The reason I feel Sean Taylor is the most valuable Redskin and soon to be best player in the NFL comes down to two games from last season: Week 10 at Tampa Bay, and the first round of the playoffs at Tampa Bay. The first game the score was a 36-35 Redskins loss. Sean Taylor was injured and did not play. The second game was a 17-10 win. Sean Taylor did play. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpZ0Dyy5uDU>
In the first game Brunell threw for over 200 yards and two scores, Portis ran for 144 yards and one score, and the Moss/Cooley duo combined for 10 catches and 155 yards. In the second game Brunell threw for 41 yards, Portis ran for 53 yards and the Moss/Cooley duo combined for four catches and 30 yards. Why then, did the Redskins lose the first game and win the second? The answer is simple: Sean Taylor.
In the first game Chris Simms was throwing the ball around like his dad Phil used to. His receivers were getting open at an alarming rate and he torched the Redskins secondary for 279 yards and three touchdowns. Without Taylor in the secondary roaming around and putting fear into every receiver on the field, the passing game was easy for the Buccaneers. In the second game however, Simms struggled to get anything going all day long and despite the poor offensive performance by the Redskins they were able to win the game. A win that put the Redskins in the second round of the playoffs.
Aside from the fact that Taylor is a ball hawk, recovering fumbles in two straight games for touchdowns, touchdowns that won both games, his mere presence on the field changes the way offenses have to game plan. Receivers are scared to cross the middle for fear of becoming the recipient of a mind numbing blow, or even worse, alligator arming a pass because of the thought of Sean Taylor lurking. He has the ability to shut down half, or even the entire field. He is a safety with linebacker size and sub 4.4 speed. He hits really really hard all the time. In an early training camp scrimmage against the Baltimore Ravens Sean Taylor put this hit on Mike Anderson... http://www.youtube.com/watchv=cncs76D8D_M ...After the scrimmage when asked about the hit on Anderson, he called it routine.
As a Florida State Seminole I know all to well Sean Taylor(former Miami Hurricane) and his ability to completely shut down an opposing offense. Against the Seminoles in the rain he did everything from intercept passes, sack the quarterback, and even down a punt on the one yard line. His entire Hurricane career he dominated the Seminoles, a team which year in and year out puts talent on the field. He is on the verge of dominating again.
Last year he shut down two premier athletes at their position, Randy Moss and Antonio Gates. He delivered big hit after big hit and big play after big play. Entering just his 3rd year in the NFL Taylor has yet to enter his prime. The third year is usually the breakout year for rising players. Ed Reed rose to elite status after his third year. Expect Sean Taylor to do the same, maybe even more. If you feel the need to write me off as a homer, go ahead, but just be sure to watch this video...in its entirety first. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA61sF2OrsA&mode=r elated&search=
In the land of make believe I am writing this post because I have been chosen by Fox Sports as one of the 16 finalists. 14 of the other "pretenders" have been eliminated and now it is down to two. This is my final post and if I don't give it my all well....I'm going home as the first loser.
In reality I was not chosen as a finalist as my blog was not top 16 material. But it's OK to pretend, because it is what every person aspiring to make it to the big-time does. As a kid growing up my life was basketball. Every day outside shooting I would count down from five, firing off the shot with about two seconds left, and making the buzzer sound with my mouth.
Perhaps imagining every blog I write is the most important of my life is a little crazy, but it is the reason I should move on to the next round. It is the ultra competitiveness (not sure if that is a word but it sounded cool) mentality, the mind set that I will do anything to win anything, even if it is a contest where the grand prize is a "Nice Post" comment under my blog.
No matter the contest, no matter the prize, I am here for the long haul and I am here for one reason and one reason only. To win.
Not only is she attractive, a former model in Russia, but she is also laid back and has even said that her husband, Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko, has an allowance of one woman a year.
Kirilenko has said he will not choose that path, but just the fact she would allow him to do something like that vaults her to the top in my book. It shows she understands her husband is a 27 year old NBA star and by giving him the option to concede to a beautiful women once a year, it proves just how confident she really is.
While I don't know her personally (unfortunately,) making this move makes her seem much smarter than the average bear. Of course her husband isn't going to sleep with one groupie a year, only an #### would do that when married to a woman like Masha.
