My Week 9 College Football Rankings

This week’s top 10 is just like every other week this season, upsets galore.  Florida, Oregon State, USC, Oklahoma and Mississippi State all fell.  The shake ups at top every week have made this an incredible college football season to date.  With big games upcoming this week, there is yet more opportunity for upsets to happen.  Let's get the rankings started:

Week 9 College Football Ranking:

1.  Alabama - There is no shock here the Tide have been the best team in college football this year.  They beat down the then undefeated Mississippi State Bulldogs.  The Bulldogs had not played a team anywhere near the caliber of Alabama, and it showed.  The Tide dominated the game and almost pitched another shutout, before letting a meaningless touchdown late in the 4th quarter. The Tide travel to Death Valley, in a Title Game rematch, against the LSU Tigers.  The Tide will not struggle against the Tigers this time around. The Tide will Roll.........big

2. Oregon - The Ducks smashed Colorado like everyone knew they would.  They head to the Coliseum this week to take on the USC Trojans.  The Ducks have looked excellent this season scoring at will.  The Duck's defense has also looked rather impressive.  The Ducks rushing game has been a roll totaling over 400 yards back to back weeks.  The Trojans, while having a good team, are no match for the Ducks this year.  The Ducks will show why they are the elite team of the Pac-12.

3.  Notre Dame - The Irish traveled into Oklahoma an underdog, which made no sense at all.  The Irish started the week a double digit dog and played like they had a chip on their shoulders.  Manti Te'o played like the beast that he is recording 11 tackles, a sack and an interception.  He has made his case for his stake in the Heisman Trophy, leading one of the top defenses in the country.  The Irish looked solid on both sides of the ball and the offensive line dominated the Big 12 defense of Oklahoma.  The Irish take on the Panthers of Pitt this week.  While riding that high, the Irish should have no problems again this week.  Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame!!!!!!

4.  Kansas State - The Wildcats another top team that have steam-rolled opponents every week.  Their quarterback Collin Klein is leading one of the top offenses in the nation.  Klein has also taken a strangle-hold on the Heisman trophy, barring any major slip-ups.   He is the most dominating player in college football right now.  They host Oklahoma State this week and should not have a problem.  The Wildcats win big again this week.

5.  LSU - The Tigers were off last week and managed to move up because of all the losses.  The Tigers needed the week off, but still host Alabama banged up. The Tigers have struggled on offense and the Alabama defense has smothered every opponent it has faced.  This is a bad matchup for Les and the boys, Alabama will Roll and the Tigers will drop in the rankings.

6.  Ohio State - I can't stand the Big Ten but you cannot argue with the fact that while other teams drop, the Buckeyes remain undefeated.  The Buckeyes had a solid win in Happy Valley this week.  They have a bye this week before heading into the last three conference games.  Ohio State should have no problem remaining undefeated but due to strength of schedule do not deserve to play for a National Championship.

7.  Clemson - The Tigers make it back into the top 10 after a big win over Wake Forest.  Wake never stood a chance; Tajh Boyd carved up the Wake defense.  Boyd threw for 428 yards and 5 touchdowns.  The Clemson defense also looked stellar allowing only 14 points.  The Tigers travel to Duke this week and should dominate this game from the start.

8.  Louisville - The Cardinals remained undefeated after an OT victory over Big East rival, Cincinnati.  It was a tough fought win in which the Cardinals came back from a 10 point deficit in the 3rd quarter.  The Cardinals will host the Temple Owls this week and should remain undefeated.  Temple new to Big East just doesn't have the fire power to match up with Louisville just yet.

9.  Georgia - The Bulldogs coming off a big win over the Gators have jumped back into the top 10.  The Georgia defense was able to force 6 turnovers and the Florida rushing game to a mere 75 yards.  The Bulldogs will host the Ole Miss Rebels this week, in what should be another SEC victory for Georgia.

10.  Florida State - The Seminoles are the last team of the top that has bounced back in benefiting from top 10 losses.  FSU crushed Duke last week, handing the Blue Devils their 3rd loss of the season.  The 'Noles dominated from the start of the game and just never looked back.  They have a bye this week before traveling to Blacksburg next Thursday to take on the Hokies.  Va. Tech is having a down year, so the Seminoles should have no problems after an extended rest.

Well that's it for this week and while there are no foreseeable upsets, you just never know.  Keep an eye on that 'Bama vs LSU game, Kansas State vs Oklahoma State and finally that Oregon vs USC game (can't wait to see the Duck's uniforms).  


