Super Bowl XLV Will be a match up of Dick LeBeau vs. Dom Capers

The moment that the conference championship games were set, there was a chance that that at least one team that ran a 3-4 defense as their base defense would once again compete for a championship. The first championship game between teams that used, the 3-4 as their base defense, was Super Bowl XV when the Oakland Raiders beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-10 in 1980.

Fifteen teams in the league use the 3-4 as their base defense. The Houston Texans will raise that number to 16 in 2011. There are rumors that the Oakland Raiders will increase the league total to 17. The Bears and Vikings are the only teams in the league to never use the 3-4 as their base defense.

Bud Wilkinson is widely recognized as the father of the 3-4 defensive front. Wilkinson devised the scheme at the University of Oklahoma in the 1940s. However, Chuck Fairbanks is the person credited with importing the scheme to the NFL. Fairbanks’ schemes greatly influenced winning teams long after he retired such as the N.Y Giants, New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers have used the 3-4 as their base defense since 1982, ironically one year after Hall of Fame defensive tackle Joe Greene and defensive end L.C. Greenwood retired. Pittsburgh, among others, have also used 2-4-5 & 1-5-5 alignments both variants of the 3-4 scheme.

Hall of Famer Dick LeBeau was the defensive backfield coach while Dom Capers was the defensive coordinator in Pittsburgh. Dom Capers was the defensive coordinator from 1992-1994 before leaving to become the head coach of the Carolina Panthers. Once Dom Capers departed for the Panthers Dick LeBeau, became the defensive coordinator.

These two old friends will be the featured bout of the evening. Defense wins championships and it is what will decide Super Bowl 45. Super Bowl 45 will be a closer game than people realize. The fact that the coordinators know each other and the scheme both teams will run Super Bowl 45 could easily come to what defense executes better.

The Packers defense has been awesome since switching to the 3-4. The Steelers happen to be the best 3-4 defense in the league. Pittsburgh has instinctive playmakers at every level of their defense. The Packers have several playmakers on their defense as well.

Both offenses can move the football and a led by outstanding quarterbacks. The Steelers are fundamentally sound, excellent tacklers, will not be fooled and simply do an excellent job of figuring out what an offense is trying to do to them and stopping them.

The championship will have a noticeable Steeler feel to it. Former Steeler players Kevin Greene and Darren Perry are position coaches for the Packers. The Steelers and Packers possess the two best defenses in the league.

The scheme is the same for both teams. You can say that both teams are working off the same script. The Steelers and Packers rank first and second in points and sacks, second and fifth in total yards.

The Steelers are first in the league in run defense; which means that Pittsburgh shouldn’t have any problem shutting down the Green Bay running game making the Packers one dimensional.

However, that one dimension the Green Bay passing game is one of the leagues best. An excellent way to attack a 3-4 defense is to place the four linebackers in coverage as oppose to having them playing downhill and rushing the quarterback. The Packers can put four talented receivers on the field and spread the defense out.

These two teams had a 73-point shootout in 2009 won by the Steelers. This game will not be a shootout. The team that executes better on defense, is balanced on offense and wins the turnover battle will win this game.

As a football fan, I am saddened that this will be the last game of the season. Before you settle in to watch the spectacle that is Super Bowl 45 at a sports bar, Super Bowl party at a friend’s home or at your home don’t forget to thank Eugene Polley & Robert Adler.

These guys invented the remote control and made it possible to comfortably raise the volume on your TV from your favorite chair. The remote has become a close friend most guys are accused of having a death-grip on. While controlling your remote control this Sunday prepare to enjoy a low scoring defensive battle to end the year.

Will 2011 be the year that Tim Brown gets a call from the Hall

The NFL released the finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2011 on January 10 2011. The 44-member selection committee will meet on February 5, 2011 in North Texas. Tim Brown must receive a minimum positive vote of 80 percent.

Tim Brown won the Heisman trophy and Walter Camp award in 1987. Brown was the first wide receiver to win the Heisman. The Notre Dame Graduate drafted sixth overall by the Los Angeles Raiders in 1988. Brown was the first wide receiver off the board.

