It's not November, yet here we are

Is the Holy War really upon us?

Hard to believe, but Utah and BYU, participants in the most underrated rivalry in college football, will do battle this Saturday, September 17. Instead of a chance of cold, blustery weather, there is an almost guarantee of perfect weather. Instead of Thanksgiving being around the corner or just concluded, Labor Day was two weeks ago and school is only three-four weeks into the semester. Instead of both teams having 11 games under their belts, both squads are still trying to establish and offensive identity. The additional prize of conference/bowl implications has been replaced by nothing. Both sides are playing for pride only.

It is harder than usual to make any predictions about how the game will go.

- I would like to say the BYU has the clear advantage in quarterback play, but I can't. While Heaps is a better QB overall than Jordan Wynn, his play thus far is not enough for me to declare him an x-factor in this Saturday's game. The BYU offense has struggled in both of its games thus far. The second half struggles Heaps experienced in the Texas game was unnerving simply because BYU had had offensive success in the first half. Did Texas figure BYU out? Was Heaps rattled by the pressure and the crowd? In this upcoming game, if I was forced to choose I would much rather have Heaps under center than Wynn.

- A lot of fans have pointed the finger at Brandon Doman's play-calling decisions, rather than Heaps, for the lack of offensive production in the second half. I won't defend either side of the argument, but I will say that both Heaps and Doman are relatively young and inexperienced. This is Doman's first year as an offensive coordinator and there were bound to be some lumps along the way. Perhaps too much was expected right away? This is one situation that Utah can take advantage of. Utah's defense is a product of Kyle Whittingham's  mind and wealth of experience. A few defensive wrinkles here or there could tip the scales in Utah's favor.

- Both defenses are highly skilled and well-coached. BYU proved it on the road in SEC and Big XII country. Utah's defense was good in their first game against Montana St, but was really put to the test against USC and third year starter Matt Barkley. They held and were able to pressure Barkley a few times. The defense kept Utah in that game and gave them a chance to win. At this point, it's a push as far as who possesses the better defense. Both defenses will make it hard on the opposing offense to move the ball.

- Utah has an edge in the running game. John White IV made some tough runs against USC. He was not able to gain much yardage and only averaged 2.8 yards per carry, but there is little doubt who is Utah's stud running back. For BYU, both DiLuigi and Quezada are good weapons who have the ability to burn most defenses. Unfortunately, neither has shown the ability to bust or fight through that tackle and get those extra 2 yards. Essentially, neither of them is Harvey Unga. At this point, Utah seems to be in a better position to establish the run game. That being said, both if Quezada gets his timing back and if DiLuigi can get into space, this could change the whole game.

This link is my prediction for the rivalry game.

How the MWC could have saved College Football

What follows is un-researched but seems plausible in my mind.

How could have the MWC saved college football? Expansion. Boise St. has clearly built a following. It is no where near as impressive as their fans think it is, but the arrival of Boise St. has been fast and exciting. Beating Oklahoma in the BCS. Beating TCU in the BCS. Winning bunches of games and scoring bunches of points. Boise St. got coverage and became a media darling at ESPN. Friday night became Boise St. night on the mother-ship. The MWC should have extended an invite to Boise St. four years ago. Why not? The knock on Boise has always been the lack of competition in the WAC. It seems to me that Boise would have been thrilled to take a step up from the WAC to the MWC and play against teams like BYU, Utah, and TCU annually.

I argue that a conference composed of Utah, BYU, TCU, Boise St., and Air Force would be enough to block the movement toward super-conferences. Simply put, a conference with those five at the top would have to be reckoned with. You couldn't ignore them. You couldn't paint the picture of a "weak" conference. This conference would make a strong case for a place at the table of big-time college football. 

(Now, the argument against this move is that with adding Boise the competition improves. Therefore, the road to an undefeated record becomes that more difficult. The top-tier of the  MWC would beat up on each other and not one of them would make it to the BCS. This is a valid argument and lack of participation in the BCS would hurt the anti-BCS movement.)

The biggest assumption here is whether this conference would be strong enough to keep itself from imploding. Had the MWC added Boise 4 years ago and somehow been able to renegotiate a TV contract that rewarded the members who invested in their football programs, it may have been enough for the conference to stay intact. This renegotiation would have to happen, there is no way that TCU, Utah, or BYU would have stuck around with the current TV contract.

