Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Monday, December 22, 2014
Winston closely resembles another NFL QB
Florida State qb Jameis Winston has been cleared in his Student Conduct hearing. He now can turn his focus to the field, as he prepares to put his undefeated streak on the line against the high powered Oregon Ducks in next week's Rose Bowl. However his season ends, it seems to be a forgone conclusion that Winston will declare for the upcoming NFL draft.
Last week, on a sports radio talk show in Nashville, the question was raised if the Tennessee Titans should draft him. After all, they will have a top five pick and are in desperate need of a franchise qb.
The callers went ballistic.
"Hell no!" proclaimed one fan. Another pleaded to the host to "put down the pipe". Immediate comparisons were drawn to Adam "Pac Man" Jones and Vince Young, two high profile first round picks that embarrassed the city of Nashville more than it helped it.
As a Titans fan, I couldn't totally dismiss their claims. Both of those situations ended bad....real bad. But lets not act like we didn't look the other way when we were winning games with them and making playoff runs. Because the majority of us did. It ended bad mostly because of losing.
Ok, I'll digress.
Yes Jameis Winston has done enough stupid things off the field to be labeled immature at this point in his life. And yes, potential NFL suitors should do their due diligence before investing in a kid with a recent track record of questionable decision making off the field. But that doesn't mean that he's doomed when it comes to his professional career.
In fact, the NFL qb that Winston resembles the most (at this point of his career) is the reason that teams should take a real close look at him.
His name? Cam Newton.
It wasn't that long ago. Cam Newton was in the same position as Winston. Super talented collegiate qb with a history of questionable life decisions. Like Winston, Newton played his final year of college football with his eligibility hanging over his head the entire time. And like Winston, Newton led his team to an undefeated season, conference title, and chance at a national title.
To perform and win at the highest level when everyone is rooting for you to lose is a trait that cannot be developed with tackling drills. You have to have that inside of you. Some players do, and some don't. Vince Young's downfall in Tennessee was his inability to push through adversity. Prior to his arrival, he had only known praise and adulation. Once VY was booed at home he complete unraveled.
Winston will enter the league with his thick skin armor on, as did Newton.
After being drafted number 1 overall by the Carolina Panthers in 2011, Newton has been a model citizen. And most of all, a winner. Carolina was a league doormat prior to Newton's arrival, now they are in position to secure their second straight NFC South division crown with a win over Atlanta this Sunday.
Were there growing pains for Newton early on? Sure. We can all remember the poor body language, the towel over the head late in games, the aloofness with the media as the losses mounted his rookie year. But he acknowledged it, he worked on it, he matured. Today, no one is questioning Carolina's pick.
Newton and Winston both share a unique and undervalued quality. The ability to compartmentalize and thrive under pressure. You can't teach size and you can't teach confidence.
All I'm saying is...we all mature at different stages in life. Comparisons go both ways.
follow @plcolter
Last week, on a sports radio talk show in Nashville, the question was raised if the Tennessee Titans should draft him. After all, they will have a top five pick and are in desperate need of a franchise qb.
The callers went ballistic.
"Hell no!" proclaimed one fan. Another pleaded to the host to "put down the pipe". Immediate comparisons were drawn to Adam "Pac Man" Jones and Vince Young, two high profile first round picks that embarrassed the city of Nashville more than it helped it.
As a Titans fan, I couldn't totally dismiss their claims. Both of those situations ended bad....real bad. But lets not act like we didn't look the other way when we were winning games with them and making playoff runs. Because the majority of us did. It ended bad mostly because of losing.
Ok, I'll digress.
Yes Jameis Winston has done enough stupid things off the field to be labeled immature at this point in his life. And yes, potential NFL suitors should do their due diligence before investing in a kid with a recent track record of questionable decision making off the field. But that doesn't mean that he's doomed when it comes to his professional career.
In fact, the NFL qb that Winston resembles the most (at this point of his career) is the reason that teams should take a real close look at him.
His name? Cam Newton.
It wasn't that long ago. Cam Newton was in the same position as Winston. Super talented collegiate qb with a history of questionable life decisions. Like Winston, Newton played his final year of college football with his eligibility hanging over his head the entire time. And like Winston, Newton led his team to an undefeated season, conference title, and chance at a national title.
