Sports & Perspective
Frank Ntilikina just wants to show the Knicks what he can bring to the table.
On Friday night, the 19-year old rookie made his home debut and showed everyone he definitely has something to bring. Continue reading “Knicks May Have A Future After All With Frank Ntilikina”
Turn out the lights on the 2017 season for the Giants, this one’s over.
Just when the Giants thought it could not get any more worse, they were reminded otherwise. This team’s in a free fall with no end in sight. Continue reading “Plenty Wrong With The Giants, Start At The Top”
Three weeks into the college football season, the storylines are beginning to heat up across the nation.
Alabama and Clemson are holding rank at the top of the polls, the Tigers are coming off a big-time road win over Heisman winner Lamar Jackson and Louisville.
Ohio State is still lurking, but with quarterback concerns. Can the Buckeyes hold up with J.T. Barrett?
Here are three early storylines which have caught my attention:
The IT factor is the label given to an athlete when we can’t think of anything better to come up with to describe them. Alright, that’s not exactly what it means, but in this case it works for me with Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma.
There’s just something about this guy, he’s all heart out on the field.
In a season where quarterback play has been a leading topic of conversation, Mayfield is making room for himself in a crowded room.
The senior quarterback has the number three ranked Sooners’ humming through the first part of their season schedule. This includes an upset road win over then number two ranked Ohio State. Mayfield was electric in that win over the Buckeyes, the team thrives off his passion he plays the game.
Of all the impressive passing numbers Mayfield’s posted through three games, there’s one specifically which jumps out to me. He’s 63 of 82 on the season with 10 touchdowns and no interceptions. You have to love a quarterback, with a gunslinger mentality, that doesn’t turn the football over.
Hate is a strong word, hate to love might be more suited for the Trojans. They certainly have their swagger back.
This was a pretty easy conclusion for me to reach after fighting off sleep to stay up and watch USC hold off Texas in a 27-24 thriller which needed two overtimes to decide a winner.
What’s also obvious is this won’t be the last time this team’s in a nail-biter this season.
The Trojans have arguably the top quarterback in college football. Sam Darnold is good and he knows it. There’s a hint of arrogance to Darnold’s game which fits the USC swagger. He’s not afraid of the big moment and can make all the throws required to thrive under pressure. Darnold’s jump pass on the final drive of regulation made me almost jump out of bed in amazement.
When USC’s offense is rolling they’re extremely fun to watch move the ball down the field. But they have a living on a prayer quality to them which makes for must-see television, win or lose.
Penn State has been through a lot to get back on the good side of the college football national spotlight.
Head coach James Franklin had the luxury of flying under the radar last season while getting laying the groundwork for the team. Well, that honeymoon’s over and opponents are well aware Penn State’s back and they’re for real.
There’s a blue-collar style to this team I really enjoy. The irony in that is this is an offense that can light up the scoreboard. Trace McSorley is the best quarterback in the Big Ten right now. Lead running back Saquon Barkley is as explosive as they come when it comes to the ground game.
A tough week four clash with Iowa is next on the schedule which should give more insight on where Franklin’s team truly fits in the championship picture. But there’s room at the top for the Nittany Lions.
When placing blame for what’s wrong with the Giants, make sure the finger pointing starts at the top.
A 24-10 loss to the Detroit Lions on Monday night, in front of a capacity crowd for the home opener at Met Life Stadium, has fans scratching their heads in disbelief and frustration.
After another embarrassing performance in front of a national audience, the Giants find themselves at 0-2 to start the season.
Much like the week before in Dallas, the Giants’ offensive line was atrocious.
The Lions sacked Eli Manning five times.
Like Jon Gruden on ESPN constantly reminded us, the Giants run an offense with an emphasis on timing. But Manning has had zero time to pick up his head, much less go through his progressions in order to find an open receiver.
Manning, unlike his counterpart on the Lions, Matthew Stafford, doesn’t have the quickness to constantly escape the pass rush. There were a handful of times where Stafford was able to use his feet to avoid trouble and gain positive yards. Meanwhile Manning, at 36 years old, was target practice for the Lions on this night.
