Sunday, July 21, 2013
2013 Pre-Season All-Mack Team
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
The 2011 Pre-Season All-Mack Team
Quarterback
Matt Barkley (USCw) – Barkley came into USC with all of the hoopla that a top player in the country comes with. He took several lumps his first year, but avoided a sophomore slump and from about the 3rd game on during his sophomore campaign, not only did he look like a capable college QB, but he looked like an NFL QB. He has great mechanics, wonderful pocket presence, and he’s a leader.
Honorable Mention: Andrew Luck (Stanford), Nick Foles (Arizona), Landry Jones (Oklahoma), Robert Griffin III (Baylor), Aaron Murray (UGA), Taylor Martinez (Nebraska), Denard Robinson (Michigan)
Running Backs
LaMichael James (Oregon) – James is a dynamic runner with vision, quickness, and speed. The fact that he plays in Oregon’s wide open offense can cause some to overlook the fact that he is a legitimate “between the tackles” back with game breaking speed.
Marcus Lattimore (South Carolina) – A tough,hard-nosed runner who is not only not afraid of contact, but he quite often initiates the contact. His hands out of the backfield are rare for a young player and his pass protection skills are improving immensely.
Honorable Mention: Cyrus Gray (Texas A&M), Ronnie Hillman (San Diego St.), Doug Martin (Boise St.), Dennis Johnson (Arkansas), Montee Ball (Wisconsin), James White (Wisconsin), Michael Dyer (Auburn), David Wilson (VaTech)
Wide Receivers
Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma St) – He was a legitimate threat to win the Heisman last season from the wide receiver position. He’s stepped in admirably into the same position that Dez Bryant made a name for himself.
Ryan Broyles (Oklahoma) – If it weren’t for Blackmon, Broyles would get a LOT more attention in his own state. Although Blackmon had more receiving yards than Broyles last season, Broyles had 20 more receptions than Blackmon (131 receptions total). With Oklahoma making a push for a national title this season, I expect to see Broyles replicate that production.
Alshon Jeffery (South Carolina) - A huge body with big play ability reeling in 88 receptions for over 1500 yards last season. Depending on who his QB is, I look for a stellar season from Jeffery.
Honorable mention: Juron Criner (Arizona), Lance Lewis (ECU), Michael Floyd (Notre Dame), Greg Childs (Arkansas), Joe Adams (Arkansas)
Tight End
Michael Egnew (Missouri) – A big body that served as a main target for Blaine Gabbert reeling in 90 passes last season. With a first year starter this season in Mizzou’s pass happy offense, look for Egnew to duplicate or eclipse those numbers this season as he serves as a security blanket for the young QB.
Honorable mention: Davis Paulson (Oregon), Coby Fleener (Stanford), Orson Charles (UGA), Philip Lutzenkirchen (Auburn)
Tackles
Matt Kalil (USC) – This guy is a prototypical left tackle. He is a physical specimen! And he has the pedigree to go along with it being the son and younger brother of former NFL players.
Riley Reiff (Iowa) - Reiff is a hand-spanked, corn fed naturally strong, athletic left tackle. He’s equally as good as a pass blocker as he is a downhill run blocker. He has solid footwork that is good enough to stay with a speed rushing DE and push him upfield past the QB.
Honorable mention: Mike Adams (Ohio St.), John Martin (Stanford), Bobby Massie (Ole Miss),
Guards
Cordy Glenn (UGA) – At 6-5 330lbs, Glenn is massive for a guard. He moves well in pass protection and in a man blocking scheme wins 9 out of every 10 battles he has.
Kelechi Osemele (Iowa St) – Another HUGE guard standing 6-6 and weight 347. He’s a traditional road grader who has spent time at both Guard and Right Tackle. For his size, he’s incredibly agile.
Honorable mention: David DeCastro (Stanford), Kevin Zeitler (Wisconsin), Ryan Miller (Colorado)
Center
Mike Brewster (Ohio St.) – Brewster has started for the Buckeyes since his freshman year and has been a stalwart. He’s equally as impressive as a pass blocker as he is a run blocker.
Honorable Mention: Ben Jones (UGA), Ben Habern (Oklahoma), Phil Blake (Baylor), T-Bob Hebert (LSU)
DEFENSE
Defensive Ends
Quinton Coples (UNC) – Continuing in the long line of NFL type DEs that Butch Davis recruited to North Carolina, Coples filled in all last season for the suspended Robert Quinn and put up monster numbers with 10 sacks, 15 ½ tackles for loss, and 2 forced fumbles.
Defensive Tackles
Jared Crick (Nebraska) – A quick and strong DT who could play a traditional 4-3 DT position or slide over to DE in a 3-4 scheme. He has a nice motor and late last season once he got adjusted to being the man after the departure of phenom Ndamukong Suh, he wound up with 7 sacks in his last 8 games.
