Are You Ready for some American Football? (Part II)

Yesterday, I did a half-assed preview of the NFC and was going to do the AFC before the Rick Nash Sweepstakes came to an end around 3 PM local time.  So, today, here is the AFC preview:

AFC West: This is anyone's division to win.  Denver has the inside track to win, and certainly, Peyton Manning has a lot to do with that optimism.  The questions here are Manning's health (obviously) and whether the wide receivers can learn their routes in time.  After all, when one of your receivers admits to not having to learn routes in the Tim Tebow era, you know there's a problem.  The trendy pick for a bounce back season belongs to Kansas City, and certainly, a solid free-agency period helps.  However, which Matt Cassel will we see this season: the good (2010) or the bad (2011)?  Oakland almost made the playoffs last year and can certainly make the playoffs this year.  It will all depend on Darren McFadden's health though, as there is no insurance behind him.  San Diego is looking to rebound from a terrible season, but who will be the number one receiver?  Offensive line issues could be a factor, as well.

AFC North: Despite Terrell Suggs' injury, Baltimore remains a favorite to repeat as division champions.  Most of the pieces are still in place from last year, and all that separated them from the Super Bowl last year was a dropped catch and a shanked field goal.  Love them or hate them, Pittsburgh is the model of consistency, and it all begins on defense.  Offense is the biggest question mark, as a new coordinator and a muddied running game are concerns.  Cincinnati is not sneaking up on anyone this year, which means Andy Dalton and A.J. Green will get twice the attention.  Both figure to adjust accordingly, but the bigger concern is the secondary.  Pencil Cleveland in as the last place team here.  Far too many questions and unproven players here to even think about a playoff berth.

AFC South: Houston is the head of the class here, and if Matt Schaub can stay healthy, the Texans could make a deep playoff run.  Tennessee is not far behind, but wide receiver issues (namely Kenny Britt and his off the field problems) could derail the team.  Jacksonville is as exciting as watching paint dry, and no one expects them to do anything of note.  At least, there's still Maurice Jones-Drew.  Indianapolis is starting over, and it begins with a little Luck.  Don't expect an immediate resurgence, as the Colts are literally rebuilding, and yes, that includes the offensive and defensive systems.

AFC East: New England is still the king of this hill, and a strong draft suggests that the window of opportunity will still be open, though there is also a sense of urgency with Tom Brady winding down.  Buffalo had a strong start and an equally wretched end.  Mario Williams will help on the defense, but the Bills need a second option at receiver to help Ryan Fitzpatrick.  It would also help if Stevie Johnson could not cost his team a game or two with his on the field antics.  The New York Jets are a far more interesting story off the field than on it.  Quarterback is a mess, and someone should stop shoving a microphone in Santonio Holmes' face, as he hasn't met a mic that he didn't like.  Oh, yeah, and their running game is a mess.  Miami is the bratty kid that desperately seeks attention, but at the end of the day, they will make no impact this year.

Are You Ready For Some (American) Football? (Part I)

On this blog, I rarely ever take the time to talk about American football, as there are many folks who believe they know a lot (cheap plug alert: Head over to Football Nation for your football fix, and be sure to give Justin Henry, one of the contributors there, a hello).  That said, this week begins the training camps for the NFL, which means that I have to give it some kind of coverage, so today, I would like to give some thoughts as to who will win the divisions.

NFC West: San Francisco is the favorite to repeat as champions in this division.  It remains to be seen if Alex Smith can repeat last year's numbers, but as long as the defense is great, a repeat is likely.  Seattle has a chance, but it also needs to solve its QB problem and brace for a possible Marshawn Lynch suspension for DWI.  St. Louis sounds like a trendy pick for a surprise run, but it does have wide receiver problems, as in who is their number one.  Arizona needs to figure out if Kevin Kolb is the solution at QB.

NFC North: Green Bay tried shoring up its defensive deficiencies this offseason, and if it happens as planned, then they should be division champions again.  After all, Aaron Rodgers is still the quarterback and a running game is optional.  Detroit should be in hot pursuit, but discipline problems both on and off the field may conspire to keep them from reaching their potential.  Chicago needs receivers, and Brandon Marshall goes a long way in solving that problem.  However, Jay Cutler needs to be more consistent.  Minnesota is rebuilding, so expecting them to be anywhere near a playoff spot is unrealistic at this point.

