Rick Reilly and the Blog Counterpunch

I hate opening a post with a confession, but hey - can't win 'en all - so here you go: I listen to the BS Report at work. I read Bill Simmons too, while we're at it. Is he a writing influence? Probably, but that's largely immaterial right now. (Besides, my writing was - well, is - more influenced by the old-school TWoP than Simmons, and that's definitely not related. Those of you who figured that I kind of made it all up as I go can now be solidly refuted, ha!) His writing's entertaining, but I'd stop short of calling it insightful; aside from the overlap on baseball, we follow different sports for the most part. It's more mental popcorn to me.

Anyway, now that I've gotten totally off-track, I was listening to the Simmons / Rick Reilly podcast at work today, and Reilly hit on something that bugged me: he contended that some blogs function to get traffic primarily by slamming other (read: mainstream) stories. Furthermore, he seemed to think that people enjoy writing that basically says "zomg this guy is soooooo wrong he sucks". I'm going to have to take issue with that - which is admittedly ironic on my end, but again, can't win 'en all.

First off, I'm willing to admit that there are some people out there who probably do take glee from bringing people down for its own accord. I would contend those people need to be kept away from keyboards. They do the rest of us a grave disservice, and it grates on me that I could be lumped in with them.

As for the rest of us, we're smarter than that. When I take issue with an article or a statement, I take issue with the idea or assumption behind the article. For example (I'm going to the FJM well here, but bear with me), an article on David Eckstein being the piece that put the St. Louis Cardinals over the top misses a key point - namely, Albert Pujols is much much much better than Eckstein could ever hope to be. Writing that article isn't a bad story (I think the overloooking of just how good he is serves as one of the most interesting continual storylines in baseball), but it is boring. Anyone can figure that out. But: this isn't to say you can't write an article on how good Eckstein is. Instead of focusing on how he's short and can run (note: I'm paraphrasing here), put it in numbers. Show me he's made 7 plays outside of his zone and talk about that time you saw him range 40 feet to his left to pick up a ball that was going over the second base bag. I'm okay with that.

I know advanced / new stats can be difficult to grasp if you haven't seen them before; still, most writers should be smart and connected enough to be able to send an email to the guys developing the stat asking for a quick explanation. When the stat-creater sends you back a two-paragraph explanation, distill it down and put it in your article. It's okay to make people smarter. It's okay to think. I know that's harsh, and I know that's not the case, but sometimes it's tough to tell. That's what drives us - well, me, since I can't speak for everyone - insane. (That and the "I'm going to be contrary to this obvious idea because I'm going to be, nyah nyah" article, which ...again, probably not how it's done but that's how it reads.)

Anyway, I've gotten totally off-track. Again. Getting back to the point: part of the function of blogs - part of the reason I even have this damn thing - is because I want to express my opinion. That means I have an impetus and a need to generate original content. Now, I'd contend that my original content could be a discussion on someone else's original content and that's within my realm. I liken this to a writer telling a coach, player, or official that their contention was incorrect and here's why; I retain the right to have the same freedom for myself. The problem is that it's not just me, it's one million people. Now that one voice has become a cacophony. It's on me to make my voice unique among the crowd.

That means it's on me to generate original content and get my voice out there. It's not on anyone else, and if I have issue with someone else's statement then it's on me to explain what my problem is and why. If I do a bad job explaining my position, then again - it's on me. If I can't get traffic to my site by expressing original content then I'd join Twitter then I'm not doing my job. Those that think otherwise are fools.

On the plus side, it's not like he'll ever read this. So I've got that going for me.

BCS Bowl Game Simulationss (by LFB): Fiesta Bowl

So - a little bit of background. Aside from the Holiday Bowl, the bowls have either a) involved shitty teams, b) been uninteresting, or c) both. Left Field Bluffs decided to take matters into our own hands. In this first edition of LFB Bowl Simulations, we're playing the Fiesta Bowl - James as Texas and Russ as Ohio State. For the nerds: 6-minute quarters, injuries off (yes, I know), and All-American.

1st Quarter

Ohio State won the toss and elected to defer. Opening kickoff run back to the 31 for Texas. First play from scrimmage - out route to the sideline for a three-yard loss. (Woody Hayes does not approve.) Ogbonnaya then rips off a fucking huge gain (um, 70-yard pass?) to the Buckeye 5. After doing nothing in a hurry on 1st down, McCoy whips an interception to Lauranitis - in true Tressel fashion, he sits on it in the end zone.