-Brett DeFalco

Problems on Both Sides

During the 14 year Andy Reid era the Eagles have never lost a game coming off the bye...... that gave a lot of fans hope going into Sunday’s game versus the Falcons. The Eagles had blown back to back 4th quarter leads and fired defensive coordinator Juan Castillo leading into this game.  This game was a chance to change the season and the prove Eagles should be considered a threat in the NFC.  While the Falcons had struggled in their last two wins before going into the bye against bad football teams, they still managed to get the W.  All before kickoff it was the Eagles, team that needed a win and was desperate; against the undefeated Falcons who struggle away from the Georgia Dome. 
          From that point on the Eagles never had a chance, Atlanta scored touchdowns on their first 3 possessions.  The Eagles were only able to run three plays on offense in the first quarter.  The defense was not capable of stopping Ryan and his high flying Falcons.  On the first two Falcon drives, they were able to convert first-downs on 7 third-down situations.  Obviously, Juan Castillo was the problem.  The defense was finally able to end its sack less streak, mustering only two sacks.  The defensive line still does not look as impressive as it did last year, and I don't want to hear about three step drops and quick releases.  This scheme that is used is a Jim Washburn technique and teams have figured out the gimmicky defense.  So maybe Castillo wasn't the only one who should have been let go.
          While the defensive line has had its struggles, so has "superstar" corner Nnamdi Asomugha.  The Eagles corner was brought in as a free agent last offseason, and has been a total disappointment.  While rumors of "Nnamdi Island" were thrown around before the start of last season, Asomugha is nowhere near the shut-down corner we all expected.  Asomugha is targeted in this defense, instead being avoided.  He has allowed big touchdowns week in and week out.  Watching him blame safetys and coaches have worn on me as well as a city who was excited to have him.  
         The lack of play from the safety position has also had a significant impact on this defense.  I like Kurt Coleman but his football I.Q. is awful.  He gets caught guessing and god forbid he doesn't bite on a play action, stop getting caught in the looking in the backfield.  Nate Allen actually looked healthy and when healthy is decent corner.  He had an ok game against Atlanta, and is needed to help sure up the back end of this weak secondary.
          On the offensive side of the ball it all starts with the offensive line.  They have looked horrendous and look like they are getting worse as the season progresses.  They can't run block, and they sure as hell cannot pass protect.  Michael Vick is running for his life every time he drops back to pass.  Shady can't cut back or make a move because defensive linemen are blowing the gaps and penetrating the line.  Positively, the Eagles didn't turn the ball over, ha.
          The Eagles will have an extra day before taking on the Saints in New Orleans, Monday night.  While many have been calling for Nick Foles to start that game, I think people should be careful what they wish for.  Vick is a quarterback who has the ability to escape a little pressure, where as Foles is a 6'5 pocket passer.  With the state of the offensive line the team currently has, a pocket passer just may get killed.  Vick gets abused behind the make shift offensive line and I don't really see Foles as the answer, not unless he can block for himself as well.  However a loss this week and the fans may get what they want, because at 3-5 the season could be all but lost.

Keeping up with the Flyers: Claude Giroux and Danny Briere

It has been a few weeks now since I reported that Danny Briere and Claude Giroux had signed with the Berlin Polar Bears of the DEL. I have been trying my best to keep up with them, and I’ve even managed to watch one full game of theirs and plenty of highlights. The style of play is much different than in the NHL. The emphasis on checking and playing the body are not as important as they are here. Speed and stick handling seem to be the key in most leagues over-seas.

That seems to be alright with both Giroux and Briere. Neither of them is known for their physicality in the NHL, Giroux a bit more than Briere. With the larger ice surface and more room to skate in the DEL, the opportunity to put up some points is there, and that is exactly what they are doing.

Danny Briere scored a hat trick the other night and has 3 goals and 8 assists for 11 points in just 4 games. Claude Giroux’s numbers look very similar; he has 3 goals and 7 assists in the 4 games that he has played in. Both men are getting plenty of ice time. In the game that I watched, they were both on the number one power play unit and seemed to fit in fine with the rest of the guys on the team.

This is what they had to say following the win they had the other night.

Danny Brière: “It is a good feeling to help the team in such a good way. Hockey is a team game. You can’t do anything alone. The players help each other. Everybody has roles. I try to find the holes so that the other guys can put me in action. It is a great feeling to play with Giroux together. He has really good eyes and I try to take advantage of it”.