Marcus Fortson (Miami) – He was supposed to be the second coming of Warren Sapp. I have yet to see anything close to that, but his raw athleticism is too good not to live up to those expectations. With new coach Al Golden on board, I look for Fortson to start walking into his destiny as a legitimate NFL type DT.
Honorable mention: Fletcher Cox (Miss. St.), Kheeston Randall (Texas), Kuwann Short (Purdue), Roosevelt Nix (Kent St.)
Linebackers
Vontaze Burfict (Arizona St.) – In short, this kid is a heat seeking missile with bad intentions. The fact that he goes for the knockout blow on just about every tackle leads some to question his maturity level. But his intensely violent playing style intimidates opposing runners.
Zach Brown (UNC) – An absolute freak athlete, who (at 6-2 225 lbs) is said to have clocked at 4.28 seconds (!!!!) in the 40 yard dash, outproduced the big names for UNC like Quan Sturdivant & Bruce Carter last season.
Travis Lewis (Oklahoma) – This is the only returning player from the All-Mack pre-season team from last season. Lewis is a tackling machine. All he does is produces. And he’s a legitimate team leader on defense.
Honorable mention: Sean Spence (Miami), Emmanuel Acho (Texas), Luke Kuechly (Boston College), Tank Carder (TCU), Jerry Franklin (Arkansas), Chris Marve (Vandy)
Cornerbacks
Tyrann Mathieu (LSU) – This kid plays a lot bigger than his size indicates. Forced into action last season as a true freshman due to multiple injuries in the Tiger backfield, Mathieu more than held his own. I’m not saying he’ll be Patrick Peterson, but he’ll be darn close.
Jayron Hosley (VaTech) – Ball hawk..End of story.
Honorable mention: Alphonso Dennard (Nebraska), Morris Cleiborne (LSU), Chase Minnifield (Virginia), Casey Heyward (Vandy), Janoris Jenkins (N. Alabama)
TJ McDonald (USC) – McDonald is the best safety on USC’s roster. And coming into his second year under the tutelage of legendary defensive wizard Monte Kiffin, he should have a strong season.
Ray Ray Armstrong (Miami) – Like his teammate Marcus Fortson, Ray Ray was supposed to be the next Sean Taylor or Ed Reed. Thus far he has been neither. But he has all the physical tools and ability to be that type player. I look for Ray Ray to have a great season.
Kicker
Blair Walsh (UGA) – If you’ve ever seen the kid play, not much explanation is necessary. He’s money. And for the past couple seasons, he has been the only sure thing on UGA’s roster.
Honorable mentions: David Ruffer (Notre Dame), Danny Hrappman (Southern Miss), Derek Dimke (Illinois)
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Punter
Bryan Ager (Cal) – A big punter (6-4, 207) with a big leg (has 54 punts of over 50 yards in his career).
Honorable mentions: Kyle Martens (Rice), Brian Stahovich (San Deigo St.), Drew Butler (UGA)
Kick Returners
Cliff Harris (Oregon)
Greg Reid (Florida St.)
Punt Returner
Greg Reid (Florida St.)
Friday, December 10, 2010
2010 Pre-Season All Mack Team Revisited
This is only the 2nd year of the All-Mack team, but it could be the last. Many suffered needlessly because of it. Check it..
Christian Ponder – I thought he was a Heisman favorite, but he didn’t quite live up to that. Had a decent season, but he was bitten by the injury bug right before the ACC Championship game and he missed it.
Mark Ingram – The Monday before the first game of the season, he tweaks a tendon in his knee, has to have arthroscopic surgery and was never the same all season. He showed flashes, but after his huge first game against Duke, Ingy was never quite the same all season. He made some 2nd team all-conference teams, but it was mostly out of respect. He didn’t produce much at all this season.
Neol Devine – A guy who was one of the most electrifying players in all of college football for the past 2 seasons was largely invisible this year.
A.J. Green – Bogusly suspended for the first 4 games of the year for selling his own football jersey.
Julio Jones – In the season where he was supposed to be finally healthy, he broke his hand. Surprisingly, though, after the broken hand, he turned into the receiver that his hype coming out of high school said he would be. Julio is the first player to sort of escape the All-Mack Team curse.
Mike Pouncey – I picked this guy as center of my pre-season All-Mack team and as it turned out, he couldn’t even get the ball to the QB!! His plethora of bad snaps early in the season was the first sign that things weren’t all good in Gainesville, and while the season showed flashes of promise, it ultimately started to roll downhill and culminated with Urban Meyer stepping down for the 2nd time in as many years.
Marcell Dareus – Suspended for the first two games of the season for attending a party in South Beach thrown by a runner for an NFL agent, he started getting dinged up toward the end of his first game back (against Duke) and got a high ankle sprain vs. Arkansas that he never fully recovered from. Based on what he was able to do last season and what he was projected to do, this season was the epitome of subpar for Dareus.
