1-Man’s Opinion on Sports–Monday “Chargers–Ugly Win–Lucky Win”

Posted by on September 14th, 2020  •  0 Comments  • 

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“Chargers–Ugly Win–Lucky Win”

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They should have won….could have lost…haven’t proven very much.

The Chargers survived an anemic offensive show.  Survived a bad injury on defense.  Survived two impressive drives put together by rookie QB-Joe Burrow.

The Bolts beat the lowly Bengals with an unimpressive performance against an NFL doormat, thanks to a costly fumble by Cincinnati RB-Joe Mixon…an errant shovel pass by Burrow killing another drive….and a missed close in field goal by Randy Bullock, who had already kicked 3-three pointers.

When it comes time to configure playoff spots, no one cares how you got the wins, including who you beat.  This was a win, but really felt like a loss.

But the Bolts were lucky.  Heavy duty running back Joe Mixon killed one drive with a fumble.  Rookie QB-Joe Burrow got better and better as the game went on, but a high school shovel pass into traffic resulted in an interception killing a drive.

And a chip shot field goal by Bullock that would have forced overtime, missed wide right, ending a surging Bengals comeback.

The Chargers have found a power running back in UCLA rookie Joshua Kelly who powered for 60-yards off the bench changing the whole personality of a struggling offense.

QB-Tyrod Taylor did not turn the ball over, moved the pocket and scrambled when his OL struggled.   But he didn’t really scare anyone running the offense.

But he took 3-wicked hits, and was pressured out of the pocket  10-times in a rather uneven outing by the offensive front.  There has to be concern there.  Twice Taylor failed on 4th and short runs that ended drives, and this was against a team that was at the bottom of the barrell last year in virtually all stats.

Mike Williams had huge catches.  Keenan Allen didn’t do much.  Hunter Henry caught a few passes.

But in discovering Kelly’s nut-tough running, this  may be as big as the win itself.

On defense, the lead veteran in the secondary Casey Hayward had a bad outing.  Burrow completed 8-passes against Hayward.

Joey Bosa had a good first half, but disappeared as the game wore on.

Burrow took 3-sacks in the first half, looked panicked, then showed his moxie and athleticism, not getting touched in the 2nd half.  He took 5-hits and was pressured 8-times, but ran for a TD, and led scoring drives late, that should have resulted in  a win, not the last second loss.

Coach Anthony Lynn’s team had 5-penalties in a poor opening half.  The team had to recover its emotion after what appeared to be a gruesome possible ankle dislocation suffered by last year’s impressive rookie linebacker Dru Tranquille.

Joe Reed, the rookie from Virginia had an impressive 45-yard kickoff return, but the Chargers kick over teams gave up a 35-yard kickoff return and a 19-yard punt return.

A win is a win, but this was against a bad Bengals team, and it was a struggle, and it was almost a loss.

Next week, they get to play in their new home stadium in LA, So-Fi, the house the Rams built.

And next week, Kansas City comes to town with that firepower.  Tyrod Taylor better make plays; the defense needs to get better, or this weeks win won’t matter much if they don’t play better against one of the best, the Chiefs.

What the Bolts did, survive this, is better than what happened to the Cowboys-Eagles, Tom Brady and Philip Rivers, I guess, where really good teams got beat.

Ugly win, lucky win against Cincinnati.

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1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Friday “NFL–No Fans-Lots of TV”

Posted by on September 11th, 2020  •  0 Comments  • 

The NFL season is here..

Lots of great quarterbacks.  Tons of storylines.  New faces in new places.  New coaches too.

No fans though.

That means rocketing TV ratings for the networks.

The NFL becomes the ultimate ‘studio game’ this weekend.

It will be strange not to see Arrowhead Stadium rocking with the Tomahawk chop.  No Black and Gold fans in Pittsburgh.  No Black Hole in the shiny new stadium Raiders stadium in Las Vegas.

What will be fun will be to see how the networks stage-package-sell the game day broadcasts.

A new Monday night crew for ESPN.  Steve Levy and Luis Roddick become the 3rd MNF crew in 4-years.

 

The quality of the CBS gang led by Jim Nance and Tony Romo will continue.

