Thoughts on College Hoops: NIT Tip-off at the Garden

I'm in New York for Thanksgiving break, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to watch some College Hoops at Madison Square Garden. The Games were Syracuse vs. Ohio State and Texas A&M vs. Washington.

Thoughts on SU vs. OSU: (79-65 OSU)

* Despite being both very young squads, Ohio State was much more composed. They looked like a well-oiled machine in mid-season form while Syracuse looked like a bunch of reality-TV ballers playing together for the first time. Ohio State's ball movement was terrific, they made few mental mistakes, ran simple sets and played sound defense, especially on the inside. Syracuse played flashy, but made a bunch of bonehead plays (Flynn's botched behind-the-back pass comes to mind), forced shots and looked like they panicked once they went down.

* And once they went down, the offense became forced. When Koufos, Hunter and co. weren't letting anything go inside, Syracuse went for outside shots. When those wouldn't drop, the game was over.

* Compare Kosta Koufos and Jonny Flynn. They play completely different positions, have different playing styles, and look as different as two people could possibly look, but one thing they have in common is that they're both Freshmen. Koufos looked like a Senior out there. Flynn looked like he had just put on the Orange uniform for the first time.

* I thought Flynn had an awful game. The type of game that really helps a young PG improve as a player. He did everything possibly wrong. From not rotating on defense, to charging fouls, to first-pass turnovers. If he's a smart player he'll learn and improve.

* Eric Devendorf is clearly the veteran on this Syracuse team. He cannot be blamed for this lost. Made some nice layups in traffic, hit some big shots, but just wasn't enough. He just looked like an entirely different player than the rest of that team.

* Paul Harris hustles and sees the floor amazingly. He hit Devendorf, Greene and Onuaku with some absurd passes. Also had 11 rebounds. Say what you want about Paul Harris, but the effort is there.

* Donte Greene started off with 12 points - dunks, putbacks, three pointers... he was doing it all. He then disappeared for a good hour before coming back to life late when the game was virtually over. Disappearing when the Orange were starting to slip allowed the game to get out of hand. Greene finished with 21 points, there's a lot of talent in the Freshman. He needs to step up and take some of the scoring responsibility when his team needs him.

* One thing that bothered me was Arinze Onuaku not running the court. This probably wasn't visible on TV, but on numerous transition plays - offense and defense - Onuaku simply remained at the basket. I thought that type of play characterized the lack of discipline that I saw on the court tonight.

On the other side:

* Kosta Koufos is a guy that really isn't ever named among the nation's top freshmen, but he was very impressive in this game. Koufos showed a nice inside game, a pretty baby-hook, a nice touch from deep that I didn't expect and an intimidating force on defense inside. He looked really seasoned and I expect him to get more attention in the future.

* On one play late in the 2nd half, after Devendorf had hit a Three to bring Syracuse back to life, the Buckeyes ran a beautiful play which concluded with David Lighty feeding Jon Diebler baseline in the corner who just snap-passed the ball to Jamar Butler without hesitation who hit the crushing Three. Being a Penn State man I dislike the Buckeyes, but I had to appreciate the perfect execution of that set.

* A lot of Ohio State's success was because the wings got penetration on their man. Syracuse rotated slowly all game and Othello Hunter had a field day with what I like to call Amare Stoudamire points: dunks, layups and easy putbacks. Syracuse got beaten on-the-ball on the perimeter all day and I though a switch to a zone as a primary defense would have been a better choice.

* Ohio State brought a micro-band, a small cheerleading squad and a mascot. Syracuse didn't, but had largely a supportive crowd in the Garden. Yet, I still think that the band playing and the Ohio State cheers going around during timeouts helped take the crowd out of the game.

Thoughts on A&M vs. Washington (77-63 A&M):

* I didn't find this game as interesting as the SU-OSU contest. A&M went down early, but it was mostly due to not hitting easy shots. Washington was giving the Aggies easy looks, and I figured it was only a matter of time before A&M started hitting them and would take control of the game. The Aggies are simply too good to let that porous Washington defense remain unpunished.

* Joseph Jones and DeAndre Jordan are tough to contain on the boards...real tough. I can't think of any frontcourt duo in the nation who's as tenacious on the boards as these two. One one occassion, Jones had missed a free throw, but 4 consecutive offensive rebounds by the Aggies allowed Jones to put the ball in anyway. Jones and Jordan combined for 20 rebounds.

