I attended Wednesday's presentation by a Centre City Development Corp. consultant on the recent history of new stadium construction around the United States, basically background on how various teams and municipalities "got it done."
Here are the key points:
1. Stadiums are now too costly to finance privately by a team, or publicly by just one jurisdiction. All 11 stadiums built or renovated from 2002 on have included a mix of private and public financing, with the public part in some cases being multiple jurisdictions -- like a city and state, several counties, etc.
2. Each city is different. Officials in each town managed to make use of particular assets in their financing plans. San Diego will have to come up with its own.
3. As bad as the economy has been, some stadium projects have received financing, and more lenders are willing to take on such big projects.
4. Of the 11 stadium referendums rejected by voters -- and the Chargers project will go on the ballot -- 10 stadiums were eventually built in some manner.
The stuff presented to the CCDC was encouraging for those who want a new stadium here, but there was nothing specific presented about the Chargers plans or the proposed downtown site. The Bolts are going to have to get very creative to find a financial plan that will appeal to voters, but it can be done.
---
San Diego State men's basketball reached the big time over the weekend. Yeah, yeah, don't remind me about the 2-point loss to BYU. They gained something much better, an elite point guard who will carry the Aztecs into the future.
Coach Steve Fisher had been after LaBradford Franklin of Great Oak HS in Temecula for a while, and the kid verbally committed after taking in the crazy scene at Viejas Arena last Saturday night. From the jam-packed seats to the loud cheers to the students dressed up in white shirts, ties and bicycle helmets, Franklin was obviously very impressed with what surrounds Aztecs basketball.
On the court, he saw a team that hung right to the end with what's become an amazingly good BYU bunch that's leaving its football program in its dust. Franklin must have thought something like this, several times: "all SDSU needs is a point guard who can shoot, and they'll be a Top 25 team, too."
All that was enough, and he'll sign up in April unless another school pays him more (snicker).
Here's how his commitment pushes SDSU into the big time. Fisher for years has built his program on athletes, transfers and the forgotten. When I ran my old Web site, I wrote repeatedly that Fisher's dependence on athletes over basketball players would not push him to the top of the Mountain West, and indeed he's only won the conference regular season once in eleven seasons. Last year -- arguably his best and most accomplished team, came in fourth. This year, his athletic Aztecs, with no point guard nor true full-time center, are fifth after six conference games (and will be tied for fourth if Utah loses at Wyoming tonight). No matter how good his athletes are, they'll very rarely contend for a conference crown. Transfers are fine to a small degree but many come with issues and need to adjust to a year off. His best recruits only came to State because Fisher stuck with them while something caused others to back off: Brandon Heath's grades, Kyle Spain I think broke his leg in high school, etc.
Franklin is none of these. He's said to be a great point guard with strong on-court management skills and a good outside shot. He's coming as a true freshman and has no background issues that caused other programs to back off. His GPA is said to be 3.8.
Small time programs don't get players right out of high school like LaBradford Franklin. He's a serious basketball talent that for years, because of SDSU's complete lack of hoops tradition, Fisher couldn't get -- thus his reliance on athletes. Now he's got Franklin, whose arrival might not convert a string of NIT appearances into selections to the Big Dance, but it doesn't hurt. Now let's go get a real center next year.
---
I'm okay with the signing of journeyman Jon Garland by the Padres. One of my off-season priorities has been acquiring a front of the rotation starting pitcher, and he has a chance to be that guy. He ain't no Peavy, but he could be another Kevin Correia, which would not be so bad. If he can make 30 starts and keep his overall ERA under 3.75, GM Jed Hoyer will have struck gold. His career ERA is 4.42, but he'll have a pitcher-friendly home ballpark for the first time in his career, so such a goal is reachable.
The rotation, as I see it, looks like this: Chris Young, Correia, Garland, Mat Latos and Clayton Richard.
That's solid if Young can return to health after two injury-plagued years. There are no stoppers there unless Latos emerges, but as Black said after the Garland signing, the Padres should be able to keep games close on most nights. They ought to at least get winnable games to a bullpen led by Heath Bell and Mike Adams. That's a lot more than can be said the last couple of years.
Even if Young can't return to his old form -- and my natural skepticism says its about 50-50 -- the Padres have a bunch of young arms waiting in the wings. Okay, I'll admit it, the cynic in me also has me worried about Richard, too. I'm not sure he's all that good, but I'm willing to go into the season with him as a fifth starter with some young pups breathing down his neck.
