The Padres aren't done with the trade market. Thursday's acquisition of Miguel Tejada from the Orioles will enhance their playoff chances. The next step will be to win in the post-season, and for that they're going to want another strong starting pitcher.
Note that I used the word "want" instead of "need." I don't think another starting pitcher will be necessary for playoff success, but I still worry about sending Wade LeBlanc up against the Phillies lineup with Roy Oswalt on the mound. Maybe LeBlanc or Jon Garland gets hot, but I'd rather not take my chances with doing nothing.
I might be putting the cart before the horse, but a look at the standings shows the Padres are well-positioned to make the playoffs. They're five games in front of the Phils and Cardinals in a potential wildcard race, six games in the all-important loss column. That is by no means safe, but of all the contenders, I see the two-time defending NL champs as the only team likely to get hot down the stretch. Also, the Padres have shown a great knack of avoiding slumps, so I think they're in the race to the wire.
So the Padres don't need to get their big starter quite yet. In August, you can still trade for players as long as they clear waivers, and there are indications that other teams aren't going to be messing with the waiver wire next month.
The question is who? GM Jed Hoyer might be able to pry Brett Myers (8-6, 3.10 in a hitter's park) out of Houston or Livan Hernandez (7-7, 3.22) out of Washington. Maybe Ryan Dempster (8-7, 3.71) can be taken from the Cubs. But that's about it. As bad as their teams are, I can't see the Mariners giving up Felix Hernandez or the Royals parting with Zach Greinke for anything other than a king's ransom. The good pitchers are with the good teams. So talking about acquiring a solid starter for the playoffs is much easier than actually getting once.
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Changes are afoot with the San Diego State football program. I attended an event Thursday night in which coach Brady Hoke talked and he said the players are all bigger and stronger thanks to dedicated off-season conditioning -- stuff we hear every year about this time.
Here's what convinces me that improvement is coming at SDSU. I talked with a longtime local high school football coach who deals with plenty of Division 1 prospects and he told me the difference between the current staff and the previous one is "night and day." That is good to hear because, ultimately, to have a good football program you need the best players. If local football coaches are comfortable in recommending the Aztecs to their kids, then Hoke is going to start bringing in high-quality recruits.
Previous SDSU coach Chuck Long spoke frequently of putting a fence around San Diego, but it turned out to be so much lip service. You'd hear comments every so often from people connected to area high school powers that they never saw Long or his staff. Hoke and his guys actually go out and do something about it.
I don't know if the change will show up in this year's won-loss record. I still hold to challenging for a 6-6 bowl. But the program finally appears to be on the right track. Let's hope local fans take notice and start showing up again.
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I like Torrey Pines High's Nick Kerr committing to the USD basketball team. The son of longtime NBA star Steve Kerr was not a high-profile recruit, but the Toreros have been very successful with three-point sharpshooters in the past. Here's hoping Kerr becomes the best of them.
Showing posts with label USD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USD. Show all posts
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, September 06, 2007
2007 Football Predictions
This fall has the makings of what could be a highly successful season of local football, maybe more so than the late-1970's when San Diego State ruled the roost and the Chargers were beginning to come on strong behind Dan Fouts.
The Aztecs appear to have better personnel entering this season under coach Chuck Long than they did in a 3-9 2006. The offensive is, for the most part, healthy. QB Kevin O'Connell is a senior. The running back corps is deep, and the wide receivers could become a threat for the first time since JR Tolver and Kassim Osgood were running patterns for the red and black. The tight end position has a chance to be productive for the first time in more than a decade.
The defense has switched to a 3-4 set, a long overdue move based on recruiting realities -- the difficulty a non-BCS school has at attracting talented defensive linemen and SDSU's growing reputation as a linebacker factory. The Aztecs have usually attracted far more defensive ends than tackles, too.
The keys to the season: keeping the offensive line starters healthy and the secondary able to at least put up a fight to opposing wideouts. The line may never be able to power a strong running game, but they should be able to give O'Connell that extra split-second he's been needing to find receivers. The secondary is a total unknown, but reports claim they're pretty athletic.
If those points above are met successfully, the Aztecs could go somewhere around 7-5 and qualify for a bowl game -- a welcome holiday gift for suffering fans. If things don't work out so well, then a 4-8 semi-disaster is likely.
My bet is the offensive line will hold together at a reasonable level but the secondary will probably struggle early, particularly since the defense probably won't generate much of a pass rush against good teams. That means something more middlin', meaning the Aztecs could be 6-5 and needing to beat a Top 25 TCU squad when they come to town for the regular season finale on Nov. 24.