Dont’a Hightower – Coming off surgery to repair torn ligaments in his knee, it was expected that Bama’s defense wouldn’t miss a beat after losing 2009 Butkus Award Winner Rolando McClain, because many observers thought that Hightower was better than McClain because of his versatility and combo of size & speed. That may have been so…pre-surgery..Hightower often looked like he was running in mud, slow to the point of attack and was largely invisible most of the season aside from huge games against Florida and Auburn. He ultimately turned over his defensive play calling duties to true freshman backer CJ Mosley and sophomore backer Nico Johnson.
Mark Barron – Coming in, he was supposed to be the top safety in the country. And he was for the most part, but starting alongside 3 and sometimes 4 new starters in the defensive backfield, he was often left exposed and took bad angles to runners. And in the most inappropriate time, the All-Mack curse struck Barron. During the 2nd quarter of the Iron Bowl, Mark was caught out of position and beaten on a pass. And in an effort to club the ball from the receiver, he tore his pectoral muscle. In an attempt to soldier on, that injury hurt him even more in the 3rd quarter. On a poorly thrown pass from presumptive Heisman trophy winner Cameron Newton to WR Terrell Zachary, Barron was in perfect position to intercept the pass, knock the ball down, take the receiver’s head off, or (worst case) tackle the receiver. But because of the torn pectoral muscle, he could do neither, and it resulted in a TD for Auburn. Even worse for Mark, he had put together a decent enough season to at least test the NFL Draft waters, but because recovery from his surgery will be 3-4 months, he may wind up returning to Alabama for his senior season.
After all this, I’m seriously considering never doing the All-Mack team again. But if I do, there will NEVER be another Alabama player on the team.
Monday, November 29, 2010
2011 Post-Season All-Mack Team
Monday, November 15, 2010
Daily Nonsense
Rob Pattinson (from the Twilight sagas and Jason Statham (from The Transporter) were allegedly involved in a bar fight over Pattinson's Twilight co-star and girlfriend, Kristen Stewart.
(Digital Spy)
More than 3 tons of marijuana seized in Texas (CNN.com)
Friday, October 8, 2010
Brett Favre's VoiceMail Love
No comment on the pics (of Brett or Ms. Sterger), but the audio of Brett's message to the lady can be heard below:
First off, you're married dude. C'mon son. Secondly, why are you leaving REPEATED voicemails?
Now, granted, Brett is fairly older than me. But when I was coming up, there certain love protocol. Admittedly, this was before cell phones, so the only voicemails you could leave were on answering machines, which meant everyone in the house could hear it. You didn't want that. What you DID want, though, and what Brett SHOULD have done is just let some music play over the voicemail.
I know it sounds corny, but this method is tried & true. If there's a young lady you like, and you all are at the point where you've just run out of words, you just subtly let an appropriate song play in the background and let the crooner do the talking for you.
As evident from him stumbling all over his words in the voicemails, here are a couple of suggestions that Brett could've used :
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Successful Mistresses do What Wives Won't
During the 15 years we have been married, my husband, Mykel, and I have had the privilege of befriending many couples and counseling more than a few. One of the sorest topics we have ever explored is infidelity.
Unless you have suffered through the agony of sexual betrayal by your spouse, the pain is difficult to imagine. It seems the humiliation is made worse when the offending spouse has engaged not in a mere tryst, but has sustained a long-lasting, sexual and emotional relationship outside of the marriage.
Since Mykel and I have personally spoken to more men than women who have cheated in this manner, we have been able to gain some insight into the behavior successful mistresses engage in that wives typically do not. Please note: This list is not comprehensive, nor the result of any type of statistical study, only the result of a very informal survey of the few men we know who have been willing to share this information with Mykel, myself, or both. Please do not confuse my exploration of cheating with my approval. Extramarital affairs are the ultimate form of betrayal, which cause lasting damage to individuals, families, and communities. They weaken the fabric of our culture and empower the enemy to wreak havoc in our lives as well as in the lives of our spiritual and physical seed.
That said, there are some valuable lessons wives could learn from “The Other Woman” when it comes to taking care of our husbands.
Mistresses Initiate Sexual Contact
Yes, the man is the pursuer. When a wife pursues her husband sexually, however, it proves to him that she finds him attractive and desirable. It seems husbands enjoy being found attractive and desirable at least as much as their wives do.
Mistresses Are Nice
It sounds corny, but a little kindness goes a long way. Big and tough they may be, men appreciate kind words and consideration. The more brutalized a man is out in the world, the more necessary it is for him to be treated with dignity at home. Terms of endearment, such as “Honey” or “Sweetie,” a pleasant tone of voice, or basic manners – saying “Please” and “Thank you” affirm a person’s humanity.
