~Anthony Constantino
Now that an enormously entertaining week has been completed everyone is probably ready to write off certain teams, and raise the Lombardi trophy for others. We all have a tendency to speak in extremes, and sports talk is no different. Here are 10 proclamations I'm comfortable making after Week 1:
1) The Jaguars are the worst team in pro football. This team can start planning to draft whoever they desire next May at the NFL draft; they are already on the clock. Their team is probably good enough to stay in several games this season, but I sense that the losing culture has not been adjusted by head coach Gus Bradley and his new staff. 28-2 against the Chiefs at home? I don't care how good Kansas City might be, that is unacceptable.
2) The Patriots will not have the best offense in the NFL. The Buffalo Bills new look defense didn't have a great game against Brady's bunch, but they did hold New England to 23 points. That is a feat only four teams accomplished all of last season (the Pats still won two of those games). I know that Rob Gronkowski will add a valuable dimension to the offense, but so do opposing defenses. I might be falling into the trap of underselling another no name group of playmakers in Foxboro only to be proven wrong, but Kenbrell Thompkins? Shane Vereen? Josh Boyce? Really?
3) Peyton Manning wants his record back. The Denver Broncos lit up the night sky on Thursday night to kick the season off. Manning provided the opening night fireworks by throwing seven touchdown passes against the Baltimore Ravens, tying an NFL record. If Manning averages three TD passes over the next 15 games (that's it?!) the record for single season passing touchdowns would be his again.
4) Ndamukong Suh needs to go to his room. The Detroit Lions' 2nd overall pick from 2010 cannot stop playing dirty. After teammate DeAndre Levy intercepted a gem of a pass thrown by Vikings' QB Christian Ponder, Levy was off to the races with what was sure to be six points for Detroit. That is, until Ndamukong went rogue on Vikings' offensive lineman John Sullivan's knee, nullifying the defensive touchdown. Suh was subsequently fined 100,000 dollars for the incident. If Suh wants to play tough and physical, nobody will criticize him for that. However Lions' coaches, players, and fans alike must be getting awfully tired of seeing their high priced defensive tackle racking up fine after fine after suspension for dirty plays. The NFL will continue to collect money from his paychecks as this behavior persists.
5) The Saints missed Sean Payton badly. Saints head coach Sean Payton returned to the sideline to coach his team again after his year long suspension for "bounty-gate". Nobody was happier to see him than Drew Brees. Payton, a master play-caller, has always had a great connection with his quarterback. The always seem to see the game the same way and Payton makes Brees better. This in turn makes the Saints offense better, and opposing defenses quiver.
6) There was a Philip Rivers sighting! The San Diego quarterback threw for four touchdown passes on Monday Night Football this week. He hadn't done that since Week 8 in the 2011 season. Rivers also had just one turnover, which is a refreshing departure from what he had been doing lately. The quarterback was responsible for 49 turnovers over the past two seasons.
7) NFL players don't know where the sideline is. In multiple games this weekend, players were flagged for hitting other players out of bounds. Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall tackled Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson almost 5 yards clear of the out of bounds line, causing a scuffle between the two players. The penalty came on a drive that gave the Eagles their second touchdown, and a 12 point lead. In a different game, Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews launched himself into 49ers' quarterback Colin Kaepernick after the San Francisco QB was well out of bounds. This resulted in a penalty that helped to give the 49ers another chance to score, and the Niners took full advantage by scoring a touchdown. The most egregious error came in the Buccaneers/Jets game. Tampa Bay Bucs linebacker LaVonte David gave a late hit to New York Jets' quarterback Geno Smith. The Jets in return gave Tampa Bay their first loss of the season by nailing a 48 yard field goal with only second remaining. These are professionals that should really consider paying attention to rules, and the dimensions of the fields they play on.
8) Chip Kelly is changing the game. There's an old adage that reads, "work smarter, not harder". Chip Kelly wants to have the best of both worlds. His offense is the fastest thing I've ever seen on a football field. In his debut as the Philadelphia Eagles head coach, his offense ran a play every 23 seconds. That is a blistering pace by NFL standards. There was no huddling, no audibles, and no time wasted. Michael Vick looked right at home in the most up tempo offense in the NFL. The Eagles ran 53 plays in the first half, the most in a half of NFL football since 1998. Midway through the first quarter, the Washington Redskins' defense looked as if the game had already went into overtime. Exhausted, they were hunched over with hands on their hips and I suspect more than one injury was faked to decelerate the sheer speed of Kelly's fastbreak offense. This could be the way of the NFL moving forward, after the Eagles had so much success on Monday night.
