“NFL OPENING WEEKEND

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Here comes the NFL with the first weekend of games.

A couple really big time matchups in the beginning of this 17-game haul.

A look at storylines as we start the NFL season.
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CHARGERS-MIAMI….The debut of Kellen Moore as the new offensive coordinator linking with smart-guy QB-Justin Herbert.  But there is so much around Herbert that makes the Bolts offense elite.  The Keenan Allen-Mike Williams-Gerald Everett trio looks great.  So does the RB tandem of Austin Ekeler-Isaiah Spiller-Joshua Kelley.  Add in what appears to a studded star group in the offensive line, that has to stay healthy.  Is there enough on defense and can they stay healthy is the big question.  The Dolphins need to have a different Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback, one who has had concussion issues.  Tyreek Hill-Jalen Waddle-Ced Wilson are so fast-so dangerous at wide out.  Would have thought they’d have made the deal for a running back, but has not happened yet.  This should be a wild, high scoring lidlifter.

RAMS-SEAHAWKS…This looks like the beginning of a miserable season at So Fi Stadium.  Matthew Stafford and Aaron Donald are all that is left from the Super Bowl crew.  The loss of WR-Cooper Kupp with a recurring hamstring injury is a huge blow.  The offensive line had 12-different combos last season.  This year there could be 3-new rookies and first year starters and then, what happens if starters get hurt.  Name me a starter on defense aside from Donald.  So many new players, and no Jalen Ramsey-Bobby Wagner -Leonard Floyd and a host of other starters.  Seattle, building back, has Geno Smith for his 2nd year as a starter amid questions was last year an anomaly, or is he on the right track?  Kenneth Walker leads the running group.  Really deep at wide receiver.  The back end on defense looks really special.  Bad weekend, first of many, coming for the Rams.

CHIEFS-LIONS…Thursday preview loaded with questions.  There is no Chris Jones at defensive tackle, so KC’s defense might not be the same.  The offense is all about Patrick Mahomes, but now Travis Kelce is dinged.  Can the Lions hold up to all the hype.  They have changed the style of Jared Goff at quarterback.  They are physical, and play really rugged on defense with
Aiden Hutchinson and Jack Campbell.  Interesting matchup coming

CAROLINA-ATLANTA…Bryce Young debuts for the Panthers but without alot of firepower around him.  Desmond Ridder has the Falcons starting job and watch names like Bijan Robinson-Kyle Pitts.

BROWNS-BENGALS…Joe Burrow health and Deshaun Watson’s full off season  are the storylines..  Can the Bengals rag-tag offensive front, even with LT-Orlando Brown,holdup against Myles Garrett and a strong Cleveland defense.  If the Browns don’t have a great season, coach Kevin Stefanski could be in trouble.

JAGUARS-COLTS..Will Trevor Lawrence and his big new WR-Calvin Ridley, take the next step in the playoffs?  The Colts will force feed 1st round draft pick Anthony Richardson, but the Jon Taylor-Zach Moss injury issues are significant.

BUCS-VIKINGS…Baker Mayfield and 3-big play wideouts go against a stripped down Minnesoita defense.  Does Kirk Cousins have enough offense firepower aside from star Justin Jefferson?  Will the Vikes defense have enough talent?

TITANS-SAINTS…Derek Carr takes over as New Orleans QB.  Ryan Tannehill is back at QB for the Titans.  DeAndre Hopkins debuts for Tennessee.  The Saints look really strong on both sides of the ball.

49ers-STEELERS…A really good first weekend matchup.  But there is no Nick Bosa in the San Francisco pass rush.  That’s a big player not on board.  What kind of season will Brock Purdy have coming off elbow brace surgery?  Does Kenny Pickett take another step forward at QB.

WASHINGTON-ARIZONA…The Cardinals are in disarray.  Washington believes Sam Howell is the QB of the future.  We know the Commanaders defense is superb.  Who knows what likes ahead.

HOUSTON-RAVENS…That’s CJ Stroud, surrounded by a ton of free-agents the Texans have built around their rookie QB.  The Ravens will be different.  Lamar Jackson is back and they are now 5-deep at receiver, with Odell Beckham coming on board.  The Ravens could be dominant on offense.

PACKERS-BEARS…Jordan Love is the guy who must win this, but he won’t have Aaron Rodgers’ wide receivers on the roster.  They do have 2-solid running backs.  The Bears, Justin Fields was dynamic till he got hurt.  Chicago just does not look to have enough players.

