1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Monday. “NFL–QB Derby”

Posted by on March 11th, 2024  •  0 Comments  • 

===========

Hacksaw’s Monday Bonus Podcast-1pm
You Tube Channel-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
Look-Listen-Share-Subscribe
============

“NFL–QB Derby”

============

Monday-the first day of NFL free agency.

The move to get quarterbacks begins now for what few QBs are left on the market.

There are 8-teams desperate for QBs but not everyone has salary cap space.

There are 3-top line QBs in the draft that could go 1-2-3 and 3-more that could be mid to bottom first round picks, but that’s for April, not the first day of free agency.

A primer on the latest QB news as free agency starts.

RUSSELL WILSON..Released by Denver, he becomes a 2-year rental for some team.  He visited the battered Giants on Friday, then met with the Steelers on Saturday.  This is not the vintage Seattle Seahawks-Russell Wilson but more of an aging on his last legs-Russell Wilson.  Somebody will get value this year, because they have to pay only (1.5M) of his deal with the Broncos picking up 39M on the buyout.  But Wilson might want 30M for a second year option.  This might take some time.  Can’t see the Giants doing a deal, they have so much tied up in QB-Daniel Jones.  You’d think Wilson might be a bridge QB, but Pittsburgh has two of those QBs in house already in Ken Pickett-Mason Rudolph.

KIRK COUSINS…Has thrown for tons of yards and TDs, but has just 79-career wins.  He won in Washington early in his career, but left and has made tons of money since.  He wants another pay day and the Vikings cannot afford him right now.  Washington has loads of cap space and a relationship there, and Atlanta has a critical need.

JUSTIN FIELDS…The Bears are taking offers, but don’t like what they’ve heard.  No one is trading a #1 for him, and no one has offered a #2.  He has 1-year left on his Chicago contract, but as impressive as some of his games are, the TD and yardage totals are offset by interceptions, fumbles and sacks.  More turnovers than TDs and 135-sacks in 3-seasons.  Will be moved, but where.

BAKER MAYFIELD..He parlayed a 28TD-comeback season with Tampa into a (3Y-100M) extension on Sunday to stay in Tampa.  Reinvented himself and carries charisma into the huddle.

RYAN TANNEHILL…Career of accomplishments but also years of setbacks and not what he once was.  Exits the Tennessee Titans and goes somewhere as a pretty experienced short term rental.  If healthy can probably still produce, but his pay day seasons are likely over.

MAC JONES..He’s gone from New England, the former lst round pick gets traded to Jacksonville to be a backup, with the Pats getting just a 6th.  Buch of TDs-lots of interceptions.  Don’t think he will play much.

JAMEIS WINSTON wants to start, but hasn’t recently and now he won’t stay in Tampa.  Started for the Bucs before Mayfield, for the Saints before that.  Glaring but haunting stats with him, a 30TD season that had 33-picks also.  Truly a bridge QB for a one year rental.

CARSON WENTZ..Things have changed fast and career seems to be on a skid.  Guess best you can say, everyone needs a backup QB.

JACOBY BRISSETT…Have arm and will travel and will likely move again.  Can play but far from a star.

TYROD TAYLOR…Lifetime backup journeyman, good off the bench but gets hurt and defensive coaches figure him out.  Super utility guy.

DREW LOCK..Maybe the most interesting athletic QB of the bunch of names.  Force fed then failed in Denver.  Played backup in Seattle and had spurts where he looked good.  So much we don’t know yet about him, but bet he gets signed and could start for someone in the fall.

GARDNER MINSHEW..Likely leaving Indianapolis.  Gunslinger, does lead, does compete, can throw TDs but does throw picks too.  Just a guy…a good guy…but a guy.

JIM GAROPPOLO…Career off track, done in by injuries.  Not now what he was once hoped to be with the Patriots, then the 49ers.  If there is a candidate for a bounceback season it would be him, but has not been able to stay on the field.  Looking for a chance.

SAM DARNOLD..1st round pick, just not the complete package.  The Jets let him go, one of multiples of lst round failures they have endured, now SF has yet to offer to bring him back.  Has lots of physical tools but not what we thought he might be.

MARCUS MARIOTA..Given chances to be the guy but eventually comes off the field because he’s hurt or just does not produce

MITCH TRUBISKY..Found wanting in Buffalo, then in Pittsburgh, just re-signed with the Bills.

EASTON STICK..Chargers backup played well off bench, though he did not drive Bolts to many TDs when he started, but did not turn it over.  Think he could stay in LA or move somewhere else to be an insurance policy backup.