So things aren't perfect, but they're a darn sight better than this time last year. With the Kouzmanoff trade and signing of Matt Stairs, I think this has been one heck of an off-season.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Chargers: LT and Future
The tragedy of the Chargers playoff loss to the New York Jets Sunday was that fans were not given the opportunity to say a proper goodbye to RB LaDainian Tomlinson. The fans deserved the chance, Tomlinson deserved the honor, and he should have been able to thank his supporters, too.
Like many people, I saw this recently concluded season as the final one for LT as a Charger. He's past his prime, there's no doubt about it. This isn't sending away Michael Turner a few years ago to become a featured ball-carrier somewhere,it's letting a guy go away to become a backup somewhere. A backup is not necessary here.
A starter, a positive force, is what the Chargers need. If they're committed to having a mediocre offensive line, then they better have someone who can make the most of it. I think Stanford's Toby Gerhart will be an excellent NFL back, but I don't think he's the Chargers style. Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer might be. But I think there's a really good chance GM AJ Smith will take a running back with his first pick.
I don't think there will be a housecleaning, like after the playoff choke against the Patriots a few years ago. There are no Drayton Florences on this team. Vincent Jackson got pulled over before the game because he was a black guy driving a nice car with the radio too loud. He shouldn't have been driving at all on a suspended license, of course, but his 7 catches for 111 yards proved it was not a distraction.
The sloppy play, penalties, fumbles, interceptions, etc., were as much a product of the pressure placed on them by the Jets than their own immaturity. When you're getting beat, you tend to look pretty bad, and that's what happened to the Chargers. The decorum on the field was merely a sideshow.
The Chargers simply need to get better, mainly in the trenches. I've been saying it for years, and I said as this season got going that their deficiencies along the lines would prove costly in January, and that's what happened. Too bad, being right is not all it's cracked up to be.
---
One other thing to put to bed: whether the loss will dampen enthusiasm for a new stadium, a la the Padres and Proposition C. Give it a couple weeks and there will be no connection. Besides, the mayor says there will not be a vote before 2012, and there could be a Super Bowl trophy at Chargers Park by then.
The bottom line, as Mark Fabiani was quoted as saying in the paper, if a package is put together that makes economic sense for the taxpayers, then the stadium will be built, no matter what the team does on the field. I think getting such a deal together will be more difficult since East Village has already been built up, but it's not impossible.
---
Chargers unit grades:
Quarterbacks: A - Philip Rivers is not the best, but he's darn close.
Running backs: C - Not given much chance to shine, and they didn't.
Receivers: B - I also told you about Malcom Floyd.
Offensive Line: D - They can't fuel a running game or protect Rivers enough.
Defensive Line: C - The Make Shift actually did pretty well, but needs draft attention.
Linebackers: B - Depth makes things work.
Secondary: B - Corners are very good, safeties aren't the best.
Special Teams: B - Solid everywhere, great in some spots, but those misses ...
Like many people, I saw this recently concluded season as the final one for LT as a Charger. He's past his prime, there's no doubt about it. This isn't sending away Michael Turner a few years ago to become a featured ball-carrier somewhere,it's letting a guy go away to become a backup somewhere. A backup is not necessary here.
A starter, a positive force, is what the Chargers need. If they're committed to having a mediocre offensive line, then they better have someone who can make the most of it. I think Stanford's Toby Gerhart will be an excellent NFL back, but I don't think he's the Chargers style. Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer might be. But I think there's a really good chance GM AJ Smith will take a running back with his first pick.
I don't think there will be a housecleaning, like after the playoff choke against the Patriots a few years ago. There are no Drayton Florences on this team. Vincent Jackson got pulled over before the game because he was a black guy driving a nice car with the radio too loud. He shouldn't have been driving at all on a suspended license, of course, but his 7 catches for 111 yards proved it was not a distraction.
The sloppy play, penalties, fumbles, interceptions, etc., were as much a product of the pressure placed on them by the Jets than their own immaturity. When you're getting beat, you tend to look pretty bad, and that's what happened to the Chargers. The decorum on the field was merely a sideshow.
The Chargers simply need to get better, mainly in the trenches. I've been saying it for years, and I said as this season got going that their deficiencies along the lines would prove costly in January, and that's what happened. Too bad, being right is not all it's cracked up to be.