9) Don't sleep on the Carolina Panthers. I know they lost. I know it's the first week. It doesn't help that Carolina is in a tough division either. Carolina did just hold the Seahawks to 12 points in a game. This team averaged more than 25 points last season. Sure Seattle had 9 penalties against them. I will tell you this much, the Panthers defense should not be taken lightly. Their three linebackers (Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis, Jon Beason) are as good as any in the game. Charles Johnson is a stud at defensive end, and their secondary isn't a pushover either. Cam Newton's offense may be "challenged", or maybe they just aren't very good. If Cam Newton cuts down his mistakes and develops into more of the game breaker we saw at Auburn, this team could make some noise this year.
10) Review everything. I was alright with each coach getting a pair of challenges to use during a game (with the possibility of accruing a third). I was even willing to accept reviews coming from upstairs inside each two minute warning. Now it seems like every other drive something is being reviewed. I feel as though I'm watching college basketball, where nobody knows how to work time clocks, shot clocks, flagrant fouls, or the little televisions to see if a player's foot was on the line or the ball was still in hand. Anyway the point I'm making is why give coaches the red flag if you are going to review everything already? How many times do we hear "the previous play is under review" in an NFL game these days? I am all about having replay available to help referees because people make mistakes. However I don't think we need to spend more time reviewing plays than actually playing the game. Maybe there should be a chair umpire like we see in tennis that watches a television and gets the best vantage point on every replay. That chair umpire could overrule the officials on the field when mistakes are made. I am not sure that is a good solution, but nobody wants to pay money to sit and listen to stadium music while the head official is under a cloak watching replays.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Saturday, July 6, 2013
The Dwightmare is Over
~Anthony Constantino
The long awaited decision by Dwight Howard has landed the NBA's best Center on the Houston Rockets. He joins James Harden (a superstar in the making) and Jeremy Lin (the guy that fooled us into thinking he could be a superstar). That is the newest "big three" in basketball. If you ask me, that is a pretty underwhelming trio. Jeremy Lin averaged 13 points and 6 assists last season, while shooting 44% from the field. These are very pedestrian numbers for a starting Point Guard in the NBA. Although Dwight Howard is the gaining headlines for his move to Houston, it is worth pointing out that his statistics have been declining. Over the past three seasons, Howard went from averaging 22 points and 14 rebounds to averaging 17 points and 12 rebounds. He also averaged nearly 4 fouls per game last season, meaning Dwight could spend some serious time on the bench this season in foul trouble.
Dwight Howard was not the best fit in Los Angeles. Honestly, he doesn't seem to have the mental makeup to handle the pressure of being a Laker. When a player puts that jersey on he carries a torch that so many other superstars have carried for decades. Although Howard becomes the only superstar to walk away from the Lakers, that just fits his personality. He presents himself as a guy who doesn't want to feel pressure and dislikes expectations placed before him. With the Houston Rockets comes a certain level of anonymity. He follows Hakeem Olajuwon and Yao Ming. No disrespect to Hakeem or Yao intended, but those names pale in comparison to Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O'Neal. That's just to name a few. The lights shine very bright in LA, and Howard is not cut out for that shine.
Dwight has a ragtag group of teammates now, from the unworthy Jeremy Lin to the unproven Chandler Parsons. Beyond Parsons and James Harden, there are no three point shooters. One can only guess (or hope, really) that Rockets' GM Daryl Morey is far from finished constructing this team that is clearly playing for a shot at an NBA Championship. The team presently constructed is still no threat to the best in the West in my estimation. The Rockets have a long way to go before they can earn home court advantage in a playoff series.
As for the team Howard leaves behind, they are playing a farewell tour. Only the aging Steve Nash remains under contract beyond this season. Kobe Bryant will surely return with something to prove in 2014. With the free agent class in 2014 including stars such as Chris Bosh, DeMarcus Cousins, Paul George, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony (potentially), and LeBron James; the Lakers should have no shortage of opportunities to create the next "big three" however they see fit. In truth I would rather tie my future to any one of those players listed above than hitch my wagon to Dwight Howard.