Claude Giroux: “Usually that is the way it happens between us. I give him the puck and he puts it in. He is very good in scoring. When I see open ice I try to get the things going – unfortunately my back-to-back effort didn’t go in at the beginning of the third period”.

So it looks like both players are doing well over in the DEL, and we can just hope that when this lockout ends, they bring that same success back to the Flyers!
-Brett Gibbs

My Week 8 College Football Rankings

While there were no upsets this week, three top 10 teams were forced to sweat it out.  Notre Dame almost fell to a tough BYU team, Ohio State held off Purdue in OT and LSU was able to hold off a good Texas A&M squad.  Also in a Heisman showdown, Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein out dueled WVU quarterback Geno Smith  throwing for 323 yards, 3 touchdowns and only 2 incompletions.  Smith, who has looked like the Heisman favorite, did not look good against a solid Wildcat defense and has had back to back down weeks.  With all that said let’s get into the top 10.

Top 10 College Football Rankings:

1. Alabama – The Tide rolled into Knoxville and smashed the Volunteers.  While Alabama was put on “upset watch” by many members of the National Media, I never had a doubt in my mind.  Alabama is just a complete team.  They have a tenacious defense, an incredible running game, and a quarterback that looks like he may be figuring things out.  The Tide host undefeated SEC foe Mississippi State Bulldogs.  The Bulldogs head into Bryant-Denny Stadium not having played a team with as much talent as ‘Bama.  Coach Saban gets another win in a convincing manner, and the Tide roll. 
2.   Oregon – The Ducks got the college football week started, traveling to Sun Devil Stadium Thursday night.  The Ducks didn’t disappoint looking fresh as always and running off 43 straight points.  ASU scored 49 seconds into the first quarter, but that was it for the first half.  Oregon went off, rushing for 406 combined yards and passing for a mere 48.  The Duck’s defense picked off ASU four times and has made statements the last couple weeks.  Oregon hosts Colorado this week in what should be a route.  Colorado got crushed last week and will again this week.  The highlight from this game will be what unis the Ducks decide to go with.
3. Notre Dame – I am keeping the Irish at number 3.  I thought BYU was a tough team and would play the Irish tough and I was right.  The Notre Dame defense held up when it needed to most.  The Irish take the show on the road this week against the Sooners of Oklahoma.  The Sooners are coming off three consecutive big wins, but have not played a team with half the defense of the Irish.  This is a primetime game and should be a good one.  Play Like a Champion Today….. the Irish Win.
4. Kansas State – I will admit I have been sleeping on the Wildcats.  They have big wins over Oklahoma and West Virginia.  They also have a quarterback that has looked incredible in Collin Klein.  He is making a bid for the Heisman, and has 551 yards rushing to go along with his almost 1400 yards passing.  He has totaled 24 touchdowns and led his team to a 7-0 start.  They host Texas Tech this week, which has a solid passing game and coming off a big overtime win last week against TCU.  However Klein and the Wildcats just have too much and take down the Red Raiders.
5. Florida – The Gators looked impressive, totally dismantling the Gamecocks.  I am just still not sold on them yet.  While they didn’t need a whole lot of offense to beat the Gamecocks, they have a very limited passing game.  The Gators do play a very solid defense and have good special teams, but just lack quarterback play.  Jeff Driskel hasn’t gone over 100 yards passing in his last three games.  Eventually he is going to have to win a game with his arm and too this point; I am not quite sure he can.  The Gators play Georgia this week in Jacksonville, and while Georgia is a tough SEC team they just don’t have enough to keep up with the Gators speed.
6. Oregon State – The Beavers hosted the Utes and were able to get a win and stay undefeated.  Oregon State hasn’t looked great in most of their wins, but they keep getting the job done.  They do get their starting quarterback Sean Mannion back this week after coming off a knee injury just 3 weeks ago.  They take on the Huskies of Washington this week and should be able to keep their undefeated streak alive.
7. LSU – The Tigers are another SEC team that does not have a great passing game, but will find a way to win.  LSU was able to hold off the Aggies last week on the road in a tough game.  LSU still has a very good defense and the capability to run the ball averaging 208 yards a game.  The Tigers have a bye this week before a Battle in the Bayou with Alabama.  LSU will need this week off to try and game plan for an incredible Alabama team.  Enjoy this week off.
8. USC – The Trojans smoked Colorado.  Barkley went off throwing 6 touchdowns and only one incomplete pass.   The defense forced three interceptions and only allowed two field goals.  The Trojans head to Arizona this week to face the Wildcats.  The Trojan defense will be tested against an explosive Wildcat passing game.  USC must remain focused if they want a chance at playing the PAC-12 championship game.  They play Oregon next week, and this game is setup to be a trap for SC, but I see them pulling out the victory.
9. Oklahoma – The Sooners are back in the top 10 after a string of big wins.  The Sooners beat up of Kansas last week and destroyed the Longhorns the week before that.  The Sooners will have a big test this week, as they host ND.   The Irish come in undefeated and have a very nice defense.  The Sooners have not seen a defense this good all season, but have some weapons to test the Irish.  At the end of the day though, I will take a solid defense over Landry Jones and his spread offense.  The Sooners fall in what could be the game of the week.
10. Mississippi State – The Bulldogs are coming off a thrashing of Middle Tennessee (big deal right).  They held the Blue Raiders to only 3 points. The Bulldogs are undefeated but as I looked over their schedule, boy is it weak.  They will be tested in the next three weeks as they travel to Alabama this week, home against the Aggies the following week and travel to the Bayou to take on LSU.  If they come out of these next three games alive, I will then be impressed with the Bulldogs.  This week though they travel to ‘Bama and I just don’t see them winning.  As I said earlier, the Tide roll. 

