Week to Week, The Caps Can Become a Greater Team
by Stephen Pepper on Nov 3, 2009 1:32 PM EST
102 comments
Caps Nation must be crestfallen. The official, and officially vague, news that Alex Ovechkin is week to week forces us all to contemplate life without Alex.
Well, one Alex that is. And that's hinting at one reason why, though the health and speedy recovery of the leader of the Washington Capitals is front of mind, this calamity presents an opportunity to be seized. A moment to galvanize the rest of the group in the room. Make no mistake, these are exciting times for the Caps. They will grant us far greater insight into whether or not this 2009-10 team is Stanley Cup-worthy than any individual honors can.
Had Mike Knuble's and Quintin Laing's heroic efforts in the third period (putting aside the former's minor infraction) on Sunday vs. Columbus resulted in victory, I would have deemed that win the most significant to date in this campaign, and perhaps it would remain amongst the most significant victories by season's end. We saw glimpses of comprehensive effort and desperate play. A new clarity of vision. There was no backstop in #8.
The Penguins, not so long ago, lost their leader in Sidney Crosby from, essentially, January 18, 2008 to March 27, 2008, a span of thirty-one games (he was, of course, in the lineup for three games between March 4th and March 9th, including the "Black and Gold" weekend that Caps fans will not soon forget). The Pens forged an impressive 16-8-4 record during that stretch of the season.
But what's most significant is that, before that high-ankle sprain forced Crosby out of the lineup, his team was a respectable 26-17-4 (earning an average of 1.19 standing points per game). From January 19, 2008 to the end of the 2007-08 season, the Pens went 21-10-4 (an average of 1.31 standing points per game), surging to a #2 seeding in the Eastern Conference.
Further to the point, look at how the Pens' "secondary" scorers' production improved in the absence of #87:
2007-08 Scoring Through January 18, 2008
| Player | GP | G | A | PTS |
| Petr Sykora |
55 | 13 | 13 | 26 |
| Ryan Malone | 51 | 10 | 8 | 18 |
| Jordan Staal | 56 | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| Maxime Talbot |
38 | 7 | 4 | 11 |
2007-08 Scoring After January 18, 2008*
| Player | GP | G | A | PTS |
| Sykora | 26 | 15 | 22 | 37 |
| Malone | 26 | 17 | 16 | 33 |
| Staal | 26 | 7 | 8 | 15 |
| Talbot | 25 | 5 | 10 | 15 |
* Regular season only.
So may this 2009-10 Caps supporting cast improve itself.
It's time for Alexander Semin to shoot first . . . and reclaim his own superstar status.
It's time for Tomas Fleischmann (perhaps on a top line?) to possibly crack the 20-goal per season pace, and beyond.
It's time for Chris Clark to find some semblance of an offensive game again, working consistently with more offensively-gifted linemates.
It's time for the coaching staff, and the members of the power play squads, to invent new strategies of extra-man attack.
It's time for the organization to again test it's heralded offensive depth, including those waiting in Chocolate Town for just this moment.
It's time for the defense, currently sitting at 21st in the league in GA/G, to get a little tighter, a little meaner, its passes crisper, its checking more, well, finished. Those top scoring lines won't as easily get that goal back. Ditto for Messrs. Theodore and Varlamov.
It's time for a sixty-minute effort, and not a "fifty-one minute" one.
In short, it's time to get one step closer.
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Great post. You’re always able to rally the troops!
I’m actually pretty excited to see our 8-less Caps play New Jersey tomorrow. If we can play as well without him as we did against CBJ, I’ll be happy. And it’ll quell all the “Washington is a one-man team” naysayers.
"My face is my mask."
by jakeshapiro on Nov 3, 2009 1:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
They may be no longer a one-man team, but they’re still a four-man team! No one besides Ovechkin, Semin, Green, and Backstrom!
by red army line on Nov 3, 2009 3:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Pretty much. The Caps (evil keyboard, I will not write Faps, now stop it) are at a crossroads at this point. If they can step up and show that they’re a deeper team than some think, then the whole unit might just come out the stronger for it.
I have faith that they can do it with a little help from the chocolate and white – and the video including Perreault from today suggests that he’s pretty excited. Besides, didn’t they post the best month-record of the season last year when the team was half chocolate and they were about ready to stick the web designer in goal?
Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood...Make big plans, aim high in hope and work. - Daniel H. Burnham
Fan Clubs: Sloan, Schultz
by gotsparkly on Nov 3, 2009 1:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Matt Bradley will use this as an opportunity to launch himself into a first line role ala Mike Knuble in Boston.
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
by jordanDC on Nov 3, 2009 1:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I see Matt Bradley is developing his own mythology, a la Brooks Laich. I approve.
by gfcaps fan on Nov 3, 2009 2:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’ve been pushing it pretty hard since he started talking about the 80 goal season inside him in The Hockey Diaries.