RAIDERS-DENVER…Much anticipated the debut of Sean Payton, but he is without 4-top receivers with injuries, and may have to limit RB-Davante Williams.  They do bring back a load on defense.  Josh McDaniels has a new QB in Jim Garoppolo, an unproven offensive line, alot of kids and some veteran help on defense.  Who knows about the Raiders-because Jimmy G-Josh Jacobs-Davantae Adams cannot do it by themselves.

EAGLES-NEW ENGLAND..What an opener.  Jalen Hurts and his Super Bowl offense against Belichick and that defense..  New coordinator Bill O’Brien and Mac Jones against an Eagles Super Bowl defense.  What a chess match this will be.

COWBOYS-GIANTS..Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy calling plays.  A battered offensive line back healthy.  Typical Dallas defense.   Add in Brandon Cooks at wide out.  Interesting Dallas team.  Was that a budding star we saw last year with Daniel Jones, will Saquon Barkley have a big contract season?  Was that a real Giants season last year?

BILLS-JETS…The first of a steady diet of Aaron Rodgers on TV.  Will he be the big difference maker in New York?  Can the offensive front stay helathy?  Do they have the right combo of receivers?  The Bills have upgraded the run game and look as if they could be a Super Bowl team for the third year in a row.  But they have yet to do it.

Let the wild ride begin in the NFL.
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“AZTECS-UCLA”
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This should be fun on Saturday…,San Diego State-vs-UCLA.

Old school stoic Brady Hoke-vs-Mad Scientist Chip Kelly..

One coach trying to find out who is team is, the other coach trying to find a quarterback.

Hoke has had such success with State.  Kelly has had such an erratic career with the Bruins.

Somebody takes a step forward this weekend.  Which is the real SDSU team, that played so well and so disciplined against a good Ohio team, then needed an on-side kick before finally putting away an Idaho State team that was (2-20) over two years.

Kelly was (7-17) his first couple of troubled years in Westwood, then put together two good seasons.  But now he must replace his 5-years statting QB and top running back, all this with just 1-game under his belt this season, and up and down outing vs Coastal Carolina.  He’s gone (18-8) after that (10-21) start with the Bruins

A big weekend last weekend with the Pac 12 going unbeaten in all their games.  And the Mountain West watching Wyoming post a stunning home win in Laramie over Texas Tech  and Fresno State winning on Big 10-soil at Purdue.

So it becomes a statement weekend for either SDSU-or-UCLA, who they are.
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Brady Hoke comments:

Wanted to control the tempo of the game..we did 34min TOP
Pace what we wanted
But defense needs to get off the field a big more
We can run the football
Upfront played better

Jalen Mayden QB runs by designed worked well
Knew when to pull ball down and run
Martin Blake really good player-do so many things
Blake is a ‘Swiss Army Knife’-great attitude
Defending Blake..those OL will tell you where he is
But you have to tackle him
Athleticism, balance, power-he is consistent everyday
RB who has hot hand will get more snaps

Turnovers-still too many..ball on the ground
We must take care of football better
We got 10-points off turnovers-have to finish better

Ticked off by 4th quarter…we didn’t win the final quarter
Must play complete games
14-penalties-don’t like turning in calls to conference office
4-off sides on defense-that is unacceptable
Holding penalties on defense..must address them
Not sure there is a value in turning plays to MWC
Helps them use in teaching their officials

Idaho State better team than anyone thought
We gave them too many opportunities
Defensive line-lack of discipline

Gave up 600-passing yards in 2-games..got ball off quickly
Should gone 8-man drops-Idaho State vs Bengals

UCLA-very different team on offense
Expect to see all 3-QBs this weekend
UCLA really good athletically
Must stop Bruins run first and put it on QBs to make plays

Dante Moore-heavily recruited for a reason-really athletic
Expect to see Moore and also Garbers-Schlee

Chip Kelly-mad scientist offense..a real tempo offense
His formations are wild-moving people around
His mind from offensive standpoint is pretty special
He is as good as there running plays

UCLA-Latu good player..length-fires off ball
Very aggressive defense with Late coming off the end
Very athletic from what we played in 2019

Fans support-hopefully more of ‘us than them’ at Snapdragon
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Mark Redmen-Cedarius Barfield

Last time we played UCLA-very hot..alot of SDSU fans
Expect alot of Blue-Gold fans likely at Snapdragon

Way too many penalties last week-have to cut them back

UCLA is really different-so fast on offense-throw the ball slot

When Chip Kelly at Oregon..had 500-600 yards a game
They will throw the ball and force your hands
Ton of WRs-transfers from USC-Cal they throw too

Michael Sturdivant-135 yards last week-receptions..big guy-must tackle him

Jalen Maden ability to run the ball-when teams drop defenses
He has really extended a bunch of plays in two games
Our time of possession last week was huge..we can control the temp

We are using 4-tight ends now..catch passes…and run block too
We are feeding off each other and can do alot of things
We need to win the 4th quarter…did vs Ohio…did not vs Idaho State

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“DODGERS TROUBLES”
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So what are the Dodgers to do with troubled lefthander Julio Urias, the lefthanded phenom?