Mistresses Show Interest In A Man’s Hobbies
Many extramarital affairs begin harmlessly enough over shared hobbies. While on his daily run, he bumps into her on the track. An avid reader, he joins a book club, where she happens to be a member.
If your husband enjoys football, try taking time to learn the game. If he fishes, subscribe to a fishing magazine and commit to reading an article or two a week. Investing in his hobbies can provide more common ground and an opportunity to grow closer.
Mistresses Seek Out A Man’s Opinion
Is there an area your husband knows a lot about? Solicit his opinion and listen to what he has to say. I have a friend who follows local politics very closely. His wife consistently asks him to explain his position on various issues. She is very smart and has her own opinions, yet makes a point to ask her husband anyway because she is genuinely interested in his perspective.
Mistresses Feed “Their” Men
In many households, microwave meals are the order of the day for husband and wife alike. If this is true for you and your guy, make hubby something nice once in a while. If you don’t cook, make him a sandwich, or buy him his favorite dish and bring it home to surprise him. The content may not be as important as the gesture.
Mistresses Affirm Men
At a marriage retreat I attended a few years back, the main speaker encouraged wives give out what she called “Attaboys” on a regular basis (as in “Attaboy Mykel! You took out the trash!). Every husband in the room applauded his approval. Giving a man accolades for a job well done, or a simple task he did on your behalf, shows him that you appreciate his efforts. Accolades encourage repeat behavior. Repeat behavior makes for welcome habits. Everybody wins.
Mistresses Know When To Shut Up
Giving your husband quiet time – especially at the end of a busy day allows him (and you) to decompress. During the course of your relationship, establish together how much is a reasonable amount of time for him (and you) to recharge. Do your best to respect that time.
Resist complaining to him about things he can do nothing about. Not everything you think as a woman needs to be said out loud to your husband. Do the bulk of your complaining to God. He knows, understands, and is able to affect change when your husband doesn’t, won’t , or can’t. If you need to vent to or unload upon another human being, call or meet with a trusted girlfriend, and give your man’s ears a break.
Mistresses Wear Sexy Undies
Yes, granny panties are extremely comfy – but your husband does not want to sleep with his nana. Invest in one or two sexy outfits and make a point to wear them to bed periodically.
Mistresses Know What’s Going On At Work
I am always surprised by how many wives have no idea what their husbands face professionally. For better or for worse, many men define themselves according to what they do for a living. Wives should know how that part of their man’s life is progressing, if for no other reason than to intercede effectively on his behalf.
Mistresses (Sometimes) Buy Gifts
A token gift, a handwritten note, or even a phone call says, “I’m thinking about you.” Who doesn’t like to “hear” that?
Mistresses (Occasionally) Pick Up The Check
It is more than okay to take your husband on a date from time to time and pay for everything. If you’re like most couples, the money comes from a joint account anyway. The gesture, however, is no less sweet. If you pay from your own account or allowance, then so much the better.
Mistresses Ask For And Give Oral Sex
For many Christians oral sex is strictly taboo. There are as many biblically-based opinions on the matter as there are Christians. Wherever you fall on the spectrum, consider reading Sheet Music: Uncovering the Secrets of Sexual Intimacy in Marriage by noted Christian author, Dr. Kevin Leman. Well researched and humorously candid, I found it pleasantly surprising.
Mistresses Invest In Their Appearance
Between carpooling, grocery shopping, washing clothes, and wiping noses and/or butts, who has time for a shower, let alone a spa day? As a mother of four, ages 4 through 12, a writer, an editor, a volunteer, and a student, I know first hand how hard it can be to glam it up. Sometimes simply putting on a nicer pair of earrings (or any at all), choosing the t-shirt with fewer permanent stains, or painting on clear gloss, constitutes my investment for the day. The point is to put on something, or to do something for yourself that makes you feel more feminine, more beautiful, more confident. Baby steps in the right direction still get you there. Give yourself lots of grace as you go.
Mistresses Say Yes To Sex More Often
I’m shaking my head because as I write this blog, my husband snoozes soundly in our bed – alone. I know what it is like to be too tired, too angry, too apathetic, too cranky, or too busy for sex. But consider this: Your husband is your first ministry. To him, your “no” is a rejection. Persistent rejection can lead to his losing interest in asking you for sex altogether (Why should he bother if you’re just going to say “no” anyway?). A loss of interest in you can lead to his turning to someone else for validation. Not a pronouncement – just something to consider.
I hope this list proved to be as thought-provoking to read as it was to discuss and write. It was not only interesting, but convicting for me to learn about the many ways in which mistresses affirm other women’s husbands. I definitely see areas where I can grow. If your marriage is in a secure enough place to do so, bring this list to your spouse’s attention and see what kind of feedback you get. If you learn anything interesting or helpful, share it by posting a comment.
Be blessed Family!