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
by jordanDC on Nov 3, 2009 2:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Remember when Puck Daddy interviewed him on “Five Ways I’d Change the NHL” and he said as #1 that “I automatically get to play on Alex Ovechkin’s line every game”? Well, the first line LW spot is open. Take it, prof.
by red army line on Nov 3, 2009 3:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It’s time for Chris Clark to find some semblance of an offensive game again, working consistently with more offensively-gifted linemates.
Is this referring to Fehr/Perreault being his supposed linemates for tomorrow? From what I can remember, Clark has worked with a revolving door of linemates including Aucoin, Giroux, Flash, Laing, and Steckel. How is Fehr and Perreault going to impact his offensive production considerably?
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 3, 2009 2:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Not likely, but new and consistent linemates could only help.
by Stephen Pepper on Nov 3, 2009 2:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I grow weary of this argument. Being good could help. If anyone is being hurt by this arrangement it’s the guys who play with Clark.
Russian Machine very rarely breaks.
by macvechkin on Nov 3, 2009 3:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sadly, this may be all that we got left as far as Clark’s offensive prospects.
by Stephen Pepper on Nov 3, 2009 10:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It is time for Jeff Schultz to bring it.
Fight, you time-wasting figure skaters!
by boutros23 on Nov 3, 2009 2:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Schutlz for Ovechkin!
"And next year it will be ours."
by Ovechwin on Nov 3, 2009 2:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Schultz*
"And next year it will be ours."
by Ovechwin on Nov 3, 2009 2:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If he’s anything like me in Be a Pro he’ll win the Rocket Richard.
by red army line on Nov 3, 2009 3:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It’s time for Alexander Semin to shoot first . . . and reclaim his own superstar status.
It’s time for Tomas Fleischmann (perhaps on a top line?) to possibly crack the 20-goal per season pace, and beyond.
It’s time for Chris Clark to find some semblance of an offensive game again, working consistently with more offensively-gifted linemates.
Semin – absolutely possible, in fact, fully expected
Fleischmann – possible, especially given his play the last two games
Clark – possible? Not so much
by Moonage Daydream on Nov 3, 2009 2:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Fleischmann is already on the top line! Ironic thing, after Flash’s good game on Friday, I posted jokingly “Is it time for Flash to be on the first line”. I proved prophetic.
As for Semin, time to replay October of 2008.
by CapsFan75 on Nov 3, 2009 7:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Great research, Pepper.
Malkin played great, but his linemates (Sykora and Malone) did a hell of a job too. Malone helped himself become a very, very rich man by the way he played during 2008.
Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*
*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night
by Hooks Orpik on Nov 3, 2009 2:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I hear music…
“One love
One blood
One life
You got to do what you should
One life
With each other
Sisters and my
Brothers
One life
But we’re not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other”
All right, that’s a little melodramatic. But I don’t think a team has relied on “One” for so much for so long.
by S h a g g y on Nov 3, 2009 2:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
NHL.com reports on post-Ovi Caps
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Nov 3, 2009 2:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Not a particularly positive article. I don’t think the writer believes it’s going to happen.
Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood...Make big plans, aim high in hope and work. - Daniel H. Burnham
Fan Clubs: Sloan, Schultz
by gotsparkly on Nov 3, 2009 3:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If I were a betting man I’d lay even money that the Caps beat NJ on Wednesday. To often, teams with megastars tend to sit in their shadow and wait for them to make something happen and the Caps are no exception. You’re right SP, after Ovechkin went out the guys played more like a team than they probably have all season. I don’t want Alex gone too long, but if he’s out for the weekend I’m very anxious to see what his teammates can do in the next three games. If they can find their stride, when AO returns they’ll be that much stronger. As Hooks will attest, it happened to Pittsburgh.
by b.orr4 on Nov 3, 2009 2:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I guarantee when the Caps succeed without AO the haters will come out of the woodwork with this “evidence” that AO does, in fact, hurt his own team because he’s so selfish. Mark it down.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 3, 2009 3:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Those idiots will post that shit after he has a 4-goal game. Team success without Ovie isn’t going to change anything.
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
by jordanDC on Nov 3, 2009 3:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m a huge Caps fan but, we all know Ovechkin just sits at the blue line and cherry picks. He’s so one-dimensional.
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 3, 2009 3:35 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I’ve been a fan since 1974, and I remember when the offensive players used to back check.
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
by jordanDC on Nov 3, 2009 3:37 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Somewhat related, if you haven’t seen this already…
by red army line on Nov 3, 2009 3:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Caps coach Bruce Boudreau, who suggested two weeks is a reasonable window, still wouldn’t be shocked if he had Ovi back as early as this weekend.
“It’s Ovi and I mean, he does things nobody else can do,” Boudreau said. “I don’t know if it’s a viable option or not, but we’ll make sure he’s healthy when he plays. I just know he’s very tolerant to pain and he wants to play so badly.”
