An New Era May Be Upon Us

Colin Kaepernick. Robert Griffin. Russell Wilson. Who will be next? A new style of quarterback could be taking over this league. Strength and speed is now teamed up with incredible intelligence and decision-making ability. This past season RGIII, Russell Wilson, and Colin Kaepernick have taken the league by storm with their incredible talents to run and pass effectively. When looking at this years most memorable moments all three(RGIII, Kaepernick, and Wilson) have each stamped their seal in our memory banks.

Since Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts took down the New York Giants in the 1958 NFL Championship game, pocket passers have defined this league. Even this year, three of the four quarterbacks left in the playoffs are prototypical pocket passers. Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers aren’t going anywhere and are still the best the game has to offer. However, in this past season these three quarterbacks burst into the league and are changing the way professional football is played.

When Michael Vick was drafted in 2001, he was said to be the “Next Big Thing.” He was hyped to the level of Lebron James, Bryce Harper, or Kobe Bryant. He was a duel threat star that could run a 4.4 second 40 yard dash and pass the ball 60 yards with the flick of his wrist. Everyone wanted him. Though they didn’t know it at the time, Atlanta traded two draft picks that turned into future Hall of Famers (LaDainian Tomlinson and Drew Brees) for the rights to the first overall pick. Though he turned into one of the most exciting players in the league for a few years, Vick did not pan out as the quarterback who would change the NFL forever. The whole world knows what happened to Vick off the field but his on the field talent never equaled what most predicted of him. Vick could never put all of his skills together. There were glimpses throughout his years in Atlanta and later Philadelphia, (insert clips) but a bad attitude for much of his career and inconsistency derailed his game in big moments. What is happening now in the league is far different from what Vick did for the NFL however.

The difference between Vick and the new crop of dual-threat quarterbacks are that along with the arm strength and speed similar to what Vick possessed, they have the accuracy, the decision making and the ability to win that Vick never seemed to have in his career.  They also all have great humility with which keeps them grounded and is the backbone of their dedication to their craft. They also have coaches that are changing the way offense is run in order to cater to their star athletes.

More and more offenses are running from out of the shotgun or pistol formation. Before this would never have worked as defenses could pin back their ears and come for the quarterback. Defenses are having trouble defending the read options that these quarterbacks and offenses are running. With their ability to make quick decisions on whether to hand the ball off, run themselves, or pull the ball back and throw, quarterbacks are becoming a nightmare to game plan against. What quarterbacks like Kapernick, RGIII, and Russell Wilson have proven is that their elite decision making skills, along with their athleticism, are making them nearly unstoppable.

After decades of the best athletes being moved from the quarterback position once they enter college or the NFL, the truly elite ones are becoming successful. It will be interesting to see what the games most valuable position looks like in five, ten, or twenty years. Coaches will be more and more willing to take chances on duel-threat quarterbacks and defenses will have to adjust accordingly. There are other athletic quarterbacks in the league that can rise to the heights these youngsters have as well however. Someone like Cam Newton, who showed an ability to succeed in the NFL, can join this group of elite dual-threats but he will need to become a better leader and learn how to really win in the NFL.  By no means will this be the end of elite pocket passers, but as the game continues to evolve, wave of incredible athletes that will take snaps under center in the National Football League could be just beginning.

10 Reasons to Look Forward to 2013 for Philadelphia Fans

Anyone who followed sports this year (and probably most who didn't) knew Philadelphia had a rough 2012 on the sports front. I am going to be honest it took me longer than I would have liked to come up with 10 things for fans of the city of brotherly love to look forward to. However, with a new year beginning, it's time to turn the page on last year and look towards a future that may not be as bleak as some would think.

10.) Bryce Brown and LeSean McCoy

Though the Eagles have a lot of positions to rebuild this offseason, running back is certainly not one of them. LeSean McCoy has proven himself over the last three seasons and is one of the top running backs in the league. When Shady went down with a concussion halfway through the season, rookie Bryce Brown stepped up and dominated with both power and speed. Whoever the Eagles eventually hire will be able to build a running attack that is as good as any in the league.

9.) Jrue Holiday

This season Holiday has burst out of the gates. Averaging 19 points and 9 assists, Holliday is playing at an All-Star level. After being highly touted coming out of high school, Holliday had not lived up to his early fame until now. Along side shooting guard Evan Turner, the 76ers have a young backcourt that they fans can be excited about for years to come.

