The Bucks pulled off a thrilling 91-87 victory over the Hawks in their pivotal Game 5 battle in Atlanta. Let's look at some of the most memorable plays of the game:
Did you catch Bango's amazing dunk? Alright the dunk actually happened in Game 4 in Milwaukee but it was so nasty I had to include it.
With everyone is in a good mood I had to get in something positive about Dan Gadzuric. With a few minutes remaining in the first half Danny G hit an 18-footer from Scottie Williams' spot (if you are a real Bucks fan you know what I am talking about) and TNT announcer Kevin McHale asked whether there was a full moon out...high comedy. By the way, McHale is the Matt Millen of the NBA...much better announcer than general manager.
With 1:18 remaining in the game, Ersan Ilyasova pulled down a tough offensive rebound in traffic and threw it to Carlos Delfino who hit a clutch three with the shot clock about to expire to give the Bucks an 86-82 lead. That shot might go down as the shot of the series if the Bucks prevail in either Game 6 or Game 7.
I can't really pinpoint one play for John Salmons but he played absolute lock down defense on Joe Johnson the entire game. To put Salmons' performance in perspective, without his defensive effort on Johnson the Bucks would have lost this game by double digits.
Most people are going to remember Kurt Thomas drawing the charge on Joe Johnson for Johnson's 6th foul of the game with a few minutes remaining. That was a pivotal play but it was Thomas' relentless defense on Al Horford that impressed me most. Horford had a big game but it came mostly on mismatches when Thomas was forced to the bench because of foul trouble.
Luke Ridnour had ice water in veins tonight. Every time Scott Skiles called his number, Ridnour knocked down clutch shots with guys in his face...he was the second best guard on the court tonight.
The best guard on the court tonight was the young and feisty Brandon Jennings. Jennings shot lights out in the first quarter scoring 12 straight at one point. Jennings continues to play like a seasoned veteran despite not even being able to legally drink.
Couple of quick stats:
- The Bucks outscored the Hawks 18-5 over the last 4 minutes of the game.
- The Bucks snapped the Hawks 14-game home winning streak.
- The winner of Game 5 in series tied at 2-2 is 126-25 all-time.
After tonight, the Hawks officially have to Fear the Deer!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
2010 Green Bay Packers Roster 1.0
With the 2010 NFL Draft barely in the rear view mirror, it is never to soon to speculate on who will make the 2010 Green Bay Packers and face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, September 12, 2010.
Since Ted Thompson is never very active in the free agent market, if a player is not on the roster today there is a small chance he will be on the roster in September. Here is my first guess at what the 53-man roster will look like:
Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers and Matt Flynn
Running Back: Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson, and James Starks
Fullback: Korey Hall and Quinn Johnson
Wide Receiver: Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, Jordy Nelson
Tight End: Jermichael Finley, Donald Lee, Spencer Havner, and Andrew Quarless
Offensive Tackle: Chad Clifton, Mark Tauscher, Bryan Bulaga, and T.J. Lang
Offensive Guard: Josh Sitton, Jason Spitz, Daryn Colledge, and Marshall Newhouse
Center: Scott Wells and Evan Dietrich-Smith
Defensive End: Cullen Jenkins, Johnny Jolly, Mike Neal, Justin Harrell, and C.J. Wilson
Defensive Tackle: Ryan Pickett and B.J. Raji
Outside Linebacker: Clay Matthews, Brad Jones, and Brady Poppinga
Middle Linebacker: Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk, Brandon Chillar, and Desmond Bishop
Cornerback: Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, Pat Lee, Brandon Underwood, Will Blackmon, and Sam Shields*
Safety: Nick Collins, Atari Bigby, Morgan Burnett, Derrick Martin, and Charlie Peprah
Kicker: Mason Crosby
Punter: Chris Bryan
Long Snapper: Brett Goode
* = Al Harris will not be on the active roster till week 6 while recovering from a knee injury.
