I had a dream last night that the Colonials faced off in a snow game against the Miami Dolphins. They won 3-0.
I mean, I should be happy about it, but a single field goal between the two of them? Man, that must have been a really boring game.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Holiday Hangover
My wife and I arrived home today (after visiting relatives for Christmas) with a pile of leftover holiday junk food about three feet high. Which seems like a good way to segue into this story. There's other news to get to though, but since I did want to work on something lighter (ha!) for tonight, I'll just leave you with this quote.
"“He was constantly eating,” Florida State receiver Bert Reed said. “He stayed there. He didn’t even know why he was eating. He didn’t know it was a contest. He just was eating. Honestly … He was hungry, pretty much.”"
In heavier news, it seems that the UFL is still working its way through some troubled finances. And while I'd live to compare this to that post-holiday bill paying funk, I'm a little too worried about this to make light of it. It's inevitable that there are going to be some troubles in an enterprise this big and this young: pro sports are a hungry beast, and debt is inevitable at this juncture, but one would hope that there are still resources to draw from, and it does little for the confidence of fans, players or investors to hear that paychecks aren't being delivered.
Everything I've seen of the UFL thus far has convinced me that it can work. The question now is will it work? The beast takes a lot of money, and apparently it's still hungry.
"“He was constantly eating,” Florida State receiver Bert Reed said. “He stayed there. He didn’t even know why he was eating. He didn’t know it was a contest. He just was eating. Honestly … He was hungry, pretty much.”"
In heavier news, it seems that the UFL is still working its way through some troubled finances. And while I'd live to compare this to that post-holiday bill paying funk, I'm a little too worried about this to make light of it. It's inevitable that there are going to be some troubles in an enterprise this big and this young: pro sports are a hungry beast, and debt is inevitable at this juncture, but one would hope that there are still resources to draw from, and it does little for the confidence of fans, players or investors to hear that paychecks aren't being delivered.
Everything I've seen of the UFL thus far has convinced me that it can work. The question now is will it work? The beast takes a lot of money, and apparently it's still hungry.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
A Jersey with Any Other Name...
...would still smell pretty bad at the end of fourth quarter.
(Blogger's note: I'd hoped to have a few pictures up with this edition, but holiday plans and travel have gotten in the way of finding those few perfect images to make this post shine. I promise I'll burn one Christmas present in effigy for the problem.)
Folks, it's the UFL offseason. Regarding that, I intend to do what any rational sportswriter does: panic. For the United Football League, most of the stories are going to concern expansion teams and player movement, both of which are being well-covered by sites like Fanhouse and by the league's own website, which has a long list of which UFL players have gone to which teams and/or practice squads.
So I ask you, where does that leave me? I mean, I can tell you that Fabrizio Scaccia is now a 49er (practice squad) but that's already been reported, and I'd like to pride myself on providing original content even during the long, dry months between now and next August. With that said, I've always loved looking at the names on the backs of jerseys. Some sound just about right for football, others not so much. I'm not talking about your Palmers and Smiths and Rices and Mosses. Those are pretty ordinary names (even if some are attached to some extraordinary players).
I'm talking about guys like Adrian Awasom.
As if it weren't enough to have a productive season along the Locos defensive line--having put up twenty-four tackles and five sacks, which puts him third in the league in the latter category--the guy's name is, well, awesome. He sounds like he could be a professional wrestler. Ask yourself, would you mess with a guy named Adrian Awesome?
On the flip side of the coin, we have the 6'9, 325 pound Mountain Lions offensive lineman Sam Lightbody. Now, ignoring the play of the Molo's linemen this year, this is a terrible name for a lineman. I mean, it doesn't even make sense. Lightbody must easily be the biggest guy on the team. At six-foot-nine, at least 20% of his body is probably visible while he's in a bathroom stall.
But the most unfortunate name for a football player in the UFL goes to former Molos fullback Tyler Clutts, whose last name is pronounced exactly as you think it would be. Imagine just trying to work up the confidence to hand the ball off to the guy, let alone throw to him. In fact Clutts (who was recently signed to the Browns' practice squad) never took a handoff, but he does have seven catches to his name. And yet, you just know what Culpepper was thinking the second the ball left his hand.
"Oh god, was that Clutts? I think it was Clutts! He...oh, alright."
No Blue Foot, Gold Foot post would be complete without including the Colonials. Sad to say, there's a distinct lack of really good or really bad football names, unless you include Tank Daniels (though I've disqualified him based on the fact that "Tank" is a nickname). The only player with a somewhatawasom awesome name happens to be yet another D-lineman: former AFL2 defensive end Maurice Fountain. Fountain tied with teammate Michale Spicer for the highest sack total on the team. In addition, it's fun to mentally add "...of blood." to the end of his name whenever you read it. Please feel free to do so now.
Now to see if we can lure in Pat Angerer and Ryan Mallet.
(Blogger's note: I'd hoped to have a few pictures up with this edition, but holiday plans and travel have gotten in the way of finding those few perfect images to make this post shine. I promise I'll burn one Christmas present in effigy for the problem.)
Folks, it's the UFL offseason. Regarding that, I intend to do what any rational sportswriter does: panic. For the United Football League, most of the stories are going to concern expansion teams and player movement, both of which are being well-covered by sites like Fanhouse and by the league's own website, which has a long list of which UFL players have gone to which teams and/or practice squads.
So I ask you, where does that leave me? I mean, I can tell you that Fabrizio Scaccia is now a 49er (practice squad) but that's already been reported, and I'd like to pride myself on providing original content even during the long, dry months between now and next August. With that said, I've always loved looking at the names on the backs of jerseys. Some sound just about right for football, others not so much. I'm not talking about your Palmers and Smiths and Rices and Mosses. Those are pretty ordinary names (even if some are attached to some extraordinary players).
I'm talking about guys like Adrian Awasom.
As if it weren't enough to have a productive season along the Locos defensive line--having put up twenty-four tackles and five sacks, which puts him third in the league in the latter category--the guy's name is, well, awesome. He sounds like he could be a professional wrestler. Ask yourself, would you mess with a guy named Adrian Awesome?
On the flip side of the coin, we have the 6'9, 325 pound Mountain Lions offensive lineman Sam Lightbody. Now, ignoring the play of the Molo's linemen this year, this is a terrible name for a lineman. I mean, it doesn't even make sense. Lightbody must easily be the biggest guy on the team. At six-foot-nine, at least 20% of his body is probably visible while he's in a bathroom stall.
But the most unfortunate name for a football player in the UFL goes to former Molos fullback Tyler Clutts, whose last name is pronounced exactly as you think it would be. Imagine just trying to work up the confidence to hand the ball off to the guy, let alone throw to him. In fact Clutts (who was recently signed to the Browns' practice squad) never took a handoff, but he does have seven catches to his name. And yet, you just know what Culpepper was thinking the second the ball left his hand.
"Oh god, was that Clutts? I think it was Clutts! He...oh, alright."
No Blue Foot, Gold Foot post would be complete without including the Colonials. Sad to say, there's a distinct lack of really good or really bad football names, unless you include Tank Daniels (though I've disqualified him based on the fact that "Tank" is a nickname). The only player with a somewhat
Now to see if we can lure in Pat Angerer and Ryan Mallet.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
'Tis the season
Won't be long now. If you're like me, you're going crazy trying to find those last few things to make your season just right; rooting through the overturned kiosks and fending off the hordes of red-and-green-sweatered shoppers with the baseball bat you looted from the ruins of Modell's, and looking for something to fill that last pair of stockings.
If you're like the NFL, you're also in the busy part of the season and trying to fill a few shoes. There are well over 200 players on injured reserved in the National Football League, and numerous others with lesser injuries. Whether you're New England looking for another pass-rusher in your final push to the playoffs, the oft-injured Colts looking for depth at the runningback position, or just trying to sneak some talent onto the practice squad to build something for next year, the UFL has become the place to find those last-minute players.
