Defense

My thoughts on the second week of the NCAA Tournament.

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Fryingpan Sports

My thoughts on the second week of the NCAA Tournament.

By Bill Smith

Lots and lots and lots of chalk. The top 3 seeds dominated the play in the second week of the NCAA. Over all, the committee was right about the top dozen teams.

In the tournament, quality depth is critical.

As I said in My thoughts on betting the NCAA Tournament—For entertainment purposes only depth is critical for surviving and moving on. North Carolina’s depth was a major factor in both of their wins. In the critical minutes at the end of games their opponents had their hands on hips searching for a breath of oxygen while the NC starters were rested.

Don’t worry about top seed teams that lost early in their conference tournament. NC moved on while Duke failed to make the final 4.

After the first weekend, beware of the one man team. As good as Blake Griffin is, it is far too easy to stop a single player. Griffin will be the first choice in the NBA draft if he comes out (which he will). Even though he scored 23, NC found ways to keep him down when it counted.

Live … Read more at FryingPanSports

What to look for at the Combine—Offense

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Fryingpan Sports

What to look for at the Combine—Offense

By Bill Smith

The NFL Combine is now covered by the NFL network more than ever before. There are certain things that NFL scouts look for at the combine. Today we will look at the major items on offense. Tomorrow, we will look at the defense.

Quarterback

Unfortunately most top QB prospects don’t throw at the combine. They wait for pro days at their schools. That is a mistake. Joe Flacco from Delaware really helped himself at the 08 combine. He went from a high 3rd round choice to the top half of the first round to Baltimore to a rookie of the year candidate.

3-5-7 step drop passing drill Too many of the QB prospects come from the spread offense. They worked in college from the shotgun and didn’t have to worry about footwork.

Check out how quickly the QB sets up after the drop and finds his target.

Second, watch the quickness of the release. As the QB takes the last step of the drop the ball should be coming out of his hand.

Check out the arm strength and accuracy. The key test is the 15 yard … Read more at FryingPanSports

Changing Defensive Fronts is usually a bad idea.

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Fryingpan Sports

Changing Defensive Fronts is usually a bad idea.

By Bill Smith

The NFL is a copycat league. The Ravens and Steelers had the best defenses in the league. They both play a 3-4. Last year there were 7 teams that played the 3-4 as their base defense. There are 9 new head coaches in the NFL this year and you can bet that some of them are going to change their D fronts to match their own style of play. Josh McDaniels, the new coach of the Broncos has already said he is going to switch to a 3-4. Packer coach Mike McCarthy isn’t new but he is changing to the 3-4 as well. While it may make the job of the new 3-4 based coaching staff easier, very seldom is that a good idea. The requirements of a 4-3 defensive front and a 3-4 are very different.

The hardest thing to find in the draft beside a starting quality NFL quarterback is an NFL quality nose tackle for a 3-4. The key to a 3-4 defense is the NT. He has to cause so much havoc on the line that the opponent has to dedicate at least … Read more at FryingPanSports

The Browns got 3 former Pats coaches, now can they get the success?

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Technorati Tags: Mangini,Browns,patriots,Jets,Daboll,Ryan,Asomugha,Raiders,defense,offense,Branch,Johnson,Belichick,Pennington,Favre

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Rob Ryan Brian Daboll

The Browns got 3 former Pats coaches, now can they get the success?

By Bill Smith

I discussed my thoughts about the Browns new head coach Eric Mangini. While he has previous head coach experience, he has a mixed record at successfully developing some of his high draft choices. Now Mangini has named his OC and DC–Brian Daboll and Rob Ryan respectively.

Ryan is a good choice. He was able to put a more than respectable defense on the field for the most dysfunctional franchise in NFL history—the Raiders. Under Ryan’s direction the pass defense became one of the best in the league. CB Nnamdi Asomugha (1st round 31st pick) has become the best shutdown corner in the league. Safety Michael Huff is on the verge of stardom. Ryan resurrected the career of former Browns mistake DT Gerard Warren helping him finally begin to realize his potential. He also helped turn NT Tommy Kelly into an acceptable NFL player.

Despite the record of the Raiders, the D played hard under Ryan. He has the reputation of being a no-nonsense guy that help get control of a sloppy tackling team like … Read more at FryingPanSports

A Few Good NFL Stories of 2008 season.

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Fryingpan Sports

A Few Good NFL Stories of 2008 season.

By Bill Smith

While many of you will find this article a departure from the normal frying pan analysis, I wanted to give accolades to some of those I think deserve them.

Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals—The Cards have been the flavor of the month for several preseasons. They have the best receiver combination in the league and a potential Hall of Fame QB. The Cards wining their division was not all that surprising. The NFC West has been a weak division for a while. But to beat the Falcons and then go and drill the heavily favored Panthers in their house was a shock. Now that the Eagles knocked off the Giants, the Cards may have a shot to go to the Super Bowl. Win or not, at least they have brought some success to the fans.

The Arizona Cardinal Defense, head coach Ken Whisenhunt and defensive coaches—Congratulations on your stealth defense. You made all of us think you were a middle of the road defense then suckered the Falcons and Panthers into believing that before you dominated them. It was either an acting job worthy … Read more at FryingPanSports