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Bear Down Chicago Bears!!! Should the Chicago Bears Run a 3-4 Defense?
By Jacob Long
COMMENTARY | For the first time in a very, very long time, the Chicago Bears can say that their 2013 successes occurred in spite of their defense and because of their offense.
Now that all is said and done, there is no debating the fact that the defense was the limiting factor preventing a playoff berth in a very winnable division in 2013.
Chicago allowed more points than all but one other team this season. The Bears allowed the third most yards and the highest yards per play. Opponents ran for 5.3 yards per carry on the ground, one of the worst season marks in NFL history. Needless to say, changes are on the way.
Should a switch from a 4-3 Cover 2 defense of the Lovie Smith era to a 3-4 scheme be a part of those changes?
The 3-4 has undergone considerable ebbs and flows in popularity since it was introduced to the NFL in the 1960s. In 2001, the Pittsburgh Steelers were the only NFL team running the 3-4 as their primary defense; they Steelers finished first in defense that season. Now, 15 of the 32 NFL defenses are considered 3-4 schemes. Chicago is the only franchise to never spend a season running the 3-4.
For the uninitiated, the clearest difference in the schemes is the way the defenders are aligned. In a 3-4, there are three down linemen and four linebackers, whereas the reverse is true in the current scheme. There are two inside linebackers, one of whom is much like a 4-3 middle linebacker while the other can be a more one-dimensional, run-stuffer type.
The toughest to find and perhaps most important player for a 3-4 defense is the nose tackle, who will line up over the center. With only three down linemen, it becomes imperative that there is a very big and strong tackle in the middle of the line to occupy multiple blockers. Bears fans will remember Ted Washington, who was one of the league's great nose tackles before he joined Chicago's 4-3 scheme.
While conventional defenses tend to assign each player to a gap (roughly, the space between offensive linemen that running backs will run through) against the run, most 3-4 defenses assign their down linemen to two gaps. This means the linemen have to be so tough to block that it requires at least 4, if not all 5 of the offensive linemen to block the 3 defensive linemen. That allows the linebackers to pursue the ball carrier without dealing with blockers themselves.
The defensive ends in a 3-4 are not like the conventional 4-3 defensive ends, which is where things become interesting for Chicago. 3-4 defensive ends are not primarily pass rushers, because they play closer to the middle of the offensive line and play a much more important role in the run game than their 4-3 counterparts. They line up in the "3 gap," on the outside shoulder of either offensive guard, the same gap occupied by the quicker defensive tackle in 4-3 schemes. Tommie Harris was a 3 technique tackle that would have been a good 3-4 defensive end.
Good defensive ends for the 3-4 are much easier to find and inexpensive than the typical 4-3 pass rushing end. Julius Peppers is the prototypical 4-3 defensive end that uses elite athleticism and practically innate technique to find success. His price suggests just how hard it can be to scout and retain good 4-3 ends.
On the other hand, 3-4 ends are more like slightly undersized defensive tackles or oversized 4-3 ends. My opinion is that Chicago had two ideal players for this position on the 2013 squad: Henry Melton and Corey Wootton. These players are a shade small for a defensive tackle, but used nice athleticism and speed to get by anyway. Players that seem like they are "tweeners" between tackle and end often make sense as 3-4 ends.
Shea McClellin is the epitome of a 3-4 "joker" linebacker, which is one of the two outside linebackers. The joker usually rushes the passer from a standing position and the entire scheme sets up to allow this player to get sacks. Since he doesn't have his hand on the ground, the joker can get a running start as well as move from place to place before the play begins. The NFL's sack leaders regularly include joker linebackers -- this year's leader, Robert Mathis, converted to the position when Indianapolis changed schemes. This is another position ideal for "tweeners," in this case those players that are undersized at defensive end but not quite versatile enough to take on all the responsibilities of a 4-3 linebacker.
The other outside linebacker plays more like a 4-3 strongside linebacker, with a full gambit of pass coverage, run-stopping, and pass-rushing responsibilities. Players like James Anderson and Khaseem Greene could transition to that role easily.
In the middle, things get a bit more complicated. Today, the two inside linebackers would certainly be Lance Briggs and Jon Bostic. The way to divvy up their responsibilities is less clear, since Briggs is much more capable of performing the one-dimensional, run-stuffer duties. On the other hand, he's better than Bostic at nearly all phases and it may be a waste to ask so little of him. This is likely a small hurdle for a good coach.
In the secondary, not much changes. Two corners and two safeties are needed, as usual. Chicago will need new safeties regardless of its game plan after the poor play of Chris Conte and Major Wright, so the Bears won't have to worry about ruffling feathers in that regard. The corners played well this past season, but their responsibilities are little changed in a 3-4 so they should not be a factor in the decision-making.
Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker does in fact have experience coordinating 3-4 defenses. Phil Emery's previous job in Kansas City also involved him presiding over the scouting of players for a 3-4 team. Head coach Marc Trestman has given no indications about his preferences for the defense, as he is an offensive specialist. There are several experienced 3-4 coordinators expected to be available for hire, including most prominently Wade Phillips and Jim Haslett.
There are risks involved in changing schemes and the growing prominence of the 3-4 defense may take away some of its effectiveness as teams get used to game-planning against it. On the other hand, it makes a good deal of sense with the current personnel and is a great defense for finding key players that do not earn much money. Chicago faces a rather difficult salary-cap situation at this point.
While the Bears have not indicated they are interested in such a change, they also have not outright rejected it when asked. Keep an eye on coaching and personnel decisions in the early part of the offseason as the organization reviews all aspects of the team.
