With the Halloween spirit in the air, I was hoping that Ferrum would have lots to be happy about with a win over Christopher Newport. While the Panthers played hard, it just was not enough to take down the Captains. Final CNU 28 Ferrum 14.
When I go back to look at key moments, I can pick the 91 yard run for a TD by the Captain QB, or the fumbled punt by the Panther return man, but these plays were not the difference makers...they were contributors, but it seemed to me the difference was the ability of the Captains to control the ball and the line of scrimmage, both offensively and defensively...especially in the second half. It became a test of stopping All American running back Tunde Ogun in the second half. It was a difficult, time consuming task. It took time that the Panthers did not have, and in the end the punishing ball control running game proved to be the undoing of Ferrum. Credit also the CNU defense for keeping the Panthers out of the End Zone in the second half.
There were bright spots for the Panthers, and I don't want this to go unnoticed.
Matt Dobson threw for 137 yards. (8-15-0)Because of the typical running attack of Ferrum, these are good numbers. This week while Ferrum did put up good rushing numbers, they were below what we have come to expect. Defensively, Ferrum kept the Captains under 100 yards passing, and got one interception. These are all positives, but credit has to go to the Captains as their defensive schemes and power running gave them the advantage they needed.
Keys to a Ferrum Win-
Contain their Running game. Ogun is capable of putting up big numbers, He may be hard to stop, but you must limit his effectiveness. Great job in the first half- His ability took him a long way in the second half.
This team will blitz in passing situations....Play action passes, and screens will help with this...Use quick slant patterns also. This did not prove to be an issue, and if they did blitz, it was handled effectively- No sacks. Great Movement on Dobson's part to elude the rush.
Continue the punishing running attack, but be aware their pass defense is vulnerable
A good day passing, but the overall running game was limited as compared to the entire season by a solid defense.
No turnovers/Few penalties. Mistakes will make a hard job harder.
1 turnover- led to a CNU Touchdown. Penalties were far lees this week.
Secondary be ready- They will throw a lot also. Watch for Ogun to come out of backfield on pass routes. This was not an issue.
So in looking back, Ferrum came up short. And it could have been different with a play here, a mistake by CNU there. It was not to be, and Ferrum has to get ready for Senior Day, and the Averett Cougars. Another tough foe...The Panthers need to keep working and get this win next week. The thoughts of a USA South title are now impossible, but you cannot quit. You can't change today, but you can learn, and focus on tomorrow.
Sabtu, 31 Oktober 2009
GAMEDAY Spotlight-Michael Walker
#78 Michael Walker
Position: Offensive Lineman
Height: 5-7
Weight: 260
Class: Junior
Hometown: Boydton, Va.
High School: Park View
Rabu, 28 Oktober 2009
Week Nine Predictions
Christopher Newport at Ferrum
Shenandoah @ Averett
NC Wesleyan @ Methodist
Greensboro @ Maryville
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 25-15
Shenandoah @ Averett
NC Wesleyan @ Methodist
Greensboro @ Maryville
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 25-15
Selasa, 27 Oktober 2009
Toronto Raptors 2009-10 Season Preview
After another abysmal season and rampant rumors that star forward Chris Bosh could bolt after this season in Toronto, it was clear that Bryan Colangelo needed to do something big in the offseason that stir some excitement and positive feelings about basketball in Toronto heading into the 2009 season.
Enter Hedo Turkoglu, who the Raptors brought in from the Orlando Magic to help rejuvenate the franchise. After nearly signing with the Portland Trailblazers, Turkoglu changed his mind and decided to make Toronto his home at the last minute. He helped the Orlando Magic make it all the way to the NBA Finals last season, and has plenty of big game experience that he can pass on to his new teammates. He is an excellent scorer and creator.
He has a good enough handle at 6'8'' to get to the lane and score, find open teammates, and make the right decisions. He is also a solid outside shooter, and hit plenty of huge shots late in ballgames over the past couple of seasons, both during the regular season and during the playoffs. While a lot of NBA experts feel that he might be a little bit overpaid compared to what other guys in the market were getting, he should make a big difference in the Raptors fortunes.
Of course, however, Chris Bosh is still the man, and he is one of the best players in the NBA. He is excellent both on the block and at the elbow, and can hurt you in a variety of ways. He has gotten better every year since being in that vaunted 2003 draft class. He is also in the last year of his deal, and there is a lot of speculation that he could leave the Great North for a place like New York or Miami, bigger markets where he would be seen more.
