SB Nation User Blog: SethGrandpa

Dennison's Real Interview

SethGrandpa — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:45:33 -0000

As you all know Rick Dennison interviewed for the head coaching opening today. I think it's safe to assume he's not going to get the job. So why even bring him in for an interview? Good faith? To have an internal candidate? Why?

My most likely theory is this...he was interviewing to keep his current job.

If you're anything like me, you see that bringing in an offensive head coach would be entirely absurd. To overhaul an offense that finished 2nd in the NFL is crazy. Sure, they were not as efficient scoring as they should have been, but the offense is also full of young players and couldn't keep a RB healthy.

Why bring in a coach from a less successful offense? Have the Broncos not learned anything from the failure of other coaches from the Pats family in places like Cleveland and Notre Dame? Are the Broncos really going to look at a coach from Dallas who is less qualified than Bates and couldn't even keep his offensive players' egos in check?

What is needed is a defensive overall starting at the top, all while keeping people like Dennison and Bates in place. That's where Dennison's interview comes in.

If he's a realist he knows that he's not the frontrunner for the job. What his goal should be is to make a case that the offense is fine and if he's not going to be the head coach then the Broncos should go with a defensive coach.

Is it traditional to lobby for candidates other than yourself? No. But again, an offensive head coach means that he the current offense staff are out of a job. Is it wrong to sell out part of your team and it's coaches? Not in this case, because the defensive coaches are going to be history regardless of what goes down. Dennison can only look after himself.

So that's that. While media outlets will write, "Dennison interviews for Broncos HC job," what it really should read is, "Dennison interviews to keep Broncos offensive staff in tact."

I really hope you did well Rick. I really hope you did well.

Top 10 Lists For 2008

SethGrandpa — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:58:15 -0000

It's that time of the year again. I'm surprised one of these posts hasn't been up already. I really love seeing what other LLers tastes are, so let's get to it. What are your Top 10s (or 5s) for the year in things like music, movies, ect.

Here are mine:

Albums:

1. Delayer - The Heavenly States
2. Everything Is Borrowed - The Streets
3. Natural Selection -1090 Club
4. Day and Age - The Killers
5. Walk It Off - Tapes 'n Tapes
6. Narrow Stairs - Death Cab For Cutie
7. Stay Positive - The Hold Steady
8. Vister - The Dodos
9. Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords
10. Rabbit Habits - Man Man

Songs:

1. "Stay Positive" - The Hold Steady
2. "Don't Trust Me" - 3OH!3
3. "After Hours" - We Are Scientists
4. "Losing Touch" - The Killers
5. "Morning Exercise" - The Heavenly States
6. "Cath" - Death Cab For Cutie
7. "Random Hearts" - Tom Gabel
8. "Calling All Skeletons" - Alkaline Trio
9. "Horse To Water" - R.E.M.
10. "Things Inside" - 1090 Club

Live Sets:

1. The Flaming Lips @ Sasquatch!
2. The Hives @ Sasquatch!
3. Against Me! @ The Warped Tour in Denver
4. David Bazan @ The Empyrean in Spokane
5. Beirut @ Sasquatch!
6. Weezer @ Key Arena
7. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks @ Sasquatch!
8. Tegan & Sara @ Sasquatch!
9. The Hold Steady @ The Railyard in Billings, MT
10. Straylight Run @ The Service Station in Spokane

(Small shameless plug: Full write ups on these at Long Live The Album with the album wrap up to come tomorrow.)

I haven't seen enough movies this year and was mostly disapointed with everything except The Dark Knight and Iron Man. As for video games, I'm really enjoying Fallout 3.

Your Earliest Broncos Draft Preview

SethGrandpa — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 04:26:53 -0000

Oh how flawed a team the Broncos are. Between anything the defense does, the dropped passes, and the missed kicks, it's clear that this team cannot wait until Draft Day. As bad as the loss to the Chargers was, let's all be honest, the Broncos can really use the higher draft picks the loss results in.

The question becomes which defensive player will the Broncos take in the 1st round? And yes, they'll draft defense. If you really think Shanny will give up on this whole "slew of productive RBs that are dirt cheap" thing then you're crazy (or he is). That's not to say that they might not pick up a RB in the 2nd or 3rd (which they hopefully won't), but I'd wager anything on defense #1. Below I've provided some possible targets for the Broncos.

1st Round Targets:

S, MLB, DT

Taylor Mays, FS, USC

A great safety on a great defense. Almost a mortal lock to shine at the combine. He's large and quick (try 6-4, 225 who runs a 4.3). Combines the big hitting and the athletic ability to cover guys. Main downside is that he can miss tackles by going for the big play, however figuring the Broncos safteies made a combined total of zero plays this year, anything is an upgrade.

