Yankee power too much for Minnesota team that wastes scoring opportunities

Observations of game two between the Twins and the Yankees.

Watching the Yankees win their second straight game wasn’t a surprise considering how they’ve dominated Minnesota in New York this season.  Watching Joe Nathan blow a save was.

The Twins failure to capitalize on run scoring opportunities time and time again was the difference.  A blown call by left field umpire Phil Cuzzi in the top of the 11th didn’t help Minnesota either.  On a ball clearly fair down the left field line off the bat of Joe Mauer, Cuzzi missed both the ball hitting Melky Cabrerra’s glove and landing in fair territory.   Later the Twins loaded the bases with no one out, but couldn’t score.

You can’t hit a ball harder than Mark Teixeira did to lead off the bottom of the 11th with a  line drive homer that scrapped the top of the left field wall.  He blistered it.

For the first time in his career, Alex Rodriguez is playing up to his regular season level with his post season play.  Down 3-1 in the ninth, Rodriguez hit a game tying two run shot off Nathan, his third RBI of the game and 5th in two contests.

Joe Girardi went through his pitching staff like sunflower seeds, using eight on the night, but all that mattered was New York had won the game and held a 2-0 lead in the series. 

There are just way too many good hitters in the Yankees lineup.

Kansas needs statement win on Saturday

It may seem little early to be saying this, but Kansas needs a win tomorrow against Iowa State and they need to make a statement in doing so.  It’s only the conference opening game for the Jayhawks, but after Nebraska’s stunning come from behind win against Missouri on Thursday night, the Hawks need to show they’re ready to stake their claim as the Big 12 north frontrunner with a convincing homecoming show against the Cyclones.

Kansas has had a week off to rest and prepare for Iowa State.  The Cyclones are coming off a hard fought loss to K-State.  It should mean an impressive victory for the Jayhawks.  But you have only to look at last year and the 20-0 deficit that KU had to rally from in Ames to know otherwise.

Iowa State has a new coach and Kansas coach Mark Mangino says he’s impressed with how Paul Rhodes and his staff have produced a disciplined teams that plays to their teams strengths.  That’s been running the football behind and big physical offensive line.

Running back Alexander Robinson missed much of last week’s game but should be back for at least part time work in the backfield for ISU.  Quarterback Austen Arnaud is a veteran who can run and throw, but his passing game has been reined in by the coaches so far this season.

Kansas would like to run the ball effectively again this week and hope to have Jake Sharp back in the backfield to go with Freshman Toben Opurum, who’s filled in admirably the past two games.  Mangino says he’s unlikely to play Sharp unless he’s proven he’s 100 percent healthy for the game. 

The KU offensive line needs to rebound from a subpar performance protecting Todd Reesing against Southern Mississippi.  They allowed five sacks in the game.  All this still  says to me the Jayhawks will win by about a 45-21 margin.  The KU defense is just too good, particularly at home.

More importantly for KU, they want to let Nebraska know that to win the north you have to win in Lawrence.

Can the Chiefs eliminate mistakes this week against the Cowboys?

As the week has rolled on as bleak as things have been in the first four weeks of the season, there seems to be more of a feeling that the Chiefs have a chance against the Cowboys when they come Arrowhead on Sunday.  

Part of that is based on the perception that Dallas QB Tony Romo will somehow find a way to hand the game to the Chiefs.  One can only hope.  The truth of the matter is that despite the Cowboys 2-2 record, they are a significantly better team than the Chiefs and to date Kansas City has done little to prove that they can beat anyone who’s talent level is higher than their own.

The Kansas City offense is still struggling under the play calling of Todd Haley.  Is it based on the fact they’ve changed so much fundamentally in the offensive scheme since Haley took over as offensive coordinator or is it just the matter the talent can’t do what they’re being asked?

Haley says the talent is there.  But the mistakes that have consistently haunted the Chiefs in the first four weeks must be eliminated.  That starts with penalties and plays that lose yardage.  You can’t even hope to win when 19 percent of your offensive plays have produced negative yardage.  Sacks, runs for losses, penalties, oh and let’s not forget critical turnovers like the opening kickoff against the Giants.

I’ll be the first to say I believe Haley has the right overall approach to how to this team around.  It’s just a very painful process and doesn’t appear to be any easier this week for the Chiefs.  Still, they get a Dallas team at home coming off a disappointing loss in Denver.  The stage could be set for an upset.