8.) New Phillies

The Phillies didn't make the major moves that some had expected (Josh Hamilton) but they did make some great additions that will help the team this season. Ben Revere is a young speedster that will fill the vacancy left in centerfield and can consistently get on base. Former Ranger Michael Young is a proven hitter that is a career .301 hitter. At 36, he is aging, but will be a great addition to the clubhouse. Finally, a more under the radar pickup, Mike Adams is a true 8th inning setup man that this team lacked last season and will help to bridge the gap to Jonathan Papelbon in the 9th inning.

7.) A New Regime for the Eagles

Since 1999, Andy Reid has patrolled the Eagles sidelines. He was a great coach for the first ten years of his career but in the last four years, he began to hurt the team. The team should respond well to fresh face and the new strategy that he brings with him. Much of the fan-base was angered that the past two seasons roster on paper, had immense amount of player talent that was been wasted. It will be interesting to see what changes will be made to better utilize the talent on the roster and what adjustments in personnel the new head coach will make.

6.) Andrew Bynum's Debut

Let me first say that even if he never plays for the Sixers it was still worth to take a shot on him (that is, unless Nik Vucavic continues dominating in Orlando and becomes a star). With that being said, reports surfaced today saying that Bynum could be back as early the All-Star break. As long as the Sixers don't plummet too far down the standings (no promises there) Bynum's return could have a huge impact on the Eastern Conference playoffs. There are still a lot of question marks surrounding Bynum and his knees but as this is a post about optimism, I will refrain from mentioning that he could easily re-injury himself bending down to tie his shoes (Oops). Fans are almost equally as excited to see how dumb his hairstyle can get. 

5.) The Eagles Draft

The Eagles haven't had a selection this high since 1999 when they picked Donavan McNabb with the second overall draft pick. With the fourth choice they will be able to choose an impact player that will start right away. Look for the Eagles to take an offensive tackle like Texas A&M's Luke Joeckel or a cornerback like Dee Milliner out of Alabama. It would also not be surprising if they looked to trade out of the fourth pick to try to grab another first or second rounder and rebuild this team. Also, the management hopefully will have hired a coach by that time (no guarantees). 

4.) Claude Giroux

Giroux proved last year that he is one of the most exciting players in the NHL. With 93 points he was third in the league in points and second in assists(68). This year he will look to continue to grow as he is expected to be named the Philadelphia captain. With most of the young core back around him, he again should be one of the best, most exciting players in the league.

3.) A Healthy Phillies Team

The 2012 season for the Phillies is one that most fans will want to forget. With Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Roy Halladay all out for significant time, the team was never able to recover from early season struggles. With all three healthy coming into the year, look for the Phillies to be back at the top of the NL East once again. 

2.) Flyers vs. Penguins

Last year's opening round playoff matchup between these two cross-state rivals was one of the most intense and exciting rounds of hockey in recent memory. The series featured plenty of goals and even more fighting and big hits. Both these teams hate each other, from the fans to the players to the coaches. Even the star players like Giroux and Sidney Crosby got into it. This is now the NHL's best rivalry and with the teams squaring off this Saturday on Opening Day, fans should expect more of the same. We can only hope for another playoff matchup this coming year and after missing nearly half the season already, these match ups should be as intense as ever.

1.) 2012 is over

The number one reason Philadelphia fans should be excited for the 2013 season is that the 2012 season is done. The Phillies and the Eagles, the two most popular teams in this city, performed dreadfully during last year leaving many of the fans feeling hopeless. However, a new year should bring optimism to all and hopefully all four of the major teams in this town can return to their winning ways.

Understanding the Philadelphia Eagles Fan

Almost each season, Philadelphia Eagles fans come into the year with high expectations for their beloved football team. After a mediocre 8-8 season in 2011, the Philadelphia Eagles were ready to come back strong in 2012, and make a Super Bowl run. Through four games, it looked as though they were well on their way. Then it all went wrong.

Five weeks later, the Eagles stand at 3-5, with four of their 5 starters on the offensive line out with injury, their much maligned quarterback Michael Vick out with a concussion, and head coach Andy Reid on his way out of Philadelphia. It is safe to say that this season has been a disaster thus far and the Eagles fan base is livid.

Philadelphia sports fans have often been criticized for being too hard on their teams. This past year I heard many fans of other NFL franchises scolding me for wanting Andy Reid and Michael Vick gone. They argued that Reid is still one of the league's best coaches and reminding me of Vick's epic comeback versus the Giants two years ago. "How would replacing those two help your franchise at all?"

What most other fan bases don't understand is the immense desire to win in Philadelphia. Not just win division titles or a few playoff games, but win the Super Bowl. Without a Super Bowl, each season goes by as a failure. Looking solely at division opponents, the Cowboys have won five Super Bowls, the Giants four, and the Redskins have won three. In the forty-four years that the Super Bowl has been in existence the Philadelphia Eagles have won zero.