JOE FLACCO…Nice finish to the Browns season but got 200,000 miles on him.l

ANDY DALTON..Trustworthy but all the years in Cincinnati took a toll

Not much to choose from is there?  Not many difference makers either.

Not everyone gets a crack at this year’s college blue chip crop, from Caleb Williams to Drake Maye to Jayden Daniels.  The jury is still really out on how complete JJ McCarthy-Bo Nix-Michael Penix might be.  So you be the GM of Team XYZ.  You renting a vet or hoping you can hit on a 1st round draft pick if someone falls to you.

The bidding begins now in the NFL, where you have to have a QB-regardless of the price.

==========================

 

1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Friday “AZTECS HOOPS-COACH-PLAYER”

Posted by on March 8th, 2024  •  0 Comments  • 

==============

Hacksaw’s Great Sports Weekend Podcast
You Tube-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
Look-Listen-Subscribe-Share

https://youtube.com/live/vlvJqP2VAyA?feature=share

==============
1-Man’s Opinion-“Aztecs Basketball”
==============

A typical year in San Diego
Daily Sunshine
Another big basketball season for the Aztecs

The glow of last year’s March Madness run is still there too.

San Diego State is (22-8) getting ready for the Mountain West tourney.
It has been an astounding year in the MWC, with as many as 6-teams possibly headed to March Madness

Brian Dutcher has groome another 1st round NBA draft pick in Jaedon LeDee.
The coach has a new lifetime contract.
He is ready for the tourney and March Madness.
———————
Brian Dutcher-Press Conference:

Season is ending..go from all prep work..all hours..now 1-game left
Our best basketball is ahead of us

Jaedon LeDee..so proud work he has put in
He is a grown man amongst young men
We have seen this in him last 3-years
Full display for country to see
He affects game alot different ways
Hard for center score alot of points-guarded-doubled all time
Can play 1-on-1 from top to baseline on block
He gets doubled-tripled all the time
For a guy that big he takes a beating
He’s hard for officials to handle games
He gets hit on every play..move him on every play
He spends a lot of time on his game
He has lots of mental toughness to handle all this
Hard game to officiate-I know that..just call at both ends

 

Been here 25-years..seen growth program..Viejas
We have built a brand year

We have grit-toughness to come from 17-back at UNLV
MWC Teams on top are out there because they have road wins
We haven’t closed out opportunities to close out games on road
We see everybody’s best shot when we play on the road-target on our back
Can’t get technicals every game but need to talk to officials

MWC tourney-neutral floor-our team handle better..full of Aztecs fans-helps us
Having to play 4-games in 4-days is tough..important get 1st round bye

Elijah Sanders ups and downs-grow-works hard on his jump shot
He believes it will go in and does

Viejas-unbeaten season-means alot to us..and to basketball community

Kawhi Leonard was here two years…Spurs took him on potential to grow

LeDee has always been a skilled guy..has worked on every aspect of the game
Had supreme confidence in both..Let Jaedon play his game-he’s grown.

Would like to see Transfer Portal moved back to after March Madness-everyone plays by same rules….some teams season ends next weekend.

================

1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Thursday “AZTECS-COACH-JOB WELL DONE”

Posted by on March 7th, 2024  •  0 Comments  • 

========

Hacksaw’s Thursday Podcast-1pm

Livestream-Fans Forum

You Tube Channel-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton

Look-Listen-Share-Subscribe

===========

“AZTECS HOOPS”
=============

March Madness is just around the corner.

The glow of what happened a year ago still shines brightly, at Viejas Arena and in the Hallways of the Aztecs Athletics Center at San Diego State.

And now a just reward for accomplishments up on the Mesa, a record setting contract extension for SDSU basketball coach Brian Dutcher.

Well deserved for a leader, a recruiter, a teacher, a quality basketball man and an even better man.

===================

SAN DIEGO – San Diego State head men’s basketball coach Brian Dutcher has signed a contract extension that will keep him on the SDSU bench through the 2027-28 season. The 2019-20 USA Today National Coach of the Year, who guided the Aztecs to the 2023 NCAA Tournament National Championship game, is in the midst of his seventh season as head coach at SDSU and 25th campaign on The Mesa.

 

“I’d like to thank President de la Torre and Athletics Director John David Wicker for the opportunity to continue to mentor and lead the outstanding young men that we have in our program at San Diego State,” Dutcher said. “Our success began 25 years ago when my friend Steve Fisher came to The Mesa and along with my assistant coaches, we have built a program that competes on a national level every night. I got into coaching to affect the lives of young people and to be able to do it at a school and in a city I love, is all anyone can ask for.”