However, by proclaiming it is ok for him to sleep with a different girl once a year, it makes her seem cool, confident and unphased by all the attraction her husband may be receiving.
She now has her husband, the media and anyone else interested in her relationship with Andrei, under control.
Ok Ok, maybe she didn't really think that much into it before making the decision, but either way....Masha Lopatova is the hottest spouse in sports.
(This is a repost, but on the eve of the finalist's announcement, I though it would be good to post one more time.)
While trying to think of a sport that I could compare this with this contest, I realized it would be more difficult than I first imagined. In basketball if you hit a shot at the buzzer the crowd will erupt, or go completely silent, and you know what you have done is great. In football if you catch a game winning touchdown pass, your teammates will pile on top of you and you realize you have done something spectacular. In baseball if you hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of ninth, and trot slowly around the bases, you know the glory that will be waiting for you when you touch home plate. In a sports-writing contest, with little rules, you have know idea what will happen after clicking the "post to blog" icon. You only have yourself, your mind and the confidence in yourself to continue to write blog after blog. All for a hope that the NGS fairies will sprinkle the dust on your blog, and you will be selected as one of the sweet 16.
That is when I realized NGS isn't a sport, it is practice. It is shooting 500 jump shots in a row in the gym until the lights go off, and the shots go in, even when it is pitch black. It is coming to practice early and staying late to watch game film or to fix a weakness. It is running one extra lap around the track just because you feel like you have to. It is giving everything you possibly can, because of a fear that your opponent could be going just a little bit harder.
There is no coach, there is no one chearing you on, it is just you and hard work. When you are alone in the gym, or in the film room, or in the locker room; you only have yourself, your mind and the confidence in yourself to continue to go hard even if you have doubts.
This contest requires a self-confidence that is rivaled by no sport. You don't have teammates, you don't have coaches, you don't even have very much feedback. All you have is hope. Hope that all the practice pays off, and that when it comes time for the coach to annouce the team, that your name is called.
NGS II is writing one more blog before you go to sleep, just because you feel like you have to.
Sports, like life, are gutwrenching and can go from the highest of high's to the lowest of low's in a matter of second's. It's six in the morning, I haven't gone to sleep and I have been drinking all night. However, now is the time I have chosen to get online and discuss sports. To most people, sports are just entertainment, but the truth is that nothing in this world resembles the difficulties of life quite like sports.
About 12 hours ago I was tuned in to the Preakness, pulling for Barbaro to get the win and set up a Triple Crown possibility. It is a feat which hasn't been accomplished since 1979, but this year it seemed to be a distinct possibility because of the dominance Barbaro had demonstrated at the Kentucky Derby. Everything was going as planned until the horses entered the gates and Barbaro blasted through the high powered magnets prematurely. Although it had no effect on the actual outcome, it was a bad omen, something no one liked to see happen to the Kentucky Derby champ. After the race started Barbaro began as normal but soon had to be held up because of a hind leg injury.
Injury...the only possible thing in the world that could have stopped that horse from winning the race. The race continued on, but it just didn't seem the same, the horse everyone wanted to see was eliminated too soon. Instead of winning the Preakness and creating images of a Triple Crown winner, Barbaro is now just fighting to stay alive. From such a dramatic high comes a dramatic low. Things never go the way they are supposed to in sports, just like in life.
Love and the opposite sex are possibly the most difficult thing for a human to grasp. Even when you believe you have found true love, things go wrong and shatter your hopes. True love is giving up your everything and putting faith in something bigger than yourself. For the most part, people get burned for giving up their heart to someone else. A relationship you thought was meant to last forever ends in a terrible way, and your heart that you gave away is returned...shattered. Things never go the way they are supposed to in love and life, just like in sports.
But the same thing which makes life, love and sports so difficult, is what keeps us coming back for more. The chance that maybe we will see a team finally win after years and years of losing. Or finally seeing a horse win consecutive races that just seemed to difficult to do. Or maybe we will even find that one person in our life who we were meant to be with, the person who makes life worth living.
In the end all we can do is hope. All we can do is pour our heart, guts, soul and just about everything we have into what we love. The chance of our favorite team winning the Super Bowl or World Series or NBA championship may be slim, but we hope and have faith because that is all we can do. The chance of finding that one person in the world who was meant to be with you may be slim, but it is why we are here, and we have to fight each day as hard as we can.