I previously stated that Howard is the best Center in the NBA. What I didn't mention is how starved the NBA is for quality players at that position. This is the golden age of Point Guards, not big men. More and more big men are developing jump shots and shying away from posting up. The days of dominant Centers and Power Forwards down on the block like Shaq are long gone. Sure, Dwight can pretend he is a post up player, but he lacks any real post moves. LeBron James has more post moves than the best Center in the NBA. There is the problem with sinking big money into the front court. There just aren't enough guys who can catch the ball in the paint and get consistent points. Even if Howard developed his post moves, he still cannot hit his free throws. Fouling Howard is a near guarantee that he will miss at least one of his two shots at the charity stripe.
Lakers fans should keep the heads held high and say good riddance to Dwight Howard. His Houston Rocket team does not look poised to hang any more banners than the Lakers this year. The free agency class of 2014 is on its way. The NBA's glamour franchise will make it's presence felt next July.
The long awaited decision by Dwight Howard has landed the NBA's best Center on the Houston Rockets. He joins James Harden (a superstar in the making) and Jeremy Lin (the guy that fooled us into thinking he could be a superstar). That is the newest "big three" in basketball. If you ask me, that is a pretty underwhelming trio. Jeremy Lin averaged 13 points and 6 assists last season, while shooting 44% from the field. These are very pedestrian numbers for a starting Point Guard in the NBA. Although Dwight Howard is the gaining headlines for his move to Houston, it is worth pointing out that his statistics have been declining. Over the past three seasons, Howard went from averaging 22 points and 14 rebounds to averaging 17 points and 12 rebounds. He also averaged nearly 4 fouls per game last season, meaning Dwight could spend some serious time on the bench this season in foul trouble.
Dwight Howard was not the best fit in Los Angeles. Honestly, he doesn't seem to have the mental makeup to handle the pressure of being a Laker. When a player puts that jersey on he carries a torch that so many other superstars have carried for decades. Although Howard becomes the only superstar to walk away from the Lakers, that just fits his personality. He presents himself as a guy who doesn't want to feel pressure and dislikes expectations placed before him. With the Houston Rockets comes a certain level of anonymity. He follows Hakeem Olajuwon and Yao Ming. No disrespect to Hakeem or Yao intended, but those names pale in comparison to Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O'Neal. That's just to name a few. The lights shine very bright in LA, and Howard is not cut out for that shine.
Dwight has a ragtag group of teammates now, from the unworthy Jeremy Lin to the unproven Chandler Parsons. Beyond Parsons and James Harden, there are no three point shooters. One can only guess (or hope, really) that Rockets' GM Daryl Morey is far from finished constructing this team that is clearly playing for a shot at an NBA Championship. The team presently constructed is still no threat to the best in the West in my estimation. The Rockets have a long way to go before they can earn home court advantage in a playoff series.
As for the team Howard leaves behind, they are playing a farewell tour. Only the aging Steve Nash remains under contract beyond this season. Kobe Bryant will surely return with something to prove in 2014. With the free agent class in 2014 including stars such as Chris Bosh, DeMarcus Cousins, Paul George, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony (potentially), and LeBron James; the Lakers should have no shortage of opportunities to create the next "big three" however they see fit. In truth I would rather tie my future to any one of those players listed above than hitch my wagon to Dwight Howard.
I previously stated that Howard is the best Center in the NBA. What I didn't mention is how starved the NBA is for quality players at that position. This is the golden age of Point Guards, not big men. More and more big men are developing jump shots and shying away from posting up. The days of dominant Centers and Power Forwards down on the block like Shaq are long gone. Sure, Dwight can pretend he is a post up player, but he lacks any real post moves. LeBron James has more post moves than the best Center in the NBA. There is the problem with sinking big money into the front court. There just aren't enough guys who can catch the ball in the paint and get consistent points. Even if Howard developed his post moves, he still cannot hit his free throws. Fouling Howard is a near guarantee that he will miss at least one of his two shots at the charity stripe.
Lakers fans should keep the heads held high and say good riddance to Dwight Howard. His Houston Rocket team does not look poised to hang any more banners than the Lakers this year. The free agency class of 2014 is on its way. The NBA's glamour franchise will make it's presence felt next July.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
2013 NFL Draft Preview
Rather than trying to predict what Buddy Nix and Doug Marrone will do in this year's draft, I've taken a different approach to my draft blog. However I will give a few words of encouragement to the Bills' faithful as they wait patiently to be on the clock:
This offseason has been successful for the Bills. They have begun to turn over the roster in hopes of heading in a new direction. They enter the draft with some serious needs and hope to leave New York City with some rookies ready to make an impact in 2013. The playoffs should not be on your mind though, this team is not ready to win as much as seven games in the upcoming season in my estimation.