James Laurinaitis, MLB, Ohio St.

A tackling machine who decided to come back for his senior year despite possibly being a Top 10 pick. Since then his stock has slipped a bit due to no fault of his own. Critics will say he's not the most superstar athlete, but if this year's Broncos team has thought us anything it's that the simple plays not being made are the ones that really cost you.

Rey Maualuga, MLB, USC

Another fantastic MLB prospect that flurishes on the tough USC D. He's essentially the inverse of Laurinatis: tremendous upside but misses easy plays at times. Might be better suited as a ILB in a 3-4, but has a tremendous blend of size and agressiveness.

William Moore, S, Missouri

Fantastic cover safety. He can play either saftey postion in the pros. Had 7 INTs his junior year and then had 83 tackles this year. Can really do it all, but lacking the amazing upside of Mays.

SenDerrick Marks, DT, Auburn
Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss

They're all top notch DTs. The team can't stop the run. You do the math. Maybe the Broncos will even luck into one of these guys in round 2.

Out of all these guys I'm hoping for either Laurinaitis or Mays. Both would be starters from day one and greatly improve the defense's toughness and tackling. That and none of the high ranking DTs wow me.

I'm slightly partial to Laurinaitis just because I believe he'd make a greater impact from the very beginning, similar to how his former teammate A.J. Hawk ignited the Packers defense a few years back. Also, it's easier to be good with a terrible saftey than a terrible MLB.

All that said, the combine changes everything. Interviews change everything. Everything will change. Honestly, I just want to get my mind off the actual team and their play down the stretch for a while. I figured you might need to as well.

Dye ----> Reds: Bailey ----> White Sox

SethGrandpa — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:09:01 -0000

Via the Dayton Daily News:

http://www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/pro/reds/2008/12/07/ddn120808spredsweb.html

Well Ken Williams apparently wants an all new team.

Homer Bailey was a stud prospect before stinking up the joint last year to the tune of 0-6 with a 7.93 ERA in eight starts with the Reds and a record of 4-7 with a 4.77 ERA at Class AAA Louisville. I know ERA and W-L aren't great stats, but when you're terrible it shows. Plus I don't feel like looking up better data.

Jermaine Dye meanwhile is the same guy he's always been and gets to go to another hitter friendly park. Plus he's only got one year left on his current contract (with a mutal option for 2010) so don't be suprised if he gets flipped at the deadline for prospects or gets held onto for pick compensation next winter.

Seems like a decent deal for the Reds if they consider Dye as tradebait/pickbait and are not looking at him as the missing piece to a condending ballclub next year.

The Common Thread In The Losses

SethGrandpa — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:44:54 -0000

The Broncos lost the game versus the Raiders when Hillis fumbled inside the 10 on the first drive. That sounds stupid, but hear me out...

If you look at at 4 of the 5 game the Broncos have lost, they had a turnover on the first series of the game via fumble or INT. Usually they are moving the ball with ease when the turnover occurred. The one exception was the Jacksonville game, where they waited until the 2nd series to turn it over. All but one time (today) the opponent scored on the following possession. In all of these games they've just looked out of sync after said turnover.

Did I use some semblance of the phrase "turnover" enough?

Let's go to the "tape":

Week 4 vs KC: After KC drove down and got a FG on the first drive, Denver received the ball. On the 2nd play of the drive Culter hit Royal for a 20 yard gain, but Royal got hit and fumbled. KC recovered the fumble and advanced it to the DEN 26 where they were able to get a FG and take a 6-0 lead. The Broncos offense never got clicking after being amazing for the first 3 weeks.

Week 6 vs Jax: The exception. Denver scored with extreme ease on their first drive to take a 7-0 lead. However, on the first play of the 2nd series Cutler scrambled and fumbled the ball. Jacksonville recovered and got a FG. While the Broncos were leading 7-3 their offensnse lacked rythem from that point on. The Jags rolled off 17 straight points and Denver didn't reach the endzone again until the 4th quarter.

Week 7 vs NE: Well first off, Cutler hurt his finger on the first play of the game, banging it off the helmet of a NE defender which didn't help. But Andre Hall was the real problem for the Broncos. He fumbled on the first 2 series, both when Denver was in FG range, and both lead to early NE FGs. 6-0 Patriots, only to get much, MUCH worse in time.

Week 9 vs Mia: 3rd offensive play of the game, Cutler throws an INT leading to a Miami FG. Oh yeah, then Cutler threw a TD to the other team 2 drives later. Cutler did his best Jake Plummer impression and the Broncos lost 26-17.

