Straight from the Sports Desk

They may have been dreadful last season, however, through sheer luck or because of the hated rivalry, the Oakland Raiders open the 2008 season on Prime Time television.

Come September 8, the Silver and Black will take on AFC West Rival Denver in Oakland as part of Monday Night Football's season-opening doubleheader.

The matchup is part of ESPN and the NFL's plan to showcase some of the seasoned rivalries in football and it gives both Bronco and Raider fans a preview of what to expect for the rest of the season.

Not only that, but NFL fans in general get a chance to see if the Raiders have improved or if they will once again become the laughing stock of the league.

Oakland is surely looking to put forth a better performance than in 2006, the last time they were given the opportunity to show the world what they were all about. There's a plus side for the Raiders on this one folks. They can't do much worse. That year, the Silver and Black were left Black and Blue as the Chargers -- another AFC West foe -- dismantled Oakland en route to a 27-0 victory. Ouch.

However, if you're not inclined to watch the game from the comforts of your own home, a local bar or restaurant, here's a couple of reasons why you should tune in:

1. Newly acquired wide receiver Javon Walker will be amped to show Denver will miss his abilities. After being released in favor of up-and-comer Brandon Marshall, Walker wants to show the Broncos -- and perhaps the rest of the league -- he's still got it. Add to the equation Walker will probably draw Broncos corner back Champ Bailey -- one of the best cover corners in the business -- he's going to have to be at his best anyhow. That is, if he's healthy.

2. Second-year quarterback JaMarcus Russell will be eager to prove he was worthy of the No. 1 overall selection in last year's draft. Finally receiving tutelage in his first full training camp, Russell should be ready to lead the Raiders into battle.

3. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft. Whomever Al Davis decides to select -- be it running back Darren McFadden, DE Vernon Gholston, DT's Sedrick Ellis or Glenn Dorsey -- the former collegiate stud will become an instant starter for Oakland and it will be interesting to see if the prospect turns into an NFL stud or a bust.

4. Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan vs. Raiders owner Al Davis. The feud between these two has been as equally as good as the teams' games on the field. Since being fired by Davis, Shanahan has made life living hell for the Raiders and their figure head. Don't expect the hatred to lessen as Shanahan will have his Broncos extremely prepared for the Black Hole.

5. Bronco wide receiver Brandon Marshall vs. DeAngelo Hall/Nnamdi Asomugha. Denver's young and extremely talented wide out going up against either Hall or Asomugha will be a sight to behold. Marshall, a big, speedy and sure-handed WR is out to prove Denver indeed had no use for Walker. On the opposite side, Hall will want to prove he is indeed a top 5 cover corner, while Asomugha wants to build his resume as a shutdown corner.

The most important reason of all perhaps:

Football is back baby. Sit back and enjoy!

Posted by Ray Aspuria at 11:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

So Monday was opening day, both for the Giants and for Comcast Sportsnet, the partially-owned-by-the-Giants network formerly known as Fox Sports Net. The network's performance was decent. As for the team's performance, well, uh, I guess you could say they lived up to expectations.

Problem is, expectations are that the 2008 Giants will celebrate 50 years in San Francisco by being the worst, least-potent 25-man group the organization has ever assembled. (Related side note: the late FSN Bay Area's recent promo ad asserting that the Giants were "primed for a run at the title" is possibly the most laughable thing I've ever heard. No clue how the guy they paid to say that for the spot got through the sentence without bursting out into uncontrollable laughter.)

So that I don't send you all into deep depression right off the bat, let's not talk about the game right away, and talk about the network. A name change brings along with it other changes, most notably to the on-screen graphics. In general, I thought CSNBA's graphics were pretty decent, but as a graphics-obsessed guy, I found a few things to nit-pick about. FSN's graphics could be coordinated with team colors. CSN's are just red, blue, and gray, so it feels more generic. And when out-of-town scores pop up, the text is extremely and unnecessarily narrow (I say unnecessary because there's a ton of dead space to the right of the scores). I've noticed that on-screen graphics are more and more geared toward only those who have HDTV, and they're often barely readable on standard-def screens.

