Sunday, September 30, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
A Blogging Announcement
As long-time readers know, I used to post everyday. Then as I joined Twitter I tweeted about the menial things I used to be writing blog posts about. Then my Twitter followers eclipsed my page views, so I tweeted more and blogged here less. Then I became an editor at The Brotherly Game. And now, I have reached what will probably be the pinnacle of my blogging career. I have become a contributor at Liberty Ballers, SB Nation's Philadelphia 76ers blog.
When Michael Levin graciously extended an invitation to me to join, my first thought was to say no. But then I thought about it, thinking I could serve in a similar capacity that I currently do at The Brotherly Game, posting game threads and writing recaps. MLS and NBA seasons do not really overlap, so it is little worry for me there. I pitched that idea to Mike, and once I began talking to him, I was sold. The personality and style of the blog fits me perfectly, and the people there are all fantastic.
As an added benefit, Liberty Ballers is a credentialed site. I can easily call up Mike, and he can put me in contact with Sixers PR director Michael Preston who would hook me up with a press pass. Awesome. Due to my personal life, this probably won't be able to happen too often, but I go in the locker rooms and interview Andrew Bynum. My nipples are hard.
What does this mean for here? Well, I am not really sure. I mean I could not be posting here less any more as it is, but my lack of posting here has led to a decline in readership, and the incentive to take time to write long-winded pieces here just is not there for me anymore. I'll still try to host and be a part of the live blogs with all of you because I know this is the only thing Chris ever cares about and would bludgeon me with an ax if I ever ceased them, but Liberty Ballers is now my first priority.
My years of blogging and tweeting about sports have led up to the most awesome writing opportunity I have ever been given at a time that has never been better. I will see you around.
When Michael Levin graciously extended an invitation to me to join, my first thought was to say no. But then I thought about it, thinking I could serve in a similar capacity that I currently do at The Brotherly Game, posting game threads and writing recaps. MLS and NBA seasons do not really overlap, so it is little worry for me there. I pitched that idea to Mike, and once I began talking to him, I was sold. The personality and style of the blog fits me perfectly, and the people there are all fantastic.
As an added benefit, Liberty Ballers is a credentialed site. I can easily call up Mike, and he can put me in contact with Sixers PR director Michael Preston who would hook me up with a press pass. Awesome. Due to my personal life, this probably won't be able to happen too often, but I go in the locker rooms and interview Andrew Bynum. My nipples are hard.
What does this mean for here? Well, I am not really sure. I mean I could not be posting here less any more as it is, but my lack of posting here has led to a decline in readership, and the incentive to take time to write long-winded pieces here just is not there for me anymore. I'll still try to host and be a part of the live blogs with all of you because I know this is the only thing Chris ever cares about and would bludgeon me with an ax if I ever ceased them, but Liberty Ballers is now my first priority.
My years of blogging and tweeting about sports have led up to the most awesome writing opportunity I have ever been given at a time that has never been better. I will see you around.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Passes And Rushes Are Not Equal, Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Accept Andy Reid's Play-Calling
Let's get this out of the way first. Football is a very complicated game, probably the most complicated and hardest to understand of the four major American professional sports. There are so many positions and so many moving parts that it is difficult to breakdown at an advanced level. I don't claim to know everything. I am certainly not as smart as analysts such as Aaron Schatz (Football Outsiders), Bill Barnwell (Grantland), Brian Burke (Advanced NFL Stats), among many others.
But there is something that puzzles me. People seem to be making a big deal about Andy Reid's play-calling. and I can't figure out why. Well, actually that's a lie. I can figure out why. The reason being is the old-school belief* that it is necessary keep a run-pass balance to keep a defense off-guard. It stands to reason that if you overload pass or run too many times, you become predictable. And once you become predictable, defenses stop you. After the game, many people lamented Andy Reid's lack of a pass-rush balance. But the argument for pass-rush balance is predicated on the fact that passes and rushes in today's NFL are created equal. Unfortunately for the old school, this is not true.
*This is not meant to single any person or group out. From fans to coaches to front office personnel, this way of thinking is seen all throughout football. There are even some very intelligent people who happen to follow football and believe in this way of thinking. Even I distinctly remember writing two years ago that the key to beating Green Bay in the playoffs was to run the ball more. On the other side of the coin, I do suspect that the Eagles organization is a bit more new school in their way of thinking, but I have no direct proof, and the Eagles Front Office is notorious for their lack of transparency.
But there is something that puzzles me. People seem to be making a big deal about Andy Reid's play-calling. and I can't figure out why. Well, actually that's a lie. I can figure out why. The reason being is the old-school belief* that it is necessary keep a run-pass balance to keep a defense off-guard. It stands to reason that if you overload pass or run too many times, you become predictable. And once you become predictable, defenses stop you. After the game, many people lamented Andy Reid's lack of a pass-rush balance. But the argument for pass-rush balance is predicated on the fact that passes and rushes in today's NFL are created equal. Unfortunately for the old school, this is not true.
*This is not meant to single any person or group out. From fans to coaches to front office personnel, this way of thinking is seen all throughout football. There are even some very intelligent people who happen to follow football and believe in this way of thinking. Even I distinctly remember writing two years ago that the key to beating Green Bay in the playoffs was to run the ball more. On the other side of the coin, I do suspect that the Eagles organization is a bit more new school in their way of thinking, but I have no direct proof, and the Eagles Front Office is notorious for their lack of transparency.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)