The multi talented wide receiver/returner came into the league and made an immediate impact. Brown led the league in kickoff returns, return yards, average yards per return in addition to making 43 catches for 725 yards and scoring five touchdowns.

The Dallas, Texas native was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection. Brown played in 255 games finished his career with 1,094 receptions, 14, 934 receiving yards and 100 touchdowns.

It is a known fact that Tim Brown was one of the best wide receivers in College Football and NFL history. Brown was a member of the NFL 1990's All-Decade team. Brown posted an NFL record 75 receptions in 10 straight seasons. There are currently three members of the 12-round 1988 draft in the Hall of Fame; Tim Brown is attempting to take his rightful place as the fourth.

Although denied in year one Brown became eligible for enshrinement in 2010. Understandable when you consider the traffic jam of accomplished receiver candidates awaiting entry such as Jerry Rice, Andre Reed and Chris Carter.

The College Football Hall of Fame inducted “Touchdown Timmy” in 2010. This is the second year of eligibility for Tim Brown, the man known simply as, Mr. Raider. Brown spent 15 of his 16 years in the NFL proudly wearing silver and black in Los Angeles and Oakland.

Oakland Raiders: On to the Next One

The Oakland Raiders went into the season with lofty expectations of winning the division and making the playoffs. For the first time since the merger in 1970, the Raiders are the first team to go undefeated in their division and not make the playoffs.

However, if you win every game in your division, emphatically beat down and provide the eventual division winner with a 'never forget who we are' moment at home, you should be crowned as the true champions of the AFC West.

While Oakland convincingly won the last game of the season, the Raiders still came up short in reaching their season-long goals. But 2010 was a year of resurgence for the Silver and Black.

Despite not achieving their desired goals, the Silver and Black took Raider Nation on a memorable ride back to respectability. Going into the season, it was felt that Tom Cable received a reprieve to turn the Raiders around. It was a collective effort, but that is exactly what he did.

Despite the players wanting to play hard for him, it was well known that he was thin ice. A playoff run was the only thing that was going to ensure a 2011 return. Like it or not, it was the right decision. The timing was curious, but the writing was on the wall.

Hue Jackson was hired as the offensive coordinator and tasked with turning the offense into a productive unit. Mission accomplished as the Raiders improved from the 31st-ranked offense in 2009 to 10th overall in 2010.

The road to respectability is filled with several potholes. As with any season, 2010 was filled with the good, the bad and the ugly.

The Good

Oakland snapped a seven-year streak of losing 11-plus games a season, while going 6-0 in the division. Jackson proved to be a leader of men and a solid offensive mind. Under his watch, the offense improved dramatically. The running game, fueled by the dynamic tandem of Darren McFadden and Michael Bush, became the strength of the team.

The improvement on offense wouldn’t have been possible without the offensive line, who stepped their game up in run blocking.

The 2010 draft class was one of the best in recent memory by making an immediate impact which bodes well for the future. The defense improved as both the defensive line and linebacker group became strengths of the team. Moving Richard Seymour to defensive tackle was huge. Tommy Kelly had his best season.

John Henderson and Desmond Bryant were solid in the defensive tackle rotation. The versatile Lamar Houston had a great rookie campaign and made an immediate impact. Matt Shaughnessy was solid, providing the Raiders with two tremendous young talents at the two defensive end positions for the foreseeable future.

The linebacker group, the team's deepest in years, was huge. Rookie Rolando McClain solidified the middle, while Kamerion Wimbley and Trevor Scott made their presence felt on the strong side and weak side positions. Nnamdi Asomugha had another stellar season at right cornerback.

The Bad

The Raiders were great in the division, but 2-8 against everyone else. This team needs to improve and shut teams down, make the opponent one-dimensional and get off the field on third down.

The Ugly

Penalties! Drive-killing or game-altering, he Raiders shot themselves in the foot so many times, it was a wonder that they were able to walk off the field.

Defensively stopping the run continues to be a major issue and cause for concern. The safeties were exploited on more than one occasion, the second half of the Jacksonville game comes to mind. Michael Huff and Tyvon Branch made a lot and missed a lot of tackles. There were too many breakdowns in coverage, Branch surrendered eight touchdown passes.


