The Ever Changing NFL

In 2007 the Patriots implemented a high powered offense with the combination of Tom Brady and Randy Moss. Nearly impossible to stop, the team rolled through the regular season 16-0, only to lose to the Giants in the Super Bowl.

All of a sudden the league had changed. Having a QB who could sling the ball around the field became a priority. Offensive teams, with great QB's, started tearing the league apart, QB's such as Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and Peyton Manning were passing for 4000 yards without breaking a sweat. Fantasy Football teams were putting up insane numbers week in and week out. It was no longer about physical play but finesse.

What makes the NFL so great however is that teams adjust. Defense became even more important and the offseason focused on improving your defense, making it faster and more physical. The last two Super Bowl champs (Ravens and Seahawks) were teams with incredible defenses and serviceable QB's. Many say the NFL is a copy cat league but I believe it is a league that adjusts. It doesn't want to to copy the best, it wants to beat the best by getting that edge.

After 3 weeks into the 2014 NFL season we have seen the fruits of each teams labors. Even the teams without great QB's are competing with the greats. Defenses are shutting down those QB's who for the last few years have ripped through the NFL.

All of the above being said, the NFL will adjust again. Offenses will find a way to beat the aggressive defenses. Elite QB's will once again become the focus of the NFL. That is why we love this sport, just like in battle each team will find a way to gain an advantage over their opponent.

What do you think will be the next big need in the NFL? Offense Line? Big physical receivers?

Sound Off

College Football: Utah, BYU, and Should They Ever Play Each Other Again.

Right now, I do not miss the Rivalry Game between Utah and BYU. I have argued for its continuance since it was first announced that there would be a sabbatical. I believed in my argument and then the college football season started.

What changed? I am not completely sure. There are, however, at least two reasons this year I am glad the game didn't happen: Harvey Langi, and Max Hall. Harvey's post-LDS mission transfer to BYU from Utah and Max Hall's personal life struggles would have made this season's edition of rivalry week unbearable. The media, of course, would be licking their chops at the prospect of Utah and BYU fans going at it over these two non-football related topics. Taking calls from ill-tempered Utah and BYU fans, and the faux-objective analysis of the events is what the local media specializes at. For Harvey and Max's sake, I'm glad that this never came to be. That's not to say that things were not said, and insults were not thrown. No rivalry game meant that there was no clear context for these items to dominate the airwaves for more than a couple of days. Move on.

My enjoyment of college football is different this year. The stress of the rivalry game is palpable. I have no impact into what happens on the field, yet my stomach is in knots the day of the game. I cannot avoid it. This year, that stress is gone. There is no impending doom of a rivalry game; 3-4 hours of tension that at any moment feels like it could boil over. No fear of having a year of bragging rights ripped from your grasp. The rivalry game is a zero-sum game. A loss is terrible and lasts the whole year (or more if the team you cheer for drops consecutive matchups). Even a rivalry game win can feel like a loss as you are forced to deal with fans of the losing side. This year, I am enjoying College Football as much as ever, with no doom on the horizon.

As I grew to maturity, I discovered that I can appreciate BYU's success. There is no reason to hate them. With no Holy War on the schedule, I can appreciate that success even more. I have enjoyed talking about the success of some of their players. I have enjoyed watching parts of their games and found it easy to find joy in the team's success. This has been easier with no rivalry game circled on the calendar.

I understand why Utah would want to stop playing the game. If home and home matchups with the likes of Michigan become the norm, then adding BYU to the schedule will make the 12-game lineup too strenuous. I do not, however, subscribe to the notion that BYU is somehow an inferior opponent and therefore Utah gains nothing from beating them. There is much to gain from defeating BYU. In fact, the success of the McBride era was largely built on defeating BYU. 34-31, anyone? You couldn't go anywhere in Utah-land without hearing about it throughout the 90s. While Utah and BYU are on equal footing now, unlike then, there is still much to gain from beating a recognizable foe like BYU. However, they are such a tough team that if Utah is looking to schedule matchups with Big Ten, Big XII, or any of the other power conferences, then adding BYU to the mix might make that scheduled a little too daunting. Also, anyone that says that Utah should only do a 2 home games for 1 road game with BYU is a misguided fool.

