Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Good or Bad Deal?
The Detroit Tigers just completed one of the biggest deals in team history, acquiring Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera from the Marlins for six prospects: Mike Rabelo and right-handers Burke Badenhop, Eulogio De La Cruz, left-hander Andrew Miller and outfielder Cameron Maybin.
Looking at this deal it appears to be a great trade for the Tigers. Cabrera is one of the best hitters in the game and Willis has pitched stellar in previous seasons. Both players are young, 24 and 25 respectively, and in the prime of their careers. This trade has made the Tigers' starting lineup by far the best in baseball and has strengthened their rotation immensely. Although the Tigers gave up some of their best prospects, Willis and Cabrera have already proven themselves as great players. This deal should definitely put the already good Tigers near the top of the American League. Here is a look at the possible lineup for the 2008 Detroit Tigers.
Ivan Rodriguez-Catcher
Justin Verlander-Starting Pitcher
Carlos Guillen-First Base
Placido Polanco-Second Base
Edgar Renteria-Short Stop
Miguel Cabrera-Third Base
Jacque Jones/Marcus Thames-Left Field
Curtis Granderson-Center Field
Magglio Ordonez-Right Field
Gary Sheffield-Designated Hitter
On the surface this deal looks like a great deal for the Tigers. However, a few aspects of the deal need to be considered. Probably the most questionable part of this deal is trading for Dontrelle Willis. In the last two seasons he has pitched poorly for the Marlins. In 2005 he was incredible, winning 22 games and was considered one of the best pitchers in baseball. A change of teams could be just what Willis needs to reform to his old self, or maybe not. The next two years should be a good indication on whether Willis was a one year wonder or the real deal.
Another problem with this deal was Detroit giving up its best prospects. Maybin and Miller are both considered as some of the best prospects in all of baseball. De La Cruz has also showed signs of being a solid pitcher. The Tigers gave up four of their top eleven prospects in this deal, and they significantly weakened their farm system.
Overall, this has been a productive off season for the Tigers. Along with Willis and Cabrera, the Tigers have also signed Edgar Renteria and Jacque Jones. Both players have proven themselves to be good players in the American League.
The Tigers have vaulted themselves to the top of the American League with this trade. They should be favorites to win their division and should contend for the World Series. This deal was definitely a great trade for the next couple of seasons but time will only tell on how good the prospects they gave will turn out.
Looking at this deal it appears to be a great trade for the Tigers. Cabrera is one of the best hitters in the game and Willis has pitched stellar in previous seasons. Both players are young, 24 and 25 respectively, and in the prime of their careers. This trade has made the Tigers' starting lineup by far the best in baseball and has strengthened their rotation immensely. Although the Tigers gave up some of their best prospects, Willis and Cabrera have already proven themselves as great players. This deal should definitely put the already good Tigers near the top of the American League. Here is a look at the possible lineup for the 2008 Detroit Tigers.
Ivan Rodriguez-Catcher
Justin Verlander-Starting Pitcher
Carlos Guillen-First Base
Placido Polanco-Second Base
Edgar Renteria-Short Stop
Miguel Cabrera-Third Base
Jacque Jones/Marcus Thames-Left Field
Curtis Granderson-Center Field
Magglio Ordonez-Right Field
Gary Sheffield-Designated Hitter
On the surface this deal looks like a great deal for the Tigers. However, a few aspects of the deal need to be considered. Probably the most questionable part of this deal is trading for Dontrelle Willis. In the last two seasons he has pitched poorly for the Marlins. In 2005 he was incredible, winning 22 games and was considered one of the best pitchers in baseball. A change of teams could be just what Willis needs to reform to his old self, or maybe not. The next two years should be a good indication on whether Willis was a one year wonder or the real deal.
Another problem with this deal was Detroit giving up its best prospects. Maybin and Miller are both considered as some of the best prospects in all of baseball. De La Cruz has also showed signs of being a solid pitcher. The Tigers gave up four of their top eleven prospects in this deal, and they significantly weakened their farm system.
Overall, this has been a productive off season for the Tigers. Along with Willis and Cabrera, the Tigers have also signed Edgar Renteria and Jacque Jones. Both players have proven themselves to be good players in the American League.
The Tigers have vaulted themselves to the top of the American League with this trade. They should be favorites to win their division and should contend for the World Series. This deal was definitely a great trade for the next couple of seasons but time will only tell on how good the prospects they gave will turn out.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Midseason Report
The Detroit Lions are halfway through the 2007 NFL season, and they have been the surprise team of the league. Their record sits at 6-2 and are just a game back of the division leading Green Bay Packers.