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What else is there to say about the Chargers other than they have the most talent in the NFL, and might by far. There are some issues noted in previous posts, such as two new starting inside linebackers and a pair of safeties who are suspect. They might end up in some shootouts this year against quality opponents.
On offense, the wide receivers don't look improved as a group, but Vincent Jackson might be ready to blossom into stardom in his first season as a starter. We'll have to see. And, remember, Philip Rivers had a couple poor games last year. I don't see him having a sophomore jinx in 2007, but the possibility is there nonetheless. The offensive line depth is thin behind some quality starters.
Maybe the biggest problem the Chargers have is Denver being vastly improved, at least on paper. The Broncos are good enough to split with the Bolts and then who knows what they do with the rest of their schedule.
All things being equal, it's probably too much to expect another 14-2 against a tougher schedule, and facing NFL competition. I'm guessing, after going through the Chargers slate, that they'll go 12-4 or 11-5. If they get hit with injuries in the offensive line, the receiver corps beyond what they already face with Eric Parker, it could get worse. Otherwise, this is a high quality team that will almost certainly go to the playoffs. Postseason is the real season as far as Chargers fans are concerned.
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There's a lot of talk in town of USD running the table behind superstar QB Josh Johnson, star RB JT Rogan and a solid defense. But the Toreros do have two games against teams at a higher level: Northern Colorado at home and UC Davis to end the season on the road. Davis is the squad that rather comfortably dealt the Toreros their only loss last season. So one or two Ls this season could happen, but no one else should give them a problem.
The Aztecs appear to have better personnel entering this season under coach Chuck Long than they did in a 3-9 2006. The offensive is, for the most part, healthy. QB Kevin O'Connell is a senior. The running back corps is deep, and the wide receivers could become a threat for the first time since JR Tolver and Kassim Osgood were running patterns for the red and black. The tight end position has a chance to be productive for the first time in more than a decade.
The defense has switched to a 3-4 set, a long overdue move based on recruiting realities -- the difficulty a non-BCS school has at attracting talented defensive linemen and SDSU's growing reputation as a linebacker factory. The Aztecs have usually attracted far more defensive ends than tackles, too.
The keys to the season: keeping the offensive line starters healthy and the secondary able to at least put up a fight to opposing wideouts. The line may never be able to power a strong running game, but they should be able to give O'Connell that extra split-second he's been needing to find receivers. The secondary is a total unknown, but reports claim they're pretty athletic.
If those points above are met successfully, the Aztecs could go somewhere around 7-5 and qualify for a bowl game -- a welcome holiday gift for suffering fans. If things don't work out so well, then a 4-8 semi-disaster is likely.
My bet is the offensive line will hold together at a reasonable level but the secondary will probably struggle early, particularly since the defense probably won't generate much of a pass rush against good teams. That means something more middlin', meaning the Aztecs could be 6-5 and needing to beat a Top 25 TCU squad when they come to town for the regular season finale on Nov. 24.
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What else is there to say about the Chargers other than they have the most talent in the NFL, and might by far. There are some issues noted in previous posts, such as two new starting inside linebackers and a pair of safeties who are suspect. They might end up in some shootouts this year against quality opponents.
On offense, the wide receivers don't look improved as a group, but Vincent Jackson might be ready to blossom into stardom in his first season as a starter. We'll have to see. And, remember, Philip Rivers had a couple poor games last year. I don't see him having a sophomore jinx in 2007, but the possibility is there nonetheless. The offensive line depth is thin behind some quality starters.
Maybe the biggest problem the Chargers have is Denver being vastly improved, at least on paper. The Broncos are good enough to split with the Bolts and then who knows what they do with the rest of their schedule.
All things being equal, it's probably too much to expect another 14-2 against a tougher schedule, and facing NFL competition. I'm guessing, after going through the Chargers slate, that they'll go 12-4 or 11-5. If they get hit with injuries in the offensive line, the receiver corps beyond what they already face with Eric Parker, it could get worse. Otherwise, this is a high quality team that will almost certainly go to the playoffs. Postseason is the real season as far as Chargers fans are concerned.
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There's a lot of talk in town of USD running the table behind superstar QB Josh Johnson, star RB JT Rogan and a solid defense. But the Toreros do have two games against teams at a higher level: Northern Colorado at home and UC Davis to end the season on the road. Davis is the squad that rather comfortably dealt the Toreros their only loss last season. So one or two Ls this season could happen, but no one else should give them a problem.
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