The 2013 draft class is being labeled a weak one at best. With so much uncertainty surrounding the drafting process, I find it hard to believe we can call any draft class strong or weak or otherwise until a couple years after the fact. There are busts, value picks, sleepers, reaches, and everything in between on draft day. The experts will always fill us in as if they can see into the future. The reality is that we are all just speculating, and grasping at straws to predict the unknown. The best I can do is give an informed opinion on the prospects we all hope will succeed come September.
Having said all that, here are the 10 players I can't wait to see in the NFL from this year's draft class in no particular order.
Luke Joeckel LT, Texas A&M- Most insiders expect that he will be the top pick in the draft, whether Kansas City picks him or trades out of the spot. He has the look of a dominant lineman that can protect someones blindside for the next decade.
Dion Jordan OLB, Oregon- His physical attributes and athletic ability jumped out at me when I watched Oregon's defense last season. I found myself paying attention to the Ducks defense as well as their cutting edge offense. Jordan looked more and more like Von Miller in green and yellow, or whatever color the Ducks were wearing on gamedays.
Tyler Eifert TE, Notre Dame- "The NFL is a passing league." How many times do we hear people utter that phrase. Since the league has gone more aerial, a vertical threat at TE is an every-down mismatch for a lot of defenses. When you think Eifert, think Aaron Hernandez, Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham, and Vernon Davis. He looks like he will be in their class in no time.
Bjoern Werner DE, Florida State- I watched a lot of this guy last season. He is a tremendous pass rusher that can get after the quarterback as well as any player in this draft. His persistence is what really makes me want to watch him. Werner finishes every play he starts.
Tavon Austin WR, West Virginia- Anybody that watched any college football this season recognizes this name. Austin is a Swiss army knife on the field. He doesn't need much open space to make big things happen. From the backfield, the slot, and even outside the numbers Tavon is a gamebreaker in every sense of the word. Even before the draft, this 5'9 174 pound prospect has reservations for six, several times over.
Sharrif Floyd DT, Florida- Floyd embodies what it is to be disruptive on the defensive line. he gets up the field in a hurry on pass and run plays. This guy will draw double teams all day in the NFL, and should allow his linebackers to make things happen. He might draw comparsions to Vince Wilfork before his career is over.
Jarvis Jones OLB, Georgia- For some reason I don't hear a lot of chatter about Jones. I cannot figure that out. Jones tallied more than 13 sacks in his only two seasons at Georgia. Those sacks mean something, as they came while playing in the SEC. I have him as the second best pass rusher in this draft, behind Dion Jordan.
David Amerson CB, NC State- Some people have no idea who this guy is. He grabbed 12 interceptions in 2011 so I'd say it's time to get familiar with him. Amerson has the tools to be a great cover corner in the NFL. At 6'1, he should be able to compete with the bigger receivers around the league.
Matt Barkley QB, USC- I am going to the well one more time with a SoCal quarterback. I was on board with Carson Palmer. I believed in Mark Sanchez. At the risk of losing all credibility I am backing Barkley this time around. If he fails me, I will finally learn my lesson. Barkley has started 8 years between high school and college football. That kind of experience is rare, and he was in a difficult situation at USC with NCAA investigations and the lovable Lane Kiffin. In his worst season at Southern Cal he threw 36 TD passes and 15 INTs.
Justin Hunter WR, Tennessee- Hunter is 6'4 with good speed. His height makes him a viable target in the redzone. His speed gives him a chance to make plays all over the field. I think he will be the next Muhsin Muhammad (860 catches, 11,438 yards, 62 touchdowns), and that's pretty good.
For those of you who love mock drafts, I've decided to throw mine below. Enjoy the draft!