There is always room for improvement at various positions, but there aren’t any glaring needs heading into 2011. The improvements can be made via the draft, veteran free agency and with undrafted rookie free agents. This team needs more disciplined play and consistency.

The Raiders are in need of continuity that can only be had if Hue Jackson is promoted to head coach. Despite the fact Oakland will begin 2011 with their ninth head coach in 17 seasons since returning to the East Bay, they’re losers no more and should be considered a team on the rise.

Al Davis Chooses to cut the Cable

The Raiders chose to decline now former head coach Tom Cable’s option. Is it a good move or a bad move?

The Oakland Raiders went out, competed and played hard for Tom Cable. The players wanted to continue to play for Tom Cable, although a .500 record wasn’t enough for Al Davis.

The Raiders had a nice resurgence in 2010. That resurgence followed some solid pick ups in free agency and one of the best draft classes in years. Tom Cable was at the helm when the Raiders ended a seven-year streak of losing 11 games per season. Tom Cable was at the helm when the Raiders went out and won all six of the games in their division, beating everyone in the AFC West twice.

The Raiders had 354.6 yards per game, 198.8 passing yards, 25.6 points per game and 410 total points. All numbers were better than Kansas City's statistics.

Hue Jackson was hired as the offensive coordinator and tasked with turning the offense around. Mission accomplished the Raiders improved from 31st in the league in total offense in 2009 to 10th in 2010. The offense and defense improved, but the offense improved the most.

This isn’t a popular decision or one that all Raider fans like, but it is Al’s decision. This isn’t to say that Tom Cable was a great coach, because he wasn’t. In my opinion the decision is unpopular because the Raiders are building something solid in Oakland, and to do that you need continuity at the head coaching position, something that just doesn’t happen in Oakland.

Tom Cable was a solid offensive line coach, but I never felt he was ready to be a head coach. He was the third or fourth choice when he was hired; the fallback plan so to speak.

It is a move that really shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. It is a known fact that Al Davis changes coaches frequently.

The Raiders are a good football team with a good mix of youth and veterans on both sides of the ball, with enough talent to be a playoff team. Tom Cable was essentially let go because of his 17-27 overall record, the team’s 2-8 record outside of the division, the team’s undisciplined play in leading the league 1,276 penalty yards and benching Jason Campbell for the Dolphins game to start Bruce Gradkowski.

The rumors are that Hue Jackson will be the next Raiders head coach. In terms of continuity, it would make sense. This team is only going to get better.

The Raiders have had 15 head coaches; eight since the team returned to Oakland. At least four of them can be categorized as mistakes. The longest-tenured coach was John Madden, who coached 142 games with a 103-32-7 regular season record, 9-7 in the post season with a Super Bowl win.

Art Shell coached 92 games in two stints as the head coach. The most successful coach in franchise history is Tom Flores, who has a 105-90 overall record, 8-3 in the postseason and three Super Bowl wins: two as a head coach and one as John Madden’s assistant.

Tom Flores is one of a few Raiders along with Ray Guy who should be in the NFL Hall of Fame but aren't. However, in regards to the top job, it’s not a surprise that Al Davis doesn’t hold head coaches in high regard. You have to go back more than a few years to find a coach that Al Davis saw eye to eye with. Al Davis has felt for years that he can coach the coach, and in turn coach the team.

Lakers Travel to Denver

Happy Veterans Day! Despite the fact that mere words can’t really express the gratitude we all should have towards members of the Armed Forces both past and present for placing their lives on the line daily; thank them for their service & commitment to this great nation.

The Los Angeles Lakers are in Denver the mile high city to do battle with the Nuggets. Both teams have a bit of a bad taste in their mouths after their previous games for different reasons.

The Nuggets are angry about taking a massive 31-point beat down on Tuesday by the Pacers in Indiana. The Lakers aren’t happy with their performance, despite winning, against the Timberwolves. The Nuggets witnessed the Pacers have one of those once in a lifetime quarters of basketball. The Pacers stunned the Nuggets by knocking down 20 of 21 shots in the third quarter.

The Lakers won the game; their eighth of the young season, but left the game with several head scratching questions. The purple and gold appeared to be playing down to their competition or simply having a lackadaisical performance. Derek Fisher was right to call out the team for said performance. The Lakers were out-rebounded, out-scored in the painted area and in this writers opinion shot way too many three point shots.

