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CNOTES
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Registered: Feb 2006
Posts: 10543

Indianapolis Colts

Pep Hamilton takes over for Bruce Arians, who ran the Colts offense last year with rookie Andrew Luck like he was coaching Peyton Manning or Ben Roethlisberger.

Things will not change much under Hamilton, who worked with Luck at Stanford and has a background in the NFL. Hamilton has seven years of NFL experience and loves to throw the ball. In 2009, he coached Jay Cutler with the Bears when the quarterback threw 555 passes and completed a franchise-record 336. The year before? Hamilton coached Kyle Orton to the fifth-highest completion rate in Bears history.


Andrew Luck was involved in 668 pass plays last year. That might come down slightly to grow the running game, but Luck will throw over 550 passes this year.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Gus Bradley left Seattle's great defense to take on the challenge of rebuilding this franchise. He will focus on the defense, which will have the Seahawks' traits, but he doesn't have the secondary players to use the exact Seahawks blueprint in Year 1. His defensive coordinator, Bob Babich, comes from the Lovie Smith/Monte Kiffin 4-3 defense.
Meet news Jags OC Jedd Fisch

Previous stops: Texans, Ravens, Broncos, Seahawks, Miami Hurricanes
Jedd Fisch

Jedd Fisch's return to the professional ranks is a well-deserved step forward for the 37-year-old, adding another stop to his nine years of experience as an NFL assistant. Fisch coached on staffs under Dom Capers, Brian Billick, Mike Shanahan and Pete Carroll during stops in Houston, Baltimore, Denver and Seattle. Although he never played football, Fisch cut his teeth as a graduate assistant for Steve Spurrier's Florida teams in 1999 and 2000.

In his first season as the offensive coordinator at the University of Miami, Fisch was able to establish his pro-style offensive scheme behind 1,200-yard running back Lamar Miller, now with the Miami Dolphins, and quarterback Jacory Harris. Miller's ground game, frequently inside/outside zone run plays, set up play action opportunities of Harris, who often faced simple high-low reads after the play-action fake. After three-years of accuracy issues, Harris recorded career high numbers for completion percentage (65.0%) and touchdown-interception ratio (20-9).

Extraordinary athletes, like ACC Rookie of the Year Duke Johnson, helped Fisch's cause at Miami, but you can see how the schemes might translate to the next level. Fisch used similar concepts with multiple personnel groups to keep the defense guessing, and capitalized when the the defense guessed wrong.

But while the pro-style offense appeared NFL-ready in the ACC, Fisch will ultimately be judged on whether the Jags can execute those concepts in the AFC.

By Chip Patterson

The Jags are going to have to play more zone looks to protect the secondary and might employ more zone pressures if the front four can't generate a rush. The Jags notched only 20 sacks last year and need Jason Babin to return to his old form.

On offense, little known Jedd Fisch takes over an offense with quarterback questions. Fisch has a West Coast background with influences from the Mike Shanahan system, and comes to Jacksonville directly from the University of Miami. Call his system whatever you want, but it's all about Maurice Jones-Drew running the ball and a quick-slant passing game where the QB can exploit the defense if it overplays the run game.

Former Jaguars coaches have told me Chad Henne should be the starter, so let's see what Fisch does with Blaine Gabbert.

Kansas City Chiefs

A complete turnover in coaching with Andy Reid taking over the program. Reid loves to throw the ball and is intrigued by the football smarts of his new quarterback Alex Smith. Reid has to see how much of what Smith understands in the classroom can transfer to the field. Smith has been at his best keeping his throws per game under 30. Reid usually averages more than 35 pass plays a game.

Doug Pederson is the offensive coordinator and will play more of a support role to Reid. The Chiefs hired Brad Childress as a special-projects coordinator, which means he will have an influence on the offense. If Jamaal Charles can stay healthy, he will get lots of touches in this offense, much like Brian Westbrook had in Philadelphia. In 2007, Westbrook rushed for 1,333 yards and caught 90 passes.

The Chiefs will roll through lots of personnel groups during a game and Dexter McCluster shows signs of being a an effective slot receiver in the Reid system. Jason Avant played that role in Philadelphia. I don't see TE Tony Moeaki being a featured player in this system with Anthony Fasano and rookie Travis Kelce on the roster.

New defensive coordinator Bob Sutton will keep the 3-4 defense, but I expect a lot more blitzing and zone-pressure calls. Sutton is coming to Kansas City from Rex Ryan's pressure defense with the Jets. That system called for a lot of safety blitzing, which could raise sack numbers for a guy like Eric Berry.

New Orleans Saints

Sean Payton is back but the defensive coordinator from last year isn't in New Orleans. Nothing much will change on offense, but I do expect more emphasis on running the ball.

On defense, there are radical changes with Rob Ryan taking over and converting the front to a 3-4. One coach said Ryan's 3-4 is really a 4-3 under scheme, but time will tell how much true 3-4 stuff we see in New Orleans. Ryan brought linebacker Victor Butler with him from Dallas but he is already lost to injury, placing a lot of pressure on Martez Wilson to be a rush OLB.

Two rookies should benefit from the new defense. Nose tackle John Jenkins will play a big role over the center clogging up the middle and safety Kenny Vaccaro could wind up with as many sacks as some of the linebackers.

Ryan's scheme can be complicated at times, and with this high-powered offense, he doesn't need to take as many chances. I am still unsure how former DE Will Smith and LB Jonathan Vilma will fit in the new scheme. Keep an eye on Saints cornerbacks Keenan Lewis and Jabarri Greer; they might be asked to play more man coverage than they have in the past.

New York Jets

Following the exodus after the 2012 season that included the coordinators and the GM, it feels like the only man left standing is head coach Rex Ryan.
Meet new Jets OC Marty Mornhinweg

Previous stops: Eagles, Lions, 49ers, Packers
Marty Mornhinweg (USATSI)

Marty Mornhinweg stakes his reputation on his teaching, play-calling and knowledge of the West Coast passing game. In San Francisco, he helped coach Steve Young to one of his most productive years ever in 1998, with Young throwing for a league-high 36 touchdown passes -- nearly twice his output from the previous season. Then he helped make former CFL star Jeff Garcia into a four-time Pro Bowl quarterback, with Garcia leading the 49ers back to the playoffs after a two-year hiatus.

His role in Philadelphia wasn't much different, where he rebuilt Michael Vick after his return to the NFL and made Kevin Kolb into such an attractive quarterback that Arizona was willing to gamble on the guy as its starter. Mornhinweg's offenses stress success with high-percentage passes -- short and intermediate attempts -- though he's not afraid to take the deep shot if he has a qualified quarterback.

By Clark Judge

His new offensive coordinator is Marty Mornhinweg and he has a reputation to run the ball. That sounds like a good thing considering Mark Sanchez has struggled in the past two seasons. Chris Ivory is the new running back, acquired in a trade from the Saints, and will benefit from the new scheme. Former Steelers guard Willie Colon should lead a power-run scheme if he can stay healthy.

When it comes to throwing the ball, Mornhinweg comes from the West Coast system; short, accurate passing with an emphasis on run-after-the-catch is what the coach will demand. Sanchez knows this style, but has struggled without good weapons. Stephen Hill and Santonio Holmes will get opportunities in this scheme.

On defense, Dennis Thurman takes over, but everyone knows it's still a Rex Ryan production. Pressure calls and pressure illusions from a 3-4 look is the core of this defense. The Jets need more pass rush; rookie Sheldon Richardson should help but the safeties are a question mark, in my opinion. Teams that spread the Jets out and isolate Landry or Bush will cause problems for Thurman's secondary.

Oakland Raiders

A change at offensive coordinator is nothing new here. It seems like every year, someone gets a chance to make this offense work. Now it's Greg Olsen's chance.

Look for the zone scheme to take a back seat to a man-power scheme. It is all predicated on Darren McFadden staying healthy. Olsen's biggest challenge is at quarterback. Matt Flynn's style fits Greg Olsen, but if he's ineffective, the staff has to consider Terrelle Pryor or rookie Tyler Wilson.

Philadelphia Eagles

The most intrigue surrounding any club's coaching staff is in the City of Brotherly Love. Chip Kelly makes the big jump from college with no personnel experience in the NFL. From what I have gathered, new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur is installing his West Coast offense, so it appears there will be a blend of the Oregon offense and the more conventional NFL offense.

Michael Vick should benefit from the Kelly offense, but Nic Foles or Matt Barkley might get chances with the Shurmur package.

Talking to a few of the Eagles offensive linemen has led me to believe this will be an up-tempo offense no matter which package is being featured. Some say Vick struggles with the no-huddle, but all reports I got out of Philadelphia indicate the coaches like Vick's up-tempo no-huddle offense.

The run game will be different than most NFL teams, and LeSean McCoy might come out of the blocks with solid numbers in September.

Billy Davis takes over the defense, which will be advertised as a 3-4 but the post-snap look might be a different story. One opposing offensive coordinator said: "We will treat Philly like a 4-3 defense with a lot of one-gap penetration players." That might be the reason DeMeco Ryans will succeed in this 3-4, unlike his days with the Texans, who traded him because he was viewed as a 4-3 linebacker.

Davis spent time with Dick LeBeau in Pittsburgh and has many pressure calls if he needs them. Davis is going to have to figure out if his secondary can hold up in man-coverage calls and this should be a point of interest all summer. Teams that use the 3-4 hope to get 20 sacks from their outside linebackers, but it seems to be a stretch to expect that from Connor Barwin and Trent Cole. Cole is new at standing up as a linebacker and Barwin had three sacks in 16 starts last year.

San Diego Chargers

Mike McCoy takes over as head coach and is best known for building a creative way to use Tim Tebow in 2011 when the Broncos made a playoff run. That experience doesn't apply to Philip Rivers in San Diego, but his one year with Peyton Manning in 2012 does.

Former Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt is the offensive coordinator and play caller. He went to a Super Bowl with Kurt Warner and knows how to get the most out of a pure pocket passer like Rivers. Whisenhunt's biggest challenge will be protecting Rivers, who was sacked 49 times last year. Rivers keeps his interceptions to a minimum (15 in 2012) but he's at his best with the vertical seam-route game, and that calls for good protection.