Another week of some big college football games.  Some big SEC battles, Alabama vs Miss State, Florida vs Georgia and I would say make sure you get to see that Notre Dame vs Oklahoma game.  Florida and the Irish could be upset but honestly I don’t think it happens. That’s it for this week’s top 10, enjoy the games.   

-Brett DeFalco

My Week 7 College Football Rankings

Week 7 of the college football season did not disappoint.  Two more top 10 teams were upset and while South Carolina actually had a chance in their game, WVU never had a chance.  The rankings will once again get shaken up and as we look forward to this upcoming week of games. Who will be the next to fall?

Top 10 College Football Rankings:

1.  Alabama - Alabama beat down on the Mizzu Tigers, who is having a rough first season in the SEC.  The Tigers are finding out the difference between Big 12 defense and SEC pro style defense.  Alabama made sure Mizzu's freshman year in the conference remained win less.  'Bama was just too much for a team trying to get use to the SEC style of play.  The Tide will travel to Knoxville this week to take on the Volunteers.  The Volunteers coming off back to back road losses have another big test in front of them.  The smothering defense of Alabama will be too much and the Tide will Roll.

2.  Oregon - The Ducks are coming off a bye week and will be showcased on ESPN for Thursday night football.  The Ducks will travel to Sun Devil Stadium to take on the 5-1 Arizona State Sun Devils.  This is a big game for the Ducks, they have played two top 25 teams already, but both were at home.  The Ducks are the number 2 scoring offense in the country and are a force to be reckoned with. ASU has a solid defense allowing just 14.2 points a game, but they have not faced the weapons and speed that the Ducks possess.  There will not be an upset here, the Ducks will be too much.

3.  Notre Dame - That's right I said it the Golden Domers are the number three team in the country (in my rankings anyway).  The Irish defense looked stout against a formidable offense.  While the smart kids gave it their all, it was the Irish defense that stood tall on the final play of the game.  The Irish offense is still behind the defense, but I do have faith in Coach Kelly.  Notre Dame is home again this week and welcome in BYU, in the Battle of the Catholics vs the Mormons.  The Irish have just way too much talent on both sides of the ball. Here's a little something extra for all you Irish fans:  Cheer, cheer for Old Notre Dame, Wake up the echoes cheering her name!!!! 

4.  Florida - The Gators handled Vandy, behind QB Jeff Driskel rushing for 177 yards.  The Gators started off slow, getting shut out in the first quarter, before reeling off 21 points.  They would eventually allow a 4th quarter touchdown before scoring another 10 points to seal the victory.  The Gators welcome in the Gamecocks from South Carolina.  The Gamecocks are coming off a tough loss against LSU.  While Florida is undefeated going into this weekend, they are on upset watch.  The Gators are going to have to throw for more than 77  yards in order to beat South Carolina.  Another week, another upset, you heard it hear.  

5.  Kansas State - The Wildcats took down a tough Iowa State team.  This game could have easily been a trap game for the Wildcats before taking on WVU this week.  The Wildcats handled their business and remained undefeated.  They will now take on the high powered offense of the West Virginia Mountaineers.  The Mountaineers may have been caught looking past a solid Texas Tech team, and were smoked last week.  K-State is looking to keep their undefeated streak alive, but they have a tough task at hand.  Maybe I just have a crush on Geno Smith, but I see the Wildcats falling this week.  

