Fotop

I know my posting is sporadic at best. So, if this is a drive-by/he's only posting because they're #1 and 11-0, so be it. But just wanted to check in and say I'm having a ball this season so far. Not here to gloat about it or say who's better than who and who deserves what, just to say that I'm geniunely ecstatic that for at least a week, Notre Dame is #1. It's a dream that as a fan, you don't want to wake up from. Heck part of me just wants to freeze time and not have to see them play USC this weekend. It really has been an unbelievable ride so far, and of course I'll be devastated if they lose this weekend. But this is White Sox in 2005 type of experience for some of us. Could be once in a lifetime, as I hold no reservations about them repeating this anytime soon. As evidenced by this year, you need a lot of things to happen, most of which being uncontrollable, to be able to go 11-0.

Wimbley to the Titans - 5yr/35mil 13.5mil guaranteed per rotoworld. Bears running out of pass rushing options through free agency...

Presume there's no word yet on the severity of Carimi's injury? Assume everyone else here is thinking this, but I'm really hoping it's nothing serious. Anything more than 1 half of Frank Omiyale will likely make multiple grown men cry into their beers (and other grown men cry into their helmets).

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Sep 5, 2011 -> 10:05 PM) Well, I guess Tommy Rees it is. Dayne Crist seemed to have s*** himself. He hasn't played in like 10 months though. Personally, I think Rees is the better fit for the offense despite not having Crist's arm. It's a timing offense, one that requires quick reads, quick decisions and accurate throws. Yes, Rees can't rifle a 20 yd out route, but I don't think that's a priority here as much as it is in the NFL. With that being said, Dayne really got a raw deal. His running back fumbles on the 1 yard line after a beautiful opening drive and his WR (TJ Jones) drops a slant that hits him right in the #s for a TD right before the pick in the end zone. Basically gets yanked after that, and likely will never see the field again unless Rees completely implodes or gets hurt. Now, like I said I think Rees should be the guy despite the lack of athleticism/tools but that's the shortest leash I've ever seen for a starting qb. You have the entire spring and summer to evaluate these guys, name a guy your starter after that evaulation period and completely go against all of that after 1 half of play? That makes me question Kelly's decision making, especially when it's eerily similar to Weis' insistence on using D. Jones as QB to open the season (and promptly yanking him) during Clausen's freshman year. As for this week, Michigan is an extremely important game for the direction of this program. It's always a big one, but it feels even heavier this time around w/ND being 0-1 and the game being in primetime. I have no idea what to expect out of this team after the most odd game I've ever witnessed as an ND fan (between the 5 turnovers, the weather delays, odd penalties, sloppy play, etc). They could win by 30, lose by 30, or more likely it's going to come down to the last drive like it does more often than not between these two.

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Sep 1, 2011 -> 11:32 PM) Tell me about it. Linebackers can tip any pass that is less than 15 yards past them. And cornerbacks react in a twitch. It's hard to pass over the middle in that game. There's been one play for me that's pretty much unstoppable vs. the CPU the last couple years in this game where I almost exclusively pass over the middle (including this year): 5 WR Trips (empty shotgun, trips right) = "Stick" First read should be the inside of the two slants, if there's no middle linebacker in zone coverage should be open fairly quickly if it's only man to man. If middle linebacker is there, wait for your WR to clear his zone then throw. 2nd read is the hitch route from the inside WR on the right side. Usually open if the middle linebacker is cheating to the slant. 3rd read is the outsider slanter on the left side. Same keys as the inside slant. If the play is extended past this point, roll out to your right, wait for the slant runners to clear to near the sideline and they should open up as coverage breaks down. All else fails, chuck up the bomb to the streak, hit the out route, or scramble if your qb has some wheels. Your success rate v. the CPU w/this one once you've mastered it should be extremely high, even on heisman. Yes, I probably play this game too much, but my copy of madden has yet to make it overseas....haha.

Not so much a "Sunday Lineup" today, it's clear this game is important. Well, you've got to look past Dunn & Rios starting, but I think that's a broken record at this point.

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Jul 9, 2011 -> 09:22 PM) Any of the PS3 people getting NCAA 12? I'd really love to get into a decent online dynasty. I figured given the leanings of this board, maybe we could fill the Big Ten+2 and have a bunch of online showdowns in conference play. If it happens, obviously I'm in and I'd take Northwestern. I'd be up for something like this if XBoxers are interested....

