The Dugout – Run It Straight, Bro
NFL Week III
The third week of the 2015 NFL season started with the field in St Louis catching fire and ended with an Aaron Rodgers passing clinic. In between we saw Brandon Weeden put in half a match’s worth of impersonating a proper quarterback before reverting to type when asked to move the ball without a run game. We saw the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers hit rock bottom with massive defeats. We saw a damaging injury to an elite QB and we saw the most unlikely thing of all… a touchdown pass to a KC Chief wide receiver.
Yes, the drought is over, Jeremy Maclin catching a 5 yard pass from Alex Smith with a couple minutes left in the third quarter against Green Bay. That snaps a streak that goes back to week 14 of the 2013 season. 1,350 minutes and 6 seconds of game time.
Anyway, shout out to the New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos. All still unbeaten.
The Pittsburgh Steelers ground out a 12-6 win over the St Louis Rams but it’ll feel like a loss after Ben Roethlisberger was carted off hurt and could miss 4-6 weeks. Meaning Mike Vick takes over. It’s not as bad as the Romo injury for the Cowboys last week, however the Cowboys play in a much easier division. With the Bengals 3-0 and looking flash, this is a problem the Steelers were begging not to have to deal with. That defence of theirs may need to get to work after all. Nice for them that Le’Veon Bell’s back, though he didn’t quite have the impact that Adrian Peterson did for the Vikings. Damn.
The Hayne Refrain III
This week we got both the best and the least of Hayne. We’re a positive bunch though, so enjoy this once more…
37 yards, his biggest punt return in any game of his entire life. In the sport he’s been playing for a year, at least. Getting a good jump on a short punt, Hayne took it back at pace, slipping past a few defenders and shoving one fella into next week as he finally stepped out of bounds at the 12 yards line. Colin Kaepernick then dashed those 12 yards for a 49ers touchdown.
But a quick squizz at the scoreline lets you in on a not-so-subtle secret about how that game went. The punt return was Hayne’s only real involvement. Not his only punt fielded, but the only one he was able to take back and he didn’t get on the field as a running back.
Just as with last week, you can blame the score for that. The Niners were blown out early with Kap throwing pick-sixes on his first two possessions, digging a hole that they never climbed out of. The Arizona Cardinals eventually won 47-7, the TD set up by Hayne their only score. They could hardly move the ball against a Cards defensive unit that’s as good as they’ll face all year and in return they were “embarrassed”, as Vernon Davis put it. Kaepernick threw 4 interceptions in one of his worst ever games. Carlos Hyde rushed 15 time for 51 yards, Davis 7 times for 6 yards. Jarryd Hayne was never gonna get a look in with the team struggling like that.
"Their passing game has simplified so much. It was easy for us to anticipate routes and just get some good breaks on the ball." – Tyrann Mathieu, who had 2 picks.
Not good news for the 49ers, that. When a third year safety is calling you out for being too basic, then you know there’s work to do. Integrating an undrafted Aussie from a different sport isn’t a priority just yet. But the more he can offer with that return game, the more his star will rise.
A Perfect Fit?
Doesn’t that look flash, now.
Training camp is just getting underway for NBA teams, and the New Orleans Pelicans are as competitive as any. Having narrowly snuck into the playoffs last year for the first time since 2010-11 (when they were the Hornets and Chris Paul still played for them), they were then swept by the eventual champion Golden State Warriors. But with Anthony Davis only beginning his rise to the summit and a number of young players around him, you can definitely make the case that last season was the beginning of a new era for this team.
Despite that promise, the team sacked coach Monty Williams after the season and hired GSW assistant Alvin Gentry to replace him. This is a franchise that is very aware of how good it can become around The Brow.
To look at what Corey Webster needs to do to impress, it’s best to look at where this team lagged last year and what Gentry is looking to bring to the Pellies. Coming from Golden State (and Phoenix before that), you know he’s gonna want to have this team playing at a quicker pace. Which benefits Davis too because it means less posting and more coming off picks and stepping outside the key. For a guy with a meteorically improving jump shot, that’s a weapon. As well as that, Gentry has already said that defence is their main priority. Even with their record last campaign they still gave up too many shots too close to the basket and conceded the ninth most points per 100 possessions (104.7).