To that end, Boudreau said he’s relying solely on the trainers — and Ovechkin’s honesty — to tell him when the star will be ready.
“I’m taking myself out of this equation,” Boudreau said. “The trainers will say he’s ready to go and he’ll have to pass I’m sure a whole battery of tests and then he’ll have to practice. We make the determination at that point.”
I think I’d like to see BB take command a little more firmly. He basically is saying he cannot control #8, even where his injury is concerned. That does not inspire my confidence.
IMHO, he should have the rest of the team convinced that Ovi won’t be back – until Coach says he’ll be back, and not one minute sooner. And that it will be a while. Possibly a very long while.
I am still of the opinion that it would be better for both player and team to leave him home for the Devils game. Failing that, it would be better for Ovi to be sent to the press box or a suite, away from the team during the game. But no doubt he’ll end up in the bench area, bringing the usual Ovi carnival with him. Fun to watch, not conducive to gritty grind-it-out hockey.
I’ll be happy to be proved wrong.
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Nov 3, 2009 3:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Meh, I don’t know how much control BB could have. He’s not trained medically to know how bad the shoulder is, and he can only go by AO’s word that he’s not in pain. I think this is the right stance (wait until AO says he’s ready and the medics corroborate that).
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 3, 2009 3:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Has got nothing to do with the medical end of it. Has much more to do with letting the superstar dictate to the coach. Malkin was trying that in Pittsburgh and Dan Bylsma put his foot down and said Geno sits ’til I say he can play.
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Nov 3, 2009 3:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ok, but how does the coach know when he can play? I guess he can watch and wait until he “looks” normal, but how good did AO look in the playoffs last year when he was clearly banged up. I bet Bylsma is taking his cues from the training staff as well.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 3, 2009 3:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Bylsma would be an idiot to not be listening to the trainers. I bet the trainers were the ones who told Bylsma to sit Malkin in the first place.
by RedBirdie on Nov 3, 2009 3:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Malkin suffered his injury 10 days before the team pulled the plug on him. So it’s not like the trainers were able to keep him out.
The player was playing not up to full capacity and the front office (coaches, trainers, GM) made the call and the player agreed (not that he had much choice). From what I understand anyways.
Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*
*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night
by Hooks Orpik on Nov 3, 2009 6:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That’s what I meant. I was reading between the lines of Bylsma’s Malkin presser, and he was MAD. Malkin was playing against the trainer’s advice, and finally Coach had to say, “You’re done, and you are off my ice ’til further notice.”
So Geno is now healing and rehabbing with the clear understanding what expectations are, and the coach will meet with the trainers, who will let him know how Geno is doing, and he’ll be all fresh and shiny in a week or ten days more.
And Geno knows who the boss is. As does the rest of the team.
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Nov 3, 2009 10:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That being said, Ovi did not mess around any more with his injury, went right off the ice, and seems not to be looking too wistfully at his skates just yet.
He prolly knows himself fairly well, and knows how he needs to feel to pour out all the effort he does for every game. And he knows he is not there.
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Nov 3, 2009 10:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Malkin was playing against the trainer’s advice, and finally Coach had to say, "You’re done, and you are off my ice ’til further notice."
And Malkin just accepted that?
Wuss.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Nov 4, 2009 12:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Of course Bylsma went by what his trainers tell him. But ultimately, the team understands that the decisions are made by the coach, and nobody else.
This is the phrase that bugged me:
"I’m taking myself out of this equation," Boudreau said.
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Nov 3, 2009 3:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I believe he meant that the trainers’ word is bond.
Russian Machine very rarely breaks.
by macvechkin on Nov 3, 2009 3:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
coaches almost always want their athletes to come back too soon. They’re tempted to play trainer and evaluate them themselves and let them come back too soon (because let’s be honest, athletes are terrible about resting). What I’m reading Bruce as saying is “I’m not going to say a word to the medical staff. Not ’He’s looking better, how ‘bout some practice time?’ Not ‘Ovie says he’s better, will you clear him?’ The trainers are the trainers for a reason.”
by RedBirdie on Nov 3, 2009 3:29 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
See also: Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 3, 2009 3:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
see also: Birdie’s elbow that needed 2 surgeries to fix the damage from a coach saying “It’ll be fine! It’s just a hyperextension.” Stupid Birdie for listening.
by RedBirdie on Nov 3, 2009 3:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yeah. Hence all my screaming about “Just trust the damn medical staff!” The elbow is the worst, but I have a few other chronic issues from trying to come back from injury too soon.