6.  Oregon State - The Beavers exploded, scoring 42 points against a tough BYU defense.  The Beavers had struggled to score the week before at home.  The Beavers were lead by Junior quarterback Cody Vaz, who threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns.  Oregon State is home this week as they take on the Utes of Utah.  Utah has struggled this year in the PAC 12 and it  doesn't get any easier this week.  The Beavers should easily handle Utah and remain undefeated.  

7.  Ohio State - The Buckeyes defeated Indiana last week and were lucky in doing so.  Urban Myer was in a shootout that I am sure he did not expect to be in.  The Hoosiers rallied in the 4th quarter scoring 22 points, but it just wasn't enough.  Another excellent performance by a young qb, as Braxton Miller threw for 211 yards and rushed for another 149.  While the Buckeyes did get the win, they did not look very impressive doing so.  They Buckeyes host the Boilermakers this week, and should easily win ( I said the same thing last week).  

8.  USC - The Trojans won last week on the legs of Silas Redd.  The Penn State transfer rushed for 155 yards and a touchdown.  He has looked very good as the season has progressed.  The Trojan defense also looked very good allowing only 14 points and forcing 4 turnovers.  Matt Barkley on the other hand did not look so Heisman-like, completing only 50% of his passes for 167 yards. USC hosts Colorado this week, in what should be a route.  

9.  LSU- The Tigers jump back into the top 10 after a big win in Death Valley against the Gamecocks. It was a very good win, against a very good South Carolina team.  LSU was carried by freshman running back Jeremy Hill, who tallied 124 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Hill accomplished this against a very good Gamecock defense.  The Tigers travel to College Station this week to take on offensive machine, Texas A&M.  The Aggies have a very good offensive line and will give the Tigers a little trouble, but not so fast my friend.......LSU pulls out the victory.

10.  South Carolina - The Gamecocks lost a very tough game and it doesn't get any easier this week.  The Old Ball Coach has to get his team refocused as they travel to Gainsville.  The Gators are a tough opponent but do not have a great passing game.  The Gamecocks should stack the box and force Florida to beat them through the air, which I feel they just cannot do.  The Gamecocks get back on the winning track win an upset in Gainsville.

Should be another exciting week of college football.  The Thursday night game gets us kicked off with Oregon vs ASU (Ducks soar to victory).  The big Saturday games to watch;  Florida vs South Carolina (Gators on upset alert), K-State vs WVU (Heisman hopefuls battle it out), and LSU vs Aggies (LSU should not take the Aggies lightly).  That will do it for this week.  

-Brett DeFalco

Eagle's Offense Pathetic

"Pathetic"..............In Andy Reid's day after press conference, that was how he referred to the play of his offense and the plays called in the last two Eagle possessions of the game.  While I agree with "Big Red", they should have been able to run the clock out at the end of that game.  I will also say it wasn't just the offense that looked "pathetic."
   The Eagles defense held a very talented offensive passing game to only 86 yards through the first three quarters of the game.  Nnamdi Asomugha actually looked like a shut down corner, holding the best receiver in football to only one catch for 28 yards through the first three quarters.  As the defense took the field in the 4th quarter, Andy said that they switched into more zone coverage.  This decision took Nnamdi, who at that point was playing great, off Calvin Johnson in man coverage.  Megatron went off in the 4th quarter and overtime, hauling in 5 catches for 107 yards. Along with the zone coverage, the defense blitzed more and was ineffective in doing so. The Eagles had no pressure from the defensive line, as they went sack-less for the third straight game.  What was suppose to be the strength of this defense, now looks like a liability.  The defense also allowed 66 rushing yards in the 4th quarter.  While the offense didn't help them out late, the defense once again gave up a 4th quarter lead, allowing the Lions to score 10 points within three and half minutes.
   The Eagle offense did not look very good in three of the four quarters.  Michael Vick was hit early and often, as the offensive line looked non-existent at times.  The injures to Jason Kelce and Jason Peters were very prominent on Sunday.  Twice Dallas Reynolds snapped the ball to Vick when he was clearly not ready, and leading to an Eagle turnover.  Vick wasn't perfect himself, throwing two interceptions.  The third quarter was the only quarter that the offense looked like it had any sort of rhythm. Vick was getting rid of the ball quick on three step drops, throwing quick slants and curl routes.  All that pretty much disappeared in the 4th quarter.  The Eagles also seem to forget they have arguably the best running back in the NFL.  He did manage to touch the ball 21 times, but only 14 times rushing.  The biggest thing that stood out to me was Shady only touched the ball 3 times in the 4th quarter.  That cannot happen when the Eagles have a late lead.
   The Eagles head into the bye a disappointing 3-3.  While they have been in all but the Cardinal game, they easily could be 0-6.  On the other hand, they did have quality wins against the Ravens and Giants. It doesn't get any easier coming out of the bye.  The Eagles will face the undefeated Atlanta Falcons, before traveling to New Orleans for a Monday night showdown.  These next two games could very well define this teams season, 0-2 and it looks like another 8-8 season at best.  