Since Ted Thompson is never very active in the free agent market, if a player is not on the roster today there is a small chance he will be on the roster in September. Here is my first guess at what the 53-man roster will look like:
Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers and Matt Flynn
Running Back: Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson, and James Starks
Fullback: Korey Hall and Quinn Johnson
Wide Receiver: Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, Jordy Nelson
Tight End: Jermichael Finley, Donald Lee, Spencer Havner, and Andrew Quarless
Offensive Tackle: Chad Clifton, Mark Tauscher, Bryan Bulaga, and T.J. Lang
Offensive Guard: Josh Sitton, Jason Spitz, Daryn Colledge, and Marshall Newhouse
Center: Scott Wells and Evan Dietrich-Smith
Defensive End: Cullen Jenkins, Johnny Jolly, Mike Neal, Justin Harrell, and C.J. Wilson
Defensive Tackle: Ryan Pickett and B.J. Raji
Outside Linebacker: Clay Matthews, Brad Jones, and Brady Poppinga
Middle Linebacker: Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk, Brandon Chillar, and Desmond Bishop
Cornerback: Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, Pat Lee, Brandon Underwood, Will Blackmon, and Sam Shields*
Safety: Nick Collins, Atari Bigby, Morgan Burnett, Derrick Martin, and Charlie Peprah
Kicker: Mason Crosby
Punter: Chris Bryan
Long Snapper: Brett Goode
* = Al Harris will not be on the active roster till week 6 while recovering from a knee injury.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
2010 Green Bay Packer Draft Picks
Congratulations to the seven new Green Bay Packers taken in the 2010 NFL Draft! Today is truly a Sunday Funday for these seven men and their families:
1st Round (23rd Overall): Bryan Bulaga, Offensive Tackle
School: Iowa (Big Ten)
Height: 6'5⅜"
Weight: 314 lbs
Arm Length: 33.3"
Hand Size: 9.3"
Analysis: There were a couple of guys that I liked more at 23, most notably my draft crush Jerry Hughes, but most national pundits had Bulaga going in the first 15 picks so he was a good value at 23. The Packers need a tackle of future so it makes sense that they took a tackle in the first round. There is some disagreement about whether Bulaga projects as a left or right tackle in the NFL. The knock on Bulaga is that he has short arms, small hands, and has persistent health issues. Based on Bulaga's draft position alone there is a good chance Bulaga is starting at left or right tackle in Week #1 of 2011. For the Packers' sake, let's hope Bulaga has a more successful career than Robert Gallery, another highly touted left tackle out of Iowa.
2nd Round (56th Overall): Michael Neal, Defensive End
School: Purdue (Big Ten)
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 294 lbs
Arm Length: 33.4"
Hand Size: 10.25"
Analysis: This was the surprise pick of the draft for me. With all of the unrest along the defensive line (Jenkins scheduled to become a free agent after the 2010 season, Jolly facing legal troubles, and Harrell being injured his entire Packer career) I understand why the Packers added a defensive lineman, I just didn't think they would use such a high pick on Neal. I hope I am wrong but the minute the pick was announced I thought of Justin Harrell...oh dang.
3rd Round (71st Overall): Morgan Burnett, Safety
School: Georgia Tech (ACC - Coastal)
Height: 6'1⅜"
Weight: 209 lbs
Arm Length: 31.6"
Hand Size: 9.0"
Analysis: Burnett has all the physical tools to excel as a safety in the NFL. I don't like that the Packers had to give up a 4th round pick to move up in the 3rd round to select Burnett but it was probably a wise move because most of the teams ahead of the Packers had safety issues. Burnett will challenge Atari Bigby for the starting safety spot opposite Nick Collins and gives the Packers quality depth at safety, something they lacked the last few seasons. Burnett was my favorite pick of the draft.