I’ve also had a few athletes of my own that have gotten quite pissed at me for refusing to allow them to practice and/or compete until I was satisfied that they were fully cleared. It’s really hard as a coach to do that, to say “NO.” It sucks, but it’s what coaches who care about their athletes as people (and not just game pieces) do.
by RedBirdie on Nov 3, 2009 3:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
although to be fair, i’ve never seen a coach so dramatically alter his gameplan to protect a player from injury, despite TT receiving the “all clear” from team docs. meyer didn’t trust backup brantley to start on the road at night in baton rouge, so he went with 25% of the playbook and his veteran over 100% of his playbook and the transfer. there’s no such option available to BB.
by Natty Bumppo on Nov 3, 2009 5:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I was referring as much to Tebow playing in the second half of the Kentucky game so Urban Meyer could run up the score as I was the LSU game.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 3, 2009 5:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
oh so you were referring to every coach in NCAA FBS? 3rd quarter and up by 24 points = not a blowout in college football. i think a case could be made he was being overly conservative as much as he was “running up the score.” the gators didn’t even score during the 3rd quarter until a FG with 3:45 left. meyer and addazio weren’t airing it out.
by Natty Bumppo on Nov 3, 2009 6:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
LOL. Not a blowout? That’s a fucking joke. I do know that all FBS coaches run up the score, but I think Urban Meyer goes about it particularly aggressively. Tebow almost wasn’t able to play that game (took the separate flight, I’m sure you’re aware on the details). If he were fully healthy I’d have less of a problem but he wasn’t healthy and he was still in there trying to throw TDs to rack up the score when the game was out of hand. NO chance Kentucky was going to score enough against your D to make that game close. You know it. I know it. Urban Meyer knows it. And let’s be honest. UF, unlike some other teams, doesn’t need to run the score up; they just need to win the SEC. If they win the SEC they are in the BCS game. End of story. Again, you know this. It was much more important for UF to have a healthy Tebow against LSU than it was to have another TD or two against Kentucky. The play Tebow got injured on was a pass in (or near) the red zone. He wasn’t trying to run the clock out, he was running the score up. At least do it with the back up.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 3, 2009 6:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Just checked the video. Pass play from about the ten yard line. Don’t tell me they weren’t airing it out. The only reason UF didn’t score earlier in the 3rd was because Tim Tebow got smoked and lost the ball in the red zone.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 3, 2009 6:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
dude one pass play from the 10 yard line does not equal airing it out, nor does 24 points equal a blowout. “fucking joke” or not, if UF wanted to score big in the 3rd quarter, they could have scored big (see: first half). they didn’t, they put up a total of 3 points, which came the snap after tebow was clocked. the statement that tebow wasn’t fully healthy is conjecture based on the defcon9 attitude meyer was taking towards the flu bug and the possibility it would strike the locker room. meyer said that 35 players had contracted the flu (for all we know, brantley was one of them), and “”http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/gatorbytes/2009/09/26/tim-tebow-major-wright-travel-on-separate-plane-because-of-the-flu/" target="new">several players" were on that plane. if tebow had been deathly sick, he wouldn’t have put up his best half of the season in the first half.
the “running up the score” argument can be made at just about any time with some of these top 10 teams, and in this case, i don’t buy it for a second. not when the margin is just 24 points and the game is in lexington. how many throwing plays is a team allowed when up by 24? is it okay to throw on 3rd down? please tell me and i’ll be sure to let urban meyer know.
by Natty Bumppo on Nov 3, 2009 7:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
last point before i pack up my laptop and head home:
the very gameplan meyer used against miss state, LSU, tennessee and others this year should (but won’t) quiet the running up the score outcry. with two exceptions—this past week against georgia and that first half against UK—florida has been a dive-play-up-the-middle football team all year.
by Natty Bumppo on Nov 3, 2009 8:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You have a dog in this fight. I don’t. You are not looking at this objectively, so whatever. If you think that UF was in any risk of losing that game, then I feel sorry that you are so pessimistic of your team. Maybe you haven’t watched your team lately, but calling time outs to preserve clock to run up the score is kinda dick in my book.
Tebow was on a separate flight. ‘Nuf said. He wasn’t 100%. No need for him to be in that game. No fear that UK was going to run up the score. Could Tebow having his best half have anything to do with UK sucking? I guess not.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 3, 2009 8:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If you think that UF was in any risk of losing that game, then I feel sorry that you are so pessimistic of your team.
wrong, i think urban meyer felt there was still a risk. that’s his personality.
steve spurrier was the one who reveled in running up the score. you’ve got the wrong guy.
by Natty Bumppo on Nov 4, 2009 12:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I do know that all FBS coaches run up the score, but I think Urban Meyer goes about it particularly aggressively.
brantley played in 7 out of the team’s 12 non-championship games last year. meyer isn’t leaving tebow in there just to set records or earn style points (meyer’s battle cry in 2006).
by Natty Bumppo on Nov 3, 2009 7:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
small print: statement doesn’t apply in games against teams that danced in your end zone the year prior, or against coaches that incorrectly accuse you of cheating.
by Natty Bumppo on Nov 3, 2009 7:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
unlike some other teams, doesn’t need to run the score up; they just need to win the SEC.