 

The emergence of the greatness of the Al Michael-Chris Collinsworth teams on Sunday night football.  Marquee games and broadcasters.

The challenge to Fox to give us something new with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.

 

The games are so competitive.  So are the national TV games.

 

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1-Man’s Opinion on Sports–Thursday “NFL PREVIEW–2020–Who Wins-Why?”

Posted by on September 10th, 2020  •  0 Comments  • 

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“NFL–2020 Season Preview-Who Wins and Why”

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Are you ready for some football?

America is.  Damn the Virus, full speed ahead with the regular season.

The NFL navigated thru the virus..held the draft…conducted free agency…solved the riddle of handling training camp..put a lid on fan attendance…cancelled preseason games.

Ready or not they are ready to play, and fans are ready to watch.  A look at the races:

AFC-EAST:

BILLS..They have been building towards this for a group of years.  QB-Josh Allen now has a legitimate big play receiver in Stephon Diggs.  He has other receivers, a strong run game and an unheralded defense.  Coach Sean Mc Dermott has done a great job putting the pieces in place to win.  They take the race this season.

PATRIOTS…It is more than life after Tom Brady.  The critical mass loss is the fact 8-veteran players opted out, not to play in the year of the virus.  Cam Newton may bring a different personality to the Pats offense, but there are huge holes on the defense.

MIAMI..Brian Flores did a good job rallying the Dolphins from a wretched season, and now they are awaiting the emergence of QB-Tua Tagovailoa from Alabama.  He’s not ready to play now, but will get an opportunity as the season moves on.

JETS…They have QB-Sam Darnold and money-bags RB-Le’Veon Bell, but they also have coach Adam Gase, whom many people think is in over his head. They also have lots of holes in that lineup, now that S-Jamal Adams has been traded and LB-CJ Mosely has to sit out another year with injuries.

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AFC-NORTH:

STEELERS…As tough a division as there is in football, but Pittsburgh gets QB-Ben Roethlisberger back from surgery on his elbow, his RB-James Connor is healthy, he has WR star JuJu Smith and a stout defense.  And he has Mike Tomlin, an elite coach.

RAVENS..Lamar Jackson, the 3-RBs led by Marc Ingram, WR’s and John Harbaugh’s. brand of defense makes this team equal to the Steelers.  What a war this division will be.

BROWNS…So much expected last year, such disappointment.  But Baker Mayfield has grown into the QB-position, Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry are still dangerous, RB-Nick Chubb is a power back, and Myles Garrett and a good young secondary will all probably come together under new coach Kevin Stefanski.

BENGALS…Hot shot QB-Joe Burrow, big play RB-Joe Mixon and finally healthy WR-AJ Green should help wipe out the bad taste of all the losing the last couple of years.  But they still don’t have enough on defense.

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AFC-SOUTH:

COLTS….Prhilip Rivers arrives with leadership talent they have not seen at QB since the Peyton Manning era.  He has WR-TY Hilton, TE-Jack Doyle, heavy duty RB-Marlon Mack, plus DeForest Buckner and Darius Leonard to lead the defense.  A great season on the horizon for Rivers to operate behind a special offensive line.

HOUSTON….Deshaun Watson has been special, despite alot of changes at the skill position around him the last two years.  Can Brandin Cooks replace DeAndre Hopkins?  Will David Johnson be the all everything RB they need?  Can JJ Watt stay healthy?  Very good team but not first place team.

TENNESSEE…Some season last year.  The explosive RB-Derrick Henry.  The amazing rescue job by QB-Ryan Tannehill.  A pretty good offensive front.  Now they add DE-Jadaveon Clowney as a pass rusher.  They are tough, but not first place timber.

JACKSONVILLE…A legitimate chance to go (0-16). A terribly mismanaged franchise.  What do the names Ramsey-Bouye-Fowler-Fournette-Bortels-Campbell mean to you?  All first round picks the Jags had but dealt away or threw way.

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AFC-WEST:

CHIEFS…They return 20-of-22 starters from last year, and they have Patrick Mahomes, who has thrown for 76-TDs in two seasons.  Tyreek Hill and friends catch everything.  They are excited about rookie RB-Clyde Hellair from LSU.  And Chris Jones at DT leads a rugged defense.  They lose a couple of people sitting out the virus plagued season, but they are so dominant.