Whisenhunt has health issues to manage. Running back Ryan Mathews has missed 10 games in his first three years in the NFL and had one rushing touchdown last year. Whisenhunt and McCoy will work to develop a run game, but for now, it looks like the offense will feature 35-40 pass attempts per game.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers are very aggressive at retaining their coaches with solid contract offers when other teams try to hire them away. Stability is important in San Francisco, so there is little change.
Meet new 49ers assistant Eric Mangini

Previous stops: 49ers, Browns, Jets, Patriots, Ravens
Eric Mangini (USATSI)

Eric Mangini is what the 49ers call an offensive consultant, but that's a little misleading. While it's the offense he works with, it's opponents' defenses he studies. Mangini is expected to serve as something like an advance scout, dissecting upcoming opponents and telling offensive assistants -- as well as coach Jim Harbaugh -- everything they need to know about their tendencies, their strengths, their shortcomings and how and where they can be attacked.

It's a smart move. Mangini was successful as a DC in New England and oversaw a defense in Cleveland that, in his last year as head coach there, shut down then-defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans and New England in successive weeks. But he's no stranger to offenses, having worked on that side of the ball his first two seasons in the NFL.

By Clark Judge

Chicago Bears

This year, the club added former head coach Eric Mangini to the staff. It appears the plan is to have him work with the offense, even though his area of expertise is defense. In my opinion, this is a brilliant move -- putting a guy that thinks defense in the room with the offensive staff. He will constantly look at the 49ers offense from the perspective of defending it, and offer advice about what the team should be preparing for each week. More teams should do things like this if they want to fully prepare.

Seattle Seahawks

Seattle had to replace defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, who left to become the head coach in Jacksonville. Dan Quinn, a former defensive line coach under Pete Carroll in 2010, gets the promotion. Quinn spent the previous two seasons as the defensive coordinator of the University of Florida. He gets the chance to guide a defense constructed by head coach Pete Carroll. Nothing will change under Quinn with the package, which will feature a bit of a hybrid front and lots of man to man in the secondary.

The key to the front seven is DE/DT Red Bryant, whom Quinn coached a few years ago. Quinn's biggest job might be finding or developing a third linebacker to play the "Will" spot.




Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.

Old Post 07-11-13 07:23 AM
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St. Louis Rams

Last year, the issues surrounding then-defensive coordinator Gregg Williams really led to a defense coached by committee. Jeff Fisher was more involved than he needed to be and Dave McGinnis handled a lot of the day-to-day work. Now Tim Walton comes over from Detroit.

Walton was the secondary coach in a system that was similar to the Rams' scheme.
Walton will have little (if any) problems blending into the culture in St. Louis, because many of the things being done in Detroit were an extension of things Fisher did in Tennessee. Walton has much better cornerbacks to work with in St. Louis than he had in Detroit. That means more man coverage and pressure calls if he needs them. Don't be surprised to see a decent amount of corner blitzing, too.

The front four in St. Louis is a fast-emerging group that can get to the passer without help. Last year, the Rams had 52 sacks from 14 different players -- the front four had 39 of those sacks.

Walton's biggest challenge will come from trying to develop his safeties into solid players who can handle matchup issues. T.J. McDonald is a rookie and Darian Stewart didn't start a game last year. If Walton has to protect his safeties, it will limit some of the creative scheme ideas he might have for this defense.

Tennessee Titans

Technically, offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains is not new, but he took over for Chris Palmer midway through last season, and this is his first offseason to build his offensive package. Loggains has been a quarterbacks coach for most of his pro career after starting out as a scout for the Cowboys.

The offense will still be based on Chris Johnson and the run game. Loggains has to figure out how to get Johnson in the end zone more. In the past two years, Johnson has touched the ball 631 times but scored only 10 touchdowns. One touchdown every 63 touches is not going to win a lot of games.

The biggest winner in the decision to turn the offense over to Loggains might be QB Jake Locker. Loggains' system is less complicated and the offensive line will be solid with the additions of guards Andy Levitre and rookie Chance Warmack. Locker will get time to throw play-action off the Johnson run game.

Some believe the Titans are going to be a big, two-tight-end team, but I see them as a three-wide receiver team. Loggains knows the deepest position on this roster is at wide receiver.

On defense, Jerry Gray is still the coordinator, but Gregg Williams will have a dominating presence. Williams holds players accountable, believes in lots of pressure calls, loves to corner blitz, and will sit any player who makes mental errors.
__________________




Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.

Old Post 07-11-13 07:25 AM
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CNOTES
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Posts: 10543

CFL
Dunkel

Saskatchewan at Toronto
The Argonauts look to build on their 4-0 ATS record in their last 4 home games. Toronto is the pick (-1 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Argonauts favored by 3 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Toronto (-1 1/2). Here are all of this week's CFL picks.

THURSDAY, JULY 11

Game 121-122: Saskatchewan at Toronto (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Saskatchewan 113.557; Toronto 117.061
Dunkel Line: Toronto by 3 1/2; 58
Vegas Line: Toronto by 1 1/2; 53
Dunkel Pick: Toronto (-1 1/2); Over


FRIDAY, JULY 12

Game 123-124: Calgary at Montreal (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Calgary 119.495; Montreal 112.975
Dunkel Line: Calgary by 6 1/2; 50
Vegas Line: Montreal by 3; 54
Dunkel Pick: Calgary (+3); Under


SATURDAY, JULY 13

Game 125-126: Winnipeg at Hamilton (6:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Winnipeg 107.860; Hamilton 113.386
Dunkel Line: Hamilton by 5 1/2; 58
Vegas Line: Hamilton by 3 1/2; 54
Dunkel Pick: Hamilton (-3 1/2); Over

Game 127-128: BC at Edmonton (9:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: BC 117.660; Edmonton 109.521
Dunkel Line: BC by 8; 46
Vegas Line: BC by 3 1/2; 49 1/2
Dunkel Pick: BC (-3 1/2); Under




CFL
Long Sheet

Week 3

Thursday, July 11

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SASKATCHEWAN (2 - 0) at TORONTO (1 - 1) - 7/11/2013, 7:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SASKATCHEWAN is 111-73 ATS (+30.7 Units) as an underdog since 1996.
SASKATCHEWAN is 21-9 ATS (+11.1 Units) in dome games since 1996.
SASKATCHEWAN is 46-25 ATS (+18.5 Units) in July games since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 2-2 against the spread versus SASKATCHEWAN over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 2-2 straight up against SASKATCHEWAN over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, July 12

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CALGARY (1 - 1) at MONTREAL (1 - 1) - 7/12/2013, 7:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CALGARY is 17-7 ATS (+9.3 Units) when playing with 6 or less days rest over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CALGARY is 4-0 against the spread versus MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
CALGARY is 3-1 straight up against MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, July 13

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WINNIPEG (1 - 1) at HAMILTON (0 - 2) - 7/13/2013, 6:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
WINNIPEG is 5-2 against the spread versus HAMILTON over the last 3 seasons
WINNIPEG is 6-1 straight up against HAMILTON over the last 3 seasons
5 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BRITISH COLUMBIA (1 - 1) at EDMONTON (1 - 1) - 7/13/2013, 9:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 5-3 against the spread versus EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 6-2 straight up against EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




CFL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Week 3

Saskatchewan (2-0) @ Toronto (1-1)-- Road teams won 10 of last 14 series games, with Riders winning six of last seven visits to Rogers Centre; underdogs are 6-3-1 vs spread in last ten series games, 5-3 in last eight played here. Riders ran ball for 144-151 yards in winning first two games, took ball away five times (+5) in wins by 21-15 points, scoring 34-36 points in wins over divisional rivals. Toronto split its first two games, winning 39-34 in only home game after they trailed by 6 at half; Argos allowed 160 rushing yards last week in Vancouver, a red flag. Five of last six series games stayed under the total.

Calgary (1-1) @ Montreal (1-1)-- Stampeders lost three of four visits here since winning Grey Cup in Montreal in 2008; they lost here 33-32 (+7) LY, snapping three-game win streak vs Alouettes. Calgary has been hit hard by flooding, so life hasn't been normal for Stampeder players; they allowed 34 ppg in first two games, getting outscored 48-13 after halftime. Montreal split its first two games, both vs Winnipeg; Calvillo had one of worst days of his excellent career last week, getting sacked seven times and passing for only 121 yards. Six of last seven series games went over the total.

Winnipeg (1-1) @ Hamilton (0-2)-- Blue Bombers won six of last seven series games, as seven of last ten series games stayed under total; Winnipeg was 3-4 in last seven visits to Hamilton. Winnipeg split its first two games this year despite turning ball over nine times (-5); they've got 11 sacks in two games (+3)TiCats allowed 69 points in losing first two games, giving up 149 ypg on ground; they've been outscored 28-10 in second half of their games. Underdogs covered six of last eight series games; dogs are 4-3-1 vs spread in last eight series games played in Hamilton. TiCats are playing in college stadium this season while their new stadium is being built.

BC Lions (1-1) @ Edmonton (1-1)-- Lions won six of last seven games against Eskimos, winning five of last six visits here (won 19-18 here LY); under is 7-4 in last eleven series games. Underdogs covered six of last eight series games played here. Both teams are off to 1-1 start; Lions were down 31-6 at half in only road game, at Calgary. Eskimos won on rainy field on road vs TiCats last week, running ball for 177 yards, after losing at home to Roughriders week before; they've turned ball over five times (-2) in two games. Home underdogs are 0-2 so far this season; five of eight games went over.




CFL

Week 3

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, July 11

7:30 PM
SASKATCHEWAN vs. TORONTO
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Saskatchewan's last 13 games when playing on the road against Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Saskatchewan's last 23 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Toronto's last 8 games
Toronto is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games when playing Saskatchewan


Friday, July 12

7:30 PM
CALGARY vs. MONTREAL
Calgary is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Montreal
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Calgary's last 6 games when playing Montreal
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Montreal's last 6 games when playing Calgary
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Montreal's last 5 games at home


Saturday, July 13

6:30 PM
WINNIPEG vs. HAMILTON
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Winnipeg's last 5 games when playing on the road against Hamilton
Winnipeg is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Hamilton
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Hamilton's last 5 games when playing Winnipeg
Hamilton is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing Winnipeg

9:30 PM
BRITISH COLUMBIA vs. EDMONTON
British Columbia is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Edmonton
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of British Columbia's last 5 games when playing on the road against Edmonton
Edmonton is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing British Columbia
Edmonton is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing British Columbia


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




CFL

Week 3

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roughriders at Argos: What bettors need to know
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saskatchewan Roughriders at Toronto Argonauts (-1.5, 53)

After two weeks of regular-season action, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are the only team in the CFL without a loss. The Roughriders look to extend their hot start Thursday when they visit the defending Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts. After winning their home opener, the Argonauts dropped a road decision to the BC Lions in Week 2 and will need to recover quickly if they hope to contain Saskatchewan’s potent offense.