so just a sampling of games from the same weekend:
colt mccoy was left in until mid-3rd quarter against UTEP, after he threw a TD that made the score 50-7. an undefeated texas makes the national championship game this year, correct? does mack brown need the style points?
greg mcelroy has ’bama up by 28 just mid-way through the 4th quarter against arkansas (during a career day for him as QB). ’bama has a great defense, too. mcelroy takes every snap.
terrelle pryor throws for a TD with 1:13 left in a 30-0 shutout of illinois. how “aggressive.”
by Natty Bumppo on Nov 3, 2009 8:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Look, I’m not standing up for any of the big schools. You could name almost every big name coach in NCAA football and I would say they are a dick. I can’t really think of one off the top of my head that I wouldn’t say that. What I am saying is that Urban Meyer is at the high end of the “Dickhead scale.” You have a rooting interest for UF so it’s in your blood to fight back. I have zero rooting interest in any NCAA football team. The closest thing I have to a rooting interest is a ranking of teams I root against. UF isn’t even close to the top of that (Notre Dame, Ohio St., Penn St., almost all of the Big 10, The Ewe are all way higher on my list). I just don’t like Urban Meyer. He comes off as smug and he seems like he enjoys embarrassing people. I don’t respect that.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 3, 2009 8:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Urban Meyer thinks the rules don’t apply to him. And given what the NCAA has allowed him to get away with, its probably true, unfortunately.
by RedBirdie on Nov 3, 2009 9:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
EXAMPLES! dammit, seriously people. would you allow that shit to pass without any supporting evidence if it were BB? what has urban meyer done that shows “he thinks the rules don’t apply to him?”
by Natty Bumppo on Nov 4, 2009 12:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I can point you to the recruiting flap regarding that had Meyer not only contacting a juco recruit outside of the strict recruiting times but was also actively recruiting his girlfriend for the gymnastics team. Coaches are strictly prohibited from contacting, let alone recruiting, athletes for another sport. The whole thing was dropped when the girl conveniently changed her story and said maybe she didn’t quite remember exactly what happened in those phone calls. the NCAA doesn’t have a lot of recourse when someone clams up and refuses to cooperate.
by RedBirdie on Nov 4, 2009 11:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
according to the sun-sentinal, university of florida football ranked 7th out of the 12 SEC teams in recruiting violations this year, and 6th out of the 12 SEC teams last year.
those violations did not include the carl moore case, which was investigated both by UF and by the NCAA. moore was not contacted outside recruiting times. moore’s girlfriend admitted to sharing a cell phone with moore, confirmed by meyer’s calling records. yes, moore’s girlfriend changed her story about what was said over the phone. the fact that his girlfriend was good enough to contribute to a #4-ranked UF gymastics team and earn her letter suggests that her scholarship offer itself wasn’t inappropriate at all.
the idea that “the rules don’t apply to him,” is propagated by competing schools and competing coaches. from my understanding, meyer has a reputation for heavily recruiting players that have already given oral commitments to other schools. this makes him very unpopular in places like notre dame (both justin trattou and omar hunter). this practice is by no means against the rules, though, and the heavily publicized nukeese richardson case (re: the lane kiffin screw-up) is one example of how it goes both ways.
by Natty Bumppo on Nov 5, 2009 10:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I just don’t like Urban Meyer.
right, but you don’t have a dog in the fight?
i respect meyer because of his work ethic and because of the work ethic he instills in his players. he’s started a whole new set of traditions at UF, including weekly family dinners where players’ families and coaches’ families commune. if he comes across as smug, it’s probably because he’s defending one of his players or defending his program (i don’t know how else you’d like him to handle those situations, but i know that when he lobbies he does so with the support of his players and his AD). from my admittedly biased perspective, he’s hated because of his success.
by Natty Bumppo on Nov 4, 2009 1:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
We’ll see how much you like Urban Meyer when he goes and takes his dream job. Something tells me his shit will stink when it isn’t dressed in blue and orange.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 3, 2009 8:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
if you don’t think i’ve heard it all before, you’re wrong. and if you think i’ll ever have anything besides respect for meyer when he leaves, you don’t understand how appreciative i am for what he’s brought to UF.
two championships later (and counting), i just hope he ends up somewhere he’s happy. since he’s a midwest guy and started his career at ND, i wouldn’t be shocked. my own 2 cents: if he takes the ND job (which he turned down the same summer he took the UF job), then it will be after his 12 year-old son is done with high school.
by Natty Bumppo on Nov 4, 2009 1:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Me not liking Urban Meyer because of what I see as disrespect for his opponents is not the same as you having a vested rooting interest in the team. At all.
Dive or pass play does not matter. The guy carrying the ball has a Heisman. It’s lame to have your offensive starters in the game when it’s out of hand (which Meyer does regularly, and I acknowledge he’s not alone).