RAIDERS….Shiny new stadium, but no fans in the Crown Jewel Black Hole in Las Vegas.  Jon Gruden has been building towards a breakout season, and it should happen this year. QB-Derek Carr has grown under strong coaching and demanding discipline.  They have big time WR speed, though they lose WR-Tyrell Williams for the year.  They added all new linebacking, have a young fierce pass rush.  Henry Ruggs and speed-speed and more speed will make this an interesting season.

CHARGERS….Losing S-Derwin James for the year is a blow, but the pass rush is still there with Joey Bosa.  They have two huge DTs, and Chris Harris joins a good CB-core.  But life afrer Philip Rivers will be hard.  Depth at RB behind Austin Ekeler is an issue.  Tyrod Taylor can manage games, but can he win games?  A non playoff team.

BRONCOS….A tough last practice setback losing LB-Von Miller.  Retrenching the defense just got tougher.  Drew Lock will grow at QB, and the RB-combo of Melvin Gordon-Philip Lindsey will be good, as will a collection of WRs and TE’s.  They will be fun on offense, but stopping people on defense without Miller and fellow LB-Todd Davis may be hard.

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NFC-EAST:

DALLAS…Look at the names on paper and get fired up.  They have all the components, and it’s not just Dak Prescott or Zeke Elliott.  It’s the WR group, it’s the warrior OL. It’s a rebuilt defensive front, strong LBs and a bright secondary.  Add to all that, the arrival of a very demanding Mike McCarthy as coach.  He walks into a special job, even if he works for the demanding Jerry Jones.

EAGLES…They are built to be street tough, with Carson Wentz, and a good passing game.  The defensive front led by Fletcher Cox and the linebackers are very solid.  The secondary may be shaky.

GIANTS…QB-Daniel Jones learned on the job last year.  Saquon Barkley can do everything at RB.  But do they have anything else?

WASHINGTON…Ron Rivers will try to coach thru cancer treatments.  Dwayne Haskins will try to lead at QB.  The rest of the offense is questionable.  What is not is the other side of the ball, from Chase Young thru Ryan Kerrigan and the all draft picks they have stockpiled.
They won’t be a playoff team.  Daniel Snyder might not be their owner by the time they get to the end of  the season. either.  A long year, personally and professionally for Rivera.

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NFC-NORTH:

PACKERS….Aaron Rodgers makes everyone around him so much better.  A group of unknowns will start opposite WR-Davante Adams.  They are two deep at running back, have gritty OL, and an improving defense.  Key intangible is coach Matt LaFleur who did a great job creating a (13-3) season.

VIKINGS…How far will Kirk Cousins carry this team?  Will Dalvin Cook have another banner season?  Is there enough in the WR-group?  Why so many changes on defense?  A good group of LBs but questions other places for Coach Mike Zimmer.

BEARS…Big debate, when will the Bears ever get quality QB play?  Seems to be an issue going back decades from the Jim McMahon to Bobby Douglass to Billy Wade era, and that was a  long time ago.  You hate to think they will waste all that good Khalil Mack-lcd defense, but it seems that way.

LIONS…Might be the last hurrah for Coach Matt Patricia.  He has loaded his defense with a bunch of ex-Patriots to try and salvage a season.  Adding veteran RB-Adrian Peterson should help QB-Matt Stafford, but do they have enough offense to be a playoff team?

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NFC SOUTH:

SAINTS….In a take no prisoners division..the Drew Brees farewell tour should have quite a campaign.  Run it with Alvin Kamara.  Throw it to Mike Thomas.  And pound people with an improving defense.

TAMPA BAY…What a matchup Tom Brady’s talents and smarts with the genius that is Bruce Arians as head coach.  Brady to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin will be something to watch.  Just like the double TE-package with Rob Gronkowski and OJ Howard.  Now they add power RB-Leoanrd Fournette to go with dart-dash guy Ronnie Jones.  Do they have enough on defense will be the issue.