Entering the camp they have 13 roster spots set and that means that Webster is in competition with Jeff Adrien and Chris Douglas-Roberts (a couple of veterans), Bryce Dejean-Jones (undrafted rookie guard) and Sean Kilpatrick (another undrafted guard who spent time with the T-Wolves last year) all for a single spot on the team.
The thing with Webster is that we simply don’t know how well his game will translate to the highest level. We do know that he must be impressing them though because he’s still there. As a player who held his own against Patty Mills the other month, that 3&D type role is his best bet and it just so happens that that’s likely what they’re looking for. Adrien and CDR are a little different, both usually forwards though CDR can play a bit of SG, while the other two undrafted lads are more in the Webster mould. It’s a long shot that he makes it from here but he’s in the mix and if he does get the gig, then he’ll have got it on merit through his work.
''They're all good players and have had success, especially Jeff and CDR in the NBA. Corey really has been a good player internationally.'' - Pelicans general manager Dell Demps.
Here’s the GM on Corey specifically:
Salutations From Funaki
Meanwhile Steve Adams rocked his way through OKC’s media day with his usual chill and aplomb. Going for the John Snow look, it seems. He actually promised a mullet (“mew-lay”) this year (after 2014’s Magnum PI impression) but backtracked on that idea. He said: "That would have looked gross".
Here’s a bit more from NZ’s premier hooper:
Give Peace a Chance
Get A Perm!
Dirk Nation
One Last Push…
We’re now into the final week of the Major League Baseball regular season. Which means that most things have been sorted by now (it’s a long season) but there are still a few casualties to come yet.
The Blue Jays are a day or two from clinching the AL East over the Yankees, while the Royals have long since booked their division. The Rangers have a slim lead over the Astros, who in turn are being chased down by the Angels and one of those teams’ll take a spot while the other two are battling for the last wildcard spot (the Yankees will get the first).
Over in the National League, the New York Mets are going to the postseason for the first time since 2006 and the Dodgers will join them probably tomorrow. It’s the NL Central where things are tricky. The Cardinals should take the title, leaving the Pirates and Cubs to play the wildcard playoff but you never quite know. The Pirates were on a massive roll until a couple of losses to those Cardinals that should probably seal it. Three runs in the top of the ninth giving STL a priceless 3-0 win most recently.
Nobody really wants to play that wildcard game, it’s such a lottery. Though the Royals used it in 2014 to launch themselves all the way to the AL title and a World Series appearance. The Blue Jays are the team that looks best set to take the AL this time, their mix of power and starting pitching making them pretty frightening. Josh Donaldson has had a blistering second half to the season, which may well win him the MVP over All Star Break favourite Mike Trout. After joining the Blue Jays in a blockbuster trade off-season, Donaldson currently has 122 RBI, 41 homers, 40 doubles and a batting average just a shade under .300. Dude’s been immense.
You can’t count out the Royals again either, though there’s been bad news for them. Closer Greg Holland is out for the season with a torn ligament in his elbow. Holland was the star of a devastatingly good bullpen last playoffs, though his ERA in 2015 has soared to 3.83 (1.12 in 2013 & 1.44 in 2014) while his fastball has slowed around 3mph to hover around 90. Reason to be a bit worried for the last month, though that we’ve found he was doing that with a ‘significant’ torn ligament, it suddenly seems pretty bloody impressive, actually. Tommy John surgery is likely. Luckily for the Royals, they have about 50 people lining up to close for them, Wade Davis has spent time closing in Holland’s absence already this season.
Harprick vs Papelbastard
As if the Nationals collapse this season wasn’t bad enough, they’re now fighting amongst themselves too. Check out Jonathan Papelbon going for the throat of probable-MVP Bryce Harper here, after the pair clashed as JP accused Harps of not running the bases hard enough.
It’s actually something that Harper’s been accused of before. He was taken out of a game in 2014 for that reason. Plus there was already some blood between the pair. The other day, Papelbon didn’t like the way that Orioles’ 3B Manny Machado admired a home run as he rounded the bases, so, thinking he’d back his new teammates (Papelbon was traded to the Nats from the Phillies mid-season), he popped Machado with a high fastball when he came to the plate. Bryce Harper, as a hitter himself, didn’t like the idea of getting hit for homering.