Eagle’s fans have nothing to hang their hat on. Every one of their division rivals has at least three titles, yet the Eagles don't have a single victory in the final game of the playoffs. In a city that has only won a single championship since 1982, it is incredible that these fans keep coming back year after year. And it is not because they always feel great loyalty to this organization that they continue to pack the stadiums; it is their loyalty to their city. These fans love being from Philadelphia and will support their city no matter what.

The worst thing about these Eagles teams is that they are not perianal losers. This is not the Detroit Lions, who have not won a playoff game since 1991. In fourteen years under Andy Reid the Eagles have a winning percentage of .611 and are averaging just fewer than 10 wins a season in that time. They have won seven NFC East titles and gone to five NFC Championship games. The most painful part about the Eagles is that nearly every season they give their fans hope that they can win a title, and every season since 1967those fans have ended their season broken hearted.

So the reason that the Eagles fan base is calling for Andy Reid and Michael Vick to be gone is not because they are not both talented at what they do. It is clear that both, especially Reid, have had great success in the NFL and probably will after they leave Philadelphia as well. The reason that they both must be gone is because they are not going to bring the Lombardi Trophy to Philadelphia and after forty-four years without a Super Bowl, their ties must be cut. This is one of the most loyal fan bases in sports and it is time to someone in who is up to the challenge to reward these fans.

Halloween Edition: Scariest Players in Sports 2012

Every fan has a certain player they never want to face with the ball in their hands at the end of a game, in the net in Game 7, or wide open beyond the three point arch. As I did last year, it is time to rank the ten scariest players in sports. The list features four NFL, two MLB, two NHL, and two NBA players, with only two returners from last years list.

10. Mike Trout, Around the Fence

Trout burst onto the scene in 2012 immediately throwing his name in the MVP race. He was second in the league in batting average, first in runs scored, first in bases stolen, and first in WAR. But what he makes this list for is his glove. With an incredible leaping and athlete ability, hitters have to hold their breath every time they hit the ball anywhere near his direction.

9. Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman, Against the Run

Willis and Bowman have together formed the leagues most feared linebacking core. The two use their size and speed to track down any opposing running back and teams often avoid running at all against them. At just 27 and 24 years of age respective, they should be terrorizing offenses for years to come.

8. Claude Giroux, In Open Space

Leading the Flyers for the past two seasons now, Giroux proved to the Penguins in the playoffs last year exactly how scary he was. In one of the most competitive, violent playoff series of recent memory, Giroux was at his finest. Claude came through in the regular season for the Flyers as well finishing second in assists and third in overall points. Whether he is squeezing a pass between two defenders or finishing a one timer, Giroux is a scary man in open space.

7. JJ Watt, Rushing the Passer

Watt is following up a solid rookie season with an outstanding first half in 2012. The second year defensive end out of Wisconsin uses a combination of size and quickness to terrorize quarterbacks. This season his he leads the league with 9.5 sacks through 8 weeks and seems to be always making plays for the 6-1 Texans.

6. Henrick Lundquist, Between the Pipes

Lundquist has proven himself to be the rock that holds the Rangers defense together. Over and over  we see the Rangers goaltender standing on his head to preserve a victory. His huge 2012 season where he posted a unbelievable 1.97 goals against average earned him the Venzina Trophy as the leagues top goaltender.

5. Rob Gronkowski, In the Red-zone

Coming off the best statistical season ever by a tight end last season, "Gronk" has been dominating the 2012 season as well. Tom Brady's favorite red-zone target is a terrifying matchup problem for linebackers and safeties across the league. His off the field antics along with his dominating talent have made him one of the leagues most intriguing players. He also likes to spike the ball...

4. Kevin Durant, As a Scorer

Kevin Durant has been a defenders worst nightmare in the NBA. He has now lead the league in scoring the past three seasons and developed into a star that can take over any game. When Durant is feeling it, he is nearly impossible to guard. His ability was on full display during the Western Conference Finals last year versus the Spurs when he and teammate Russell Westbrook led the Thunder from an 0-2 deficit.

3. Justin Verlander, Throwing Heat

During the past two seasons, Verlander has established himself as the best pitcher in baseball. Last season he became the first pitcher in nearly 25 years to win both the Cy Young award and American League MVP award. This season a favorite to win his second Cy Young. He has been known to throw heat deep into games often nearly 100mph in the 7th and 8th innings of games. Without a doubt Verlander is the scariest pitcher in baseball today, mainly due to his devastating fastball.