Why Re-Signing Jay Cutler Was a Great Move by the Chicago Bears. What's your take?
By Evan Altman
Jay Cutler (6), Chicago Bears Quarterback
COMMENTARY | The breaking news of Jay Cutler's new contract probably caused as many traffic issues as the ice and snow on Thursday morning.
Chicago Bears fans, still reeling from the hangovers of New Year's eve and the season-ending loss to the Green Bay Packers, may have still been fighting through their morning drives when the announcement came a little before 10 a.m. CST.
General manager Phil Emery began the offseason with 28 unrestricted free agents on his team, but that number dropped by three this morning. In addition to Cutler, the Bears also locked up cornerback Tim Jennings and guard Matt Slauson for four years apiece.
I wrote earlier about how, or whether, Cutler can win over his critics. While he certainly hasn't done so yet, he's now got seven seasons over which to try. His play in the Packers game was a start, although many are still unconvinced. Certainly, Cutler's play on defense left a lot to be desired; his coverage abilities are suspect and his tackling was poor at best.
And it's entirely plausible to think that Josh McCown would have done better. After commuting to Soldier Field by walking across Lake Michigan, he'd have completed every pass en route to 5 touchdowns with no interceptions. Then he'd have turned the Gatorade into wine for the post-game party. And for his final miracle, he would teach the people who believe all that how to properly spell his last name.
Regardless of what McCown would or wouldn't have done for the Bears -- or, more fittingly, what he will do -- it's all a moot point now. The new contract states pretty clearly: "Jay is our quarterback." So while not all Bears fans have perfect vision, they're going to see #6 under center until 2020. And just in case two of the three people reading this don't agree with the move, I wanted to present a few points to argue its merits.
Continuity
The 2014 season will mark just the second time in his Bears career that Jay Cutler has played in the same offensive system for consecutive years. It'll be the first time said system didn't involve frequent 7-step drops. And while the center spot is yet-to-be-determined, next year will be Cutler's second behind a competent O-line.
Ron Turner, Mike Martz, and Mike Tice all served to make a strong defense a necessity for the Chicago Bears. But in a reversal of fortunes, Marc Trestman's offense was forced to make up for a defense that made Roy Helu Jr. look like a Pro-Bowler.
Another year in the system and (fingers crossed) a better defense will lead to improved performance for the man who already tops the Bears' all-time passing yards list. Keeping Jay Cutler allows Emery to focus on the real problem in Chicago and allows Marc Trestman to continue to exercise his offensive genius, and maybe exorcise his quarterback's demons.
He's the best option
If you think it's easy to go out and find an NFL quarterback who can be even a competent starter, consider that the St. Louis Rams put in a call to Brett Favre after Sam Bradford went down. Sure, McCown performed admirably in relief of Jay Cutler, which is where much of the resentment of Cutler's return has come from. Heck, McCown played better than he ever had in his career.
But there lies the issue: McCown's a 34-year-old journeyman who was a backup QB for a reason. And the logic of using him as a short-term bridge to groom a rookie QB or wait on a big-time free agent is deeply flawed as well. There's no guarantee of landing an elite starter and the draft is a total crapshoot.
In Jay Cutler, the Bears know exactly who and what they have. Of course, who and what he is and will be is a sticking point for fans.
Fear of success elsewhere
The fear that a player might go on to success in another city is certainly not something that should motivate a GM. So while I'm not at all privy to the inner workings of Phil Emery's brain, I doubt this was part of his thought process.
It is, however, a part of mine. And it should be for everyone, really. After all, if you think it's frustrating to watch Jay Cutler beat the Bears as a Bear, imagine how terrible it'd be to watch him beating them as QB of another team. Seeing that sarcastic half-smile peeking out from beneath another team's pom-pom-topped winter hat after a big win would be more even nauseating than another red-zone pick.
He makes social media more fun
OK, this one is purely personal. Although I've got a sneaking suspicion that any fellow Twitter addicts will agree with me here. If things were all sunshine and rainbows at Halas Hall, the Twittersphere and Facebook would be much less interesting.
But whether it's memes about Jay's facial expressions (or hair), comments on his aloof demeanor, or poorly phrased accounts of his predilection for folding in crunch time, Cutler's continued employment makes the interwebs a better place. There truly are some goldmines of humor and sarcasm out there if you know where to look.
With an estimated $50 million in guaranteed money coming his way, criticism of Cutler is only going to increase, and rightly so. Nothing short of bringing a title to Chicago will alleviate that, and even a Super Bowl might not be enough to do so. But talk of potential is done now. "Best chance to win" just became "only option is to win."
So as we head into a new year, where hope springs infernal, er, eternal, I'd like to offer a toast. Here's to seven more years of 6; may they be infinitely less frustrating than the past five. May Jay Cutler unite every man, woman, and Grabowski in Bears Nation, or at least not further divide them. And may Phil Emery construct a defense that doesn't force announcers to search feverishly for euphemisms to describe its performance. Salute!
After reading this article, we'd love to know what do you think? At CS&T/AA, we believe in the quote, "Talent without discipline is talent wasted." We don't question Cutler's passing and ball handling abilities but what does worry us is his tendency to single out Brandon Marshall for most of his passes. He has a tremendous compliment of receivers: Marshall (WR), 6'4"; Alshon Jeffery (WR), 6" 3"; Martellus Bennett (TE), 6"6"; Earl Bennett (WR/PR), 6'0" and Matt Forte (RB), 6'2"; someone has got to be open when Marshall is double teamed and Cutler tries to thread the needle to get it to him. What endeared the fans to Josh McCown when Cutler was injured was his ability to find the open receiver and spread the ball around. We can't believe that Martellus Bennett was not targeted more in the last game against Green Bay for the Division Championship. It is what it is and what's done is done. We're still diehard Bears fans; we'll continue to root for them and as always support them in their effort to win the "Super Bowl". Now that you've read our opinion, what's your take?