NFC South: If you had to pick a division in the NFC where anyone could win it, this is it.  Atlanta is the prohibitive favorite, with a sterling offense and a decent defense.  However, Matt Ryan needs to take his game to the next level if the Falcons want to be anything more than a one and done.  New Orleans is facing an uphill battle both on and off the field, and Bounty-Gate has a lot to do with it.  At least they still have Drew Brees.  If there was a window of opportunity for Carolina to seize the NFC South, this is the year.  One of their running backs is likely going to walk after the season, be it DeAngelo Williams or Jonathan Stewart, and Cam Newton will look to prove himself again.  Tampa Bay is out for redemption after a diarrhea-inducing season that saw them lose their last 10 games of the season.  Discipline will be at the forefront, which means the likes of Aqib Talib better straighten up or else...

NFC East: Philadelphia is out to prove that last year was not them, and certainly, not having Vince "Dream Team" Young will help, as will locking up DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy long term.  It's all on Michael Vick to be healthy and productive.  The New York Giants will look to repeat as Super Bowl Champions, but the road will not be easy, as their running game is a question mark, and Victor Cruz will not sneak up on anyone this year.  There's still a good defense and Eli Manning, which means expectations will remain high.  Despite what the big networks say, Dallas is not the team they think they are.  Far too many questions at wide receiver (can Dez Bryant and Miles Austin play to their full potential) could derail any hopes for a playoff berth.  Tony Romo doesn't deserve all of the criticism he gets, but the pressure is on him to get the Cowboys deep in the playoffs this year.  Washington is unlikely to make the playoffs this year, but Robert Griffin III will be must-see TV.  Washington fans should be excited this year, if nothing else.

(International) Football in Kansas City

I haven't had much in the way of hockey news lately, and until the Nash/Ryan/Luongo/Semin shoe drops, it appears that I will only hear about the signings of minor significance.  My baseball coverage is still sorely lacking despite promising quite a bit during All-Star week, so no more promises on that until I can swing by the Negro Leagues Museum, since Kansas City has a rich history in baseball.

As you may have figured by the picture above, today, I will be talking a little football.  No, not the one most Americans think of, but rather the sport everyone not in the United States calls football.  As for a specific subject, today will be all about football in Kansas City.

Kansas City Comets 1979-91

The origins of football in Kansas City date as far back as 1981, when the Comets played indoors.  Prior to 1981, the team that became the Comets played their first year as the Detroit Lightning and their second year as the San Francisco Fog.  From 1981 until they folded in 1991, the Comets would play their home games at Kemper Arena and made the playoffs seven of the ten years in existence.  However, the drop in revenue forced the team to fold after the 1990-91 season.

Kansas City Attack (1991-2001), Comets (2001-05)

Almost immediately after the Comets folded, Kansas City got another indoor football team in the Attack of the NPSL.  Originally the Atlanta Attack, that franchise moved to Kansas City after two years in Atlanta.  That franchise won the championship in the 1992-93 and 1996-97 seasons.  After the 2000-01 season, the NPSL folded and the Attack would form a new MISL with the leftover teams from the NPSL.  That move saw the team rename itself the Comets, albeit with a new logo.  That team would not see the league fold in 2008, as the Comets would cease after 2005.

Missouri Comets 2010-present

A brand new MISL formed in 2008 and in 2010, the Comets name would make a return, though they would become known as the Missouri Comets, complete with original logo.  This current Comets team calls the Independence Events Center home.

Kansas City Wiz 1996

Major League Soccer would make its maiden voyage in 1996 and Kansas City has been a part of the league from the very beginning, though it did undergo two different name changes.  The first incarnation of the Kansas City franchise was known as the Wiz.  No, not the Wizards (though that would be rectified the following year), but the Wiz.  Imagine the jokes to come from that name.  The team itself actually made the Conference Finals that year, losing out to the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Kansas City Wizards 1997-2010

The team would become the Kansas City Wizards, ending an error that spawned many jokes about the name.  They would have some horrible years, but with an MLS Cup in 2000 and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2004, it's safe to say the Wizards had some success.