ATLANTA…Matt Ryan has put together a strong track record at QB.  They have Julio Jones and other good wideouts.  But there is no Devonta Freeman now.  And the defense has been destroyed by injuries two years in a row.  Dan Quinn needs a big year to return next season.

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NFC-WEST:

SEATTLE…No place for the timid, and if I am going into a fight, I want Russell Wilson on my side.  TE-Greg Olson joins a pass catching group led by DK Metcalf and Ty Lockett.  Pick any of the three RBs and you like them.  The Pete Carroll led defense is fast and furious.  A complete team.

RAMS…They are not what they were two years ago.  Jarod Goff no longer has Todd Gurley nor Brandin Cooks.  But they are still loaded with skillpower, led by Robert Woods Cooper Kupp and others.  Aaron Donald moves people upfront on defense, but so many parts have changed on that side of the ball.  All new LB talent, the loss of Eric Weddel and Aqib Talib.  Gone too is Def Coord-Wade Phillips.  Will be a different team.  Not sure it can be a playoff team.

49ERS….You believe in what you have seen in growth over two seasons, but they have had an injury riddled camp at wide out.  Can Raheem Mustert be the power back again?
Will they miss DeForest Buckner?  A bigger burden of expectation is now on Jim Garappolo’s shoulders.

ARIZONA…They are not really a last place team, could truly be a playoff team, and now QB-Kyler Murray does not have to do it by himself.  You add WR-DeAndre Hopkins to Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk, plus a run game, and they are dangerous. We’ll see if they have enough defense to support Murray and the offense.  Kliff Kingsbury’s first year was fun.  More will be expected this time around.

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1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Wednesday “Rams Football–Good But No Longer Great”

Posted by on September 9th, 2020  •  0 Comments  • 

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“Rams–New Stadium–New Roster”

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Out with the old, in with the new, alot new, to LA Rams football.

The roster has undergone changes.
The luxurious new So-Fi Stadium is dazzling.
The legendary Rams uniforms and colors have been changed.
The franchise faces challenging salary cap issues going forward.

They weren’t in the Super Bowl all that long ago, but they are a very different team as this season kicks off.

Fans will be dazzled once they are allowed into the new palace of a Stadium.  What kind of team they will be watching is open to debate.

But teams change, injuries take a toll, salary cap issues with increasing contracts force decisions, and impending free agents are part of  the  changes happening to Rams football.

Sean McVay, brought energy and creativity to the downtrodden Rams team.  They got to the Super Bowl.  Imagine how gut-wrenching it was last year to have to watch the playoffs on TV.

There is talent back, there is firepower too.  But there are alot of familiar names gone too.

Todd Gurley was waived and the team took a cap-hit. No longer the same running back he was as the franchise moved from St Louis.  He goes to Atlanta with the question mark around his name, can he ever be the explosive dynamic back he used to be before the wear and tear factor took its toll.

Brandin Cooks, a deep threat down the the field receiver is gone too, in Houston.

The Rams overhauled the linebacking corps, saying goodbye, or losing Dante Fowler, Corey Littleton and Clay Matthews.

In the secondary, Eric Weddle retired, Aquib Talib was not signed back, and Nickell-Robey Coleman left as a free agent.

And the architect of great defenses, Wade Phillips was not brought back.

And they don’t have high draft picks till 2022.

Jared Goff will have quality people to throw too, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Josh Reynolds and LSU rookie Van Jefferson.

The offensive front convinced the venerable Andrew Whitworth to return as their anchor left tackle.  Everybody else returns.

Rookie Cam Akers might be the heir apparent to Gurley, though McVay says it will be ‘running back by committee’ to start the season.

Yes Aaron Donald, a destroyer upfront, anchors a rebuilt line with Michael Brockers.  But aside from Jalen Ramsey and Taylor Rapp, there are lots of changes on the back seven at linebacker and in the secondary.

If anyone gets hurt, unknowns will have to replace them.

The growing pressure on the big money quarterback, means Jared Goff needs to be a difference maker every Sunday.

Things get much more complicated now in the NFC-West.   Seattle’s Russell Wilson, Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers…and the emergence of Kyler Murray and the array of talent the Arizona Cardinals have stockpiled in two years., means there are no easy marks in the division.