---
One other thing to put to bed: whether the loss will dampen enthusiasm for a new stadium, a la the Padres and Proposition C. Give it a couple weeks and there will be no connection. Besides, the mayor says there will not be a vote before 2012, and there could be a Super Bowl trophy at Chargers Park by then.
The bottom line, as Mark Fabiani was quoted as saying in the paper, if a package is put together that makes economic sense for the taxpayers, then the stadium will be built, no matter what the team does on the field. I think getting such a deal together will be more difficult since East Village has already been built up, but it's not impossible.
---
Chargers unit grades:
Quarterbacks: A - Philip Rivers is not the best, but he's darn close.
Running backs: C - Not given much chance to shine, and they didn't.
Receivers: B - I also told you about Malcom Floyd.
Offensive Line: D - They can't fuel a running game or protect Rivers enough.
Defensive Line: C - The Make Shift actually did pretty well, but needs draft attention.
Linebackers: B - Depth makes things work.
Secondary: B - Corners are very good, safeties aren't the best.
Special Teams: B - Solid everywhere, great in some spots, but those misses ...
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Chargers Playoff Loss, Aztecs, Padres Trade
When your absolute best and most reliable friend does something wrong, it's hard to be mad for long. When the most accurate field goal kicker in the history of the NFL misses three field goals to cost you the game, where do you direct your anger? Kaeding is the guy, today, tomorrow and next season. You can't be mad at him, you just can't.
My fears about the matchup with the Jets in particular, and overall concern about the Chargers to succeed in a playoff environment ended up being well-founded. The Jets pass rush overwhelmed the Bolts' mediocre offensive line, sacking QB Philip Rivers a couple times, pressuring him on nearly every pass play and forcing a pair of INTs. The defensive line, which held up as the Make Shift most of the past couple of month, held up reasonably well against a top-notch Jets running game, but it was not enough.
I'd rather this loss was more about the Chargers mild shortcomings than the failures of Kaeding. But despite the problems posed by 10 penalties and three recovered fumbles, the Bolts had a chance to tie the game or win. It's too bad.
Now GM AJ Smith gets to spend the off-season rebuilding the lines.
---
This will be the week which could make or break the season for San Diego State's men's basketball team, which is just 2-2 after the first couple weeks of Mountain West play. The Aztecs travel to Salt Lake City to play Utah, 2-1 in league but just 9-8 overall, and then come home to play BYU, which is off to a 3-0 MWC start.
Sweep and you're sitting pretty, especially with Colorado State and Air Force ahead on the schedule. Split, which is most likely, and you're no worse than when you started. Get swept, and the regular-season is as good as over.
I lean toward a split. Utah is playing better than its overall record right now and the Aztecs have proven to be a poor road team. Beating even a ranked BYU team at Viejas Arena, which has become nearly impenetrable for both men's and women's opponents, would be no shock.
The thing that's in the favor of the Aztecs is the emotion of how they pulled out Saturday's 67-62 win over TCU, with a comeback sparked by pushing and shoving in the second half. If that pulls some sort of fighting spirit out of these guys, that will bode well.
---
I'm okay with the Padres trade of 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff for OF Scott Hairston. My question is, isn't this the guy who was mysteriously traded away last season? Correcting a mistake is a good thing, I suppose, especially when the kind of right-handed power hitter who does well at Petco Park is involved.
I also listed as an off-season priority finally nailing down the Kouz-Chase Headley dilemma at 3B. This trade was fueled in large part by money, with an arbitration-eligible Kouzmanoff likely to get a raise of millions of dollars. I don't like money trades, but in this instance, it will free some dollars to sign a desperately needed veteran starting pitcher.
Suggestion for Channel 4 San Diego: we know Headley will make far more than Kouz' three errors at the hot corner because he will get to a few more balls. It would be cool if they were to go threw tape and come up with a "range finder" graphic to show on a Headley error whether his predecessor would have even gotten a glove on the ball.
My fears about the matchup with the Jets in particular, and overall concern about the Chargers to succeed in a playoff environment ended up being well-founded. The Jets pass rush overwhelmed the Bolts' mediocre offensive line, sacking QB Philip Rivers a couple times, pressuring him on nearly every pass play and forcing a pair of INTs. The defensive line, which held up as the Make Shift most of the past couple of month, held up reasonably well against a top-notch Jets running game, but it was not enough.