1.KC Luke Joeckel OT TAMU 17. PIT Keenan Allen WR CAL
2. JAX Ziggy Ansah DE BYU 18. DAL Kenny Vaccaro S UT
3. OAK Sharrif Floyd DT UF 19. NYG Jonathan Cooper OG UNC
4. PHI Star Lotulelei DT UTAH 20. CHI Arthur Brown ILB KSU
5. DET Eric Fisher OT CMU 21. CIN John Cyprien S FIU
6. CLE Chance Warmack OG BAMA 22. STL Jarvis Jones OLB UGA
7. ARI Lane Johnson OT OU 23. MIN Xavier Rhodes CB FSU
8. BUF Cordarrelle Patterson WR TENN 24. IND Larry Warford OG UK
9. NYJ Dion Jordan DE OREG 25. MIN Sheldon Richardson DT MIZZ
10. TEN Dee Milliner CB BAMA 26. GB Barrett Jones C BAMA
11. SD D.J. Fluker OT BAMA 27. HOU Justin Hunter WR Tenn
12. MIA Barkevious Mingo DE LSU 28. DEN Damontre Moore DE TAMU
13. NYJ Geno Smith QB WVU 29. NE Margus Hunt DE SMU
14. CAR Tavon Austin WR WVU 30. ATL Jonathan Hankins DT OSU
15. NO Bjoern Werner DE FSU 31. SF Jesse Williams DT BAMA
16. STL DeAndre Hopkins WR CLEM 32. BAL Alec Ogletree OLB UGA
This offseason has been successful for the Bills. They have begun to turn over the roster in hopes of heading in a new direction. They enter the draft with some serious needs and hope to leave New York City with some rookies ready to make an impact in 2013. The playoffs should not be on your mind though, this team is not ready to win as much as seven games in the upcoming season in my estimation.
The 2013 draft class is being labeled a weak one at best. With so much uncertainty surrounding the drafting process, I find it hard to believe we can call any draft class strong or weak or otherwise until a couple years after the fact. There are busts, value picks, sleepers, reaches, and everything in between on draft day. The experts will always fill us in as if they can see into the future. The reality is that we are all just speculating, and grasping at straws to predict the unknown. The best I can do is give an informed opinion on the prospects we all hope will succeed come September.
Having said all that, here are the 10 players I can't wait to see in the NFL from this year's draft class in no particular order.
Luke Joeckel LT, Texas A&M- Most insiders expect that he will be the top pick in the draft, whether Kansas City picks him or trades out of the spot. He has the look of a dominant lineman that can protect someones blindside for the next decade.
Dion Jordan OLB, Oregon- His physical attributes and athletic ability jumped out at me when I watched Oregon's defense last season. I found myself paying attention to the Ducks defense as well as their cutting edge offense. Jordan looked more and more like Von Miller in green and yellow, or whatever color the Ducks were wearing on gamedays.
Tyler Eifert TE, Notre Dame- "The NFL is a passing league." How many times do we hear people utter that phrase. Since the league has gone more aerial, a vertical threat at TE is an every-down mismatch for a lot of defenses. When you think Eifert, think Aaron Hernandez, Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham, and Vernon Davis. He looks like he will be in their class in no time.
Bjoern Werner DE, Florida State- I watched a lot of this guy last season. He is a tremendous pass rusher that can get after the quarterback as well as any player in this draft. His persistence is what really makes me want to watch him. Werner finishes every play he starts.
Tavon Austin WR, West Virginia- Anybody that watched any college football this season recognizes this name. Austin is a Swiss army knife on the field. He doesn't need much open space to make big things happen. From the backfield, the slot, and even outside the numbers Tavon is a gamebreaker in every sense of the word. Even before the draft, this 5'9 174 pound prospect has reservations for six, several times over.
Sharrif Floyd DT, Florida- Floyd embodies what it is to be disruptive on the defensive line. he gets up the field in a hurry on pass and run plays. This guy will draw double teams all day in the NFL, and should allow his linebackers to make things happen. He might draw comparsions to Vince Wilfork before his career is over.
Jarvis Jones OLB, Georgia- For some reason I don't hear a lot of chatter about Jones. I cannot figure that out. Jones tallied more than 13 sacks in his only two seasons at Georgia. Those sacks mean something, as they came while playing in the SEC. I have him as the second best pass rusher in this draft, behind Dion Jordan.
David Amerson CB, NC State- Some people have no idea who this guy is. He grabbed 12 interceptions in 2011 so I'd say it's time to get familiar with him. Amerson has the tools to be a great cover corner in the NFL. At 6'1, he should be able to compete with the bigger receivers around the league.
Matt Barkley QB, USC- I am going to the well one more time with a SoCal quarterback. I was on board with Carson Palmer. I believed in Mark Sanchez. At the risk of losing all credibility I am backing Barkley this time around. If he fails me, I will finally learn my lesson. Barkley has started 8 years between high school and college football. That kind of experience is rare, and he was in a difficult situation at USC with NCAA investigations and the lovable Lane Kiffin. In his worst season at Southern Cal he threw 36 TD passes and 15 INTs.