There is nothing better than love and there is nothing better than sports. The ability to put faith in something we have no control over is what makes life truly worth living. Giving everything you have, hoping that in the end it will pay off, is the only reason to do anything in this world.
This would have been at 2am but the Suns-Clippers game went on forever as the Suns did not go away and finally pulled it out in double OT. Anyways...ever since my post last night I have been writing down all these one liner's that pop in to my head no matter what time of day. Last night I actually woke up in the middle of the night just to write down a thought that came to me while I was sleeping....Ok that was a lie, I wasn't even asleep in the middle of the night. Here goes:
-I have a spanish test 30 min. after they announce the finalists. If I am chosen as a finalist, I'm painting my entire body the official foxsports blog colors and going to take the test only wearing that. I hope they are prompt with the list, I don't want to rush my paint job.
-It is real easy to become a professional poker player. All you have to do is throw down some loot on a poker site and proclaim yourself a pro. After that though, is when it gets a little harder.
-If I were the Redskins organization I would hire myself. Because I would really want me to work for myself. Umm....yea.
-Matt Cassel hasn't played a meaningful down of football since high school, and compared to most normal human beings, is loaded with cash.
-Baseball is like my comforting friend to get me through the long periods of time I am without my significant other(football.)
-I am not a competitive person. No seriously I'm not. What? Ok...fine...I will do anything it takes to prove that I am not a competitive person.
-There's a good chance I will get married too early in life just so that I don't have to go grocery shopping. I'm not really a big fan of doing anything that has to do with food except for eating it.
-If I am not a finalist, it's no big deal. I will just call my boy Dr. Dre and drop some ill flows for him while smokin' on that Cali Green and put out a triple gold diamond platinum grill for life album.
-BREAKING NEWS: Barry Bonds has 713 career home runs. That is only one behind Babe Ruth. There is also a rumor he may have at one timed used steroids. Stay tuned for more.
-Sam Cassell I'm 89% sure is an alien. He's a former Seminole and I respect that, but he really looks like an alien.
-There was a 3-4 day period in which my blog severely suffered. This is because I was pursuing my professional poker career. While my career was a lot shorter than originally anticipated, I learned a lot.
-This contest is like a cage fight. Then, when someone posts a list on who the best bloggers are, it's like everyone was injected with roids and then thrown back into the ring with bats.
-Hi...my name is Mitch....and I am addicted to blogging. (Everyone together) HIIIIIIIIII MITCH!
-Norcal is like Splinter. He is the savy wise veteran who keeps the rest us of irrational rookie bloggers in line. If it wasn't for him some of us would be going around swinging our knunchucks at any one who tries to take our pizza.
-How the hell do I know how to spell knunchucks. I don't even have any skills.
-Yo Mamma (MTV) is easily the worst show ever on TV. I would go in to detail but I am getting dumber just writing about that show.
-If you like that show, my bad. I would watch it but.........I'm usually to busy sleepin' with....YO MAMMA.
-No for real that show sucks.
-The Redskins may not win the Super Bowl...but damn...they are going to be siiiiiiick on Madden07.
-Could someone please explain why I can click on "desire for boobs" on a sports blogging website. By the way....who doesn't have a desire for boobs.
-Xrooster, I just want to say...I seriously think you may have a legitimate shot at single handedly destroying Kobe's career. I'll pay you five dollars not to.
-Who gets more ladies....Scott Podsednik or Carlos Lee? They both are very good at baseball but.......CHICKS DIG THE LONG BALL.
-Congrats to all of you doing the things you love to do with the people you love to do it with. You hit the jackpot.
The two winningest coaches in the history of college football were elected into the College Hall of Fame today. Bowden and Paterno were elected into the Hall of Fame after the committee changed the rule-book, just to let them in.
The previous rule was that a person must be retired before they can be elected in, but the rule was changed so that any person over the age of 75 can now be selected. This is a great honor for the two coaches and if anyone should have a rule changed because of them, it is definitely these two. Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno are two old school head coaches, determined to finish their career all the way until the end.
Instead of sleeping most nights at 2am like I should be, I am usually lying away with random sports thoughts flying around in my head keeping me awake. So I figured I might as well use the blog:
-After tonight's game Jason Terry could become a star in these playoffs. I'm just glad the Spurs are going to be eliminated. This Pistons-Spurs matchup is getting a little boring.