To perform and win at the highest level when everyone is rooting for you to lose is a trait that cannot be developed with tackling drills. You have to have that inside of you. Some players do, and some don't. Vince Young's downfall in Tennessee was his inability to push through adversity. Prior to his arrival, he had only known praise and adulation. Once VY was booed at home he complete unraveled.
Winston will enter the league with his thick skin armor on, as did Newton.
After being drafted number 1 overall by the Carolina Panthers in 2011, Newton has been a model citizen. And most of all, a winner. Carolina was a league doormat prior to Newton's arrival, now they are in position to secure their second straight NFC South division crown with a win over Atlanta this Sunday.
Were there growing pains for Newton early on? Sure. We can all remember the poor body language, the towel over the head late in games, the aloofness with the media as the losses mounted his rookie year. But he acknowledged it, he worked on it, he matured. Today, no one is questioning Carolina's pick.
Newton and Winston both share a unique and undervalued quality. The ability to compartmentalize and thrive under pressure. You can't teach size and you can't teach confidence.
All I'm saying is...we all mature at different stages in life. Comparisons go both ways.
follow @plcolter
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Year to forget for this Power 5 Conference
While I do not know Big Ten Commissioner James Dealny personally, I am sure that he was in great spirits as 2014 began. The year started with his Michigan State Spartans knocking off Stanford in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.
On the basketball side, Delany boasted the country's deepest and most talented conference top to bottom. And his signature programs...(Michigan, Michigan St, Ohio St, Wisconsin) were all nationally ranked and enjoying out of conference success.
The first annual College Playoff was set to make it's debut, and Delany was assured to have at least two teams ranked in the preseason top ten. Life was good.
Then...the year started.
During March Madness, Delany watched the Kentucky Wildcats knock his two chances for a title (Michigan, Wisconsin) out of the Elite 8 and Final Four on consecutive game winning three pointers at the buzzer.
Ouch.
Then came the football season, and the signature programs failed to notch a win over a quality non conference opponent. Wisconsin blew a huge second half lead to LSU in their opener. Michigan St. ran out of gas in Oregon, and Michigan was blanked (31-0) by a Notre Dame team that turned out to be average.
Ohio St. did not play a big boy non conference opponent, but still made a splash...losing at home to Virginia Tech.
Michigan's implosion was long, drawn out, and hard to watch. Rutgers and Maryland, the conference's two newest members, made no impact nationally. And by season's end, the conference was down three coaches. Michigan and Nebraska fired theirs after dismal campaigns. And Wisconsin's coach (Big Ten Title game participant), bolted on his own for...Oregon St?
Stop playin.
Well Mr. Delany, you still have basketball right? Right?.....
Um...yea...about that.
With so much hoopla surrounding the upcoming playoffs, few have noticed how mightily the Big Ten is struggling in basketball. Things will need to turn around quickly if Mr. Delany expects his conference to make it to a fourth straight Final Four.
And once again, it's the non conference play...or lack thereof.
Yes, the Big Ten beat the ACC in their annual challenge (8-6), but the B1G went 1-5 against the ACC's ranked opponents. Wisconsin, the league's best team was blown out at home by Duke...the ACC's best team. Ohio St has failed to earn a quality non conference win, and Big Brother and Little Brother (Michigan & Michigan St) are struggling mightily.
The Wolverines have already lost at home to N.J.I.T. and Eastern Michigan. The Spartans just lost at home to Texas Southern. Oh, and Nebraska has already lost..at home...to Incarnate Word.
Innnncarnaaaate Wooorrrrrd?
In a shocking turn of events, all three teams will be unranked when conference play starts next week.
You know how bubble teams get profiled as the season draws to a close...and their resume gets put on the screen? And they have two categories...good win and bad loss?......
OK...I'll digress.
There's good news...and bad news, Mr. Delany. The good news? Ohio St is still in play for a National Championship. The bad news? That would technically be credited to 2015.
Gotta charge this year to the game sir.
follow @plcolter
On the basketball side, Delany boasted the country's deepest and most talented conference top to bottom. And his signature programs...(Michigan, Michigan St, Ohio St, Wisconsin) were all nationally ranked and enjoying out of conference success.