Justin Hunter WR, Tennessee- Hunter is 6'4 with good speed. His height makes him a viable target in the redzone. His speed gives him a chance to make plays all over the field. I think he will be the next Muhsin Muhammad (860 catches, 11,438 yards, 62 touchdowns), and that's pretty good.
For those of you who love mock drafts, I've decided to throw mine below. Enjoy the draft!
2. JAX Ziggy Ansah DE BYU 18. DAL Kenny Vaccaro S UT
3. OAK Sharrif Floyd DT UF 19. NYG Jonathan Cooper OG UNC
4. PHI Star Lotulelei DT UTAH 20. CHI Arthur Brown ILB KSU
5. DET Eric Fisher OT CMU 21. CIN John Cyprien S FIU
6. CLE Chance Warmack OG BAMA 22. STL Jarvis Jones OLB UGA
7. ARI Lane Johnson OT OU 23. MIN Xavier Rhodes CB FSU
8. BUF Cordarrelle Patterson WR TENN 24. IND Larry Warford OG UK
9. NYJ Dion Jordan DE OREG 25. MIN Sheldon Richardson DT MIZZ
10. TEN Dee Milliner CB BAMA 26. GB Barrett Jones C BAMA
11. SD D.J. Fluker OT BAMA 27. HOU Justin Hunter WR Tenn
12. MIA Barkevious Mingo DE LSU 28. DEN Damontre Moore DE TAMU
13. NYJ Geno Smith QB WVU 29. NE Margus Hunt DE SMU
14. CAR Tavon Austin WR WVU 30. ATL Jonathan Hankins DT OSU
15. NO Bjoern Werner DE FSU 31. SF Jesse Williams DT BAMA
16. STL DeAndre Hopkins WR CLEM 32. BAL Alec Ogletree OLB UGA
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
ZERO CHAMPIONSHIPS
~Mike Wolcott
It was October of 2006 and I was in attendance for a Bills game vs. the Patriots. Dick Jauron was the coach of the Bills that year and J.P. Loss-man, I mean Losman, was the quarterback. It was only week 7, but even the most optimistic Bills fans were beginning to recognize that the team sucked and was going nowhere. Buffalo fans were completely despondent over their local football team. On the flip side, the same fans couldn’t be happier about their local hockey team. The Buffalo Sabres were sitting atop the Eastern Conference and off to an 8-0 start.
The game was approaching halftime with the Bills down 14-3. Fans were visibly disgruntled. Watching Losman was painful, and the drunken buzz most onlookers obtained during tailgating was wearing off. A Canadian man wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs Jersey was walking down the stairs next to my section, presumably on his way to get a snack or to go to the bathroom. For those of you who don’t remember, the rival Leafs were not a playoff caliber team in 06’. Here was a chance for the beleaguered Buffalo fans to affirm a sense of superiority over a member of another team’s fan base. The Buffalo fans started yelling at the Canadian, "Fuck you Maple Leafs suck!!" and "Go Sabres wooo!!!’. This was not a fair fight because it was basically 100+ Bills/Sabres fans vs. this one guy. The Canadian turned to look at my section with a smile on his face.
"How many champyunchips do the Sabres have?" asked the Canadian in a thick accent. When no one responded, he proceeded to answer his own question, "ZERO CHAMPYUNCHIPS!!!" He paused for a moment and then posed another question, "How many champyunchips do the Bills have?" Still there was no response. "ZZZEEERRROOO!" He declared. The once bold and brash Buffalo fans (including myself) were now silenced, all staring blankly at this one man in a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey. There was really no good comeback for this guy. The Sabres were having a successful season to that point, but that was no reason to get cocky, especially considering the franchise had never won a Stanley Cup. Finally a Buffalo fan piped up, a feeble "Fuck you" was all he could muster. The Canadian just laughed, "Hahaha. FUCK YOU!! ZERO CHAMPYUNCHIPS!!! ZEROOOO!!!!" He started to walk away now but was still yelling ‘Zero". His voice felt like it was echoing through the entire stadium, "ZERO CHAMYUNCHIPS. ZERO!!!! FUCK YOUU!!!! ZEROOOO!!!!! HAHAHA!!!"