“Suspending” Pokie McEye-Gouge for one half is also borderline offensive to my intelligence. That’s not a suspension. It’s also against Vanderbilt. That game is going to be out of hand by halftime. There is no reason for that guy to be playing at all. UF will win that game handily. Instead of sending a message that a vicious attempt to possibly end a guy’s career is not acceptable at UF, Meyer caves to his stud player (and potentially not winning in an utter blowout!) and lets the guy play the very next week. I’d rather no suspension than a “suspension.” If the NHL ever suspended a guy for a period I would totally flip out.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 4, 2009 10:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
if you wish to invalidate my argument (repeatedly) by saying i’m a fan and you’re not—and by using words like “LOL” and “fucking joke”—i will point out that while my points are informed by years of watching the guy and reading his press conferences, yours are informed by a surface level impression that he is smug and by a general dislike for him and other CFB coaches.
your description of meyer as someone that likes to rub other coaches’ faces in the mud is false. meyer is the most conservative head coach in a world of conservative head coaches. when percy harvin was injured last season, his assistants had to talk him out of switching to a two TE, 100% triple option offense. he is a risk manager even before he is an X’s and O’s guy. i’ll say it again: you’ve got the wrong guy. especially in the 3rd quarter of a 24-point game. i cheered and still cheer mightily for steve spurrier, and if you wanted to level those claims at him, i wouldn’t dispute them.
It’s lame to have your offensive starters in the game when it’s out of hand (which Meyer does regularly, and I acknowledge he’s not alone).
You could name almost every big name coach in NCAA football and I would say they are a dick. I can’t really think of one off the top of my head that I wouldn’t say that.
like i said originally, your beef is with the institution of college FB, not urban meyer.
Just checked the video. Pass play from about the ten yard line. Don’t tell me they weren’t airing it out.
in the third quarter against kentucky, florida ran 11 running plays and 2 passing plays. the 2 passing plays (including the sack/injury to tebow) came on 3rd and 9 and 3rd and 26. the 3rd and 26 play came after tebow rushed for zero yards on 2nd and 26.
you ask me to reconsider my biases. i ask you to reconsider your preconceived notions about meyer, taken from one or two high profile games (against UGA, meyer and the rest of the staff were definitely out for blood after being embarassed the year before; against UT, meyer and the rest of the staff should’ve been out for blood, but actually played it close to the vest in order to be safe and prevent turnovers).
you don’t actually know how sick tebow was. you’re speculating based on the separate airplane (which carried at least a dozen other players), and i was trying to give you the context that meyer was deathly afraid of the flu bug. you also didn’t consider that his backup might have been on the plane.
re: spikes, i’ll assume it doesn’t make any difference to you that the georgia player’s eyes weren’t touched or that the georgia player didn’t think spikes deserved a suspension or that spikes will actually be sitting out the entire vanderbilt game.
i’d like to have seen a multi-game suspension myself. i can only give meyer the benefit of the doubt because neither of us know the whole story, and meyer has a track record for suspending his best players. DT marcus thomas was our best D-lineman during the 2006 championship season. meyer suspended him for the rest of the season including the BCS championship game after a positive marijuana test (meyer’s choice, not the NCAA’s). meyer kicked QB heir cameron newton off the team after he was accused of stealing a laptop from another student’s dorm. he didn’t have to do that. word is that newton will be starting for former assistant dan mullen at mississippi state next season. meyer has repeatedly suspended players for academic troubles, including 5-star recruits torrey davis and john brown. davis has since been kicked off the team completely for consecutive DUI’s. i’m not excusing the handling of spikes, i’m simply giving you meyer’s discipline track record. i’m dying to take a crack at bobby bowden and his handling of peter warrick and sebastian janikowski here, but that would again reveal the bias that apparently keeps me from evaluating facts objectively.
by Natty Bumppo on Nov 5, 2009 9:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
No it doesn’t matter that eyes weren’t touched.
No it doesn’t matter that the UG guys says there shouldn’t be a suspension.
Yes it does matter that he’ll sit the full game. That makes it infinitely more palatable; I don’t know why that wasn’t the immediate decision.
Feel free to take shots at FSU, and even more so to take shots at the Ewe. Of the big 3 Florida schools UF is by far the one I’ll root for most.
That’s a pretty good knowledge drop, and I’ll keep it in mind. You definitely follow much more closely than I do.
The only thing I still reject is your categorization based on play calling. Running 11 times with the Heisman winner (maybe not all were him, but surely a bunch were) is not exactly conservative. The reason Tebow is so damn effective is because the vast majority of college defenses can’t stop him running up the middle. Would you say Arkansas was conservative just because they gave the ball to Darren McFadden every play? I wouldn’t. Conservative to me is about taking your offensive starters off the field and letting the back ups play. I’ll never call for the first team D to be pulled because I don’t have a problem playing for a shut out or teaching your D to put their foot on a team’s throat when the offense gets you a lead. I do have a huge problem playing for a 40 point victory in “amateur” athletics that are supposedly about instilling character and sportsmanship in their athletes.