I'd rather this loss was more about the Chargers mild shortcomings than the failures of Kaeding. But despite the problems posed by 10 penalties and three recovered fumbles, the Bolts had a chance to tie the game or win. It's too bad.
Now GM AJ Smith gets to spend the off-season rebuilding the lines.
---
This will be the week which could make or break the season for San Diego State's men's basketball team, which is just 2-2 after the first couple weeks of Mountain West play. The Aztecs travel to Salt Lake City to play Utah, 2-1 in league but just 9-8 overall, and then come home to play BYU, which is off to a 3-0 MWC start.
Sweep and you're sitting pretty, especially with Colorado State and Air Force ahead on the schedule. Split, which is most likely, and you're no worse than when you started. Get swept, and the regular-season is as good as over.
I lean toward a split. Utah is playing better than its overall record right now and the Aztecs have proven to be a poor road team. Beating even a ranked BYU team at Viejas Arena, which has become nearly impenetrable for both men's and women's opponents, would be no shock.
The thing that's in the favor of the Aztecs is the emotion of how they pulled out Saturday's 67-62 win over TCU, with a comeback sparked by pushing and shoving in the second half. If that pulls some sort of fighting spirit out of these guys, that will bode well.
---
I'm okay with the Padres trade of 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff for OF Scott Hairston. My question is, isn't this the guy who was mysteriously traded away last season? Correcting a mistake is a good thing, I suppose, especially when the kind of right-handed power hitter who does well at Petco Park is involved.
I also listed as an off-season priority finally nailing down the Kouz-Chase Headley dilemma at 3B. This trade was fueled in large part by money, with an arbitration-eligible Kouzmanoff likely to get a raise of millions of dollars. I don't like money trades, but in this instance, it will free some dollars to sign a desperately needed veteran starting pitcher.
Suggestion for Channel 4 San Diego: we know Headley will make far more than Kouz' three errors at the hot corner because he will get to a few more balls. It would be cool if they were to go threw tape and come up with a "range finder" graphic to show on a Headley error whether his predecessor would have even gotten a glove on the ball.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
World Cup, Whittaker
Big news Tuesday if you're a soccer fan. It's just been announced that San Diego is one of 18 cities as finalists to hold World Cup matches if the United States is selected as host country in 2018 or 2022.
That's still not a sure thing and it's still far away, but it's progress.
---
I don't know if this will start a dam bust, but this week's commitment of Oceanside High's JJ Whittaker to the San Diego State football team is huge. He becomes the fifth Pirate to announce he's coming to SDSU, and in so doing, he decommitted from another up-and-coming program at Arizona. Aztecs fans are also hot for Oside defensive tackle Thomas Molesi, who remains committed to Oregon State. But for how long? The other kids must really be on him. Molesi has repeatedly said he wants to go away to college, which is only natural for someone his age. Hopefully he makes the right decision for his own sake, whether that means staying home or not.
That's still not a sure thing and it's still far away, but it's progress.
---
I don't know if this will start a dam bust, but this week's commitment of Oceanside High's JJ Whittaker to the San Diego State football team is huge. He becomes the fifth Pirate to announce he's coming to SDSU, and in so doing, he decommitted from another up-and-coming program at Arizona. Aztecs fans are also hot for Oside defensive tackle Thomas Molesi, who remains committed to Oregon State. But for how long? The other kids must really be on him. Molesi has repeatedly said he wants to go away to college, which is only natural for someone his age. Hopefully he makes the right decision for his own sake, whether that means staying home or not.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Chargers and Jets, Coyell, Dillon Baxter
As good as the Jets looked in beating up on the Bengals this weekend, aren't you glad the Chargers don't have to face the Ravens?
Yep, as expected, those teams coming out of the wildcard round of the AFC playoffs look awfully dangerous, Jets included. In fact, the Ravens appeared so good in crunching the Patriots Sunday that they look quite capable of beating the Colts in Indianapolis. That would be way cool, allowing the Chargers to host the AFC Championship Game -- if they indeed make it that far -- but the idea right now of that team being the roadblock to the Super Bowl ... oh, shudder. Especially when you know the Ravens have already won at Qualcomm Stadium this season.