The Lions have played extremely well this season. They are undefeated in division play and are 4-2 in conference play. They are also riding a three game winning streak; their last win was a 44-7 route of the Denver Broncos. The Lions have put up the second most points in the NFC but have also allowed the fourth most points in the NFC.
The stable leader of the Lions has clearly been Jon Kitna. His numbers do not blow you away: 2000 yards passing, ten touchdowns, and six interceptions. However, he has made few mistakes and has lead this team back to respectability. His passer rating is at a career high of 94.3, and he has not thrown an interception in the past three games. His completion percentage is also at a career high of 67.2. His leadership and numbers have boded well for the potentially playoff bound Lions.
Another key reason why the Lions are playing so well this season is the return of running back Kevin Jones. Jones was hurt for parts of the past two seasons and part of this season, but he has come back strong in the first six games he has been back. Jones has four touchdowns and a 4.3 yards per carry average, his highest since his rookie season. The main affect he has had on the Lions has been the fact that he provides the offense with different options. The Lions have been a pass happy team this year, and his return has given the offense the ability to disguise the pass better by having the option of running the ball. Since Jones has been back, the Lions offense has been much more balanced and complete.
The Lions key concern would have to be their defense. When the Lions win, they are only allowing an average of 15.8 points a game. In their two losses, they have allowed forty-five points per game. However, in their past three games, since getting blowing out by the Redskins, the Lions have only allowed ten points per game. The defense has started to set up and force more turnovers but the losses against the Eagles and Redskins still linger in people's minds. Hopefully their defense will play strong for the rest of the season and continue their recent success.
The Lions have a long ways to go before fans can start thinking playoffs for this team. The Lions have yet to beat a really good team this year. They have played well but the Lions are known to fade in the second half. Their remaining schedule has the Lions playing Green Bay twice, the Cowboys, and Giants. All three teams have at least six wins and are playoff contenders. The Lions will see good they really are in the next three weeks with games against the Cardinals, Packers, and Giants.
The Lions have played extremely well this season. They are undefeated in division play and are 4-2 in conference play. They are also riding a three game winning streak; their last win was a 44-7 route of the Denver Broncos. The Lions have put up the second most points in the NFC but have also allowed the fourth most points in the NFC.
The stable leader of the Lions has clearly been Jon Kitna. His numbers do not blow you away: 2000 yards passing, ten touchdowns, and six interceptions. However, he has made few mistakes and has lead this team back to respectability. His passer rating is at a career high of 94.3, and he has not thrown an interception in the past three games. His completion percentage is also at a career high of 67.2. His leadership and numbers have boded well for the potentially playoff bound Lions.
Another key reason why the Lions are playing so well this season is the return of running back Kevin Jones. Jones was hurt for parts of the past two seasons and part of this season, but he has come back strong in the first six games he has been back. Jones has four touchdowns and a 4.3 yards per carry average, his highest since his rookie season. The main affect he has had on the Lions has been the fact that he provides the offense with different options. The Lions have been a pass happy team this year, and his return has given the offense the ability to disguise the pass better by having the option of running the ball. Since Jones has been back, the Lions offense has been much more balanced and complete.
The Lions key concern would have to be their defense. When the Lions win, they are only allowing an average of 15.8 points a game. In their two losses, they have allowed forty-five points per game. However, in their past three games, since getting blowing out by the Redskins, the Lions have only allowed ten points per game. The defense has started to set up and force more turnovers but the losses against the Eagles and Redskins still linger in people's minds. Hopefully their defense will play strong for the rest of the season and continue their recent success.
The Lions have a long ways to go before fans can start thinking playoffs for this team. The Lions have yet to beat a really good team this year. They have played well but the Lions are known to fade in the second half. Their remaining schedule has the Lions playing Green Bay twice, the Cowboys, and Giants. All three teams have at least six wins and are playoff contenders. The Lions will see good they really are in the next three weeks with games against the Cardinals, Packers, and Giants.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Buy or Sell
The Detroit Lions are six games into the season, and they have won four games and lost just two. They stand just a game out of the division lead and are the only team in their division to not lose in division play.
The Lions have been a hard team to judge this season. The games they have won have been close against mostly bad teams and their losses have been blowouts. However, in past years they have lost the games they were supposed to win and finished every season with around 4-6 wins. This season could be different. The Lions' schedule for the rest of the season is favorable, with most of their games against teams with records below 500. Their defense has been sketchy at best but has held up in a few games. Their offense has been strong; they have scored the sixth most points in the NFC (despite already having their buy week). Jon Kitna has led the team well and has a career high 93.9 passer rating. Running back Kevin Jones has come back from an early injury and produced well in his last game. With Jones back on the roster their offense should be even stronger.