The didn't stick around. After Utah left, it became a question of when BYU would follow, not if. TCU to the Big East really wasn't a surprise. With the conference in flux and nothing positive on the horizon, the MWC became the WAC 2.0.


Here is a good breakdown of the current MWC TV contract as provided by the Idaho Statesman. Essentially it was a 10 year deal that began in 2006 worth $120 million over the length of the contract. As of 2010, the mtn TV network was available in 8 million homes, or around 8% of the footprint of ESPN and ESPN2.

Also in the contract was a provision that made it very difficult, nigh impossible, for local TV stations to broadcast games. This difficulty also applied to the rebroadcasting of games (in the case of byutv).

If it is not clear by now, it is my opinion that this TV contract led to the mass exodus of the MWC top-tier in 2010. First, with Utah accepting an invite to the PAC-12. Second, with BYU declaring independence. And finally, TCU agreeing to go and win the Big East every year beginning in 2012. If you believe that "exposure" (my least favorite buzzword in college football) is necessary for success, it is remarkable how well TCU, Utah, and BYU have performed since 2006. In TCU and Utah's case, it was participation in BCS bowl games. For all three, it was annual top 25 rankings. There was no lack of ability in the MWC.

The main problem with the MWC since 2006 has been leadership. With TCU and Utah playing in BCS bowl games, the MWC became the de facto representative of the non-BCS schools and of the anti-BCS cause. The 2008, 2009, 2010 seasons all finished with a team from the MWC in a BCS bowl game. The anti-BCS movement was strong, and the MWC should have capitalized.

Perhaps the most pathetic aspect of this transformational shift in the composition of the MWC in 2010, and that which encapsulates the lacking leadership in the MWC, was the hesitancy the MWC showed in extending an invitation to Boise St. to join. At one point, Craig Thompson said there were no plans to expand. Eventually the invitation was extended to Boise, but the only positive to come out of this debacle for the MWC was that they weren't as in as dire a situation as the WAC was. In fact, it was sucking the WAC dry that saved the MWC.

Though I cannot say exactly how, my argument is simply that a conference with Utah, TCU, BYU, Boise St. and Air Force may have been enough to stop the move toward super-conferences. Unfortunately, the leadership of the MWC was not proactive and in some cases not even reactive to the changing landscape of college football. Really, as leader of the anti-BCS movement, the MWC had nothing to lose by proactively trying to carve out their place in college football. Instead, the MWC just let the house come crumbling down around them and then rebuild with the likes of Boise St, Fresno St. and Nevada. Though formidable, not exactly TCU, Utah, and BYU.

The End of the NCAA?

Since the beginning of the BCS, college football has undergone a seismic shift. More lucrative tv deals, a host of new technologies, and round-the-clock coverage have all contributed to this shift. I would not argue that college football before the BCS-era was "pure" by any means, but the shift of this era seems to be particularly large. If college football moves to super-conferences, 4 each with 16 members, it will change the game as we know it.

Now, we cannot know specifics, but besides actually talking about the game itself, speculation has become a favorite of fans. I will now do as the rest of the nation is doing and speculate. In this case about what changes super-conferences would bring. Most telling to me would be the end of the NCAA.

Better said, the marginalization of the NCAA. With four super-conferences looking to expand their brand, why subject yourself to regulation from a largely ineffective body? Why follow the restrictions of the NCAA when you could build your program unfettered from oversight? Why not just pay the players? So many questions which lead to one outcome: the NCAA having no authority over the four super-conferences.

The results of this could be scary if you like to think that your team has a chance at the beginning of the year to contend for a conference title. Even though as currently constituted the NCAA is a paper tiger with limited power to enforce its rules, it at least causes programs to have a desire to avoid scandal. An offending program needs to cover its tracks or it could end up like Ohio State, USC, or Miami. Moving to a four-conference system with no NCAA would allow the conferences to set their own rules. Naturally, these rules would benefit the haves over the have-nots. The gap between the leviathan programs who spend gaudy amounts of money and the programs trying to get ahead by, gasp, winning would widen. Big-time schools with the resources to run their corporations/football-programs would have the ability to throw their weight around even more. I assume that there is a limit to the size that any given program can grow, but as of today I do not think any program has reached that capacity.