To get it done, KC needs to come out physical from the outset, eliminate the penalties and missed assignments that have put them in the hole so often this season and the offensive line needs to give Matt Cassel time to throw.  Defensively, pressuring Romo is the key.  If you make him hurry, he makes mistakes.  Then you have to capitalize.

Will they do it?  Who knows.  Just when you think you know what you’re going to get from this team, they’ll probably surprise us.  

Huskers rally for stunning victory over Mizzou

For three quarters, Missouri’s defense totally shutdown the Nebraska offense and held a 12-0 lead in a heavy downpour Thursday night in Columbia, Missouri.  But the tide and momentum turned dramatically when Cornhusker quarterback Zac Lee hit Niles Paul for a 56 yard scoring strike with 13:56 to go in the game.  It was like lightning from the sky.  From that moment on the Tigers were swept up in a tidal wave that ended in a 27-12 Nebraska victory.

With the score 12-7, Husker standout tackle Ndamukong Suh leaped at the line of scrimmage and intercepted a Blaine Gabbert pass on the Tigers 18.  Two pays later the Huskers had taken the lead on a Lee to Paul 13 yard pass.  The Missouri lead had disappeared in 1:02.

On the next possession, Gabbert threw his second interception as Dijon Gomes picked off a pass at midfield and returned it 40 yards to the Tigers 10.  When Lee beat a Missouri blitz to loft an 8 yard score to Mike McNeill for his third TD pass this game was over.  Their third TD in three and a half minutes.

Missouri won 45 minutes of the contest, but they were blown out in the last 15.  It could be 15 minutes that will haunt them for the rest of the season.

Rush is getting what he wants even if he doesn't buy the Rams

I was going to write about the recent news that Rush Limbaugh and Dave Checketts are making an attempt to buy the St. Louis Rams football team, but instead I'm just going to repost an opinion piece written by Roman Oben, a recently retired 12 year veteran player of the NFL.  You can read it here. http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/panelists/2009/10/rush-limbaugh-st-louis-rams-oben.html

The numbers point to a Tiger win Thursday in Columbia

The nation’s college football eyes will be focused on Columbia, Missouri Thursday night as the unbeaten Tigers play host to the once beaten Nebraska Cornhuskers.  The winner in this game gets a leg up in the Big 12 north race by taking out one of the top contenders in their conference opener.

For Mizzou this rates as a more important game if for no other reason than the fact the rest of their conference schedule sets up more difficult for them road wise than the Cornhuskers.  A loss in this game at home and they have to find a way to beat either Texas or Oklahoma State to probably have a shot at the division title.

There’s been a lot of talk over the last week that the Tigers have to run to win the game.  I won’t dispute that, but the Tigers have had success running against Nebraska.  Three of the last four years Missouri has rushed for over 195 yards against the Big Red.   Derrick Washington and the Tigers have had at least 460 yards in total offense in three of those four contests.

I know, Blaine Gabbert wasn’t the quarterback in any of those games, but as coach Gary Pinkel says, he’s got poise you rarely find in player.  He’s averaging 290 yards a game through the air and has thrown 11 TD’s and no interceptions.  At 6-5, 240 lbs, he’s also tough as nails to bring down and will run the ball.

Supporters of Nebraska will point out the Huskers outplayed Virginia Tech on the road and only lost by a point.  So.  It was still a loss.  They still haven’t beaten a top 20 team away from Lincoln in 12 years. Cornhusker QB Zac Lee was just 11 of 30 with 2 picks against the Hokies.   

Even though Nebraska is allowing just 7 points per game and 115 yards on the ground, the defense broke down when it could least afford it against V-Tech.  Until they prove they can do it on the road, you’re not going to get me to back Nebraska.  Remember this stat.  The Tigers have outscored the Huskers 154 to 81 over the past four seasons.

It may not be as high scoring a game this time around, but I’m taking the Tigers, 27-21.

Metrodome sucks for baseball but it's a great home field advantage

If you’ve ever been to the Metrodome in Minneapolis and watched a baseball game, you’ll understand what I’m about to say.  It is possibly the worst stadium ever conceived with baseball in mind.  I say possibly because Tropicana Field where the Tampa Bay Rays play sucks too.  

The Metrodome is nothing more than an indoor football stadium that has put up with baseball for 28 seasons.  It’s still hard to believe they actually designed it with baseball in mind as well.  The seats are set up at angles that point you away from the infield.  It has a baggy for an outfield wall.  Even fans at ground level aren’t close to the ground.

