. I felt that the kickoff return was the nail in the coffin. I felt this way because up to this point, the only thing not to fail was the special teams. I'm sure people will disagree with me, but the reality is Denver had no chance from this point on. They would have had to pull a top 5 comeback in league history to win at this moment.
Second A: Prater was trying to avoid Percy Harvin. He had two options: kick the ball past the endzone or pooch the kick in front of Harvin which would get the kicking team time to get to the ball. The first option was out at the opening kick off. Harvin has more speed than Holliday and a 10 yard take off would be just what he needed to seal this game off. When Prater pooched the kick, the kicking team failed to get good penetration. The fell into zone blocks and allowed Harvin to pick holes. Ultimately he jettisoned the kicking team for the end zone.
The game was a blur at this point to many people not rooting for Seattle. In fact, most people were shocked that this game was so lopsided. Many people felt a good game was in order, but not a blowout. When Manning threw the touchdown pass in the third quarter, he proved he was able to bring this team back. Or did he?
A: No, Hell no. Manning proved that he possessed the ability to score a touchdown. What he didn't prove was that he could get his offense on the same page.
In retrospect, this was the worst superbowl that I have ever watched. I have heard some good predictions and some down right horrible ones about Mannings future. Here is what I believe: Manning has a legacy that won't be remembered until he put's on his HOF jacket. His superbowl win against Chicago is such a distant memory. Right now the only thing that seems to be going through people's mind are his inability to play in this superbowl, and his throw for a pick six in the previous superbowl against the Saints. I like and subscribe to the notion that Manning's arm is going downhill. I think we are about two years away from seeing an offense custom to Peyton's soon to be unpowered and short throws. Denver will be surging on Defense. Unfortunately, before they hit their new prime the guy under center for the offense will be talking about the time he was in superbowl 48.
No this was not a scene or the opening from a book. This was what I experienced on the first day of the Denver Bronco's training camp last August. I remember all of this going on while radio and television news covered every possible angle of what happened the previous season: a double overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Everybody had something to say about that team, with the good and bad times rolling off of slick tongues.
As the season progressed, story lines came into play. The first was why Joe Flacco had been plastered all over Denver. After all, Joe has never been a Bronco and the last time he played in Denver the result didn't end well. Every player who fell under the flag of Bronco Player had just become destined for the golf course. So naturally this gravitation towards pummeling the Ravens was overpowering.
Soon after, the talk was no longer about Denver making the playoffs. The talk was about how Peyton Manning was set to surpass Tom Brady for touchdowns in a season. As the weeks flew off the calender, the nothing seemed to matter except that record.
When the record was set, the feeling was almost one of "well done, Peyton". Not the typical idea one would want to see from a team desperately needing a super bowl.
Which brings us to the big game. All the hype that surrounded the Bronco's couldn't help them. This was after all, the worst the Bronco's had ever played. As it stands, I cannot seem to find a Bronco fan willing to show some Denver pride after that ass kicking.
So I decided to break this game down a little and possibly piss some people off for what I have to say.
Say is where I will begin. You can say what you want about the pregame, but getting a coin toss one way or another is the beginning of a game. This decides who gets what advantage and when. It's the first chance for a team to manage something. It's also the first chance for the other team to display the offense they prepared. So I am not buying into the idea that the league's best offense was set back because they didn't start the game off on defense.
I want to point out something about Denver's special teams. Early this season when the rave about Peyton was flying, praises were coming for Trindon Holliday. After all, he was cut by the Texans and he seemed to be doing well last season. By the time this game started, the best chance Mr. Holliday could get at a game was to hope John Fox forgot that he had fumbled so many footballs.
When the kickoff came, I didn't think anything of the kick. I was questioning why the football didn't clear the endzone considering the new kickoff rules. I remember thinking that either this kicker sucked, or the wind really got a hold of that ball. My next thought was if the ball is 9 yards deep, why didn't a guy stop Holliday from pursuing a run out?
A: Trindon Holliday was not stopped because the Bronco's had planned to attack Seattle's defense in every way possible. The thought was not how to overcome them, but when they could sneak in passes. This kickoff showed that the Bronco's did not have confidence to run their normal scheme.
On the first snap, the noise in the stadium appeared to be so loud that I thought this might have been Centurylink Field. At this point in the game, everyone in the stands is super happy to be at the superbowl. The biggest game in American sports, and what is usually the most watched event of the year. This proposes another question: Why didn't John Fox script the Bronco's offense for the first couple of plays?
A: Denver is not a team set up to take commands from the tower. Peyton knows all of the play calls and can quick snap (Omaha) when he get's the package he wants. Restricting Peyton is not something the Bronco's have done all year. This makes me believe that the Bronco's were coming into this game thinking they were playing for the same result that week 2 of the regular season would bring: a win. Wrong answer in my opinion for the last game of the year.