Ohio State hangs Beanie Wells out to dry and Terrelle Pryor can't complete a pass to save his life (yeah, I know). However, 3rd down proves fruitful as he lofts a nice corner route completion - aided in part by a questionable roughing the passer call. Imagine that a few plays in a row are what you expect from a Tressel offense - not terribly exciting at all but somehow continuing to get first downs and positive yardage. There really isn't a lot to see here until a 3rd and 4 when Pryor does his best Rudy Carpenter imitation and gets nailed. However, in a bit of a change from typical Tressel-ball, the ensuing punt sails into the end zone. Texas ball on their 20.

Neither team should look at running the option - they can't do shit with it, at least not now. McCoy bails a nice pass to ...um, one of Texas' FBs (we have no idea) before doing his best Drew Weatherford impression, throwing not one but two passes into triple coverage. The second pass is intercepted and returned for six. 7-0, Buckeyes.

Nice return for Texas to their own 36, followed by a rollout completion (crossing route) for a first down. After another first down, McCoy chucks another jump ball - underthrown and picked by Kurt Coleman. McCoy got the tackle on this one, at least. Buckeye ball....again.

2nd Quarter

We missed a few plays in there between then and the end of the quarter, but there wasn't a whole lot to see. On their first third down, Pryor drops a pass just a little too short - picked off. Apparently both guys think scoring is bullshit.

Texas - first play, big-ass gain to Cosby! First and goal; this time Texas finally learns to NOT FUCKING PASS IT THAT CLOSE - you hear that, Mack? Punched in from the 1 for a tie game at 7.

Ohio State on offense ...again, not too exciting. Really, I could be writing about 4 and 5-yard gains, but you don't want to read about that and I don't want to write about it. Heck, you probably don't want to read this anyway, but it's either this or go back to work - ha! 3rd and 2 is stuffed, resulting in another punt.

Texas ain't doing shit either. They had a nice punt return, but got sacked (next play resulted in a first down, and so did the one after that). Long story short: Ohio State's defense is getting tired - and there it goes! Vondrell McGee takes it in on a 16-yard run to the corner, and it's 14-7 Looooonghorns.

For whatever reason, that score took a bit out of OSU - they don't get shit on their next drive (actually get less than shit - -5 yards) and are forced to punt. Time update: Texas has 1:24 and three timeouts from the Buckeye 43.

Texas nails a huge, huge gain on a pass to Jordan Shipley that barely manages to stay inbounds! Unofficial booth replay confirms the call on the field, and shockingly the confirmed booth replay doesn't even happen (bullshit). However, that's going to be just about it. Field goal attempt before the half - off the upright! Ohio State's ensuing Hail Mary goes nowhere.

3rd Quarter

Well, Ohio State gets the ball first, for all the good it did them. First play from scrimmage, first pass of the second half - it's now 21-7 Texas. At least Ohio State gets another chance. This drive's more like the Buckeye way - except for the 4th down conversion (Tressel would've punted and you know it). I'm missing most of this, since I'm looking for "Don't Cry Out Loud" videos. Actually, I completely missed the drive, but it took half the quarter and resulted in a TD, so this is pretty much Ohio State football. 21-14 OSU.

Texas throws their fourth INT of the game (apparently Ohio State will come back in this game, no matter what the actual gameplay dictates). However, Buckeye goes nowhere fast and gets to punt again, even though the ball is on the Texas 46 - dumped into the end zone again.

Texas once again lucks out on one of those weird barely-got-a-foot-in completions that isn't reviewed. Again. This time it doesn't result in a TD - they have to punt! That's Texas's first punt of the game, although it's far from their only returned possession. Ohio State doesn't doa whole lot before the end of the quarter - I've been saying that a lot lately.

4th Quarter

Finally, a legitimate miscue - Texas' punt returner attempts to run without the ball after the inevitable OSU punt. However, it was recovered by the Longhorns, so no super-excitement there. Possession goes nowhere - punt time! Again.

HUGE return by the Buckeyes to the Longhorn 20! After a couple of runs that go nowhere, Pryor hits a TD pass to Ray Small and we're tied! It's 21-21 with just 3:40 to go in the game.

So that tie game? Never mind. First play from scrimmage is a 65-yard pass to Vondrell McGee .... 28-21.

Ohio State's next possession doesn't go anywhere on the first two plays, but the third down conversion goes for about 18 on a crossing route to Ray Small again. However, Pryor gets sacked on the next play (side note: we have yet to see Boeckman). Jump ball goes nowhere - take note, Jeffy. A huge 3rd and 20 ends up with a 13-yard completion ... and we see a 4th-down attempt! Shotgun snap, 3 WRs.... sacked!