Lions' fans are desperate for a playoff team, even a winning team would be great to see. This team has the potential to perhaps be a wild card or at least a 8-10 win team. We pray they can keep it up and win the games they are supposed to win. With the Pistons, Red Wings, and Tigers all having success in the last five years; the Lions are the last team in Detroit to not make the playoffs within the past decade. Hopefully that will change after this year, but as Lions' fans we know that hoping usually ends in failure.
The Lions have been a hard team to judge this season. The games they have won have been close against mostly bad teams and their losses have been blowouts. However, in past years they have lost the games they were supposed to win and finished every season with around 4-6 wins. This season could be different. The Lions' schedule for the rest of the season is favorable, with most of their games against teams with records below 500. Their defense has been sketchy at best but has held up in a few games. Their offense has been strong; they have scored the sixth most points in the NFC (despite already having their buy week). Jon Kitna has led the team well and has a career high 93.9 passer rating. Running back Kevin Jones has come back from an early injury and produced well in his last game. With Jones back on the roster their offense should be even stronger.
Lions' fans are desperate for a playoff team, even a winning team would be great to see. This team has the potential to perhaps be a wild card or at least a 8-10 win team. We pray they can keep it up and win the games they are supposed to win. With the Pistons, Red Wings, and Tigers all having success in the last five years; the Lions are the last team in Detroit to not make the playoffs within the past decade. Hopefully that will change after this year, but as Lions' fans we know that hoping usually ends in failure.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Coming Back Strong
After Michigan started their season with two embarrassing losses to Appalachian State and Oregon, most people wrote them off as they fell out of the rankings. Since those first two weeks the Wolverines have won five straight games and are now ranked 24th in the nation. Michigan still has a very good shot of winning the Big Ten title as they are the only team, besides Ohio State, that has not lost yet in Big Ten play. The Big Ten title could very well come down to another classic Michigan vs number one ranked Ohio State match up.
Michigan has stayed in contention largely due to efforts of running back Mike Hart. Hart has carried this team through the mud and has brought them back to respectability this season. He has ran for 1078 yards and twelve touchdowns. Hart has also ran for over 100 yards in every single game and has scored at least one touchdown in every game but one. He is in contention for the Heisman Trophy and rightfully so. He leads the nation in rushing and is third in rushing touchdowns. This Michigan would not have anything to play for right now without their number one back, and his recognition is clearly deserved.
Michigan has stayed in contention largely due to efforts of running back Mike Hart. Hart has carried this team through the mud and has brought them back to respectability this season. He has ran for 1078 yards and twelve touchdowns. Hart has also ran for over 100 yards in every single game and has scored at least one touchdown in every game but one. He is in contention for the Heisman Trophy and rightfully so. He leads the nation in rushing and is third in rushing touchdowns. This Michigan would not have anything to play for right now without their number one back, and his recognition is clearly deserved.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
A Season In Review : The 2007 Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers ended their season this week with a 13-3 win over the Chicago White Sox. They finished the season with an 88-74 record after making it to the World Series last year. They competed for the wild card and division title for the majority of the season but faded out as the year came to a conclusion.
The Tigers came into the 07 season with high hopes. In 2006, they were just three wins shy of winning a championship for the first time since 1984. Last season was a magical year for the Tigers as they came out of nowhere to make the playoffs for the first time in over a decade and win the pennant. Coming into this season, most fans were expecting similar results from the Tigers. They were able to sign Gary Sheffield over the off season to add that power hitter that they really needed. Almost all their key players were also back for another season of play with that added playoff experience they did not have the season before. The Tigers started the season slow but got hot through the middle stretch and at one point had the best record in all of baseball. It looked as if this season's Tigers were better then last maybe and had a good shot at the World Series again. However, they crumbled down the stretch because of injuries and also due to the fact that the Indians and Yankees starting playing better and the Tigers simply did not.
It is hard to figure out whether to criticize these 07 Tigers for not making the playoffs or to praise them for their competitiveness. First, one can look at what they accomplished this season and then what they failed at this season.