The end of the NCAA would signal the end of amateurism. Or at least the guise of amateurism that college sports operate under. At the end of the day, all most athletic departments care about is the money. Indeed, some more than others are focused on the "student-athlete" and the formation of these students into responsible adults. Unfortunately, these programs are the exception. With four super-conferences, there would be no need to operate with this facade of amateurism and a focus on academics. Football programs would become money making enterprises for the universities. The programs would bring notoriety and millions in tv money to the school. Athletic directors within the super-conferences would be crazy not to try and build-up their school's football team.

In effect, the four-conferences would become the only organization to come along that could compete with the NFL. The USFL failed. The XFL was a joke. The UFL only kind of exists. The four super-conferences though, now they could give the NFL a run for their money. With the NCAA out of the way, why not put some games on Sunday in order to get more games into prime-time?

At the risk of being alarmist, I will stop there. I do not feel like these are unwarranted claims. No NCAA would free up a lot of schools to flex their muscles. The creation of four super-conferences and essentially a division outside of the FBS and FCS could be the step that moves down that path.

Larry Scott, what have you started?

The final word on Wynn

Jordan Wynn. How long will his body last? Twelve games? Eight games? Six games? One game? One quarter?

Much has been made about Jordan Wynn’s injury situation – some of the criticism warranted, some of it the result of paranoid fans and run-of-the-mill rivalry smack. Indeed, as the doldrums of fall camp drags on, it is a simple fact that there is not much to talk about. Naturally, the injury-proneness of a team’s most recognizable and important player is likely to get a lot of the run.

Here’s where I come out on Wynn. First, like anyone, he deserves a chance to prove it on the field. Now, why should a junior be allotted time to “prove himself?” Simply put, like the University, the other sports, and the other players on the football team, Jordan Wynn is entering what is very much a new beginning – the PAC-12. That being said, like any season it is fraught with unknowns. This much we can be sure of though: the competition in the PAC-12 will be tougher. Utah has established itself as a finely run football program that has produced a number of NFL players. Moving into a new and tougher conference, they get a bigger stage upon which to prove themselves. Now, as viewers we get to see if they, and their QB, will rise to the occasion.

Second, Norm Chow. I will only waste one line talking about Coach Chow’s past successes in Detmer, Leinart and Palmer. Chow has a history of tutoring quarterbacks. He brings a resume that cannot be matched by any other coach on Utah’s staff. He has had the benefit of coaching all across the country. Though Brian Johnson is the QB coach on Utah’s staff, with the implementation of a new offensive philosophy, the QBs and Johnson have likely spent a lot of time learning from Chow. Chow’s confidence in Wynn has been documented. Jordan Wynn has benefitted from Norm Chow and will have the opportunity to translate that to the field this season.

Third, the new offensive system. The spread offense, to function correctly at its most basic level, asks a lot of the QB legs. QB needs to be able to run a little bit. Alex Smith was an ace at this aspect. Norm Chow’s offense does not incorporate that aspect as much. Since the QB will be under center more, the opportunities to run will decrease. Jordan Wynn is not a running quarterback, he should benefit from this shift in philosophy. (It seemed at times that the spread offense accentuated his weaknesses)

I will never understand the apparent contradiction the coaches have put out there regarding Wynn. They have said that he is more comfortable in the pro-style, under-center type of offense that Utah is going to implement. It is a return to his roots. Yet, when Wynn was recruited Utah was clearly a team that was comfortable running the spread offense. Chow and his offensive sets were not even on the periphery at the time of Wynn’s recruiting. Therefore, if Wynn was not a prototype spread QB, why was he recruited? I can speculate but that’s it. Hopefully, this shift in offensive style will play to Jordan Wynn’s strengths. 

If nothing else, his hair will lead Utah to unspeakable glory 

Jimmer Fredette: NBA bust? Probably not.

I feel like criticism of Jimmer is akin to criticism of Kevin Love's double-double streak. For Love, people were saying that because he was playing on the perennial cellar-dwelling T-wolves, his streak was made possible. This criticism was, of course ridiculous. His streak was impressive and frankly if it was that easy, why hadn't anyone else done it? Innumerable amounts of lottery picks have passed through Minnesota having achieved much much less.

Jimmer. If he has so many flaws, and if any flawed player with marginal skills could do the same in his situation, why haven't they done it? Anyone can be a volume shooter. Not everyone can make that volume shots with the rate Fredette did. 52 points in a game doesn't just happen. All those 40+ point games against MWC competition is good. I don't care who you are. Byu has gone through a lot this year, especially in the front court--losing Collinsworth early and Davies late. This only focused the attention on Jimmer more, yet he only got better. Every team knew what byu and jimmer were going to do, and no one could stop them. Jimmer took down Jimmer in the end. His shot carried them and destroyed them. It was poetic.