The Roughriders lead the league with 75 points through two weeks - 10 more than the second-place Calgary Stampeders, who lost 36-21 at Saskatchewan in Week 2. Saskatchewan’s defense, which has allowed a league-low 39 points, held Calgary running back Jon Cornish to 50 yards on eight carries. Those are concerning numbers for Toronto, especially for running back Chad Kackert, who was limited to 20 yards on eight carries against BC.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TSN

ABOUT THE ROUGHRIDERS (2-0): RB Kory Sheets leads the league with 264 rushing yards and 292 total yards from scrimmage. Sheets, who ran for 133 yards and one touchdown against Calgary, is the catalyst in Saskatchewan’s offense, attracting the attention of opposing defenses and opening the field for quarterback Darian Durant to connect with slot backs Chris Getzlaf and Weston Dressler. In two games, Getzlaf has already matched his touchdown total from last season (two) and looks poised to eclipse his career mark of 10 set in the 2011 season.

ABOUT THE ARGONAUTS (1-1): QB Ricky Ray is off to an excellent start, completing 71.2 percent of his passes for 583 yards, four touchdowns and a career-high 113 passer rating. Ray’s favourite target - slot back Chad Owens - leads the league with 206 receiving yards. Ray and Owens will need to take advantage of the Roughriders’ mediocre pass defense (601 yards allowed) if Toronto wants to keep pace with Saskatchewan’s potent offense. Linebackers Robert McCune and Marcus Ball are setting the tone on defense with 14 and 12 tackles, respectively, while defensive back Jamie Robinson has 11.

TRENDS:

* The Argonauts are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall.
* The Roughriders are 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine road games.
* The under is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings in Toronto.
* The Roughriders are 6-2 ATS in their last eight meetings in Toronto.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Saskatchewan SB Geroy Simon - the league’s all-time receiving yards leader - has yet to make his debut with the Roughriders after missing the first two games with a leg injury. He remains day-to-day.

2. Owens, named CFL's Most Outstanding Player last year after setting a professional football record in total yards, has 434 combined yards to start this season.

3. Veteran Argonauts K Noel Prefontaine performed admirably in his season debut replacing the injured Swayze Waters in Week 2, finishing 3-for-3 in field goal attempts. Prefontaine has recorded 1,558 points in his CFL career.




Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.

Old Post 07-11-13 04:32 PM
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Thursday, July 11

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Saskatchewan - 7:30 PM ET Saskatchewan +1.5 500 POD # 1


Toronto - Over 55.5 500 POD # 2




Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.

Old Post 07-11-13 04:46 PM
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NCAAF Games of the Year: Georgia at Clemson a likely pick'em

NCAA Week 1: Georgia Bulldogs at Clemson Tigers (-2)

Past history: Clemson hasn’t been able to beat Georgia in any of the last five meetings between these two teams. Their last win in the series came all the way back in 1990. But the Tigers and Bulldogs haven’t faced off since 2003, which is also the last time Clemson got shut out - a 30-0 defeat.

Early look at Georgia: Georgia’s near upset of Alabama in the SEC Championship Game and second-half domination in their bowl against Nebraska has Bulldog boosters sky high heading into to the new campaign. With Heisman contending senior QB Andy Murray playing behind an offensive line with all five starters returning, that optimism appears justified.

Early look at Clemson: The Tigers notched their second straight double-digit victory total last year, culminating with an impressive upset over LSU in their bowl. An offense that averaged 41 points per game in 2012 returns senior QB Tajh Boyd, junior WR Sammy Watkins and nine of their Top 10 on the offensive line.

Where this line will move: This Saturday night national TV showdown on the opening week of the season is likely to attract lots of betting attention. Early money has shown for the home team, but SEC money nearly always shows for non-conference TV matchups. Expect this line to close in the pick ‘em range.




Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.

Old Post 07-11-13 04:48 PM
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Agent's Take: Matt Ryan and other unfinished NFL business

July 11, 2013 10:50 am ET

NFL business comes to a standstill when mandatory mini-camps end in the middle of June. Things typically pick back up the week following the Fourth of July.

Two lucrative deals have been completed since business resumed. Restricted free agent Victor Cruz signed a six-year, $45.879 million contract (including $15.625 million in guarantees) with the New York Giants. Matthew Stafford received a three-year, $53 million contract extension (with $41.5 million in guarantees) from the Detroit Lions.

Here's a look at some key outstanding offseason business matters, most of which should be completed before training camps opening this month.


Matt Ryan's Contract Extension

Matt Ryan could be the next quarterback to benefit from the changing quarterback salary landscape. In addition to Stafford, Aaron Rodgers (five-year extension, $110 million, $54 million in guarantees), Joe Flacco (six years, $120.6 million, $52 million in guarantees) and Tony Romo (six-year extension, $108 million, $55 million in guarantees) have gotten new deals during the offseason. Ryan, who is scheduled to make $10 million in 2013, is entering the final year of the six-year rookie contract (worth up to $72 million with $34.75 million guaranteed) that he signed in 2008.

The Atlanta Falcons should have more of a sense of urgency for a new deal than Ryan. If Ryan plays out his contract, the Falcons will be required to use an exclusive franchise tag on him next year in order to prevent him from negotiating with other teams. It would be a huge risk to place a non-exclusive franchise tag on Ryan because a team potentially in dire need of a quarterback and expected to have an abundance of salary cap room in 2014, such as the Jacksonville Jaguars or Oakland Raiders, would be willing to give up two first-round picks by signing him to an offer sheet that the Falcons could have a hard time matching.

It might make sense for the Falcons to approach negotiations from how much it will cost to utilize exclusive franchise tags on Ryan if they haven't already. The exclusive franchise tag is preliminarily projected to be $19.266 million in 2014. It will be based on the average of the top-five quarterback salaries (i.e. salary cap numbers) in 2014 once the restricted free-agent signing period has ended May 2. The figure could be lower if quarterbacks (Romo, Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, etc.) with the highest 2014 cap numbers restructure their 2014 contracts to create cap room for their clubs before the end of the franchise-player designation period (March 3). Based on the projected number, a second franchise tag for Ryan in 2015 would be $23,119,200, a 20-percent increase over his 2014 franchise number. Under this approach, the Falcons should be comfortable giving Ryan a five- or six-year contract extension averaging in the $20-million-per-year neighborhood with guarantees comparable to the ones contained in the other top quarterback deals recently signed.

Fortunately for Ryan, Falcons owner Arthur Blank has a history of paying quarterbacks toward the top of the market. Michael Vick signed a nine-year, $120.6 million (with a then-record $37 million in guarantees) contract extension near the end of the 2004 regular season. Vick only had one career playoff victory, just like Ryan, at his contract's signing. However, Vick hadn't led the Falcons to the NFC Championship Game as Ryan did last year.


Offsets In First-Round Contracts

Only three of the top 10 picks in the first round of the NFL Draft -- Luke Joeckel (second pick), Ziggy Ansah (fifth) and Tavon Austin (eighth) -- are under contract even though there are very few negotiable items with rookie deals after the 2011 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) created a rookie-wage scale. The four-year contracts mandated by the CBA for draft picks are fully guaranteed at the top of the first round (teams have an option for a fifth year with first-round picks that must be exercised after the third year of the deal).
More on offsets

The sticking point is whether the guarantees will have offsets. An offset clause reduces the guaranteed money that a team owes a player when he is released by the amount of his new deal with another team. Without an offset, the player receives his salary from the team that released him as well as the full salary from his new contract with another club. An offset should only come into play in the latter years of a rookie deal if the player hasn't lived up to expectations.

The first seven picks in the 2012 draft didn't have offsets with their guarantees. The ninth, 14th and 23rd picks also signed deals without offsets. The Miami Dolphins signing Ryan Tannehill, the eighth pick in 2012, to a contract containing offsets in each year was surprising considering quarterbacks are usually given favorable treatment in rookie contracts, particularly in the first round. Joeckel, Ansah and Austin do not have offsets in the fully-guaranteed, four-year contracts that they received from the Jaguars, Lions and St. Louis Rams respectively.

Dion Jordan and Lane Johnson, the third and fourth picks this year, might have the most difficult time of the remaining unsigned top 10 picks in avoiding offsets. The Dolphins have been adamant about offsets with Jordan because they don't want to set an unfavorable precedent in contract negotiations. The guarantees in the contracts signed during Miami's free agency spending spree -- including Mike Wallace's five-year, $60 million deal -- contained offsets. The Dolphins will try to convince Jordan to take a similar tradeoff as Tannehill in order to preserve their precedent. Tannehill received a better payment schedule on his signing bonus (first-round picks usually have some portion of their signing bonus deferred) and minimum base salaries in 2013 through 2015, with the rest of his annual compensation in sixth-day-of-training-camp roster bonuses.

Johnson has stated he only wants the same treatment as last year's fourth pick but doesn't want to hold out. The Philadelphia Eagles are sensitive to offsets because of Nnamdi Asomugha's 2011 deal, which made him the NFL's highest-paid cornerback. Four million of Asomugha's 2013 base salary was fully guaranteed without an offset. The Eagles released him in March after he refused to a take a substantial pay cut. Asomugha will receive $4 million from the Eagles and $1.35 million from the one-year contract that he subsequently signed with San Francisco 49ers this year because of the lack of an offset.

The rookie wage scale essentially eliminated rookie holdouts. The dispute over offset language could produce a couple of them.


The Franchise Player Negotiating Deadline

The eight players with franchise tags have until 4 p.m. ET next Monday to sign multi-year contracts. They must wait until the 2013 regular season ends to sign long-term deals once the deadline passes.

Ryan Clady has made the most progress of the franchise players on a long-term deal. According to Mike Klis of the Denver Post, Clady received a new offer from the Denver Broncos greater than the five-year, $50 million deal that he rejected before last season once negotiations resumed this week. Clady has been seeking a contract similar to the seven-year contract extension averaging $11.5 million per year (with $37 million in guarantees and an additional $3.5 million in Pro Bowl escalators) that now six-time Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2011.

Clady and Jairus Byrd (Buffalo Bills) have more options than the other six franchise players (Branden Albert, Michael Johnson, Pat McAfee, Henry Melton, Anthony Spencer and Randy Starks) because they haven't signed their respective $9.828 million and $6.916 million franchise tenders. The six signed players are subject to fines up to $30,000 for each day of training camp missed while Clady and Byrd can't be fined if they are still unsigned when camps open.

Clady and Byrd can only play for their own teams on one-year deals after the deadline but can still negotiate their salaries and other conditions regarding their franchise player status. They could insist on a clause that would prohibit their clubs from using a franchise or transition tag on them in 2014.