5th Round (154th Overall): Andrew Quarless, Tight End
School: Penn St.(Big Ten)
Height: 6'4⅜"
Weight: 254 lbs
Arm Length: 34.0"
Hand Size: 10.25"
Analysis: I support Ted Thompson's approach of drafting the best player available but it seems like he modified that approach in drafting Andrew Quarless. While Quarless might have been the most talented player on the Packers draft board, he had some off the field issues a few years ago. I understand that the Packers think Quarless is past those off the field issues but Ted Thompson does not usually bring in guys like that. With Quarless on the roster there will be a fierce competition for Jermichael Finley's back-up. I predict either Donald Lee or Spencer Havner's days are numbered in Green Bay based on the Quarless pick.
5th Round (169th Overall): Marshall Newhouse, Offensive Guard
School: TCU (Mountain West Conference)
Height: 6'3¾"
Weight: 319 lbs
Arm Length: 34.0"
Hand Size: 10.25"
Analysis: Ted Thompson has limited success picking tweener offensive lineman...think Daryn Colledge. Newhouse projects better at guard than tackle in the pros. Newhouse will have to beat out Evan Dietrich-Smith to gain a spot on the Packers' 53-man roster. The only real positive thing I take from this pick is that Newhouse practiced everyday against my draft crush Jerry Hughes in college...hopefully that prepared Newhouse to excel in the NFL.
6th Round (193rd Overall): James Starks, Running Back
School: Buffalo (MAC)
Height: 6'2⅛"
Weight: 218 lbs
Arm Length: 33.6"
Hand Size: 9.5:
Analysis: As odd as it sounds sometimes a running back can be too tall because then they run too upright which makes them easy to tackle. At 6'2⅛", Starks is too tall for my liking. Plus, Starks didn't even play last year because of injury. With all that said, Starks is Buffalo's all-time leading rusher so he has to be doing something right. Starks will battle Kregg Lumpkin for the 3rd running back spot on the Packers' 53-man roster. Starks is a developmental project that has to contribute on specials teams otherwise he will be looking for employment outside of Green Bay.
7th Round (230th Overall): C.J. Wilson, Defensive End
School: East Carolina (Conference USA)
Height: 6'2⅞"
Weight: 290 lbs
Arm Length: 33.1"
Hand Size: 10.0"
Analysis: Mr. Irrelevant of the Packers' was a quality pass rusher in college but the only problem is that Wilson was going against Conference USA competition which is one of the weaker college football conferences. Wilson is a long shot to make the roster unless Jolly is suspended (good chance) and Harrell gets hurt again (a virtual lock).
1st Round (23rd Overall): Bryan Bulaga, Offensive Tackle
School: Iowa (Big Ten)
Height: 6'5⅜"
Weight: 314 lbs
Arm Length: 33.3"
Hand Size: 9.3"
Analysis: There were a couple of guys that I liked more at 23, most notably my draft crush Jerry Hughes, but most national pundits had Bulaga going in the first 15 picks so he was a good value at 23. The Packers need a tackle of future so it makes sense that they took a tackle in the first round. There is some disagreement about whether Bulaga projects as a left or right tackle in the NFL. The knock on Bulaga is that he has short arms, small hands, and has persistent health issues. Based on Bulaga's draft position alone there is a good chance Bulaga is starting at left or right tackle in Week #1 of 2011. For the Packers' sake, let's hope Bulaga has a more successful career than Robert Gallery, another highly touted left tackle out of Iowa.
2nd Round (56th Overall): Michael Neal, Defensive End
School: Purdue (Big Ten)
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 294 lbs
Arm Length: 33.4"
Hand Size: 10.25"
Analysis: This was the surprise pick of the draft for me. With all of the unrest along the defensive line (Jenkins scheduled to become a free agent after the 2010 season, Jolly facing legal troubles, and Harrell being injured his entire Packer career) I understand why the Packers added a defensive lineman, I just didn't think they would use such a high pick on Neal. I hope I am wrong but the minute the pick was announced I thought of Justin Harrell...oh dang.