Owner Stan Kroenke has spent and spent and spent, on his 5B-stadium, and on all his marquee players.

He is ranked as the 6th wealthiest owner in the league by Forbes Magazine.

The Rams are LA’s team.  Whether they can be a Super Bowl team again is open to alot of debate.  They might not even be a playoff team again either because of where they play.

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1-Man’s Opinion on Sports–Tuesday “Chargers-Got What They Wanted–Will Get What They Deserve”

Posted by on September 8th, 2020  •  0 Comments  • 

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“Chargers Football….Getting What They Wanted”

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Interesting football season ahead of them.

Watching from afar, this will have a really different feel for the LA Chargers.

Interested to see, now that the legendary quarterback is gone, what kind of team they have.

Interested to see if San Diego fans will continue to follow the team, three years removed from their San Diego fan base.

Interested to see what it will be like to play in the new So-Fi Stadium with no fans in the stands at the start of the season, though the Chargers did not have alot of home field advantage playing in Carson.

Interested to see now that Coach Anthony Lynn has the team built his own way, whether they can win with a dynamic defense but very little in the way of offense.

Interested in seeing if hand picked QB-Tyrod Taylor is anything more than a pedestrian signal caller, good enough not to turn the ball over, but not good enough to win a bunch of games by himself, the way Philip Rivers did.

Interested to see if do-everything Austin Ekeler can hold up to the workload now that the club let his running mate running back Melvin Gordon leave for Denver.

Interested to see if Mike Williams, coming off a (1,001Y) receiving season can stay on the field, where injuries have nagged him each of the last three years.  Not getting thru training camp because of this shoulder sprain is a concern.

Interested to see if Sam Tevi can hold up as an undersized left tackle, and if Bryan Bulaga and Trei Turner will form a solid group on the right side of the o-line.

Interested to see about the durability of longtime center Mike Pouncey, coming off neck surgery, who did not practice all of last week with an undisclosed injury.

Interested to see, although there are numbers in the secondary, how badly impacted the playmaking ability of the DBs are without star safety Derwin James back there.

Interested to see the arrival of wide body defensive tackle Linval Joseph and if he creates enough chaos that Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram can run free.

Interested to see the development of inside linebacker Kenneth Murray from Oklahoma, a sideline to sideline player.  He better be good because there is alot of youth flanking him on either side.

The Chargers are going against the grain of how to do business, as they move into the shiny new Rams Stadium in Los Angeles.  LA fans like star-power, and there does not seem to be alot of it on the Bolts now, with Rivers-Gordon gone, James hurt.

Within the division, do the Chargers get the edge at any of the positions when they matchup against the other teams in the AFC-West.

Not at quarterback, not with Patrick Mahomes and David Carr in the division.

At running back, Ekeler might be equal to the combo the Broncos have in Philip Lindsey and Melvin Gordon.

Keenan Allen is excellent but he is not Tyreek Hill, and this weekend, the four other young receivers on the roster have a combined 2-receptions in NFL action.

Tight end wise, we all like Hunter Henry, but he is not Travis Kelce.

The offensive front could have 3-new starters, and maybe a worse situation if Pouncey cannot hold up.  The Raiders front might be better.

Yes Bosa-Ingram excel in the pass rush department upfront.

But nobody in that linebacking core will match the things Von Miller-Denver can do.

There is experience in the secondary with Chris Harris-Casey Hayward, but until the kid DBs prove they can holdup, the Chargers won’t be viewed as elite back there.

So the Bolts are ready.  Here comes lowly Cincinnati to start the schedule, but after that there won’t be too many gimmes on the schedule.  When you face the Chiefs, go to Tampa, then play at New Orleans right out of the gate, the Chargers could be in a hole early.

The Chargers, getting what they wanted, a new stadium, a season without QB-Philip Rivers, all the things Anthony Lynn decided he needed.  Defense first, offense after that.

The Chargers, getting what they wanted, now likely to get what they deserve, a (7-9) season with no-one in LA caring, and the fans left behind in San Diego, rooting hard…..for them to lose again.

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