I thought I’d share this fun anecdote because it looks as though 2013 will be yet another year without a championship for Buffalo sports teams. The Sabres are more than halfway through their strike out shortened season and enter tonight’s game in 14th place in the Eastern Conference. The franchise has existed for 40+ years and is still waiting to hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time. Similarly, the Buffalo Bills have been a part of the NFL for 50+ years and have never won a Super Bowl. Both teams are in what’s called "rebuilding" mode yet again (the Bills have been "rebuilding" for 14 years). To that end, there is little reason to think either team will get the monkey off their back anytime soon. Until they do, Ralph Wilson stadium will echo with the haunting words of a Canadian man in a Maple Leafs jersey: "ZERO CHAMPIONSHIPS."
FUN FACT: The Tampa Bay Lightning have won exactly one more Stanley Cup than the Buffalo Sabres.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Looking For A Reason To Billieve
~Anthony Constantino
Winds of change are blowing at 1 Bills Drive as a new coaching staff is settling in, looking to turn this team around for the 2013 season. It is hard to determine where this staff should begin as they turn over this roster while attempting to cultivate a winning attitude in the locker room.
The acquisitions of Mario Williams and Mark Anderson in free agency last off-season did not have the impact that many expected to see in the 2012 season. Williams finished with a deceptive 10.5 sacks to go with a paltry 37 tackles. Anderson had his season cut short due to injury while tallying only 1 sack in 6 games played. These men were a part of a defense that fell short of expectations and crumbled in the clutch during the season, while sometimes never showing up at all.
The play of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick left Bills fans unsatisfied, as he took a great deal of blame for the 6-10 campaign in 2012. With 24 TD passes against 16 Interceptions Fitzpatrick managed the game as best he could. Fitz also threw for 3400 yards and completed over 60 percent of his passes, which does not look all that bad on paper. However, his turnovers in key moments of games do not show up in any stat column.
Looking ahead to 2013, let me set aside the disappointment in hiring this new regime charged with coaching up this roster next year. Let me ignore the tremendous lack of significant NFL experience at all three major coaching positions for the moment as well. If you are an optimist, let's just pretend this staff is more of a solution than a problem in 2013. Let's say Doug Marrone and Nathaniel Hackett decide to utilize CJ Spiller 40 snaps per game in running and passing situations. We can also assume they find a better option than Fitzpatrick at quarterback by way of free agency or the draft. For the optimist I'll even say Mike Pettine works with the defense and gets the most out of the unit. His hybrid scheme figures to look like the Jets or Ravens defense when they line up. If Pettine keeps opposing offense guessing, the Bills might be able to get some stops and hold opposing teams to less than 25 points per game. They haven't done that since 2009. Even if all these things come to fruition, the Bills are still a team with many needs to address. Buddy Nix has done an average job through all avenues in building a team that can produce on the field.
The Buffalo Bills are still quite far away from breaking the 13 year playoff drought. There are multiple factors that help me arrive at this stance. Even with great coaching this team isn't capable of much more than an 8-8 campaign with a roster like they have. Let me be clear in saying I do not expect great coaching from this staff, at least not right out of the blocks. Even still, the roster has gaping holes badly in need of plugging. There needs to be more than the plugging in some of those holes as well. I look at the wide receivers, linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties and wonder if some of them would start on any other team in the NFL.
We cannot debate how good Jairus Byrd and Stevie Johnson are. There is no debate; these guys are very good. Byrd is a top 10 safety and Johnson would be the best second wide-out in the league if he had another wide receiver opposite him that made defenses worry. Stephen Gilmore should be a solid corner in a handful of seasons. Gilmore might even grade out to be the next Antoine Winfield which would be more than accepted by the Bills faithful. Time will reveal just what Gilmore becomes. Beyond those three guys I cannot see much promise at these positions. Does anybody really think Donald Jones, David Nelson, and Brad Smith can be dependable week to week? Can you honestly say Nick Barnett, Kelvin Sheppard, and Bryan Scott are skillful and consistent linebackers at the NFL level? The Bills were so lacking at linebacker last season that Bryan Scott came down from his natural Safety position to play linebacker. It is also fair to say George Wilson could stand to replaced for a difference-maker at his position.