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Islanders 3, Blackhawks 2 (OT). (But we still got a point)
By Jerry Beach, The Sports Xchange
Right winger Kyle Okposo scored 58 seconds into overtime Thursday night to give the New York Islanders a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at Nassau Coliseum.
An announced crowd of 13,618 turned out as a blizzard bore down on Long Island. Most of them went home happy after Okposo -- one of the most controversial omissions from the U.S. Olympic hockey team -- spared the Islanders yet another gut-wrenching home loss by putting back a rebound of center John Tavares' shot.
Okposo pumped his fists and slammed his fists into the boards after the puck sailed past Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford. Chants of "U-S-A!" rained down on the ice as the Islanders celebrated.
Center Casey Cizikas and left winger Thomas Vanek also scored for the Islanders, who took a 2-0 lead before the Blackhawks tied it. New York (14-21-7) has blown six two-goal leads this season at Nassau Coliseum, where it was 0-4-4 in its last eight games heading into Thursday night.
Defenseman Brent Seabrook and right winger Ben Smith scored for the Blackhawks (29-7-8), who are 5-0-3 in their last eight games.
Crawford, who was playing for the first time since suffering a lower body injury on Dec. 8, had 31 saves
Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov had 37 saves.
The Blackhawks generated most of the offense in the first period, when they outshot the Islanders 12-5. But Nabokov made a series of impressive saves - including smothering the puck between his legs on a shot by center Jonathan Toews with 7:48 left - to keep the game scoreless until Cizikas' impressive goal gave the Islanders the lead with 4:36 remaining in the period.
Cizikas stole the puck in the neutral zone and broke toward Crawford with Blackhawks left winger Bryan Bickell in pursuit. Bickell continually tried jabbing the puck loose from behind before Cizikas deked Crawford and buried the puck into the left corner of the net.
The score energized the Islanders, who dominated offensively for most of the second period before extending the lead to 2-0 with Vanek's putback goal at the 8:09 mark. The goal was set up by a slapshot by defenseman Andrew MacDonald and an initial rebound attempt by Okposo.
The Blackhawks pulled within one on a power-play goal with 1:24 left. Seventy seconds after Islanders defenseman Matt Carkner was whistled for tripping, Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook's slapshot sailed over Nabokov's right shoulder. Seabrook fired the shot with such force that he fell over as the puck went into the net.
Chicago killed off a penalty of its own to end the second and begin the third and tied the game 15 seconds after 5-on-5 play resumed, when Smith capped a furious flurry in the Islanders' goalmouth. Left winger Patrick Sharp began the sequence by nearly scoring on a wraparound. The puck bounced in the goalmouth, and Toews tried poking it in before Smith finally got the puck past Nabokov.
The Islanders had multiple chances to take the lead in the third period. Crawford stopped center John Tavares at point-blank range, center Ryan Strome and right winger Colin McDonald failed to bury putbacks and Tavares' shot off a nifty no-look pass from Okposo skittered along the goal mouth.
A boarding penalty on Blackhawks center Andrew Shaw with 6:47 left put the Islanders on the power play, but Tavares could not put back a shot by Okposo.
The Blackhawks nearly took the lead as the power play expired when left winger Brandon Saad stole the puck in the Islanders' zone and raced in on the breakaway, but his shot was wide of the net.
In the final two minutes, Crawford turned Okposo away from point-blank range before Islanders right winger Michael Grabner's shot glanced off Crawford's glove and center Frans Nielsen fired a shot off Crawford's pads.
NOTES: Only two Islanders home games were postponed due to the weather. Blizzards forced postponements on Feb. 7, 1978, and March 13, 1993. ... Before Thursday, the Islanders went 0-3-1 in their previous four home games against the reigning Stanley Cup champion dating back to a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Nov. 27, 2009. ... Islanders C Josh Bailey participated in the morning skate but missed his third consecutive game due to an upper-body injury. ... The only other scratch for the Islanders was LW Eric Boulton. ... The Blackhawks are carrying three goalies until they return home Sunday. Antti Raanta, who took over when G Corey Crawford got hurt Dec. 8 and went 8-1-2 in Crawford's absence, was the backup Thursday. Jason LaBarbera was a scratch. ... The Blackhawks also scratched D Sheldon Brookbank and D Michal Rozsival. ... Chicago visits the New Jersey Devils on Friday to complete the Blackhawks' 11th set of back-to-back games this year -- but only the second played entirely on the road. ... The Islanders host the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.
Just another Chicago Bulls Session… Bulls 94, Celtics 82.
By The Sports Xchange
Center Joakim Noah barely missed a triple-double, finishing with 17 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, and led the Chicago Bulls to a 94-82 victory over the Boston Celtics on Thursday at the United Center.
The Bulls tried to get Noah that final assist, but teammate Jimmy Butler missed a corner jumper off a pass from Noah with eight seconds left, as the fans groaned.
Forward Carlos Boozer added 16 points for the Bulls and forward Luol Deng scored 14. Chicago (13-18) has won seven of its last eight home games against the Celtics.
Guard Jordan Crawford led the Celtics with 22 points. Center Jared Sullinger added 11 points and 11 assists.