This isn’t to poo-poo on Eli Manning. I’m not hopping on the ‘Is Eli done?’ bandwagon, even though it’s beginning to pick up steam.
The blame for this team’s offensive struggles isn’t entirely on Manning. Just like the fault isn’t entirely on a ground game which only produced 54 yards total between three running backs.
Odell Beckham Jr. returned to the field, but only had four catches for 36 yards.
Then there’s Brandon Marshall.
Marshall was a little more active than his one-catch Giants debut against Dallas a week ago. But his drop in the fourth quarter, on a beautifully thrown pass from Manning, eventually led to a game-breaking 88-yard punt return for a touchdown by Detroit’s Jamal Agnew.
But the receivers are also not entirely at fault.
[irp posts=”330″ name=”Giants’ Offensive Line Struggles Remain A Giant Problem”]
As I wrote in an earlier post prior, if the Giants don’t figure out what to do with their offensive line, they can forget any talk of competing for a Super Bowl. They won’t even make the playoffs.
Left tackle Ereck Flowers was bad again. Lions’ defensive end Ezekiel Ansah recorded three of Detroit’s five sacks on Manning. Watching Ansah repeatedly blow by Flowers at the line, you couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.
It was that bad, it’s been that bad with Flowers since the Giants drafted him.
Flowers has become the poster boy for all that’s wrong with this team’s offensive line. They can’t pass-protect and they can create lanes for the run game.
Those are the primary responsibilities of the position.. Hence, the problem.
On their way to 0-2, the problem remains the same. The O-Line is a mess and it impacts the entire offense. #GiantsPride
— 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 (@TonyRushingNY) September 19, 2017
The run game will never get going, which will make the Giants one-dimensional and predictable. Opposing defenses will continue to focus on Manning whenever he drops back to pass. However, his uneasiness in the pocket will prevent him from ever getting in tune with his receivers.
There will be more three and outs, this will lead to more time on the field for the defense.
Until the Giants figure out their issues on the line, this destructive chain reaction will continue.
But this isn’t all on the offensive line either. Well, the blame has to start somewhere, right?
It’s time to look at who’s calling the plays and who put the team together. Giants general manager Jerry Reese and head coach Ben McAdoo is where the blame begins.
Reese’s decision to bring back this offensive line, with little to no changes, can’t be ignored anymore.
Then there’s McAdoo. He was right to hold Manning accountable for his delay of game gaffe which cost the Giants field position in the red zone. But his play calling also has to change.
On the Giants only touchdown drive, Manning got rid of the football quickly and without hesitation. With that line in front of him, this is going to be the only way the offense will find any rhythm to it.
McAdoo has shown he’s not afraid to criticize his quarterback in front of the media, so then it shouldn’t be a problem for him to make sure Manning gets rid of the football quicker from here on.
Reese and McAdoo can also put their heads together and come up with a better solution at left tackle than Flowers, because this just isn’t working.
It’s one thing to stand by a player who’s clearly struggling to figure it out, but at what point do you start thinking about the rest of the team?
The schedule doesn’t do the Giants any favors. A divisional road game against the Philadelphia Eagles is next, followed by another road game against Tampa Bay.
But if there’s going to be a blame game for what’s gone wrong with the 0-2 Giants, there’s plenty to go around. Just make sure you start at the top.
If the Giants’ offensive line don’t come up with a cure to fix their problems, it won’t matter who Eli Manning throws the football to this season.
We were all reminded of this while watching Big Blue’s season-opening 19-3 road loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Manning was under pressure from the start and barely had time to adjust his helmet before having to run for his life.
The Giants were already without lead wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. because of an ankle injury. As I wrote prior to this game, sitting Beckham was the right call, make no mistake about it. But it wouldn’t have mattered if he was on the field for this one.
[irp posts=”277″ name=”Odell Beckham Jr. Must Keep Big Picture In Mind With Injured Ankle”]
New York’s leading receiver was Roger Lewis, with four catches for 54 yards. Brandon Marshall, brought in to be a solid number two wide receiver, was held to one catch for 10 yards.