A couple of things need to be said the Lakers performance raises questions maybe even concerns, but it is early an NBA season is a marathon you’ll lose games you should win & win some you rightfully should’ve lost and every coach and player would agree with everything Fisher said.

This isn’t the best time for the Nuggets to face the Lakers. The Nuggets should put on an inspired performance for the home crowd and in the process bring out the Lakers ‘A’ game. However, the Nuggets are thin on the front line without Kenyon Martin & Chris Anderson and they’ve struggled mightily.

Carmelo Anthony is the best player on the Nuggets, but the team has gotten solid play from Arron Afalalo. The Lakers need to play solid defensively and shut down the pick and roll play, stop the dribble penetration, control the boards and rotate out to three point shooters.

The Nuggets will be more perimeter tonight which means that the Lakers need to start their offense inside. The Lakers need to run their offense through Pau Gasol.
The purple and gold front line needs to be aggressive on both ends of the floor and dominate.

The Lakers need to use both excellent ball movement and excellent player movement to find high percentage shots as oppose to shooting three point shots. I realize that the Lakers lead the league in three-point shooting and it is nice to see those shots go down, but the strength of this team isn’t shooting behind the arc it is dominating the paint.

The Nuggets finally have a power forward that can shoot from distance in Al Harrington and he will look to have a big game, but the Lakers have to limit both his and J. R. Smith’s impact on this game. The Lakers will raise their streak to 9-0 with solid defense, ball movement and executing down the stretch.

Tip-off: 7:30 PM PST
Television -
• Los Angeles: TNT
• Denver: TNT
Radio -
• Los Angeles: 710 ESPN (Spero Dedes & Mychal Thompson)
• Denver: KKFN AM 950 (Jerry Schemel & Mark Bertagnolli)
Injuries -
Lakers:
• Andrew Bynum (Knee) Out
• Theo Ratliff (Sore Left Knee) Probable
• Luke Walton (Strained Right Hamstring) Probable
Nuggets:
• Kenyon Martin (Left Patella Tendon) Out
• Chris Anderson (Right Patella Tendon) Out

Lakers vs. Suns Preview

The Los Angeles Lakers are in the desert to face the Phoenix Suns in the first road game and second of the season. The Lakers used a second half comeback to knock off the pesky Houston Rockets on ring night. The Suns were pounded on the boards and lost the rebounding battle and game to the Blazers at the Rose Garden in their season opener.

The Phoenix Suns bounced back with a 16-point win over the Jazz in Utah. Tonight’s game is the home opener for the Suns. It doesn’t seem like that long ago, but five months and 12 days ago the Suns extended the Western Conference Finals to six games before the Lakers made them understand that 2010 wasn’t going to be their year.

The Suns and the Phoenix faithful will ‘get up’ for this game against the two-time defending champions; the Lakers always receive an opponent’s best effort. This game will be a hard fought and entertaining grudge match.

The Suns put up a good fight in the playoffs, but a turning point in the series had to be the theatrics of talented Suns guard / thespian Goran Dragic. Proving that Sasha Vujcic either has the strongest bicep in the Western Conference or that Dragic put on an act and the officials bought it.

The Suns are a different team without All-Star Amare Stoudamire attacking the basket upon receiving a perfectly placed pass. Amare took his talents to New York. Phoenix will replace his production by committee. The Suns will use free agent addition Hedo Turkoglu at power forward. However his role will change, again.

He was a point forward for the Orlando Magic and one of the main reasons that team made it to the 2009 Finals. He seemed out of position and simply didn’t work out in Toronto. Normally a shooter in the screen and roll game; he will be asked to roll to the basket more. Hakim Warrick was brought in to produce at the four spot.

The Suns still have perennial All-Star Steve Nash making them one of the best teams in the West. The Suns are an uptempo team that wants to run. In the half-court offense the Suns run several high and low screen and roll plays to attack the basket or free spot up shooters. L.A. needs to own the boards, slow the game down and play at their pace, get back in transition, play solid screen and roll defense.

The Lakers bench will be huge for them and provides the necessary match the Suns. Steve Blake is an excellent fit for the Lakers as a penetrating guard, floor leader and outside shooting.