Sporting Kansas City 2011-present

In 2011, the franchise was rebranded as Sporting Kansas City.  To date, Sporting has had some great success, which has largely coincided with the new Livestrong Park that opened in the middle of the 2011 season.  I know there were (and still are) people that hate the name change, but I am not one of them.  The name Sporting Kansas City rolls off the tongue and presents some new marketing opportunities (many of them, remain unused).  Given that they're winning...a lot, I don't hear many complaints now, which goes to show that winning does indeed solve a lot of problems.

Cascadia Success

In the most recent chapter in the Cascadian rivalry between the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders, the Timbers managed to hang on to a 2-1 victory over the Sounders.  The first half was all Timbers, as Kris Boyd and David Horst staked the Timbers to a 2-0 lead.  The second half had the Sounders respond with a goal from Eddie Johnson and the Sounders threw everything at the Timbers in the closing minutes, only to have the rally fall short.  This rivalry is far from over, as red cards were handed out to a member of each team close to stoppage time.  This was a much needed win for the Timbers, who had been on a seven match winless streak.

Timber!

Today is the first game of the season between Cascadian rivals Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders.  The rivalry, which also includes the Vancouver Whitecaps for what is called the Cascadian Cup, predates the Major League Soccer days for all three teams.  Today promises to be a lively one at Jeld-Wen Field, and there is no love lost for the team three hours north.

Knockout Time!

Now that the Euro 2012 tournament is entering the knockout round, here are the matchups and who I think will advance.

Greece is taking on Germany, and while Greece played their best match against Russia, Germany has found their touch, getting all nine possible points.  Safe money says Germany here.  Portugal squares off with the Czech Republic, and both are on two match winning streaks.  Is Portugal playing to the ridiculously high expectations finally, or is it the Czech Republic's time?  I think this will be a good one, but take Portugal, as they played Germany well in the tournament.  England takes on Italy, and it looks like England has put the controversies behind them.  However, they almost always play down to the competition.  Italy hasn't been spectacular, and they have blown chances when given them.  Take the arrogant bastards from England.  France and Spain squares off, and both teams are not playing their best.  France lost to a Sweden team that had nothing to play for, and Spain has clearly let the injuries affect them.  However, Spain has too much talent to not win this matchup, so go with them.

No Luck

It wasn't a very good Euro 2012 Tournament for the Republic of Ireland football team, as they were the first team to be eliminated...and they still have one game to play against Italy.  This was the most expected result, as Spain, Italy, and dark horse Croatia are all in the same group.  However, losing 3-1 to Croatia and 4-0 to Spain exposes all that is wrong with the Republic of Ireland team, namely the lack of talent.  Their system is one of defense and everything having to go right.  Unfortunately, that got exposed in a hurry against Croatia and when it came time to face Spain, it was over before it began because Spain was not in a good mood after blowing their chances in a 1-1 tie against Italy.  It is a Euro 2012 that Ireland would love to forget, after a decade of not being in any tournament of consequence, only to be blasted into oblivion.

As for the rest of the group, Italy needs to win and hope that either Spain or Croatia win.  An Italy loss or tie or Italy win and Spain/Croatia tie would see Spain and Croatia advance.

Halfway Through the First Round

This morning marks the halfway point of the first round of Euro 2012 action, and by the slimmest of margins, all the teams are still in the hunt for advancement.  Group A has Russia still in the catbird seat with 4 points.  However, they could have been through had they not let Poland back into the last game.  Speaking of Poland, they are third with 2 points, behind Russia and the Czech Republic, the latter getting a much needed win.  Greece is still in it with 1 point, but need to beat Russia and have Poland win their matchup against the Czech Republic.  Poland needs a win to advance, the Czech Republic needs a tie and a Russia tie against Greece or win outright to advance, and Russia needs at least a tie to advance.