As the ball entered the endzone, Peyton didn't seem anywhere close and Moreno didn't even try to throw the ball forward for the chance to be outside of the endzone. Why didn't he try to do something with the ball?
A: Take a look at the Bronco's offensive line. They are built to hold for Peyton. Had RGIII, Cam Newton, or even Russel Wilson been under center this line would not prove of any use. They are built to hold for a guy who does not move well. Once they are beat, they hope that their QB can make a play or just accept the sack. In this case, the entire defense came as a force and Moreno decided to take the safety instead of giving up a touchdown.
On the next possession, Denver held Seattle's offense in very good check. They only allowed a field goal. In fact on the next two possessions, Denver only allowed six points. Considering how depleted they were in depth and old they were in presence, this was pretty good. So why were the Bronco's unable to hold an offense no where near the top in any category?
A: The defense on the field is what it is: a bunch of guys going for the best result possible. With Derrick Wolfe, Von Miller, and Chris Harris out, this team was only built for taking what the other team was giving up.
On Denver's next possession, Peyton threw a ball to Demaryious Thomas who ended up getting decked pretty hard. After watching this play, most radio pundits put that play as the game changer. I didn't think so. Which begs the question: Did the DT hit by Earl Campbell seal Denver?
A: No. However this showed how little Denver had spent working on the basic mechanics of the game. Thomas had a good 3 yard box around him to make a move. Normally this would have been enough to break open for some good yards. However, Campbell is incredibly fast and will nose dive against anyone. With the proper mechanics, Thomas could have had a five to seven yard gain instead of the three he got popped for.
Following this significant play, Manning threw his first interception. With a 8-0 lead, Seattle was getting the ball back in a way that Denver has rarely shown this year. I honestly couldn't believe that Manning didn't sharpen that play up. Which makes me wonder: What really went on during that play?
A: Crowd Noise. Manning is a defensive mind game. He calls fake plays to see which player will address his pass and then calls that player out. This is why you hear " X is mike". He's identifying the mike linebacker, or the guy who's going to come after Manning in the first blitz situation. This screws the defense because everyone on offense knows who is coming. Then the lineback backs off and the safety moves. Before the safety get's to his destination, manning throws in an audible followed by the world "Omaha" and then hut. The safety has momentum, just not in the way that he wanted. The receivers can take advantage of this fade and get a good route. On this particular play, Manning didn't get to move the safety. So he threw to the call of the play.
At the start of the second half, Seattle had a 22-0 lead. The superbowl record is a 10 point come from behind win. So this would mean shattering this record. I still do not believe that a 22 point lead was the end for Denver. Not for this offense anyways. So I wondered, did the kick off return for a touchdown seal the game, and why did Prater not kick into the endzone?
First A: Many people felt that the safety on the opening possession of the first half was the end for the Bronco's. I didn't see this game from that perspective. I saw the ultimate failure of an offense AND defense in the first half, and the kickoff assured me that nothing about this team was running at a pro level. I felt that the kickoff return was the nail in the coffin. I felt this way because up to this point, the only thing not to fail was the special teams. I'm sure people will disagree with me, but the reality is Denver had no chance from this point on. They would have had to pull a top 5 comeback in league history to win at this moment.
Second A: Prater was trying to avoid Percy Harvin. He had two options: kick the ball past the endzone or pooch the kick in front of Harvin which would get the kicking team time to get to the ball. The first option was out at the opening kick off. Harvin has more speed than Holliday and a 10 yard take off would be just what he needed to seal this game off. When Prater pooched the kick, the kicking team failed to get good penetration. The fell into zone blocks and allowed Harvin to pick holes. Ultimately he jettisoned the kicking team for the end zone.
The game was a blur at this point to many people not rooting for Seattle. In fact, most people were shocked that this game was so lopsided. Many people felt a good game was in order, but not a blowout. When Manning threw the touchdown pass in the third quarter, he proved he was able to bring this team back. Or did he?
A: No, Hell no. Manning proved that he possessed the ability to score a touchdown. What he didn't prove was that he could get his offense on the same page.
In retrospect, this was the worst superbowl that I have ever watched. I have heard some good predictions and some down right horrible ones about Mannings future. Here is what I believe: Manning has a legacy that won't be remembered until he put's on his HOF jacket. His superbowl win against Chicago is such a distant memory. Right now the only thing that seems to be going through people's mind are his inability to play in this superbowl, and his throw for a pick six in the previous superbowl against the Saints. I like and subscribe to the notion that Manning's arm is going downhill. I think we are about two years away from seeing an offense custom to Peyton's soon to be unpowered and short throws. Denver will be surging on Defense. Unfortunately, before they hit their new prime the guy under center for the offense will be talking about the time he was in superbowl 48.
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