Just take a look at former Tusker's defensive end Eric Moore. In his first outing with the Pats, Moore treated the Bears offensive line as if they were a bunch of old ladies at a black Friday sale, and Jay Cutler was Wal-Mart's last $3 toaster. Moore had four tackles and a sack/forced fumble on Cutler, and could be the present the Pats needed to get their underwhelming pass rush back into gear. The (grumble) Dallas Cowboys are apparently impressed enough with former Mountain Lions safety Andrew Sendejo that interim coach Jason Garrett is looking into giving him more playing time. Dominis Rhodes is... well, honestly I was surprised that he didn't receive a single touch in his first outing with the Colts this year, given the sorry state of their running game. Point is though, the once and current Colt's back is back with the Colts, and while I'm certain that his past history with the team has something to do with it (Rhodes was with Indy from '01-'06, and again in '08) I don't think it's out of line to suggest that his impressive play in Florida this year was enough to convince someone that he still had something in the tank.
Think of Rhodes as that rock solid fruitcake you got from Aunt Millie back in 2006; durable and full of energy.
Even more players are being signed to practice squads, which makes them seem like the stocking stuffers of the late NFL season, but those signings are deceptive. Heading into week fifteen, only a team with a serious injury problem or a noticeable lack of production in some area is going to be giving a new signing preference over a backup. After all, a second-string linebacker is more familiar with his team's defense than a recent free agent pickup. I think a lot of these teams are doing what my sister does each year: spotting a good deal and wrapping them up for next year. It may be too late to start some of these guys, but if the team likes what they see, there's a good chance they'll have a shot once they've learned the system. Think of some of these signings like that shiny new toy you got as a kid that didn't come with an instruction manual.
If you're like the NFL, you're also in the busy part of the season and trying to fill a few shoes. There are well over 200 players on injured reserved in the National Football League, and numerous others with lesser injuries. Whether you're New England looking for another pass-rusher in your final push to the playoffs, the oft-injured Colts looking for depth at the runningback position, or just trying to sneak some talent onto the practice squad to build something for next year, the UFL has become the place to find those last-minute players.
Just take a look at former Tusker's defensive end Eric Moore. In his first outing with the Pats, Moore treated the Bears offensive line as if they were a bunch of old ladies at a black Friday sale, and Jay Cutler was Wal-Mart's last $3 toaster. Moore had four tackles and a sack/forced fumble on Cutler, and could be the present the Pats needed to get their underwhelming pass rush back into gear. The (grumble) Dallas Cowboys are apparently impressed enough with former Mountain Lions safety Andrew Sendejo that interim coach Jason Garrett is looking into giving him more playing time. Dominis Rhodes is... well, honestly I was surprised that he didn't receive a single touch in his first outing with the Colts this year, given the sorry state of their running game. Point is though, the once and current Colt's back is back with the Colts, and while I'm certain that his past history with the team has something to do with it (Rhodes was with Indy from '01-'06, and again in '08) I don't think it's out of line to suggest that his impressive play in Florida this year was enough to convince someone that he still had something in the tank.
Think of Rhodes as that rock solid fruitcake you got from Aunt Millie back in 2006; durable and full of energy.
Even more players are being signed to practice squads, which makes them seem like the stocking stuffers of the late NFL season, but those signings are deceptive. Heading into week fifteen, only a team with a serious injury problem or a noticeable lack of production in some area is going to be giving a new signing preference over a backup. After all, a second-string linebacker is more familiar with his team's defense than a recent free agent pickup. I think a lot of these teams are doing what my sister does each year: spotting a good deal and wrapping them up for next year. It may be too late to start some of these guys, but if the team likes what they see, there's a good chance they'll have a shot once they've learned the system. Think of some of these signings like that shiny new toy you got as a kid that didn't come with an instruction manual.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Your Hartford Col... New York Jet, Minnesota Viking, Houstan Texan...
We all knew these days would come. We've packed Quintin Demps favorite pillow, tucked in Lorenzo Booker's shirt and and told Emanuel Cook to quit slouching. Now they stand at the NFL bus stop and we're left to wait for them to come home during the holidays and bug us for money. And they say they'll spend it on books, but really, they're going to spend it on pizza and weed. I mean, really guys, your mother and I went to college too.
Yes, eventually yourchildren favorite players leave the house stadium. It's a shame. Some may be back to live in our metaphorical attic and invite their lousy friends, the Tuskers, to stay up until 2:00 A.M. and play Super Mario Wii. Others, we can't be certain. Cook was a solid safety, and the Jets signing is understandable in that he's had prior (practice squad) experience with them, and now has some professional level experience under his belt Demps... well, he was only around for two weeks and frankly I'm amazed he was available at all. A good grab by the Texans. I think his loss of a roster spot to former Philadelphia Eagles safety Macho Harris in 2009 was more of a "type" issue than anything else--Harris being a larger, more physical type in the mold of (but not approaching the level of) Brian Dawkins than Demps was. Of course, we all know how that turned out. Demps should be a step up from the lackluster play of the Texan's secondary, and I wish him the best.
I'm not sure what the conditions of either player's contracts were, but it has been reported that Lorenzo Booker's contract with the Minnesota Vikings is for two years, making it somewhat unlikely that we'll see him in the UFL next year. Smart move by the Vikings, who've been lacking a good pass-catching back since they let Chestor Taylor go.
It'll be interesting to see who comes back, who jumps ship and who decides to wait on the couch, playing Mario with their lazy stoner friends, the Locos. I wish them all the best, but sure won't be sad if I see any of them back in the blue and gold next year. As long as they stop slouching and tuck in their shirts.
Yes, eventually your
I'm not sure what the conditions of either player's contracts were, but it has been reported that Lorenzo Booker's contract with the Minnesota Vikings is for two years, making it somewhat unlikely that we'll see him in the UFL next year. Smart move by the Vikings, who've been lacking a good pass-catching back since they let Chestor Taylor go.
It'll be interesting to see who comes back, who jumps ship and who decides to wait on the couch, playing Mario with their lazy stoner friends, the Locos. I wish them all the best, but sure won't be sad if I see any of them back in the blue and gold next year. As long as they stop slouching and tuck in their shirts.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Thursday night... are you ready for some football?
I am. Sadly, there isn't much going on late in the weeks. Sure, the NFL has Thursday night games late in the season, but those of us without the NFL Network are out of luck, and their live, online broadcast isn't so much a football game as it is two hours and thirty minutes of commentary with about two or three minutes of live play per quarter.
I hadn't realized just how much I'd miss late week ball games. Surely three games on Sunday would be enough to tide me over? Apparently not. That being the case, the least I can do is something football-related. That is why I pledge to stick to a regular schedule of updates for Blue Foot, Gold Foot, every Thursday during the off season. When the UFL comes back in August, I'll be looking into a more robust posting schedule then.
In the meantime, it's up to me grow this blog. There are only six of you reading this at the moment, and while I thank you wonderful half-dozen for your attention, things can only get better with more eyes on the screen and a few more voices in the comments box below.
Seeing as this is more blog news than it is UFL news, expect a post tomorrow with a bit more substance. Thanks for reading, and g'night.
I hadn't realized just how much I'd miss late week ball games. Surely three games on Sunday would be enough to tide me over? Apparently not. That being the case, the least I can do is something football-related. That is why I pledge to stick to a regular schedule of updates for Blue Foot, Gold Foot, every Thursday during the off season. When the UFL comes back in August, I'll be looking into a more robust posting schedule then.
In the meantime, it's up to me grow this blog. There are only six of you reading this at the moment, and while I thank you wonderful half-dozen for your attention, things can only get better with more eyes on the screen and a few more voices in the comments box below.
Seeing as this is more blog news than it is UFL news, expect a post tomorrow with a bit more substance. Thanks for reading, and g'night.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Lions and eagles and...wait, what the hell is that thing?
The second season of the UFL saw some notable improvements; a new team, an expanded schedule, flashier uniforms, and last but not least, (dun dun dun) the mascots.
It was a bit of a mixed bag, and I can think of no better way to express my feelings than by sharing a few pictures. All are courtesy of the UFL Access forums.
As this is a blog about the Colonials, we'll start with CT; the Hartford Colonials mascot.
I was there when C.T. was introduced. Let's just say that the reaction was a bit underwhelming. He looks not quite so much like an eagle as he does an eagle's half-chicken cousin who dropped out of vo-tech. Note that the face is locked in a Wade Phillips-esque look of perpetual surprise.
Sad to say, he's grown on me, I think the turning point was this video, where the expression almost seems to have a look of faint terror. And this one clinched my acceptance of C.T. Our bird isn't the "strike terror into the hearts of our enemies" type of mascot: he's the comedian. Apparently he's also capable of light office work, which must come in handy.