Baseless speculation here cribbed from ESPN Insider, but hey, it's a lockout and I'm bored. Anyway, what about making a move for Hanyesworth to bolster up the Bears DTs? Presumably he wouldn't cost much trade-wise - random guess would indicate a third or fourth rounder or something like that. There's serious questions about attitude, motor, whatever you want to call it, but I think he's got something to prove at this point. A chip on your shoulder is always a good thing. Besides that, the guy has always been a beast DT in the 4-3, could be extremely likely that the major source of his angst was playing in a 3-4. Also have to think Marinelli would be a good influence on him. Thoughts? This more crazy than I think it is? I was shocked to see that according to the metrics he's theoretically playing at a high level over the last 3 years, could be BS, but interesting to think about.

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Jul 7, 2011 -> 09:34 PM) If they're going to trade Danks and Floyd, they should do it now. I firmly believe that Danks could bring back a great prospect. Jesus Montero anyone? Combining Floyd with Quentin a deal could bring back a lot too. If they can get Montero for Danks, do it now. If not, I'd rather keep Danks and give him an extension. Like everyone has said, the rotation will be a pitcher short if they deal Floyd, Danks, and Jackson, and then Buehrle leaves for FA. Combine that with the fact that Peavy will make 2+ DL trips, it's not looking good. I have a hypothetical question: would you guys trade Beckham, Sale, Ramirez, and Quentin for Starlin Castro and Josh Vitters? Isn't Vitters almost a non-prospect at this point? I haven't heard of him doing anything of note in awhile. Regardless, there's not a single person that does that trade if they're in Kenny's shoes. Ramirez and Castro are fairly equivalent as is (you give Castro the edge for age and for being cost controlled, but Ramirez has more power and is a better fielder for the time being), so theoretically it's Beckham, Sale, and Quentin for a prospect (that looks so far to be a bust)? No thank you. EDIT: Suppose I'm selling Vitters a bit short as he's still only 21, but he's far from a sure thing.

QUOTE (Fotop @ Jul 7, 2011 -> 08:36 PM) It's cool guys. Twins will find some way to bring Capps into the game, and we'll have a tie ballgame in no time. So ummmm, how 'bout dem bears? (Seriously we can't even muster a hit vs. a guy who can't get anyone out these days?)

It's cool guys. Twins will find some way to bring Capps into the game, and we'll have a tie ballgame in no time.

Until I moved to Singapore I never really saw the appeal of a really nice watch. But I think seeing folks with nice watches everywhere here has sucked me in, since I just bit the bullet and put one on order myself. I'm justifying it to myself by saying it'll be something I can pass on and that I'm getting a good deal on it (ordered in the US for 1.2k cheaper than Singapore), but in reality I know I'm just buckling to my surroundings. I went with an Explorer I, which looks like this: Explorer But if money were no object, I'd definitely get a daytona: Daytona And if money REALLY wasn't an object I'd get one of the following (probably the nautilus): Nautilus AP IWC I had a boss who once told me to buy something nice for yourself anytime you get a bonus. One, because it'll serve as a reminder for what hard work can bring you. Two, because you never know what the future holds, so might as well enjoy it now. Yeah, I know I keep justifying.....but think it's good advice. Curious to know what you end up deciding on (if you haven't already).

Videotape by Radiohead. /pretentious /obligatoryuseofradioheadinanymusicthread

Castro walk, then LiliBOMB for the win. Thus guaranteeing Lillibridge a roster spot for the rest of his career as long as Ozzie is managing somewhere.

QUOTE (PlaySumFnJurny @ Mar 22, 2011 -> 08:20 AM) But that's the point, isn't it? I am told constantly that it isn't (I have rabid, third generation ND in-laws). Thing is, unlike at BYU, its just talk. The issue isn't whether McAlarney's punishment was sufficiently harsh, its whether he would have been reinstated by ND if he wasn't a hoops player. I honestly don't know that answer. The issue IS whether Ragone's punishment was sufficiently harsh. In fact, I'm not certain he was punished at all. He was busted in May 2010 and still in school and on Kelly's team that Fall, though he missed a lot of time due to injury. He's currently applying for a 5th year of elgibility. Appears to be a different disciplinary style to me, but maybe Ragone just had a better lawyer. He should pass his card on to Floyd. I know first-hand that students who are not athletes have been reinstated for a similar charge. I was an R.A. my senior year at ND. During my junior year, there was a guy in my dorm who got kicked out of school for smoking pot in his room. He was suspended the following semester and had to reapply to return the next year. Reapplied, was accepted, and was back in the fall. The Ragone situation is seemingly an outlier in my mind, as every other situation has been dealt with swiftly and much more harsh than most other schools. Granted, these are the rules you sign up for when you commit to ND - it's not just talk. Like I said previously, things could be changing under Kelly's regime in terms of disciplinary issues becoming less black and white. I have no idea.