Although the team is in a much better place than it was 3 years ago, I would like the optimist to look at the two teams playing in Super Bowl XLVII. The San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens both have a consistent gameplan with a clear direction. These teams primarily build through the draft, while adding some key pieces via free agency to round out their teams. Both teams have great players at the skill positions (RB,WR,TE,CB,S). The 49ers and Ravens play exceptional defense that can at times suffocate opposing offenses. They have vocal leaders that set a positive example for the younger players in the locker room (look no further than Ray Lewis and Patrick Willis). These teams are built for success in any environment, even if their quarterbacks play an average game. Now how many of those qualities apply to the Bills roster?
Winds of change are blowing at 1 Bills Drive as a new coaching staff is settling in, looking to turn this team around for the 2013 season. It is hard to determine where this staff should begin as they turn over this roster while attempting to cultivate a winning attitude in the locker room.
The acquisitions of Mario Williams and Mark Anderson in free agency last off-season did not have the impact that many expected to see in the 2012 season. Williams finished with a deceptive 10.5 sacks to go with a paltry 37 tackles. Anderson had his season cut short due to injury while tallying only 1 sack in 6 games played. These men were a part of a defense that fell short of expectations and crumbled in the clutch during the season, while sometimes never showing up at all.
The play of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick left Bills fans unsatisfied, as he took a great deal of blame for the 6-10 campaign in 2012. With 24 TD passes against 16 Interceptions Fitzpatrick managed the game as best he could. Fitz also threw for 3400 yards and completed over 60 percent of his passes, which does not look all that bad on paper. However, his turnovers in key moments of games do not show up in any stat column.
Looking ahead to 2013, let me set aside the disappointment in hiring this new regime charged with coaching up this roster next year. Let me ignore the tremendous lack of significant NFL experience at all three major coaching positions for the moment as well. If you are an optimist, let's just pretend this staff is more of a solution than a problem in 2013. Let's say Doug Marrone and Nathaniel Hackett decide to utilize CJ Spiller 40 snaps per game in running and passing situations. We can also assume they find a better option than Fitzpatrick at quarterback by way of free agency or the draft. For the optimist I'll even say Mike Pettine works with the defense and gets the most out of the unit. His hybrid scheme figures to look like the Jets or Ravens defense when they line up. If Pettine keeps opposing offense guessing, the Bills might be able to get some stops and hold opposing teams to less than 25 points per game. They haven't done that since 2009. Even if all these things come to fruition, the Bills are still a team with many needs to address. Buddy Nix has done an average job through all avenues in building a team that can produce on the field.
The Buffalo Bills are still quite far away from breaking the 13 year playoff drought. There are multiple factors that help me arrive at this stance. Even with great coaching this team isn't capable of much more than an 8-8 campaign with a roster like they have. Let me be clear in saying I do not expect great coaching from this staff, at least not right out of the blocks. Even still, the roster has gaping holes badly in need of plugging. There needs to be more than the plugging in some of those holes as well. I look at the wide receivers, linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties and wonder if some of them would start on any other team in the NFL.
We cannot debate how good Jairus Byrd and Stevie Johnson are. There is no debate; these guys are very good. Byrd is a top 10 safety and Johnson would be the best second wide-out in the league if he had another wide receiver opposite him that made defenses worry. Stephen Gilmore should be a solid corner in a handful of seasons. Gilmore might even grade out to be the next Antoine Winfield which would be more than accepted by the Bills faithful. Time will reveal just what Gilmore becomes. Beyond those three guys I cannot see much promise at these positions. Does anybody really think Donald Jones, David Nelson, and Brad Smith can be dependable week to week? Can you honestly say Nick Barnett, Kelvin Sheppard, and Bryan Scott are skillful and consistent linebackers at the NFL level? The Bills were so lacking at linebacker last season that Bryan Scott came down from his natural Safety position to play linebacker. It is also fair to say George Wilson could stand to replaced for a difference-maker at his position.
Although the team is in a much better place than it was 3 years ago, I would like the optimist to look at the two teams playing in Super Bowl XLVII. The San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens both have a consistent gameplan with a clear direction. These teams primarily build through the draft, while adding some key pieces via free agency to round out their teams. Both teams have great players at the skill positions (RB,WR,TE,CB,S). The 49ers and Ravens play exceptional defense that can at times suffocate opposing offenses. They have vocal leaders that set a positive example for the younger players in the locker room (look no further than Ray Lewis and Patrick Willis). These teams are built for success in any environment, even if their quarterbacks play an average game. Now how many of those qualities apply to the Bills roster?
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