* I was excited to watch Josh Carter in person. I thought he was a guy that really went under the radar last year and was finally getting his due as the Big 12's best shooter. I was disappointed. He just had a cold night, which commonly happens to shooters like Carter. He went 2 for 11, but what impressed me was that the team still managed to win comfortably without his scoring presence.

* Donald Sloan, normally relied on as a defensive stopper, will be asked this year to be more of a scorer. I didn't know if he could do it. He scored 18u points and shut down the Huskies' Super Soph Justin Dentmon.

on the other side:

* Where was Quincy Pondexter? 2 points in 10 minutes? I'd like to know why.

* Jon Brockman is making people remember who the real star of that Husky Frontcourt was last season. Spencer who? Brockman had 21 points and 15 rebounds. Mind you, he was battling Jones and Jordan all night.

* When Washington started to trail midway through the second half the man they relied on was Sophomore backup Center Joe Wolfinger. I'm not joking. Wolfinger actually hit a couple of shots when he came off the bench, so you could say he had the hot hand, but reality hit the Huskies hard when Wolfinger came back down to earth, finishing the night 4 for 12 in 20 minutes.

* The only Husky Guard who impressed me at all was Freshman PG Venoy Overton. 5 rebounds, 6 assissts and 4 points are enormous numbers, but Overton possesses a nice crossover move, is able to keep defenders off-balance and is a very good passer. The Huskies were unimpressive in this game, so a good season from Overton could make or break this season for them.

* I thought this game was basically a case of the better team taking care of business and just plainly beating a team they should beat. I look forward to watching them the Aggies face the Buckeyes on Friday.

It was a good time, saw some good basketball, saw some bad basketball, but enjoyed myself. But if I have to hear one more O-H-I-O chant I'm going to hurt myself.

Mideseason Report: Contender/Pretender

Midseason Report: Contenders and Pretenders

NFC:
Detroit Lions: 29th Rushing Attack in the league. Kitna has been sacked 37 times. Their pass defense ranks 30th in the NFL. Corey Redding and Shaun Rogers have done a nice job defending the run, but the lack of pressure on the opposing QB and the porous O-Line play keeps me from being a believer. - PRETENDER

New York Giants: I was wrong about this team. They are a good bunch. 32 sacks are a huge number. Justin Tuck has broken out, after already having earned the bust label. He has 7 sacks. Added to that, the rushing attack, whether it's been Derrick Ward or Brandon Jacobs, has driven it to 6th in the league. Also, Manning has been sacked only 1 times. That O-Line has been stellar. Their biggest weakness, the secondary, has been masked successfully because of the pressure forced on opposing QBs. - CONTENDER

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The NFC South is weak. The Bucs defense is back to where it has been this decade after an uncharacteristically bad 2006 season. They are 3rd in scoring defense. Barrett Ruud has broken out in a big way. And while everyone thought that the team wouldn't be able to run after Cadillac Williams' injury, Earnest Graham has come in and produced consistently and productively. I credit it mostly to that young line which has played exceptional. Luke Petigout-Arron Sears-John Wade-Davin Joseph-Jeremy Trueblood. That's a talented unit right there that should be in place for a while. - CONTENDER

Washington Redskins: My gut feeling here was good, but reviewing the facts they haven't been as good as you would think. I normally don't like to use the "they haven't beaten anyone" argument, but this team's resume is too telling to ignore. They've beaten Miami, Philadelphia, Detroit, Arizona and the Jets. They've been given their chance against the better teams in the league and have lost them all. They lost to New York, Dallas and badly (52-7) against New England. Add to that, their collapse against Philadelphia this last week on defense and their inability to get any kind of drive going on two possessions was really a bad testimony to the character of this team. On a side note, Andre Carter is having the best season of a Redskins DL since Cornelius Griffin in '05. - PRETENDER

Philadelphia Eagles: Statistically they should be right there in contention with the big boys. The run defense has improved thanks to the improved play from Mike Patterson, Brodrick Bunkley and Omar Gaither. Andy Reid's playcalling has been better than in past times of frustration. Brian Westrbook has 1,219 total yards and 9 TDs. Why hasn't all this produced wins? Everything is in place, this team just needs to put it all together. Donovan McNabb's health progression could have this team looking very different in a couple of weeks. The biggest problem right now is a relatively tough schedule down the stretch and considerable ground to make up. - CONTENDER