Rounding out the big 3 is Jose Calderon, one of the most underrated point guards in the NBA. Since taking over the offense full-time after the departure of TJ Ford, he has been very steady. He's a great shooter from the outside, and one of the best assist men in the NBA. He won't ever be a star in the NBA, but he is a very good player, a PG that you can definitely win with. He should be able to find the scorers often, potentially making Toronto a potent offense.
While Toronto does not have enough to challenge the elite of the NBA's Eastern Conference, they should have enough talent with the acquisition of Hedo Turkoglu to be strong contenders to make it back to postseason play.
What are your thoughts on Toronto?
Enter Hedo Turkoglu, who the Raptors brought in from the Orlando Magic to help rejuvenate the franchise. After nearly signing with the Portland Trailblazers, Turkoglu changed his mind and decided to make Toronto his home at the last minute. He helped the Orlando Magic make it all the way to the NBA Finals last season, and has plenty of big game experience that he can pass on to his new teammates. He is an excellent scorer and creator.
He has a good enough handle at 6'8'' to get to the lane and score, find open teammates, and make the right decisions. He is also a solid outside shooter, and hit plenty of huge shots late in ballgames over the past couple of seasons, both during the regular season and during the playoffs. While a lot of NBA experts feel that he might be a little bit overpaid compared to what other guys in the market were getting, he should make a big difference in the Raptors fortunes.
Of course, however, Chris Bosh is still the man, and he is one of the best players in the NBA. He is excellent both on the block and at the elbow, and can hurt you in a variety of ways. He has gotten better every year since being in that vaunted 2003 draft class. He is also in the last year of his deal, and there is a lot of speculation that he could leave the Great North for a place like New York or Miami, bigger markets where he would be seen more.
Rounding out the big 3 is Jose Calderon, one of the most underrated point guards in the NBA. Since taking over the offense full-time after the departure of TJ Ford, he has been very steady. He's a great shooter from the outside, and one of the best assist men in the NBA. He won't ever be a star in the NBA, but he is a very good player, a PG that you can definitely win with. He should be able to find the scorers often, potentially making Toronto a potent offense.
While Toronto does not have enough to challenge the elite of the NBA's Eastern Conference, they should have enough talent with the acquisition of Hedo Turkoglu to be strong contenders to make it back to postseason play.
What are your thoughts on Toronto?
Denver Nuggets 2009-10 Season Preview
The Denver Nuggets were one of the biggest surprise teams in the NBA last season, finishing with over 50 wins and securing a trip to the Western Conference Finals before they finally bowed out to the eventual champions, the Los Angeles Lakers. This was not at all what most pundits expected, especially when they made such drastic changes in the middle of the season, trading away Allen Iverson and getting back Chauncey Billups.
Billups turned out to be a perfect fit to add stablity and create a sense of unselfishness on a talented roster. With guys like Carmelo Anthony, JR Smith, and Nene Hilario, a lot of talent was there, but there was no way to put it together with Allen Iverson running the point. That all changed with Billups. He added a new mindset to the team, and his experience winning a title in Detroit resonated with the rest of the Nuggets. The team took off after his arrival, and there was even some talk that Billups should get some MVP votes for the way that he helped turned the team around.
The most talented player on the team is Carmelo Anthony, who is easily one of the most talented scorers in the NBA. He can shoot the 3-ball, score on the block, or take the ball to the rim. He is an excellent midrange shooter, which makes him especially dangerous in crunch time. Over his career there have been some concerns about his maturity and leadership, but he took big strides in those areas last season, thanks to Billups and to his time on Team USA. He was also much more consistent defensively last season, an area of his game that he had not shown before.
JR Smith is expected to take a big leap this season, as they hope he will be able to consistently play a lot of minutes. He has the talent and shooting ability to be an excellent scorer, and they hope he can provide that every night, not just in spurts, as he has done for most of his career. Nene Hilario had a great season last year, and they hope he can keep his efficiency and rebounding ability. Kenyon Martin also rebounded to have a solid year, and he is a guy that sets the tone for them defensively with his intensity and athleticism.
The Nuggets should again be in the mix for a division title. It is hard to see them getting back to the Conference Finals with both Los Angeles and San Antonio in the Western Conference, but with a couple of breaks, they could be there. They should be a very entertaining team to watch as always under head coach George Karl.
What are your thoughts on the Nuggets?