-How come whenever I bench a player in fantasy baseball he immediately follows it up with a huge night, usually consisting of a home run.
- Barry Bonds should retire when he passes Babe Ruth. But he won't.
-Do the Redskins actually have a chance? There are a lot of haters out there but I think they are pretty damn good. The team I care about the most winning a Super Bowl would probably cause me to do something drastic. Hopefully someone will bail me out of jail the next morning.
-Bobby Bowden is like 117. But he is still the man.
-How impossible is it to become a sportswriter?
-Why do my friends always act like it is breaking/suprising news when they see an athlete with a hot girlfriend/wife? Every woman that athletes are with are hot. Except for Kurt Warner's wife. She has the same haircut as her husband.
-The Sopranos is getting a little rediculous with the #### gangster and biker falling in love or whatever it is. Tony Really from Around the Horn even mentioned the biker's name on today's show, Johnny Cakes. After the #### kissing scene they followed it up with a train going through a tunnel. That is just getting a little dirty.
-I'm glad there are time zones. Because this way, sports are always on until like 1am.
-Good thing I don't live on the west coast, then games would begin and end so early.
-Why do I devote my life to sports when for the most part I have always failed at what I wanted to achieve.
-Andrei Kirilenko's wife says he can sleep with one groupie a year. But I can't figure out why he would want to.
-When Tim Duncan is mad...LOOKOUT...you are going to get one mean eyebrow raise.
-If I had to pick one guy in LA not named Matt Leinart that does the best with the ladies, I would pick Luke Walton. I don't know why, but I am pretty sure that guy is a pimp.
-Chris Kaman is not a pimp...It boggles my mind why people who are losing their hair decide to grow it long. I mean seriously. That doesn't make any sense.
With just one week left until judgment day in my sports blogging world, I am really starting to freak out man. After discovering who's who in the foxsports blog, I realized I am the equivilant of an unrestricted free agent, struggling to make the squad. I considered dying my hair green to stand out in blog tryouts, but I decided that if I'm gonna go out, I'm not goin out with green hair. Instead I compiled five reasons why you gotta pick me:
1) I Need a Girlfriend: I can only imagine the fame and fortune that comes with becoming an NGSII finalist. With all the positive publicity about my natural ability to let the words flow, the girls will probably be attacking me like those guys on the AXE commercials. I will need a stick to get them off of me, but I won't have one, and they will maul me. Luckily for me, I will like it. From that first group of adoring fans, I'm positive I will be able to find a girl who I can pay to date occasionally.
2) I Will Seriously Go Broke: My addiction to online poker will most likely take over my financial aid funds. I spend hours and hours on the computer every day (Like I said I need a girlfriend) and if I am out of the contest, I will convert to online poker. I am not the type of person who should play online poker, or anything that involves gambling of any sort. Most of my problems begin with the confidence I have in myself as a poker player. Although I feel as though I am better than everyone else, really I am not, and so usually I lose. Luckily, I am an extremely competitive (obsessive) person and will continue to put money into my account until I win big. Unluckily, I never win big.
3) It's A Great Excuse: Right now some (my friends and family) might say I am wasting my time writing almost six hours a day about sports, on a blog no one reads, in a contest I won't win...but not if I am a finalist. If somehow my name appears on the list I will feel like Jose Mesa winding up to throw a pitch at Omar Vizquel. Only instead of Vizquel it will be my friends and family. Not only will I have proven everyone wrong, but LOOKOUT, CUZ IT'S GONNA STING
4) To Be Honest, The Grades Were A Little Low: I just finished up my junior year at FSU, and unfortunately I lost focus this semester. I have been in school for a while now, and sometimes, I'm not gonna lie, I am just not amped about school. When the motivation is not there, and the classes begin at 8am, it gets a little tough. Now even though I surivived and will still graduate on time next Spring, I still have to tell the parents. Their are two ways this conversation could go. I could either tell them: A) Grades aren't what you expected loving parents, please don't beat me to hard, even though I obviously deserve it. Or B) Grades aren't what you expected loving parents, but I am a finalist on the Next Great Sportswriter contest on Foxsports.com...NOW WHAT, BEAT ME AGAIN AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. Yea thats what I thought, you will sit back down and only speak when spoken too, and from now on you refer to me as....The Legend.