Week 12 vs Oak: Broncos are moving the ball up the field in what looks like the start of a blowout at home when Hillis, lined up at FB instead of RB, seems to be startled by being too close to Jay and never gets the handoff that hits him straight in the chest. Throw in some shanks by Mr. Prater and instead of essential winning the AFC West today, the Broncos drop their second inexcusable game to a terrible division opponent.

Gah...it's so very, very frustarting. This team's offense seems to be the most momentem driven group I've ever seen, and when they screw up early it sets the tone.

Of course, KC is #2 in turnovers and turnover differential and still is horrific, which is really where the rules of logic are violated.

Luckily for the Broncos, Chargers really suck. I really wish the national media would pick up on this. If they keep on talking about their playoff chances they really need to talk about Oakland's chances figuring they are only 1 game back of SD at this point.

That said, if the Broncos turnover the ball early they seem to be screwed.

New Ownership Featuring Gillick A Possibility?

SethGrandpa — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:46:05 -0000

http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/10884085

Kind of just expanding on previous rumors, but word is a group led by Microsoft exc and part owner Chris Larson and featuring Gillick might buy out the team from Hiroshi Yamauchi. Then Gillick would be placed in charge of the baseball operations. They say Kenji's new deal might have just been the Japanese ownership trying to take care of him before they move along.

Here's the thing that stuck out to me and makes this seem almost probable-

Gillick is retiring from the Phillies at the end of the year, but he's sold his "dream retirement house" that he had custom built in Toronto. His wife also sold her art gallery in Toronto. This is a huge deal. Who does something like that without something big planned?

Your Big Board

SethGrandpa — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:33:24 -0000

So with the draft a day away I thought it might be interesting to see who all of you think are the best players. So I made up a big board in hopes that some of you might do the same.

Keep in mind:

1. This isn't Pacers specific, just who you think will be the best.
2. This isn't a mock. Roby and Lofton probably won't get drafted, for example...but they should.

1. Derrick Rose- 6'3" 195 PG Memphis
2. O.J. Mayo- 6'4" 200 SG USC
3. Michael Beasley- 6'8" 240 PF Kansas State
4. Kevin Love- 6'10" 255 PF UCLA
5. Jerryd Bayless- 6'3" 205 PG Arizona
6. Joe Alexander- 6'8" 220 SF West Virginia
7. Danilo Gallinari- 6'9" 210 SF Italy
8. D.J. Augustin- 6'0" 170 PG Texas
9. Eric Gordon- 6'3" 220 SG Indiana
10. Brandon Rush- 6'7" 205 SG Kansas
11. Brook Lopez- 7'1" 260 C Stanford
12. Deandre Jordan- 6'11" 250 C Texas A&M
13. Bill Walker- 6' 6" 235 SF Kansas St.
14. Russell Westbrook- 6'4" 190 PG UCLA
15. Mario Chalmers- 6'2" 170 PG Kansas
16. Kosta Koufos- 7'1" 265 C Ohio State
17. J.J. Hickson- 6'9" 240 PF NC State
18. Darrell Arthur- 6'9" 215 PF Kansas
19. Anthony Randolph- 6'10" 195 PF Kansas
20. Serge Ibaka- 6'10" 220 PF Congo
21. Nicolas Batum- 6'8" 210 SF France
22. Marreese Speights- 6'10" 245 C Florida
23. Robin Lopez- 7'0" 245 C Stanford
24. Chris Roby- 6'6" 203 SG Colorado
25. Chris Lofton- 6'2" 197 SG Tennessee

Mariners Draft Room Discussion

SethGrandpa — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:38:24 -0000

I was just wondering what it would've been like to throw one of us into the Mariner’s draft room…