-Brett DeFalco

Getting to know the Phantoms

The Adirondack Phantoms season is finally here and with the roster they have this year, they should be in the run for the Calder Cup. The Phantoms opened up their season with a win Saturday night over the Portland Pirates, and the following day they lost to the Springfield Falcons. With the Flyers not playing this season, it makes it very hard for hockey fans in our area, but don’t give up on the sport at all, the Phantoms have a great roster with tons of talent. To get you more knowledgeable on this team, below are some of the great prospects the Phantoms have.

The three names that you should be most familiar with are Brayden Schenn, Sean Couturier and Zac Rinaldo. All three of these players spent last season with the Philadelphia Flyers and had huge roles in the success that the team had. Being young and having a two-way contract really worked out well for these athletes. They still get to develop in the Flyers system and get a chance to compete at a very high level of hockey in the AHL. Brayden Schenn should continue to grow as an offensive power-house while with the Phantoms. He is going to be a big part of the Flyers offense in the future and I would like to see him among the league leaders in points while playing in the AHL this season. Sean Couturier, Flyers first round pick in 2011 had such a great rookie campaign for the Flyers in 2011-2012. He is a shut down center and played a huge role in the win over the Penguins in the playoffs. We all know what he can do defensively, now it is time for him to really hone in on his scoring ability. In his last two years of juniors, playing for the Drummondville Voltigeurs, he put up 96 points each season. Couturier, like Schenn, is going to be a huge part of the Flyers success for years to come. Zac Rinaldo, Flyers tough guy and enforcer should continue to grow as a player in the AHL. He already knows his role in the NHL, but while playing in the AHL, he has a chance to grow offensively. This is a good chance for him to score 10-15 goals while playing for the Phantoms.

Phantoms center and team captain, Ben Holmstrom, plays the game like a true leader. He is a defensive-offensman and was the youngest captain in Phantoms history when he was given the “C” before last season. Holmstrom has played a few games for the Flyers in the past and plays the PK very well. I would like to see the Flyers bring him up more often when the NHL resumes.

Defensemen Danny Syvret and Brandon Manning got the “A” on their sweaters this season. Both are very solid defenseman. Syvert is a veteran who should bring stability to the blue line. Manning is younger but has already played a few games with the Flyers and could be up there again in the future. Marc-Andre Bourdon and Erik Gustafsson are two house hold names for Philly hockey fans. With all the injuries to the Flyers last season, they saw a good amount of time up in the NHL. Both are back playing with the Phantoms this year, and with those 4 names right there, the Phantoms blue line should make it tough on any opponent who tries to cross it.
Harry Zolnierczyk and Eric Wellwood both had solid seasons when asked to come up for the Flyers last year. Both have great speed and can put the puck in the net when given the opportunity. Look for Tye McGinn, the Flyers 4^th round draft pick in 2010 to have a good season. He put up good numbers in the QMJHL and I expect him to do the same in the AHL.

Scott Munroe and Cal Heeter are the men between the pipes. Munroe the older of the two is an AHL veteran and should bring stability to the goaltending position. Heeter is a rookie, coming fromOhioStateUniversityand the NAHL.

As far as the coaches go, both have been in the Flyers system for years. Head coach Terry Murray played for the Flyers and was also the head coach of the Flyers. He took them to the Stanley Cup finals in 1997 and was most recently the coach of the Los Angeles Kings. With all of his hockey knowledge, it is a safe bet that all of these young players are going to gain a ton of from him being there. Assistant coach Riley Cote is a former winger for the Philadelphia Flyers. Riley was known for his rough style of play and was the Flyers top enforcer for a number of years. He is a veteran of both the AHL and NHL and because he is very young in age for a coach, one would only imagine that the players would be more comfortable to go to him for advice on the game and in life.

