December 4, 2014
SPORTSCENTRAL
This week’s scheduled guests on SportsCentral include CHS Lacross Coach Jeff Jones, CHS Wrestling Coach Justin Stafford and wrestlers Russell Ball and Austin Gouedy
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THE WIZARDRY OF OS
Assistant Basketball Coach and Head Swimming Coach at Central High
At 5-7 with a good shot to still make the playoffs, I promise you I am not complaining about the Saints win in Pittsburgh.
Nevertheless, it has been clear all year that the team is missing a certain intangible quality. With many close losses, the Saints have talked about learning how to finish. While the end of the Steelers game did not determine the winning team from the losing team, the end of that game did make it clear that this team still does not know how to finish.
I am not at practices or in the locker room, so I cannot put my finger on the root cause. Maybe it is just match ups. The bad news is if success is only possible under favorable conditions when the breaks fall your way, then you will remain a sub.500 team.
There are a few keys that make the difference between the Saints looking like they did for 95% of the game Sunday and how they performed the last two weeks.
The first key, which I have mentioned before is Akiem Hicks. He is the only Saints defensive tackle that has the ability to consistently collapse the pocket from the inside. Unfortunately, he has only been able to do that in about three games this year. Of course, it is not a coincidence that those three games are three of the better defensive games played all year.
The second key is ridiculously obvious and it is turnovers. The Saints two best performances have been against the Packers and Steelers. The forced turnovers are the common denominator. Amazingly, the Saints could have had about 7 turnovers against the Steelers if the secondary could catch. Again, I promise you I am not complaining as being in position to drop interceptions is a huge improvement over many other games.
The third key is also obvious as it is the running game. The goal line stand on the first drive by the Ravens said it all. There has been a lot of talk about Mark Ingram the last six games. He has definitely come up big and shown improvement from previous years. But, he has also shown they he is a running back that can take advantage of quality offensive line play, yet he cannot create on his own. His success is clearly predicated on the success of the offensive line.
I fully recognize that puts Ingram in a category with 75% of the other running back in the league. My point is simply that when watching the Saints play you can tell how the game is going to go by watching where Ingram encounters his first defender. If he is clear through the line of scrimmage, he will have a good day. If there is any traffic before or at the line of scrimmage, then it won't be a good day. Therefore, the success and failure of the run game is based on the offensive line's play, not Ingram's.
The good news is I think Pierre Thomas and Khiry Robinson have shown at times that they can make something out of nothing. Combine their return with the improved play of the young receivers, and the offense may be hitting their stride at the right time.
So what should you expect this Sunday when the Saints play the Panthers? Akiem Hicks pushing the pocket and forced turnovers are vital for the Saints to succeed. I wish I could say I expect another game like we just saw, but I come back to the beginning of the article. In order to put a streak together, you need an intangible quality I have still yet to see. Otherwise, it is a coin toss and we just have to hope the breaks go our way.
HEY REF
By Dennis Dearie
Veteran Louisiana High School Referee
Ray Rice was reinstated by Judge Barbara Jones after she ruled that Rice didn’t mislead the NFL about knocking out his former fiancée’ now wife in an Atlantic City Casino’s elevator. We all know the story of how NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had originally suspended the Ravens running back for two games but changed the suspension to “indefinite” after seeing the complete video.
Upon learning of the change from two games to an indefinite suspension lawyers for Rice claimed Goodell’s action was due to public pressure. Goodell had said it disgusted him to see the unconscious woman being dumped on the floor just outside the elevator door and that Rice had seriously damaged the image of every NFL player.
Goodell further stated the NFL had requested a copy of the entire happening but was told by the casino the video was private property and therefore his office never received a copy. I’m sorry I just don’t buy that explanation simply because the NFL is a multi-billion dollar enterprise and if a nickel and dime cable TV network can obtain a copy then it shouldn’t take more than a hint for a copy to be delivered to his office overnight. Mr. Commissioner please don’t think for a second we’d buy that excuse when the facts are you just hoped this little incident would get swept under the rug and go away very quietly.
I watched a little of the recent interview of the now Mrs. Rice on the morning news and for some strange reason I kept getting the feeling the only reason this woman not only stayed with Rice but married him was to fatten her bank account. She calmly stated that Rice had never physically abused her and this (elevator knockout) was the only time he’d hit her. The only thing I can say about that is; please don’t pee on my back and tell me it’s raining!!
Let’s be frank Mrs. Rice you’re gambling and hoping that staying with Ray and being his personal punching bag will be worth a few million dollars. Some women have a trait where they just can’t be happy unless they’re being abused. I know this for a fact since my mother had this sickness. She just couldn’t exist from day to day without a constant upheaval of her life. Her doctor had told me about this condition and how some women feel they don’t deserve common respect.
Rice’s reinstatement frees him to sign on with any team willing to sign him. NBC has confirmed that Rice has a list of teams he’d be willing to play for. He’s quoted as saying “We’re eliminating teams out of playoff contention”. In other words he wants a ticket on any train leaving the station for a possible Super Bowl run. Now that’s ballsy; he won’t be happy just getting back in a uniform and on a team, no he wants a chance to play in the Super Bowl this year. Forget anything where you crawl before you walk. He won’t have anything to do with a team needing a good player because Rice expects to run now.
If anybody happened to be watching the Virginia and Virginia Tech. game last week you’ll understand where guys like Rice come from. Rivalries are just a part of the landscape in the modern sporting world and this game had all the markings of a great rivalry. But what was on display as the teams came onto the field for warmups explains what how far the game has regressed.
Players from both teams started mouthing off across the field and then the sickening taunts and gang signs started popping up as the officials and coaches had to restrain many of the players. Officials should NEVER put their hands on the players yet I saw the entire crew grabbing and pushing players back to their sidelines. Just the signs of our time, I guess, where common respect is left locked away for no one to see. I’ve written many times about the loss of real sportsmanship at every level of play and the behavior of these two teams shows just how far we as a society have sunk.
The NCAA has made no comment on the pregame antics and lack of control neither coach had over his team. By ignoring it the NCAA has condoned these antics and it has trickled down to the high school level. I’ve seen and been a part of games where these young kids have zero respect for the game, coaches, other players and the least of all; the refs.
I can feel the tension between coaches and players. You’d have to be a complete idiot not to know something is wrong on the sidelines. It’s this tension that causes the coaches to lash out at the officials since any attempt at controlling their players could result in a mutiny by his team/players. It is a very sad situation to see this lack of control and then we as game officials try to instill some control over the players only to see them do their best to break rules and try to get away with anything they can.
Players in the NFL don’t just wake up one day and say this is the day I revolt against authority; no it’s something that starts at a very young age. For years and years these kids are given anything they want simply because they can run a fast 40 or can throw a ball 75 yards in the air, etc. Many of these kids have been given a free ride for so long because of their exploits on the playing field that it’s almost impossible for them to live any other way.
If we expect to rid sports of this continued downward slide then it’ll start with the parents. I’m sick of the Ray Rices being looked upon as heroes. If you have a player beating up women or abusing drugs and alcohol then it’s time for a lifetime ban from that sport. But with the millions being invested I don’t see it happening anytime soon.
Till next week…
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