2. Eli Manning, 2 Minute Drill

Last year Tom Brady was the one listed as "Scariest" for his 2 minute drills however Eli Manning is proving time and time again that he deserves the title. It doesn't matter if Manning has played brutally for the entire game, he has an uncanny ability to forget a bad play as soon as it happens. Opposing defenses can never feel safe when Manning has the ball down late. And after leading two game winning drives in Super Bowls, Manning's "clutchness" can no longer be categorized as luck.

1. Lebron James, After Winning a Championship

The pressure surrounding James during the first eight years of his career may have been greater than that any other athlete has ever faced. Criticized for every shortcoming throughout his career, mentally Lebron was unable to handle the pressure at times and it affected his play. Now that James has finally gotten his ring the league needs to watch out. Being able to play carefree for the first time in his career, Lebron could lead the Heat to many more championships. The NBA and all of his rivals should be worried, because Lebron James is the Scariest Player in Sports.

HALLOWEEN BONUS:

Scariest Looking Players in Sports

5. Terrell Suggs, Ravens

4. Marquis Daniels, Bucks

3. Chris "Birdman" Anderson, Free Agent

2. Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks

1. This Guy, Texas Tech

The Biggest Game of the Year That Means Nothing

Usually when Penn State and Ohio State meet, the game has big postseason implications. This year Ohio State is undefeated and ranked in the top 10 by the Associated Press. Penn State enters the game winners of five straight games and undefeated in league play. Any other year this game would be making national headlines. However due to the sanctions against both institutions, this game has no bearing on who will win the Big 10's Leaders division or who will go on to a BCS bowl.

Both schools must credit their success to their new coaches. Urban Meyer has been known for having tremendous achievement in his first year on campus and this season in Columbus is no different, leading the team to an 8-0 record. In any other season, Ohio State would be one of the favorites to make the National Championship game. Everyone knows what Penn State has gone through off the field and combined with losing several key players due to transfers in the offseason, they were faced with an almost no win situation. However first year head coach Bill O'Brien has inspired the team to prove the nation wrong. Almost no one believed Penn State could have any success after everything that the community and team had been through in the past year and after losing their first two games to lesser opponents, it seemed they were right. However after dismantling their past five opponents, O'Brien's squad has proved the critics wrong. The Nittany Lions are playing with a chip on their shoulder and out to prove each week that they will not become irrelevant. The winner of this game will mostly win the Big 10 Coach of the Year, baring a late season collapse. 

Ohio State is led by the electric sophomore quarterback Braxton Miller, who is dominating opponents with his arm and legs. Last week versus Purdue however, Miller was victim of a vicious hit and is now listed as questionable for this weeks game. Penn State is lead by senior linebacker Michael Mauti, who has lead by example and been a great leader through the entire ordeal, on and off the field. On paper, Ohio State is the more talented team, but Penn State is out to prove the world wrong, so there is no telling what could happen. 

This game has been written off by the national media as a game with little impact on the 2012 season, however this game has huge impact for both schools, especially Penn State. After losing some of their scholarships and postseason play for the next four years, recruiting has become extremely difficult for the Nittany Lions. O'Brien and his staff are still managing to compete with the rest of the nation and have five star quarterback Christian Hackenberg committed. This game, along with the entire season, is big to show recruits that Penn State can still compete at the highest level and though they have no postseason, the atmosphere surrounding big time college football is still very present in Happy Valley. 

Without a postseason to look forward to, this game has quickly become one of the biggest games of the season for both. The atmosphere at Beaver Stadium will be electric and should be the most packed game of the year. Bill O'Brien has his team believing in themselves and are playing for respect. Though a win for Ohio State would be big, they don't have same motivation to win that Penn State has. That combined with the home field advantage is why I predict a 34-31 Penn State victory. 

Reid Out of Answers

Andy Reid has lost control of his team. As Head of Football Operations for the Philadelphia Eagles, Reid is in total control of the players he brings in to the team as well as what happens throughout the season on the field. For the first 10 years(1999-08) of his head coaching career, he was one of the best at both getting the most out of his players and managing his team throughout the week. He won 5 NFC East titles, went to 5 NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl. He had a formula for winning and with Donavan McNabb and Brian Dawkins leading his offense and defense respectively, the team was one of the best in the league over the 10 year stretch. Since then, Reid hasn't won a playoff game.