Giving prohibition clauses to Clady and Byrd wouldn't establish a new precedent for the Broncos or the Bills. Jason Elam received a prohibition clause from Denver in 2002 when he signed his franchise tender. Nate Clements also got one from Buffalo in 2006 as their franchise player.

Broncos contract negotiator Mike Sullivan should be able to appreciate why a franchise player would want a prohibition clause since he is a former agent. Chicago Bears negotiator Cliff Stein, who is also a former agent, gave Lance Briggs a conditional prohibition clause when he was franchised in 2007. Briggs' clause was triggered by him having at least 75 percent playtime on defense. Without the clauses, Clady and Byrd could be franchised in 2014 for $11,793,600 and $8,299,200 respectively.


Older Veteran Players

There are usually several veteran player signings right before training camps open and during the preseason. Most of those deals are one-year minimum salary benefit contracts. A player receives the league minimum base salary and a maximum of $65,000 as a signing bonus with these deals. The player's base salary counts on the cap at the $555,000 minimum salary for players with two years of service instead of at his actual base salary.

Jeff Faine got the most lucrative veteran free-agent contract during this timeframe last year. The Cincinnati Bengals gave Faine a one-year, $2 million deal (with an additional $250,000 in playtime incentives) late in preseason after starting center Kyle Cook suffered a severely sprained ankle.

Several notable veterans -- including John Abraham, Brandon Lloyd, Richard Seymour, Michael Turner and Eric Winston -- are still unsigned. Seymour has drawn interest from the Falcons but is ready to retire if his asking price isn't met. He reportedly wants $6 million to play this year. Abraham's $5 million per year price tag and demand of extensive playtime have turned off several teams including the Broncos, New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans. Justin Smith, who is 33 years old and has been named All-Pro the last two years, didn't help their cause when he signed a two-year, $9.1 million contract extension with the 49ers last month. Unless they drastically adjust their salary expectations, it might take a severe injury to a key defensive lineman in the preseason before a team is willing to seriously consider their salary demands.




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GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.

Old Post 07-12-13 07:16 AM
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2013 NFL training camp preview: Cleveland Browns

July 5, 2013 3:29 PM ET


With Norv Turner running the offense, could the Browns finally break into contention? With Norv Turner running the offense, could the Browns finally break into contention?

It's been a long time since the Browns entered a training camp free of concern or distractions and this one is no different. As the weeks go on, more troubling reports have surfaced about the conduct of executives at Pilot Flying J, the company run by new Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, and the financial state of affairs at that company. Haslam's non-football doings, his liquidity and any wrongdoing on his part in regard to Pilot Flying J will trump, say, embattled quarterback Brandon Weeden having a good day at camp.

2013 NFL TRAINING CAMP
Team previews, dates, locations

Browns fans always have something to fret over, and as the investigation unfolds and more findings and eventual charges and penalties come out, more questions will be asked of Haslam, and the NFL for that matter. What seemed like the dawn of a bright new era in Cleveland is now much more murky during Haslam's first full training camp in charge.


Key changes

The Browns cleaned out much of the building this offseason, overhauling the business operations, front office and coaching staff, with Joe Banner now running the show. And the clean-up job is quickly extending to the roster as well. It will take more than one offseason, but expect a continued influx of talent as the squad is remade.

Banner and GM Mike Lombardi knew that with this program so bad for so long, they would have to dig deep financially to get free agents to come to Cleveland and they did just that, looking within the division to nab young pass rusher Paul Kruger from Baltimore for $8 million a season. He will be counted on to provide immediate impact and work with guys like D'Qwell Jackson to keep quarterbacks under duress.

Of course it all starts at quarterback and this regime came in with low expectations for incumbent starter Brandon Weeden. To that end, they signed free agent quarterbacks Jason Campbell and Brian Hoyer, and I would not be surprised at all to see either, or both, of them to end up with more starts that Weeden by the end of the season.

The Browns traded for possession receiver Davone Bess. Still in need of weapons, acquired back Dion Lewis for linebacker Emmanuel Acho, and also added free agent tight end Kellen Davis, linebacker Quentin Groves, and receiver David Nelson. They're hoping for big things from defensive lineman Desmond Bryant as well and believe they have a monster pass rusher on the way in first-round pick Barkevious Mingo.

As for key departures, Josh Cribbs was a record-setting return man for the team but has slowed in recent years and was battling injuries as well. Veteran linebacker Scott Fujita, a team leader, was forced to retire due to a neck condition, and linebacker Chris Gocong was released. Backup Colt McCoy, who lacked arm strength and never seemed like a good fit given the geographic realities of Cleveland, was dealt to the 49ers. Former top kicker Phil Dawson is gone, as are defensive linemen Frostee Rucker and tight end Ben Watson.

The biggest changes though are at head coach, with Rob Chudzinski in place, and new coordinators in Norv Turner and Ray Horton, giving the team very strong men with ample experience running both sides of the ball. And with a completely new set of eyes evaluating talent, including personnel man Ray Farmer, there is as much sel- scouting going on, sorting out this perennially last-place roster, as there is piecing through every other roster in the league looking for new parts.


Position battles

Position battles don't come any bigger than a quarterback competition, but we'll have one here as the preseason plays out. Weeden will need to show a quick grasp of this system and avoid the kind of mistakes that plagued him as 2012 rolled on. Lombardi has long had a feeling that Hoyer could be a diamond in the rough. He has many of the attributes he looks for in a quarterback. Campbell has a big arm and has been plagued by bad luck as much as anything else.

Does anyone emerge as anything close to a No. 1 receiver from this bunch? Josh Gordon and Greg Little have shown flashes, but neither is polished or seemingly ready to be a consistent go-to guy. The guard positions are up in the air a bit as well. Shawn Lauvao and Jason Pinkston will battle at left guard, while John Greco and Jarrod Shaw are part of the group vying for the right guard spot.

With Trent Richardson's health already an issue, as he enters just his second year, the battle between running backs like Montario Hardesty and Lewis will be interesting as well, with plenty of snaps up for grabs early in camp to see who gets the jump on being the backup/occasional starter, given Richardson's status.


New schemes

The Browns are totally changing their identity on both sides of the ball.

Turner may be the best playcaller in the NFL. He is a quarterback guru, and his entire focus is on the offense now without having to coach the entire team. That will free Chudzinski up to handle macro issues. The Browns offense has nowhere to go but up. Campbell throws a helluva a deep ball, which Turner loves, and could lead to him grabbing this job. The Browns have to find ways to stretch teams out, and I suspect Richardson's touches will be monitored more closely by Turner as well.

This team, while still lacking playmakers, won't be as predictable offensively any longer.

On defense, Horton's 3-4 hybrid scheme is much more aggressive than what the Browns ran under Dick Jauron. Expect much more pre-snap movement and varied looks. He will bring pressure from all over, and that should only aid a secondary with question marks outside of stud corner Joe Haden.


Bubble watch

Weeden was a first-round pick just a year ago, but he might not be long for Cleveland. If Campbell and Hoyer take off quickly, perhaps Weeden could be trade bait. He will be the most talked about Brown during camp, by far. He certainly is fighting for his job. The Browns did most of their purging already early in the offseason, trying to bring in younger bodies to fight for depth spots.
Unheard-of-guy to watch

Mitchell Schwartz enters his second year as a starting right tackle in Cleveland, but like many recent picks of the former regime, he will be watched very closely. The Browns couldn't upgrade at every spot in the offseason, but nailing down bookend tackles will be imperative when you look at the edge rushers division foes Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati have to offer, And Schwartz had his share of difficulty in his rookie campaign.


Biggest concerns

Anytime your first-year owner has his business raided by the feds, on multiple occasions, it's never ideal. There are worries about how far the probe into Jimmy Haslam's truck stop company could go to eventually impacting the cash flow of the Browns, and whether or not his tenure at the helm could ultimately be cut short because of it.

It's not something the front office is concerning itself with -- they have enough work to do just trying to turn around the lagging franchise -- but the timing, for Haslam, could hardly be worse.

Cleveland still lacks talent on offense and, besides its center and left tackle -- both studs -- you have to wonder about the rest of the offensive line. With so much youth on that side of the ball, you'd prefer a veteran line anchoring things down, but again, this rebuild will take time. And if you have three quarterbacks, well, you know how that saying goes. It all starts and ends there, and the true quarterback of the future for the Browns likely is not on the roster that will open camp.

The Browns added bite to an already sound defense, which was huge, and loaded up on 2014 draft picks, which should be a better crop of players to add to what they are developing here. But taking immediate leaps forward playing in this loaded division won't be easy.


Something to prove

Josh Gordon was taken with a second-round supplemental pick a year ago, and while he displays moments of brilliance, he has a ways to go to become a true threat in this league. He is very raw after missing considerable time in college and while speedy, needs to learn the position and harness his ability. There were concerns about his maturity and off field habits coming out of Baylor as well. He will need to take a positive step forward in all regards, much like fellow enigmatic young receiver Little, to avoid receiver becoming a focal point of the organization come next offseason.




Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.

Old Post 07-12-13 07:20 AM
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FOXBOROUGH — Patriots cornerback Alfonzo Dennard was arrested and accused of drunk driving Thursday in Nebraska while on probation for assaulting a police officer, the second New England player to get in serious legal trouble this summer.

Dennard’s early-morning arrest in Lincoln, Neb., where he was a college star for the Cornhuskers, came 15 days after Aaron Hernandez was charged with murder and three days after Patriots owner Robert Kraft said the club will ‘‘be looking at our procedures and auditing how we do things’’ with regard to character reviews.

‘‘The New England Patriots are extremely disappointed to learn of Alfonzo Dennard’s arrest. We take this matter very seriously and are working to get more information on the incident,’’ the team said in a statement.

Dennard’s arrest is his second in 15 months. He hasn’t served a 30-day jail sentence for the assault outside a Lincoln bar on Apr. 21, 2012. That is scheduled to begin next March. He also was sentenced to two years of probation.

Hernandez, a star tight end, was arrested on June 26 and charged with murder in the killing of Boston semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd. Hernandez has pleaded not guilty. The Patriots cut Hernandez after he was arrested and before the charges were announced.

Dennard and Hernandez both were highly-touted college prospects whose draft stock dropped because of character concerns.

Seven days after being charged with assault, Dennard was drafted in the seventh round last year out of Nebraska by the Patriots. They drafted Hernandez in the fourth round in 2010 after he violated the substance abuse policy at Florida.

‘‘If this stuff is true, then I've been duped and our whole organization has been duped,’’ Kraft said Monday of the case involving Hernandez.