Group B is a little more clear cut, as the Netherlands needs to win and have Germany win by two goals (a lot to ask for, but Manchester City did it against Manchester United in the English Premier League), Portugal simply needs to win or tie and have Germany win, Denmark needs a win and a Netherlands win, and Germany needs a minimum of a tie to advance.

Groups C and D

I finished to book I was reading, and will have a review of that tomorrow.  In the meantime, kickoff for the first game today is in half an hour, so here's my take on Groups C and D.

Group C has Spain and Italy clashing in what is a matchup of the last two World Cup champions, with Spain also being the reigning Euro champions.  Spain is missing two key players in David Villa and Carles Puyol, so repeating this year in the Euros will be a tall task.  Italy is a perennial powerhouse that clearly will be tested because their defense is a sore point.  Croatia and Ireland meet later today, and if you're looking for a dark horse, Croatia is it.  Seemingly, there is a surprise team from the southeastern part of Europe (Bulgaria in 2002 World Cup, Greece in Euro 2004, Turkey in Euro 2008), and Croatia has pulled a surprise or two in their history.  Ireland should have made the World Cup in 2010 if not for a missed call on a handball on France.  Sadly, Ireland is the long shot here, and it's doubtful either Spain or Italy will whiff on their opportunities to advance to the knockout round.

Group D has France and England as the early matchup Monday.  France is looking for redemption after a lackluster 2010 World Cup in which things got ugly for them to the point of having to fly back home in coach.  If France isn't motivated by this embarrassment, then it's time to rethink things here.  England has its own share of problems as far as injuries and controversy go.  Like France, England has a lot to lose if they don't advance to the knockout rounds.  Sweden takes on Ukraine in the later game, and Sweden has a good chance of advancing if both France and England take each other out.  The Ukraine is the ultimate long shot, but as one of the hosts, they should have the home field advantage, so anything is possible with them.

As far as who I have advancing, I take Greece and Russia from Group A, Germany and the Netherlands in Group B, Spain and Croatia in Group C, and Sweden and France in Group D.

Assessing Groups A and B

Since Euro 2012 began yesterday, I did not get a chance to talk about it in earnest, as the Stanley Cup Finals are still going on.  No, the two mascots are not playing, and truthfully, they're more frightening than anything.  So, the first matches of the teams in Groups A and B were completed, so I will look at what each team did in their first matches and their outlooks for their next two matches.

First, the teams in Group A.  Greece and Poland tied 1-1, but Poland blew their chances to score at least two or three more goals in the first half, and Greece blew a chance at a 2-1 lead on a penalty kick after goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was sent off with a red card for tripping up Dimitrios Salpigidis in the box as Salpigidis was threatening to score a goal.  Giorgos Karagounis took the penalty shot, but backup goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton made the save.  Russia dominated the Czech Republic 4-1 behind two goals from Alan Dzagoev.  If Russia plays this well without superstar Andrei Arshavin contributing, the Russians could be a factor in the knockout rounds.

Group B saw the first major upset, as the Danish side clean sheeted the Netherlands 1-0.  Michael Krohn-Delhi provided the difference in the 25th minute, and the Dutch side could not put in their chances.  Germany didn't play particularly well, but a header by Mario Gomez in the 71st minute ensured that they would enter their match against the Netherlands with three points.  Portugal has been perennial underachievers despite the talent level, and it looks like after missing chance after chance in the game, I would not be surprised if Portugal does not make it out of group play.  After all, the Dutch will be doubly motivated against Germany, the Danish have a lot of confidence after upsetting the 2010 World Cup runners-up, and the Germans are in the catbird seat in the group.

I'll try to get analysis for Groups C and D before the games begin tomorrow, but if I don't, expect them after the first games have been competed for both groups.

Euro 2012

As the hockey season winds down and the awards and NHL draft loom, there is another sport that will take over headlines this month in the Euro 2012 tournament.  It actually began yesterday, so to get you up to speed, Group A saw Poland and Greece tie 1-1 and Russia blow out the Czech Republic 4-1.  Group B sees Denmark looking for an upset of the Netherlands (as of this moment) and Germany take on Portugal in what is termed "the Group of Death."  Group C has Ireland, Croatia, Italy, and the defending champions (both the Euro and World Cup tournaments) Spain and Group D has France, Ukraine, Sweden, and England.