And he's better than this...
I'm not sure what his name is. He's apparently a combination knight/railway worker/potbellied stove. Look at the dejected posture. He's been pounding railroad spikes all day, and he's tired. Ten seconds after this picture was taken, that little girl stole the hammer and kneecapped him with it.
Alright, maybe he's not that bad. After all we have this...guy. Only slightly less creepy without the long cape, the Omaha Nighthawks black-clad mascot is something out of Silent Hill 11: The League. If there are any missing persons in Omaha this year, I think at last six could probably be traced back to this...thing. It feasts on blood and soft tissues and answers to no name. To see it without its mask is to know madness. Ia Ia! Cthulhu fthagn!
But they aren't all bad. I have nothing unkind to say about Boris(?) the boar, seen here releasing a captured butterfly back into the wild. Don't ask him about it: he'll tusk you man. Tusk you good.
Boris the Boar seems like prettyboaring typical tough guy mascot, but is squishy enough that he can pinch hit for the comedic type if need be. The Tuskers came back from a 2-3 start on the season to go 5-3 overall. Presumably, this creature's moral support was a big part of that.
Last but not least, we have the Mountain Lions mascot, Mojo the (you guessed it) mountain lion.
He's mean, and his trash-talking on the UFL Access forums lends him a presence that the other mascots simply don't have. Mojo doesn't walk out of the locker room--he rides a Harley. Apparently the cat is capable of doing over forty push-ups one-armed. An athletic apex predator on a motorcycle is the stuff of nightmares. C.T. would only be half as tough if he came out before every game riding a live bear. Mojo is probably the only thing that can send the Nighthawks' mascot back to the musty crypt from which it came.
It was a bit of a mixed bag, and I can think of no better way to express my feelings than by sharing a few pictures. All are courtesy of the UFL Access forums.
As this is a blog about the Colonials, we'll start with CT; the Hartford Colonials mascot.
 |
| "Are they waving at me? Oh god, they're waving. Keep it cool C.T. Just wave back. You can do this." |
I was there when C.T. was introduced. Let's just say that the reaction was a bit underwhelming. He looks not quite so much like an eagle as he does an eagle's half-chicken cousin who dropped out of vo-tech. Note that the face is locked in a Wade Phillips-esque look of perpetual surprise.
Sad to say, he's grown on me, I think the turning point was this video, where the expression almost seems to have a look of faint terror. And this one clinched my acceptance of C.T. Our bird isn't the "strike terror into the hearts of our enemies" type of mascot: he's the comedian. Apparently he's also capable of light office work, which must come in handy.
And he's better than this...
 |
| Note: A Railroad Spike is a drink made with whiskey and paint. |
 |
| "By your season tickets, your blood is forfeit." |
Alright, maybe he's not that bad. After all we have this...guy. Only slightly less creepy without the long cape, the Omaha Nighthawks black-clad mascot is something out of Silent Hill 11: The League. If there are any missing persons in Omaha this year, I think at last six could probably be traced back to this...thing. It feasts on blood and soft tissues and answers to no name. To see it without its mask is to know madness. Ia Ia! Cthulhu fthagn!
 |
| "Fly free, my pretty. No, not near the Nighthawks' mascot! Agh!" |
Boris the Boar seems like pretty
Last but not least, we have the Mountain Lions mascot, Mojo the (you guessed it) mountain lion.
 |
| This photo was recovered from a bloodstained camera on Rosenblatt field. |
Monday, November 29, 2010
It's Over!
Halloween came and went. Thanksgiving is done. The season is over. The championship trophy has been handed out. Now, it's time for retooling.
Obviously the big issue for the UFL is going to be who comes back and who doesn't, but there will be plenty of time to talk about that. Right now, I'm just talking about this blog. What? No, BFGF isn't over. Think of the past few months as its inaugural season, played with only a few posts and without a sense of whether or not this will become an independent blog or a feeder blog for some much larger blog. More specifically, I'm thinking of retooling the feel here. I've been opting for safe and straight-laced (admittedly with a side of scandal) and somehow it feels a bit dull.
I think what the UFL needs now is a comedy option. We'll just have to see where it goes from here. Scheduled updates would probably be a plus, as opposed to updates whenever I feel I have time. Maybe some bright and noisy banner ads in case you wanted thousands of smilies, or to save 13% on car insurance, or to get your degree in homeopathic phrenology from the University of Pittsburgh. The potential here is endless.
Obviously the big issue for the UFL is going to be who comes back and who doesn't, but there will be plenty of time to talk about that. Right now, I'm just talking about this blog. What? No, BFGF isn't over. Think of the past few months as its inaugural season, played with only a few posts and without a sense of whether or not this will become an independent blog or a feeder blog for some much larger blog. More specifically, I'm thinking of retooling the feel here. I've been opting for safe and straight-laced (admittedly with a side of scandal) and somehow it feels a bit dull.
I think what the UFL needs now is a comedy option. We'll just have to see where it goes from here. Scheduled updates would probably be a plus, as opposed to updates whenever I feel I have time. Maybe some bright and noisy banner ads in case you wanted thousands of smilies, or to save 13% on car insurance, or to get your degree in homeopathic phrenology from the University of Pittsburgh. The potential here is endless.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
UFL Championship 2010
23-20. All came down to a blocked field goal. Wow. Hell of a game. Amazing that the past two UFL championships have come down to a field goal, and a hell of a way to cement a rivalry. Florida and Las Vegas are now 3-3 over the past two years, and you could see it in how chippy the players were getting in the first half.
Congrats to Vegas. Although, just a short reminder that Hartford beat the two-time UFL champions the past week. We'll see em' next year.
Congrats to Vegas. Although, just a short reminder that Hartford beat the two-time UFL champions the past week. We'll see em' next year.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Score!
Great to see the Colonials finish strong with their 27-14 win over the championship bound Locomotives. I've had an enormous amount of fun at Rentschler Field, and I'll be renewing my season tickets when the time comes.
Second plus of the night: Several people near my left without their free seat cushions. Score!
Second plus of the night: Several people near my left without their free seat cushions. Score!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Spoke Too Soon
According to this this Las Vegas Review-Journal article, Michael Huyghue never stated that the UFL would be enforcing the transfer fee that has lead some to worry that the league may have difficulty finding willing players. Hugyghue has been quote as saying "From Day One, our policy has been the same -- once a team's season ends, any player is free to go to the NFL," Huyghue said Wednesday. "We want our players to go to the NFL. I'm not sure where that rumor on the Internet started, but there's no truth to it."
So perhaps all the hullabaloo was one of Mike Florio's "league sources?" In any event, I think it's good news for players.
So perhaps all the hullabaloo was one of Mike Florio's "league sources?" In any event, I think it's good news for players.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Players for Sale! Fresh Players for Sale!
Huyghue says, "Whoa, wait a minute buddy."
Not sure how I feel about Michael Huyghue enforcing the transfer fee. On the one hand, $150k seems like nothing to an average NFL team. On the other, most of these guys would be 2nd or 3rd-string, and some would be practice squad fodder. Assuming that some of the 3rd-4th year guys get signed, why should any team want to fork over an extra 20-50% of what their contract will likely be worth? This goes double for the practice squadders, who make significantly less than that. A squaddie with UFL experience is suddenly two or three times as expensive
Some guys with storied NFL careers (Culpepper, Garcia) or who've put some good tape together while in the UFL (Lorenzo Booker, Nick Novak) might convince front offices to pony up the extra cash, but I have to imagine that this means fewer of the younger guys will be getting looks.
The end result is that the decision keeps talent locked up in the UFL, which could turn into a positive or a negative. You could argue that this keeps the UFL strong by creating a scenario where its players can't just jump ship, keeping the same players around to build for next season. On the other hand, it possibly creates an antagonistic relationship with NFL. And I think that the league might be too young to get on the bad side of the nation's largest football enterprise.
It's hard to say whether or not players will avoid the UFL because of the transfer fee. For some at least I think a definite $50k and a job would be better than a possible $300k (pro-rated down for missed time) and sitting around by the phone. Although some guys who might have been had on the cheap may not get looks by some of the NFLs stingier owners.