On the other hand, maybe the rivalry game is more important than a game against another power 5. Perception is a big deal in college football and if the rivalry game is given prominence as an end of year game, maybe it becomes more important than any game against another power 5.

From BYU's perspective, I understand why they want to keep the rivalry game. The 2014 schedule does not pack a punch. Being able to count on a game with Utah every year keeps BYU's schedule more interesting. Fans in Provo do not want to see Middle Tennessee State or Savannah State.

There are so many reasons why the rivalry game should stick around. I will not enumerate them here. I just cannot shake that good feeling of not having to worry about a 2014 match up between Utah and BYU. I am still just as excited about college football as I have ever been.

So, should Utah and BYU ever play each other again? Yes. They have to because the game's are already scheduled. However, I wonder if it would be beneficial to revisit the discussion after the currently scheduled games are wrapped up. I never thought I would be arguing in favor of ending the rivalry game, and I reserve the right to change my mind in the future. It is easy to make this argument now because we know that the game will come back. Things might change when its future is in jeopardy.

NBA Free Agency in the Modern World

The Summer of 2014 has been a hot one.

Fresh off being dominated in a 5-game NBA Finals, the Heat have been relatively quiet relating to free agency--save for the Big Three and Udonis Haslem opting out of their respective contracts. If they do not make some sort of move soon, and if Bosh decides to sign with the Houston Rockets, the Big Three South Beach Experiment could be over. An inglorious end.

Melo. He seems to be the first domino right now. Once he decides, I expect the rest of the teams to get their contract offering into overdrive. Be ready for Melo's decision to come within the next couple of days.

Everyone seems to be holding there breath for Melo and James to sign then others will follow. Below is the list of unknown players who will drop fast after Melo falls:

Eric Bledsoe
Luol Deng
Lance Stephenson
Chandler Parsons
Gordon Hayward
Trevor Ariza

All of the above players can be nice pieces to a championship team.

Horton:

On Gordon Hayward-

The Jazz need to bring back Hayward. If that means matching a max contract offer, so be it. He is durable, a good shooter (last year excepting), and with a new contract has the potential to be the player-leader the Jazz have been looking for since Stockton/Malone. This type of leadership cannot be underestimated, undervalued, or under-appreciated. The Jazz have been searching for an identity and Hayward could be a critical part of that identity.

7/21 - Lance Stephenson

I have little doubt that Mr. Stephenson will flame out as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. Like Raja Bell and Stephen Jackson, Stephenson is a guy with an edge who needs the right situation to thrive. In Charlotte, different expectations will be placed upon him. In Indiana, everyone expected him to be a little crazy but they knew  Lance well enough to not really expect offensive output. In Charlotte, he can still be crazy but they'll tire of it quickly if the shots don't fall.

After having been through already this year the Superbowl, The Winter Olympics, The NBA Finals, Stanley Cup finals, the Masters, and now the World Cup, I find myself reflecting on how great sports are. Sports play a large part in the history of the world. Events like the Olympics and the World Cup bring everyone together and allow us to escape the world. The highlight of Bubba Watson’s son walking up to him after he sealed his victory at the Masters will be played over and over again for the next 50 years.

The history of our lives should be littered with great sports moments. Every time there is a victory or a defeat lives are changed, lessons are taught.

 My memories are filled with incredible sporting memories that I shared with my family and friends. I thought maybe I could share one of them that has always stood out:

My earliest memory is fighting with my brothers to go see the Jazz play. My dad would take three tooth picks and whoever drew the biggest one got to go. Winning the Jazz ticket was one of the biggest rewards of my childhood. I remember the first stop that we made was always Smith’s. We would buy chocolate raisins and licorice. My dad would make us wear the fattest looking coats we had so that we would be able to sneak the candy in. After parking for free a block away from the stadium we would enter the old Salt Palace through an entrance that took us right past the player’s locker room. Before finding our seats my dad would take us as close to the court as he could where we would yell at the players and try and get their autographs while they warmed up.

Once the game started, my dad would go and buy us Nachos, covered in jalapenos. Of course I didn’t complain, I wanted to show him I could hang. I would yell and scream as loud as I could (thinking the opposing players could hear me) throughout the game. When the crowd chanted “D-Fence” I chanted with them. I was watching my heroes take on our common enemies. We always wanted the Jazz to win by more than 10. If they did, on our way home we would get free fries at Hardees.