I think the Chargers have the NFL's best collection of skill talent, but I worry that the Jets are going to keep the ball on the ground the whole game and try to keep Mark Sanchez from throwing more than 20 passes. The strategy worked to near perfection as the rookie completed 12 of 15 throws for 182 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions.
It helped quite a bit that Shonn Greene and Thomas Jones combined for 169 yards on 36 carries. I'd like to say they can't do that against the Bolts, but I won't go that far. They might with the league's top rushing attack going against the Make Shift. That scares me. There's also talk that the Jets blitz-happy defense will be eaten alive by QB Philip Rivers. That's possible, too. But imagine them sending pass-rushers around T Marcus McNeill, who struggled at Tennessee, and right side colleagues Brandon Dombrowski and Jon Runyan. That scares me, too.
The Chargers ought to be good for enough big plays on offense and defense to survive. The odds are better than not. But the margin suddenly looks dangerously slim.
---
Wouldn't it be nice to see Don Coryell make the Pro Football Hall of Fame? The former Chargers and San Diego State head coach made the final 15, from which the honored will be chosen on Feb. 6.
Coryell is already a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, which he richly deserves. He revolutionized the college game while at State -- really, what we saw during the 1980s and 1990s and into the 2000s before the Spread took over were versions of his offense. He then moved into the NFL with the St. Louis Cardinals before returning home to San Diego. In those days, as now, taking the Cards to the playoffs twice in five seasons should alone be enough to make the Hall of Fame.
The offensive system had already been introduced to the pro game by the time Coryell arrived, thanks to Al Davis and John Madden, but it really became popular when QB Jim Hart and RB Terry Metcalfe cranked up the Cardinals offense after that franchise had been awful for years, and QB Dan Fouts took "Air Coryell" to new heights here. Oldsters can tell you how bad the Bolts were in the early 1970s before he arrived.
---
Darn, why did I have to live through an SDSU team blowing a huge lead to lose to Wyoming, again!? You can point to all kinds of reasons for the football and basketball meltdowns, but players counting their chickens before they hatched were a biggie. I'm tired of this kind of crap. Really, how stupid can you be? If the players wonder why SDSU athletics have little local support, its because setbacks like Saturday's collapse against a lesser team have become the expected.
If it sounds like I'm losing patience, I am. Quickly.
---
Advice for Dillon Baxter, the Mission Bay HS star who might de-commit from USC in the wake of coach Pete Carroll's pending departure to Seattle:
1. It's not like USC won't attract a good coach to replace Carroll. Even if you're unsure about the head guy, your position coach will almost certainly be of high quality.
2. That said, the NCAA's hammer is coming down on the Trojans because of violations committed under Carroll. The NCAA could come down hard, or could turn squishy when up against a powerful program. Who knows? But if you stick it out, be prepared to be banned from at least one bowl game while you're there.
3. If you really want to play for Carroll, maximize your potential and he'll draft you in a couple of years.
4. It's less than a month until letter-of-intent day, but time is on your side. That's only the first day for you to sign. You can make your decision when YOU want to, not when someone else says you do.
5. Give Brady Hoke a shot, but don't go to SDSU unless you can get some of your fellow de-commits, especially Palomar CC T Brice Schwab, to go with you. It's too bad you're not a year younger, because at this time in 2011 the Aztecs will be a legitimate option on their own.
6. Keep your eye on what's important: whether you like the coaches and teammates, the environment of the campus, and a school that won't sell you short on academics. If you're as good a football player as everyone thinks you are, the bright lights will come.
Good luck, whatever decision you make.
Yep, as expected, those teams coming out of the wildcard round of the AFC playoffs look awfully dangerous, Jets included. In fact, the Ravens appeared so good in crunching the Patriots Sunday that they look quite capable of beating the Colts in Indianapolis. That would be way cool, allowing the Chargers to host the AFC Championship Game -- if they indeed make it that far -- but the idea right now of that team being the roadblock to the Super Bowl ... oh, shudder. Especially when you know the Ravens have already won at Qualcomm Stadium this season.
I think the Chargers have the NFL's best collection of skill talent, but I worry that the Jets are going to keep the ball on the ground the whole game and try to keep Mark Sanchez from throwing more than 20 passes. The strategy worked to near perfection as the rookie completed 12 of 15 throws for 182 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions.
