Sunday, September 12, 2010
Oakland Raiders vs. Tennessee Titans: Raiders Last Pass Questionable
On a 4th Down and 10 play, Jackson called a three-to-one formation where there are three receivers on one side of the play and one on the other. For seemingly the hundredth time, Jackson called a play that had Raiders Quarterback Jason Campbell throw to the strongside receiver. Meanwhile, the loan receiver on the other side who get single coverage is ignored.
Not good. Not smart.
The play pass was complete for less than 10 yards, rather than throwing the weakside fade for a chance at a touchdown.
Geez.
Indy Colts Sanders Injured Again In Houston Texans Game
He injured his elbow in today, Sunday's game against the Houston Texans. Sanders is not expected to return and it's not reported for how long he will be out.
Meanwhile, the Colts, down 10 to 20 for the Texans, are driving an in Houston territory with 12:32 in the 4th Quarter.
If the Colts can stop beating themselves, they could win.
Titans 30, Raiders 6, 3rd Q - How Raiders Can Come Back
First, offensively, the Raiders and Titans are almost similar looking at the stats at the half: 8 first downs to 11 for the Titans. But the Titans have had big plays, leading to 108 yards for Oakland to to 261 yards for Tennessee.
The Raiders problems offensively, aside from the center snap errors, are one of the types of plays called by Offensive Coordinator Hue Jackson. Jackson's calling pass plays that call for Quarterback Jason Campbell to throw to the strongside of the offense, the side with the most receivers. In the running game, they go right at the Titans, save for one end-around with Darren McFadden.
When the Raiders go three wide receivers on one side, they throw in that direction. When the Raiders call a running play, it's not a counter action play. And they finally got Zack Miller running a post route down the middle as I blog...but then go right back to the runs to one side without a fake step.
Why all this? Because the Titans are going after the ball like someone took their wallet. That kind of play calls for misdirection and weakside passing. That's a textbook approach. Why Hue Jackson's not doing that is beyond me.
Calling long developing trick plays don't work because the Titans Defense, as you saw, if you were watching the game, zeros in on that too fast.
Frustrating to watch.
If I had to rein in Hue, I'd say, you need to call the following: rollouts, bootlegs, three-steps, five-steps, play action. No seven-step passes, which have been called on several occasions. Draws? Yes. Screens? No, because they're playing man-for-man. Counter-action runs. And no-huddle. And short passes to McFadden - again, and again.
That would keep Oakland's Defense off the field.
Cal vs. Colorado: Keenan Allen Heisman Watch Week 2: 10, 186, 2 TDs
Keenan Allen leaves 'em grabbing for air. |
Rather than being the big play receiver against Colorado, where Cal won 52 to 7 Saturday, Allen was the one moving the chains. He had 6 receptions for 66 yards and an 11 yard average. In fact, the one big play, a lovely 62 yard bomb, came from QB Kevin Riley to Junior Wide Receiver Marvin Jones.
But Keenan Allen was the leading receiver.
In total, so far, Allen has 10 catches for 186 yards and two touchdowns. How does he compare with his older teammate Jones? Jones has 8 catches for 158 yards and two touchdowns.
Overall, according to ESPN, Allen is the 26th ranked receiver in the nation. But in looking at the overall statistics, guess what? Kevin Riley's the number two quarterback in America in College Football.
That's something to rave about, and for a Cal QB that fans are at times, a bit too hard on.
But this is the big leagues. It ain't Intramurals, brother!
MTV's Video Music Awards tonight! By Nikky Raney
It's that time of the year again - the MTV Video Music Awards will be airing tonight at 9PM ET and hosted by Chelsea Handler.
Last year at the VMAs the most memorable moment was when Kanye West snatched the mic from Taylor Swift as she had won Best Female Video. He announced that Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time, and then later Beyonce let Taylor come back on stage and give a proper thank you.
Kanye is performing this year at the VMAs, and he has also said that he wrote Taylor Swift a song. Maybe he will be performing a song for her? He already tweeted out an entire sorry letter to her basically.