So that about rounds it up for now. That is about as much as I know now on this young Phantoms team. It should be a very fun and exciting season and I am looking forward to learning even more. You can listen to their games live at www.Phantomshockey.com

-Brett Gibbs

Silva defeats Bonnar at UFC 153

 

 Saturday night in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, UFC 153 took place. The main event was your typical “David verses Goliath” showdown. Anderson Silva was asked to step in and headline this fight after Jose Aldo had to withdraw from his main event bout against Frankie Edgar due to a foot injury. This fight card had changed various times due to injuries and fighters having to step out and fight on other cards. After Anderson Silva said that he would fight and save the card from a possible cancellation, it was time to find him an opponent for the event in his home country. Due to short notice, Anderson told Dana White that he wouldn’t be able to drop his weight to his normal 185 lbs. He would fight at 205 and his middleweight championship belt would not be on the line.

Stephan Bonnar, who has been retired, had been training MMA fighters and getting them prepared for a career that he has much experience in. Bonnar got the phone call that the UFC needed someone to step in and fight Glover Teixeira. Stephan declined that offer, and with a new baby on the way, felt his fighting days were behind him. Then he got another call, this time it was for him fight Anderson Silva in the main event at UFC 153. This was a fight he could not say no to.

The first round started off like most Silva fights, slow and with much caution. Bonnar then looked to be aggressive and wanted to get in close with Silva. Anderson was rather passive in the early minutes of the fight. He chose to fight with his back up against the cage and at one point did not have his hands up to cover his head. Bonnar threw a barrage of punches and a few landed. They seemed to not phase Silva at all. Bonnar tried to take Silva down to the ground a few times. When that didn’t work, he continued to stand toe to toe with him. Silva, very relaxed in there, looked a lot like Muhammad Ali. He was dipping and dodging most of Bonnar’s punches. Then with about 30 seconds left in the fight Anderson and Stephan were clinched together when Anderson threw a high knee that looked to catch Bonnar in his solar plexus. Down he went and Silva stood over top of him and threw a few punches and just like that the fight was over.

After the fight, UFC commentator Joe Rogan said that all he wants to see next is Anderson Silva fight Jon Jones. This is a fight that every UFC fan would love to see happen. However, when Rogan stepped into the ring and asked Silva if he would fight again at 205, Anderson response was “no he would not.” Silva claimed he only did this as a favor to the UFC and the fans so the event could go on.

What’s next for Anderson Silva? He is already the greatest MMA fighter of all-time. Some of his opponents may not have been the most skilled fighters, but that is not his fault. He feels most comfortable fighting in the 185 pound weight class and he does take on any opponent the UFC throws at him. Rumors have been going around that there will be a super-fight between Anderson Silva and Welterweight Champion Georges St- Pierre.

If this fight were to happen, it would be the greatest and most anticipated fight in UFC history. This fight would truly show who the greatest fighter in the world is. I have a very good feeling that Dana White is going to try and get this fight to happen.

GSP has a fight against Carlos Condit in November. If he were to win this fight, I believe the UFC would try and make the Silva-GSP fight to take place sometime in early 2013.

-Brett Gibbs

Tweaking the Phils

The Philadelphia Phillies had a down year, and in my eyes, understandably so.  If you take out the three and four hitter of any Major League baseball team, your offensive productivity is going to significantly drop and you are going to lose baseball games.  While I truly thought that they would be able to tread water with the pitching staff the Phillies have assembled, I didn’t factor in Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, and Vance Worley all having stints on the DL.   With those three pitching injuries, Howard, and Utley out for half the season, it turned a post season team into a bottom dweller.

Despite all that went this season, the Phils still had a chance at being an above .500 team, but then there were the ongoing issues with the bullpen. Bastardo had issues with command, Stutes never pitched, and when he did, it got ugly. Contreras, coming off an injury, is 100 years old anyway and never made it back. Dontrell Willis (I’ll be honest I was hoping he would make the team, but didn’t though) and the plethora of minor league pitchers they brought up, who showed a little bit of talent at times. Lastly, let’s not forget about Chad Qualls; he was absolutely horrendous.  All in all the bullpen that was assembled lost 27 games and posted  a 3.94 ERA. That was down significantly considering on July 8^th their ERA was 4.91.

The Phillies bullpen in 2011 was on the hook for only 18 losses, that’s a 9 game difference difference between being in the postseason and finishing at .500 this year.   Now, the bullpen did pitch much better after the break, which is encouraging, but some pieces need to be added to get this team back to a contender and in the post season.