The thing that bugged me the most was the replay fade graphic (the one that they play when shifting between live-action and replays) shows the team logo in a stadium — with snow coming down like the stadium's in a snow globe. What the heck is that all about?

The production itself seems to be just as good, probably because it's all the same people, just getting paychecks with a different name in the corner. And as always, there was Kruk and Kuip, with the ever-optimistic Mike Krukow noting that several Giants starters that had good career numbers against Dodgers ace Brad Penny.

Which brings us to the game. You know that book, All I Ever Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten? Well, all you really need to know about Monday's opener happened in the first inning. Dave Roberts singled to lead off the top half — that might be the high point of the season folks — and was quickly erased trying to steal second on a failed hit-and-run. Rich Aurilia, who'd swung at an impossible pitch because the hit-and-run was on, proceeded to ground out weakly to short. Randy Winn was also retired, and the Giants came away with zero runs, a trend that would continue for the next eight innings.

Contrast that with what the Dodgers did. Rafael Furcal led off with a double that kicked up the chalk on the left field line. (Like the Dodgers — or anyone else, for that matter — need little breaks like that against the Giants this year.) One out later, Mark Kemp knocked him in with a single to center. Kemp took second when center fielder Aaron Rowand foolishly tried to throw out Furcal.

Note to Rowand and the Giants: Given the extreme ineptitude of your lineup this season, you need to be basically flawless in the field. That includes hitting the cutoff man.

It didn't end up mattering in this instance though. When the next guy up hits a home run, you score whether or not you're in scoring position. And that's just what happened. And to add insult to injury, it was our ol' buddy Jeff Kent. After one inning, Dodgers 3, Giants 0.

The final numbers read like this: Dodgers 5, Giants 0, Barry Zito's ERA 7.20 (he's 0-4 on opening day), Giants 2-3-4-5 hitters 1-for-15.

Sigh.

Posted by Erik Fraser at 04:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Thanks to their unreal play over the last 18 games — 16 wins, zero losses in regulation — the Sharks have wrapped up their third Pacific Division Championship. And since they seem unlikely to catch Detroit, San Jose is all but guaranteed the No. 2 seed when the Stanley Cup Playoffs start in a little more than a week.

Because of that, coach Ron Wilson has announced that several banged-up players may get some rest, and he even gave the team Saturday off from practice after beating the Ducks 3-1 Friday night. And to be sure, some guys — particularly sniper Jonathan Cheechoo — could use some time to let the bruises heal, but they better be careful not to lose this massive wave of momentum they're riding in the process.

Over the past month-plus, the Sharks have been playing some of the best hockey in the team's 16-year history, picking up 34 of 36 possible points since a loss at New Jersey on Feb. 20. And that's a great sign as they pursue their first Cup. If they can win 16 of 18 in the playoffs, well, captain Patrick Marleau will be seen handing the Cup to either Joe Thornton or Evgeni Nabokov in mid-June, hopefully in front of 17,496 members of Team Teal in Silicon Valley. But the last thing they want to do right now is take their foot off the gas.

Momentum is a funny thing. It can slip away just as quickly as it came, and messing with how you approach the game is one of the best ways to lose it. If Cheech or Devin Setoguchi needs a day off to freshen up, fine. But it's critical that whichever 20 guys do suit up for the last four games play like they're fighting for the last playoff spot, which is to say, how they've been playing for the whole month of March.

Perhaps Wilson would do right to get out film of the last week of the NFL regular season and the playoffs. Some teams that let up in week 17 — cough, Tampa Bay, cough — looked out of sorts in the playoffs and consequently got squashed. Other teams — the two that made the Super Bowl, in particular — played hard till the end, even though they had nothing to gain by doing so, at least insofar as the standings were concerned.

And the Sharks should know about this from their own recent history. This is the fourth straight season they've finished the regular season on a hot streak. If you combine the last 13 games of 2004, the last 9 games of 2006, the last 17 games of 2007, and their past 18 games this year, the Sharks are a ridiculous 47-4-6 to finish off those regular seasons. If that pace were stretched to a full 82-game season, San Jose would shatter Detroit's record of 131 points in ’95-’96 by 13.