Not Urias on the mound, but Urias at home?

Another domestic abuse arrest, this one a felony, for a confrontation with his wife.  An incident at the LA Galaxy-Inter Miami-MLS game with Lionel Messi.

An 11pm arrest.  5-hours in jail.  Posting of bond right before 5am.

His second arrest in a 4-year span.  The first time he knocked down his then fiancee.  He was not charged.  But baseball investigated, and eventhough she did not want to post charges, he was suspended for 20-games in 2019.

He completed a 52-week counseling course and has not been in trouble since, till Sunday night.

This is a Dodgers team that came thru the disgrace that was Trevor Bauer, the allegations, the sexual misconduct lawsuit, and the history of Bauer’s interactions involving ‘rough sex’ with women in Cleveland and Columbus.

Bauer lost 37M in salary, was reinstated, and the Dodgers were forced to pay him 22M-in final year salary despite releasing him.

Bauer is trying to repair his image as a person, not so much as a pitcher, where he is a rock star with the Yokohama Bay Stars, and is (10-3) this summer in Japan.

The lawsuit filed by a San Diego woman, is going forward, so we have not heard the last of the court case or him.  I expect him to be back in MLB baseball next year.

Long ago and far away the Dodgers were forced to deal to with the drug habits that eventually wiped out the career of Steve Howe.

Now what happens at Dodgers Stadium, because Urias is a walk free agent, is front and center.  There is likely a big payday coming, because he is repped by agent Scott Boras.

You can’t argue with his career stats, (60-25) and a 3.11-ERA.  He went (27-10) combined in 2021-22.  This year, battling hamstring problems, he is (11-8) with a 4.60-ERA, but has given up 24-home runs in his 117 innings.

There won’t be any starts likely the rest of the regular season.  And his availability for the playoffs now is in doubt, because these things take time to investigate.

He won’t get off scott-free even if his wife elects not to seek assault charges against him, again.

If I were the Dodgers, this is too talented a pitcher to give up on.  They probably want to sign him.

But the facts will determine that.

Did Urias shove her?  Slap her? Choke her? Hurt her? Or just curse at her?  But why does he remain and act this way in an explosive relationship?

The other issue, and the Dodgers should do an ‘intervention’.  Does this player have an alcohol abuse issue, that may in turn trigger these confrontations.

Don’t care what the agent may say.  Don’t want to hear from the union either.

This is a serious second incident and it’s a felony.

Let the facts come front and center before people jump on and off his band-wagon.  But this is trouble.  The Dodgers need to be proactive once the police report is given to them.

Call him stupid.  An idiot.  A troubled man.  You can call him a pitching ace, but you must also call him an abuser, and that goes on his stats sheet too.

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“This & That”

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Thoughts on alot of things.

PADRES…Nice weekend-bashing the Giants and their rag-tag roster.  I never thought they were a playoff team, and now the Padres showed up finally this weekend and battered them.  Of course, it’s too little-too late for the Padres. Sorry can’t cheer this non playoff team.

PRELLER’S PEOPLE…So much heat on the GM for grossly overpaying on all these contracts-rightfully so for this non playoff team.  But some of these signings are really good…Seth Lugo..Michael Wacha…finding Ha Seong Kim.  Even the pickup of journeyman Gary Sanchez, who has righted his career after crummy years.

DODGERS…What a jolt of reality for LA when the Braves came out swinging and bashed the Blue.  If you pitch around Mookie Betts-Freddie Freeman, guess you have  a chance.  Atlanta looks like a 115-win team this year.  Dodgers will have to face them in the NLCS since Atlanta-LA are the best in the NL….One of them is likely in the World Series

ANGELS..Just an awful skid to the end of the season and the impending doom and gloom, Shohei Ohtani’s impending free agency.  Now the report Mike Trout wants a sit down and might ask for a trade this winter.  What a hopeless feel this must be in Anaheim.  Arte Moreno needs to sell the team.  The fans deserve a better product and a new owner.

CHARGERS-RAMS….Here comes the NFL next weekend.  1-very good team (Bolts)…1-very bad (Rams).  Will preview the NFL this week.