The team did not respond to a request Thursday for Kraft’s reaction to Dennard’s arrest.

The legal issues are bound to hover over the opening of training camp on July 25. Coach Bill Belichick rarely comments on such matters and instructs his players to do the same.

Belichick has sometimes signed players who had troubles elsewhere if he felt they could help the team win, hoping his disciplined approach and leaders such as Tom Brady and Vince Wilfork and now-retired Patriots including Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel could keep them in line.

Results have been mixed. Running back Corey Dillon and wide receiver Randy Moss, disgruntled on their previous teams, avoided off-field problems with the Patriots and were productive for several seasons. Chad Johnson, then known as Chad Ochocinco, caught just 15 passes in his only season with the Patriots in 2011 but caused no off-field distractions.

Dennard became a starter at cornerback in the seventh game of his rookie season. The other starter, Aqib Talib, was obtained from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Nov. 1 then signed a one-year contract on March 16. He missed his first game with the Patriots while completing a four-game suspension imposed by the NFL for violating its policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Talib had been suspended without pay for the 2010 opener and fined one additional game check for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy. That followed an altercation with a St. Petersburg cab driver during training camp in 2009. He also had charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Texas dropped a week before he was due to be tried for allegedly firing a gun at his sister’s boyfriend.

On Thursday, Dennard was pulled over while driving just before 2 a.m. and failed a field sobriety test, police said. A phone listing for Dennard couldn’t be found.

Police spokeswoman Katie Flood said he was taken to a detoxification center but not jailed. He also was accused of refusing a chemical test and a driving infraction.

Old Post 07-12-13 01:02 PM
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Though his recent string of poor choices mostly just damaged his own rep, Justin Bieber's ejection from a Chicago nightclub resulted in a citation for the establishment.

On Tuesday night (July 9), the "Beauty and a Beat" singer joined pals including DJ Tay James at Bodi nightclub when police entered and had him kicked out for being underage.

Speaking to TMZ, management for the club stated, "Justin was not served any alcoholic beverages while at Bodi. Neither Justin nor anyone affiliated with Bodi broke any laws. We believe this matter amounts to a simple misunderstanding with local police officers. We have requested a meeting with Chicago's local liquor control commissioner and look forward to resolving the situation quickly."

If found liable for the cited, "Serve/allow person under 21 on premises w/o parent/guardian," Bodi could have to pay a $1,000 fine.

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Enjoying her afternoon cruise a little too much, Paris Hilton was busted for speeding in Beverly Hills on Thursday (July 11).

According to TMZ, the former reality star was cited for going 42 mph in a 25 zone. Photos from the scene show the 32-year-old heiress sporting a pink T-shirt in her blue Bentley.

Recently, the speedy socialite signed to Cash Money records, where she joins rappers Juvenile, B.G., and Lil Wayne.

Stoked for the unusual addition, Cash Money's CEO Birdman told MTV News, "Honestly, I don't think people know how talented Paris is. I just left from her house she was playin' me some music and we were meeting. She got a record we're about to come out with and she's very talented. You know she's already somethin' special as an entrepreneur and everything that she do. But on the music side, I'm super excited. We all — me, Wayne, everybody — we listened to her music and she got some hits."

Old Post 07-12-13 01:05 PM
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CFL
Dunkel

Calgary at Montreal
The Stampeders look to bounce back from last week's loss to Saskatchewan and build on their 13-3 ATS record in in their last 16 games following a SU defeat. Calgary is the pick (+3) according to Dunkel, which has the Stampeders favored by 6 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Calgary (+3). Here are all of this week's CFL picks.

FRIDAY, JULY 12

Game 123-124: Calgary at Montreal (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Calgary 119.495; Montreal 112.975
Dunkel Line: Calgary by 6 1/2; 50
Vegas Line: Montreal by 3; 54
Dunkel Pick: Calgary (+3); Under


SATURDAY, JULY 13

Game 125-126: Winnipeg at Hamilton (6:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Winnipeg 107.860; Hamilton 113.386
Dunkel Line: Hamilton by 5 1/2; 58
Vegas Line: Hamilton by 3 1/2; 54
Dunkel Pick: Hamilton (-3 1/2); Over

Game 127-128: BC at Edmonton (9:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: BC 117.660; Edmonton 109.521
Dunkel Line: BC by 8; 46
Vegas Line: BC by 3 1/2; 49 1/2
Dunkel Pick: BC (-3 1/2); Under




CFL
Long Sheet

Week 3

Friday, July 12

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CALGARY (1 - 1) at MONTREAL (1 - 1) - 7/12/2013, 7:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CALGARY is 17-7 ATS (+9.3 Units) when playing with 6 or less days rest over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CALGARY is 4-0 against the spread versus MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
CALGARY is 3-1 straight up against MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, July 13

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WINNIPEG (1 - 1) at HAMILTON (0 - 2) - 7/13/2013, 6:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
WINNIPEG is 5-2 against the spread versus HAMILTON over the last 3 seasons
WINNIPEG is 6-1 straight up against HAMILTON over the last 3 seasons
5 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BRITISH COLUMBIA (1 - 1) at EDMONTON (1 - 1) - 7/13/2013, 9:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 5-3 against the spread versus EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 6-2 straight up against EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




CFL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Week 3

Calgary (1-1) @ Montreal (1-1)-- Stampeders lost three of four visits here since winning Grey Cup in Montreal in 2008; they lost here 33-32 (+7) LY, snapping three-game win streak vs Alouettes. Calgary has been hit hard by flooding, so life hasn't been normal for Stampeder players; they allowed 34 ppg in first two games, getting outscored 48-13 after halftime. Montreal split its first two games, both vs Winnipeg; Calvillo had one of worst days of his excellent career last week, getting sacked seven times and passing for only 121 yards. Six of last seven series games went over the total.

Winnipeg (1-1) @ Hamilton (0-2)-- Blue Bombers won six of last seven series games, as seven of last ten series games stayed under total; Winnipeg was 3-4 in last seven visits to Hamilton. Winnipeg split its first two games this year despite turning ball over nine times (-5); they've got 11 sacks in two games (+3)TiCats allowed 69 points in losing first two games, giving up 149 ypg on ground; they've been outscored 28-10 in second half of their games. Underdogs covered six of last eight series games; dogs are 4-3-1 vs spread in last eight series games played in Hamilton. TiCats are playing in college stadium this season while their new stadium is being built.

BC Lions (1-1) @ Edmonton (1-1)-- Lions won six of last seven games against Eskimos, winning five of last six visits here (won 19-18 here LY); under is 7-4 in last eleven series games. Underdogs covered six of last eight series games played here. Both teams are off to 1-1 start; Lions were down 31-6 at half in only road game, at Calgary. Eskimos won on rainy field on road vs TiCats last week, running ball for 177 yards, after losing at home to Roughriders week before; they've turned ball over five times (-2) in two games. Home underdogs are 0-2 so far this season; five of eight games went over.




CFL

Week 3

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, July 12

7:30 PM
CALGARY vs. MONTREAL
Calgary is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Montreal
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Calgary's last 6 games when playing Montreal
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Montreal's last 6 games when playing Calgary
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Montreal's last 5 games at home


Saturday, July 13

6:30 PM
WINNIPEG vs. HAMILTON
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Winnipeg's last 5 games when playing on the road against Hamilton
Winnipeg is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Hamilton
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Hamilton's last 5 games when playing Winnipeg
Hamilton is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing Winnipeg

9:30 PM
BRITISH COLUMBIA vs. EDMONTON
British Columbia is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Edmonton
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of British Columbia's last 5 games when playing on the road against Edmonton
Edmonton is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing British Columbia
Edmonton is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing British Columbia


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




CFL

Week 3

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stampeders at Alouettes: What bettors need to know
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calgary Stampeders at Montreal Alouettes (-3, 54)

After allowing 11 sacks in two games, the Montreal Alouettes will need to do more to protect quarterback Anthony Calvillo when they host the Calgary Stampeders on Friday. Calvillo appeared frustrated after being sacked seven times in a Week 2 home loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, calling the performance “disgusting” and raising questions about the offensive schemes instituted by new coach Dan Hawkins and his staff. Calvillo later backtracked on his comments, reiterating his confidence in his coaches and teammates, but the questions will continue to mount unless the 40-year-old pivot sees more protection in the coming weeks.

Calgary has its own problems at quarterback as starter Drew Tate is day-to-day with a forearm strain suffered in a Week 2 road loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Tate, who missed significant time last year because of injuries, left last week’s game in the fourth quarter and was replaced by veteran Kevin Glenn, who completed 4-of-7 passes. With no clear starter for Friday, the Stampeders will need a strong showing from running back Jon Cornish, who was limited to 42 yards at Saskatchewan after running for 172 in the season opener.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TSN

ABOUT THE STAMPEDERS (1-1): Glenn has more than 36,000 passing yards in his CFL career, including 4,220 for Calgary last year while filling in for an injured Tate. Glenn also started for the Stampeders in last year’s 100th Grey Cup final, when they lost to the Toronto Argonauts. As someone who knows Calgary’s offence well, Glenn should have no problem connecting with wide receivers Joe West (148 yards, three touchdowns) and Maurice Price (77 yards, touchdown in Week 1) if he needs to start. Defensive back Jonathan Hefney leads the team with 14 tackles and will have his hands full with Montreal’s versatile receiving corps.

ABOUT THE ALOUETTES (1-1): Because of the increased defensive pressure, Calvillo has thrown for only 385 yards in the first two weeks, which is concerning for a team without a reliable running back. Noel Devine leads the team in rushing yards with 65 but is primarily a kick returner, posting 296 combined return yards. Calvillo’s favourite target in a new offensive playbook is a familiar face in slot back S.J. Green, who has 150 receiving yards after topping 1,100 in each of the last two seasons. Green, along with slot backs Jamel Richardson and Arland Bruce, form a formidable trio that will be key to getting Montreal’s offence moving after a lacklustre Week 2.

TRENDS:

* Over is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
* Stampeders are 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings.
* Under is 5-0-1 in the Alouettes’ last six home games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Alouettes’ rookie KR Tyron Carrier, who returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown in Week 1, was at practice this week after missing last game with a shoulder injury.

2. Calgary was 5-3 against East Division opponents last year, while Montreal went 6-2 against the West.

3. Montreal RB Brandon Whitaker made his season debut in Week 2 after suffering a torn ACL last year, running for 33 yards and adding 23 receiving yards. Whitaker cracked the 2,000 combined yards plateau in 2011.




Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.