5) I'll Go Postal On Yo ####: No seriously, if you don't pick me...ohhh man, you don't even know. There will be at least three heated posts CONSECUTIVELY within the hour after the finalists have been announced. Soon after that, the silent treatment. I will give all of you the cold shoulder with a quickness, you won't even know what hit you. Then where you will be? I'll tell you where...looking for answers. Then maybe a few weeks down the road you will get a letter in the mail....with tissues in it to dry your tears because you will still be crying. That's right, if you can't run with the big dogs, stay off the porch.
The days are winding down until the finalists are chosen, and I am going bananas. I may be an under dog, but it's not over until the fat lady sings.
When the Redskins hired Al Saunders this past offseason, Gibbs handed over the offense, and comparisons were made between him and Bobby Bowden.
Bowden has been known for years as a coach who is more of a grandfather figure. He is the wise old man who steps in when necessary, but for the most part he let's his highly acclaimed assistant coaches do the majority of the work. This is due in large part to his age, he is old but doesn't want to retire.
Now at first it may seem like Gibbs is the same as Bowden, a man who only steps in when needed, but it is not the case at all. While he may stand silent on the practice fields for portions of the day, and spend less time coaching one individual side of the ball, he knows everything that is going on at all times. Gibbs runs the team and is in total control of every player and coach on the team. He has the final say in everything that takes place each day.
Bowden may the have the utmost authority, but he does not have the control Gibbs has. Gibbs knows he can spend less time focusing on coaching because he has such great assistant coaches. This allows him to spend his sleepless nights focused on other things, rather than the playcalling. When all is said and done, Joe Gibbs will be the reason this team fails or succeeds. Bowden is the most important influence on the Seminoles, but he is not in total control. Mickey Andrews and Jeff Bowden are in total control of their respective sides of the ball.
So while it may seem as though they are similar in the way they lead their respective teams, in reality they are nothing alike. But that's O.K., because they are both successful in their own way.
While most people are unfamiliar with Charlie Casserly and only know him as the general manager who passed over Reggie Bush, his story of NFL success is a good one, and gives hope to many.
His resignation today, as stated by John Clayton, had nothing to do with drafting Mario Williams. Apparently it was something that had been brewing for a while and all along he had planned to leave after the draft. The guys of NFL live described him as a good "soldier" for the Texans. Now he is looking to obtain a job working for the NFL front office in New York. Not to bad for a guy that started off as an intern working under George Allen of the Redskins.
Although I completely disagree with his choice to draft Williams over Reggie Bush (it could go down as one of the worst draft blunders in history) anyone who can work his way up from intern to general manager of two seperate teams, is someone I look up too. With the dream of cracking into the world of sports any way that I possibly can, I have always thought about Casserly and how he made it.
One day maybe I will be in Charlie Casserly's shoes. Although if I am, I will be sure to draft Reggie Bush.
Of course I don't think Portis is the only back that could reach 2000 yards next. However, compared to the rest of the backs in the NFL his chances are pretty good, and considering he is only 24, he may be one of the very few current backs in the NFL with a chance to approach Emmitt Smith's record of 18,355 career rushing yards.
Before I get carried away with why I feel Portis could approach Emmitt's record, I will address why I feel Portis could be the next running back to reach 2000 yards. The biggest reason for his chance at 2000 are the additions the Redskins have made on offense, starting with new Offensive Coordinator Al Saunders. Last year Larry Johnson amassed 1750 yards in just nine starts, and would have most likely reached 2000 with ease had he started the whole year. Although the Chiefs have a very good offensive line, their offensive success the past few seasons is because of Al Saunders. With even more weapons in Washington than he had in Kansas City, Saunders will be create more through the passing game, allowing for Portis to have more open holes than ever before.
With receiving threats Santana Moss, Chris Cooley, Brandon Lloyd, Antwaan Randle El, and David Patten occupying opposing defensive coordinators thoughts, it will be very hard for teams to put eight or nine in the box and focus on the run game. For the past two seasons Portis has been able to run for a combined 2,831 yards, and that is without many receiving threats to worry other teams. The first year Portis was here the passing game was beyond terrible and everyone knew what the Redskins were going to try and do. Last season two receiving threats emerged and made it a little more difficult for opponents, but next season Portis will have more help than he has ever had in his career. With teams unable to focus on one aspect of the offense, Portis will be able to get more yards on less carries, allowing his body to take less of a beating than it has the past two years. By the end of last season Portis was worn down, physically beaten from the long season, next year Clinton won't be required to carry the whole offense, and will be able to stay fresh for the majority of the season.