The five-year extension, which runs through the end of the 2027-28 season follows the greatest season in Aztec history, one that featured the program’s 16th Mountain West title and SDSU’s and the conference’s first wins in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16, Elite 8 and Final Four on its way to an appearance in the national championship game.

 

“I’m excited to announce an extension to keep Brian Dutcher at SDSU through the 2027-28 season,” said Wicker. “Dutch has been an integral part to building the successful basketball program we have today and last year’s run to the national championship was a defining moment for him and our institution. But mo­­­re than success on the floor, Dutch has built a program based on bringing young men in who also excel in the classroom and the community. I look forward to continuing to see the successes of our student athletes, staff and coaches under Brian’s leadership for the foreseeable future.”

In 102 previous seasons of Aztec basketball, no head coach previous to Dutcher has won 21 or more games in each of his first seven seasons or compiled more victories to date (173). Dutcher’s 75.9 percent winning percentage is the best in program history. He has earned a reputation as a big-game coach, guiding his team to the championship game of the Mountain West Tournament in each of his six years as head coach and, if the 2020 postseason had been contested, would have guided the Aztecs to the NCAA Tournament in five of his six years. In his six-plus seasons, San Diego State owns a 13-9 record against AP Top 25 teams, which is the best record nationally during that span (maximum of 22 games played).

In his time leading the program, Dutcher has been named the USA Today National Coach of the Year, United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) District IX Coach of the Year, as well as a pair of National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division I District 17 Coach of the Year, and two Mountain West Coach-of-the-Year awards. In addition, he has been a finalist for the Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year.

In Dutcher’s 25 seasons on the Aztec bench, San Diego State players have received 22 All-America honors, including two consensus All-Americans, 31 NABC and 31 USBWA All-District designations, four Mountain West Player of the Year awards, as well as 75 all-Mountain West certificates. During that span, the Aztecs have also garnered 32 Mountain West All-Tournament team honors accolades, including six tournament MVPs. In addition, Dutcher has coached five conference Freshman/Newcomer of the Year honorees, eight Defensive Player of the Year designations and one Sixth Man of the Year. A total of 20 times an Aztec also landed spots on the league’s all-defensive team, while MW Player of the Week honors have been awarded to SDSU student-athletes on 71 occasions. Not to be outdone, the Aztecs have been presented with 38 academic all-Mountain West and three NABC Honors Court designations for excellence in the classroom.

 

Dutcher Year-by-Year

Season        W-L      MW    MWT        Championships        Postseason        Final AP Rank

2017-18        22-11        11-7          3-0          MW Tournament           NCAA

2018-19        21-13        11-7          2-1

2019-20          30-2        17-1          2-1          MW Regular Season                                      6

2020-21          23-5        14-3          3-0          MW Regular Season &  NCAA                       16

Tournament

2021-22          23-9        13-4          2-1                                                NCAA

2022-23          32-7        15-3          3-0          MW Regular Season &  NCAA                       18

Tournament

2023-24          22-8        11-6          TBD          TBD                                TBD                          TBD

Career    173-55   92-31     15-3

 

1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Wednesday “DODGERS-VS-DAVE ROBERTS”

Posted by on March 6th, 2024  •  1 Comment  • 

==========

‘DODGERS-VS-EXPECTATIONS
==========

They have called it for decades, the Dodgers Way.
The way to develop players, how to run an organization.
The qualities you want in whom you acquire.

The Dodgers Way is also about the success of managers.

The Dodgers have always drafted well.

They were out front in signing players from Latin America, then Mexico, then the Pacific Rim.

From Jackie Robinson to Fernando Valenzuala…Hideo Nomo to Kenta Maeda, it brought great players and great success.

Now we have this new way of the Dodger Way, the massive (290M) budget, the luxury tax payments, the deferred money deals.

Dodgers baseball is also about legendary managers.  Walter Alston and his 1-year contracts in the Walter O’Malley era.  All things Tommy LaSorda, wins-records, philosophy and personality.

We are now in the Dave Roberts era, and for all the successes, the 100-win seasons, the 1st place NL West titles and World Series appearances, there sure seem to be alot of critics out there.

The 2024 season could be epic.  The 2024 season could also be a referendum on Dave Roberts’ managing style.  The LA failures seem to loom large on the minds of a ton of fans, and the media.