It helped quite a bit that Shonn Greene and Thomas Jones combined for 169 yards on 36 carries. I'd like to say they can't do that against the Bolts, but I won't go that far. They might with the league's top rushing attack going against the Make Shift. That scares me. There's also talk that the Jets blitz-happy defense will be eaten alive by QB Philip Rivers. That's possible, too. But imagine them sending pass-rushers around T Marcus McNeill, who struggled at Tennessee, and right side colleagues Brandon Dombrowski and Jon Runyan. That scares me, too.
The Chargers ought to be good for enough big plays on offense and defense to survive. The odds are better than not. But the margin suddenly looks dangerously slim.
---
Wouldn't it be nice to see Don Coryell make the Pro Football Hall of Fame? The former Chargers and San Diego State head coach made the final 15, from which the honored will be chosen on Feb. 6.
Coryell is already a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, which he richly deserves. He revolutionized the college game while at State -- really, what we saw during the 1980s and 1990s and into the 2000s before the Spread took over were versions of his offense. He then moved into the NFL with the St. Louis Cardinals before returning home to San Diego. In those days, as now, taking the Cards to the playoffs twice in five seasons should alone be enough to make the Hall of Fame.
The offensive system had already been introduced to the pro game by the time Coryell arrived, thanks to Al Davis and John Madden, but it really became popular when QB Jim Hart and RB Terry Metcalfe cranked up the Cardinals offense after that franchise had been awful for years, and QB Dan Fouts took "Air Coryell" to new heights here. Oldsters can tell you how bad the Bolts were in the early 1970s before he arrived.
---
Darn, why did I have to live through an SDSU team blowing a huge lead to lose to Wyoming, again!? You can point to all kinds of reasons for the football and basketball meltdowns, but players counting their chickens before they hatched were a biggie. I'm tired of this kind of crap. Really, how stupid can you be? If the players wonder why SDSU athletics have little local support, its because setbacks like Saturday's collapse against a lesser team have become the expected.
If it sounds like I'm losing patience, I am. Quickly.
---
Advice for Dillon Baxter, the Mission Bay HS star who might de-commit from USC in the wake of coach Pete Carroll's pending departure to Seattle:
1. It's not like USC won't attract a good coach to replace Carroll. Even if you're unsure about the head guy, your position coach will almost certainly be of high quality.
2. That said, the NCAA's hammer is coming down on the Trojans because of violations committed under Carroll. The NCAA could come down hard, or could turn squishy when up against a powerful program. Who knows? But if you stick it out, be prepared to be banned from at least one bowl game while you're there.
3. If you really want to play for Carroll, maximize your potential and he'll draft you in a couple of years.
4. It's less than a month until letter-of-intent day, but time is on your side. That's only the first day for you to sign. You can make your decision when YOU want to, not when someone else says you do.
5. Give Brady Hoke a shot, but don't go to SDSU unless you can get some of your fellow de-commits, especially Palomar CC T Brice Schwab, to go with you. It's too bad you're not a year younger, because at this time in 2011 the Aztecs will be a legitimate option on their own.
6. Keep your eye on what's important: whether you like the coaches and teammates, the environment of the campus, and a school that won't sell you short on academics. If you're as good a football player as everyone thinks you are, the bright lights will come.
Good luck, whatever decision you make.
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Chargers Playoff Worries, SDSU Puts Up
I know a lot of Chargers fans are pricing out plane tickets to Miami, but I'm probably the one guy in town who remains skeptical about their chances of making the Super Bowl.
My worry isn't Indianapolis, against whom the Chargers are comfortable. The Bolts certainly never fear playing the Colts on the road. If they make it to the AFC Championship Game, then I'm happy to take my chances.
I'm worried about that first playoff game, most likely against the Patriots or Ravens.
The Patriots are still the Patriots even without WR Wes Welker -- maybe not what they once were, but still a serious threat. The Ravens have won at Qualcomm already this season, and took three of their last four games after struggling in November. Both are the kind of big, strong teams that the Chargers sometimes struggle with.
I do think the Chargers are the best team in the best conference, so if they can get past a potential first-game matchup problem, they might not only get to the Super Bowl, but win it.
---
There was quite a bit of talk about Nick Canepa's column in The San Diego Union-Tribune, a sort of "told you so" piece about GM AJ Smith and coach Norv Turner. I've backed Turner from the get-go. My issue with Smith is he ignores the line of scrimmage until there's a crisis, then he tries to plug the leaks. Sometimes, like this year, it works. If the Bolts are de-railed by the Patriots or Ravens, it will be because they aren't Super Bowl caliber in the trenches.