I'll break down each group in subsequent pieces, but for now, you are all caught up on Euro 2012.

Retro Kits

As you may or may not know based on the colors this blog is sporting, they are representative of the Portland Timbers football club of the MLS (I refuse to use the phrase "soccer" for the most part).  Yesterday, the team announced a third jersey to be worn for the team's second season in the league, and as you can see, it goes back to their roots from the NASL days.  Yes, that includes the unfortunate Alaska Airlines logo.  Now, this part is no indictment on the Airlines itself, but rather the idea that most football kits have to have the sponsor on the front of the jerseys.  Granted, it is big money in most of the world, but the idea of even having a sponsor on the front of the jerseys simply cheapens the entire look.  Having said that, it won't necessarily stop me from buying the jerseys of the teams I love.  As for the rest of the Timbers' alternate, the collar is a decent touch, and the lighter shade of green certainly screams retro.  It also shows just that the Timbers franchise (all four incarnations) have come a long way since their beginnings in the 70's.  Overall, it's not a bad effort, but I hope it doesn't bump the Rose City kits from rotation, though.  Those are truly one of the most unique kits in football today.

Timbers Thoughts

Last night was one of those rare moments when I could break out my Portland Timbers shirt and have it actually be relevant.  You see, they were in town last night to take on Sporting KC (I don't get all those who think that name sucks because it actually rolls off the tongue, but I digress).  Some of the personnel was actually in town the day before the game, and I was quite fortunate to procure an autograph from one of them (the goalkeeper coach).  The day of the match, I also happened to see one of the players at a coffee shop.  Given my nature, I didn't approach him, as I figured he was busy with whatever it was he was doing.  As luck had it, he approached me, since he had to notice the Timbers shirt I was wearing, and a few short words later, I wished him and the team luck.  Unfortunately, the Timbers didn't do so well, losing 3-1 and avoiding a clean sheet in the 81' minute.  The other big story out of the game: Bobble Head Gate.  Last night was Omar Bravo (a Sporting KC player) Bobble Head night, so some lucky fans that were there early enough received their own.  To make a long story short, two idiots (no word on who they were rooting for) decided to throw their bobble heads onto the pitch after a Sporting KC goal, one of which hit Sporting KC goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen.  Neilsen would stay in the game, but the fuckwits who threw the bobble heads were taken out in handcuffs and are now banned from Livestrong Park (the Sporting KC venue).  As someone who has been to the new venue, I can say that hopefully, this incident should not take away from what truly is a great experience where every seat is a good one.  However, idiots like those who threw the bobble heads will not be tolerated, and the surrounding fans let that be known, so I give praise to those who are actually there to enjoy the game.  And how stupid must those two feel, to know that they can never attend another event at Livestrong Park and almost cost Sporting KC (their own team, for fuck's sake) a chance at making their playoffs.

Football Talk

In the year and two months that I have written this blog, it seems that the one sport that I haven't ever talked about is American football.  It's something of an anomaly, since I talk about pro wrestling once in a while on here, and even bring up the subject of world football from time to time.  Well, I am going to fix that, and being that tonight is the first round of the circus that is the NFL Draft, I figure to try something a little different: some actual live blogging of the events tonight.  So, watch this space, if you care...

The following will be updated as they happen.  The team, the pick, and a one sentence thought about the pick will be the norm here.

The NFL Draft

*Kansas City and Baltimore switched picks

1. Carolina-Cam Newton, QB Auburn
The sexy pick with a lot of risk, but a lot of reward.

2. Denver-Von Miller, OLB Texas A&M
Will help a horrible Denver defense.

3. Buffalo-Marcell Dareus, DT Alabama
Will plug the middle of the defensive line for a porous Buffalo defense.

4. Cincinnati-A.J. Green, WR Georgia
Will help whoever is QB as a deep threat and great hands.

5. Arizona-Patrick Peterson, CB LSU
Best player in the draft, he will provide Arizona with two good corners along with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

6. Cleveland (traded to Atlanta)-Julio Jones, WR Alabama
Should be good opposite Roddy White, and will be another weapon on a Falcons offense that already has Tony Gonzalez, Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and White.