But in case you hadn't noticed, that has resulted in exactly zero Stanley Cups — yet. In 2004, that extended into the Western Conference Finals — their only venture that deep into the postseason, before they fell to Calgary. But the past two years (there were no playoffs in 2005 because of the lockout), their momentum suddenly vanished early in the second round.

So by all means, Sharkies, let the guys who need to rest get their rest. But the rest of you had better work your fins off.

Posted by Erik Fraser at 04:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

The Oakland Raiders' foray into free agency continued on Friday.

In hopes of improving their pass rush, Al Davis once again opened his checkbook, and the Raiders' inked former Lions' defensive end Kalimba Edwards to a 2-year contract.

According to NFL Network's Adam Schefter, Edwards signed a deal worth $5 million.

Cut by Detroit a year after signing a lucrative contract extension, the 28-year South Carolina alum, will try to replace Chris Clemons at the right defensive end spot for Oakland.

Characterized as a player with great size, athleticism and good burst off of the corner by Scouts Inc., Edwards just hasn't put it all together in the NFL.

While the former second-round pick has put up respectable numbers in the league (in 2002, he's rookie year, Edwards posted a 36 tackle, 6.5 sack season and in 2005 he collected 32 tackles and 7 sacks).

Raider fans unfamiliar with Edwards can refer to his performance against Oakland last year in the season opener. Edwards rushed off the edge to sack then-QB Josh McCown and strip him of the ball to seal the deal for the Lions.

On the surface, this appears to be one of Davis' patented re-claimation projects. However, Davis did get the call on Derrick Burgess right. Even the signing of Chris Clemons (17 tackles, 8 sacks as a reserve end) paid off for Oakland.

And Edwards appears to have the size (6-foot-6, 265 pounds) and speed (ran a 4.48 40 at the combine in 2002) to replace the productivity of the now departed Clemons.

Posted by Ray Aspuria at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Eugenio Velez, a switch-hitter who will be only 26 in May, can play second, third or outfield, and looked good in his September call-up. I hope they give the kid some playing time."
That's what I wrote in my column "Cry, cry, baby" last Monday. Well, in Saturday's game against the Brewers, Velez — filling in for Durham at 2B — hit a single, double and triple, knocked in four RBIs, and stole his 13th base of spring. Am I the only one who thinks that Velez ought to not only make the Giants roster, but that the orange and black should start him — somewhere— when the season opens?

Posted by Neil Tarpey at 04:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Why is the NCAA Tournament the finest competition in the world of sports? I'll answer with another question: Where else to you get goosebumps over a team you're watching for the first time?

The first goosebumps of the 2008 edition of March Madness came at around noon Friday, and they came in the annual 12-beats-5 game (actually, the first of two 12-beats-5's).

The 12, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, had led the 5, Drake, for much of the game, and by as many as 16 points, but Drake rallied to force overtime. During Drake's rally, there were times the Hilltoppers' youth and inexperience showed — particularly a couple of bad turnovers by Tyrone Brazelton — and they looked like they might be another almost-but-not-quite Cinderellas, condemned to be a footnote like Belmont was yesterday.

And as often happens, Drake got the jump in overtime, and led 99-98 with 5.7 seconds left after a pair of free throws by Jonathan Cox. Brazelton — who led all scorers with 33 — took the inbound pass and raced up court to the right wing. Instead of driving to the hoop as the play called for — it was well sealed off — he dropped it to Ty Rogers, who during the timeout had told Brazelton he might dip in behind him. Rogers fired over the three defenders who had sealed off the lane, the red LEDs around the backboard lit up while the ball was in the air, and it fell right through the net, setting off my goosebumps.

(Later on ESPN, Bobby Knight, who's been around high-quality basketball a looooooong time, said that Brazelton's pass to Rogers might have been the single best instance of high-pressure decision-making he's ever seen. That's pretty high praise.)

Sorry, but I don't get goosebumps watching the NFL playoffs unless my Niners are involved. The only goosebump-inducing football game I ever watched that I didn't have a vested rooting interest in was Boise State's win in the Fiesta Bowl. And that was an unbelievably unique event, one ESPN called one of the two best sports highlights in the history of sports highlights.