Although the Tigers had a somewhat disappointing finish to their season, there were a number of great individual performances along with some things to look forward to next season. First, the player from the 07 Tigers who deserves the most recognition is Magglio Ordonez. He won the batting crown this year with a .363 batting average. He also hit 28 home runs and knocked in 139 runs. He had perhaps his best season ever and might get some votes for the MVP award. Another Tiger who had an exceptional season was Curtis Granderson. He finished with a .302 batting average, 38 doubles, 23 triples, 26 steals, 23 home runs, and 74 RBIs. Granderson was one of the only players ever to finish a season with at least 20 homers, 20 doubles, 20 triples, and 20 steals. Although he had 141 strikeouts, he lowered that number from 174 the previous season. He has developed into one of the best outfielders in the league and he should continue to improve and limit his strikeout count. Carlos Guillen and Placido Polanco both had great seasons yet again and have solidified the Tigers infield. Another promising player to watch over the next few years is outfielder Cameron Maybin. Even though Maybin did not do that well statistically wise, his upside is huge and has the skills to become very successful in this league. He was one of the highest rated players in the minor leagues and getting him some experience this season will help him out significantly. Another young player that acquired some experience this season was pitcher Andre Miller. Like Maybin, Miller was one of the highest scouted players in the minor leagues. He looked great at times but also showed his inexperience at other points in the season. He will most likely be on the pitching staff for years to come in Detroit. As for the rest of the pitching staff, Justin Verlander again had a tremendous season after winning Rookie of the Year award last season. He finished with an 18-6 record and 183 strikeouts. Throughout his two year career he has a 35-17 record and will be one of the best pitchers in baseball for a long time.
Now shifting over the opposite side of the spectrum, a Tigers fan can see the negatives from the 07 Tigers. First of all, as mentioned before, they did not make the playoffs and defend their American League Championship. Someone can make any excuse or say anything good about the Tigers, but they did not reach their goal of at least making the playoffs again and beyond. They fell apart when it mattered the most and could not step up to the competition. They led their division for a number of weeks, but could not hold unto the lead.
The main reason they could not make the playoffs this season was because of their pitching staff. Last season the Tigers' team ERA was 3.84, this season it jumped up to 4.57. Their staff was riddled with injuries and they had few stable arms. They blew a number of saves this season, especially the first half of the season. Verlander led the staff but no one else really stepped up. Jeremy Bonderman was probably the biggest disappointment to the pitching staff. He started out very strong again but like usual, fell apart in the second half. The two biggest injuries that hindered them were injuries to Kenny Rogers and Joel Zumaya. Both were pillars of the staff last season but they barely played this season. Hopefully both will come back next season healthy to lead the pitching staff once again. One thing that was not talked about enough after last season, was the loss of reliever Jamie Walker. Walker signed a deal with Baltimore, because the Tigers did not offer him enough money. Walker was a great reliever for the Tigers for a number of years and not resigning him was a stupid mistake. Perhaps if they had kept Walker, their bullpen would have been more solid and would have blown less saves.
Even though the Tigers failed to reach their goals this season, it has been great to see the turn around for the Tigers. They were the laughing stock of major league baseball during the 90s and the early part of this decade and have not been good since the late 90s. They are finally competitive and fun to watch. Fans are no longer embarrassed to be Tigers' fans or to go watch their games. Team president Dave Dombrowski and team manager Jim Leyland have been a huge part of bringing the roar back to Detroit and not giving them some credit would not be right. Dombrowski has brought in a great mix of talented players to a once talent starved team. Leyland has managed that talent beautifully and was the perfect choice for being the manager of this present Tigers' team. The Tigers continued success would not have been possible without the leadership both men have provided.
Now that the 07 season is over, the Tigers can start looking ahead to 2008. The Tigers should still be a very good team and should have fewer injuries. They have a number of young developing players that will continue to only get better. They also have solid players at nearly every position. However, a few concerns would be: the age of some of their key players, a solid rotation in the pitching staff, and the need for more good pitching in the bullpen. If they deal with some of those issues over the off season, they will continue to improve towards their goal of a world championship. It will be interesting to see how this potentially great team does in 2008.
The Tigers came into the 07 season with high hopes. In 2006, they were just three wins shy of winning a championship for the first time since 1984. Last season was a magical year for the Tigers as they came out of nowhere to make the playoffs for the first time in over a decade and win the pennant. Coming into this season, most fans were expecting similar results from the Tigers. They were able to sign Gary Sheffield over the off season to add that power hitter that they really needed. Almost all their key players were also back for another season of play with that added playoff experience they did not have the season before. The Tigers started the season slow but got hot through the middle stretch and at one point had the best record in all of baseball. It looked as if this season's Tigers were better then last maybe and had a good shot at the World Series again. However, they crumbled down the stretch because of injuries and also due to the fact that the Indians and Yankees starting playing better and the Tigers simply did not.
It is hard to figure out whether to criticize these 07 Tigers for not making the playoffs or to praise them for their competitiveness. First, one can look at what they accomplished this season and then what they failed at this season.