I’m pretty sure that’s not how Giants head coach Ben McAdoo drew up the game plan to go.
But this problem doesn’t just impact the passing game, it is much more than that. The Giants inability to run the football the past couple of seasons can be largely attributed to the lack of lanes created for them to run through.
Paul Perkins and Orleans Darkwa are expected to carry the bulk of the running load for the Giants this season, they combined for 30 yards on 10 carries against Dallas.
When you have an offensive line that can’t pass protect or run block, you have a team setup for failure every week.
Beckham is one of the most exciting players in the league. Marshall, if used properly, can still be an impact player. Youngsters Sterling Shepard and Evan Engram have plenty of potential. But Manning needs time to get these players the football in order to do what they do.
The Giants, not surprisingly, lost the time of possession battle to Dallas. They only had the football for 25:46 to the Cowboys 34:14. What this means is the defense was on the field entirely too long.
This is a defense with the potential to be very good this season. But they will be gassed every week trying to pick up their offensive teammates.
The Giants will look to get on track in week 2 against the Detroit Lions. It’ll be the home opener and also a Monday night game.
If the Giants’ offensive line don’t figure out their problems quickly, it will be another lost season for the team.
These days Matt Harvey isn’t the Dark Knight, he’s just Matt Harvey, pitcher for the New York Mets.
Harvey’s no longer the superstar taking New York City by storm, he’s now just a pitcher taking the field every five days.
It’s not the 2013 All-Star Harvey, and it’s not even the 2015 National League Comeback Player of the Year.
The blazing fastball, hitting 98 mph on the radar gun, that Matt Harvey is no longer in the building. The growing reality is we may never see that Harvey again.
Adversity impacts us all in different ways. For Harvey, overcoming his adversity has become the biggest challenge of his professional career.
In three starts since returning from the disabled list with a stress injury to his right scapula, Harvey has posted a 1-2 record with an alarming 12.19 ERA. His struggles have escalated since missing the second half of last year due to surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome.
But it was Harvey’s comments after his most recent start which may have provided the clearest case of someone struggling to regain the success he once had.
In 3 1/3 innings of work, Harvey gave up five runs and loaded the bases three times. The Mets lost the game to the Cubs, 17-5, at Wrigley Field.
“It’s kind of hard to take any positives out of the last two years,” Harvey said. “I am extremely frustrated. It’s hard going out there and not doing what I can to help this team win and it’s extremely frustrating.
“There is a lot of work going in that is not paying off, and it’s becoming very frustrating for me, but there is still three starts to go and you have to do everything you can to go out there to just be better.”
Harvey’s frustration is clear and his concern is justified. The results have not been there for him, this despite all the hard work he’s put in behind the scenes.
I covered one of Harvey’s rehab starts this summer for the Mets short-season Single-A affiliate, the Brooklyn Cyclones. Afterwards, Harvey expressed excitement for getting back to the Mets in time to finish the season. But his comments also displayed an awareness of the process he’s going through.
I came away from that game thinking Harvey’s starting to get it now. He’s 28 years old and these last two years have clearly humbled him.
You can click here to read my article on Harvey, for NY Sports Day.
Harvey is at a career crossroads.
Early success can have us feeling like a superhero, or in Harvey’s case Batman. We feel invincible. Then, like a thief in the night, we’re reminded it’s never that easy.[bctt tweet=”Having an awareness of your situation is always the first step to correcting what’s gone wrong.” username=”TonyRushingNY”]
Once we’re aware of our situation, there’s an evolution phase we’re confronted with.
Michael Jordan didn’t come into the NBA known for his jump shot, he developed it as he grew older. Muhammad Ali was known for his footwork and hand speed, as much he was for his ability to talk you into the arena. But it was the rope-a-dope strategy he employed against a stronger George Foreman which displayed his willingness to evolve.
The ability to throw a blazing fastball can give you early success in Major League Baseball. But it’s more than just having a fastball, it’s knowing when to throw it.
In three starts since coming back from the disabled list, Harvey has struggled early, largely due to his working deep counts and throwing too many pitches. That’s an indication of someone still trying to beat you with only a fastball in their arsenal.