The first annual College Playoff was set to make it's debut, and Delany was assured to have at least two teams ranked in the preseason top ten. Life was good.
Then...the year started.
During March Madness, Delany watched the Kentucky Wildcats knock his two chances for a title (Michigan, Wisconsin) out of the Elite 8 and Final Four on consecutive game winning three pointers at the buzzer.
Ouch.
Then came the football season, and the signature programs failed to notch a win over a quality non conference opponent. Wisconsin blew a huge second half lead to LSU in their opener. Michigan St. ran out of gas in Oregon, and Michigan was blanked (31-0) by a Notre Dame team that turned out to be average.
Ohio St. did not play a big boy non conference opponent, but still made a splash...losing at home to Virginia Tech.
Michigan's implosion was long, drawn out, and hard to watch. Rutgers and Maryland, the conference's two newest members, made no impact nationally. And by season's end, the conference was down three coaches. Michigan and Nebraska fired theirs after dismal campaigns. And Wisconsin's coach (Big Ten Title game participant), bolted on his own for...Oregon St?
Stop playin.
Well Mr. Delany, you still have basketball right? Right?.....
Um...yea...about that.
With so much hoopla surrounding the upcoming playoffs, few have noticed how mightily the Big Ten is struggling in basketball. Things will need to turn around quickly if Mr. Delany expects his conference to make it to a fourth straight Final Four.
And once again, it's the non conference play...or lack thereof.
Yes, the Big Ten beat the ACC in their annual challenge (8-6), but the B1G went 1-5 against the ACC's ranked opponents. Wisconsin, the league's best team was blown out at home by Duke...the ACC's best team. Ohio St has failed to earn a quality non conference win, and Big Brother and Little Brother (Michigan & Michigan St) are struggling mightily.
The Wolverines have already lost at home to N.J.I.T. and Eastern Michigan. The Spartans just lost at home to Texas Southern. Oh, and Nebraska has already lost..at home...to Incarnate Word.
Innnncarnaaaate Wooorrrrrd?
In a shocking turn of events, all three teams will be unranked when conference play starts next week.
You know how bubble teams get profiled as the season draws to a close...and their resume gets put on the screen? And they have two categories...good win and bad loss?......
OK...I'll digress.
There's good news...and bad news, Mr. Delany. The good news? Ohio St is still in play for a National Championship. The bad news? That would technically be credited to 2015.
Gotta charge this year to the game sir.
follow @plcolter
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Perception altering week for the Memphis Grizzlies
Christmas day is rapidly approaching. For most it means
spending quality time with family and friends, opening gifts, and enjoying paid
days off…if you’re lucky enough. For the NBA, it’s an opportunity to
re-introduce themselves to the casual fan. The season officially starts in late
October, which is right in the midst of the NFL and College Football playoff
races. With the NCAA’s playoff bracket set, and the NFL regular season coming
to a close, it’s the NBA that takes center stage from January to June.
Which brings us back to Christmas day.
To re-launch their product, the NBA puts their biggest stars and best teams on display…in a marathon of holiday hoops. Throughout the day, NBA pundits will also catch the casual fan up on all of the intriguing storylines from the first quarter of the season. One of those storylines?
The Memphis Grizzlies.
At 19-4, the team from the We Don’t Bluff City currently sits atop what is arguably the toughest division in all of sports, the NBA’s Southwest (Memphis, Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans). Just as impressive is their road to the record, notching victories over six teams that currently own a top 8 (playoff) Conference record. The NBA, and it’s conglomerate partners (ESPN, TNT) are finally starting to come around and show the small market team some love.
After posting yet another 50 win season and making the playoffs for a fourth straight year, Memphis was rewarded with one…as in 1…nationally televised game when the schedule was released. And that game was definitely not on Christmas day.
The good news ?
The Grizzlies can break through the small market fog, and place themselves atop the Christmas day headlines...this year.
The bad news?
All they have to do is conquer the toughest week of games they will have all year….starting tonight.