Chicago Bears: The Chicago Bears' defense ranks 22nd in the league. The rushing offense is awful without Thomas Jones. Cedric Benson is not getting it done, averaging a mere 3.0 yards per carry. Now you add the continuous problem at the QB position and you have a team that will need an off-season to get back on track. I believe they will be back on track next year. Super Bowl losers always struggle. At least Tommie Harris and Adewale Ogunleye are playing up to par. - PRETENDER

New Orleans Saints: The streakiest team in the NFL. Starts off 0-4, then rallies back to .500 with a 4-game winning streak, before losing 37-7 to a previously winless team. The defense that overachieved last season has come back down to earth. Drew Brees still isn't getting sacked in Sean Payton's short-pass timing offense, but has thrown 12 interceptions for some reason. Reggie Bush is in dyer need of a power back to compliment his running style, and McAllister's injury is proving to have the negative effect we all expected it to on the Saints' offense. Really, this team could turn it around, but they overachieved last year and I predicted somewhat of a setback this season. Still, in the weak South with a roster that has gone 13-3 just a year ago, this team is always a threat of gaining steam and making a playoff run. - CONTENDER

Arizona Cardinals: Darnell Dockett is quietly having a Pro-Bowl Season. Their young Linebackers are making plays. I don't think they're quite there yet, but they are finally moving (quite quickly) in the right direction and could be a team to watch in the next few seasons. But no yet this year. - PRETENDER.

AFC:
Jacksonville Jaguars: Their defense is mysteriously a bit down this year, and the temporary loss of Marcus Stroud won't help that, but Jacksonville has quietly become an offensive team. Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor have combined for 1055 yards on the ground, good for the 3rd best rushing attack in the league. Now David Garrard returns to the lineup. Garrard had a QB rating over 100, wasn't making mistakes and was quietly, but effectively, running this Jaguars offense. Added to that, their schedule features several very winnable games coming up. - CONTENDER

Tennessee Titans: I was right and wrong about them. I said Vince Young couldn't lead this team to victory. He hasn't, but their defense has. Albert Haynesworth is a dark horse for defensive player of the year. He was out vs. Jacksonville, and the #1 ranked run defense suddenly looked very ordinary. Haynesworth comes back this week and that defense should be stout all season. It's not Vince Young people. His QB rating is 62.2 and has 10 interceptions compared to only 4 Interceptions. I think they're a good team, but they're not quite there yet. Get some better play from the O-Line and maybe some (gulp) receivers and this has the look of a nice looking team for years to come. - CONTENDER

San Diego Chargers: Before this season, most considered this to be the 2nd most talented team in the league (behind New England). They've been wildly inconsistent and it's tough to tell why. But I think last week's game was a critical step to this team refinding their groove and winning the division. A weak AFC West and an easy stretch run help as well here. - CONTENDER

Buffalo Bills: 5-4 record. 31st ranked offense. 28th ranked defense. They have a total of 4 passing TDs, one of which was thrown by RB Marshawn Lynch. They're not a contender yet, but are a nice young team with potential for the future. One of my preseason breakout candidates, Angelo Crowell, has done just that this year. - PRETENDER

Cleveland Browns: They have become a bit of a darling this season. Highly profiled draft picks Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow are looking like the real deal, combining for 1455 yards and 14 TDs this season. They played very tough against a good Steelers team last week.Derek Anderson has 20 TDs and a solid QB rating and is also looking like a legit NFL QB who wins games. But the resume of games won really shouldn't impress anyone. They've beaten Cincinnati, Baltimore, Miami, St. Louis and Seattle. They've had the chance to play some legit teams and lost in two games to Pittsburgh and one to New England. Their loss to Oakland doesn't make much sense either right now. Oh, and we forget that their defense is the worst in the entire NFL statistically. - PRETENDER

Denver Broncos: They can't stop the run. They are 31st in the league in that department. Their DTs are old, the preseason loss of Warrick Holdman hurts right now, the team is looking at Jay Cutler to carry them on offense and he just hasn't reached that level yet. - PRETENDER

Kansas Cty Chiefs: They have a good defense. It starts up front and Jared Allen, Tamba Hali and Alfons Boone have been rock solid. Unfortunately, the offense hasn't been a very good follow-up act, ranking 31st in the league running the ball. Then you lose Larry Johnson and take the ball out of your veteran QBs hands and give it to a younger project QB and you have a team that isn't yet ready to contend in the AFC. Although it is nice to see Kansas City turn it around on defense. The former first rounders, Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali, are working out very nicely. - PRETENDER

Evaluating Donovan McNabb; Body vs. Mind

I have been a McNabb supporter ever since he's been an Eagle. I have consistently supported him as our QB, hated the large amount of unfair criticism geared towards him over the years and have always believed that he is our franchise's best ever QB.