Although the Tigers had a somewhat disappointing finish to their season, there were a number of great individual performances along with some things to look forward to next season. First, the player from the 07 Tigers who deserves the most recognition is Magglio Ordonez. He won the batting crown this year with a .363 batting average. He also hit 28 home runs and knocked in 139 runs. He had perhaps his best season ever and might get some votes for the MVP award. Another Tiger who had an exceptional season was Curtis Granderson. He finished with a .302 batting average, 38 doubles, 23 triples, 26 steals, 23 home runs, and 74 RBIs. Granderson was one of the only players ever to finish a season with at least 20 homers, 20 doubles, 20 triples, and 20 steals. Although he had 141 strikeouts, he lowered that number from 174 the previous season. He has developed into one of the best outfielders in the league and he should continue to improve and limit his strikeout count. Carlos Guillen and Placido Polanco both had great seasons yet again and have solidified the Tigers infield. Another promising player to watch over the next few years is outfielder Cameron Maybin. Even though Maybin did not do that well statistically wise, his upside is huge and has the skills to become very successful in this league. He was one of the highest rated players in the minor leagues and getting him some experience this season will help him out significantly. Another young player that acquired some experience this season was pitcher Andre Miller. Like Maybin, Miller was one of the highest scouted players in the minor leagues. He looked great at times but also showed his inexperience at other points in the season. He will most likely be on the pitching staff for years to come in Detroit. As for the rest of the pitching staff, Justin Verlander again had a tremendous season after winning Rookie of the Year award last season. He finished with an 18-6 record and 183 strikeouts. Throughout his two year career he has a 35-17 record and will be one of the best pitchers in baseball for a long time.
Now shifting over the opposite side of the spectrum, a Tigers fan can see the negatives from the 07 Tigers. First of all, as mentioned before, they did not make the playoffs and defend their American League Championship. Someone can make any excuse or say anything good about the Tigers, but they did not reach their goal of at least making the playoffs again and beyond. They fell apart when it mattered the most and could not step up to the competition. They led their division for a number of weeks, but could not hold unto the lead.
The main reason they could not make the playoffs this season was because of their pitching staff. Last season the Tigers' team ERA was 3.84, this season it jumped up to 4.57. Their staff was riddled with injuries and they had few stable arms. They blew a number of saves this season, especially the first half of the season. Verlander led the staff but no one else really stepped up. Jeremy Bonderman was probably the biggest disappointment to the pitching staff. He started out very strong again but like usual, fell apart in the second half. The two biggest injuries that hindered them were injuries to Kenny Rogers and Joel Zumaya. Both were pillars of the staff last season but they barely played this season. Hopefully both will come back next season healthy to lead the pitching staff once again. One thing that was not talked about enough after last season, was the loss of reliever Jamie Walker. Walker signed a deal with Baltimore, because the Tigers did not offer him enough money. Walker was a great reliever for the Tigers for a number of years and not resigning him was a stupid mistake. Perhaps if they had kept Walker, their bullpen would have been more solid and would have blown less saves.
Even though the Tigers failed to reach their goals this season, it has been great to see the turn around for the Tigers. They were the laughing stock of major league baseball during the 90s and the early part of this decade and have not been good since the late 90s. They are finally competitive and fun to watch. Fans are no longer embarrassed to be Tigers' fans or to go watch their games. Team president Dave Dombrowski and team manager Jim Leyland have been a huge part of bringing the roar back to Detroit and not giving them some credit would not be right. Dombrowski has brought in a great mix of talented players to a once talent starved team. Leyland has managed that talent beautifully and was the perfect choice for being the manager of this present Tigers' team. The Tigers continued success would not have been possible without the leadership both men have provided.
Now that the 07 season is over, the Tigers can start looking ahead to 2008. The Tigers should still be a very good team and should have fewer injuries. They have a number of young developing players that will continue to only get better. They also have solid players at nearly every position. However, a few concerns would be: the age of some of their key players, a solid rotation in the pitching staff, and the need for more good pitching in the bullpen. If they deal with some of those issues over the off season, they will continue to improve towards their goal of a world championship. It will be interesting to see how this potentially great team does in 2008.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
The Kitna Factor
The Detroit Lions are three weeks into the season and their record is a respectable 2-1. Both of their wins were against sub par teams but they got the job done at the end, which is more than what we could say about this team in previous years. A big reason why the Lions have enjoyed mild success this year is because of their quarterback Jon Kitna. He has been the leader of this football team thus far. Many remember when he had a concussion in week two against the Vikings, only to come back late in the game to help lead them to victory. He also lead them from behind in week one against the Raiders.
Kitna's stats have been awesome so far for a 35 year old quarterback. He has thrown for 980 yards and seven (six passing, one rushing) touchdowns in three games. His quarterback rating is 97.8, compared to just 79.9 all of last season. If he keeps up his 68.5 completion percentage, it will be the highest complete percentage of his career.