Me: “Hey guys thanks a lot for letting me be in here. I have to admit, this is pretty cool.”
Howard Lincoln: “Hey no problem, we try to be accepting of all our fans. *Coughaslongasthey’renotlesbianskissingintheparkcoughcough*”
Me: “Huh?”
Lincoln: “Nothing.”
Me: “Ok…anywho…so who are you guys targeting this year? Melville? Friedrich?”
Bill Bavasi: “Actually we’ve got our eye on Fields, the reliever from Georgia.”
Me: “… … You’ve got to be shitting me…”
Bavasi: “Huh? Why? He’s sure to come in and make an immediate impact.”
Me: “You should never draft a reliever in the 1st round. It’s just stupid. Plus, this team is God awful. Shouldn’t you be building for the future?”
Chuck Armstrong: “Actually we think are rabid fan base will understand the move. Really we’re just a couple bad breaks away from going on a long win streak.”
Me: “First off, what rabid fan base? The blogosphere that hates you and the few folk in Seattle who are fair-weather fans? And secondly, a couple bad breaks? You mean like the Bedard trade, Silva signing, Washburn signing, Sexson signing, Cario signing, playing Raul in LF…”
Bavasi: “Hey, those guys are just in slumps! They need to think about how they should be playing according to their contracts and they’ll snap out of it.”
Me: “Sure. Right. Whatever. Did you at least talk this over with Fontaine? Where is he buy the way?”
Lincoln: :runs over and shuts an open door where man bearing a strange resemblance to Bob Fontaine is being waterboarded:
Armstrong: “He’s…umm…taking a vacation. I’m sure once he gets a little…umm…swimming in him he’ll come back and agree with all our moves. … I think it’d be better if we dropped that subject.”
Bavasi: :timidly nods ‘yes’ with terror in his eyes:
Me: :nervously: “Ha ha….so umm…I assume the plan would be for Fields to take over the 8th inning soon and stretch Brandon Morrow out to be a starter, right?”
Armstrong: “Don’t be silly! Have you seen how good Morrow has been recently? No, with our starters struggling so much we realized we need to just have relievers set up for 3rd inning on for every game. Fields will sure up the 7th. Morrow the 8th. Putz the 9th. All we need is a few more years drafting and we’ll have the full thing set up. It’s foolproof!”
Me: “Good God. I hate you all so much. I think I need a drink.”
Lincoln: “That’s not a very family friendly attitude. Here take this old jersey.”
Me: “This is an Adam Jones Mariners jersey. Now you’re just trying to break my spirit.”
Lincoln and Armstrong: :simultaneously: “We have a good habit of doing that.”
Bavasi: :timidly nods ‘yes’ with terror in his eyes:
Armstrong: “I know what’ll cheer you up! We’ve…I mean Bill has drawn up a new contract that we’re planning on offering Mariner favorite Ken Griffey Jr. at the end of the year! It’s a 7 year, $90 million dollar deal that will lock “The Kid” up for the rest of his career! Couple that with the long term extensions we’ve drawn up for Raul, Richie, Cario, and Washburn, and we’ll be competitors for years to come.”
Bavasi: “We’re also going to trade Jeff Clement and Carlos Triunfel to the Indiana Pacers for Jermaine O’Neal.”
Me: “Ok…now you’re just fucking with me.”
Bavasi: “Actually Larry Bird called us up and said that only an idiot would take his terrible contract. Oh Larry…that kidder. We think we can stretch out Jermaine’s arm and make him an effective starter. Imagine how intimidating he’d look on the mound! Larry said he’d even through in a signed basketball. I signed ball by Larry Legend! How can you pass that up?!?”
Me: “You…are…a…complete…idiot.”
Bavasi: “Shut up! I think you need to sit in that chair and think about what you’ve done and how you’re failing to live up to your potential as a fan invited into such a prestigious place. You’re ruining the chemistry in the room!”
John McLaren: :pokes his head in through a door: “I'm tired of your (expletive) attitude, and so are these guys! You’ve got to change this (expletive) around and get after it! Bill’s pissed off, and I'm pissed off, and Howie and Chuck are pissed off. And that's the way it is. There's no (expletive) easy way out of this. You’ve gotta (expletive) buckle it up and put on a happy face!”

…

Me: “Maybe I can talk myself into being a Rays fan….”

Editor's Note: This is what happens when I don’t go to sleep until 4 am for about a week straight.

LL TV Poll

SethGrandpa — Tue, 20 May 2008 07:54:54 -0000

So after reading some of the impassioned House thread I was curious how diehard LL is House-wise. So I thought I'd check. This is nothing more the pure curiosity on my part.

There is no denying Hugh is great as House, especially if you ever hear how different his actually voice is from the character's. It's a thick British accent if I've ever heard one.

Personally, though, I'm more of a Colbert Report guy. Whatever works.

Poll

My favorite TV show is...

House

17 votes

A show that is not House

96 votes

113 votes | Poll has closed

Oh Good God... (Yankees' Slump Busting Thong)

SethGrandpa — Sun, 18 May 2008 06:27:08 -0000

So Jason Giambi has come forward with the story of how he has a golden thong that apparently he wears in games when he's in a slump in order to bust out of it. (Ironic because it clearly doesn't work, seeing as he sucks donkey).

But wait it gets worse...

Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Johnny Damon, Robin Ventura, and Robinson Cano have also worn the same thong in game to bust out of slumps.

And just when you think it can't get any worse...

Jose Posada said this:

Asked if the thong got washed between wearings, he gave a cringe-worthy answer. “Ask Jason,” said Posada. “Jason is a little strange.”

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/subwaysquawkers/2008/05/jason-giambi-has-a-thong-in-hi.html

Poll

This is...

Gross

26 votes

Great Team Unity

6 votes

The Reason All The Yankees Will Mysteriously Contract Syphilis

71 votes

103 votes | Poll has closed