No one really expects that Jimmer will be a star. But is there any doubt that he will work hard? He has come a long way from his freshman year. A huge change in those years. Why the hell couldn't this work ethic transfer to the NBA? He can figure out a way a to score and make a contribution in the NBA. How many "insanely athletic, jump out of the gym, long and athletic, etc"  players get to the NBA and flame out. For me, Jimmer is just too hard of a worker with a strong determination and a sweet shot to not find success in the NBA.

Think about it. Think of the name CJ Miles. Cj Miles. The only thing that Jimmer doesn't have that CJ has is a 5-6 inches. Which, admittedly, is a huge deal the NBA. That length isn't everything. But above the shoulders, Jimmer takes the cake. I just can't envision a career for Jimmer that does not at least match or exceed CJ Miles' production. Also, I don't think it will take Jimmer as long as it has taken Miles to get a sense for what is going on.

Will the Jazz ever win again?

This is the second time I have used this title for a post. The Jazz have yet to win during the Tyrone Corbin era.

I wanted to give myself some time to digest the Jerry Sloan resignation before putting my thoughts into the Sport Continuum. Verily, on Wednesday morning, yesterday, I felt ready to post my thoughts. Around 9:30 AM that all changed when I received an alert from ESPN that Deron Williams was to be traded to the New Jersey Nets. This, of course, came as a shock and sent the ever-stable Jazz franchise to the uncharted waters of instability.

So, what now Jazz fans?

Derrick Favors and Devin Harris plus draft picks and cash for Deron Williams. Good trade? For me, an answer cannot be given to this question without a host of 'ifs'. IF Deron Williams was going to leave after next year rather than extend with the Jazz, then Jazz management made a good move in that what they received in return was of high value. IF Deron was going to walk AND there is going to be a owner-imposed lockout (possibly losing a whole season), the Jazz front office made a very good move that would ensure that when a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) was instilled, the franchise would not have to essentially start from scratch. IF in the new CBA a so-called "franchise-tag" was included, giving the Jazz the ability to keep Deron, regardless of his contract expiring, then the move can be questioned. Then again, IF Deron was bent on leaving the Jazz, a franchise tag being placed on him may turn into a negative as he uses every method at his disposal to force a trade. I personally do not think Deron is that type of player and would, regardless of his happiness with staying in Utah, play hard. IF Deron would have signed a contract extension with the Jazz after next season (or even this season), then the trade was the worst move in franchise history.

Greg Miller, CEO of the Utah Jazz, explained that he had a "gut feeling" that Deron was not going to re-sign. Now, I do not believe that the move was made solely on a feeling but in concert with solid evidence. Deron has been noticeably more frustrated this season. His body language on and off the court has indicated as much. Also, the very fact that Deron's name would come up over the all-star break in connection with the Knicks and the 2012 season is not a good thing, regardless of even the smallest speck of veracity. The general instability of the Jazz this season. Deron's discontent with the process of inculcating the new guys. His lamenting of the inability of the Jazz to attract big name free agents. The current fad of all of the 2008 olympians trying to re-create the happy days in Beijing. Finally, and probably most importantly, Deron not giving a commitment or indication that he would re-sign with the Jazz. All of these things add up and the writing on the wall seems to be that after the next year Deron Williams would look to take his services elsewhere.

Personally, I have had the feeling that Deron would not extend. Therefore, I support the trade. The Jazz extracted as much value as they could from their star player. Essentially, they avoided the route taken by Cleveland and Toronto that leads to a dead end and then a pit.

To my knowledge, no one has any clue what the new CBA will look like. The Jazz could not afford to just hope that after the dust clears from the CBA talks, they would be able to retain their superstar. That would be a foolish business decision.

All things constant, the Jazz will probably never be able to attract big-time free agents. Their best work has been done in the draft and getting to most out of their players. Carlos Boozer, Williams, Andrei Kirilenko and even Mehmet Okur all became all-stars in Utah. Paul Millsap, a second-round pick, has become a solid player. The Jazz have done well for the most part. (Of course, the constant through all of that was hall of famer Jerry Sloan.) In Favors as well as the first round picks they received in the trade, the Jazz have a chance to do some reloading of talent.