They won over 100-last year, after letting 11-veterans led by Justin Turner leave.  This opening day, down 4-starting pitchers, they will open the season with 2-rookies in the rotation (B Miller-G Stone), Japanese rookie phenom Yosh Yamamoto, plus Tyler Glasnow and free agent rental James Paxton.  Can they go the distance again?

1-World Series ring in a decade has brought 2nd guessers and critics into the Dodgers dugout.

Post season failures, from first round to the NLCS series have mounted up.  2-World Series defeats have also left a bad taste in the mouth of alot of people.

It’s not how they lost, but how Roberts’ decisions caused them to fail.  Pick any memory recently, and you get flashbacks.  Overuse of Joe Kelly.  The Max Scherzer dead arm issue.  Clayton Kershaw out of the bullpen in between starts.  And it goes on and on and on.

Of course no one mentions the betrayal by pitchers Julio Urias and Trevor Bauer for off field problems that hurt the team.  Or a siege of wipeout arm injuries to virtually all the bullpen brigade and the young starters, they had to work thru.

The critics put it on Dave Roberts, though I think it has alot to do with Andrew Friedman and his analytical staff.  Who to use, who to get ready in the bullpen, how long to go with starters.  There’s a pile of that data available to review too when remembering the playoff losses.

Over the last 3-years, the Dodgers have won (317) games, but have only 1-playoff series win.  Not what you would expect.

There’s no one in the LA media that has questioned what I have questioned.  I don’t understand that.  Too many cheerleaders, not enough critics.  The supposed voice of the fans haven’t raised the right questions when things go wrong.

A good season ahead.  I believe so.  Roberts manages a good clubhouse, and lots of personalities (egos) too.  There has been roster turnover and roster rebuilds three years in a row.  And yet if you look up his record compared to Alston-LaSorda, it is amazing.

But right now the perception is out there, 2024 is a referendum about Dave Roberts, and I’m not sure that is very fair.

========================

1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Tuesday “DENVER BRONCOS = DISASTER”

Posted by on March 5th, 2024  •  0 Comments  • 

===========
Hacksaw’s Monday Bonus PODCAST
Hacksaw & Coach Kentera
You Tube Channel-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
Look-Listen-Share-Subscribe

https://youtube.com/live/09roH1nK2-c?feature=share

 

 

===========”DENVER DISASTER
============

The Broncos, once upon a time, had John Elway.
Then they traded for Peyton Manning.
Those QBs led them to Super Bowls, dominance at home, and brilliant offenses.

Oh how times have changed.

The Broncos blew up the bridge to what they hoped would be a road back to better days in the AFC-West and the NFL.

They traded for, signed, lost-with, and have now released Russell Wilson.

Yes the once star studded Seattle quarterback, who walked into a really bad situation and played worse over a two year span, is headed to free agency

His roster ripped by injuries two years in a row.  He was saddled by a poor choice as head coach Nathaniel Hackett.  Then he crossed paths with Sean Payton who showed no patience at all and wound up benching him.

You make a mistake on a quarterback acquisition, you set your franchise way back.  Failing in the draft atop the board kills your franchise.  See the history of Ryan Leaf-Chargers or J’Marcus Russell-Raiders.

But when you trade for a QB-the damage is even worse.

The Broncos grossly overpaid to get an aging Wilson from Seattle.
Denver gave the Seahawks two first round picks, two second round picks, plus young QB-Drew Lock and two other players who became starters.  An extraordinary price tag for a 32-year old QB whose production had dropped.

Then they compounded the extensive price, by giving up an extension worth (242M) before he ever played a game wearing Orange.

Now they have cut him, releasing him, but having to pay the (39.7M) salary next year.  Just think, some QB-needy team can sign Wilson for a veteran 1M-salary and Denver pays the rest for whatever time he has left in the NFL.

Oh and that’s not all, because of NFL bookkeeping, the Broncos take a salary cap hit.  They will have (45M) in dead money this year and next, money they cannot use  to rebuild Sean Payton’s roster.  An all time cap hit of nearly (90M) over the next two seasons.

The Broncos went out and got Manning after Elway retired.  When Payton stepped aside, this franchise faltered.

Between Manning’s last TD pass and Russell Wilson’s first interception, the Broncos have gone thru Drew Lock, Brock Osweiler, Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, Case Keenum, Joe Flacco, Ted Bridgewater, Brandon Allen, Brett Rypien and Jeff Driskel, hoping someone could step in and win games.

None of those 10-QBs did, and then Wilson did not either.

And now the Broncos, not only don’t have high picks, they don’t have cap space.

Once proud now pitiful, the Broncos have virtually no hope of winning in the next couple of years.

Denver = Disaster.

===================================