Billups turned out to be a perfect fit to add stablity and create a sense of unselfishness on a talented roster. With guys like Carmelo Anthony, JR Smith, and Nene Hilario, a lot of talent was there, but there was no way to put it together with Allen Iverson running the point. That all changed with Billups. He added a new mindset to the team, and his experience winning a title in Detroit resonated with the rest of the Nuggets. The team took off after his arrival, and there was even some talk that Billups should get some MVP votes for the way that he helped turned the team around.
The most talented player on the team is Carmelo Anthony, who is easily one of the most talented scorers in the NBA. He can shoot the 3-ball, score on the block, or take the ball to the rim. He is an excellent midrange shooter, which makes him especially dangerous in crunch time. Over his career there have been some concerns about his maturity and leadership, but he took big strides in those areas last season, thanks to Billups and to his time on Team USA. He was also much more consistent defensively last season, an area of his game that he had not shown before.
JR Smith is expected to take a big leap this season, as they hope he will be able to consistently play a lot of minutes. He has the talent and shooting ability to be an excellent scorer, and they hope he can provide that every night, not just in spurts, as he has done for most of his career. Nene Hilario had a great season last year, and they hope he can keep his efficiency and rebounding ability. Kenyon Martin also rebounded to have a solid year, and he is a guy that sets the tone for them defensively with his intensity and athleticism.
The Nuggets should again be in the mix for a division title. It is hard to see them getting back to the Conference Finals with both Los Angeles and San Antonio in the Western Conference, but with a couple of breaks, they could be there. They should be a very entertaining team to watch as always under head coach George Karl.
What are your thoughts on the Nuggets?
Philadelphia 76ers 2009-10 Season Preview
After the Philadelphia 76ers signed Elton Brand in the 2008 offseason, everyone expected them to become one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, possibly challenging for a top 3 seed. That never materialized, as Brand's slower style did not mesh with the Sixers breakneck pace. The team struggled mightily out of the gate, only getting back on track once head coach Maurice Cheeks was fired and Elton Brand got injured, allowing them to fully go back to their fast style which made them so successful the previous year.
Due to financial constraints (in part because of Brand), there weren't very many additions in Philadelphia. The biggest story of their offseason was the departure of Andre Miller, the point guard and catalyst of the offense, who signed with the Portland Trailblazers. That gives the PG role to Lou Williams. He is an explosive player with the ball in his hands, but it is hard to know how he will perform as the playmaker of the offense. He great in transition or getting the ball to the basket (and getting to the free throw line), but it will be interesting to see how well he can facilitate.
Their best player is Andre Iguodala, who is solid offensively and defensively on the wing. He has come into his own over the past few seasons, and has a chance to make his first all-star game this season. He is not a great offensive player, but his athleticism allows him to fly around the court. He is an excellent finisher at the rim, and he is getting better and better shooting the basketball. Defensively, he uses his quickness to be a pest, making him one of the best wing defenders in the game.
The future of the team looks to be Thaddeus Young, a star in the making. Entering his third season, he is still only 21 years old, and made huge strides from year one to two. He averaged over 15 points per game at age 20, and looks poised to make another leap in year three. If he can continue to progress, then he can be the key cornerstone for the 76ers as they try to get back to their success from the 1970s and 1980s.
Down low, they will look to Mareese Speights and Elton Brand. Speights has a very high ceiling, as he was wildly efficient last season scoring and rebounding the ball. Elton Brand is a little harder to figure out. We know that when things are right, he can be one of the most productive players in the NBA. However, they have to fit him in their system, which was a huge problem last year. If they can, Philly will be right back in the hunt for a playoff spot.
What are your thoughts on Philly?
Due to financial constraints (in part because of Brand), there weren't very many additions in Philadelphia. The biggest story of their offseason was the departure of Andre Miller, the point guard and catalyst of the offense, who signed with the Portland Trailblazers. That gives the PG role to Lou Williams. He is an explosive player with the ball in his hands, but it is hard to know how he will perform as the playmaker of the offense. He great in transition or getting the ball to the basket (and getting to the free throw line), but it will be interesting to see how well he can facilitate.
Their best player is Andre Iguodala, who is solid offensively and defensively on the wing. He has come into his own over the past few seasons, and has a chance to make his first all-star game this season. He is not a great offensive player, but his athleticism allows him to fly around the court. He is an excellent finisher at the rim, and he is getting better and better shooting the basketball. Defensively, he uses his quickness to be a pest, making him one of the best wing defenders in the game.