The Suns like to spread the floor with their three point shooters. The Phoenix Suns have seven players that can knock down three point shots. Last season the Suns were the number one scoring and number one shooting team.

The Suns were the second best three-point shooting team in NBA history at 41.2 percent. The Suns were 25-8 when making 10 or more three-point shots. Solid numbers, but unfortunately for them they had to face the Lakers the team that lead the league in defending the three and limited opponents to .328 percent.

The Suns are a small team that doesn’t match up well with the Lakers. The purple and gold will pound the Suns in the middle using their size advantage.Los Angeles will be running their offense through Pau Gasol and asking him to be more aggressive. There is a chance that we’ll see both Ron Artest & Matt Barnes logging minutes at Power Forward.


Tip-off: 7:30 PM PST
Television -
• Los Angeles: KCAL 9 & ESPN (Joel Myers & Stu Lantz)
• Phoenix: My45 KUTP(Gary Bender & Eddie Johnson)
Radio -
• Los Angeles: 710 ESPN (Spero Dedes & Mychal Thompson)
• Phoenix: KTAR 620 AM (Al McCoy & Tim Kempton)
Injuries -
Lakers:
• Andrew Bynum (Knee) Out
• Luke Walton (Hamstring)
Suns:
• PG Goran Dragic (Sprained Ankle) Listed as Day-to-Day

Lakers vs. Rockets (Opening Night) 2010-2011 Season

It’s the season opener for the 2010-2011 Los Angeles Lakers; but before the journey to repeat commences the squad will receive their championship rings for last seasons exploits. This past off-season was the quietest off season ever for a two-time defending champion in any sport.

The Lakers have no problem with being under the radar with all the pressure being on a certain team that plays in the east. While the majority of the NBA was enamored with a super team being assembled with the three biggest names in free agency landing on the east coast.

The spotlight, scrutiny and high expectations will hover over the Heat all-season and like it or not the move ushered in a new era in the NBA. The super team that Miami is chasing is already assembled and in place on the west coast. However, the purple reign is far from over, but it has improved. The purple and gold didn’t rest on their laurels and stand pat. The two-time defending champion Lakers retooled and are now two deep at every position.

The Additions of veterans Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, Theo Ratliff and impressive rookies Devin Ebanks and Derrick Caracter provide a needed mixture of versatility, experience and youth. The Lakers bench was a weakness last year and now should add better outside shooting as well as produce 35+ points per game.

The additions have also extended the careers of Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher as well as provide the Lakers with the ability to match up with anyone. Facing the Rockets; the Lakers have to prepare to play two different teams; one with Yao Ming and one without.

It has been widely publicized that Yao will be limited to 24 minutes per game. Yao is a huge presence in the post and will get the majority of his touches in the half-court offense the Lakers have to minimize his impact on this game.

Los Angeles needs to control the tempo and not allow the Rockets to get out and run. It is a must that all five Lakers get back on defense to eliminate transition baskets. Los Angeles will have to do a good job defending the screen and roll as well as rotating out to their three point shooters. Los Angeles needs to control the boards and play defense without fouling.

It is imperative that the Lakers take care of the ball, limit their turnovers. The Lakers can out-work the Rockets with a combination of excellent ball and player movement. When the Lakers do a good job of sharing the ball; effectively moving it from the strong to the weak side and moving the defense in the process, they’re tough to beat.

The Lakers need to trust their offense and get into a rhythm early. Los Angeles will run their offense through Pau Gasol in the post and he needs to accept the challenge and be much more aggressive.

Prediction: Lakers 102 – Rockets 94

Tip-off: 7:30 PM PST

Television -
• Los Angeles: TNT
• Houston: TNT
Radio -
• Los Angeles: 710 ESPN (Spero Dedes & Mychal Thompson)
• Houston: 1140 AM KHTK (Gary Gerould)
•
Injuries -
Lakers:
• Andrew Bynum (Knee) Out
• Luke Walton (Hamstring) Out
• Theo Ratliff (Knee) Listed as Day-to-Day
Rockets
• C Yao Ming (Foot) Listed as Day-to-Day
• PG Kyle Lowry (Back Spasms) Listed as Day-to-Day