Fletcher Cox, Ready To Impress

The Eagles certainly played their cards right on draft day, moving up to select highly talented defensive tackle Fletcher Cox.

In three years at Mississippi State, Cox recorded a total of 113 tackles and 7.5 sacks.  He also forced 2 fumbles, and overall he has tremendous raw athletic ability and a huge upside.  Mike Patterson's injury will force Cox to be extra prepared for the start of the season.  While it's certainly a shame that Patterson is hurt, his injury will enable to Cox to see a lot more snaps with the first team.

Experts and fans everywhere seem to agree that the Fletcher Cox selection was a tremendous pick by the Eagles.  In the past though, the Eagles have certainly had trouble drafting talented defensive linemen.

2000: DT Corey Simon
2003: DE Jerome McDougle
2005: DT Mike Patterson
2006: DT Brodrick Bunkley
2010: DE Brandon Graham

Aside from Simon and Patterson, the Eagles have struggled greatly drafting linemen. Hopefully Fletcher Cox will be a change in that trend and be able to learn a lot from veteran leader Cullen Jenkins.

A huge problem for the Eagles last year on defense was the large holes created by the wide 9 formation.  For this season, hopefully Jenkins and Cox will be able to step up and fill those holes nicely and get into the backfield to make some plays.

I also think the Eagles should continue only using the wide 9 formation on definite passing plays.  Toward the end of last year, Juan Castillo adjusted and limited the use of the the wide 9 for mostly passing plays.  On definite passing plays, it is a huge advantage for the Eagles to have Jason Babin and Trent Cole coming off the edges at fast speeds.  But if the opposition runs the ball, both Babin and Cole are 3-4 yards out of the main picture and huge running lanes are opened.

Overall, I think that Fletcher Cox is the final piece to a highly talented defensive line.  Babin and Cole proved how effective they can be last year posting 18 and 11 sacks respectively.  And now hopefully Cullen Jenkins has a partner of his own who will hopefully wreak havoc on opposing offenses for years to come.

Veteran Leadership, Key To Playoff Push

Let's make a run.  Why not?  Heading into this weekend's series against the Atlanta Braves, the Phillies find themselves 9.5 games out of a playoff spot.  But the Phillies are hot, and they have the pitching, the offensive, and most importantly the veteran leadership to make a run.

When you get right down to it, the Phillies have been way back in the standings before and managed to make the playoffs.  In 2007, the Phils were 7 games out on SEPTEMBER 12.  With just 17 games left to play, the Phillies made up 7 games in an unbelievable comeback combined with an epic collapse by the New York Mets.

Can the Phillies pull it off again?  Now I know that the collapse by the Mets in 2007 was one of the worst collapses in the history of baseball.  But think about the vulnerability of the Atlanta Braves, one of the teams the Phillies are currently chasing.

After play on September 1, 2011, the Atlanta Braves held on to a very comfortable 8.5 game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals.  With 26 games left, the Braves too collapsed allowing the St. Louis Cardinals to walk into the playoffs and win the World Series.

The point of me bringing up these two comebacks is to show that a big comeback can and does happen.  The Phillies did it in 2007 and the Cardinals did it as recently as last year.

In addition to the Braves, the Phillies are also chasing the Pittsburgh Pirates who hold the other Wild Card spot.  While the Pirates are certainly playing well behind MVP Andrew McCutchen, they are still a very young team and haven't made the playoffs since 1992.

Overall, these next few games are going to be critical as the Phillies try to put themselves in a good position heading into the final two months of the season.  The Phillies and other teams have put together bigger comebacks in the past, so expect nothing less from your Phils in the remainder of the 2012 season.

Lesean McCoy, Worth The Money

Heading into the off season, Ray Rice, Matt Forte, and Lesean McCoy were all seeking new contracts.  Matt Forte received a 4 year deal worth 32 million with roughly 17 guaranteed.  Ray Rice received a 5 year deal worth 40 million, and will make 17 million in 2012.  Finally Lesean McCoy received a 5 year contract extension that will keep him an Eagle through 2017.  The deal is worth 45 million, with roughly 20 guaranteed.

McCoy is well deserving of the large contract extension.  Take a look at the stats of the three backs from 2009-2011.

Matt Forte
Rushing: 2,995 yards, 4.29 yards per carry, 13 touchdowns.
Receiving: 1508 yards, 160 catches, 4 touchdowns

Ray Rice
Rushing: 3,923 yards, 4.60 yards per carry, 24 touchdowns
Receiving: 1,962 yards, 217 catches, 5 touchdowns

Lesean McCoy
Rushing: 3,026 yards, 4.77 yards per carry, 28 touchdowns
Receiving: 1,215 yards, 166 catches, 5 touchdowns

Lesean McCoy is an electric back.  He has the ability to turn a dead play into a long touchdown run.  His yards per carry is absolutely astounding, he has a knack for finding the end zone, and he causes other defenses to change their game plans when he is on the field.  Looking ahead to the 2012 season, it will certainly be tough for McCoy to repeat his 2011 campaign especially with Jason Peters sidelined with an injury.  But I think the key for McCoy to have another big season will be the play of the wide out Desean Jackson.