Yet this season, I have found myself growing more and more frustrated with his play. To the point that I even muttered the regrettable sentence "we need a new QB". Looking at the numbers, it would appear that McNabb's season has been like any other. His completion percentage is at it's second highest rate of his career. His TD total is on pace towards being the 3rd highest of his career and he's on pace to have his lowest interception total in a full 16 game season in his career and he's scheduled to go over 4,000 yards for the first time in his career. Then why am I more frustrated with him this year? Why have even his biggest backers in the past suddenly started questioning him? Why is Kevin Kolb's career suddenly looking like it will start earlier than we had thought?

One Argument is that McNabb is the Quarterback of a team that is underachieving. When a team struggles, and there it little explanation as to why, the Head Coach and the Quarterback will inevitably get the blame. In the past we could blame our struggles on Playcalling, a bad run defense, poor receivers, injuries... there have always been lots of excuses. This season the team has played the run fairly well, Andy Reid in my opinion has had one of his better playcalling seasons, the receivers in general have been able to hold on to McNabb's passes and the team has been very healthy so far. So why are we struggling?

For many, that question is answered when the QB of this team takes the first snap after the defense came up with a huge fumble recovery in their own red zone, and fumbles the ball right back to the other team. For many, that question is answered when the QB of this team rolls out of the pocket and misses his wide open X-Receiver on a deep crossing route which would have been a big play momentum-wise in the early stages of the game. For many, it's moments like these by which a Quarterback of an underachieving team is measured.

The problem with McNabb this season is obvious. He had a bad knee injury last season which required surgery and he hasn't made a full recovery yet. That isn't even a debate. We the fans know this, the coaches know this, and above all: McNabb knows this. He himself realizes that he isn't 100% yet. He realizes that he is physically crippled in his ability to make plays for this team. Which is why his play hasn't necessarily decreased, but has most certainly changed. McNabb, physically, is a shell of his former self. Mentally, however, McNabb is smarter and more experienced than ever. Which is why the offense has changed. He realizes that deep passes are no longer as easy to throw when he's less able to plant his back foot. He realizes that trying to elude the rush and make the sorts of plays that have made him a great QB in the past are no longer as likely to be successful.

So, what have we seen? We've seen a QB that has become much more conservative. This is why his completion percentage is relatively high. Westbrook had 14 receptions against Dallas. Only 3 of those were actually designed plays for #36. Checkdowns have become the staple of this team. McNabb no longer trusts his own ability as much, so that he's less likely than ever to try to squeeze the ball into a difficult spot. This is also why his interception total is low. But, it also is a big reason why this offense has stalled in the red zone, when the QB has to be aggressive. It is also a reason why converting 3rd and long has been almost non-existent. It is also a reason why McNabb is on pace to be sacked a career-high 53 times.

Sacks, Field Goals, Punts frustrate fans. This is why we've been tough on him this year. The problem with staying as conservative as McNabb has been is that, on plays like the one described earlier, in which he missed Curtis on a rollout, and the plays like the missed Corner route to Celek last week, happen. McNabb isn't going down the field, missing often on timing routes because he hasn't been throwing them enough. Another problem with this team has been the lack of your "Big Play". Plays in which the entire team steps up and decides to take the result of the game into their own hands. Plays like Dallas' blocked kick and TD run by Pat Watkin, plays like Westbrook's 57-yard screen pass for a TD last week are what I'm talking about.

When your QB does not trust his abilities, you become vanilla. This team's offense struggles because there's no spark. McNabb is still a very intelligent QB, illustrated by his audible to shovel pass near the goal line last week. Unfortunately, until he begins to believe in his own ability, he will continue to struggle when the team needs him most, which is why a good NFL QB is the scapegoat of this team.