Not sure how I feel about Michael Huyghue enforcing the transfer fee. On the one hand, $150k seems like nothing to an average NFL team. On the other, most of these guys would be 2nd or 3rd-string, and some would be practice squad fodder. Assuming that some of the 3rd-4th year guys get signed, why should any team want to fork over an extra 20-50% of what their contract will likely be worth? This goes double for the practice squadders, who make significantly less than that. A squaddie with UFL experience is suddenly two or three times as expensive
Some guys with storied NFL careers (Culpepper, Garcia) or who've put some good tape together while in the UFL (Lorenzo Booker, Nick Novak) might convince front offices to pony up the extra cash, but I have to imagine that this means fewer of the younger guys will be getting looks.
The end result is that the decision keeps talent locked up in the UFL, which could turn into a positive or a negative. You could argue that this keeps the UFL strong by creating a scenario where its players can't just jump ship, keeping the same players around to build for next season. On the other hand, it possibly creates an antagonistic relationship with NFL. And I think that the league might be too young to get on the bad side of the nation's largest football enterprise.
It's hard to say whether or not players will avoid the UFL because of the transfer fee. For some at least I think a definite $50k and a job would be better than a possible $300k (pro-rated down for missed time) and sitting around by the phone. Although some guys who might have been had on the cheap may not get looks by some of the NFLs stingier owners.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Catch You Next Year
It took me some time to get my thoughts together after Thursday night’s loss to the Tuskers. 41-7 is pathetic. There are numerous things wrong with the Colonials right now, but it looks like coaching is the root of many of their problems. In the first half they played seemingly without any motivation or spark, which is amazing given that the team still had a shot at the championship. After Harrison fumbled away the long drive that Ryan Perriloux had led, it was clear that they had completely thrown in the towel. Take a look at the replay on Dominic Rhodes’ 30-yard touchdown run near the end of the half—the defense was getting close but nobody was even attempting to take him down. Multiple defenders took half-hearted dives at the Tusker’s RB, but none made even a cursory attempt to wrap up.
And where was Lorenzo Booker during the game? Tory Harrison had most of the carries early on, and while the score quickly got so out of hand that Hartford eventually had to abandon the run, why would you not put your top playmaker in? One has to assume that this is part of Palmer’s disastrous “play everybody” decision that has done nothing but prevent a core group of eleven players from getting in sync, and made it impossible for anyone to get into a rhythm.
It’s a shame that the run had to be discarded; Josh McCown hasn’t seemed mentally ready to lead the Colonials since about week two. He has no pocket presence and refuses to throw the ball away when nothing is open, preferring instead to take a sack or to throw into traffic. Part of the blame lies with his offensive line. It must be hard to throw with any confidence when defenders are getting pressure a split second after the snap.
If there’s one phoenix to rise from the ashes of the dumpster fire that was Thursday night’s game, it’s that we’ve finally gotten to see Ryan Perrilloux in action. At this point in the season, and given that coach Palmer has made it clear that he wants to develop the young QB, I sincerely hope that Perrilloux will be starting against Las Vegas on the 20th. His mobility negates at least some of the pressure that the line gives up, and he’s proven that he is at least as accurate as McCown. Furthermore, #11 didn’t seem rattled even when the line in front of him was getting blown up by the Tusker’s backup D-line.
So, that’s it. The Colonials are done for the season, and may have been since week #2 despite pulling out a second win over the Mountain Lions, and despite two very close losses. We can now begin to look to next season, and ask ourselves what needs to change.
Coaching: Chris Palmer will hopefully not be with the team next year. Despite having more wins than last year’s New York Sentinels, there’s a very real chance the team may have just as many losses. He has a hard time motivating or disciplining his players; look to Thursday night’s special teams’ penalty for forming a wedge as a strong hint at that. It’s a rule that has been in effect in pro football for years now, an incredibly simple rule that nobody should break. Hell, in order for it to happen, multiple players must ignore it. How is it that the team didn’t get the hint? And cornerback Ryan Palmer’s backtalk to the coach during the Las Vegas suggests that the players aren’t afraid to get in his face. Looking back, one wonders what Taurus Johnson might have done to upset the team enough to lose his job.
As a former QB coach, Palmer may very well have been brought in to help develop Ryan Perriloux. That’s all well and good, and perhaps he’s fine as a position coach, but his decisions are baffling, and I don’t want to see him heading the team next year.
Quarterback: Josh McCown’s nerves are shot and he’s making too many bad decisions. Maybe he’ll regain some composure if the offensive line gets shored up in the offseason, but it’s hard to say, and even if that does happen, many of the mistakes he’s made belong to him alone. Perrilloux has quick feet that should help him get away from pressure. He’ll develop if he’s given a chance to play.
Runningbacks: Booker had been phenomenal, and the team may lose him to the NFL in the offseason. Harrison has seemed solid, if unspectacular. Andre Dixon is going to need to learn from a good vet if he wants to make a name for himself.
Recievers: White and Carter are reliable. The team is fine here as long as they can hold on to the two in the offseason. Chery and McBride are serviceable. Syndric Steptoe has too many drops. Taurus Johnson looked above average, and it’s a shame the team lost him.
Tight Ends: DeVree is serviceable, but will drop a few. Same for Ronnie Ghent. If the team can’t get decent lineman, they may want to look into finding a strong blocking end to compliment the line.
O-Line: Pete Clifford needs to be removed. None of the Colonials tackles have shown much promise, but Clifford has been particularly bad. Keith Gray is decent at center, but occasionally has a bad snap. Our guards are middling at best.
Defensive Line: The line began slow but is finishing strong. There aren’t really any standouts, but Fountain, Spicer, Seawright and Oghobaase have shown promise, particularly in the waning weeks of the season. Oghobaase’s first step is incredible, but he has trouble getting past the line.
Linebackers: Lansanah is a decent enough player, but he occasionally makes some bad decisions and gets called for dumb penalties. They’re mostly young guys (the most experienced of them, injured vet Tank Daniels has only four years experience), and might take a little time to really develop.
Defensive Backs: Ryan Palmer has two interceptions on the year. He’s competitive but completely undisciplined, and is often responsible for terrible penalties. Demps hasn’t been with the team long enough to quantify. There’s a lot of speed on the team. If they’re allowed to play close, I think they can beat opposing receivers. They’re been playing with huge cushions in most games however, and I think that’s hurt their play. Of course, that’s a coaching decision.
Any of these names might end up playing for the NFL. A few (like Markee White) may return to Arena ball. There are some solid players on the Colonials roster, but it is still a work in progress. Hopefully we can retain our key players and make a strong showing in 2011.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Safety First!
Tonight is the night we get our first view of former Philadelphia Eagles safety Quintin Demps, who was released from that team earlier this year along with safety/cornerback Victor "Macho" Harris. As an Eagles fan, I have to say I was surprised that Harris got the nod over Demps. It's hard to gauge #39 on his limited play, but he always seemed to have a better grasp of his assignments when out on the field, while Harris often looked confused.
For the Colonials, Demps replaces former CFL safety Ryan Glasper. I'll admit that I didn't think Glasper was doing all that poorly, but Demps is solid and provides a kick return threat that Hartford simply hasn't had all year. As a Colonials fan and an Eagles fan, I'll be looking forward to seeing him in action tonight against the Tuskers.
For the Colonials, Demps replaces former CFL safety Ryan Glasper. I'll admit that I didn't think Glasper was doing all that poorly, but Demps is solid and provides a kick return threat that Hartford simply hasn't had all year. As a Colonials fan and an Eagles fan, I'll be looking forward to seeing him in action tonight against the Tuskers.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Your Virginia Destroyers! *
Only several hours old, the United Football League's newest team,the Virginia Destroyers, is already awash in controversy. Former TD Ameritrade chairman, Joe Moglia, has been announced as the team's head coach and president.
If there are some bells going off in your head, dear reader, there should be. It seems like too strange a coincidence that next year, the Omaha (where Mr. Moglia currently lives) Nighthawks will be moving into the brand new TD Ameritrade park, or that a man whose last coaching position, as a defensive coordinator at Dartmouth college was twenty-seven years ago, would be given the keys to a football team when his only recent experience has been as an adviser to the head coach of the University of Nebraska's Cornhuskers in 2008-2009.