No, there's just something about watching a little, unknown bunch of overachievers knock off a powerhouse that is inspiring. It doesn't even have to be the D-I tournament. The last time I got similar goosebumps was in last year's D-II title game, when Barton — the team that knocked off CSU San Bernardino by a single point — came back from seven points down in the final 45 seconds to knock off previously undefeated Winona State in spectacular fashion to win the D-II National Championship. If you've never seen it, you really ought to click here.

Western Kentucky's win was just the beginning of the Madness in Tampa, where the uninformed might think a gulf hurricane had ripped through brackets across the nation. By the end of the day, two 4's and two 5's had fallen to 13's and 12's — the first time in Tourney history that all four lower-seeded team won at a venue. The Hilltoppers will battle No. 13 San Diego for a shot at the Sweet 16 after the Toreros knocked off NO. 4 UConn, also in overtime. In the Midwest, 12th-seeded Villanova rallied from 18 down to sink Clemson, and No. 13 Siena blew Vanderbilt out of the water, 83-63.

Not to be lost in the Tampa storm was Davidson which, behind an outstanding 40-point performance from Stephen Curry, knocked off Gonzaga. Honestly, if I had filled out a bracket, I'd have put Davidson into the second round. They were within a point or two late against both North Carolina and Duke, and led UCLA by 17 before falling. That's a prime candidate for a first-round upset.

And as a Stanford fan myself, I certainly don't mind seeing Gonzaga go down early. See, Gonzaga used to be Davidson — a mid-major school that could only get into the tournament by winning the West Coast Conference. But a year after Stanford made the Final Four, the Cardinal came in with high expectations and were knocked off by the Zags in the second round. That win propelled Gonzaga into its current status as a Tournament regular. But now they know how it feels.

Ain't dancin' great?

Posted by Erik Fraser at 01:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

The Oakland Tribune's Jerry McDonald brought up a key stressing point in regards to Oakland's addition of cornerback DeAngelo Hall.

Paring the loquacious Hall with Nnamdi Asomugha has given the Raiders a dangerous combo at corner. Visions of Charles Woodson and Eric Allen may have returned to the minds of the Raider Nation.
The Hall-Asomugha connection has even brought the visions of Mike Haynes and Lester Hayes -- the glory days of Raider DB's -- back into the fold.

But like McDonald said in his blog Haynes and Hayes had something Hall and Asomugha don't -- a lethal pass rush.

Here's an excerpt from McDonald's blog (www.ibabuzz.com/raidersblog/2008/03/21/a-question-of-faith/) he wrote on Friday, March 21:

"I remember NFL Films making heroes out of Haynes and Hayes as well in the “Black Sunday” depiction of the 38-9 destruction of the Washington Redskins in the Super Bowl.

Of course, another memorable part of that game was the beating inflicted upon the Redskins offensive line and Joe Theismann by the likes of Howie Long, Bill Pickel, Reggie Kinlaw, Lyle Alzado and Greg Townsend. When was the last time the Raiders truly beat up opposing quarterbacks over a series of games?"

Indeed.

When was the last time someone other than Burgess has terrorized opposing quarterbacks the last three years?

Al Davis has gone leaps and bounds to improve his secondary, but the Raiders' owner still hasn't touched upon his defensive line.
Offering defensive tackle Tommy Kelly an uber-rich deal can help. But as Kelly has shown throughout his football career -- dating to his college days -- he has all the ability but the desire doesn't match up. The departure of future hall of famer Warren Sapp doesn't help the situation.

I'm sure Davis saw what a brutal pass rush can do for NFL teams. The New York football Giants eradicated Tom Brady and the Patriots' offensive line en route to a Super Bowl title last season.
Sure, Hall and Asomugha are indeed an imposing pair at corner back. The addition of safety Gibril Wilson (part of the Giants' Super Bowl win) and Michael Huff can also cast a shadow on opposing wide receivers, tight ends and running backs.

But the battle is won or lost in the trenches, d-line vs. o-line.
Does Oakland have the talent on the defensive line to bring the pain to opposing QBs?

I don't believe so.