The NBA made the wise decision to flex the Memphis vs Golden
State game into their primetime 7:00 slot tonight. The two best teams in the
league to date (combined 39-6 record) square off for the first time this
season. If Memphis is able to halt the Warriors’ franchise record 16 game
winning streak, then the defending Champion Spurs await them the following night.
A Spurs team that handed Memphis one of their four losses this season, while
halting their franchise record regular season home winning streak. A team Memphis
has not beat in….in….well?!?!?
After a quick break, the Grizzlies are back at it Friday
night against the revamped Derrick Rose / Pau Gasol led Chicago Bulls (15-9). And
if that stretch wasn’t tough enough, King James and his new “Big 2” await the
Grizzlies for a Sunday afternoon tilt to conclude the week.
With the current state of the Western Conference, a loss or two could cause Memphis to plummet in the standings. The historic start to the season would be just that…a historic start and feel good story. Not necessarily worthy of national attention.
But if Memphis were to end the Warriors’ streak, exorcise the ghost of the Spurs, and handle two of the Eastern Conference’s top teams this week, then not only will they be in the lead stories on Christmas Day, but they will surely get more opportunities to be flexed into the national spotlight.
Memphis has been given a golden opportunity (no pun intended) to get national respect and recognition by knocking off the NBA’s elite this week…starting tonight against the Warriors. A strong showing could not only lead to more nationally televised opportunities going forward…but the ultimate prize as well.
A Christmas day time slot.
Memphis…consider this week your audition.
Follow @plcolter
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Things are finally going right for the Titans
At 2-10, the Tennessee Titans are on the verge of posting their worst season since...well...since they've been the Tennessee Titans. Upon being hired, first year head coach Ken Whisenhunt said that the team's goal this year was to host a playoff game.
And he was dead serious.
Fans bought in, for several reasons. For starters, Tennessee lost a host of close games the previous two years. Then head coach Mike Munchak was an easy scapegoat because he had no previous coaching experience. Whisenhunt was on the staff of two Super Bowl teams, so he knows what it takes to win at the highest level.
Coach Whiz is also known as a quarterback guru, and we just knew that he could fix our beleaguered qb Jake Locker. Or at least patch him up enough to make a little noise this season. After all, Jake actually played decent when he was on the field, which was few and far between.
A lot of Titans fans were also happy to see running back Chris Johnson, and his "2K" first attitude see the door. His aloofness toward team goals grew old in Nashville. The offensive line was "upgraded", and a new running back (Bishop Sankey) was drafted to replace him.
Fans were also high on the wide receiving group. Kendall Wright was coming off a 94 catch, 1,000 plus yard season. Justin Hunter had a great camp, and was poised to have a breakout sophomore campaign. And tight end Delanie Walker, and his leadership, solidified the group.
With an entirely new defensive scheme, we knew we would struggle on that side of the ball. We just didn't care as long as we could score points.
Everything was set and fans were optimistic.
Fast forward to today, and the Titans are tied for the second worst record in the league. Losing nine out of ten could do that to a team.
While frustrating today, fans should be encouraged. It's the way the Titans arrived at this record that is the silver lining in all of this.
Jake Locker...once again...missed time early in the season with a myriad of injuries. As we've seen in the past, Locker teased Titans fans with a near flawless performance in a week 1 upset win over Kansas City...in Arrowhead Stadium. The next week he laid an egg in the home opener against Dallas. The following week he was injured...yada yada ya.
At least Tennessee found out early in the season that Locker just didn't have it...that he couldn't lead their franchise. It allowed rookie qb Zach Mettenberger to get substantial real game experience this year. And to this point, Mettenberger looks like he may be the guy. Knowing you have your qb of the future (if he turns out to be that) at this point of the season gives you a ton of options heading into next year's draft.
Returning starting running back Shonn Greene, who...like Locker...was mostly injured and otherwise inconsistent, went down early this season with yet another injury. This allowed rookie rb Bishop Sankey to get substantial playing time at running back. If nothing else, you know that Greene is done. So now you can evaluate Sankey to see if a complimentary back needs to be added next season. There are a few beast that will be entering the draft this year.
The Titans were able to evaluate their rookie first round offensive lineman Jake Lewan because of injury to the position, giving him valuable in game experience at a couple of positions.