The Bulls lost All-Star guard Derrick Rose to a knee injury on Nov. 22 and didn't have the rest of their lineup healthy until Tuesday against Toronto. Chicago scored 79 points that night, but moved the ball much better against Boston, finishing with 26 assists. The Bulls have won four of their last six games.
The game went back and forth for most of the first three quarters. Boston (13-19) closed within 66-62 with 1:12 left in the third quarter on Kris Humphries' jumper.
Chicago finished the quarter with a fast-break dunk by Butler, off a steal by Mike Dunleavy. Then Dunleavy followed in a Boozer miss with 0.3 seconds on the clock, giving the Bulls their biggest lead at 70-62.
To start the fourth quarter, Noah finished a lay-in, then found Dunleavy on a cut for another lay-in and the lead was up to 12. When Dunleavy pulled up and drained a 3-pointer on the next possession, the Bulls' lead reached 77-62.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Taj Gibson fell on his right hip when fouled hard by Sullinger. After a few minutes on the ground, Gibson shook it off and kept playing, while Sullinger was given a grade one flagrant foul.
The Bulls were hit with three technical fouls for complaining about calls. Coach Tom Thibodeau and Boozer were whistled in the first half, and Dunleavy in the third quarter.
NOTES: Boston sent G MarShon Brooks on a D-League assignment to Maine, where he was in the starting lineup for Thursday night's game against Tulsa. Brooks had played in just nine of the Celtics' 31 games this season. Celtics coach Brad Stevens said the move was done mostly to get Brooks extended playing time. ... The game at the United Center marked a reunion between Boston assistant Ron Adams and the Bulls. Adams was a Chicago assistant for the previous four years and is one of Tom Thibodeau's best friends in coaching. The Bulls chose not to renew Adams' contract after last season. ... Stevens downplayed an argument between Celtics F Brandon Bass and F Jeff Green on the bench during Tuesday night's loss to Atlanta. "Anybody who has been on a team knows that those things happen," Stevens said. ... Celtics G Rajon Rondo plans to follow the team on an upcoming West Coast trip and said he is "close" to returning from ACL surgery on his right knee. Rondo last played on Jan. 25, 2012.
Cubs: 14 questions for 2014.
By Tony Andracke
Theo Epstein, Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations
As the Cubs enter Year 3 of Theo Epstein's regime, they are dealing with some of the same questions all over again.
There are still trade rumors surrounding the team's best pitcher. The organization's top prospects haven’t made it to Chicago yet. The Wrigley Field renovation drama never ends. There's another new manager in town.
So with pitchers and catchers reporting in six weeks to the new complex in Mesa, Ariz., CSNChicago.com looks ahead to 14 questions facing the Cubs in 2014:
1. What will happen with Jeff Samardzija?
Will he stay or will he go? The Cubs could deal the big right-hander for a package of prospects, or they could sign him to a long-term extension that would make him a building block. This could be a defining moment for Epstein's front office.
2. Will fans see signs of progress in Year 3?
Fans tired of losing want the Cubs to act like a big-market team again. Unless Japanese star Masahiro Tanaka decides to come to the North Side, the Cubs may have made their biggest splash by hiring Rick Renteria, a first-year manager who will have to deal with the growing pains and keep the clubhouse together. The city is getting restless.
3. How will Renteria handle his first year in Chicago?
Renteria comes across as relentlessly positive and upbeat. Will the impatience and the bright lights of the Chicago market wear him down? Or will he grow into the job and make it to the other side? Dale Sveum thought he was going to be that guy.
4. When will Javier Baez debut at Wrigley?
Baez is on the fast track to the big leagues after swatting 37 homers and driving in 111 runs in 130 games last season. If he continues to hit at Triple-A Iowa, he could make it to Chicago before the end of the 2014 season.
5. Who will be the breakout prospects?
Infielder Arismendy Alcantara did it in 2013. This year, third baseman Jeimer Candelario and first baseman Daniel Vogelbach could take the same step forward. Both players spent the majority of last season at Class-A Kane County and have shown promise as well as the ability to adapt.
6. Will Kris Bryant keep hitting?
The No. 2 overall pick mashed at every level of pro ball. Can he continue to rake as he advances to the upper levels of the system? If he dominates again, he could be part of the 2015 lineup.
7. Can Albert Almora and Jorge Soler stay healthy?
Almora and Soler are still part of the "Big Four," but both prospects struggled to stay on the field and were hampered by a variety of injuries last season. They could take major steps forward in 2014 – if they can get consistent at-bats.
8. Can Travis Wood and Jake Arrieta build off their success?
They wound up being nice surprises in a lost season, with Wood becoming an All-Star and the team's most consistent starting pitcher. Arrieta, who was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles in the Scott Feldman deal, put up a 3.66 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in nine starts down the stretch. At their age – Wood will be 27 and Arrieta will be 28 by the start of the 2014 season – they could become staples in the rotation.
9. Where does Junior Lake fit?
The converted infielder – once thought of as a possible super-utility guy – has so many tools. He will be 24 by Opening Day and gave you a reason to watch this team as a rookie. With his combination of speed and power, he could position himself as part of “The Core.”
10. Who’s on third?
Luis Valbuena has done a decent job at the hot corner the last two seasons. Donnie Murphy was a nice surprise late last season. Mike Olt, who was acquired from the Texas Rangers in the Matt Garza deal, had a top-prospect pedigree but now has to prove he’s over the vision/concussion issues that stalled his career.
11. Can Darwin Barney hold onto his job at second base?
After a dominating defensive season and a Gold Glove in 2012, Barney was still a very good defender last year. But he took a major step back at the plate, hitting just .208 with a .569 OPS. If he continues to struggle, his defense and intangibles may not be enough to keep him in the lineup every day.