Once the final horn sounded my dad would put us right next to the player’s tunnel where we would try to get the players signature. Only the lucky kids succeeded. Then we would head home (unless the Jazz won by more than 10).

Memories like the above are why I love sports! Everyone at some point in their lives should have that memory. Before my wife met me she had never been to a Jazz game. She had to pass the test, so I took her to a game. I told her at the start of the game (against the San Antonio Spurs) that if the Jazz lose, we were not getting married. She cheered the entire game! Yelling phrases like “Come on Jazz! My marriage is on the line.” You can guess who won. If you ask her what her favorite sporting memory was she would probably say that time.

We all have those moments. Whether it was at a peewee, high school or a college game, we all have memories that we can share.

Sound off in the comments below!

The Closeout: Heat v. Spurs (2014)

In the 2010 Eastern Conference Semis, LeBron James quit on the Cleveland Cavaliers if you believe Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cavs. That off-season, LeBron and his posse made one of the more notable PR faux pas in sports history with "The Decision".

It is now 2014 CE. The Miami Heat seemed to be on the cusp of another championship until they ran in to the offensive mastery of the San Antonio Spurs--a team determined to not suffer a repeat of the 2013 NBA Finals. With the Heat down 3-1 in the series and looking tired, the series looks like it is over. Common sense in the NBA, however, is that if you have the best player you always have a chance. Those games listed as "if necessary" in TV broadcast previews are always "necessary" if you the best player in the world is suiting up for you. However, if the best player decides that the mountain is too high to climb, well, then you're out of luck.

I am not suggesting that James has quit on the Heat like Gilbert claims he did the Cavs. Quite the contrary actually. In the game 4 annihilation, he scored 19 of the Heat's 21 points in the 3rd quarter as he tried gallantly to spur another comeback. However, with no help to be found from any of the other 10-11 guys that the Heat dressed that night, and with the Spurs operating at an insanely high level, it wasn't enough.

Four trips to the NBA Finals in four years. Two championships. That is a historic feat. Is this  accomplishment being enough the mindset of the Miami Heat team?

The Spurs play a type of ball that could will the Heat into submission. Look to see if the Heat stop closing out on 3 point shots for evidence of the knockout blow being delivered.

James will play hard. His teammates just cannot give him enough to defeat the Spurs. 

Are we on the precipice of another 2010-like off-season in which James chooses another location to ply his trade?

Ultimately, I think the answer to this question is no as well. However, depending on how this series ends could change that. With July just around the corner, it could change quickly.

Next Point Wins

Everyone knows that the Heat and Spurs are tired. The NBA Season started almost 8 months ago. 100 games later and these players are gassed.

I think that the NBA has a real opportunity to improve the game by implementing a "Next Point Wins" scenario. Meaning, both sides agree at any point in the game to declare "Next Point Wins" which would decide the victor based on the next team to score a basket following the declaration of "Next Point Wins."

It's a high risk, high reward proposition that will ultimately benefit the game.

NCAA Question Mark Question Mark; Hashtag what is the NCAA doing?

A conversation with a SME of sport:

DJ and PK had Snyder on this morn (Snyder just named as the Head Coach of the Utah Jazz)

Good interview

i've decided to drink a full glass of the kool aid

in Snyder we trust

Chanse Carlson 9:22 AM

Wow good on ya, I heard his NCAA crap at Missouri was similar tot he BYU guy giving players clothes and some food. 

Spencer Horton 9:23 AM

yeah, the investigation, from my understanding found that the infractions weren't that serious. Snyder decided to resign anyway

probably could've stuck around and been okau

Chanse Carlson 9:23 AM

NCAA scare tactics are K Rappy

Spencer Horton 9:23 AM

yeah

he may have just wanted to move to the Pros. the investigation just sped up the process

you can cheat all you want in the pros

Chanse Carlson 9:28 AM

Good call

Spencer Horton 9:30 AM

ncaa enforcement and the media reporting of it is so stupid

Chanse Carlson 9:30 AM

Yep, no consistency and the media storm buries the object before the evidence is found.

Come on NCAA do a better Job it is not like you have a lack of funding or resources. Just because something looks different don't drowned a career or a program until all the facts are found.