Other than Burgess -- who has been quietly pushing for a pay raise -- none of the Raiders' front-four lineman strike fear into opposing offensive coordinators. Teams have to scheme for Burgess. Other than that, it's free game. Take care of D-Burg and tada! Let your QB sit in the pocket and scan the entire field.

The loss of free agent defensive end Chris Clemons -- who tied for the sack lead with Burgess at 8 -- to the Eagles certainly hurts Oakland's pass rush ability. And the team has little to nothing to offer as a replacement.

To compound matters even worse is the fact Oakland still needs to find a way to stop the run. And while Hall and Asomugha are a pair of sure-tackling defensive backs, they'll tire of the constant pounding they take when opposing running backs find the second level, something they're sure to do against Oakland's mediocre-at-best defensive line crew.

Davis has gone out of his way to improve his roster during the free agency period.

In April he gets another shot to do the same with Oakland holding the No. 4 overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft.

If Davis stayed at No. 4 and doesn't trade down to gather some of the picks lost due to deals (something I don't believe he will do since he doesn't like to slide down the draft's totem poll) he gets a shot to land two prime defensive tackle prospects -- LSU's Glen Dorsey or USC's Sedrick Ellis -- or two equally impressive defensive ends -- Virgina's Chris Long or Ohio State's Vernon Gholston.
Adding any of those four names should help Oakland against the pass or the run. Which, in turn, would help Hall and Asomugha tremendously in pass coverage.

But as the draft approaches (and we all know it's a crap shoot) Davis appears to have his sights set on something else. That something is Arkansas running back Darren McFadden.
Surely, DMC is a beast at tail back and adding him can not only provide Oakland's $60 million investment -- JaMarcus Russell -- a cushion but give the Raiders more punch offensively.

However, if Davis was confident he could rekindle the glory days of Hayes and Haynes with DeAngelo and Nnamdi, going the McFadden route will hinder those plans.

Either way, April seems like a decade away, doesn't it?

Posted by Ray Aspuria at 07:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

DeAngelo Hall is officially an Oakland Raider. After viewing wire reports and various websites, I hoped onto Raiders.com. There's a photo of Hall in Raiders' garb with his new $70 million smile ($25 million of it guaranteed).

Al Davis seven-year, $70 million deal which he negotiated himself, according to Nancy Gay of the San Francisco Chronicle

Davis himself ... now that's an interesting thing. However, I don't believe, not for one second, Big Al is done rockin' the NFL's boat. Not by a long shot.

What do I mean by rockin' da' boat?

Davis has handed out some exorbitant contracts during free agency. He's diluted the market for next year's crop of free agents, even players looking to renew their contracts.

Read the majority of columns out there today, in newspapers, magazines and websites. The word 'crazy' has been associated with Davis and his signings. Just wait. The stories/columns regarding his trade for Hall will definitely be very good reads.

They'll probably note how insane Oakland has been in their free agency splurge. Columnists, myself included, have bashed Davis in the past. And I'm a Raider fan.

One thing for sure is. Agents and NFL players have taken note of what Davis has done in the off season. They're waiting for their time to come to cash in.

Many in the NFL and the media may hate Davis. However, despite all his crazy antics, whopping signings and perhaps even more to come, Davis -- in his mind -- has done everything in his power to improve his pitiful team.

And don't think he's done yet.

Now with Hall, Oakland forms a formidable secondary. Hall starting across Nnamdi Asomugha -- who I believe is the better corner (Al pay this guy already!) -- just might help the Raiders win some games.

But now, the Silver and Black is suddenly flush with corner backs. Fabian Washington (who has been linked to trade rumors) and Stanford Routt don't get too comfortable.

Davis only has one pick on the first day of the 2008 NFL Draft and three overall. With the Hall trade, Oakland only has their first round pick (No. 4 overall), fourth, sixth and seventh picks.

Does any sane NFL fan believe Al isn't going to make another move and try to acquire some picks?

Washington -- through Rotoworld.com -- has been linked to the Browns for a third-round pick.

Then there's running back LaMont Jordan who appears to be all but done as a Raider. He carries a $4.7 million cap number next season and with the emergence of Justin Fargas, Jordan is now a luxury.

Davis might move him for a pick as well.