All Texas has to do at this point is run out the clock .. but we're ending up with a 3rd down all the same. Huge option lateral ends up BARELY getting a first down! Ohio State's forced to start spending their timeouts here - actually, scratch that, it won't matter. A facemask penalty kills any shot Ohio State had at winning - and the asshole move of kicking a FG when time expired goes awry.

more ESPN preseason

Two days to kickoff. With nothing but college football on the mind, why not jot some notes down about whatever random stuff I'm reading...

The Herbie Awards

Best QBs: Classic Dropback Style
1. Matt Stafford, Georgia
2. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
3. Curtis Painter, Purdue
4. Nate Davis, Ball State
5. Willie Tuitama, Arizona

Best QBs: New Spread Style
1. Tim Tebow, Florida
2. Chase Daniel, Missouri
3. Pat White, West Virginia
4. Matt Grothe, South Florida
5. Jake Locker, Washington
6. Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan

It's a list of fine quarterbacks, but... anything missing? The almost sure-lock to be the NCAA's passing leader, perhaps? Graham Harrell? He's no more of a "system" QB than Painter or every QB in the second list save for Grothe. Despite Texas Tech running a version of the spread, I'd call him a dropback QB, and place him in the top 3 of that list.

QBs: "What a Difference a Year Makes"
1. Mark Sanchez, Southern California
2. Todd Boeckman, Ohio State
3. Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame
4. Jonathan Crompton, Tennessee
5. Cullen Harper, Clemson
6. Kevin Riley, Cal

Frankly, you're fooling yourself if you think Boeckman, Claussen, or Harper will have better seasons this time around. Actually it'd be tough for Boeckman to improve much statistically, since OSU spent most of last season annihilating teams who don't actually field defensive (or offensive) units.


Don't Get Enough Respect

Entire Wake Forest football team, including head coach Jim Grobe

You've got to be joking. What is there to respect? UConn, Navy, and Florida State were the only teams with a winning record Wake beat last season. Yes you read that correctly, Florida State won 7 out of 13 games last season. A-C-C! In their "great" 2006 season, that list was Boston College, Florida State, Maryland, and Reggie Ball. Congratulations, you play in a conference where anyone the caliber of Texas A&M can win 10 games.

Nick Reed, DE, Oregon
Stafon Johnson, RB, Southern California

Brian Hartline, WR, Ohio State

Okay, playing for Ohio State does not make you good. Reminds me of a writeup I did for the OSU vs Florida game... I talked about Ginn and Holmes as standout receivers, but that Florida had a deeper receiving corps. A Buckeye fan suggests 'don't forget (goes on to list all remaining receivers on OSU depth chart).' Yeah, and Ryan Hamby too, right? I didn't forget them, they're just not great receivers. They're solid but nothing standout. These are those same guys. OSU has a fantastic runningback and offensive line. Because teams have to put 9 in the box to stop them, they occasionally complete passes. For that matter, why is Robiskie listed as the #4 receiver in the country?

Chris Brown, RB, Oklahoma

Again, what has he ever done? Come in and mucked up the offense. Averaged a full 2 ypc less than Allen Patrick and Demarco Murray. 3.9 ypc isn't that great when the two guys above you and the guy below you in total carries all average over 5.8.

Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri
Brian Johnson, QB, Utah


"Fearless" Predictions for 2008

Not so much criticism as much as a summary:
* 4 of the 12 sportswriters/analysts are predicting an Oklahoma vs Ohio State BCS championship. (split 2-2 on who wins) OU and OSU have combined to lose the championship following the 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007 seasons... so this would guarantee them going five for six.
* 9 of the 12 think that the USC/Ohio State winner goes to the big game (6 OSU, 3 USC)
* 7 of the 12 think the SEC champion goes (5 UGA, 2 Florida)
* 7 of the 12 think Oklahoma goes
* Only one other school was even picked to go in anybody's predictions: Missouri, picked to win over USC by Bruce Feldman.

Other patterns/oddities:
* 5 believe that North Carolina wins their division. Not happening.
* One guy, Jim Donnan, believes Wake Forest will win their division. Either he believes Jeff Bowden will take a much more active role in advising his brother, or he's overrating Wake.
* Ohio State, Missouri, Oklahoma, and USC are picked to win their divisions/conferences across the board. 10 of the 12 think OU beats Missouri.
* Despite delusions of UNC rising to the top of their division, Clemson and Va Tech are the only teams picked to actually win the ACC. (9 Clemson, 3 Va Tech)
* Each SEC division has two teams who get picked to win it (Georgia/Florida, Auburn/LSU). But the East team is picked to win every time. (7 Florida, 5 Georgia)
* Of the "Big 6" conferences, only the Big East has three or more teams picked to win their whole conference. (3 Pitt, 3 USF, 6 WVU)

No real point here...