3rd Round (71st Overall): Morgan Burnett, Safety
School: Georgia Tech (ACC - Coastal)
Height: 6'1⅜"
Weight: 209 lbs
Arm Length: 31.6"
Hand Size: 9.0"
Analysis: Burnett has all the physical tools to excel as a safety in the NFL. I don't like that the Packers had to give up a 4th round pick to move up in the 3rd round to select Burnett but it was probably a wise move because most of the teams ahead of the Packers had safety issues. Burnett will challenge Atari Bigby for the starting safety spot opposite Nick Collins and gives the Packers quality depth at safety, something they lacked the last few seasons. Burnett was my favorite pick of the draft.
5th Round (154th Overall): Andrew Quarless, Tight End
School: Penn St.(Big Ten)
Height: 6'4⅜"
Weight: 254 lbs
Arm Length: 34.0"
Hand Size: 10.25"
Analysis: I support Ted Thompson's approach of drafting the best player available but it seems like he modified that approach in drafting Andrew Quarless. While Quarless might have been the most talented player on the Packers draft board, he had some off the field issues a few years ago. I understand that the Packers think Quarless is past those off the field issues but Ted Thompson does not usually bring in guys like that. With Quarless on the roster there will be a fierce competition for Jermichael Finley's back-up. I predict either Donald Lee or Spencer Havner's days are numbered in Green Bay based on the Quarless pick.
5th Round (169th Overall): Marshall Newhouse, Offensive Guard
School: TCU (Mountain West Conference)
Height: 6'3¾"
Weight: 319 lbs
Arm Length: 34.0"
Hand Size: 10.25"
Analysis: Ted Thompson has limited success picking tweener offensive lineman...think Daryn Colledge. Newhouse projects better at guard than tackle in the pros. Newhouse will have to beat out Evan Dietrich-Smith to gain a spot on the Packers' 53-man roster. The only real positive thing I take from this pick is that Newhouse practiced everyday against my draft crush Jerry Hughes in college...hopefully that prepared Newhouse to excel in the NFL.
6th Round (193rd Overall): James Starks, Running Back
School: Buffalo (MAC)
Height: 6'2⅛"
Weight: 218 lbs
Arm Length: 33.6"
Hand Size: 9.5:
Analysis: As odd as it sounds sometimes a running back can be too tall because then they run too upright which makes them easy to tackle. At 6'2⅛", Starks is too tall for my liking. Plus, Starks didn't even play last year because of injury. With all that said, Starks is Buffalo's all-time leading rusher so he has to be doing something right. Starks will battle Kregg Lumpkin for the 3rd running back spot on the Packers' 53-man roster. Starks is a developmental project that has to contribute on specials teams otherwise he will be looking for employment outside of Green Bay.
7th Round (230th Overall): C.J. Wilson, Defensive End
School: East Carolina (Conference USA)
Height: 6'2⅞"
Weight: 290 lbs
Arm Length: 33.1"
Hand Size: 10.0"
Analysis: Mr. Irrelevant of the Packers' was a quality pass rusher in college but the only problem is that Wilson was going against Conference USA competition which is one of the weaker college football conferences. Wilson is a long shot to make the roster unless Jolly is suspended (good chance) and Harrell gets hurt again (a virtual lock).
With the 230th pickin the 2010 NFL Draft the Packers COULD HAVE taken...
Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson is a firm believer in drafting the best player available. As result, if I was the General Manager of the Green Bay Packers and employing the best player available approach, instead of drafting C.J. Wilson (DE, East Carolina) with the 230th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, here are some players I would have considered drafting:
Selvish Capers (OT, West Virginia), who went #231 to the Washington Redskins. At 6'4" and 300 pounds, this developmental tackle was probably the best player available in the 6th round, so he becomes a steal at the end of the 7th round. Capers is raw but had a chance to replace Mark Tauscher at right tackle in 2011. For those of you that forget, Tasucher is a former 7th round pick by the Packers in 2000 that was very raw coming out of Wisconsin but has held down the right tackle position ever since (besides sitting out unsigned the first part of 2009 with a knee injury).