The moment Harvey finds a healthy balance between his power pitches and off-speed stuff, the chances of pitching deeper into ballgames can increase.
Harvey won’t successfully throw 95 to 98 mph throughout a ballgame and come away healthy. He’s no longer that person.
Evolution, however, doesn’t happen overnight.
Having patience is one thing. But having faith in what you’re being patient for is an entirely different ballgame.
Quite simply put, to achieve our goals requires faith in our own abilities to meet them. If we don’t believe in ourselves then what’s the point of even doing it.
Harvey’s not only looking to regain success on the field, he’s facing the challenge of having to evolve his overall game in order to do it. The critics and doubters will only grow with every setback.
The Mets are also looking to see if Harvey has what it takes to get through these tough times. They have a decision to make on Harvey’s long-term future with the team. He’s one year away from free agency, his value is arguably at the lowest it’s ever been.
How far Harvey goes from here remains to be seen, his faith in himself to see it through will go a long way towards his future with the Mets.
If Matt Harvey is to overcome this latest bout with adversity then implementing awareness, a willingness to involve, and maintaining faith in himself are all key components.
The Dark Knight may rise again one day smarter, stronger and fully evolved.
It won’t be easy and the Jets have a long list of concerns going into the season. But the reality is their defense no longer has Sheldon Richardson on the line causing havoc.
After nearly two years of rumors and speculation, the Jets finally said goodbye to Richardson by trading him to the Seattle Seahawks for wide receiver Jermaine Kearse, and a 2018 second-round draft pick. Both teams will also swap seventh-round picks.
I wrote about the Richardson trade in my column for NY Sports Day.
The Jets are still strong on the line with Muhammad Wilkerson and Leonard Williams. Not having to worry where Richardson fits on the field with Wilkerson and Williams should be one less headache for Todd Bowles.
Nose tackle Steve McLendon will need to step up. Newly-acquired Kony Ealy should also get time to show what he can do.
Keeping Wilkerson and Williams fresh and healthy have to be priorities for the Jets this season. The defense is expected to be this team’s strength. Richardson’s production will be missed but the Jets have enough on the depth chart to move on.
The preseason’s over and the Giants are less than one week away from the start of the regular season, possibly without Odell Beckham Jr..
It’s been two weeks since Beckham injured his ankle in a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. The Giants open their season Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys on national television. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on the availability of their star wide receiver.
Beckham, according to reports, has yet to practice since injuring his ankle.
There’s plenty reason to have Beckham on the field Sunday night. He’s a playmaker who’s shown he can thrive on a huge platform such as playing on Sunday night. The Cowboys, besides being a rival, or also a divisional opponent. The Giants can make an early statement with a win on the road to start the season.
But while there’s plenty of reason for Beckham to play Sunday night, the reality of the situation is there’s still an entire season ahead.
If the Giants deliver on defense, protect Eli Manning, and find some sort of running game, they’ll be make a playoff-run this season. But they’ll need their playmakers and Beckham’s at the top of the list.
Beckham obviously is a huge reason expectations for the Giants passing game this season are high. If he’s not 100 percent or close to it, do the Giants really want to risk their top receiver re-injuring himself?
In my opinion, that’s not a risk worth taking in week 1 of the season.
It’s no secret Beckham’s passion for football sometimes gets overshadowed by his occasional emotional displays on the field. There’s no doubt he’s well aware any game against the Cowboys is circled on the calendars of most Giants fans. He’s going to want to play, hurt ankle or not.
It will be interesting to see how the Giants approach Beckham’s injury during the week leading up to Sunday night. Will they throw caution to the wind and play him? Or will the big picture for the rest of the regular season take first priority?
The Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, after nearly a week of suspense, finally were able to complete their blockbuster trade.
Boston has reportedly agreed to send Cleveland their 2020 second-round draft pick, via the Miami Heat, in order to acquire Kyrie Irving and bring a close to the deal.
Cleveland still gets All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas, forward Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and a 2018 first round pick via the Brooklyn Nets.