But here’s what the Metrodome has.  A team that just won’t quit.  White hanky waving fans that can turn the volume up to an ear splitting level indoors that will shake through your body and exit from your toes.     

Just when you thought the Metrodome was seeing its’ final days of baseball, the Twins put on a furious stretch run and caught the Tigers for a one game playoff.  Then they put on a show to remember in game 163 of the season, rallying time and time again before claiming the AL Central title.

In winning, the Twins became the first team in history to come from three games back with four to play.  So the Metrodome will see at least one more baseball game.  One more crowd  of 55,000 screaming, hanky waving Norwegians.  That damn stadium just won’t die.  It’s like the chainsaw wielding nut job in the horror movie that keeps coming back after the girl just when you thought he’d been killed.

Personally, I can’t wait until next season when the Twins open their new outdoor stadium and you can come to Minnesota and watch baseball under the clear northern skies.  Even if it’s freezing in the spring.  

In the meantime, just like the rest of the nation, I’ll watch with envy as the Twins make that stinking Metrodome stadium come alive again.      

Big 12's Non-conference stature not high after last week

Last week wasn’t very impressive for the Big 12.  Oklahoma loses again and loses another offensive player.  Texas A&M gets their head handed to them on a platter by Arkansas,  Colorado gets beat by West Virginia.  What am I saying.....that wasn’t even a surprise, but it was another non conference black eye.

But there were some interesting games.  Baylor managed to win despite the fact they’re down to their 3rd team quarterback.  Kansas State got a conference opening win for only the second time in the last nine years by the length of a hand that blocked a game tying PAT in the final minute against Iowa State.  Texas Tech rolled out another QB when Taylor Potts went down and still won, but all in all not a good week.

OU has now dropped two games by a total of 2 points and they are without their Heisman Trophy QB, All American tight end and have now lost their leading wide receiver Ryan Broyles to a fractured shoulder for four to five weeks.  

Yeah, being Bob Stoops kinda sucks right now.  He’s tired of questions about whether Sam Bradford will be back this week, saying he doesn’t know, although I’m thinking he he’s praying he will.  He gets a Baylor team that will put up a fight, but the Sooner defense should be enough.

Interesting stat.  Stoops has lost 26 games at OU.  Four have been by one point and two by two points.

Colorado plays host to Texas this week and a win might be the only thing that can save Dan Hawkins, but the Buffs give up big plays, lots of them.  The average TD Colorado’s allowed from scrimmage has covered 28 yards.  Texas averages 50 points per game and 12 of their TD’s cover 20 or more yards.

The Big 12 north is where the real action is this week.  Unbeaten Missouri and their sensational QB Blaine Gabbert will host once beaten Nebraska Thursday night for a chance to get a leg up in the division race.  We’ll take an in depth look at this game on Thursday, but suffice it to say Missouri may need this win more than the Big Red at this point.

The other unbeaten north team,16th ranked Kansas hosts Iowa State in their homecoming affair on Saturday morning.  The Jayhawks have had a week off to prepare for the Cyclones and should be at full strength for the contest.

K-State travels to Lubbock where despite the chance Tech will have Steven Sheffield at quarterback the Red Raider offense isn’t likely to slow down. I don’t see the Wildcats able to keep up on the road.

Speaking of slowdown, I’m expecting a track meet in College Station when the Aggies host Oklahoma State.  The Cowboys have had a week to work out whatever problems have plagued their offense to date and A&M showed no ability to slow down a good offense in their loss to Arkansas. 

This week the family feuds begin.

Things are likely to uglier for he Chiefs. But what did you expect?

As panic sets in with Chiefs fans and the media, let’s take a step back and look at the facts.  

1. The Chiefs are 0-4 and have yet to win even an exhibition game under new coach Todd Haley.
2. The offense has had less than 200 yards total offense in three of four games.
3. They’ve passed for less than 100 net yards in two of four games.  
4. Their third down efficiency is so small you need a microscope to find it. 9 of 51.
5. Matt Cassel is averaging 5.1 yards per completion.  Only two QB’s are worse.  Marc Bulger and JaMarcus Russell.

I could fill the rest of this story with more information that proves the Chiefs stink.  We all get it.  But here’s the deal.  Did anyone think Kansas City would be any better than 1-3 after the first four games?  If you did, you’re delirious.  

That said, you would hope that you’d be seeing some progress from week to week.  Offensively, there’s been none.  The line is awful.  Larry Johnson is giving effort, but there’s little room to run.  Cassel looks lost, but I’m going to give him a bit of a pass.