12. Will the Wrigley renovation saga ever end?
The battle to upgrade and renovate Wrigley Field has had more twists and turns than an episode of "Scandal." The Cubs hope to really start renovating in 2014, but they fear litigation and want assurances from the rooftops.
13. Can Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro bounce back?
Castro took a major step back at the plate in 2013, while Rizzo's struggles might be pinned to bad luck. As two franchise cornerstones signed through their prime, Castro and Rizzo are essential to the plan. It would be bad news for the organization if their struggles carried over into 2014.
14. Will Edwin Jackson return to form?
Jackson was 70-71 with a career 4.40 ERA prior to signing that big contract. He led the majors with 18 losses and put up a 4.98 ERA last season. At the age of 30 – and with three years left on that $52 million deal – it’s time to turn things around.
Ten things we hope happen in 2014.
By Shane Bacon
The golf media is a biased place. Sure, we're supposed to sit around in the media room without a dog in the fight, but inside we are still fans hoping to see this happen or that go down. When Tom Watson lost the 2009 British Open, some described the interview room as funeral-like, and that was because the best story of the entire decade would have been that Watson win at 59. With the start of 2014, we know that predicting golf is almost impossible, so we decided to go a different way. These are 10 things we hope happen in 2014.
Tiger Woods win the Masters -- It's the biggest golf tournament of the year and he's the biggest name in the sport. Add his drought at the majors and his run at the Jack Nicklaus major record and this one is a lay-up. The main question here is the same as it has been since '05; can Tiger win on the new Augusta National? If his game is clicking, like it did at the Players Championship in 2013, it doesn't matter what course he is playing, but if he brings his A-minus game (or below), it might be tough for him to win on a golf course they have continued to change over the years since Woods ran away with the green jacket in 1997.
Phil Mickelson wins the U.S. Open -- Okay fine, this is the one that golf fans want the most. Sure, Tiger winning would be a bigger story simply because he's such a huge sports star, but in the terms of the perfect storm in the golf world, Phil winning at Pinehurst #2 would be incredible. If Phil wins this year it would be on a course that saw one of his first epic defeats in a major to Payne Stewart back in 1999, and it's the one major championship that continues to elude Mickelson. A win at the U.S. Open wouldn't just be a sixth major win for Phil, but it would complete his career Grand Slam a year after his epic British Open win thanks to a Sunday 66 at Muirfield.
Basically if these two things happen to start off the major championship season we can just slam the book on the rest of the majors and still have one of the best years ever for the big four.
The United States wins the Ryder Cup -- Before the Presidents Cup kicked off, I wrote something about how important it was for the International team to win because if the Americans won again the event was in danger of becoming obsolete. Of course, the United States added a fifth straight Cup to their trophy case, and if the Europeans snag another Ryder Cup in 2014 it would be a sixth Cup win for them in the last seven Ryder Cups.
This isn't just an American hoping that the U.S. wins, but a golf fan wanting to see this event become even more competitive.
Ryo Ishikawa wins on the PGA Tour -- There are few global stars more important to the game than 22-year-old Ryo Ishikawa. The Japanese star burst on the scene in 2008 when he became the youngest player ever to break into the top-100 in the Official World Golf Rankings, and while he was winning on the Japan Tour, he struggled to bring that play to the United States.
That changed at the end of 2013, when Ishikawa finished T-2 at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and followed it up with a T-5 at the World Cup of Golf in Australia.
Ishikawa became one of those young stars with tons of expectations, and while some have lived up to the hype (Rory McIlroy is a great example), we've seen plenty of names like Ty Tryon and Michelle Wie who never quite became what we thought they would.
If Ishikawa can win on the PGA Tour in 2014, it would be huge for the game of golf in Asia and would help justify why we all got so excited when he first started to play in the United States as a teenager.
Bubba Watson bounces back from a tough 2013 -- Before the Travelers Championship in 2010, Bubba Watson was a guy known for his crazy golf swing and his long drives and his country attitude. He had never won the PGA Tour but he was considered one of the most talented guys on tour simply because he can do things to a golf ball that even the most talented professional golfers are impressed with.
But at the Travelers he picked up his first PGA Tour win and followed it up with two victories in 2011. Bubba was becoming a star in golf, and it all came together at the Masters in 2012. His playoff win, thanks to that wedge shot that most of us will never forget, shot Watson to the top of a lot of lists as the most beloved guy on tour, and his media tour after only helped his popularity.
The problem is, Watson has yet to win since he put on that green jacket, carding just three top-10s in 2013 and struggling at the majors.
The hope is that it was just a hangover year for Bubba and he's ready to get back to winning with all that talent he has in that loopy golf swing. Look for Bubba to get a fifth win in 2014, but our hope is he gets one or two more than that.
Rory McIlroy goes back to being Rory McIlroy -- We all have bad days, when we wake up grumpy and the coffee or the cereal or even the smile from your significant other can't really break your bad mood.
In the case of Rory McIlroy, that was his entire 2013. He got frustrated on the golf course, hung his head when things were bad and struggled to get any momentum going after winning the PGA Championship by eight shots a season before.
His recent engagement announcement means that Rory and Caroline Wozniacki are taking things to the next level, and that might just be the recipe for a great 2014 for the two-time major winner.
As we've said before, Rory is never going to be Tiger Woods, but if he can just be Phil Mickelson and win a major every couple of years I think we will all be completely fine with that. If not a win at one of the big four events in 2014 we just hope he's in the conversation come Sunday in a couple of them.