I will definitely acknowledge that the BCS system is far more evil and responsible for this than Urban Meyer alone. I just feel like Meyer and his supporters portray this “holier than thou” image like he doesn’t run up the score and try to pad his players’ stats for Heisman voting. Mack Brown is so open about it that it almost makes it harder to hate on him for; it’s the people that deny that they do it that piss me off more. Sure, it’s probably a little logically inconsistent, but that’s where I’m coming from.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 5, 2009 12:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I just feel like Meyer and his supporters portray this "holier than thou" image like he doesn’t run up the score and try to pad his players’ stats for Heisman voting. Mack Brown is so open about it that it almost makes it harder to hate on him for; it’s the people that deny that they do it that piss me off more.
fair enough. in tebow’s heisman 2007 especially, i think you have a good case. tebow ran for 5 touchdowns in a blowout road win against south carolina, for example (although after a quick double-check, the difference was only 13 points with 4 minutes left…man the D was awful that year).
in this particular season with this particular roster, winning ugly seems to be the mantra…partly because they don’t need to win pretty to stay #1, and partly because the Oline and WR corps are significantly worse than years past.
The only thing I still reject is your categorization based on play calling.
although i was the first one to use the phrase “airing it out,” you did follow up with a “don’t tell me they weren’t airing it out.” which is where the 11 runs vs. 2 passes stat was pulled.
glad to see you came back to this thread. sorry, i was MIA with a school function last night.
by Natty Bumppo on Nov 5, 2009 1:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
side point about tebow’s 2007, though: meyer and other coaches also use individual stats as a recruiting tool. so even though TT doesn’t have to get the ball every time it’s first and goal from the 2 yard line, (1) he genuinely is the safest, most productive option and (2) his stats look great when TTv.2 or PHv.2 is visiting campus and wants to know if he can win a heisman at UF. with mack brown, meyer and others, it makes some sense to prop up your best players in order to keep the program rolling downhill.
by Natty Bumppo on Nov 5, 2009 1:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
eh, trainers and the rest of the medical staff are the experts on this. A smart coach trusts the staff to be honest and have the best interests of the player in mind. Coaches are coaches, not medical experts.
by RedBirdie on Nov 3, 2009 3:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
the Pens went 21-10-4 (an average of 1.31 standing points per game), surging to a #2 seeding in the Eastern Conference..
and that’s with tanking so they could face Ottawa in round 1.
Russian Machine very rarely breaks.
by macvechkin on Nov 3, 2009 3:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
hey now, they only tanked the last game of the season!
by RedBirdie on Nov 3, 2009 3:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It’s time for Chris Clark to find some semblance of an offensive game again, working consistently with more offensively-gifted linemates.
Before Clark came to DC, he was a freakishly consistent 10 goals/season guy (he scored 10 in 01-02, 02-03, 03-04, and during the lockout, playing in Norway, he finished the season with 10 goals, albeit in 15 games. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Clark_(ice_hockey) ). He always got 10 with a good attitude, guts, and drive. He became a 20 and 30 goal guy when playing Ovechkin. Unless he gets put on AO’s right side, he’s going to be the hard working, effective 10 goal guy.
The player I’d like to see step up at forward is Eric Fehr. He has played well at all levels (even in the NHL at times) but now he has the chance to show off his game, hopefully on a line with Backstrom. I think given some quality ice time, the team will be happy with his performance.
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Caps on Nov 3, 2009 3:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Good points, MikeL. That’s why I not-so-subtly used a Fehr pic.
I tracked Clark’s career prior to this season, and yes, 10 goals more the norm that not. But ten would be a good total out of Clark at this point.
by Stephen Pepper on Nov 3, 2009 3:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
>>The player I’d like to see step up at forward is Eric Fehr.
Why do you want to see Fehr benched?
by redlineblue on Nov 3, 2009 3:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Fehr is injured at the moment also and won’t play vs NJ. Trust me. I’d like to see Fehr back in the lineup.
He did well on a line with Backstrom. He also did well with Flash.
by CapsFan75 on Nov 3, 2009 7:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
10 games is a long time
But I’m raising an eyebrow at Alex and LTIR, here in November. Let (make?) the team see what they can do without him. Be confident that he’s as healed as the 82 will let him be. Give him the bye most of his mates will have for the Olympics.
After all, regular season means Maurice. Or is it Henri?
by redlineblue on Nov 3, 2009 3:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
In this case though it gets interesting, because those games may cost him the chance at 70 goals, a total IIRC less than 10 players have hit. I know Ovie’d say regular season means squat, but you have to think that’ll cross his mind.
by red army line on Nov 3, 2009 3:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed.