With all the talent on the offense, and great coaching, Portis will be able to challenge for 2000 yards and may even reach that goal. Washington Redskins Running Back's Coach, Ernest Byner, has already stated it is Clinton's goal next year to reach 2000 yards. While it may be every running back's goal to reach that mark, he is one of the few backs with a real chance to do it. For Portis to reach this goal, he will have to average 30.25 yards more per game than he did last year, when he ran for 1,516. A very reachable number for a talented running back on a good offense with great coaching.
Now on to an even bolder statement, Portis will challenge Emmitt Smith's record. Before I am called a homer for this one, I would like to say that I have been claiming this since he was a Bronco and ran for 3,099 yards in his first two seasons. Little did I know he would soon be coming to Washington in a blockbuster trade.
I know that this is a very tough record to reach, and Portis will have to be very consistent and even improve, but out of all the running backs in the NFL he has perhaps the best chance to do it. Through his first four seasons in the NFL Clinton Portis has run for a total of 5,930 yards. Through Emmitt Smith's first four years he ran for 5,699 yards. At the end of their fourth seasons, both Portis and Smith were 24 years old. Emmitt's first season is the difference here, as he ran for only 937 yards and Portis ran for 1,508. Portis has a very good team and the opportunity for big time yards should be ther. If he can stay healthy and have a lengthy career, two very big IF's, he will have an opportunity to close in on Emmitt's record and possibly even break it.
Now wouldn't that be ashame, A Redskin taking a record from a Cowboy. I'm not saying either of these predictions will actually come to pass. But what I am saying is this....keep your eye on Clinton Portis and the rest of the Washington Redskins.
While trying to think of a sport that I could compare this with this contest, I realized it would be more difficult than I first imagined. In basketball if you hit a shot at the buzzer the crowd will erupt, or go completely silent, and you know what you have done is great. In football if you catch a game winning touchdown pass, your teammates will pile on top of you and you realize you have done something spectacular. In baseball if you hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of ninth, and trot slowly around the bases, you know the glory that will be waiting for you when you touch home plate. In a sports-writing contest, with little rules, you have know idea what will happen after clicking the "post to blog" icon. You only have yourself, your mind and the confidence in yourself to continue to write blog after blog. All for a hope that the NGS fairies will sprinkle the dust on your blog, and you will be selected as one of the sweet 16.
That is when I realized NGS isn't a sport, it is practice. It is shooting 500 jump shots in a row in the gym until the lights go off, and the shots go in, even when it is pitch black. It is coming to practice early and staying late to watch game film or to fix a weakness. It is running one extra lap around the track just because you feel like you have to. It is giving everything you possibly can, because of a fear that your opponent could be going just a little bit harder.
There is no coach, there is no one chearing you on, it is just you and hard work. When you are alone in the gym, or in the film room, or in the locker room; you only have yourself, your mind and the confidence in yourself to continue to go hard even if you have doubts.
This contest requires a self-confidence that is rivaled by no sport. You don't have teammates, you don't have coaches, you don't even have very much feedback. All you have is hope. Hope that all the practice pays off, and that when it comes time for the coach to annouce the team, that your name is called.
NGS II is writing one more blog before you go to sleep, just because you feel like you have to.
The reason I feel Sean Taylor is the most valuable Redskin and soon to be best player in the NFL comes down to two games: Week 10 at Tampa Bay, and the first round of the playoffs at Tampa Bay. The first game the score was a 36-35 loss. Sean Taylor was injured and did not play. The second game was a 17-10 win. Sean Taylor did play.
In the first game Brunell threw for over 200 yards and two scores, Portis ran for 144 yards and one score, and the Moss/Cooley duo combined for 10 catches and 155 yards. In the second game Brunell threw for 41 yards, Portis ran for 53 yards and the Moss/Cooley duo combined for four catches and 30 yards. Why then, did the Redskins lose the first game and win the second. The answer is simple: Sean Taylor.