Moglia was apparently hired directly by commissioner Huyghue himself, which can be taken as either a supreme vote of confidence or as an asset-motivated move. Destroyers GM Doug Williams apparently had no say in the hire, which seems strange to say the least.
Did Moglia buy himself a position with the team? I'm not going to answer that one. What I will do is speculate on the consequences of the move. It's been argued that no publicity is bad publicity, and this will certainly make some waves in the sports world. But even if there hasn't been any sort of collusion, the situation can certainly be spun that way, and the league may have see a loss of credibility either way. If there was a monetary gain, I hope it was enough to offset the negative publicity, or that said publicity was worth it.
That's to say nothing of the product on the field. Can a man with no experience as a head coach and almost no recent experience in the game successfully lead an expansion team? It's hard to say. Even if the Destroyers are sunk in their first season, a brand new team is a tough deal in any league. Even if Joe doesn't make a serious splash in his first year, I think he'll be given the benefit of the doubt. He'll need to come out with guns blazing to silence any doubters however, and I think that burden is now squarely on his shoulders.
Update: For what it's worth, in an interview with CNBC, Moglia has stated that he has not invested any money in the Virginia Destroyers. Whether this will turn down the volume on the critics remains to be seen, but he still has a tough road to hoe as a head coach.
If there are some bells going off in your head, dear reader, there should be. It seems like too strange a coincidence that next year, the Omaha (where Mr. Moglia currently lives) Nighthawks will be moving into the brand new TD Ameritrade park, or that a man whose last coaching position, as a defensive coordinator at Dartmouth college was twenty-seven years ago, would be given the keys to a football team when his only recent experience has been as an adviser to the head coach of the University of Nebraska's Cornhuskers in 2008-2009.
Moglia was apparently hired directly by commissioner Huyghue himself, which can be taken as either a supreme vote of confidence or as an asset-motivated move. Destroyers GM Doug Williams apparently had no say in the hire, which seems strange to say the least.
Did Moglia buy himself a position with the team? I'm not going to answer that one. What I will do is speculate on the consequences of the move. It's been argued that no publicity is bad publicity, and this will certainly make some waves in the sports world. But even if there hasn't been any sort of collusion, the situation can certainly be spun that way, and the league may have see a loss of credibility either way. If there was a monetary gain, I hope it was enough to offset the negative publicity, or that said publicity was worth it.
That's to say nothing of the product on the field. Can a man with no experience as a head coach and almost no recent experience in the game successfully lead an expansion team? It's hard to say. Even if the Destroyers are sunk in their first season, a brand new team is a tough deal in any league. Even if Joe doesn't make a serious splash in his first year, I think he'll be given the benefit of the doubt. He'll need to come out with guns blazing to silence any doubters however, and I think that burden is now squarely on his shoulders.
Update: For what it's worth, in an interview with CNBC, Moglia has stated that he has not invested any money in the Virginia Destroyers. Whether this will turn down the volume on the critics remains to be seen, but he still has a tough road to hoe as a head coach.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Lay it on The Line
Since the UFL began its season in September, there's been a lot of nervous talk about the quality of the league's offensive lines. I'm not here to put any of those worries to rest. The following are pictures from the Colonials' outing in Las Vegas on October 23rd.
This here? This is right tackle Pete Clifford and left tackle Orrin Thompson letting pressure in off the edge. Thompson wasn't all bad, but Clifford was getting pushed back, beaten and blown up all day.
First quarter. Third and one. A run up the gut results in a two yard loss.
Finally, if you look at the center of this picture, left guard Jacob Bender (#72) is tossed like a rag doll by Locos defensive lineman Ryan Boschetti. Boschetti hurled the six-foot-six, three-hundred and fifteen pound guard what looks like a good five feet, and while Bender's play throughout the day was not quite as offensive as Cliffords, it's pretty damning that he could be negated that easily.
You could argue that there are plays like these in just about every football game broadcast during the week, UFL or NFL, and you'd be right. The trouble here is that these images are pretty much representative of the play of the O-line during that game, and frankly, during others. Lump me in with Paul Maguire if you want, but the fact of the matter is that even the NFL is having trouble finding and developing quality offensive lineman. Ask Jay Cutler about the Bears' offensive line play... if you can find him. Even Cutler probably doesn't know where he is right now. And the Bears are not the only team. The Lions and Redskins O-line woes are pretty widely known. The Eagles and Seahawks have inconsistent lines, with talent uneven from one side to the other, especially after injuries.
Truth is, it's hard to find those guys that are athletic, 6'3 or taller and with the right frame to hold 300+ pounds. There aren't that many definite natural talents out there. What this means for the UFL is that they're going to have their work cut out for them finding the "maybe's" out there and doing what they can to develop them into solid players. Clifford, for example, is listed as at 6'7 and 312 pounds. He has the size, but is consistently overpowered and beaten. I can't help but think that his place of birth (he's a New Hampshire native) had more to do with this particular New England team's decision to give him a shot than did his ability.
I'll play the optimist here and suggest that some of what we've seen this season has been a lack of cohesion; these players have not had the luxury of spending years and years as part of the same unit. They haven't had much time to gel, and hopefully this is something that will be resolved as the UFL gets a few more seasons under its belt; working on cutting those diamonds in the rough into shape, and just cutting the rest.
This here? This is right tackle Pete Clifford and left tackle Orrin Thompson letting pressure in off the edge. Thompson wasn't all bad, but Clifford was getting pushed back, beaten and blown up all day.
First quarter. Third and one. A run up the gut results in a two yard loss.
Finally, if you look at the center of this picture, left guard Jacob Bender (#72) is tossed like a rag doll by Locos defensive lineman Ryan Boschetti. Boschetti hurled the six-foot-six, three-hundred and fifteen pound guard what looks like a good five feet, and while Bender's play throughout the day was not quite as offensive as Cliffords, it's pretty damning that he could be negated that easily.
You could argue that there are plays like these in just about every football game broadcast during the week, UFL or NFL, and you'd be right. The trouble here is that these images are pretty much representative of the play of the O-line during that game, and frankly, during others. Lump me in with Paul Maguire if you want, but the fact of the matter is that even the NFL is having trouble finding and developing quality offensive lineman. Ask Jay Cutler about the Bears' offensive line play... if you can find him. Even Cutler probably doesn't know where he is right now. And the Bears are not the only team. The Lions and Redskins O-line woes are pretty widely known. The Eagles and Seahawks have inconsistent lines, with talent uneven from one side to the other, especially after injuries.
Truth is, it's hard to find those guys that are athletic, 6'3 or taller and with the right frame to hold 300+ pounds. There aren't that many definite natural talents out there. What this means for the UFL is that they're going to have their work cut out for them finding the "maybe's" out there and doing what they can to develop them into solid players. Clifford, for example, is listed as at 6'7 and 312 pounds. He has the size, but is consistently overpowered and beaten. I can't help but think that his place of birth (he's a New Hampshire native) had more to do with this particular New England team's decision to give him a shot than did his ability.
I'll play the optimist here and suggest that some of what we've seen this season has been a lack of cohesion; these players have not had the luxury of spending years and years as part of the same unit. They haven't had much time to gel, and hopefully this is something that will be resolved as the UFL gets a few more seasons under its belt; working on cutting those diamonds in the rough into shape, and just cutting the rest.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
We Won! We Won!
You'd have to be an optimist of the highest degree to suggest that the 2-4 Colonials might make the championship this year, but damn if it don't feel good to win, and after a long string of losses and a tense 27-26 win, you allow yourself some hope once again. So I'm not saying that Hartford will make it, but 2-4 feels much, much better than, say, 1-5.
Playing against type, the Colonials started the game looking shaky and seemed to build confidence as the game wound on. Red zone woes are to blame for the score, which could easily have been much higher on Hartford's part. They proved that they're capable of sustaining long drives in addition to putting up quick scores.
Were they perfect? Of course not, but the most important thing to take away from this game is that they're capable of improving even within games. Markee White stepped up as the #1 receiver last night, and Booker was his usual self, averaging and astounding 8.6 yards per carry. The offensive line was terrible in the first quarter, and while McCown (and Perriloux in his limited time) was still getting pressured, I think that it's evident that they're starting to figure things out.