AZTECS…Poor play by SDSU against an inferior team in Idaho State, and yet the Bengals hung in there.  Aztecs passing game seems shaky.  Running game looks solid and now Jalen Mayden busting big runs adding on to the run game personalilty.  But it’s a stunner the play would be so poor after a pretty solid opening day win vs Ohio.  Here comes UCLA-so Brady Hoke needs to fix his team.

FANS…Really sad to see this shiny new Snapdragon Stadium with half the seats empty.  It’s like the town does not care, depsite years of wins in the Hoke-Rocky Long era.  Also in indictment the Athletic Department has no clue how to market.

USD…Sad commentary on the hazing situation on the Alcala Way and how the Catholic school has shown no transparency, no information, no updates.  Last week, opening day of the season, no coaches press conference, no Email game releases to the media, no definition of who was being disciplined, and no access to the head coach.  Bad way to conduct business, thinking this story goes away because you won’t let the media cover it.  Ask SDSU how they screwed up dealing with the Matt Araiza crisis last September and how that worked out in a crumbling relationship with the media?

MOUNTAIN WEST…What’s next, only time will tell for Washington State-Oregon State, the last two teams standing in what was the Pac 12.  This may take time to solve.  Where will the Beavers-Cougars TV money come from?  Is this a Pac 2-expansion, or a Mountain West add on?  What happens to the assets, NCAA units, that will be paid over the next years, does that money stay with the two schools left, does it get paid to all the defectees? Very complex project.

GULLS…Hockey preseason camp opens up in two weeks and the Gulls are excited about what they think they will get from the Anaheim Ducks when they make their camp cuts.  As many as 5-quality young defenseman.  And possibly the #1 pick, the Swedish rookie Leo Carlsson, if he does not make the Ducks-NHL roster.  The Gulls need to recapture the spirit of the hockey community after a horror season.  A fascinating year ahead with the arrival of European coach Matt McIlane, who lit up the room as his intro press conference.  Gulls hockey just has not been the same since the Covid year, when they had to move to Anaheim.  3-really years in which hockey here was MIA.

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“COLLEGE FOOTBALL STORYLINES”
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Here we go, the start of the college football season.

You name the conference, SEC, Big 10, Big 12, ACC, everyone pays attention.

This is such a strange feel to the final Pac 12-season before the conference breaks up.

Here are storylines to pay attention to:

GEORGIA..Yes top ranked going into the season, but I wonder if that is the proper slot.  There is no Stetson Bennett at quarterback.  The big running backs moved on.  Seven key defensive guys are gone to the NFL.  Not the same team right now with new key parts.

ALABAMA…Life after Bryce Young could be a challenge.  Ditto with the loss of their top running backs, but the Tide is like a production line.  Notre Dame transfer Ty Buchner transfers in, but he is a different quarterback for sure.  Will this make a difference, or does the talent level in Tuscaloosa means a quality player replaces a departing star.

OHIO STATE..Big year for Ryan Day.  Very good record except the losses to Michigan.  Now CJ Stroud has exited, but they have superstar WR-Marvin Harrison and a load of running backs.  The Buckeyes will be good, but good enough to beat the school up North?

MICHIGAN…Now this is the legitimate number one team in the nation, with QB-JJ McCarthy, the return of both RBs-Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, virtually the entire offensive line and a load of defensive players.  Their year to get this done.

TEXAS..Fascinating statement by Steve Sarkisian in the farewell tour thru the Big 12 before they go to the SEC.  QB-Quinn Ewers is back, but star RB-Bijan Robinson is gone.  ‘Embrace the Hate’ is the slugline this year.  Lots of Big 12 fans are upset at the Longhorns.

USC…They have Caleb Williams back at quarterback, a load of running backs, and Zach  Barnes at wideout.  But they also have problems on defense that dragged them down last year.  Can they go unbeaten?  Can they be a playoff team?  Can they win the title?  Nice questions.  Can they stop anyone on defense is the real question?

OREGON..Bo Nix comes back for his final year and they look really good in the Pacific Northwest.  The Ducks say so long to the Pac 12 too, and could be equal to Southern Cal with the firepower they have.

CLEMSON..They were special for years, but they are not right now what they used to be, dominant.  They have not had a star at quarterback since DeSean Watson took off that orange helmet.  They must prove they have a playmaker-difference maker  at that position.

WASHINGTON…Michael Penix is a dynamic leader but does the Huskies passing star have enough around him to be a national power in their final year in the Pac 12?

NORTH CAROLINA….Can Drake Maye, the record setting QB, take the Tar Heels where they have never been before, into the playoffs, remains to be seen.  He is a talent, but do they have enough real talent with him?

Here comes the season.  Interesting to see which teams are still standing once we get to December.

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