On Robert Sanders

First, so sue me! I went 3-1 straight up on the Wild Card picks, and 2-2 against the number (of the beast!). Yowsers.

Bob Sanders was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year today. Explain this to me. This seems like the quintessential (just picked this word up!) case of a player getting an award because TV analysts slobber over him. People think Bob Sanders is great, but couldn't tell you anything substantive that actually proves that he is as good as people claim. Basically, where are the stats to prove that he, according to the award, is the best defensive player in the game. We can get into the "most valuable" argument, but I would argue that there are other players that are more indispensable to their teams. Here's the stat breakdown on Sanders, a strong safety: tied for 42nd in the league in tackles with 96 (which ties him for second among SS's, and puts him six ahead of Bernard Pollard, who?...exactly), he had 8 passes defensed, 2 interceptions and no forced fumbles. He also rang up 3.5 sacks. I really don't get this it all. The Colts were number one in the league in points per game, but do you think that Bob Sanders was more responsible for that (the Colts giving up 16.4 ppg) than say, Vrabel was in the Pats giving up 17.1 per game, or than Barrett Ruud or Derrick Brooks were for the Bucs, or than Gary Brackett was for the same Colts? I'm not saying that I don't think he's good, I just would like to know what the argument was, statistically, tangibly, for his being chosen. Can someone do this for me?

Oh, I pooped today.

Peace.

On My Mind

Favorite Coaches of All-Time:

1. Steve Spurrier

2. Urban Meyer

3. Jimmy Johnson

4. Belichick

5. Ya momma! (Ha!)

No wait, I'm just jokin'. My momma!

NFL Picks Part 2

First, the Seahawks are falling apart, people. Wow.

New York Giants @ Tampa Bay (-3)

Maaaan. This is a toughie for a number of reasons. One, I can't stand Coughlin. He's a freakin' buffoon. Wade Philips is a boob, Coughlin is a doof. Two, neither of these teams really impresses me all that much. I have to make a call here though, and here's what I'm going with. My whole thing with the NFL is that wins come down two things: QB's and coaches. In this case, the advantage goes to the Bucs.  I like Garcia at home and I think Eli will be what he is: the player you saw in the fourth quarter against the Pats. Thus, Tampa Bay 24, Giants 20.

LaRon Landry takin' charge. Hm.

Tennessee @ San Diego (-10)

Yikes. This one could gut butt ugly real fast. Vince Young is hurt, the Chargers are playing pretty well. Buuut, the Titans defense can cause you some problemas. Like the combination of prunes and apples. That's another story. I despise the Chargers. Really. I think Philip Rivers will be exposed again at some point as nothing more than a mid-level NFL QB. In this game, I think the Charger's offense (LT, specifically) just has too much firepower. The Titans defense might keep them in it, but they won't be able to keep up with the scoring. Hence, San Diego 34 (with the cover), Tennesse 17.

Enjoy.

Just Ta Let Cha Know!

Alright, homies. I've been rockin' this thing for a bit now, but I haven't said too much about me. Here's a little about the mind that moves the fingers that rocks the MacBook keyboard. Now don't get too distressed about the most important aspect of who I am: a baby. That's right I might be a few weeks short of six months, but I still stay up on the world of college and pro-football, mostly through conversations with my old man, occasionally by reading the work of the esteemed Phil Steele. I also like to exercise my Constitutional rights (this is for you Screamin' A!) to comment on other stuff that's givin' me a little of the ol' diaper rash, if you know what I mean. 

Anyway, you might be askin' yourself, what is an "ombudsman"? Well, playboy, look it up. Basically, I point out the foolishness and the wrongdoing in the world of sports, and also in the world of sports commentary and analysis. At the same time, I'll give you a little of my own insight (you're welcome) so that you can make informed, for "entertainment purposes only" decisions. 

This isn't going to be one of those typical "baby blogs." I'm not gonna talk about what mushed veggie I started eating, or whether or not I can sit up on my own for more than ten seconds. If you want that jive, there's plenty out there. This is all about holding people accountable in the world of sports. It just so happens that I'm a baby. Don't judge me on that. Roll with me for a bit, it'll be a good time.

"I've ripped many places, on a regular basis."

- Big Daddy Kane

Baby Donovan's Divisional Playoff Picks: Saturday

Washington @ Seattle (-3)

For the win, I like the Seahawks here. I also, for entertainment purposes, like them to cover. They seem to find ways to win at home in the postseason. That homefield is a huge advantage for them, and Hassleback has been one of the more underrated QB's this year, completing 62% and throwing 28 TD's to 12 picks. The 'Skins are playing on emotion and I think that heading to Seattle and playing in that environment is going to drain them a bit. Seattle 17, Washington 10.

Jacksonville (-3) @ Pittsburgh

Eeeeevrybody's picking the Jags in this one, for good reason. They won already at Heinz field, they have an awesome running game (second in total yards and fifth in yards per attempt), and they've got a QB who doesn't make mistakes (Garrard has 18 TD's to only 3 INT's). Nobody likes the Steelers and think they are ripe for the picking. I'm not to sure about that. Pittsburgh is at home, Polamalu will probably play, although his effectiveness might be limited, and they are going to be fired up knowing that no one is giving them a chance. I like Big Ben in the playoffs, and I like him this year. That being said... Jacksonville 27, Pittsburgh 20

Tomorrow: Sunday's Picks

Huh...

In his January 3 TMQ column on ESPN Page 2, Easterbrook claims the following (by the way, his argument is that the Patriots should be concerned as "pass wacky" teams don't win the Super Bowl: "Pass defense requires mental discipline and concentration; pass defenders might tend to slack off a bit in the regular season but bear down in the playoffs, when there's no tomorrow. When the Steelers played the Patriots this year, Pittsburgh used a backed-off, almost careless coverage and seemed to shrug about the whole thing, as if thinking, "So we lose to New England today, so what, we're back in business next week." Nobody thinks that way in the playoffs."

There are a number of issues that I have with this.

1. He basically claims that the Steelers did not care whether they won or lost the game, which is hard to believe on many levels. For a moment, ignore the issue of individual and team pride. Consider the fact that the Steelers were still locked in a pretty good battle with the Browns for the North title at the time and had at least that reason to want to win. Conceivably, the Browns could have won the division.

2. This argument basically frees the Steelers from all blame for the loss (beating a team that would eventually go undefeated meant nothing to them, while it mattered tremendously to the Eagles, Ravens, and Giants, among others) and takes away any praise from the Patriots (they were playing against a team that had, in effect, given up, so the win was sort of hollow).

3. In week 15, the Steelers were 9-5, the Browns 9-5 (Pittsburgh won the series), Jacksonville was 10-4, San Diego 9-5, and the Titans were 8-6. By Easterbrook's logic, the Steelers knew in week 13 that they would eventually clinch a playoff birth and were thus already tanking games.

4. It's just stupid.

The Book

on Hawai'i football (based upon my intense viewing of their first two offensive series and first defensive series):

1. Gimmicky...when it comes to playing teams who can compete with them physically. Georgia was bigger, stronger, and faster and it showed. Hawai'i can't run around and away from guys that are huge and who are just as fast as they are. If UH were playing a team of big lugs, then their offensive schemes and team speed would work.

2. Hawai'i does fine when they are playing WAC teams who, like they, are made up of kids who otherwise wouldn't be playing at places like Georgia. They can't compete against teams like Georgia that are made up of kids who end up at Georgia.