Jackson got his big contract during the off season, signing a 5 year extension worth 51 million dollars, 15 guaranteed.  Now that Jackson is happy, hopefully he will be able to rebound this year after a somewhat disappointing 2011 season.  Although Jackson had solid numbers in 2011, he just didn't seem to be fully committed.  Jackson let it be known that he was upset about his contract, and it just seemed he was more worried about getting paid than winning football games.

And while Jackson's numbers were down last year, you really can't look at box scores and statistics to see how effective he was.  When Desean goes deep on a fly route or deep post, he inevitably brings 2 defensive backs out of the box who have to prevent the deep home run pass at all costs.  With less guys in the box, Lesean McCoy has extremely wide running lanes to run through to pick up huge chunks of yards.

So while the Jason Peters injury will certainly hurt McCoy's production in the upcoming year, I think McCoy is more reliant on the play of Desean Jackson to be productive.  And aside from Peters, the entire offensive line is intact.  Not to mention the fact that the Eagles have already replaced Peters with Demetress Bell who actually replaced Peters after he left Buffalo for Philadelphia back in 2009.

Overall, Lesean McCoy is certainly worth the money, and providing that the offensive line remains healthy and Desean Jackson can produce, expect another outstanding year from Shady McCoy.    

Crucial Series In Atlanta

The upcoming weekend series against the Atlanta Braves is going to be absolutely critical for the Phillies' slim post season chances.  Heading into Friday night's match-up, the Phillies will be 9.5 games behind the Braves who currently hold one of the two N.L. Wild Card spots. If the Phillies manage to put together another sweep, they could be 6.5 games out of a playoff spot by the end of the weekend.  

On Friday night, newly extended pitcher Cole Hamels will take on Ben Sheets.  Back on May 1st, Cole tossed 6 innings and allowed just 2 runs in a 4-2 Phillies victory.  Hopefully Hamels will be extra motivated after his extension and ready to prove that he is worth the money.  

Joe Blanton will take to the mound on Saturday night and will be opposed by Mike Minor.  Blanton faced the Braves as recently as July 7th when he allowed 5 runs in just 6.1 innings of work.  Hopefully Blanton can revert to his May 3rd form in which he pitched a complete game shutout against the Braves.

Roy Halladay will take on Tim Hudson in the series finale Sunday afternoon.  Halladay is coming off a rough outing in which he allowed 6 runs against the Brewers.  Back on May 2nd, Halladay got clobbered by the Braves allowing 8 runs in 5.1 innings of work.  The Phillies will certainly need a solid outing from Doc.  

Overall this series will be crucial and the Phillies simply can't afford to drop 2 out of 3 or get swept.  They can't fall any more games behind especially as we get into the month of August and closer to the end of the season.  

Phillies' GM Ruben Amaro will certainly have a lot of decisions to make in the upcoming days.  Right now the Phillies are riding a 4 game winning streak, and they seem to really be picking it up and playing at a high level.  Since returning from the All-Star break, the Phillies are 8-4.  When you factor in the Phillies' hot play along with the fact that Hamels has been extended, I think the Phillies would be foolish to sell away guys like Victorino and Blanton.  

One player who could be traded is Hunter Pence.  Pence will be heading into his final year of arbitration this off season and could earn anywhere from 11 to 14 million.  Pence is simply not worth that money and the Phillies can't afford such a big contract come next year.  If Pence is not moved within the next few days, expect him to be moved during the off season.  

Overall this weekend should be exciting not only to see how the Phillies do against the Braves, but also to see if Ruben Amaro elects to make any trades.    

Phillies Ink Hamels To 6 Year Extension

Today the Phillies announced that they have resigned pitcher Cole Hamels to a 6 year extension worth 144 million dollars.  There is also a team/vesting option for the 2019 season.

Overall I really like the move.  At 28 years old, Cole Hamels is the future of this team.  He is an ace, and at this point in his career, he has a higher upside than both Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay.  It was a deal that the Phillies needed to make and a deal that will pay off for them in the future.

Looking ahead to the 2013 payroll, Rollins, Utley, Howard, Pence, Lee, Halladay, Hamels, and Papelbon will eat up approximately 141 million dollars.  Hamels, Halladay, and Lee alone will eat up approximately 69 million.  With Hamels' extension, the Phillies may look to trade someone to free up some money for the upcoming off season.