7. San Francisco-Aldon Smith, DE Missouri
A major reach, the Niners could have traded down and still got him.

8. Tennessee-Jake Locker, QB Washington
Not as high of a ceiling as Blaine Gabbert, but ran a pro style offense and played well despite subpar team.

9. Dallas-Tyron Smith, OT USC
Dallas needed offensive line help, and Smith should help.

10. Washington (traded to Jacksonville)-Blaine Gabbert, QB Missouri
Jacksonville has their QB of the future and doesn't have to rush him into the starter's role.

11. Houston-J.J. Watt, DE Wisconsin
Houston needed a cornerback, but good depth has Houston picking the best player available and a potential bookend with Mario Williams.

12. Minnesota-Christian Ponder, QB Florida St.
Major reach, but given the uncertainty of the free agency season beginning, the Vikings had to make this choice, and they don't have many other glaring needs.

13. Detroit-Nick Fairley, DT Auburn
Needed offensive line help, but Fairley could be a steal here, and playing next to N'Damukong Suh is an added bonus.

14. St. Louis-Robert Quinn, DE North Carolina
Pass rusher, will add to the edge and was the best player at this spot, despite not playing last year due to NCAA discipline.

15. Miami-Mike Pouncey, C/G Florida
Miami needed help running the ball, and Pouncey will open holes for whoever is in the backfield.

16. Jacksonville (traded to Washington)-Ryan Kerrigan, DE/OLB Purdue
Needed offensive help, but Kerrigan is a high effort player who will take pressure away from Brian Orakpo in the 3-4 as a linebacker.

17. New England-Nate Solder, OT Colorado
Needed a running back, but Solder will be opening holes for whoever runs the ball and will be allowed to develop behind veteran group.

18. San Diego-Corey Liuget, DT Illinois
Will fill a major need in the middle of the defensive line for the Chargers.

19. NY Giants-Prince Amukamara, CB Nebraska
Surprised he fell this far, the Giants went with the best player at this point, but could have picked an offensive lineman.

20. Tampa Bay-Adrian Clayborn, DE Iowa
Fills a need on the defensive line and figures to be a major player alongside Gerald McCoy.

21. Kansas City (traded to Cleveland)-Phil Taylor, DT Baylor
On a team that needed help in a lot of places, Taylor could be a central figure on the defensive line.

22. Indianapolis-Anthony Castonzo, OT Boston College
Offensive line was a mess, and Castonzo figures to be a solution to that problem.

23. Philadelphia-Danny Watkins, G Baylor
Philadelphia needed offensive line help, and Watkins provides just that.

24. New Orleans-Cameron Jordan, DE California
Needed a running back, but the Saints go for a defensive end who was the best available here and won't be rushed into a starting role.

25. Seattle-James Carpenter-G/T Alabama
A reach pick, since there were better options here, but given Seattle's O-line troubles, he could pan out as a guard.

*26. Baltimore-Jimmy Smith, DB Colorado
Baltimore needed secondary help on an otherwise great defense, and Smith will help here.

*27. Atlanta (Traded to Kansas City via Cleveland)-Jon Baldwin, WR Pittsburgh
With O-line depth in the draft, the Chiefs decided to address this need later in favor of a receiver who provides a big target.

28. New England (traded to New Orleans)-Mark Ingram, RB Alabama
Saints get their running back by trading up.

29. Chicago-Gabe Carimi-OT Wisconsin
An ever-revolving door on the offensive line should be eased with Carimi on board.

30. NY Jets-Muhammad Wilkerson, DT Temple
The Jets need a guy to plug the middle of the D-line, and they get just that with Wilkerson.

31. Pittsburgh-Cameron Heyward, DE Ohio St.
Needed secondary help big time, but the D-line isn't getting any younger, and not enough young talent to fill those voids.

32. Green Bay-Derrick Sherrod, OT Mississippi St.
Despite high-powered offense, the O-line is still a glaring hole, and Sherrod will provide youth on a team needing it at that position.