Random Thoughts for a Monday………
Just some random thoughts for a Monday morning…..
Ohio State plays Michigan this Saturday at noon and the Buckeyes see this game as a stepping stone to the Big Ten title game next week in Indianapolis, playing the winner of the Minnesota-Wisconsin game Saturday. But for Jim Harbaugh, this game might be his swan song.
Harbaugh has not beaten the Buckeyes in 4 tries. All coming against Urban Meyer. This will be his first meeting with Ryan Day, who has won 13 games as head coach in Columbus. In fact, the last time Michigan beat Ohio State in football was on November 26, 2011. But do the Wolverines have what it takes to beat what many think is the most complete team in College Football this season?
Currently Michigan appears to be playing their best under Harbaugh in his tenure. They have won 4 straight and should be playing in a New Years Day bowl game. And the game is in the “Big House”. The decibels will be high, as will be the emotions. A win will cement Harbaugh’s tenure in Michigan for years to come, but a loss………
The NFL has a problem on and off the field. Their handling of the Garrett Myles-Mason Rudolph fight from last week has proven in the NFL, if you hit a woman your suspension is less than if you if you fight on the field. Don’t think for one second Myles doesn’t deserve to be suspended, because he did. But to completely dismiss the possibility that Rudolph uttered a racial slur by simply saying their was no audio available is insulting to the fans of the league. Especially when video showed a parabolic microphone within 15 yards. That microphone is the kind with a satellite dish around it and it picks up the signals the offense and defense yell out before a play. Yet the NFL would have you believe that audio wasn’t available.
On the field the story remains the same. Referees can’t seem to get out of their own way, or the way of the games. New Orleans, even though they won, challenged an obvious miscall on offensive pass interference and it was upheld. Then Carolina challenged an uncalled and questionable defensive pass interference late in the game, and it was overturned. Only in New Orleans.
Freddie Kitchens continues to prove he is not an NFL caliber head coach. In fact, he is not a head coach at any level. Kitchens needs to spend more time coaching his team and less arguing with Refs. After the Browns had built a 28-0 lead, Kitchens, who calls the plays for the Browns, went into a shell and caused the “lull” he questions about his team every week.
Kitchens started playing the clock in the second quarter and tried to kill the game, without using the two best running backs the Browns have had since Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner. Kitchens is in over his head and needs to be replaced after the season. But Cleveland might win out, and unfortunately for the future of the franchise, that is the worst thing that could happen.
In Cincinnati, please fire Zac Taylor immediately. Taylor is another coach who has no business holding that title. He is not who you want watching over the rebuild of the Bengals on the field.
The New England Patriots are still the best team in the NFL, until another team proves they can out coach the best coach in NFL history, Bill Belichick. Belichick over prepares and always has his teams ready for anything the opponent can throw at the Pats.
Yesterday was a great example. Twice the Cowboys tried a trick play and twice the Pats were up to the challenge. Under Belichick the Patriots have won with offense, defense, small receivers, big receivers, big name players and nobody’s. They have won with back up quarterbacks in Matt Cassell and an unknown guy at the time, Tom Brady. The only constant has been Belichick.
That being said, the Dallas Cowboys are the most overrated team. The Cowboys have yet to beat a team with a winning record and have crushed other that have totaled only 14 wins against 40 losses and 1 tie. The New York Jets have the best record of any team Dallas has won against at 5-6. Dak Prescott is going to sign a very lucrative contract after the season off the numbers he has put up on losing teams, rather than winners. Make no mistake, Dallas is a good team. But not a Super Bowl contender.
Mount St. Joseph’s men’s basketball team has a roster of 9 sophomores, 5 freshman and 1 senior. They are 1-4 based mainly upon the schedule they have played. Of their 4 losses, 2 have come against teams in the NCAA Division 3 top 20 polls. Wittenberg at #5 and Marietta at #18. Tuesday night the schedule presents Wabash. The Little Giants are ranked #14 in the Nation.
The Lions are learning to win. Coach Toby Carrigan is putting the youth through this type of schedule to make them better for the Heartland Conference schedule, starting in December. Make no mistake, this team will be ready. They are fun to watch and if they can get consistent scoring from players other than Devin Young, Brady Thomas and Peyton Meadors, they will be a formidable club.
To the Cleveland Indians, please do not trade Francisco Lindor.
To the Cleveland Cavaliers, you’re fun to watch under John Beilein. But please trade Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson for draft picks at the trade deadline.
And to you, Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