Although Kitna's numbers are high, he and the team need to greatly improve in some areas. First, let us start off with Kitna. He has had good numbers as previously stated but has thrown four interceptions already. This has been a problem throughout his entire career, with his career interceptions and touchdowns almost equaling one another. He must keep getting the ball to his receivers, but he desperately needs to cut back on the turnovers if they want to have continued passing success on offense.
Another thing the Lions must improve upon is their defense. They looked alright in the first two weeks, especially against Minnesota, but they were smacked around by the Eagles during week three. They gave up 56 points, 42 of which came in the first half. The Eagles were able to rack up 536 total yards against the Lions. The Lions pass defense seem to be the major weak point of this defense, giving up 886 yards passing in three games. If they can shutdown the passing lanes and continue to stop the run decently, they will dramatically help out their offense.
A final thing they must improve upon is their rushing attack. Their numbers are very low in this area. The main reason they do not have a strong rushing attack is because they do not have a true number one back. Tatum Bell looked good in week one but has failed to produce in the last two weeks. He rushed for over 1000 yards with the Broncos but that was mostly because he was part of that great Denver rushing system. He must prove himself in Detroit where the offensive line is much weaker.
Kitna's stats have been awesome so far for a 35 year old quarterback. He has thrown for 980 yards and seven (six passing, one rushing) touchdowns in three games. His quarterback rating is 97.8, compared to just 79.9 all of last season. If he keeps up his 68.5 completion percentage, it will be the highest complete percentage of his career.
Although Kitna's numbers are high, he and the team need to greatly improve in some areas. First, let us start off with Kitna. He has had good numbers as previously stated but has thrown four interceptions already. This has been a problem throughout his entire career, with his career interceptions and touchdowns almost equaling one another. He must keep getting the ball to his receivers, but he desperately needs to cut back on the turnovers if they want to have continued passing success on offense.
Another thing the Lions must improve upon is their defense. They looked alright in the first two weeks, especially against Minnesota, but they were smacked around by the Eagles during week three. They gave up 56 points, 42 of which came in the first half. The Eagles were able to rack up 536 total yards against the Lions. The Lions pass defense seem to be the major weak point of this defense, giving up 886 yards passing in three games. If they can shutdown the passing lanes and continue to stop the run decently, they will dramatically help out their offense.
A final thing they must improve upon is their rushing attack. Their numbers are very low in this area. The main reason they do not have a strong rushing attack is because they do not have a true number one back. Tatum Bell looked good in week one but has failed to produce in the last two weeks. He rushed for over 1000 yards with the Broncos but that was mostly because he was part of that great Denver rushing system. He must prove himself in Detroit where the offensive line is much weaker.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Roller Coaster
The Michigan Wolverines have played four football games already and it has been a roller coaster of a season. They were humiliated in their home opener against Appalachian State and dropped from number five in the rankings, to being unranked. That was the biggest drop in the history of the polls. It did not get any better the next week, when they were destroyed again at home by Oregon. Michigan rarely starts a season out 0-2, and it looked as if we were going to lose over half our games. However, the last two games have started to turn their season around, with wins over rivals Notre Dame and Penn State. Notre Dame is awful this year, no doubt about it, but it is a huge rivalry game and Michigan embarrassed them 38-0 for their first win of the season. This past weekend they beat number ten ranked Penn State 16-9. With this recent victory, it appears as if all is not lost for the Wolverines...
Despite their last two wins, Michigan is still a shaky team. It is hard to gauge how good they actually are because the first and last two games are complete opposites of one another. As stated before, Notre Dame is horrible this season and have yet to win a game. Penn State was ranked tenth, but we always beat them and they had not played a good team yet. Also, who could forget the Appalachian State loss? Ohio State and MSU fans will be talking about that for years to come. However, the Big Ten is weak this year and overrated as usual. Michigan still has a very plausible shot of winning the Big Ten title, which is about the only thing they are still playing for. Over the next couple of weeks of Big Ten play, we will see how good or bad this team actually is.
Despite their last two wins, Michigan is still a shaky team. It is hard to gauge how good they actually are because the first and last two games are complete opposites of one another. As stated before, Notre Dame is horrible this season and have yet to win a game. Penn State was ranked tenth, but we always beat them and they had not played a good team yet. Also, who could forget the Appalachian State loss? Ohio State and MSU fans will be talking about that for years to come. However, the Big Ten is weak this year and overrated as usual. Michigan still has a very plausible shot of winning the Big Ten title, which is about the only thing they are still playing for. Over the next couple of weeks of Big Ten play, we will see how good or bad this team actually is.