The Jazz have put themselves in a position that is a break from 25+ years of Utah Jazz protocol. At this point there is no way to determine if the boat will rock in their favor or to their detriment. For a franchise that has largely depended on its stability for success, they have put themselves in a very unstable position.

However, at least they aren't Cleveland or Toronto.

I like to refuel with chocolate milk

The Return.

Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer, and lightning rod Carlos Boozer left their former digs with a win tonight. These three all left the roost last year at some point. They sold their house but left the Foosball table behind just to sweeten the deal for the incoming tenants. The new tenants moved in right away and began getting used to the well-oiled Foosball table. Well, with Spring just around the corner, the former tenants decided to pay a visit. It was as if they never left.

Korver and Brewer made big plays late. Boozer largely got owned by his former understudy Paul Millsap. The game turned out to be a defensive struggle with neither team shooting over 50%.

The key to the victory for Chicago? Derrick Rose. For the second home game in a row, Deron Williams was outplayed by one of his point guard peers (Russell Westbrook had 30+ points and 10+ assists last Saturday in the Thunder's victory over the Jazz). The title for best point guard in the league has to be one of the tightest races in the league right now. It doesn't take one long to rattle off the names of those deserving candidates from both conferences. Two games against two of the NBA's best at the point guard position is hardly a justifiable sample size, but the relative ease with which Rose and Westbrook have dominated their respective matchups with Williams is at least a little unsettling for Jazz fans.

The Jazz needed this victory, badly. Defeating old teammates/friends could bring much needed confidence as well as an emotional lift. More frankly, the Jazz win column has been a little more barren these past few weeks. The upcoming all-star break indicates the beginning of the home stretch of the NBA season. The much-coveted prospect of home-court advantage for at least one round of the playoffs is slipping away from the Jazz. The home stretch is not the ideal place to "figure things out." The road will not get any easier for the Jazz.

Cheer for the Cavs

December 18, 2010. That night was the last time the Cavaliers won a game.

By losing to the Grizzlies tonight, the Cleveland Cavaliers have matched the all-time record for games lost consecutively. 23 games to be exact. Had it not been for that OT win over the Knicks on December 18, the losing streak would be at 34. Unbelievable.

There are a few issues at play here. The elephant in the room is he-who-shall-not-be-named if you live in Cleveland, and LeBron James if you live anywhere else. His departure was last summer ground-shifting. He has been widely criticized and Cleveland took the break-up hard. After losing arguably the best player in the NBA, everyone knew that the Cavs would take a hit, but no one could have seen this coming. This is historic. Better said, it is tragic.

Bryon Scott. I have never been sold on his ability to coach. Granted, he had some success with the Nets and the Hornets. Although what I remember most from those respective tenures is the manner in which he left. In both cases neither teams were able to sustain or build upon their pinnacles of success under Scott. There was no consistency or groundwork laid. The bitterness that LeBron had left only worked for 20 games. The night King James condescended on Cleveland earlier this season was the end for this Cavs team. Since that humiliating night, the Cavs have one win. Scott has been unable to inspire his guys to do anything for him. Maybe LeBron's return and massacre of Cleveland was just that bad that the Cavs' players gave up. James was taunting them the whole game and essentially set the Cavs back to the Shawn Kemp era. He got the last laugh by a long shot. Again, it is all rather tragic.

Can the burning heap that is the Cleveland Cavaliers dignity be salvaged? It will take time, but it will happen. Those fans were treated to some mighty fine basketball for seven years. Once tasted it becomes a much sought after morsel. It is up to management to get it done though. Judging by this year's collapse, management has done a poor job of putting together a team. Understandably, losing LeBron was huge, but you would think that there would be enough players used to winning on the roster that they would not allow the team to become what it has.

Cheer for the Cavs. They got jobbed by LeBron. They need a win more than anyone in the league right now. Don't feel sorry for management, they blew it. Don't feel sorry for the players, they should know better and have more pride than to become the pathetic team they are. Feel sorry for the fans. Sure, Cleveland fans may be the same fans who threw bottles are NFL referees a few years back, but I don't feel any franchise or fanbase deserves the consequences they have felt in the "taking my talents to south beach" fallout.

Go Cavs.

Will the Jazz ever win again?