“hey Alex. Here’s another coke. I love that suit, btw. Listen, if you had to choose Right Now between another Rocket and your first Conn Smythe, uh….”
by redlineblue on Nov 3, 2009 3:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
“Extra cheese for those nachos?”
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Nov 3, 2009 3:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Not the just Richard, a 70 or 80 goal season too. And we all know that he flat out wants to play.
by red army line on Nov 3, 2009 3:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
A 70 or 80 goal season is ‘just [another] Richard’. I think that if Ovechkin has to choose, he’d rather be himself in the playoffs than pursue an individual, regular season, not-quite-record. I hope everyone he listens to feels that way too.
by redlineblue on Nov 3, 2009 4:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Giveaways and takeaways
Can someone tell me where to find giveaway and takeaway stats for individual players? Thanks!
by Caps_Chick on Nov 3, 2009 3:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
NHL.com, stats, individual, then under “Hits” I think.
by red army line on Nov 3, 2009 3:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Go to nhl.com/stats and click “Players.” Under “Reports” click the “Hits – Players.” I’m not sure why it’s under hits, but it just is.
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 3, 2009 3:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks – it would never have occurred to me to look under Hits.
by Caps_Chick on Nov 3, 2009 3:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Nor to me. I just wanted to see how many hits Ovie had, and voila.
by red army line on Nov 3, 2009 3:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yea, it took me a while to find it. That report also includes things like blocked shots and faceoffs, so it’s kind of a mash-up of stats.
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 3, 2009 3:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Not gonna lie, I got chills reading this. Here’s hoping the team lives it.
by mercurialwinger on Nov 3, 2009 5:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
If there’s one guy who I want to step up and show some real leadership, it’s Mike Knuble. This guy should be an inspiration to every 3/4 liner in the league just on resume, and it’s time for him to start cashing in some of those bakery tickets. Close is not good enough if he’s going to skate on the top line.
On a RW side note, Chris Clark is starting to feel a bit heavy on the roster, but I just don’t have any idea what can be done. I think he’s a step slow or three for the top six and he’s not checking and he’s not scoring. Gone are those training camp smiles….
by bigonetimer on Nov 3, 2009 6:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
And as 4th line Captains go, he’s no Ethan Moreau.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 3, 2009 6:40 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
If he doesn’t turn it around, I think Clark is a candidate to be replaced at the trade deadline.
Its not just that he’s not scoring, he’s not passing well or generating any offense. He’s a team worst -6 with only 12 shots – one less than Quintin Laing.
Shouldn’t be too high a price to find a chippy energy guy who can score a few, forecheck hard , and handle the occasional scrap to stand up for teammates. That’s what the caps need from Clark and he’s not delivering consistently.
by Stormblue on Nov 3, 2009 11:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’ve long liked Knuble. And he was leading 15k people during that solo PK on sunday. 22 a great pickup for these Caps.
by redlineblue on Nov 3, 2009 8:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Brave effort to find a silver lining. I don’t think there is one.
Btw, I’m not sure your definition of superstar, but Semin is 21st in points, 17th in p/g, and since you seem focused on shots, 30th in shots w/ no one above him having played fewer games. When did he lose his superstar status you say he has to reclaim. Last year, as you no doubt know, Semin was 6th in the entire league in p/g and 19th in points (52nd in shots but a sh/g pace that would have put in in the top 12 had he played 80 games).
He already is a superstar. Too bad you can’t see that.
by CarlosLA on Nov 3, 2009 10:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I say Semin lost a lot of his credibility and confidence in the Eastern Finals playing against Pittsburgh. He was pretty much a non-factor in the series, after calling out Crosby in the preseason for being “dead wood” and “overrated” you’d think he would’ve shown some mettle. Another soft Euro…
by miah on Nov 4, 2009 1:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Semin was playing with an injured thumb through the whole series. Playing through what was probably extreme pain in an attempt to help his team in any way possible. Do you think maybe that could account for his drop-off?
It wasn’t the “Eastern Finals,” either. Try again.
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
by jordanDC on Nov 4, 2009 6:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It wasn’t the "Eastern Finals," either. Try again.
somethingsomething"losingcredability"something.
by David M. Getz on Nov 4, 2009 11:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It was something, all right.
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Nov 4, 2009 1:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It wasn’t the "Eastern Finals," either.
Maybe not officially, but with the way the Canes performed against the Pens…
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Nov 4, 2009 1:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I fail to see how Semin’s performance and discussion of other players are tied together in the sense that how he does in one affects the other. I mean, you’re calling out Semin and I’d wager money I don’t have that he’s a better player than you. Does that make your critique of him inherently invalid? Of course not.
by David M. Getz on Nov 4, 2009 11:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
21 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 30 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 23 |
|
Atlanta
|
18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 22 |
|
Florida
|
19 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 18 |
|
Carolina
|
21 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 13 |
(updated 11.20.2009 at 9:16 AM EST)
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