Doug Flutie commented last night that we might be seeing the "maturation" of the lines in the UFL. I'd extend that to every position. I'll be negative here and say that, yes, play has been sloppy in some games. But is that so surprising with so many players never having played for any length of time together? And without four preseason games to give them a chance to gel? This is not an indictment of the level of play in the UFL (and not a suggestion that the league needs a preseason). It's a reality that a league with about twelve weeks of games in its history has not previously had units with long relationships, but these are now beginning to crystallize. Quarterbacks now have a good idea who their go-to guy is. Lines are getting better at picking up who is blocking who. Defensive backfields are figuring out where their teammates are going to be on a given play. It's a rush to see it all come together.
That being said, there's still room for improvement. Colonials defenders were frequently rushing in for the big hit and missing completely, which suggests to me that they either need a bit more schooling on how to wrap up, or need to quit trying to make the highlight reel. The "D" is still playing too soft and giving up moderate yardage on some plays, though this could be more of a problem with scheme than with any individual Colonial defender.
And, of course, there's the elephant in the room in Tyler Mehlhaff. Mehlhaff's accuracy issues seem to stem more from jitters than anything else. You can argue that one of last night's field goals (the 22-yarder) was ruined by an awkward snap, but the others? Any decent kicker should be able to make those, and Mehlhaff has in the past, making me think that his recent troubles are entirely mental. There are only two games left in the Colonial's season. I think it's too late to think of cutting him, but it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't have a job in Hartford next year.
Too sad a point to end on, so I'll leave you with this: We won! We won!
Playing against type, the Colonials started the game looking shaky and seemed to build confidence as the game wound on. Red zone woes are to blame for the score, which could easily have been much higher on Hartford's part. They proved that they're capable of sustaining long drives in addition to putting up quick scores.
Were they perfect? Of course not, but the most important thing to take away from this game is that they're capable of improving even within games. Markee White stepped up as the #1 receiver last night, and Booker was his usual self, averaging and astounding 8.6 yards per carry. The offensive line was terrible in the first quarter, and while McCown (and Perriloux in his limited time) was still getting pressured, I think that it's evident that they're starting to figure things out.
Doug Flutie commented last night that we might be seeing the "maturation" of the lines in the UFL. I'd extend that to every position. I'll be negative here and say that, yes, play has been sloppy in some games. But is that so surprising with so many players never having played for any length of time together? And without four preseason games to give them a chance to gel? This is not an indictment of the level of play in the UFL (and not a suggestion that the league needs a preseason). It's a reality that a league with about twelve weeks of games in its history has not previously had units with long relationships, but these are now beginning to crystallize. Quarterbacks now have a good idea who their go-to guy is. Lines are getting better at picking up who is blocking who. Defensive backfields are figuring out where their teammates are going to be on a given play. It's a rush to see it all come together.
That being said, there's still room for improvement. Colonials defenders were frequently rushing in for the big hit and missing completely, which suggests to me that they either need a bit more schooling on how to wrap up, or need to quit trying to make the highlight reel. The "D" is still playing too soft and giving up moderate yardage on some plays, though this could be more of a problem with scheme than with any individual Colonial defender.
And, of course, there's the elephant in the room in Tyler Mehlhaff. Mehlhaff's accuracy issues seem to stem more from jitters than anything else. You can argue that one of last night's field goals (the 22-yarder) was ruined by an awkward snap, but the others? Any decent kicker should be able to make those, and Mehlhaff has in the past, making me think that his recent troubles are entirely mental. There are only two games left in the Colonial's season. I think it's too late to think of cutting him, but it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't have a job in Hartford next year.
Too sad a point to end on, so I'll leave you with this: We won! We won!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Winding Down
Quick, name a forty-something-year-old quarterback whose threw away a game on interceptions this week. No, it's not Brett Favre, though, like Favre, Jeff Garcia is probably the biggest name in his league.
So that was a bit of a harsh opening, and I don't mean to rag on Garcia overly much. It's funny how similar Favre and Garcia are, if not in general, than at least right this very moment. Both are battling foot injuries, both have spectacular longevity in what is arguably the toughest sport in the world. Favre gave up three interceptions on Sunday: Garcia threw four last night.
Are they washed up? Overrated? No. But, when injured, they do show their age. It's tough enough for even a young player to go out there and play with an injury. Each is in trouble, however, because as risky as it is to send a limping Garcia or Favre out there, it's not certain how much confidence anyone has in their backups. Tarvaris Jackson is probably a league average QB, but how rusty is he after not playing a regular season game in two years? Matt Gutierrez is young, and likely very raw. You have to ask yourself the same question: is it better to play the injured vet and risk a game, or to play the young guy and give the old men a chance to heal? For the 2-4 Vikings, it may already be too late.
For the Nighthawks, it's a much tougher call. After last night's loss to a strong defensive showing by Las Vegas, their hopes for a championship appearance may be in jeopardy if their star quarterback can't get healthy. It may also be in jeopardy if they fall to 3-3, which could realistically happen if they risk sending in a quarterback with some thirteen fewer years of experience.
Apropos of nothing, it also struck me today that the UFL season is more than half over. Seems like it'll be ending right about when all the leaves are finally off the trees. As a writer, I like the narrative appropriateness of this, though I already miss not having home games at the Rent to look forwards, and have since I took my Colonials/Nighthawks season tickets off the wall. With such a long off season, it'll be interesting to see what the Colonials can do to keep them in the public consciousness. It's a big job, but I hope that next year we'll rival Omaha for fans in the seats.
So that was a bit of a harsh opening, and I don't mean to rag on Garcia overly much. It's funny how similar Favre and Garcia are, if not in general, than at least right this very moment. Both are battling foot injuries, both have spectacular longevity in what is arguably the toughest sport in the world. Favre gave up three interceptions on Sunday: Garcia threw four last night.
Are they washed up? Overrated? No. But, when injured, they do show their age. It's tough enough for even a young player to go out there and play with an injury. Each is in trouble, however, because as risky as it is to send a limping Garcia or Favre out there, it's not certain how much confidence anyone has in their backups. Tarvaris Jackson is probably a league average QB, but how rusty is he after not playing a regular season game in two years? Matt Gutierrez is young, and likely very raw. You have to ask yourself the same question: is it better to play the injured vet and risk a game, or to play the young guy and give the old men a chance to heal? For the 2-4 Vikings, it may already be too late.
For the Nighthawks, it's a much tougher call. After last night's loss to a strong defensive showing by Las Vegas, their hopes for a championship appearance may be in jeopardy if their star quarterback can't get healthy. It may also be in jeopardy if they fall to 3-3, which could realistically happen if they risk sending in a quarterback with some thirteen fewer years of experience.
Apropos of nothing, it also struck me today that the UFL season is more than half over. Seems like it'll be ending right about when all the leaves are finally off the trees. As a writer, I like the narrative appropriateness of this, though I already miss not having home games at the Rent to look forwards, and have since I took my Colonials/Nighthawks season tickets off the wall. With such a long off season, it'll be interesting to see what the Colonials can do to keep them in the public consciousness. It's a big job, but I hope that next year we'll rival Omaha for fans in the seats.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Daydreaming
So I'm an admitted UFL homer (and Colonials homer, obviously) so when I say that part of what what I've loved about the league so far is the amount of speculation surrounding it, it probably just sounds like I'm being a fanboy. You could accuse me of that, and I guess it wouldn't be unfair.
But I like to think about the future. Not just the things that get tossed around on the UFL Access forums, like where the expansion teams will be, what big names might get signed, or what unknowns might rise out of the murky depths of free agency. These are all well and good, but I'm thinking in different directions.
For example, I wonder when we'll begin seeing fans in "enemy" markets. Right now, a Colonials fan makes sense in Connecticut. Massachusetts? Sure. And fans may begin to trickle in from other New England states as the team gets more and more press. But how about a Colonials fan in...dun dun dun...Omaha? Or vice versa? Come to think of it, that's probably more likely. If Omaha's fan base continues to grow as it has (last I checked they were sniffing 15,000 fans on Facebook) and if they keep playing at a high level, I could see them becoming the Dallas Cowboys of the league--which ultimately means that their fans would become insufferable. No offense. For now, I'm sure there are already a few UFL fans in markets that will soon have teams, like Virginia for instance. So what might, say, a Tusker fan in that area do? Sometimes life throws you hard decisions.