I was chatting with one of my New York City contacts about the current state of the NBS recently. He commented that the buzz around the Big Apple about the resurgent Knicks is palpable. A rebirth of competitiveness that has not been felt in years. Even though I am a Rocky Mountain/West Coast guy, I can appreciate the Knicks becoming relevant again after a decade of dormancy. There is just something about the Knicks being good that feels right.

Our conversation moved west. Specifically, the Jazz. As you know, the overachieving Jazz have hit a snag in their do-it-as-you-go reloading process. After 30 games, the ship as steady and that Jazz had achieved a 21-9 record. During the next 20 games, a storm hit and the fallout thus far has been disastrous. An 8-12 record during those 20 games put the Jazz at 29-21, still respectable but far off the pace of the first 30 games. A six-game losing streak which included losses to the dregs of the Eastern Conference was the low point.

So, what happened?

The Jazz starters at the power-forward and center position, Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson respectively, have experienced a drop-off in production. Better said, a drop-off in effectiveness. This season is Millsap's first as a full-time starter and these new night-in and night-out duties seem to have begun wearing on him. Starting in the NBA against the world's best obviously takes a toll on the body and Millsap seems to have lost a bit of aggressiveness. For example, in the win against Minnesota that broke the losing streak, Millsap had 30 points. Of these 30 points, only 2 came at the free throw line. Millsap only shot two free throws that game, a stat which indicates that he was not taking it to the hole or getting position down low in order to draw the foul. His jump-shot was on, but is that something that can be relied on every night? For Jefferson, the problems go much deeper. 50 games in, and it does not appear that Big Al has discovered his role or found his niche on this Jazz team. His defense has been lackluster at best. In sum, it sufficeth to say that Big Al's production is down.

How can it be fixed? What is the solution?

I believe that the Millsap and Jefferson issues can be addressed and corrected. Indeed, the solution entails others on the team stepping up, most notably Andrei Kirilenko (look for an ode to AK coming soon to this blog). More production from other places will lighten the burdens of Millsap and Jefferson. Also, the upcoming all-star break and the rest for the injured associated therewith will be a boon for this team. There still are nights of frustration for this team on the horizon, but the proven track record of Sloan and his staff lead me to believe that the ship will be steadied and winning more than losing will be the theme for the rest of the season.

Will the Jazz ever win again? Yes.

Beautiful Playoffs

I just won the Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs over the San Francisco 49ers on the Nintendo game Tecmo Super Bowl. I got off to a great start in the first quarter and was able to respond to each effort by the 49ers to make a comeback. Great game capping a great season.

The Chiefs got into the Super Bowl with some week 17 magic. A win over the Raiders that week put them at 8-8, good enough for a tie with the Raiders. Luckily, the Chiefs held the tie-breaker and won the AFC West. An improbable run through the playoffs which included handling Peyton Manning and the Colts ensued. That, along with the aforementioned victory over the 49ers, and the team that could barely squeak out a .500 winning percentage in the regular season was your Super Bowl champion.

Was this Chiefs Tecmo Super Bowl squad the worst championship team ever?

The Packers v. Bears game this Sunday pits a team with a premier QB, arguably the NFL's best wide receivers, as well as a solid defense fueled by front-runner for Defensive POY at linebacker versus a team with an inconsistent QB, average skill players, and a solid defense fueled by a great, but aging linebacker. The sentiment shared by many is that the Packers are just playing too well to lose this game and are the favorite to represent the NFC in the upcoming Super Bowl. I personally think that Green Bay is in for a dogfight. An early loss to the Bears as well as the more recent week 17, 10-3 victory over the Bears, who, that latter game had nothing to play for an rested many of their starters, are not facts that scream an easy Packers victory. Other aspects working in Chicago's favor is that Green Bay was not spectacular on the road this season and the sloppy playing surface at Solider Field which may slow down the Packers' receivers. I still am going to pick the Packers in this game but have no expectation that the game will approach anything like unto the blowout in Atlanta last week.

So, what if Chicago wins, are they the worst Super Bowl team ever?

In all actuality, a Chicago win may not even implicate them as the worst Bears team to play in the Super Bowl. The 2006 squad led by Rex Grossman may even be worse than this years. I digress. Regardless, the 2010 Bears would be an underwhelming Super Bowl participant. They lean heavily on their defense and special teams to win games, and just hope their offense will not cough up the ball. Shaky, inconsistent quarterback play, average wide-receivers, an offensive line that has struggled at times to protect Jay Cutler. These are attributes not normally associated with potential Super Bowl teams. Nevertheless, I do not think you can neglect giving Chicago credit for getting where they are, even if it included a win over the only NFL team in history to get into the playoffs with a losing record. They worked within the same system as every other NFL team.

