SB Nation User Blog: CelticPride

BYU 14, Oklahoma 13

CelticPride — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 02:47:45 -0000

BYU 14, Oklahoma 13

Our SOS just got a little better!
II always love watching Oklahoma lose...

FSU Getting No Respect - Relax, It's Nothing New

CelticPride — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:08:45 -0000

So ESPN says that FSU is the most likely "giant" aka top seed to get knocked out early. Pomeroy has us losing in the first round to Wisconsin.When we beat anyone, it's because they were seriously flawed (Clemson) or undermanned (UNC).

In a nutshell, we get no respect.

But the truth is, the national media doesn' t really cover FSU basketball. You heard it in the announcing during the ACC championship. "FSU should have a significant advantage on the boards because of their height." If you'd followed FSU hoops at all this year, you know that our defensive rebounding is one of our biggest challenges. In other words, the national media hasn't done their homework on our hoops.

A lot of the computer programs base our ratings on our early season before we had Kitchen in the lineup and we had close games against mediocre/bad teams. I completely agree we should have beaten Jacksonville and Stetson by more than two. When we lost to Northwestern, we couldn't handle the press at all. We were young, disorganized and confused. But this is a different team now.

Our advantages are defensive intensity, depth, TD and our ability to make plays in close games down the stretch. We never fold up our tents and go home. We always make a run to get us back in the game. The only game in which we didn't compete was @ Wake Forest. Other than that, this team has played with determination and the belief that they can win every game. Overcoming the 19-pt deficit @Clemson is the premier example, but you saw it game after game.

I'm not going to downplay our problems. Turnovers and controlling our defensive glass are issues. One factor that I think hasn't gotten much attention is Uche's back injury. When he's healthy, he provides a solid big with scoring potential that gives TD and Alabi a third wheel on offense.You could see it affected his minutes in the ACC tournament. Of course, the national media was too obsessed with Lawson's toe. Heck, he should have played. We would have had Demercy step on his foot once, and then he could have been out for the big dance. :)

But our positives far outweigh our shortcomings. when you watch our games, you have to remember that our games are never decided in the first half. We always have a second half run in us. And down the stretch, Alabi, Loucks, Dulkys (even Singleton) and especially TD +make+ plays.

I've watched or listened to every FSU bball game this year. I fully expect to see us reach Beantown to face whatever heavy-weights are there to meet us. Go Noles

NB1 The Big Ten is the only conference against which we have a losing record (0-1) this year. We can change that in our next game

NB2 FSU has yet to lose consecutive games this year and we lost our last one in the ACC championship game. Wisco had a *six* game losing streak early in Big Ten play.

FSU 73 Clemson 66

CelticPride — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:52:48 -0000

FSU 73 Clemson 66

Trade Up Theory

CelticPride — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:48:31 -0000

So at the top of the draft are two teams that both clearly want to improve their QB. Yes, Detroit needs to improve everything, but QB is a good place to start. As such, Matt Kiper has both the the Lions and the Chiefs picking QB's in his initial mock draft. But neither Sanchez nor Stafford are sure things. I'm not privy to the internal testing and such that these teams do, but I don't think I would use a high first-rounder on either of these guys.

On the other hand, high on most draft boards (and a player whose draft stock is improving daily) is an outside linebacker from Wake Forest named Aaron Curry. Now, linebacker is considered an area of need for the Patriots and they just happen to have two NFL-quality quarterbacks on their rosters. In a lot of respects, it would make sense for a trade between NE/Det or NE/KC along the lines of Matt Cassel for their high first round selection.

Obviously there are some contra-indicators from a Patriots perspective.

1) What if Brady doesn't come back healthy?

I don't think this is much of an issue. The Patriots are going to find some guy (whio only they know) in the sixth or seventh round who can fill in as QB backup. He will either hold a clipboard for 3-4 seasons or turn into the next Joe Montana

2) The Patriots draft board never looks like anyone elses.

This is a real concern, but Curry looks like the real deal and would definitely be a huge boost to a defense that is getting long in the tooth.

3) The Patriots don't like the high draft picks because of the contract cost.

This is the biggest counter argument to a trade. But the Patriots have been willing to shell out big bucks for free agents who were sure things and Curry looks like the real deal (at least to me).

Any perspective from a Detroit or KC fan is appreciated as well.

Miami transfer mistreated badly

CelticPride — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:20:26 -0000

Miami transfer mistreated badly

Hoe this helps us recruiting-wise in Florida

The League Office Hates the Patriots

CelticPride — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 21:36:37 -0000

The League Office Hates the Patriots (And the Bucs too.)

Moving the Jets-Dolphins game is a travesty, a farce and a greater punishment that the loss of a draft pick.

I can't believe a bigger deal isn't being made out of the league's decision to screw the Patriots in the playoff chase by moving the Jets-Dolphins game to the later time-slot on Sunday. Concurrent games for teams who's results effect each other are the only way to be fair (FIFA - the World Soccer organization knows this which is why the finals of group stages are always done concurrently.)

If you're going to move one game for TV purposes, the only fair thing to do is to move the other game as well.

I'm not saying that the Jets are going to deliberately throw the game, but it's human nature to let down when you don't have anything to play for.*

This is truly classless by the NFL and it's a shot to the Patriot playoff chances.

*I know the Jets go to the playoffs if they win and the Jags win at Baltimore. But when's the last time a good home team who needed a win for a playoff berth lost to a below .500 road team playing for nothing. This is unrealistic.

This isn't over

CelticPride — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:17:04 -0000

Ok, we can all agree that last night sucked for the Bucs. The big question is what happened to the run defense. That needs to be answered and answered soon because even with last night's loss, Tampa still has a shot at the number 2 seed.

This game coming up in Atlanta is huge. It almost guarantees a playoff spot. After that, the Bucs play two home games against weaker AFC competetion. Carolina plays a much tougher schedule down the stretch (Denver, @NYG, @NO)

If we win out and they lose in either New York or New Orleans, the Bucs would get the division title b/c of a better conference record.

*Another Good -Comeback- Win

CelticPride — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:05:51 -0000

Yes, it was against the winless Lions, but a road win is a road win. Even with a 17-0 first quarter deficit, I was confident that the Bucs would win the game (if they didn't win it, I was _confident_ the Lions would find a way to lose it). But the Bucs put it away in style - leading at the half! after being down 17 after one.

I'm extremely happy with 8-3. The Bucs aren't a dominant team by any stretch, but each of our losses was close (four points or less) And good defense and ball-control can go far in the playoffs. I'd feel better about this team if our return men would stop fumbling. We need to do a better job in the Red Zone of putting up 7. And we need the Cadillac to regain his first year form.

We'll know a lot more about the Bucs after the next three games. Coming up this week it's payback time against the Saints followed by two tough road tests in Carolina and Atlanta. The season ends with home games against SD and Oakland. It'll be interesting b/c I doubt the last two will have any meaning for the Bolts and the Raiders.

It's not too much of a stretch to see the Bucs winning the NFC South and thus getting the number 2 seed in the NFC. If they don't sustain any more major injuries, they could do some damage come playoff time.