Old Post 07-12-13 05:38 PM
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Best and worst home bets in each college football conference

College football season is rapidly approaching. We’ve already looked at the best and worst road NCAAF bets over the past five seasons. Now, we break it down by conference and give the best and worst home bets for each of college football’s 11 leagues:

Records from 2008-2012.

AAC

Best: Houston Cougars (24-9 SU, 21-12 ATS)
Worst: South Florida Bulls (17-15 SU, 11-20-1 ATS)

ACC

Best: North Carolina State Wolfpack (25-10 SU, 23-10-2 ATS)
Worst: Virginia Cavaliers (15-18 SU, 12-20-1 ATS)

Big 12

Best: Oklahoma State Cowboys (29-8 SU, 23-14 ATS)
Worst: West Virginia Mountaineers (26-9 SU, 13-21-1 ATS)

Big Ten

Best: Ohio State Buckeyes (33-5 SU, 22-16 ATS)
Worst: Illinois Fighting Illini (17-17 SU, 14-20 ATS)

C-USA

Best: Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (19-10 SU, 18-10-1 ATS)
Worst: Tulane Green Wave (9-23 SU, 12-20 ATS)

Independents

Best: BYU Cougars (27-5 SU, 16-16 ATS)
Worst: New Mexico State Aggies (7-22 SU, 9-20 ATS)

MAC

Best: Northern Illinois Huskies (27-4 SU, 18-12-1 ATS)
Worst: Eastern Michigan Eagles (7-19 SU, 8-18 ATS)

MWC

Best: Utah State Aggies (20-10 SU, 18-12 ATS)
Worst: Wyoming Cowboys (11-19 SU, 11-19 ATS)

Pac-12

Best: Stanford Cardinal (31-3 SU, 23-11 ATS)
Worst: Washington State Cougars (8-22 SU, 14-16 ATS)

SEC

Best: Arkansas Razorbacks (24-9 SU, 22-11 ATS)
Worst: Tennessee Volunteers (23-15 SU, 14-23-1 ATS)

Sun Belt

Best: Texas State Bobcats (3-3 SU, 5-1 ATS)
Worst: South Alabama Jaguars (2-4 SU, 0-6 ATS)




Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.

Old Post 07-12-13 05:45 PM
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CFL Betting Notes - Week 3

July 8, 2013


While the favorites went a perfect 4-0 against the spread in Week 1 of the 2013 CFL regular season it was a mixed bag last week with a 2-2 ATS split. Winnipeg avenged an opening-day loss to Montreal at home with a 19-11 road victory last Thursday night as a seven-point underdog. The night-cap saw British Columbia cover by the tightest of margins with a 24-16 win over Toronto as a seven-point home favorite.

Last Friday night, Saskatchewan improved to 2-0 with a 36-21 romp over Calgary as a 2 ½-point home favorite. Edmonton closed-out Week 2 on Sunday with an impressive 30-20 win over Hamilton as a seven-point underdog on the road.

The following is a brief betting preview for Week 3 of the CFL regular season with the opening pointspread and 'over/under' lines provided by TopBet.

Thursday, July 11

Saskatchewan Roughriders vs. Toronto Argonauts
Pointspread: Pick
Total Line 53 ½

The Roughriders are the only unbeaten team left in the CFL after hammering Edmonton 39-18 in their season opener as 2 ½-point road favorites. The total has gone OVER in their first two games and has now gone OVER in six of their last seven games. Saskatchewan has scored the most points in the league while allowing the fewest.

Toronto's six-game winning streak both straight-up and ATS that included a Grey Cup Championship and a 39-34 win over Hamilton as a 3 ½-point home favorite on opening day finally came to an end with the loss to BC. Ricky Ray has picked-up where he left off last season with 583 passing yards and four touchdown throws.

Saskatchewan has gone 6-2 ATS in its last eight trips to Toronto and the total has stayed UNDER in nine of the last 12 games played there between these two teams. The home team in this series is 4-6 SU in the last 10 meetings.

Friday, July 12

Calgary Stampeders vs. Montreal Alouettes
Pointspread: Montreal -2
Total Line: 53

Calgary opened the season with a solid 44-32 victory over BC as a 3 ½-point home favorite to grab the early edge between the two preseason favorites to win the West Division this season. The total has gone OVER in its first two games and it has now gone OVER in its last nine games dating back to mid-October of last season.

Montreal opened the season as a slight favorite to win the East Division and immediately notched a division win by beating Winnipeg 38-33 as a 3 ½-point home favorite. The total went OVER the 49 ½-point line in that game, but it stayed UNDER the 55 ½-point line in Thursday's rematch.

Calgary is 3-1 SU against Montreal in the past four meetings and a perfect 4-0 ATS. The total has gone OVER in five of the last six games between the two. The home team in this matchup is 7-3 SU in the last 10 games.

Saturday, July 13

Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Pointspread: Hamilton -4 ½
Total Line: 54

The Blue Bombers will stay in the East Division for the third-straight week. They went 5-5 SU in division play last season, but they were just 2-7 SU on the road. The total has been split this season, but it has stayed UNDER in six of their last eight division games. Buck Pierce is ranked fourth in the CFL in total passing yards with 515 in his first two games.

Hamilton knows it cannot afford to fall into an early 0-3 hole in the standings after missing the playoffs last season with an overall record of 6-12 SU. It was 4-6 SU in division play and over .500 at home SU at 5-4 in 2012. The Tiger-Cats have allowed the most points so far in the league; giving-up a combined 69 points in two games.

Winnipeg is 6-1 SU in the last seven meetings and 5-2 ATS. The total has stayed UNDER in four of the last five games. The home team is 5-1 SU in the last six meetings and 4-2 ATS. The average margin of victory in the last five contests has been 14.2 points.

British Columbia Lions vs. Edmonton Eskimos
Pointspread: BC -3 ½
Total Line: 49

The Lions covered for just the second time in their last five games in Thursday's victory over Toronto, but the three losses both SU and ATS came at the hands of Calgary. BC won the West last season at 13-5 SU, but it went just 6-4 SU in division play. The total has gone OVER in four of its last six games.

Edmonton's 10-point win this past Sunday snapped a five-game losing streak SU, but it is 5-5 ATS in its last 10 games. The total has gone OVER in seven of its last nine games. Eskimos' linebacker JC Sherritt has been a force so far with a league-high 15 tackles in his first two games.

BC is 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings and it has scored 30 points or more in four of those games. The total has stayed UNDER in five of the last eight games between the two.




Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.

Old Post 07-12-13 05:50 PM
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Date WLT Pct Net Units Record

07/11/13 2-_0-_0 100.00% +_1000 Detail
07/07/13 0-_2-_0 0.00% -_1100 Detail
07/05/13 1-_1-_0 50.00% -_50 Detail
07/04/13 2-_2-_0 50.00% -_100 Detail

Totals 5-_5-_0 50.00% -_250


Friday, July 12

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Calgary - 7:30 PM ET Calgary +2 500 POD # 2


Montreal - Over 53.5 500 POD # 1




Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.

Old Post 07-12-13 05:53 PM
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2013 NFL training camp preview: Buffalo Bill

July 5, 2013 5:34 PM ET



The Bills will be a vastly different team than the one that finished 6-10 in 2012. The Bills will be a vastly different team than the one that finished 6-10 in 2012.

The Buffalo Bills are brand new from top to bottom. There's a new GM, head coach, coordinators and two new quarterbacks. The only thing that remains from the past decade is the fan frustration. Since 2000 the Bills are 82-126 with no postseason appearances. Against their three division opponents in the same 13 seasons they are 25-53. They are just 3-23 against New England during that stretch compared to more respectable records against Miami (12-14) and the New York Jets (10-16). There's a lot of work to be done to get back to the glory days. Last year the Bills went 0-6 vs. playoff teams and gave up an average of 38 points in those games. None of that matters now because head coach Doug Marrone only cares about the future and he believes the Bills can make the playoffs.

Key changes

The quarterback position is the KEY change on the roster. Gone is Ryan Fitzpatrick and in his place is a battle between Kevin Kolb and rookie first-round pick EJ Manuel. Fitzpatrick was the fall guy for the Bills woes but he did throw 24 touchdowns to just 16 interceptions last year. Kolb has never thrown more than nine TDs in a season and only has 28 in his 21 career starts. Manuel, of course, has never thrown a pass in the NFL. When it comes to getting rid of the ball to avoid a sack time will tell if Kolb is better than Fitzpatrick. Last year Fitzpatrick was sacked 1:18 attempts with Andy Levitre at guard. Kolb or Manuel will not have Levitre, who left in free agency, and Kolb has been sacked 1:11 attempts throughout his career.

Roster additions: Manny Lawson (OLB) comes over from the Bengals and will start at ROLB. Alan Branch comes from the Seahawks and will push to be in the defensive tackle rotation. Kiko Alonso, a second-round pick in the draft, is penciled in to start at right inside linebacker. Some felt Alonzo was a fourth- or fifth-round pick but former GM Buddy Nix and present GM Doug Whaley convinced me that Alonzo has what it takes to earn a starting spot. Keep an eye on him when Tom Brady goes no huddle.

Roster departures: The biggest departure was offensive guard Andy Levitre. Levitre was the Bills best offensive lineman and right now he is being replaced by former Dallas Cowboy Sam Young, who was claimed on a waiver back on September 2011. It can be tough for a guy who is 6-foot-7 to play guard, so keep your eye on this situation. The only guy on the roster with legitimate starting experience on the inside of an offensive line that is not starting is Doug Legursky. Legursky has 17 starts over the past three seasons as a Steeler. As for the other departures, safety George Wilson and linebackers Kelvin Sheppard and Nick Barnett are off the roster. Barnett, Wilson and Sheppard were the top three tacklers on the Bills last year combining for 287 tackles and four sacks.

Staff changes: Doug Whaley is the new GM and he will bring his Pittsburgh Steelers roots to western New York. The team will eventually take on the traits of the Steelers when it comes to physical players, toughness and a multiple-look defensive package. Doug Marrone is the new head coach and even though he was only 25-25 as the head coach of Syracuse his experience under Sean Payton in New Orleans will be the foundation for the offense. New defensive coordinator Mike Pettine is known for his aggressive pressure defenses which were developed under Rex Ryan.


Position battles

The quarterback battle will be well documented and sooner or later EJ Manuel has to take the field for the Bills. The next intriguing battle will be at wide receiver with T.J. Graham trying to hold off Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin, two of Marrone's draft picks this past spring. Keep an eye on the kicking battle as Rian Lindell battles rookie sixth-round pick Dustin Hopkins. Hopkins has a long leg and Lindell is 36 years old.