Jason Day wins twice on tour -- I've said it a lot over the past few months, but if I asked you to give me 10 guys you think are the most talented in the world, Jason Day would be on a lot of lists. The problem is, the 26-year-old Australian has just one PGA Tour win over his entire career, staggering when you consider how many major championships he's been involved in.
Considering how much talent Day has, and how much fun it is to watch him when he's in the hunt, I think a win or two in 2014 would really be great for his career moving forward, reminding him that he has the ability to not only win on this tour, but win in bunches.
Jordan Spieth and Lydia Ko avoid letdown seasons -- I think these two are pretty comparable, even if Ko just turned pro and Spieth already had a successful season as a professional, but both are heading into 2014 knowing that a letdown season can't be in the cards (especially after Ko changed instructors).
A good season for Ko would be a major win, while Spieth just needs to add another PGA Tour win to make '14 a success. Both youngsters seem like nice kids, and I think both get fans more interested in the game.
Dustin Johnson wins a major -- Of all the guys without majors, Johnson seems like the most obvious candidate to actually snag one this season. He's got the complete game, seems happy in his life off the golf course, and has been there a few times already in his young career.
Johnson winning a major would elevate his brand to a new level, and he is one of the few guys on tour that has that big sports star potential that makes him more than just a golfer.
Sergio Garcia wins the British Open -- Oh come on, how fun would that be?!
NASCAR, Indy testing plus F1, TUDOR launches make for busy January.
By Tony DiZinno
The month of December is pretty much an off month for the entirety of the motorsports world. Most posts on MotorSportsTalk have been on quotes, with little in the way of actual on-track action. That changes in January, and here’s what there is to look forward to:
- TUDOR’s big launch: The TUDOR United SportsCar Championship gets the ball rolling with the Roar Before the 24 test this weekend, January 3-5, at Daytona International Speedway. The Rolex 24 at Daytona, one of North America’s longest-running sports car races, drops the green flag on Jan. 25 to launch a new era in North American sports car racing as the combination of teams from the GRAND-AM Rolex Series and American Le Mans Series come together. Throughout the past 16 months, the process of merging the assets together has occurred, and final details are emerging this month. It should be interesting to watch.
- NASCAR preseason testing: Six days of mostly primer-only cars and trucks going in circles doesn’t sound exciting on paper, but considering it’s the first on-track activity in six or so weeks, NASCAR Preseason Thunder at Daytona always seems to wake fans from their offseason slumber. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams test Jan. 9-10, Nationwide Series teams Jan. 11-12 and Camping World Truck Series teams Jan. 13-14. The first three days will see 12 total hours televised on FOX Sports 1.
- F1 comes close to filling its field, and begins launches: As of this writing, no Formula One team has yet announced its launch date for its 2014 car. But from renderings that have followed their way around the Internet, and based on the technical changes that come into play for 2014, they should be shaken up from what’s been out the last five years. The first launches will likely occur toward the end of the month, and run into February. Additionally, Marussia (second seat) and Caterham (its two seats) still need to confirm their drivers to round out the 22-car field.
- IndyCar testing resumes: IndyCar testing is blacked out until January 8 and the first major bit of on-track action after it resumes will occur on January 17 at Sebring International Raceway with a Chevrolet manufacturer’s test. The Ganassi, Penske, Carpenter, KVSH and Panther teams are currently slated for that test.
- IndyCar’s silly season continues: Since our last silly season update, the IndyCar driver market has quieted down. But over the next few weeks, there could be news from some or all of the Barracuda, Coyne, Rahal Letterman Lanigan, KVSH and Panther teams.
- Elsewhere: The Dakar Rally commences soon, with TV broadcasts on NBCSN … NHRA testing will occur before its first race at Pomona Feb. 6-9 … the FIA World Rally Championship has its annual landmark event, Rally Monte Carlo, Jan. 14-19 … the Pirelli World Challenge Championships will likely see some driver and team announcements over the month considering its projected car count north of 80 cars across its five classes and one subcategory.
English Premier League the Best in All of World Football at Start of 2014.
By Zac Wassink
COMMENTARY | Carefully consider what I am saying here before you immediately think of Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich.
It's likely, perhaps even an inevitability, that the 2013-14 champions of Europe will not come from the English Premier League. The usual suspects out of Spain will again be favorites, as will the competition's winners from a season ago. Heck, AC Milan or Galatasaray could even make a run.
OK, maybe that's pushing it.
The EPL title race is shaping up to be one for the books. Two points separate leaders Arsenal (45 points) from third-place Chelsea, and Manchester City sit between those two sides in the table. Liverpool is but six points off of the Gunners, with Everton only a point behind the club being carried by the Luis Suarez express.
Even Tottenham Hotspur, which recently exchanged head coach Andre Villas-Boas for Tim Sherwood, are still in the hunt. Spurs trail their north London rivals by just seven points at the conclusion of the festive period.
No other top-tier European league comes close to matching the excitement currently found in England. Only Roma and Napoli are going to give Juventus a run in the Serie A race. La Liga will, at best, be a three-team show, and that's only if Atletico Madrid prove to have staying power.
Bundesliga is again all about Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen. Ligue 1 is similar to La Liga in that three clubs will be in it to win the top-flight French competition.
And what of Champions League? Popular opinion among non-biased fans and analysts is that Arsenal is about to be booted out of that competition by Bayern Munich. Don't count the Gunners out, though, especially if they can keep Bayern off the scoreboard when the two sides meet at the Emirates on February 19.