Right now the Phillies are showing us that they still have a bit of life left in them.  The Phillies have won 3 straight, 2 of which were walk-offs, and they are coming off another epic comeback after last night's stunning 7-6 victory.

In terms of standings, the Phillies still find themselves 14 back of the Nationals, and 9.5 back of the Wild Card.  But should the Phillies look to trade guys like Victorino, Polanco, Pence, and Blanton?

Of the players mentioned above, I think the Phillies would be smart in trying to move Hunter Pence.  Although Hunter is young, he is probably going to get around 11-13 million this year in arbitration, and the Phillies simply can't afford that.  His offensive numbers have been solid, but he is simply not worth 13 million.

Overall though I like the where the Phillies are headed.  Even if they don't end up making the playoffs this year, they will be back and ready for another run in 2013 with Cole Hamels leading the way.

Vick: Eagles, Potential Dynasty

Last year during training camp, newly acquired back-up QB Vince Young made the infamous "dream team" comments that set the stage for a nightmare 2011 season.

This year, starting QB Michael Vick is the one stirring the pot.  In a recent interview, Vick said that he feels that this current Eagles team has the ability to become a dynasty.  

"When I look at our football team and what we have on paper, I think about when I was growing up and the great San Francisco 49er teams, the great Green Bay Packer teams, and the great Dallas Cowboy teams, how they just positioned themselves to compete and be one of the best teams out there, I think we have a chance to be that. I think we have a chance to develop a dynasty."

Personally I have no problem with Vick making these comments.  I think back to Jimmy Rollins' team to beat statement before the 2007 season.  His comments gave the Phillies confidence and swagger which propelled them to their first playoff appearance since the 1993 season.

I think Vick's words, as the starting QB, give the entire team confidence.  There are a lot of players and coaches that really believe in this team's potential to win a Super Bowl, and the Eagles certainly need confidence after last year's 8-8 season.

The only thing I would say to Vick and this Eagles team, is that let's win one championship before worrying about becoming a dynasty.  And just because the team looks good on paper, that really doesn't mean anything.  If 2011 taught us anything it taught us that all of the talent in the world doesn't equal on the field success.  The Eagles know they have to consistently play good football in order to compete with the top talent in the NFL.

Overall though, the Eagles have all the talent in the world on offense.  Lesean McCoy, Desean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and Mike Vick are just some of the weapons the Eagles feature on offense.  The big question will be the middle of the defense.  Hopefully Fletcher Cox and Demeco Ryans will be able to fill the holes and rebuild this defense.

Claude Giroux NHL 13 Cover

Claude Giroux beat out Nashville Predators' goalie Pekka Rinne for the cover of the NHL 13 video game.

Giroux is very deserving of the honor coming off a season in which he recorded 28 goals and 65 assists good for 93 total points.  Giroux was a big leader for the Flyers all season long but even more so in the playoffs.  Giroux really stepped up in the post season, and in the clinching game against Pittsburgh, G set the tone hitting by Sidney Crosby just seconds into the game.

Giroux is the young face of both the Flyers and the NHL.  At just 24 years of age, Giroux has a long and promising career ahead of him.

While I'm certainly excited for Giroux, I'm unfortunately not as excited for the rest of this Flyers team.  After making big splashes in the 2011 off season, the Flyers really haven't done too much to get better this off season.  I will give them credit for going after Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, but ultimately the Flyers haven't gotten a whole lot better defensively.

Right now I think the Flyers are hoping that their young stars have another big year.  I want to get excited for this upcoming season, but I think the Flyers are still one or two moves away from being serious contenders.  

Phillies: Sell Or Stay?

Phillies fans were somewhat hopeful going into the 2012 season.  Although the Phils were coming off an early playoff exit, they still had managed to win a franchise high 102 wins in the 2011 season.  And even with Chase Utley and Ryan Howard sidelined with injuries to begin the year, nobody could have predicted a dreadful 39-51 start to the season.

As of right now the Phillies are dead last in the N.L. East, 14 games behind the division leading Nationals.  The Phillies are in a little better shape in the Wild Card standings, where they are 11 games behind the Braves and Pirates who are both 49-39.  With 72 games left in the season, the Phillies will have to go on a serious tear in the remainder of the season to have any chance at playing in October.

With the July 31 trade deadline looming, it's soon going to be decision time for the Phillies front office.  Should they re-sign Cole Hamels or trade him?  Should they trade Shane Victorino or Hunter Pence for prospects?

If I were Ruben, I would hold off on all moves until July 30th.  If on July 30th the Phillies are still double digit games back of both the division and wild card, I would then go ahead and trade Hamels and Victorino.  I would trade Hamels with the hope that he would give the Phillies a fair chance at signing him in the off season.