New schemes

The Bills look like a 4-3 defense when you think about defensive ends Mario Williams and Mark Anderson, but you can expect a lot of 3-4 looks and pressure calls from the secondary. On offense, if EJ Manuel wins the job there could be some variations of the pistol offense even though Manuel was a drop-back passer in college. I watched Manuel at the Senior Bowl and he moves well enough to build a package much like Seattle did with Russell Wilson.


Bubble watch

Buffalo has just under 20 million of salary cap space and with very little pressure to cut for money reasons there should be true battles for positions. Guys that may be question marks during the summer include Brad Smith (WR), Alex Carrington (DE), and kicker Rian Lindell. Actually, Buffalo has the cap space to acquire a few veterans or make a trade or two as camp goes on.


Unheard-of-guy to watch

Undrafted wide receiver Da'Rick Rogers has first-round talent with off-the-field issues. If he walks the straight and narrow he could make this team. The Bills swapped out linebacker Kelvin Sheppard for Colts bust Jerry Hughes. Hughes has a real opportunity in Buffalo backing up Mark Anderson. Keep an eye on rookie safety Duke Williams who will battle Da'Norris Searcy for the strong safety job.


Biggest concern

How will Doug Marrone use his 'honeymoon' first year of his tenure as Bills head coach? The Bills open at home against the Patriots, a team they are 3-23 against since 2000. Do they play older veterans who may not be the future? Or do they play all the young players to build a foundation? This year, besides the Patriots, the Bills also play Baltimore, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Atlanta and the Bengals.
Something to prove

In some ways the Bills have gone backward, not forward, with the loss of an experienced GM and head coach as well as an experienced QB, OG and safety. But changes had to be made, and if EJ Manuel offers hope to the organization and fans, then the team is on the way back. There's a lot of pressure on this organization to turn things around.

.




Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.

Old Post 07-13-13 01:14 AM
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2013 NFL training camp preview: New England Patriots

July 5, 2013 4:57 PM ET


The Patriots enter camp tasked with smoothing over some significant roster changes. The Patriots enter camp tasked with smoothing over some significant roster changes.

The Patriots have dominated the AFC East for so many years it's hard to remember when any of the other teams really challenged them for the division crown. There is an undercurrent that they are closer to the pack now with the departures from the roster and some of the additions to their opponents, especially down in Miami. I'm not buying it as long as Tom Brady is under center. Brady will need his greatest year as a pro to overcome some of the issues surrounding the club, but as former Patriot Dan Koppen said to me, "You won't hear a word out of Tom or any excuses. He will meet the challenge."

Key changes

The addition of Tim Tebow isn't a reason to believe the Patriots are developing a secret package that would put Tom Brady on the sideline. A few years ago I asked owner Robert Kraft if the club had any interest in the Wildcat offense.

"We have no interest in anything that doesn't have Tom Brady on the field running the offense," Kraft responded.

The Patriots have assembled a solid group of running backs and there could be more emphasis on the ground attack. Over the past two seasons the Patriots have averaged 654 pass plays and they could be considering cutting that back to the 550 range. That equates to six less pass plays a game and I could see the run game getting the extra work. That would make sense, especially with the significant changes to the receiver position. But in the end Tom Brady will still be leading one of the top scoring offenses in the NFL.

On defense the Patriots were ranked 9th overall but 29th against the pass. New England was outstanding in creating turnovers with 20 interceptions and 21 fumble recoveries, which is more important than pass defense. Imagine giving Tom Brady 41 extra series in a season. As for shoring up the pass defense, it starts up front with a better pass rush and hopefully the linebackers play a bigger role in coverage and pressure.

Roster additions: Two key players on defense have to step up for the Pats: safety Adrian Wilson and defensive tackle Tommy Kelly. Wilson is thought of as a box safety better against the run than the pass and time will tell how he plays in space against teams trying to match up their vertical threat tight ends against him. Kelly has talent but has been labeled an underachiever at times. He should provide some inside push with Vince Wilfork to help collapse the pocket.

On offense the Patriots have overhauled the receiver position and expect big things from oft-injured Danny Amendola, rookie WR Aaron Dobson and veteran castoffs Michael Jenkins and Donald Jones. Amendola replaces Wes Welker but has only been active in 42 of his 64 games and has 196 receptions and 7 touchdowns in his career. Not one of these four wide receivers has ever been in a real game with Tom Brady or experienced Brady's no-huddle attack.

Roster departures: Gone are Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Aaron Hernandez, Donte' Stallworth, Deion Branch and Danny Woodhead. Last year as a group they caught 301 passes and 19 touchdowns. Tom Brady completed 401 passes last year and 75 percent of those receptions are not on the roster as well as 56% of the touchdowns. This group of missing receivers also moved the chains for a first down 179 times or 11 a game.

Staff changes: The Patriots return all key components to the staff with the offensive, defensive and special team coordinators still in Foxboro.


Position battles

Right cornerback: Second-year player Alfonzo Dennard is penciled in as the starter but veteran Kyle Arrington and rookie Logan Ryan will press to take the job. The top loser should be the nickel back.

Linebacker: The Patriots have invested heavily at linebacker over the past few years with Jerod Mayo and Dont'a Hightower as former first-round picks and Brandon Spikes a second-round selection. Keep an eye on this year's Round 2 linebacker, Jamie Collins, trying to fight his way on to the field.

Running back: This will be interesting to watch as Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen should compete for most of the playing time, but the addition of LeGarrette Blount and Leon Washington make the situation very competitive.


New schemes

The Patriots are listed as a 4-3 defense, which they played last year as their base defense but they have a long history of being a 3-4. With the personnel on this roster right now Coach Bill Belichick could easily return to a 3-4 package. On the offensive side of the ball until the health status of tight end Rob Gronkowski is known they may have to be creative with their personnel groupings. Jake Ballard could get significant time at tight end or they could use more of a hybrid two-back system.


Bubble watch

Former 2010 second-round pick OLB/DE Jermaine Cunningham has fallen down the depth chart and is questionable to make the roster. Tim Tebow is no lock to make the team, especially with a non-guaranteed contract and the Patriots' recent history of keeping only two quarterbacks.


Unheard-of-guy to watch

Three guys that could play bigger roles this year include WR Donald Jones picked up from the Bills, WR/DB Julian Edelman, and center Ryan Wendell. Jones has as good a chance as any receiver to make an impression on Tom Brady. Edelman could see some of Woodhead's opportunities and might have more of Welker's skill sets than anyone on the roster. Wendell started all 16 games last year and no one knows the guy. Now with Hernandez gone and Gronkowski's health in question, the Patriots either trade or pick up tight end help or expect a lot more from Jake Ballard or Michael Hoomanawanui.


Biggest concerns

Inexperience at the receiver positions and the health of Gronkowski lead the list of concerns. Last year Tom Brady threw 13 touchdown passes to one interception in his six division games. Is that production still going to be there this season? How much emotional damage will the issues surrounding Hernandez inflict? What about the distractions they might cause?
Something to prove

Amendola has big shoes to fill replacing Welker, who year-in and year-out caught 100 balls. Michael Jenkins replaces Brandon Lloyd. Jenkins' best season as a pro was 53 receptions for the Falcons in 2007. Lloyd had 74 catches last year. Tim Tebow really has to open up to the idea of playing another position if he wants to stick with the Patriots. He's not better than backup QB Ryan Mallet and to make this team he may have to become a utility player.




Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.

Old Post 07-13-13 01:19 AM
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2013 NFL training camp preview: Miami Dolphins

July 5, 2013 5:10 PM ET


As they enter camp, the Dolphins would do well to work on their pass defense. As they enter camp, the Dolphins would do well to work on their pass defense.

The Miami Dolphins were 7-9 last year and in many ways resembled the Dolphins of the last decade, a team in the middle of the pack and seemingly going nowhere. Don't bring that up to Dolphin fans this year as expectations are soaring with the development of QB Ryan Tannehill and all the offseason moves. The reality is that there's still lots of work to do for an offense and pass defense that were ranked 27th in the NFL last year.

Key changes

There were no key changes to the coaching staff, which is a good thing. Head coach Joe Philbin made a very favorable impression on me last year in his first year as a head coach as did his coordinators Mike Sherman and Kevin Coyle. Coyle's defense only gave up 18.6 points a game in the six division games. Unfortunately, the Miami offense only scored 18.1 points per division games.

The team decided to move on without the services of LT Jake Long, RB Reggie Bush, TE Anthony Fasano and slot receiver Davone Bess. Only time will tell if the offense benefits from the replacements for these players. Long played hurt last year but still rarely got any help blocking the key pass rusher on opposing teams. Bush, Bess and Fasano accounted for 2,388 yards of offense, 14 touchdowns and 99 first downs.

Roster additions: Wide receiver Mike Wallace was signed in the offseason for a five-year, $60 million deal with $30 million guaranteed. Wallace leads an overhaul of the roster that includes 8-9 new starters for the 2013 season. Seven new members to the roster include Wallace, CB Brent Grimes, linebackers Dannell Ellerbe and Philip Wheeler, offensive tackle Tyson Clabo, tight end Dustin Keller and first-round pick DE Dion Jordan.

Roster departures: Not everyone is convinced that dropping linebackers Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett for Ellerbe and Wheeler was that much of an upgrade, but the Dolphins got younger at the linebacker position and in the long run it may have been the right move. Dansby and Burnett were the top two defenders in tackles with 234 combined tackles, 3½ sacks and 14 passes defended. Ellerbe and Wheeler got $27 million guaranteed in their combined $51 million contracts and have a lot to live up to make the departures of Dansby and Burnett look like good football decisions.


Position battles

There will be competition at running back, fullback, the third wide receiver, defensive end and cornerback. RB Lamar Miller will be challenged for playing time by Daniel Thomas and rookie Mike Gillislee. The fullback battle will be between Jorvorskie Lane and Charles Clay. The third wide receiver has to replace Davone Bess' production in the slot with Brandon Giibson, Jeff Fuller, Armon Binns and maybe Marvin McNutt competing all summer. Dion Jordan is penciled in at defensive end but Jared Odrick will not go away quietly and may win the job on the early downs. Richard Marshall is penciled in at corner opposite Brent Grimes, but expect rookie Jamar Taylor to go after the starting spot and push Marshall to the nickel role.


Bubble watch

The Dolphins made the most of their big roster decisions in the offseason, but guys like CB Nolan Carroll, CB Dimitri Patterson, RB Daniel Thomas and maybe guard John Jerry will have to do well this summer or risk losing playing time or worse.