City had the goods to win trophies a season ago. They now have the depth to hang in multiple competitions and even win in both England and in Europe. Do not write City off merely because they were paired up against Barcelona in the round of 16.
Chelsea remains an enigma. Jose Mourinho has a side so rich in talent that he could sell Juan Mata without even noticing. He's also going to have his pick in the January transfer window because, you know, Roman Abramovich.
Manchester United are the biggest concern when it comes to English sides in Champions League. United sit 11 points behind Arsenal in the league table, and David Moyes rather than Sir Alex Ferguson being on the touchline isn't all that's ailing what was the Premier League's best team a season ago.
The Premier League is responsible for the world's top goal-scorer in the previously mentioned Suarez. Weekends in the EPL are as fun as you'll find in any other league (you check out those Swansea City vs. Manchester City and United-Spurs games on Wednesday?). There are, right now, 10 teams in the league's relegation battle.
Best in the world? You betcha.
Texas-sized cloud hangs over BCS title game.
By Ralph D. Russo (AP College Football Writer)
A Texas-sized cloud of uncertainty looms over college football's biggest game of the season.
As No. 1 Florida State and No. 2 Auburn prepare in Southern California to meet Monday in the last BCS championship game, the University of Texas is still looking for a new football coach. And until the Longhorns make a hire, just about every successful coach can be considered a candidate - including Florida State's Jimbo Fisher and Auburn's Gus Malzahn.
''I've been amazed about how quiet this thing has been,'' ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit said earlier this week. ''Because of that it leads me to speculate and believe that somebody still involved in coaching, whether it's the NFL or college, must be one of their primary candidates.''
''I think the longer this goes on I think it's very, very clear that it's somebody who's still coaching. Who that might be, I have no idea.''
Some leaks have sprung in the last couple of days, and it appears front-runners are emerging.
Published reports out of Texas stated the Longhorns were interested in Fisher, Baylor's Art Briles, Vanderbilt's James Franklin and Louisville's Charlie Strong. Michigan State's Mark Dantonio has also been mentioned as a coach Texas athletic director Steve Patterson is looking at. Patterson said he wants the search complete by Jan. 15.
''Texas, they're going to be calling on everybody they possibly can because they're going to try to get the best coach they possibly can,'' Florida State AD Stan Wilcox said.
''Meanwhile, everybody's trying to keep their coaches because they all feel that the people that Texas is looking at are the best coaches out there.''
Florida State hopes it has put all the speculation about Fisher's future to rest. The fourth-year head coach and Nick Saban disciple finally got around on Tuesday to signing a new contract that runs through the 2018 season and pays him about $4.1 million annually.
Auburn agreed to a new deal with Malzahn the day before the Southeastern Conference championship game last month. The six-year contract is worth $3.85 million annually to the first-year Tigers coach.
Briles got a 10-year deal in November from Baylor. Michigan State is working on a new deal for Dantonio that could double his $1.9 million salary.
Briles got a 10-year deal in November from Baylor. Michigan State is working on a new deal for Dantonio that could double his $1.9 million salary.
The Dallas Morning News and Austin American-Statesmen reported Patterson has met with Strong and that Briles, now that Baylor's season ended Tuesday night with a 52-42 loss to UCF in the Fiesta Bowl, could be next to interview.
And, of course, Saban, the object of so many Longhorns desires, agreed to a new multiyear deal with Alabama that will pay him $7 million a year after months of stories and speculation connecting the four-time national championship winning coach and Texas.
But what do those extensions really mean? Are Fisher, Malzahn, Briles and even Saban truly off the market?
''A contract is written to be broken,'' said Kansas State athletic director John Currie, who doesn't have to worry about his football coach, 74-year-old Bill Snyder, going anywhere.
The trend in college sports, especially college football, is for schools to quickly lock up successful coaches and hand out raises.
Mississippi extended Hugh Freeze's contract after a 7-5 regular season and bumped his pay to $3 million per year. Washington State's Mike Leach got the Cougars back into a bowl by winning six games in his second season at Pullman. He got a two-year extension for his work.
Texas A&M made the boldest move of all this season with coach Kevin Sumlin, who was drawing interest from NFL teams last year. The Aggies made Sumlin (20-6 in two seasons at A&M) a $5 million-per-year coach with a new six-year deal.
Arizona AD Greg Byrne said the contract numbers that make headlines can often be deceiving.
''When you get down into the details the interesting numbers are what's guaranteed, both sides. If the coach were to leave, what's the buyout? And then if you were to dismiss your coach without cause what percent of the contract is guaranteed?'' Byrne said. ''Sometime you'll see someone with an eight-year contract, but half the contract is guaranteed, so in some ways it's a four-year contract instead.''
Currie said the NFL has played a major role in changing the salary structure for college coaches, but ultimately a school needs to decide what works best for it.
''Everybody else is doing it is not a reason to make a bad decision for your institution,'' he said.
But market pressures can be strong and big openings - such as the one at Texas - can drive up that market.
But market pressures can be strong and big openings - such as the one at Texas - can drive up that market.
''I'm sure there's been a time where a school's reacted too slowly, but I think there have been times where a school has jumped ahead a little more in hindsight to where they want to be,'' Byrne said. ''It's a challenging situation. I think the market place has gotten to such that there will be agents out there that will try to parlay one school against another. And I think that's driven up some of the numbers we're seeing today.''
Florida State and Auburn have made their moves to protect their interests, and can spend this week focusing on what it takes to win a national championship. But until the Longhorns introduce a new coach, fans of the Seminoles and Tigers - and Bears and Cardinals, etc. - have reason to be at least a little distracted by what's going on in Austin.