Andy Reid is doing the same thing he has been doing since he was hired in 1999 but now, its no longer working. He has always been criticized for passing too often, has been inefficent with timeouts, and been mum to the media about what goes on behind closed doors, but before he was winning. Over the past four years(and especially the last year in a half) Andy Reid has become worried for his NFL life because he hasn't changed what he has done for so many years, but he is no longer producing dominating teams. He has brought in marquee free agents, tried to build through the draft, and made changes in almost every positional coach, but many have resulted in disasters. He is questioning everything he does because he has no explanation why things aren't turning out successful for him and his team.

All of the mistakes Reid has made over the past four years has led him into the hole finds himself in and unfortunately for Reid, the hole is becoming too deep to climb out of. Reid has become incredibly indecisive with his decision making, going back and forth on issues, mainly that of quarterback play and issues surrounding the defensive coaching staff. Yesterday Andy Reid fired defensive coordinator Juan Castillo, replacing him with secondary coach Todd Bowles. During his press conference, Reid left the door open for more changes to be made, including that of turnover machine, Michael Vick. Replacing Vick would come at cost to Reid's reputation as he would again be admitting that he made a mistake, like the one he made with hiring Castillo for the defensive coordinator position.

Standing at 3-3 going into the Bye Week, things are not all bad for the team. There are still ten games to be played and the team could rally around the changes Reid is making. Team owner Jeffrey Lurie has made it clear however, that Reid is skating on thin ice. Andy Reid is running out of excuses, running out of people to fire, and running out of time. Without drastic improvement from the mediocre first third of the season, Reid could be the one that gets axed.

No Clear Favorite, But A lot of Contenders.

The college football season is well underway and as we enter the second half of the regular season one thing is clear: There are a lot of dominant teams this year. Out of the top seven, only Alabama and Oregon have been in this position recently. It is an exciting group of newcomers featuring some teams we haven't seen in the top 10 for a few years. Let's breakdown the seven undefeated teams in the AP top 10. Alabama is clearly the favorite and have dominated everyone they have seen this year. Expect to see them again in the national title. Next is Oregon. After losing LaMichael James and Darron Thomas last season, many expected Oregon to be down this season. But Chip Kelly has once again proven that speed kills, with his do everything sophomore De'Anthony Thomas leading the way as one of the nations most exciting players. Next we see a pair of SEC East teams in Florida and South Carolina. South Carolina proven they are deserving of this ranking last week against Georgia, tearing them apart at home. Florida has returned to the top 5 after two down years and has a huge matchup versus the Gamecocks in two weeks. The Big 12 is well represented next with West Virginia and Kansas State. Outside of Alabama, these two teams may have been the most dominating so far, led by Heisman favorites Geno Smith for West Virginia and  Kansas State's Collin Klein. The two high scoring offenses are on a collision course, set to meet in West Virginia next Saturday. Finally we welcome back Notre Dame and Ohio State. Though OSU is ineligible for the postseason, it is clear that Urban Meyer's squad led by QB Braxton Miller are the real deal. Look for OSU to be National Championship contenders next season. Notre Dame may be the most exciting story this year in college football. Led by Senior Linebacker Manti Te'o, the Irish have stormed to a 5-0 start. They face their biggest test in Stanford this Saturday in South Bend.

So far, all of these teams look to be extremely talented and each could make a case for the national title game. The next three weeks will help decide which one of these dominating teams are the real deal, as all face huge tests. It will be interesting to see how these teams react to playing every game in the national spotlight. Out of the SEC I think that Alabama is too strong for anyone to beat again, though Florida will put up the biggest fight. In the Big 12 I am going to take the under-appreciated Kansas State Wildcats to win the division and would not be surprised to see Collin Klein take home the Heisman. In the Big 10 I think that Ohio State or Penn State will end up being the best team in the division but since neither can advance past the regular season I am looking at Nebraska to play in the Rose Bowl. Out west in the PAC-12 it will come down to whether Matt Barkley shows up to play versus Oregon or not in their matchup on November 3rd. He has been inconsistent thus far but if he does play well, I think USC wins the conference, but watch out for Oregon State too. I like Clemson in the ACC and Cincinnati in the Big East, though neither conference will have any impact on the National title race.

This year could turn out to be one of the most exciting in recent years with so much talent and explosive offenses in the Top 10. For my National Championship prediciton I see Alabama and Kansas State, with Alabama's defense leading them to a repeat.

Games to watch in the next three weeks

10/13

-Oklahoma vs Texas, 12pm

-Stanford at Notre Dame, 7pm

-South Carolina at LSU, 8pm

10/20

-South Carolina at Florida, TBA

-Kansas State at West Virginia, 7pm

10/27

-Ohio State at Penn State, TBA

-Notre Dame at Oklahoma, TBA

-Mississippi St. at Alabama, TBA