Detroit Sports is back
It has been over a year since I have posted on this site and I am thinking of coming back to start posting again on Detroit Sports. I always loved writing on this site and getting responses from readers. I have no idea if I am linked to any sites still but I would like to start posting again and getting back into the swing of things. However, I will now just give thoughts on things going on in the Detroit Sports world, because you could get far better game recaps on espn.com or multitudes of other websites. I will probably post once or twice a week and I am excited to get involved again with this site. If you are interested in posting for me, shoot me an email and I will probably post your articles. I need to clear out the link box and try to make a new banner, because Yzerman, Harrington, and Ben Wallace are not even playing in Detroit anymore.
Now unto my personal life for a little bit. I just graduated from Walled Lake Western high school and am now a freshman at Maranatha Baptist Bible College. I am majoring in business management and possibly am going to minor in marketing. I am a born again Christian and I live my life according to God's word, the Bible. If you want to know more about my personal life, you can find me on Facebook. Search Daniel Pulis, please just tell me you read my site and I will be sure to add you.
Now unto my personal life for a little bit. I just graduated from Walled Lake Western high school and am now a freshman at Maranatha Baptist Bible College. I am majoring in business management and possibly am going to minor in marketing. I am a born again Christian and I live my life according to God's word, the Bible. If you want to know more about my personal life, you can find me on Facebook. Search Daniel Pulis, please just tell me you read my site and I will be sure to add you.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
This says it all
This picture of Legacy after the Oilers scored the fourth and game winning goal in game six really says it all for the Red Wings.
Also, here is a great article by Mitch Album, "End of An Era".
A tale of two different teams
The Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons both entered the first round of the playoffs as the number one seed. Both teams had the best record in their respective leagues during the regular season.....
Six games into the NHL playoffs and five games into the NBA playoffs, both teams have gone in opposite directions. The Pistons have advanced against the Bucks in five games. The Wings however, have already been eliminated from the playoffs by losing to the Oilers in the first round 4 games to 2.
First lets examine the Wings. The Wings entered the playoffs as the favorites to win the cup and the Oilers looked like easy first round prey. This was clearly not the case as the Oilers simply destroyed the Red Wings. They outplayed the Wings the entire series. The Oilers' goalie was brilliant while Manny Legace was just so-so. The Wings had way too many stupid penalties that cost them a lot of goals. Another problem the Wings faced was the lack of goals by their stars. Brendan Shannahan only ended up with one goal the entire series. Pavel Datsyuk continued his miserable playoff streak by not scoring at all, even though he was injured for some of the series.
Despite all of the Wings' bad play and lack of desire to win, I think they lost because the Oilers were better, bottom line. They are younger, stronger, and they just outplayed the Wings night in and night out. The Wings are just too old for the new NHL. Watching this season compared to last season (2 years ago), the game is a lot faster. Younger teams will thrive because they have more speed and endurance. Over the offseason the Wings will need to find a way to keep from getting bumped in the first round and second rounds. They need to evaluate Legace, their older players, and even their younger players in order to see who needs to go and who needs to stay. GM Ken Holland will have a long summer to ponder things over...
Now the Pistons on the other hand are a different story. They closed out the eight seeded Bucks in five games. They dominated in games one and two before the Bucks won game three. The Pistons came back and won a tough game four on the road. They then closed out the series in dominated fashion at home during game five.
The Bucks really had no chance against the Pistons. The Pistons have the best starting five in basketball while the Bucks really only have Micheal Redd.
The Pistons now move unto the second round. They will face the winner of the Cleveland/Washington series. I don't think either team will be a match for the Pistons. In-fact, I think the Pistons won't reach much difficulty until the championship round where they will most likely face the Spurs once again. It should be a fun ride as we watch the Pistons try to win back the championship for Detroit.
Six games into the NHL playoffs and five games into the NBA playoffs, both teams have gone in opposite directions. The Pistons have advanced against the Bucks in five games. The Wings however, have already been eliminated from the playoffs by losing to the Oilers in the first round 4 games to 2.
First lets examine the Wings. The Wings entered the playoffs as the favorites to win the cup and the Oilers looked like easy first round prey. This was clearly not the case as the Oilers simply destroyed the Red Wings. They outplayed the Wings the entire series. The Oilers' goalie was brilliant while Manny Legace was just so-so. The Wings had way too many stupid penalties that cost them a lot of goals. Another problem the Wings faced was the lack of goals by their stars. Brendan Shannahan only ended up with one goal the entire series. Pavel Datsyuk continued his miserable playoff streak by not scoring at all, even though he was injured for some of the series.
Despite all of the Wings' bad play and lack of desire to win, I think they lost because the Oilers were better, bottom line. They are younger, stronger, and they just outplayed the Wings night in and night out. The Wings are just too old for the new NHL. Watching this season compared to last season (2 years ago), the game is a lot faster. Younger teams will thrive because they have more speed and endurance. Over the offseason the Wings will need to find a way to keep from getting bumped in the first round and second rounds. They need to evaluate Legace, their older players, and even their younger players in order to see who needs to go and who needs to stay. GM Ken Holland will have a long summer to ponder things over...