He missed part of camp with his knee injury.  His receiving corps has been a revolving door and I dare anyone to say they’d like to stand behind that line for one pass play, much less an entire game’s worth.

Todd Haley’s offensive play calling has left everyone scratching their heads to date.  I’d like to see him stick with one plan, whatever it is and try and let his offense build some confidence.

The defense didn’t actually play that poorly against the Giants.  They forced a couple of turnovers and had a couple more sacks, but still don’t put enough pressure on the QB.

Bottom line for me is their talent level is lacking in way too many positions on the field.  Players like Jamaal Charles, who has shown flashes, commit waaay too many errors to stay on this team.  I won’t be surprised to see him let go.

This could go even farther south on the Chiefs and Haley, but everyone knew the first half of the Chiefs schedule was brutal and KC could easily be 1-7 at the midway point.  Nobody wants to admit it, but that’s a fact as well.  

You can argue that Haley should be doing a better job of coaching up the talent he has.  I prefer to see players step up and play like they belong in the NFL.  This team went 2-14 last year and everyone was crying for things to be blown up when it was over.  Well it’s happened and nobody should expect a yellow brick road on the way to the Emerald City.

Mistakes kill the Chiefs from the outset against the Giants

It was a beautiful day in Kansas City, but the weather was the only thing going the right way for the Chiefs today.  From the opening kickoff which was fumbled away by Jamaal Charles to a methodical Giants team that pounded out over 150 yards on the ground and effectively moved the ball through the air, the Chiefs were of little match for the NFL’s best team at the moment.  Kansas City fell to 0-4 and New York went to 4-0 with a 27-16 victory.

Charles fumble led to a New York TD.  Eli Manning to Steve Smith for a 3 yard score and 7-0 lead.  KC cut it to 7-3 with a Ryan Succop 34 yard FG following a Tamba Hali sack and forced fumble and that was the on;y scoring in the first quarter.

A controversial personal foul call on Jerrod Page early in the 2nd quarter for hitting Smith in the head while breaking up a pass set up the next score.  Replays showed a legal shoulder to shoulder hit by Page.  Manning made KC pay when he hit Smith on the next play from 25 yards out on a pass over the middle to make it 14-3. 

An interception of Manning by Brandon Flowers off a deflection halted one Giant drive, but Kansas City couldn’t capitalize.  In fact other than some solid running from Larry Johnson, the Chiefs could do little offensively for most the game.  For the second week in a row the New York defense was outstanding.  KC was held to 3 first half first downs and less than 100 yards in total offense.

Manning led a final two minute drive of 81 yards for a 25 yard Lawrence Tynes field goal to end the half with a 17-3 lead. 

Needing any break they could get, Chiefs coach Todd Haley attempted an onside kick to start the second half, but New York recovered and Tynes ended up hitting a 40 yard FG for a 20-3 lead.  Later, he missed a 38 yarder.

Manning suffered a non contact injury to his right foot early in the 4th quarter.  While stepping forward to throw he jumped off his plant foot like he’d hurt his achilles.  He stayed in the game and next play tossed a short pass to Hakeem Nicks who turned it into a 54 yard touchdown run and a 27-3 New York lead.

After inspection, the Giants medical staff reported Manning had a bruised heel.  He didn’t return to the game and finished with 292 yards, three TD’s and a pick.  

Kansas City scored their first TD midway through the 4th quarter and the Giants gave up their first in seven quarters when Cassel capped an 11 play 48 yard drive with a one yard TD Pass to Sean Ryan. A two point conversion attempt failed. 27-9.

A 43 yard pass from Cassel to Ryan set up a 2 yard TD pass to Bobby Wade on 4th down and KC cut the lead to 27-16 with just under 5 minutes to go.

That was where it would finish.  27-16 New York.  Smith had a huge day for the Giants with 11 receptions for 134 yards and two TD’s.  Jacobs had 87 yards on the ground Bradshaw 64.

The Giants defense held KC to 232 yards in total offense.  Larry Johnson had 53 on the ground.  Cassel 127 in the air.  Most of that in the 4th quarter.  The bright spot for KC was their fourth quarter play and two TD’s even though it was too late and didn't matter.  The big concern for the Giants is what is Eli Manning’s condition.  He’s started the last 75 straight game for New York.

For Todd Haley, it's a steep hill ahead.  "We're probably worst case scenario right now."  Yep, it is.