But if the Phillies are 9 games back of the division lead and say 6 or 7 of a wild card spot, why sell the team?  If the Phillies are winning games and making strides to playing at a high level, why not keep the team together and go for it?

Ruben has to have a certain amount of games in the back of his mind in which he will either decide to sell or stay.  He also has to judge as to whether he thinks that the team is legitimately getting better and capable of making a playoff run.

As of right now the Pirates and Braves (the two Wild Card leaders) are on pace to win around 91 games.  To reach 91 wins, the Phillies would have to go 52-20 in their remaining 72 games, good for about a .720 winning percentage.

I know it's a long shot, but the Phillies are finally starting to get healthy.  They get Roy Halladay back tomorrow night, and they have 9 games left against the Braves.  Also the Phillies also usually get hot late in the season.

The following stats are the records of the Phils in the last two months of the season dating back to 2007.

2007: 33-23
2008: 33-21
2009: 34-27
2010: 41-17
2011: 34-21

A long shot? Yea, no doubt.  But keep in mind that the Phillies are fully healthy and this is the first time in MLB history that 5 teams make the playoffs from each league.  Ultimately it will be up to Ruben Amaro Jr. to decide as whether or not the Phillies are capable of making a run to the playoffs.

Sixers Celtics Game 3 Preview

The Sixers hung on to win game two by a final of 82-81 and in the process knotted the series up 1-1.  Tonight the Sixers will look to continue their success in front of their home crowd and to go up 2-1 in the series.  Here are the keys to a game three Sixers' victory.

4th Quarter Defense
In games one and two, the Sixers struggled to hold off the Celtics in the fourth quarter.  The Celtics' veterans were able to fully come alive in the final quarter, and the Sixers had trouble defending them.  Tonight the Sixers have to clamp down in the final quarter.  They can't go into cruise control late in the game and hope to win.  They have to be at their best defensively in the final minutes.

Build A Bigger Lead
No matter how big of a lead the Sixers build, the Celtics will inevitably make a run.  Tonight, if the Sixers have a 6 point lead heading into the fourth, they could lose.  But if they are able to build a 10-15 point lead after the third, they stand a much better chance at winning.  The Sixers are a very good third quarter team.  They outscored the Celtics 21-11 in the third quarter of game two, and they need to have another strong third tonight so that they have a large sustainable lead heading into the fourth.

Spencer Hawes
Hawes has had a pretty solid series so far with 15 points in game 1, and 8 points in game two.  But I would still like to see Hawes be more of a factor, because it seems like when he's hot the rest of the Sixers' offense benefits greatly.

Home Court
I'm expecting a lot of energy from Sixers fans tonight.  Sixers fans were completely alive and electric after the Sixers knocked off the Bulls in round one.  Tonight, they need to come with that same energy and propel the Sixers to victory once again.

Right now the Sixers are proving that they have the ability to make it to the Eastern Conference finals.  They just have to play consistently and not let their foot off the gas.

Sixers Celtics Game 2 Preview

On Saturday night the Sixers definitely proved that they can hang with and beat the Boston Celtics.  The Sixers seemed to be in control for much of game one, but essentially ran out of the steam at the end and the Celtics' veterans took over.  Tonight the Sixers have a great opportunity to even the series.  Here are the keys to a Sixers' victory tonight.

Continue To Push Tempo
The Sixers were most successful in game one when they pushed the ball in transition.  Instead of forcing the half court offense, the Sixers did a very good job of utilizing their speed and athleticism to generate easy shots in transition.  The Sixers need to continue to increase the tempo of the game tonight.

Stop KG
The Sixers gave Kevin Garnett way too many open looks on Saturday night.  Garnett went 12-20 from the field good for a game high 29 points.  The Sixers need to double up on Garnett and make somebody else beat them.

Defense
In the fourth quarter on Saturday it seemed like the Celtics hit a switch and started knocking down shots.  Rondo, Pierce, and Garnett all seemed to heat up at the same time and as a result the Sixers lost.  The Sixers need to buckle down on defense especially when the fourth quarter comes around.

Elton Brand 
If Elton Brand doesn't pick up his game, the Sixers will lose this series.  Brand was just 2-5 from the field with 4 points in game 1 and the Sixers need to get him involved.  Collins needs to run more pick and rolls with Brand and also just think of ways to get him open looks.

Focus On Split
The Sixers can't be thinking about what will happen in future games of this series.  The Sixers have to be fully focused on getting the split and bringing this series back to Philadelphia 1-1.

Overall I was very impressed with the Sixers' effort in game 1.  They played with a lot of heart in front of a very hostile environment.  But the Sixers can't be satisfied with just a good performance.  They have to be hungry to win, because they definitely have the talent to eliminate the Celtics.