Now the Pistons on the other hand are a different story. They closed out the eight seeded Bucks in five games. They dominated in games one and two before the Bucks won game three. The Pistons came back and won a tough game four on the road. They then closed out the series in dominated fashion at home during game five.
The Bucks really had no chance against the Pistons. The Pistons have the best starting five in basketball while the Bucks really only have Micheal Redd.
The Pistons now move unto the second round. They will face the winner of the Cleveland/Washington series. I don't think either team will be a match for the Pistons. In-fact, I think the Pistons won't reach much difficulty until the championship round where they will most likely face the Spurs once again. It should be a fun ride as we watch the Pistons try to win back the championship for Detroit.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
4/19 Notes
There has been a lot of Detroit Sports news lately and I have not posted much about any of it.
First, I will start off with Chauncey Billups. Billups great season is being recognized with a MVP nomination. Billups is averaging around 19 points a game and 8 assists per game, both career highs. He has lead the Pistons to the best record in the NBA as they head into the playoffs. He has a good shot of winning the award and that would be great to add that into his long list of accomplishments.
The Tigers started the season 5-0 but have been doing poorly ever since. They lost their first tough series against the White Sox along with a number of other games. They have lost 5 of 7 and are now just 7-7 on this young season. Despite the bad play of late, one Tiger is getting huge attention for his individual play on the field. Chris Shelton has hit 9 homeruns in the first 14 games for the Tigers. It is amazing that he is doing this well considering the Tigers picked him up in the rule 5 draft. His hot streak will probably cool off but he should have a great season the rest of the way.
One team I have not talked about at all lately is the Detroit Red Wings. They recently clinched the Presidents's Trophy for having the best record in the NHL. They are seeded at the number one spot and they will face the Oilers in the first round. The most amazing thing about the Red Wings record is the number of road wins they have. They set the NHL record for road wins this season at 31 games. Anything less then a Stanley Cup for this team is not good enough.
First, I will start off with Chauncey Billups. Billups great season is being recognized with a MVP nomination. Billups is averaging around 19 points a game and 8 assists per game, both career highs. He has lead the Pistons to the best record in the NBA as they head into the playoffs. He has a good shot of winning the award and that would be great to add that into his long list of accomplishments.
The Tigers started the season 5-0 but have been doing poorly ever since. They lost their first tough series against the White Sox along with a number of other games. They have lost 5 of 7 and are now just 7-7 on this young season. Despite the bad play of late, one Tiger is getting huge attention for his individual play on the field. Chris Shelton has hit 9 homeruns in the first 14 games for the Tigers. It is amazing that he is doing this well considering the Tigers picked him up in the rule 5 draft. His hot streak will probably cool off but he should have a great season the rest of the way.
One team I have not talked about at all lately is the Detroit Red Wings. They recently clinched the Presidents's Trophy for having the best record in the NHL. They are seeded at the number one spot and they will face the Oilers in the first round. The most amazing thing about the Red Wings record is the number of road wins they have. They set the NHL record for road wins this season at 31 games. Anything less then a Stanley Cup for this team is not good enough.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Tigers Start Season Strong
The Detroit Tigers are on top of their division......but it is only one game into the season. However, they are still 1-0 and have looked good early. New Tigers pitcher Kenny Rogers looked strong in his first start as a Tiger giving up only one run and three hits. Chris Shelton also looked strong hitting two solo homers on opening day.
We say this every year and it never comes true, but is this the Tigers year? Will they finally do something? Maybe even finish with a 500 record or better? The last two seasons there was hype surrounding the Tigers. They had signed some good players and some thought they might be able to contend for the division. But the Tigers again let us down, by finsishing the last two seasons below 500 and no where near the playoffs. Before this season it was different, the Tigers did not sign any big players (unless you count Rogers as one) and there has not been any high expectations for them to succeed. Maybe just maybe, with the pressure off them, they will be able to finally have a productive year. I am probably wrong and the Tigers will probably be miserable again but you never know.....
We say this every year and it never comes true, but is this the Tigers year? Will they finally do something? Maybe even finish with a 500 record or better? The last two seasons there was hype surrounding the Tigers. They had signed some good players and some thought they might be able to contend for the division. But the Tigers again let us down, by finsishing the last two seasons below 500 and no where near the playoffs. Before this season it was different, the Tigers did not sign any big players (unless you count Rogers as one) and there has not been any high expectations for them to succeed. Maybe just maybe, with the pressure off them, they will be able to finally have a productive year. I am probably wrong and the Tigers will probably be miserable again but you never know.....
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