---
Tuesday night's contest between San Diego State's basketball team and 15th ranked New Mexico was a "put up or shut up" match for the Aztecs. That they won by 10 points, 74-64, even with Billy White going down to a high ankle sprain in the first half and some foul trouble, shows they're ready for business after early stumbles.
The game against the Lobos was their 15th, plenty of time for new players to jell. Early losses to Saint Mary's and Pacific came while everyone was learning their roles. A more recent setback at Arizona State was just something that happens on the road sometimes. Fine, but by the beginning of conference play, it's a matter of whether or not you're good enough. It appears the Aztecs are.
---
A few weeks ago, I said the Aztecs would lose no more than three games the rest of the season. The loss in Tempe was one, and it was something I accounted for in my thinking. So we're on track. On the other hand, that means the Aztecs have to go 14-2 in a tough Mountain West Conference. Still could happen. We'll find out Saturday just how hard the road games will be when they play at Wyoming.
---
After the turmoil of a 7-9 non-conference schedule, I think the USD men have a solid shot at third place in the West Coast Conference behind Gonzaga and Saint Mary's. The competition will be Portland and, surprise, Loyola-Marymount. Bigger surprise, LMU might be the stiffer competition.
The Pilots have really tailed off after their 5-0 start. The Lions, however, have won six straight games, with victims including pretty good teams in Notre Dame and Long Beach State.
The Toreros host Portland next week but don't travel to LMU until the end of the month. Those are the first two of four games between USD and their competitors that will be critical to conference tournament seeding.
My worry isn't Indianapolis, against whom the Chargers are comfortable. The Bolts certainly never fear playing the Colts on the road. If they make it to the AFC Championship Game, then I'm happy to take my chances.
I'm worried about that first playoff game, most likely against the Patriots or Ravens.
The Patriots are still the Patriots even without WR Wes Welker -- maybe not what they once were, but still a serious threat. The Ravens have won at Qualcomm already this season, and took three of their last four games after struggling in November. Both are the kind of big, strong teams that the Chargers sometimes struggle with.
I do think the Chargers are the best team in the best conference, so if they can get past a potential first-game matchup problem, they might not only get to the Super Bowl, but win it.
---
There was quite a bit of talk about Nick Canepa's column in The San Diego Union-Tribune, a sort of "told you so" piece about GM AJ Smith and coach Norv Turner. I've backed Turner from the get-go. My issue with Smith is he ignores the line of scrimmage until there's a crisis, then he tries to plug the leaks. Sometimes, like this year, it works. If the Bolts are de-railed by the Patriots or Ravens, it will be because they aren't Super Bowl caliber in the trenches.
---
Tuesday night's contest between San Diego State's basketball team and 15th ranked New Mexico was a "put up or shut up" match for the Aztecs. That they won by 10 points, 74-64, even with Billy White going down to a high ankle sprain in the first half and some foul trouble, shows they're ready for business after early stumbles.
The game against the Lobos was their 15th, plenty of time for new players to jell. Early losses to Saint Mary's and Pacific came while everyone was learning their roles. A more recent setback at Arizona State was just something that happens on the road sometimes. Fine, but by the beginning of conference play, it's a matter of whether or not you're good enough. It appears the Aztecs are.
---
A few weeks ago, I said the Aztecs would lose no more than three games the rest of the season. The loss in Tempe was one, and it was something I accounted for in my thinking. So we're on track. On the other hand, that means the Aztecs have to go 14-2 in a tough Mountain West Conference. Still could happen. We'll find out Saturday just how hard the road games will be when they play at Wyoming.
---
After the turmoil of a 7-9 non-conference schedule, I think the USD men have a solid shot at third place in the West Coast Conference behind Gonzaga and Saint Mary's. The competition will be Portland and, surprise, Loyola-Marymount. Bigger surprise, LMU might be the stiffer competition.
The Pilots have really tailed off after their 5-0 start. The Lions, however, have won six straight games, with victims including pretty good teams in Notre Dame and Long Beach State.
The Toreros host Portland next week but don't travel to LMU until the end of the month. Those are the first two of four games between USD and their competitors that will be critical to conference tournament seeding.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)