According to the Toronto Sun, Taylor will be performing a song that lashes back at Kanye, but that doesn't seem like something she would do.
Eminem will be opening up the show, and he is nominated for 8 awards. Other performances include Justin Bieber, Drake, Linkin Park, Kanye, B.O.B & Hayley Williams, and others.
With Chelsea Handler hosting this year's VMAs is already destined to be a hit.
A full list of all the nominees for each category can be seen at MTV.com
Stanford Destroys UCLA - Rick Neuheisel's Safe On Facebook, Not Twitter
The game has fans taking to Twitter to express their displeasure with UCLA Head Coach Rick Neuheisel, who's in his third year at the helm. That awful beating has him in trouble.
Butt Kicking
There was nothing fancy about the win: Stanford used conventional formations, and sound schemes. But they executed with precision and purpose. In so doing, Stanford ended a six-game Rose Bowl loss streak, and told the Pac-10 who the boss was - for now.
Safe On Facebook, Not On Twitter
The game was a butt-whipping that was so bad it could lead to UCLA Head Coach Rick Neuheisel job if he doesn't right his ship. For new Coach Neuheisel's Facebook page is free of any negative comments, but that may be because it's shut them off.
Rick wrote this:
Rick Neuheisel Just over 24 hours until the Bruins are back home at the Rose Bowl! Can't wait. Go Bruins! http://plixi.com/p/44360413.
We're going to pull out all the stops to 'beat the Trees!
Five people liked that post. The only negative comment was from last week:
Jose Perez Coach...I literally felt like vomiting after last week's game. Let's clean up the passing game and the rushing defense...and we can get this "W"!!!! GO BRUINS!!!
Friday at 6:07pm · 1 person ·
UCLA's performance against Stanford made a lot of Bruins lose their dinner. While he's safe on Facebook, on Twitter he's in trouble. Consider:
Sec2Bruin - What has Rick Neuheisel done to my football team? Can it get much worse? This is disconcerting. Unhappy right now.
about 5 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®
woodgva - Damn! #Stanford beat the brakes off #UCLA. Maybe Rick Neuheisel (Mr. Passion Bucket) needs to reconsider his options? @raphiellej
about 6 hours ago via web
oscarbaltazar - Question, will Rick Neuheisel be back at #UCLA after this year? he did declare that "The Football Monopoly in L.A. Is Officially Over"
about 6 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®
After Stanford, UCLA must beat Cal and USC to make the Bruins faithful happy. Let's see what happens.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Remembering 9-11 Nine Years Later - "How Did We Allow This Day To Get Hijacked?'
99er Cindy Paoletti on Ed Schultz MSNBC
Cindy Paoletti of Syracuse, N.Y appeared on the Ed Schultz show on MSNBC yesterday. Paoletti, 58, understands those costs of long term unemployment. Laid off from her job as a bookkeeper at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.'s operations center in December 2007, she used a severance package to pay bills, and then began collecting $330 a week in unemployment benefits. She exhausted her 99 weeks of benefits in March 2010, and still can't find a job. Employers "just don't want to hire anybody in our age group," she says.
Cindy has worked tirelessly as a vocal advocate for the 99er Nation. She has done countless interviews for print media, radio shows and Tv as well. Her experiences as a 99er advocate in her own words: “
My life as an activist for the 99ers has been a fruitful yet frustrating one. I fight for all 99ers and have been doing so since EUC Tier 2 was close to expiring. It has taught me to respect all mankind and that everyone is at a different level of devastation. I have talked to people on the verge of desperation thinking about taking their own life. I have done television, radio and newpaper interviews for our cause. I spend a couple hours each day calling my Senators and Congressmen, expressing the need for a Tier 5.