NCAA Basketball: Could we be seeing a change in how transfer waivers are enforced?
By Rob Dauster
One of the most controversial topics in college basketball these days is the “free agency” of the transfer market.
Depending on who you ask, this is one of the biggest issues plaguing the game. Players leave school before they even have a chance to unpack. Immediate eligibility waivers — whether they are do to hardships or graduate transfers — are what is spurring the process on. To a point, that’s correct. You’re foolish if you transfer and don’t apply for some kind of waiver. Some have gone as far as to call it an epidemic.
Others?
Like me?
We have an issue with any kind of hinderance on the movement of an amateur athlete. These kids are students first, right? Isn’t that what the NCAA tells us? They’re amateurs, so they can’t get a cut of the billions upon billions of dollars that are generated annually by college athletics? So if they’re students, why is there any restriction on their ability to move around to different campuses? Have you ever heard about the transfer epidemic for veterinarian students?
Well, there appears to be a movement in process to try to get some of those transfer waivers eliminated, according to John Infante of the ByLaw Blog. A year ago, the push was to try and get punishment for transferring eliminated. But the opposite was true at October’s NCAA Division I Leadership Council meeting:
At that October meeting, the Leadership Council directed the subcommittee to focus on two concepts:
- To require all student-athletes in FBS football, basketball, baseball, and men’s ice hockey to sit out for one year following a transfer, eliminating the opportunity to earn immediately eligibility through the waiver process.
There’s no guarantee that any of this ends up being an NCAA rule. Remember, it was only ten months earlier that the opposite was discussed.
- To require graduate transfers in FBS football, basketball, baseball, and men’s ice hockey to sit out for one year following a transfer, potentially eliminating both the graduate transfer waiver and graduate transfer exception.
But it is interesting to note which direction we are trending here.
What Is the Current State of Pro Wrestling Heading Into 2014?
By Patrick Michael
COMMENTARY | Depending on your perspective, professional wrestling is either still big business or it's in a quagmire at the outset of 2014.
The naysayers point to the fact that only one American wrestling promotion is currently doing great business. Although the WWE is still successful, other promotions such as Ring of Honor (ROH) and Total Nonstop Action (TNA) are struggling mightily going into 2014. TNA, in particular, went through a massive overhaul behind the scenes that saw the likes of Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff, and even the promotion's founder, Jeff Jarrett, leave the company.
The same pessimists could also claim that things aren't that great in the WWE either in 2014.
Although the WWE is clearly the top wrestling promotion in the world in 2014, its television programming doesn't draw the kind of ratings it did 15 years ago. Creatively, many wrestling fans feel that the WWE has watered down its product too much to appeal to younger fans and the storylines and wrestling of 2014 don't compare to that of the Attitude Era.
On the other hand, you could make the case that the WWE is doing bigger business now than it did 10-15 years ago. Vince McMahon's outside-of-wrestling business venture of 2014, WWE Studios, is far more successful than those of the past (WBF and XFL). Meanwhile, the WWE's pay-per-views are typically sellouts with high buy-rates. And while the ratings aren't what they used to be, Raw and Smackdown are among the highest rated shows on their networks.
As for ROH and TNA, their failures have more to do with backstage nonsense than wrestling issues. Both promotions have legions of loyal fans who still swear by the product. Every talented wrestler in the world can't work for the WWE and the talent that gives its all for ROH and TNA fans is outstanding. Meanwhile, independent promotions are springing up all over the country, which proves that professional wrestling is still a strong industry in 2014.
The one thing that all wrestling fans would agree on is that the WWE needs real competition in 2014. During every prosperous period in pro wrestling history, at least three promotions were in a real battle for the hearts and minds of wrestling fans. During the golden era, it was the AWA, NWA, and WWWF/WWF. Then in the late 1990s, it was ECW, WCW, and WWF. With apologies to ROH and TNA, they are not giving the WWE real competition in 2014.
I believe there are still enough wrestling fans interested in the business in 2014 to allow three companies to be successful. Of course, this begs the question, "Why aren't more wrestling promotions succeeding in 2014?"
In my opinion, this is because of the aforementioned nonsense going on behind the scenes at these companies. Any struggling wrestling promotion that wants to succeed in 2014 must make the following New Year's resolution: "I resolve to hire Jim Cornette, Shane McMahon, Jim Ross, or Paul Heyman if I could pry him away from WWE to head my creative team in 2014."
As for the WWE's 2014 product, wrestling fans need to realize the company sees itself more as a primetime drama or reality television show rather than an old-time wrestling program. Vince McMahon is clearly happy with the product; otherwise, he'd change it. Clearly, the WWE needs PG programming to attract the kinds of sponsors he wants. And the increased viewership among kids implies a bonanza of John Cena t-shirt sales and Rey Mysterio masks.
Of course, I also feel the creative team could devise better storylines that are still PG. And I wish the WWE would let wrestlers such as CM Punk who are gifted on the mic tear up their scripted promos in 2014. I also feel that pay-per-views should have better payoffs to storylines with more surprises. But when the WWE can still draw 80,000 fans to WrestleMania every year, it's hard to argue with the company's 2014 business model.
As 2014 gets underway, professional wrestling is still a strong industry. Contrary to popular belief, I do not believe that all the old school fans have left the business forever in favor of MMA.
Unfortunately, we have people running smaller promotions in 2014 who know very little about the business. If 2014 witnessed the return of Cornette, Shane McMahon, Ross, or even Heyman to a rival's creative team, then wrestling would be as strong as ever.
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