Other than that, I like to think about what a UFL video game would be like. Electronic Arts' "Madden" series has completely dominated the simulationist category for years, and shows no signs of slowing down. I haven't been a huge gamer since my teenage years, but to my knowledge, there isn't currently a big name, arcade-style football game out there. Or at least one that could compare with the world champion of football games, Tecmo Super Bowl. Who out there didn't love seeing Vinny Testaverde hurl a ninety-nine yard touchdown pass, or running Barry Sanders down the field, and then back to the line of scrimmage, and then back again in a five minute TD run? The over-the-top, big plays, cool music and colorful graphics were a twitch gamer's dream. I play and like Madden, but I think it's telling that people still think back on a twenty-year-old game so fondly, and I think that when the times comes, the UFL would be smart to pounce on that market.
It could be years before we see fan bases in opposing markets, or before the Colonials grace the cover of a PS3 game case, but it's fun to think about.
But I like to think about the future. Not just the things that get tossed around on the UFL Access forums, like where the expansion teams will be, what big names might get signed, or what unknowns might rise out of the murky depths of free agency. These are all well and good, but I'm thinking in different directions.
For example, I wonder when we'll begin seeing fans in "enemy" markets. Right now, a Colonials fan makes sense in Connecticut. Massachusetts? Sure. And fans may begin to trickle in from other New England states as the team gets more and more press. But how about a Colonials fan in...dun dun dun...Omaha? Or vice versa? Come to think of it, that's probably more likely. If Omaha's fan base continues to grow as it has (last I checked they were sniffing 15,000 fans on Facebook) and if they keep playing at a high level, I could see them becoming the Dallas Cowboys of the league--which ultimately means that their fans would become insufferable. No offense. For now, I'm sure there are already a few UFL fans in markets that will soon have teams, like Virginia for instance. So what might, say, a Tusker fan in that area do? Sometimes life throws you hard decisions.
Other than that, I like to think about what a UFL video game would be like. Electronic Arts' "Madden" series has completely dominated the simulationist category for years, and shows no signs of slowing down. I haven't been a huge gamer since my teenage years, but to my knowledge, there isn't currently a big name, arcade-style football game out there. Or at least one that could compare with the world champion of football games, Tecmo Super Bowl. Who out there didn't love seeing Vinny Testaverde hurl a ninety-nine yard touchdown pass, or running Barry Sanders down the field, and then back to the line of scrimmage, and then back again in a five minute TD run? The over-the-top, big plays, cool music and colorful graphics were a twitch gamer's dream. I play and like Madden, but I think it's telling that people still think back on a twenty-year-old game so fondly, and I think that when the times comes, the UFL would be smart to pounce on that market.
It could be years before we see fan bases in opposing markets, or before the Colonials grace the cover of a PS3 game case, but it's fun to think about.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Pack it up, Pack it in
Let me begin by saying that while we Hartford Colonials fans can comfort ourselves with the notion that our losses have generally been close ones, there comes a point where you have to wonder why these were not close wins. Cite all the flukes you want; Mehlhaff's missed extra point, the snap-fumble by Gray against Omaha, or the wind at Sammy Boyd, but the simple fact is this: if you want to win a championship, you can't leave yourself in a position where any of your games can be decided on a single play.
It's interesting to look at the statistics through week five . With the season half over and every team having been in four games, patterns are beginning to crystallize. Offensively, Hartford lead in yardage and yards per game. Josh McCown was still the league's highest-rated passer. Defensively, Hartford had given up the fewest rushing and passing yards per game. Wherein like the problems?
Defense: One thing that sticks out is--again, as of week five--Hartford's defense has never failed to give up points in the red zone. Of sixteen trips past the twenty-yard line, Colonials' opponents have scored nine touchdowns and six field goals. The team apparently know what it's doing between the 20's, but struggles when the field gets short. Compounding matters is the low number of turnovers that the team has forced; only two interceptions and three fumbles. And n that span the Colonial's pass rush has generate only four sacks. Overall, this paints a picture of a defense that is solid across the board, but with little to no ability to deliver the knockout punch. It seems that offenses have realized this and are capitalizing on it.
Take a look at the Las Vegas game this past Saturday as proof. Hartford faced a young, unproven quarterback in Drew Willy. Willy carved up the Colonials' secondary on short and intermediate routes all day. Defensive backs were playing far off of their receivers, leaving the Locos offense with modest gains every time Willy dropped back to pass. The run defense on Saturday was hit-or-miss, with DeDe Dorsey (can we just call him "3D?") alternately being stuffed in the backfield and breaking long gains.
Offense: Offensive lineman are a tough breed to find; there are only so many 6'5, 300 pound athletes out there. In a sport where that talent is tough to find, sadly, the Colonials have had to make due with a group of questionable talent. Pushing the issue is the simple fact that--and by no means is this peculiar to the Colonials--the line has had very little time to gel.
You'd be crazy to argue that the team doesn't have enough playmakers on offense. Lorenzo Booker makes opposing defenses look foolish and has more burst than the Fourth of July. Patrick Carter is a good deep threat, and Markee White has decent hands. McCown is a very accurate passer, but he has a fatal flaw which, unfortunately, is exacerbated by a porous line. That problem is that McCown will throw the ball into traffic before he'll throw it away. His receivers aren't getting enough time to get open before the ball comes out. This is as much on our star QB as it is on the line. It's a bad habit too easily exploited by a weak front five, and defenses have exploited it.
I would also think that by now the Ryan Perriloux experiment should be over. Too often, Perrilloux is brought in only for handoffs. it may have worked (or at least not been a hindrance) for the first two games this season, when teams didn't know what to expect from the rotation, but it has become stale and predictable.
Special Teams: Little to say here. I still have faith in Mehlhaff despite the botched extra point, and the field goal this past Saturday was problematic. We need better returners than Steptoe and Lawson, who have seven yards per punt return and 18.1 per kick return, respectively.
So am I being a pessimist by saying that the season is over? I'd argue that I'm being a realist. A 1-4 team is about as likely to win the UFL championship as a 2-8 team is to win the Superbowl. In any case, my spirits are still high. I've always loved rooting for the underdog.
It's interesting to look at the statistics through week five . With the season half over and every team having been in four games, patterns are beginning to crystallize. Offensively, Hartford lead in yardage and yards per game. Josh McCown was still the league's highest-rated passer. Defensively, Hartford had given up the fewest rushing and passing yards per game. Wherein like the problems?
Defense: One thing that sticks out is--again, as of week five--Hartford's defense has never failed to give up points in the red zone. Of sixteen trips past the twenty-yard line, Colonials' opponents have scored nine touchdowns and six field goals. The team apparently know what it's doing between the 20's, but struggles when the field gets short. Compounding matters is the low number of turnovers that the team has forced; only two interceptions and three fumbles. And n that span the Colonial's pass rush has generate only four sacks. Overall, this paints a picture of a defense that is solid across the board, but with little to no ability to deliver the knockout punch. It seems that offenses have realized this and are capitalizing on it.
Take a look at the Las Vegas game this past Saturday as proof. Hartford faced a young, unproven quarterback in Drew Willy. Willy carved up the Colonials' secondary on short and intermediate routes all day. Defensive backs were playing far off of their receivers, leaving the Locos offense with modest gains every time Willy dropped back to pass. The run defense on Saturday was hit-or-miss, with DeDe Dorsey (can we just call him "3D?") alternately being stuffed in the backfield and breaking long gains.
Offense: Offensive lineman are a tough breed to find; there are only so many 6'5, 300 pound athletes out there. In a sport where that talent is tough to find, sadly, the Colonials have had to make due with a group of questionable talent. Pushing the issue is the simple fact that--and by no means is this peculiar to the Colonials--the line has had very little time to gel.
You'd be crazy to argue that the team doesn't have enough playmakers on offense. Lorenzo Booker makes opposing defenses look foolish and has more burst than the Fourth of July. Patrick Carter is a good deep threat, and Markee White has decent hands. McCown is a very accurate passer, but he has a fatal flaw which, unfortunately, is exacerbated by a porous line. That problem is that McCown will throw the ball into traffic before he'll throw it away. His receivers aren't getting enough time to get open before the ball comes out. This is as much on our star QB as it is on the line. It's a bad habit too easily exploited by a weak front five, and defenses have exploited it.