I've read tons of letters I've received from other 99ers that have made me cry more then once. My heart goes out to all of the people that have exhausted UI benefits. I am here as a cushion for anyone that needs to vent, and I will continue to fight until our Government does the right thing and passes a jobs bill that helps everyone and supplies all unemployed with a safety net to survive until the jobs appear. Will everyone have a normal life like we once had? I doubt it, but I look at it as starting over and making my life as good as I can with what I have to work with. I am praying that eventually our Government will wake up and deal with the disaster that millions of Americans are going through. The suffering has to stop, and I will not give up until it does.”
When asked what the experience of being on national TV, with the reach of the Ed Schlutz show, Cindy replied:
"Being on the Ed Show was quite an experience. I had to sit in a chair and look at a camera. I could hear Ed speaking through the ear piece but could not see any of the show, just a camera! There was a camera man in the room with me, that kept giving me a thumbs up...he could see me on the screen. I rolled my eyes a few times forgetting that I was supposed to keep them glued to the camera. Being the first time on camera like this it takes some getting used to. If I have the opportunity again then I'll know what to do. There was a guy ahead of me that they were filming for another show and he was running late, so we didn't have much time to get me set up before I had to go on the air. All and all, I enjoyed doing it and I hope that the message I got across to the country about the 99ers will be taken to heart by Congress and all those that are up for re-election. Thank you all for the support and the kind emails and messages I've received. We need our Tier 5 NOW and I don't intend of giving up the fight until we have it."
Cindy represented the 99er Nation very well on the Ed Schultz Show yesterday and will be back on his show very soon to tell more about our message to Washington. Cindy appears at the end of the video clip below.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Cal 31, Colorado 0 - 3rd Quarter Hot Day
As i type this blog mobile entry, I am standing in the cool provided by an open concession area at Cal Memorial Stadium. For the Bay Area it is a hot day. About 80 degrees. But even hotter is Cal.
The stars mentioned in the first blog post have driven.this obvious win. QB Kevin Riley was 7 of 13 for 81 yards. WR Keenan Allen had 3 catches for 49 yards. And Shane Vereen had 45 yards rushing.
OK. Not big numbers but with Cal's Defense they aren't needed.
Cal 17, Colorado 0, 2nd Quarter
In a game that was to be a test for the Cal Golden Bears, Cal is clobbering Colorado now 21 to 0.
The stars are the Cal Defense, Running Back Shane Vereen, and Freshman Wide Receiver Keenan Allen.
The other story is the hot weather. It must be 80 degrees as I live blog this account
Stay tuned.
Remembering 911 on 9-11 And Ground Zero Visit, New York
Today marks the 9th year since the tragic events of September 11th 2001, when The Twin Towers Of The World Trade Center in New York City were destroyed by two hijacked Boeing 767 planes in an elaborate crime plot, the Pentagon was damaged by another plane, and the third plane, reportedly headed for The White House, crashed in Shanksville, Pa after a passenger revolt.
Over 3,000 people were killed, countless families impacted, and the sprit of America damaged, perhaps irreparably. And so because the New Freedom Tower's design is not the aggressive, confident, proud one that marked the original World Trade Center Towers. It's almost as if the new design is afraid to be tall.
In retrospect, part of the reason for the way Freedom Tower was designed is due to design strength concerns. But I personally favor Donald Trumps' idea of rebuilding the same design as before. Taller and stronger.
Two videos mark this day.
The first video is this blogger's explanation of where he was on that September 11th Day.
This second video is of my good friend Bill Chackhes talking about, and giving a brief tour of, Ground Zero at World Trade Center, New York City.
Never forget, yes. But also, don't hate either.
Stay tuned to Zennie62.com for live mobile blogging today.
Cal vs. Colorado: Keenan Allen Watch Week 2, Berkeley, 12:30
Again, if Cal Offensive Coordinator Andy Ludwig can install a plan that gets Allen on-one against a defender consistently, he will be the Heisman front-runner.
Too much pressure on him? Hey, brother. It's COLLEGE FOOTBALL! It's the big leagues. Want less pressure? Go play intramurals, brother.