The future of the team looks to be Thaddeus Young, a star in the making. Entering his third season, he is still only 21 years old, and made huge strides from year one to two. He averaged over 15 points per game at age 20, and looks poised to make another leap in year three. If he can continue to progress, then he can be the key cornerstone for the 76ers as they try to get back to their success from the 1970s and 1980s.
Down low, they will look to Mareese Speights and Elton Brand. Speights has a very high ceiling, as he was wildly efficient last season scoring and rebounding the ball. Elton Brand is a little harder to figure out. We know that when things are right, he can be one of the most productive players in the NBA. However, they have to fit him in their system, which was a huge problem last year. If they can, Philly will be right back in the hunt for a playoff spot.
What are your thoughts on Philly?
New York Knicks 2009-10 Preview
It seemed like the Knicks went into the offseason with one goal - create as much cap space as possible for the 2010 offseason. With guys like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh expected to be available, the Knicks are putting all of their cards on the table that they will be able to sign one of those guys, preferably LeBron James. In the long-term, this is probably the right strategy, as there is no other real obvious fix to their problems.
However, that leaves their roster a bit thin once again as we head into the 2009-10 season. They have some nice pieces, but they don't appear to be ready to challenge for a playoff spot. There is one certainty, and that is that they will play fast under coach Mike D'Antoni. In his second season with New York, he loves an up-tempo basketball game with a lot of three pointers, which should make the Knicks one of the most exciting teams in the league to watch. This might not translate into a ton of wins, but it's an improvement over the Isiah Thomas Era, which produced bad, boring basketball.
They have no clear star, but a few solid role players. Perhaps the best is David Lee, one of the best rebounders in the NBA. His offense is perfectly suited for D'Antoni's style, as he likes to get up and down the court. He does not have a lot of offensive skills, but he can get the job done in this offense. Nate Robinson is an exciting guy to watch. He can put points on the board in a hurry and pressures the ball well defensively. He didn't get a lot of attention in the FA market, however, which leads me to think he might always just be a good player on a bad team.
Wilson Chandler grew into his own last year, and has potential as a solid wing man. Guys like Chris Duhon, Al Harrington, and Larry Hughes are all solid players. They can be very solid bench guys on good teams. However, as they will be relied on a lot this year, they might be in a little over their heads.
If the Knicks have a star on the roster, it will likely be Danilo Gallinari. He showed flashes of being a very good player last season as a rookie, and they will need him to take more steps in his second year. He has a varied offensive game that they hope he can continue to develop, and he should flourish under D'Antoni. If he can grow and become a leader for the team, they might have an outside shot at reaching the postseason. If not, it will be another year simply spent waiting for the 2010 offseason for the New York Knicks franchise.
However, that leaves their roster a bit thin once again as we head into the 2009-10 season. They have some nice pieces, but they don't appear to be ready to challenge for a playoff spot. There is one certainty, and that is that they will play fast under coach Mike D'Antoni. In his second season with New York, he loves an up-tempo basketball game with a lot of three pointers, which should make the Knicks one of the most exciting teams in the league to watch. This might not translate into a ton of wins, but it's an improvement over the Isiah Thomas Era, which produced bad, boring basketball.
They have no clear star, but a few solid role players. Perhaps the best is David Lee, one of the best rebounders in the NBA. His offense is perfectly suited for D'Antoni's style, as he likes to get up and down the court. He does not have a lot of offensive skills, but he can get the job done in this offense. Nate Robinson is an exciting guy to watch. He can put points on the board in a hurry and pressures the ball well defensively. He didn't get a lot of attention in the FA market, however, which leads me to think he might always just be a good player on a bad team.
Wilson Chandler grew into his own last year, and has potential as a solid wing man. Guys like Chris Duhon, Al Harrington, and Larry Hughes are all solid players. They can be very solid bench guys on good teams. However, as they will be relied on a lot this year, they might be in a little over their heads.
If the Knicks have a star on the roster, it will likely be Danilo Gallinari. He showed flashes of being a very good player last season as a rookie, and they will need him to take more steps in his second year. He has a varied offensive game that they hope he can continue to develop, and he should flourish under D'Antoni. If he can grow and become a leader for the team, they might have an outside shot at reaching the postseason. If not, it will be another year simply spent waiting for the 2010 offseason for the New York Knicks franchise.
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