I would also think that by now the Ryan Perriloux experiment should be over. Too often, Perrilloux is brought in only for handoffs. it may have worked (or at least not been a hindrance) for the first two games this season, when teams didn't know what to expect from the rotation, but it has become stale and predictable.
Special Teams: Little to say here. I still have faith in Mehlhaff despite the botched extra point, and the field goal this past Saturday was problematic. We need better returners than Steptoe and Lawson, who have seven yards per punt return and 18.1 per kick return, respectively.
So am I being a pessimist by saying that the season is over? I'd argue that I'm being a realist. A 1-4 team is about as likely to win the UFL championship as a 2-8 team is to win the Superbowl. In any case, my spirits are still high. I've always loved rooting for the underdog.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Beatpaths
If you weren't already aware, last night the Sacramento Mountain Lions faced off against the Florida Tuskers in Orlando. What's that? Yes this is the second post in a blog about the Hartford Colonials, so why, then, am I spending time on a game between two other teams?
I said it earlier and should reiterate: to be a fan of a UFL team is to be a fan of the league. Not only that, but with a mere five teams, the competition has been even more interesting. Every last team in the league either has faced Hartford or will in the future, and so every game can tell you a little but about the team you beat, or the team that beat you. Every game is important.
Prior to last night, the Mountain Lions shared the bottom of the UFL standings with the Colonials, with both teams sporting unflattering 1-3 records. The Mountain Lions were beaten decisively in the Colonials home opener by the score of 27-10, and were dominated in every phase of the game. They went on to lose two other games, and only narrowly pulled out a single victory against Florida (whom they've subsequently swept. Daunte Culpepper threw for four interceptions in Sactown's loss against the locomotives and looked washed up. But what does that all mean?
Apparently nothing. The Mountain Lions have twice rebounded for wins against a team that soundly defeated the Colonials in their first game. Apparently we still have no way of knowing just what every team is capable of. I'm not certain that any of them know yet either. Hartford beat a team that beat a team that beat Hartford. There's no way of knowing the outcome of any of these games.
Of course, I would argue that Hartford has beaten themselves as much as they've been beaten. I recall watching the Colonials first road game. I was absolutely elated in the third quarter. We not only had a football team in town, we had a damn good one. Then the fourth quarter happened, and all bets were off.
Penalties ruined the team's chances in Omaha, and penalties and turnovers have continued to dig huge holes that the team can't quite pick themselves out of. The comment I've heard, from more than one source, is "It looked like an entirely different team." I agree. The Hartford Colonials first seven quarters of football this year were impressive, and so I wonder, what happened? Was this a team without talent? Did they get lucky?
I sincerely doubt luck had anything to do with it. Take a look at Hartford's last game a home against Omaha. Both team's stats are nearly identical. Time of possession is within one minute. Total yardage is exactly the same. Penalties and penalty yardage are nearly the same. Third down conversions and percentage are nearly the same. What sticks out like a sore thumb is Hartford's four turnovers to Omaha's one. I think that bear's repeating. The Colonials turned the ball over four times as often as the Nighthawks, and still managed to stay within one score. It may sound ridiculous to say, but that doesn't suggest a lack of talent. If anything, it's amazing that the score wasn't higher. We can stay in the game despite mistakes, and might even still snatch a game or two away, but for the love of god, we can't win a championship playing like that.
The Colonials can join the Mountain Lions and Tuskers both in 2-3 Land. They did not beat a bad team on September 18th, but a competitive one. They lost to a competitive team. The talent levels in the UFL are apparently solid across the board. Winning games is going to be about taking those precious few opportunities the other guys will give you, and not giving them anything in return.
I said it earlier and should reiterate: to be a fan of a UFL team is to be a fan of the league. Not only that, but with a mere five teams, the competition has been even more interesting. Every last team in the league either has faced Hartford or will in the future, and so every game can tell you a little but about the team you beat, or the team that beat you. Every game is important.
Prior to last night, the Mountain Lions shared the bottom of the UFL standings with the Colonials, with both teams sporting unflattering 1-3 records. The Mountain Lions were beaten decisively in the Colonials home opener by the score of 27-10, and were dominated in every phase of the game. They went on to lose two other games, and only narrowly pulled out a single victory against Florida (whom they've subsequently swept. Daunte Culpepper threw for four interceptions in Sactown's loss against the locomotives and looked washed up. But what does that all mean?
Apparently nothing. The Mountain Lions have twice rebounded for wins against a team that soundly defeated the Colonials in their first game. Apparently we still have no way of knowing just what every team is capable of. I'm not certain that any of them know yet either. Hartford beat a team that beat a team that beat Hartford. There's no way of knowing the outcome of any of these games.
Of course, I would argue that Hartford has beaten themselves as much as they've been beaten. I recall watching the Colonials first road game. I was absolutely elated in the third quarter. We not only had a football team in town, we had a damn good one. Then the fourth quarter happened, and all bets were off.
Penalties ruined the team's chances in Omaha, and penalties and turnovers have continued to dig huge holes that the team can't quite pick themselves out of. The comment I've heard, from more than one source, is "It looked like an entirely different team." I agree. The Hartford Colonials first seven quarters of football this year were impressive, and so I wonder, what happened? Was this a team without talent? Did they get lucky?
I sincerely doubt luck had anything to do with it. Take a look at Hartford's last game a home against Omaha. Both team's stats are nearly identical. Time of possession is within one minute. Total yardage is exactly the same. Penalties and penalty yardage are nearly the same. Third down conversions and percentage are nearly the same. What sticks out like a sore thumb is Hartford's four turnovers to Omaha's one. I think that bear's repeating. The Colonials turned the ball over four times as often as the Nighthawks, and still managed to stay within one score. It may sound ridiculous to say, but that doesn't suggest a lack of talent. If anything, it's amazing that the score wasn't higher. We can stay in the game despite mistakes, and might even still snatch a game or two away, but for the love of god, we can't win a championship playing like that.
The Colonials can join the Mountain Lions and Tuskers both in 2-3 Land. They did not beat a bad team on September 18th, but a competitive one. They lost to a competitive team. The talent levels in the UFL are apparently solid across the board. Winning games is going to be about taking those precious few opportunities the other guys will give you, and not giving them anything in return.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The UFL: Marching Onward
They put a team in Hartford.
That was really all the United Football League had to do to gain my support. The team could have been the Hartford Hitlers; their symbol, a boot stomping a kitten, and I probably still would have been a fan. Months before the season opened I had declared that I’d be happy if the team—the former New York Sentinels, who went 0-6 last year— won just a single home game (I now retract that statement and hope for a more positive outcome on the season). I bought a pair of season tickets in May and I’m glad I did.
As a season ticket holder and a regular watcher of the UFL games (online, as the league streams all of its games through its own website) I have not been disappointed. The first half of the 2010 season is behind us, and I don’t think anybody could be disappointed by the product out there on the field. You’re not getting the NFL, no, but what you’re getting is close enough that any football fan should be happy. Big plays abound, such as Lorenzo Booker’s eighty-yard touchdown reception in week one, or the Tim Rattay to (wide receiver) Tab Perry to DeDe Dorsey trick throw in week four, that went for sixty yards and nearly netted the Las Vegas Locomotives a touchdown. Gameday atmosphere at Rentschler field has been great, with cheerleaders and Revolutionary War re-enactors mingling with the tailgating fans before the game.
The big question mark is now not if the team is any good (as of week five, Hartford has proven they have the talent, though perhaps not the discipline) but can the UFL succeed. I think that for now, to be a fan of any UFL team is also to be a fan of the league. Connecticutians have to support the Colonials—Connecticut’s only pro sport’s team—under the assumption that the entire organization isn’t just going to just fold up and disappear. It’s a bit of a catch twenty-two for the average fan: you don’t want to get behind a team that may not be there next year, and yet, if you don’t get behind them, you may actually be the cause of the problem. So I root not only for the Colonials, but for the success of the league itself. So while I feel like a schill saying this, plunk down fifteen bucks and catch the team’s last home game against the Locomotives in November, or at least check out the team’s away games online at www.ufl-football.com. You’re bound to see a great game, and years from now you can tell your bandwagoning friends that you were a fan way back when.
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