Brandon Banks (RS, Kansas State), who went undrafted. Again if you look back at previous posts, I can't advocate enough for the Packers to get a dedicated return specialist. At the very least take a few chances on guys like Holliday or Banks. If none of them work out, no big deal but at least go down trying.
Selvish Capers (OT, West Virginia), who went #231 to the Washington Redskins. At 6'4" and 300 pounds, this developmental tackle was probably the best player available in the 6th round, so he becomes a steal at the end of the 7th round. Capers is raw but had a chance to replace Mark Tauscher at right tackle in 2011. For those of you that forget, Tasucher is a former 7th round pick by the Packers in 2000 that was very raw coming out of Wisconsin but has held down the right tackle position ever since (besides sitting out unsigned the first part of 2009 with a knee injury).
Brandon Banks (RS, Kansas State), who went undrafted. Again if you look back at previous posts, I can't advocate enough for the Packers to get a dedicated return specialist. At the very least take a few chances on guys like Holliday or Banks. If none of them work out, no big deal but at least go down trying.
With the 193rd pick in the 2010 NFL Draft the Packers COULD HAVE taken...
Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson is a firm believer in drafting the best player available. As result, if I was the General Manager of the Green Bay Packers and employing the best player available approach, instead of drafting James Starks (RB, Buffalo) with the 193rd pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, here are some players I would have considered drafting:
Trindon Holliday (RS, LSU), who went #197 to the Houston Texans. It would be the understatement of the decade to say the Packers have struggle to make big plays on special teams. The last few seasons the Packers have been near the bottom in special teams because although Will Blackmon is a dynamic return specialist he can't stay healthy. Once Blackmon went down, Jordy Nelson took over and showed he is a below average NFL kicker returner. At the end of the 6th round it seem more than worth it to me to take a chance on a potential game changing return guy like Holliday.
Myron Rolle (S, Florida St), who went #207 to the Tennessee Titans. In full disclosure, I absolutely love Rolle's back story. I am sure everyone knows by now but Rolle wanted to be a Rhodes Scholar so he took last football season off to pursue that dream. Rolle wants to be a neurosurgeon later in life, which apparently turned some teams off. Yes, Rolle might have some interests outside of football but I think the biggest reasons teams passed on him is that they are afraid to draft a player that is smarter than everyone in the organization. What I am trying to say is that most general mangers want to be the smartest guy in the room and there is a chance that Rolle will end up being the smartest guy in the room. Is that a bad thing that Rolle is smart? I say no but it looks like most NFL general mangers disagree.
Trindon Holliday (RS, LSU), who went #197 to the Houston Texans. It would be the understatement of the decade to say the Packers have struggle to make big plays on special teams. The last few seasons the Packers have been near the bottom in special teams because although Will Blackmon is a dynamic return specialist he can't stay healthy. Once Blackmon went down, Jordy Nelson took over and showed he is a below average NFL kicker returner. At the end of the 6th round it seem more than worth it to me to take a chance on a potential game changing return guy like Holliday.
Myron Rolle (S, Florida St), who went #207 to the Tennessee Titans. In full disclosure, I absolutely love Rolle's back story. I am sure everyone knows by now but Rolle wanted to be a Rhodes Scholar so he took last football season off to pursue that dream. Rolle wants to be a neurosurgeon later in life, which apparently turned some teams off. Yes, Rolle might have some interests outside of football but I think the biggest reasons teams passed on him is that they are afraid to draft a player that is smarter than everyone in the organization. What I am trying to say is that most general mangers want to be the smartest guy in the room and there is a chance that Rolle will end up being the smartest guy in the room. Is that a bad thing that Rolle is smart? I say no but it looks like most NFL general mangers disagree.
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