This is an important offseason for the Phillies, and for GM Ruben Amaro, much like last season was, but for real this time.  While bringing in Jonathan Papelbon and Juan Pierre definitely benefitted the team; guys like Dontrell, Ty Wigginton, Lance Nix, and Chad Qualls were definitely more of a plight to the team.  I understand Nix will be here again because of his contract, and I’m fine with him just pinch hitting, but the Phils should seriously consider bringing back Juan Pierre as well.  Pierre had a great season for the Phillies and still looks like he has something left in the gas tank.  The emergence of Darin Ruf has a lot of Phillies fans excited, and while it was only a very small sample against big league pitching, he showed some prospect in being able to play at the pro level.  I am excited to see if the kid can provide a little pop to this lineup from the right side of the plate, something it has needed since Jayson Werth left.

They need more help than just a minor league prospect; we have had a few of them the last couple years that I am still waiting to “pan” out i.e. John Mayberry and possibly Dominic Brown (still undecided on him).  There are some outfield free agents available that could definitely help this team out.  I think the Phils should make a push for B.J. Upton. His batting average have been steadily decreasing since 2007 when it was .320, but he can play centerfield and can steal some bases. He has some power and he is another right handed bat.  He would also be cheaper than say a Michael Bourn, who could be asking for $15 million a year to start.  Nick Swisher is another name being thrown around and while he can swing the bat from both sides, he is a mediocre right fielder and by acquiring Swisher, you still need someone to play centerfield.

Lastly and let me preference this is the number one move I say the Philies should do, but just may not be financially feasible: Josh Hamilton.  I wouldn’t care that he is another left handed bat; Hamilton is a legitimate power hitter and instantly makes an impact to your lineup.  He can play centerfield and brings your team at least 40 homeruns and 120 RBI.  The problems with Hamilton, is what is he going to cost. Second, you have to worry about him succumbing to his internal demons (drugs and alcohol), and lastly he does get hurt kind of regularly.  All that said, he is the biggest free agent on the market, he is a beast, and well worth whatever he wants.

So the outfield has been addressed, now let’s look at the hot corner.  The Phillies are in desperate need of a third baseman that can play everyday and provide some ability to hit.  The combination of Polanco, Wiggington, and Frandsen cannot happen again in the 2013 season.  The Phillies are limited in their options because the free agent market is a little weak.  Actual true free agents, there isn’t a single guy the Phils should even approach, but David Wright and Kevin Youkilis both have a chance to opt out and test the market.  Wright more than likely won’t, and as much as I would love to see him in a Phillies uniform, it probably won’t happen.  Youkilis is another guy I personally love and think he would be an awesome fit in Philadelphia.  I also like the versatility that Youkilis brings; he can play third and in a pinch can play first base or leftfield.  The only other move is trying to trade for Chase Headley out in San Diego, but that’s not even a sure thing.

Lastly, Ruben needs to address the bullpen.  While they had a lot of young arms come out of the pen this year, I’m not sold on most of them.  While I think there is definitely some serious potential in the young bullpen, they need a little more development, specifically in command of the zone.  There are some solid relievers to be had.  The Phillies should make a push at Jonathon Broxton and Ryan Madson.  Both are on the market, and with Madson coming off of Tommy John’s surgery, he could fill your eighth inning role for very cheap.  I’m also a huge fan of Broxton who could do the seventh or the eighth depending if Madson needed a night off, but either way they are both big right handed arms that can lock down that bridge to Papelbon. One last bullpen piece I would look at would be George Sherrill.  He could be a decent left handed situational guy to go along with the Bastardo.  These pieces could definitely help the bullpen and allow some of the young arms to still be a part of the pen.  Either way, these pieces are needed in order to shore up the bullpen and get to Papelbon.

Most of these moves are feasible and depending on the structure of the deals, keep the Phillies under the luxury tax realm.  The only thing I will say about that is, if you need to go into the luxury tax this year, then do it; make one last push with this team.  Utley and Halladay both come off the books after next season, so depending on how much you go over the cap this season, you may be fine for the following.  No matter what, Ruben Amaro needs to get another outfielder and at least one bullpen piece.  I can live without the move for a third baseman because there isn’t much on the market.  The Phillies still have the pitching and enough pop left in their lineup to be a contender and make a World Series run, just a few tweaks.

-Brett DeFalco