Let us pause for a moment and talk about the playoffs.

This is what you get when you use a playoff system--unpredictable results. Would I rank the Chicago Bears in the top 4 of NFL teams this year? Not even close. If given a vote, my top four would look something like New England, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore. There is not voting in the NFL. Like the Seahawks exhibited so excellently this year, you don't have to win a lot of games, you just have to win enough. There was no computer ranking system that was combined with voter-built polls to determine which two teams would play for the championship and which teams would get the consolation prize. New England v. Atlanta in the Super Bowl Championship Series Championship game presented by Ford Motor Company. Pittsburgh and Baltimore, #3 and #4 respectively, would play in the Heinz Ketchup Bowl. Green Bay would be pitted against New Orleans for the (insert sponsor) Bowl. Can you imagine this happening? Of course not. The idea would be ridiculous beyond all measure. Yet, every year it happens in College Football.

I understand that there are stark differences between College Football and the NFL. The NFL draws from 32 teams, while college draws from 115+. The athletes are different. The game is different. The principle of competition is the same, win. In the NFL, you just need to win enough games. In college football, you have to win all of your games. I am no advocate for opening the flood gates and giving all schools access to the college football championship. I do like the idea of a playoff. For me, eight schools is the most that should be included in a college football playoff. The idea of the "plus one" format intrigues me as well, in which a championship game is played between the top two teams after all of the BCS games have been completed. To me, these ideas make sense. Give all of those teams who, by their record, have shown that they are the best in college football a fair shot at proving it.

Chicago, though underwhelming, is a product of the playoff system. Their fans started this season with low expectations. After winning a few games, the division, and then a playoff game, they are now on the doorstep of the biggest game of the year. They were not voted into this position. They played themselves into it. No 6-5 college football team deserves a shot at the championship. An 11-1 team in the top 5 with something to prove probably does deserve that shot.

Thank you to all who stuck with me through this post. Expect more rants like this, but also, hopefully, more succinct and shorter posts.

Some Quick Hits from the Divisional Round

Packers v. Falcons

I do not think anyone saw that coming. The most logical prediction was a close game decided by 3 or so points, with the victor being the team that committed the fewest mistakes. The Atlanta Falcons were known for taking care of the football. Aaron Rodgers had been pegged to play the role of the one who would make that crucial mistake. That all came crashing down on Saturday with the Falcons committing an astounding 4 turnovers and Rodgers playing, in his words, "the game of [his] life."

This game begs the question: is Rodgers an elite quarterback in the same class as Brady, Manning, Brees, and (I hesitate to write his name) Roethlisberger? When comparing bodies of work, Rodgers does not  yet come close to the aforementioned signal callers. Nevertheless, Saturday proved a lot. It was a game on the road, against the best team in the NFC led by a quarterback, Matt Ryan, who has an impressive home record. Rodgers torched the Falcons defense, eluding tacklers, hitting receivers in tight spots and even running for a touchdown. I do not feel that the gravity of this win can be understated. Even though the number-one seed has a history of losing to the number-six seed in the divisional round, the ease with which Rodgers and the Packers accomplished it sets this game apart. This was not mere lack of preparation by the Falcons, this was a game in which one player, Rodgers, owned the stadium. He ran the show with the Packer defense playing back-up. For Rodgers to be in the conversation of the elite quarterbacks of the league, he needs to lead his team to the Super Bowl. Win the Super Bowl, and there is no question where he belongs.

Packers - 21 Bears - 10

Seattle v. Chicago

Seattle's win over New Orleans was fantastic. It had all the drama that NFL Films needed to produce a classic, including the clinching play that came from nowhere, namely Marshawn Lynch's run. Despite this, I found it hard to consider Seattle a "cinderella" team. After that win over the Saints, Seattle still sat at 8-9. The loss to Chicago is only surprising because the Bears managed to put up so many points. I have found it difficult to buy in to the Bears this year and their victory over Seattle did nothing to convince me otherwise. Nevertheless, as long as that defense plays like they have been and the offense does not screw it up, they should have a good chance to get back to the Super Bowl.