In the first game Chris Simms was throwing the ball around like his dad Phil used to. His receivers were getting open at an alarming rate and he torched the Redskins secondary for 279 yards and three touchdowns. Without Taylor in the secondary roaming around and putting fear into every receiver on the field, the passing game was easy for the Buccaneers. In the second game however, Simms struggled to get anything going all day long and despite the poor offensive performance the Redskins were able to win the game. A win that put the Redskins in the second round of the playoffs.
Aside from the fact that Taylor is a ball hawk, recovering fumbles in two straight games for touchdowns, his mere presence on the field changes the way offenses have to game plan. Receivers are scared to cross the middle for fear of becoming the recipient of a mind numbing blow, or even worse, alligator arming a pass because of the thought of Sean Taylor lurking.
For the doubters out there who assume I am just a homer, I could go into detail about the amount of hits he has made in two years, and maybe provide links of some footage. But I'd rather just wait, because maybe the Redskins play your team this year, and if they do....well.....you'll just have to watch and see for yourself.
After this weekend's NFL draft many experts have been claiming the Seminoles should have had a better season last year with so many first round picks. Although they were ACC champs and barely lost in the Orange Bowl to Penn. St. it was still a down year for Florida State. This year, however, will not be a down year for the 'Noles.
While they may have lost many players to the NFL draft this does not phase the Seminoles. The four first round players that were drafted were all defensive players. This bodes well for Florida State because they reload on defense every year. Some players on defense that will continue the outstanding defensive tradition at FSU include Lawrence Timmons, Myron Rolle and Everette Brown. Aside from Myron Rolle many of these names may be unfamiliar, but by season's end, they will be household names. Lawrence Timmons is a player many FSU insiders feel will not only do well in replacing Ernie Sims, but could actually be BETTER THAN ERNIE SIMS IN COLLEGE. Another reason this defense will reload after losing many talented players to the NFL is because Sims and Nicholson still play for Florida St. Not Ernie and A.J., but Marcus, and D.J, their little brothers. These two guys will have big time careers at FSU, just like their older brothers.
Although the Seminoles recruit well on offense every year as well, it is not an area of concern for the 'Noles at this point because they started freshman all throughout the offense last year. Two of the teams most important contributors, were quarterback Drew Weatherford and wide receiver Greg Carr. Both were only freshman last season and will be even more dangerous with a full season of experience under their belt. The offense will be able to handle the loss of wide receiver Willie Reid and running back Leon Washington with ease as their are budding stars at both of these positions for the 'Noles.
The running game will be a two-headed monster of senior Lorenzo Booker and sophomore Antone Smith. For those of you unfamiliar with Smith, he was the top running back in Florida and one of the best in the nation coming out of high school. He shocked everyone by choosing FSU on signing day. Antone Smith is a Reggie Bush type player. This is not a bold statement claiming he will become the next Bush, it just simply means he has similar speed and size of Reggie Bush and also has playmaker ability. At wide receiver there is a whole slew of players who will be able to fill the void left by Willie Reid. Also FSU will have weapons at tight end this year, for the first time in perhaps ever. The Seminoles were able to snag the number one tight end in the nation this past offseason in Brandon Warren, as well as 6'7 Caz Piurowski. Piurowski was also teammates with Drew Weatherford at Land O' Lakes high school in Florida. With so many potent weapons on offense, and a defense that is dominant once again--combined with a schedule in which eight of the 12 games are at home--it could be a return to greatness for the Seminoles once again.
Just when teams think they got the Seminoles knocked out.....they come back to punch you right in the mouth. NOLES.
I live in Tallahassee and attend Florida State University as an English major. I plan to pursue a career as a sportswriter and currently write for the FSU school newspaper. The desire to become a sportswriter, I think comes from my unfulfilled dreams as an athlete. I still have the passion for basketball and wish I was still playing. I try to use that desire for competition in other areas of my life, and the most prominent area is sports knowledge and writing. I am a die hard Noles and Skins fan and expect big things from both teams this season. Fantasy baseball, football, and basketball are my areas of expertise. Mainly because these are the three sports I pay attention to 365 days a year. I can't remember the last time I spent a day in my life where I wasn't focused on sports.
Here I come
Freshman Safety Myron Rolle