Biggest concern

The expectations are high, especially for quarterback Ryan Tannehill. He only threw 12 touchdown passes last year. I think Tannehill will take the next big step in his development, but will he lead Miami to the playoffs? Secondly, will Brent Grimes return to 100 percent and lead this team to a better pass defense than the 27th ranked pass defense last year. Tom Brady has led the Patriots to six straight wins over the Dolphins with 11 touchdown passes while averaging 283 passing yards a game.
Something to prove

There is a lot of pressure on running back Lamar Miller to replace Reggie Bush. Can Miller get 1,000 yards rushing on 220 carries, scored six touchdowns, catch 38 balls and score two more times because that's what Bush averaged in his two seasons with the Dolphins. Offensive tackle Jonathan Martin is now a permanent fixture on the left side with Jake Long gone and he got mixed reviews last year when he had to go to the left side. Miami tried to re-sign Jake Long, which should tell you they were happy with Martin on the right side. Brian Hartline was moving along nicely in a quiet career until the Dolphins signed him to a five-year, $31 million deal with $12.5 guaranteed this spring. That's a lot of money for a guy with six touchdown receptions in four years.




Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.

Old Post 07-13-13 01:20 AM
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CFL
Dunkel

Winnipeg at Hamilton
The Tiger-Cats look to to build on their 4-0 ATS record in their last 4 games in Week 3. Hamilton is the pick (-3 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Tiger-Cats favored by 5 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Hamilton (-3 1/2). Here are all of this week's CFL picks.

SATURDAY, JULY 13

Game 125-126: Winnipeg at Hamilton (6:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Winnipeg 107.860; Hamilton 113.386
Dunkel Line: Hamilton by 5 1/2; 58
Vegas Line: Hamilton by 3 1/2; 54
Dunkel Pick: Hamilton (-3 1/2); Over

Game 127-128: BC at Edmonton (9:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: BC 117.660; Edmonton 109.521
Dunkel Line: BC by 8; 46
Vegas Line: BC by 3 1/2; 49 1/2
Dunkel Pick: BC (-3 1/2); Under




CFL
Long Sheet

Week 3
Saturday, July 13

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WINNIPEG (1 - 1) at HAMILTON (0 - 2) - 7/13/2013, 6:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
WINNIPEG is 5-2 against the spread versus HAMILTON over the last 3 seasons
WINNIPEG is 6-1 straight up against HAMILTON over the last 3 seasons
5 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BRITISH COLUMBIA (1 - 1) at EDMONTON (1 - 1) - 7/13/2013, 9:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 5-3 against the spread versus EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 6-2 straight up against EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




CFL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Week 3

Winnipeg (1-1) @ Hamilton (0-2)-- Blue Bombers won six of last seven series games, as seven of last ten series games stayed under total; Winnipeg was 3-4 in last seven visits to Hamilton. Winnipeg split its first two games this year despite turning ball over nine times (-5); they've got 11 sacks in two games (+3)TiCats allowed 69 points in losing first two games, giving up 149 ypg on ground; they've been outscored 28-10 in second half of their games. Underdogs covered six of last eight series games; dogs are 4-3-1 vs spread in last eight series games played in Hamilton. TiCats are playing in college stadium this season while their new stadium is being built.

BC Lions (1-1) @ Edmonton (1-1)-- Lions won six of last seven games against Eskimos, winning five of last six visits here (won 19-18 here LY); under is 7-4 in last eleven series games. Underdogs covered six of last eight series games played here. Both teams are off to 1-1 start; Lions were down 31-6 at half in only road game, at Calgary. Eskimos won on rainy field on road vs TiCats last week, running ball for 177 yards, after losing at home to Roughriders week before; they've turned ball over five times (-2) in two games. Home underdogs are 0-2 so far this season; five of eight games went over.




CFL

Week 3

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6:30 PM
WINNIPEG vs. HAMILTON
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Winnipeg's last 5 games when playing on the road against Hamilton
Winnipeg is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Hamilton
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Hamilton's last 5 games when playing Winnipeg
Hamilton is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing Winnipeg

9:30 PM
BRITISH COLUMBIA vs. EDMONTON
British Columbia is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Edmonton
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of British Columbia's last 5 games when playing on the road against Edmonton
Edmonton is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing British Columbia
Edmonton is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing British Columbia


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




CFL

Week 3

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CFL doubleheader: Bombers at Ticats, Lions at Eskimos
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (-5, 54.5)

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ defense made a statement with 11 sacks in two games against the Montreal Alouettes to start the season. Winnipeg will try to apply the same pressure to quarterback Henry Burris and the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday in Guelph, Ont. The Blue Bombers will be the second team to visit Hamilton at its temporary home - the Tiger-Cats lost to the Edmonton Eskimos in heavy rain in Week 2 and are the only team without a win.

Burris, who leads the CFL in passing yards with 595, believes his offence has to get better, but the problem with Hamilton is defense. The Tiger-Cats allowed a league-high 69 points through two games and look especially vulnerable against the run after surrendering 298 total rushing yards. Winnipeg running back Chad Simpson, limited to 90 yards, will look to exploit the same holes Edmonton and the Toronto Argonauts found in Hamilton’s porous secondary.

TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, TSN

ABOUT THE BLUE BOMBERS (1-1): Defensive tackles Bryant Turner and Zach Anderson and defensive ends Kenny Mainor and Alex Hall combined for nine of the 11 sacks against Montreal, forming the core of Winnipeg’s intimidating defensive line. Veteran quarterback Buck Pierce has struggled to start the season, completing 38-of-65 passes and throwing four interceptions. Pierce’s favorite target has been slot back Cory Watson, who is on pace to surpass his 2011 career-high 793 receiving yards with 143 in two games.

ABOUT THE TIGER-CATS (0-2): Burris connected with wide receiver Andy Fantuz for 155 yards and one touchdown in the season opener, but Fantuz missed Week 2 with an injury and was not at practice Tuesday. To help bolster their depleted offense, the Tiger-Cats called up wide receiver Glenn MacKay, who is from nearby Burlington, Ont., and resides in Hamilton. MacKay made 18 receptions for 196 yards with the Tiger-Cats in 2011 but has never scored a touchdown during stints for three different CFL teams.

TRENDS:

* Blue Bombers are 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings.
* Under is 5-0 in the last five meetings in Hamilton.
* Blue Bombers are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 July games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Hamilton’s loss to Edmonton drew 12,612 fans at Alumni Stadium, which hosted its first CFL game.

2. Tiger-Cats Rookie RB C.J. Gable, who has scored three touchdowns, was also absent from practice Tuesday.

3. Winnipeg SB Kito Poblah remains week-to-week with an injury suffered in preseason.


BC Lions at Edmonton Eskimos (3.5, 49.5)

After dropping its season opener to the Calgary Stampeders, the BC Lions return to Alberta with a home victory under their belts and a winning record in their sights when they visit the Edmonton Eskimos on Saturday. Led by running back Andrew Harris, who recorded 152 combined yards, BC handled the Toronto Argonauts in Week 2, shutting down Toronto’s run game one week after surrendering 172 rushing yards to Calgary running back Jon Cornish.

Edmonton is returning home where it lost to the Saskatchewan Roughriders 39-18 to open the season. Quarterback Mike Reilly looked much better in Week 2, throwing for two touchdowns and running for another in a road victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Reilly and running back Hugh Charles combined for 173 rushing yards, a trend that will need to continue in order to open up defenses for Reilly’s developing passing game.

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, TSN

ABOUT THE LIONS (1-1): BC’s defense will be without linebacker Adam Bighill for at least two weeks after he suffered an ankle injury against Toronto. Bighill, who led the team with 104 tackles last year, will be replaced by veteran linebacker Anton McKenzie. With slot back Shawn Gore also expected to miss time because of a head injury, quarterback Travis Lulay will lean heavily on slot back Nick Moore (162 receiving yards) and wide receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux (153). Two games into his first CFL season, cornerback Cord Parks leads BC with 10 tackles and one interception.

ABOUT THE ESKIMOS (1-1): Reilly’s favorite target is veteran slot back Fred Stamps, who has 150 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Stamps has 6,278 receiving yards in his seven-year CFL career - all with Edmonton. Linebacker JC Sherritt, who set a CFL record with 130 tackles last year, has a team-leading 15 tackles and one sack. Aside from Sherritt, the Eskimos’ defense has been questionable as four of their five sacks (and both interceptions) came against a Tiger-Cats team that struggled to control the ball in heavy rain.

TRENDS:

*Over is 4-0 in the Eskimos’ last four home games.
* Lions are 1-6 ATS in their last seven road games.
* Eskimos are 5-1 ATS in their last six Week 3 games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Lions have won five of seven games against the Eskimos over the last two seasons.

2. Edmonton OL Cliff Louis was fined an undisclosed amount for a dangerous block on Tiger-Cats DL Eric Norwood in Week 2.

3. BC is second in the CFL power rankings following Week 2; Edmonton is seventh.




Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.

Old Post 07-13-13 04:10 PM
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CNOTES
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Registered: Feb 2006
Posts: 10543

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record

07/12/13 1-_1-_0 50.00% -_50 Detail
07/11/13 2-_0-_0 100.00% +_1000 Detail
07/07/13 0-_2-_0 0.00% -_1100 Detail
07/05/13 1-_1-_0 50.00% -_50 Detail
07/04/13 2-_2-_0 50.00% -_100 Detail

Totals 6-_6-_0 50.00% -_300


Saturday, July 13

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Winnipeg - 6:30 PM ET Winnipeg +5 500 POD # 1


Hamilton - Over 54 500 POD # 2



BC Lions - 9:30 PM ET Edmonton +4 500 POD # 3


Edmonton - Under 49 500 POD # 4




Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.

Old Post 07-13-13 04:16 PM
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wildcat76
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Registered: Dec 2005
Posts: 6147

Here are some tips to get you through the fog.
If the visibility is near zero, don't attempt to drive in the first place.
Use your low-beam headlights. High-beam headlights will reflect back off the fog and further impair visibility. If your vehicle is equipped with fog lights, use them.
Reduce your speed. Fog can create an illusion of slow motion; watch your speedometer.
Crack your window and listen for other vehicles you can't see.
Don't try to pass other vehicles.
Use the right edge of the road or painted markings as a guide.
If you feel that you can't continue driving or your vehicle becomes disabled, pull as far onto the shoulder as possible. Turn off your lights, get out, and stand away from the vehicle. If you must remain in your vehicle, do not put your foot on the brake. Other people may drive toward your brake lights thinking you are on the road.

Old Post 07-13-13 04:21 PM
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