In AFC news, after having a day to digest the Patriots/Jets game, a couple of thoughts have been stewing in my brain. First, the Patriots have seemed to become the team of the regular season. It is a shame because during their dynastic reign you could always count on New England being involved in a great playoff game of two each season. Tom Brady still has a few years left of top-tier play and Belichek will not be going anywhere so they have a chance to prove me wrong. Second, I wonder if Mark Sanchez's career is following the Roethlisberger path. Big Ben's success was always perceived (correctly or incorrectly) as the product of a solid running-game and a punishing defense. Eventually, clutch play with the game on the line was added to his perceived resume. Now, he is generally seen as a good QB who can win games on his own. Sanchez, in his second year, has led his team to the AFC championship twice. His success is seen as the product of a good running game and defense. Sanchez will have another chance to prove himself this week against Big Ben and the Steelers.

Norm Chow and Tim Davis to Utah

Though not confirmed yet, the rumor, first reported by Tom Dienhart of rivals.com is that Utah is expected to hire Norm Chow and Tim Davis as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, respectively.

When I first heard the rumor by way of a telephone call from my cousin, I did not believe it. Two months ago (probably as we were watching Utah get humiliated by TCU at home) my brother first put the possibility of Norm Chow coming to Utah into my head. Indeed, each time in the next couple of months that we watched Utah's offense sputter we would bring it up again. It seemed like a pipe dream even though, in our minds, it was a move that made sense for both parties. For Utah, they would an experienced and talented offensive mind that in addition to that, understands the PAC-12. Chow would bring knowledge of how to prepare for each PAC-12 team that no one on Utah's staff has. For Chow, it would be a chance to settle a few scores (and I would like to thank my brother for pointing the following out to me). At BYU in the late 90s, it seemed logical that Chow would have some role in BYU's football program after the departure of legendary coach LaVell Edwards. It did not turn out that way and his departure from BYU turned out to be somewhat bitter. While at USC, Chow interviewed for the Stanford head coaching job but was not given the position. A three-year stint with the Tennessee Titans of the NFL followed. In 2008, Chow arrived at UCLA with Rick Neuheisel to be the offensive coordinator. Three years, average to awful offenses, and unmet expectations have been the norm under the Neuheisel regime and Chow has been set up as a scapegoat. With Neuheisel's heart set upon instilling the pistol offense and Chow being in favor of a pro-style, QB-under-center type of system, heads have butted and it just has not worked out. Now, it appears that Chow will be released from that position. Coming to Utah, Chow would have a chance to show at least three schools in the PAC-12 what they missed on. Now, I am hesitant to label Norm Chow as one who is interested in settling scores or getting the last laugh but at Utah he would get this opportunity regardless.

For the most part, I can see nothing negative about this hiring. Any unfounded fear that Chow is washed up is calmed by the fact that a washed up Norm Chow is much better than the offensive staff that Utah currently employs. I would also add that a washed up Norm Chow is better than Utah's previous (and highly underrated and unappreciated in his time here) offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig. Ludwig's last year was 2008, which of course was the year that Utah went undefeated, capping it off with a BCS beatdown of Alabama. In the PAC-12, Utah has attained automatic-qualifying status, which makes the route to returning to that 2008 pinnacle much more clear: be the PAC-12 champion. Chow's experience will help in every regard. I personally do no feel that Chow is washed up. The struggles of UCLA can be attributed at least in part to lack of cohesion on the coaching staff. Add UCLA's goal of implementing the pistol offense as well. Chow has made a living on producing NFL-ready quarterbacks that played from under-center and became proficient in throwing the ball. The pistol offense has the quarterback almost exclusively in a shotgun formation.

In my view the worst case scenario is that Norm Chow throws his weight around too much at Utah, disrupts the coaching chemistry and is fired in a year or two. The most likely scenario is that Chow comes in, provides Utah with invaluable help in adjusting to life in the PAC-12, trains a young offensive staff, presides over some quality offenses and in a few years moves on. The best-case scenario: Chow gets back to his old ways, implements a new offensive system at Utah, and after 2-3 years in the program starts churning out NFL-caliber QBs and high powered offenses and helps vault Utah to the upper-echelon of the PAC-12.

Also, the hiring of Tim Davis cannot be understated. The offensive coordinator will get all the publicity but at the heart of every good offense is a solid offensive line.