"I mean, Manny freaking hit a homer. Walked it off, and somebody drilled him. I mean, it's pretty tired. It's one of those situations where it happens, and, I don't know, I'll probably get drilled tomorrow." – BH
Papelbon’s got a reputation as an old school jockish bully and a general asshole. But Harper, as talented as he is, has been a prodigy since his teens and it’s fair to say he has a bit of an ego himself. Though it was Paps who came off worse in most places, at least Harper’s fun to be around. It’s no coincidence that the incident happened in the first game after the Nats were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
Both players are under contract for next season, but they seem pretty keen to get past the drama. No problem for Harps yet Paps will have to wait for next season. He picked up a 3 game MLB ban for blasting Machado to go with the 4 game team ban for the fight. There are 7 games left in the season, do the math.
RIP Yogi Berra
The Legendary Yankee catcher and manager died this week aged 90. To honour the great man, here are some of the best things he ever uttered. We’ll miss ya, Yogi. (Btw, Cartoon character Yogi Bear, if you were wondering, was rumoured to be named after him).
- “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
- “You can observe a lot by just watching.”
- “It ain't over till it's over”
- “It's like déjà vu all over again.”
- “No one goes there nowadays, it’s too crowded.”
- “Baseball is ninety percent mental and the other half is physical.”
- “A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore.”
- “Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't come to yours.”
- “We made too many wrong mistakes.”
- “Congratulations. I knew the record would stand until it was broken.”
- “If you don't know where you are going, you'll end up someplace else.”
- “In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But in practice, there is.”
- “I never said most of the things I said.”
NFL Week 3 Power Rankings:
- Green Bay Packers (Last week = 2)
- New England Patriots (1)
- Cincinnati Bengals (5)
- Arizona Cardinals (NA)
- Buffalo Bills (NA)
- Atlanta Falcons (6)
- Denver Broncos (3)
- Carolina Panthers (NA)
- Minnesota Vikings (NA)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (7)
Quote of the Week:
Hands up who wishes they were Steph Curry.
Good Week:
Dallas Keuchel (Houston Astros) – If you wanna get a jump start on the AL Cy Young award, maybe start printing Keuchel’s name on the plaque now. He’s been wonderful all season, tossing 226 innings so far with 213 Ks to 49 BB and a 19-8 record. But it’s at home where he’s been absolutely lights out. 15-0 & a 1.46 ERA. He just polished that off with a 1-run, 2-hit win over the Texas Rangers.
Devonta Freeman (Atlanta Falcons) – 30 carries, 141 yards and 3 TDs. Plus another 52 yards receiving. Tell ya what, it may have come against a Cowboys team that couldn’t move the ball at all in that second half, meaning their defence had to stretch to make any play they could, but if the Falcons can forge a run game then this is a deep threat of a team. Defence looked tougher too, albeit against Brandon Weeden. Julio Jones (12 rec, 164 yds, 2 TD) had a day too, probably a large part of why Freeman got going.
A.J. Green (Cincinnati Bengals) – Green, for those who don’t watch the Bengals enough, is every bit on par with the likes of Julio Jones, Dez Bryant and Antonio Brown in that top tier of wide receivers. With the game on the line against the Ravens, he split long for an 80 yard reception, shrugging off defenders on his way to the endzone. They lost the lead again… and Green then scored again. He’d finish with 2 TDs, 10 catches and a career-high 227 yards.
Bad Week:
Anthony Bennett (Ex-Minnesota Timberwolves) – Getting traded away from the team that drafted you first overall after one season is bad. Getting waived by the team that traded for you one season later is worse. The fall from grace has been heavy for Bennett, but he’s now signing with the Toronto Raptors, moving back home to Canada, so hopefully we finally see a bit of that potential shine through. He’s a player begging for the right fit.
Mr & Mrs McCown – It must have been a proud day for the McCowns, son Josh starting for the Browns, son Luke starting for the Saints. Bit of a problem that they started at the same time, though. Bit more of a problem that both lads threw game clinching interceptions as well.
Chicago Bears Fans – Isn’t this the saddest thing?
Player of the Week:
Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) – You really run out of great things to say about this man, maybe the stats will do him better. 24-35 passing for 333 yards and 5 touchdowns. Not a single interception, but that’s hardly a shock. It’s been 1,030 days, 580 passes and 51 TDs since he last threw one of those at Lambeau Field. He’s now just the secod player with 10+ TD passes and 0 INTs in the first three games an NFL season… the last was Peyton Manning in 2013 on the way to League MVP.