Concern around Thomas’ injured hip is what led to Cleveland pressing pause on the trade which caught almost everyone around the league by surprise.
What does this mean for both sides? Well, everyone involved can now move on.
Irving and Thomas can now begin the next chapters of their respective NBA careers.
When news broke of Irving’s desire to play elsewhere, the clock began ticking for Cleveland to launch a contingency plan.
There’s no guarantee LeBron James will hang around after the upcoming 2017-18 season. The Cavaliers were facing the possibility of a future without James and with, for the time being, an unhappy Irving.
Moves had to be made and they had to be done with not just the present in mind.
In the business world, critical thinking is a required skill. Decisions have to be made for the short-term, with the bigger picture always in mind.It’s a delicate balance, but it’s also a necessary one.
The Celtics have spent the better part of the last four years stockpiling their war chest with draft picks to help lay a foundation for the team’s future.
Their highway robbery of the Brooklyn Nets in 2013, via trade, has turned into the gift that keeps on giving.
Boston received three unprotected first-round picks (2014, 2016, and 2018) along with the right to swap first-rounders in 2017.
The 2014 pick, James Young, didn’t pan out for Boston. But they still have Jaylen Brown (2016). They wound up with the number one pick overall in the draft for 2017 and traded down to the 3-spot in order to take Duke’s Jason Tatum.
All this and Boston still had Brooklyn’s 2018 pick.
I always remind myself of the importance of giving yourself options. They increase your chances of staying in the game long enough to make your moves.
So when the Cavaliers came knocking, with a four-time All-Star guard ready for a new beginning, Boston knew they were more than prepared to roll out the green welcome mat.
If you stay ready, you’ll never have to get ready.
Patience and preparation are vital. In the case of these two teams, the ability to play the long game while staying current in the present was, and still remain, imperative. Patience and preparation are vital.
Boston has managed to rebuild their franchise, all while remaining in playoff contention. Through a series of strategic moves, the Celtics haven’t missed a beat. They’ve now added one of the best young point guards in the game. Irving’s still only 25 years old.
Cleveland, with the 1-2 punch of James and Irving, have made three consecutive trips to the NBA Finals. But it was a flurry of short-term acquisitions of veteran players, some past their prime, which helped fill out their roster.
The uncertainty of a future without James, along with dealing with Irving’s request to be traded, forced Cleveland into addressing their future now rather than later.
The Cavaliers were crushing the short game, but needed to start looking ahead. It would’ve been easy for Cleveland to jump at the first offer they received for Irving, but they waited for what felt right.
In getting back not only a special talent in Thomas and a worker in Crowder, — the Cavaliers confronted their short-term needs. But the key to all of this was how they’d go about putting themselves in position for the future.
The 2018 first round (and unprotected) pick addresses their future for Cleveland. Holding out on the trade in order to secure another future draft pick only points to their awareness of the long game.
Playing the long game can seem tedious and feel frustrating at times. But if done right, and with patience, the payoff can be rewarding on multiple levels.
In life, playing the short game is cool and can be rewarding. When everything appears to be going according to plan, it’s easy to go from A to Z without thinking five to ten years ahead. We end up falling victim to the thrills of today without the strategy for a better tomorrow.
Boston and Cleveland had to encounter scenarios which impacted their short-term and long-term goals.They took their time to get it right before moving forward.
Knowing when, and when not, to wait takes time to learn. It’s could be the difference between a win for today or a decade of wins ahead.
One week away from the beginning of their preseason schedule, the Jets held their annual Green and White scrimmage. This gave fans another look at how the team’s progressing in training camp, this time under the lights of Met Life Stadium.
I’ll be covering the Jets throughout the 2017 season for NY Sports Day. My Sunday column is now up, it takes a look at what I’ll believe will be the biggest opponent for the team this season.
I’m looking forward to it, it’ll be my second season at the games as a credentialed member of the media.
Meanwhile, here are a few news and notes to keep an eye on with the Jets in preseason: Continue reading “Jets Notebook: Enunwa Injury, McCown or Hackenberg, The Defense”