And now Tennessee's starting receivers...Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter...are out with injuries. Seldom used backups will be thrown into the fire. Another great evaluation tool. Something you rarely get to do this late in an NFL season.
Lets face it, with the current state of the AFC playoff race, Tennessee would still not be in it. Even if Locker and Greene and whoever else was healthy all season. It's better to completely bottom out than to "just miss the cut" year end and year out. Sometimes it's best to start from scratch. Through apathy and attrition, Tennessee was forced to finally start the rebuilding process this season.
Key word being rebuilding.
Part of that process is a complete evaluation of the roster, something the Titans were forced to do this year. Through that process, they may have landed their qb of the future, with an extremely high draft pick to add to him next season.
That's how you rebuild.
That is...as long as they keep losing, but I'll digress on that until after the Giants game.
follow @plcolter
And he was dead serious.
Fans bought in, for several reasons. For starters, Tennessee lost a host of close games the previous two years. Then head coach Mike Munchak was an easy scapegoat because he had no previous coaching experience. Whisenhunt was on the staff of two Super Bowl teams, so he knows what it takes to win at the highest level.
Coach Whiz is also known as a quarterback guru, and we just knew that he could fix our beleaguered qb Jake Locker. Or at least patch him up enough to make a little noise this season. After all, Jake actually played decent when he was on the field, which was few and far between.
A lot of Titans fans were also happy to see running back Chris Johnson, and his "2K" first attitude see the door. His aloofness toward team goals grew old in Nashville. The offensive line was "upgraded", and a new running back (Bishop Sankey) was drafted to replace him.
Fans were also high on the wide receiving group. Kendall Wright was coming off a 94 catch, 1,000 plus yard season. Justin Hunter had a great camp, and was poised to have a breakout sophomore campaign. And tight end Delanie Walker, and his leadership, solidified the group.
With an entirely new defensive scheme, we knew we would struggle on that side of the ball. We just didn't care as long as we could score points.
Everything was set and fans were optimistic.
Fast forward to today, and the Titans are tied for the second worst record in the league. Losing nine out of ten could do that to a team.
While frustrating today, fans should be encouraged. It's the way the Titans arrived at this record that is the silver lining in all of this.
Jake Locker...once again...missed time early in the season with a myriad of injuries. As we've seen in the past, Locker teased Titans fans with a near flawless performance in a week 1 upset win over Kansas City...in Arrowhead Stadium. The next week he laid an egg in the home opener against Dallas. The following week he was injured...yada yada ya.
At least Tennessee found out early in the season that Locker just didn't have it...that he couldn't lead their franchise. It allowed rookie qb Zach Mettenberger to get substantial real game experience this year. And to this point, Mettenberger looks like he may be the guy. Knowing you have your qb of the future (if he turns out to be that) at this point of the season gives you a ton of options heading into next year's draft.
Returning starting running back Shonn Greene, who...like Locker...was mostly injured and otherwise inconsistent, went down early this season with yet another injury. This allowed rookie rb Bishop Sankey to get substantial playing time at running back. If nothing else, you know that Greene is done. So now you can evaluate Sankey to see if a complimentary back needs to be added next season. There are a few beast that will be entering the draft this year.
The Titans were able to evaluate their rookie first round offensive lineman Jake Lewan because of injury to the position, giving him valuable in game experience at a couple of positions.
And now Tennessee's starting receivers...Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter...are out with injuries. Seldom used backups will be thrown into the fire. Another great evaluation tool. Something you rarely get to do this late in an NFL season.
Lets face it, with the current state of the AFC playoff race, Tennessee would still not be in it. Even if Locker and Greene and whoever else was healthy all season. It's better to completely bottom out than to "just miss the cut" year end and year out. Sometimes it's best to start from scratch. Through apathy and attrition, Tennessee was forced to finally start the rebuilding process this season.
Key word being rebuilding.
Part of that process is a complete evaluation of the roster, something the Titans were forced to do this year. Through that process, they may have landed their qb of the future, with an extremely high draft pick to add to him next season.
That's how you rebuild.
That is...as long as they keep losing, but I'll digress on that until after the Giants game.
follow @plcolter
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