Speaking of the Draft, with the Hall deal signed, sealed and delivered, it's feasible Davis talks to good ol' buddy Jerry Jones. Jones is infatuated with running back Darren McFadden and according to several media reports so is Davis.

Can Davis broker a trade with Jones and his Cowboys?

After seeing the Hall trade, it's quite possible.

Oakland just might give Jones the keys to McFadden in exchange for Dallas' two first-round picks. And while you're at it there Davis, ask Jerry for defensive tackle Tank Johnson too.

It's going to be an interesting month-and-a-half before April's draft, that's for sure.

Call him crazy, senile, or whatever you please. Those who have read my columns know I have.

But Davis has seemingly improved Oakland's chances of erasing the laughing stock title. He's also changed the game of free agency.

Looks like the crazy ol' man will get the last laugh after all, eh?

Posted by Ray Aspuria at 10:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Well, according to NFL Network's Adam Schefter, DeAngelo Hall is an Oakland Raider.

According to Schefter, Big Al's sending Oakland's second- and 2009's fifth-round pick to Atlanta and Hall signed a seven-year, $70 million contract. $24.5 million is guaranteed.

I was wondering how Davis could afford to splurge on free agents/players this year and Mr. Schefter provided the answer.

In October of last year, Davis had put up a minority share of the Raiders' up for bids. Someone bit and it netted Davis a profit of somewhere in the range of $150 million.

Schefter reports that it is indeed that money that has allowed Davis to spend like a madman.

Now that Oakland has Hall, Davis is a fearful secondary with Nnamdi Asomugha on the opposite corner.

I wonder if Big Al will get Asomugha inked to a long-term deal or wait until next season. Asomugha has yet to sign the franchise one-year tender.

In the immediate future, will Davis have enough money to sign the No. 4 overall pick in April's Draft?

With speculation that running back Darren McFadden is in Davis' sights, Oakland's going to have to get creative to create even more cap room if the Raiders select the former Razorback tailback.

Here's another thing to keep your eye one: Derrick Burgess wants a pay raise. There have been rumors floating around that the defensive end isn't quite too happy with his below-market salary.

Posted by Ray Aspuria at 03:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It appears the Falcons-Raiders trade will happen after all.

Corner back DeAngelo Hall told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Tuesday he will be signing a contract with Oakland shortly and be a Raider by the end of the week.

According to the Steve Wyche of the AJC, Hall will finalize the deal by Thursday morning. Wyche also states Hall is scheduled to fly to Oakland on Wednesday to meet with the team and sign the new contract.

"There is just some tweaking of the language that needs to be done, some minor details," Hall told the AJC about the contract negotiations. "No deal breakers."

So it appears that the deal is done and the Raiders get a lethal combination at corner.

I wonder what number Hall will wear?

He wore No. 21 in Atlanta and the number is currently being used by Nnamdi Asomugha, the Raiders franchise player.

Posted by Ray Aspuria at 11:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

The draft is a crap-shoot and no one really knows who's going to go where. But here's a quick peek at why Oakland should take Vernon Gholston with the fourth overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Golston is No. 50. If he can do this to an NFL-caliber line, Oakland will add a dangerous weapon to the defense.

Posted by Ray Aspuria at 04:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Seemed to me making a mock draft before the initial frenetic spending spree that is Free Agency wasn't the way to go.

After waiting to see what teams did once the green light came on to sign unrestricted free agents -- as well as waiting for squads to designate franchise players -- now seems a great time to predict what will happen on April 26.

Here are the top 10 picks in this year’s NFL Draft:

1. Miami Dophins -- DE Chris Long/Virginia

While Bill Parcells is probably looking to trade out of the top slot, he'll have little to no suitors. But the Big Tuna shouldn't be concerned with a plethora of talent available to the Fins. Parcells is great at evaluating talent and selecting the right guy for his team and Long fits the bill. A non-stop motor coupled with great physical attributes and a good arsenal of moves, the addition of Long might just force other teams to go into the shotgun formation with Jason Taylor coming from the other end.

2. St. Louis Rams -- OT Jake Long/Michigan

Orlando Pace is without a doubt, one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL ... when healthy. With that in mind, the Rams take an prospect with all the tools to be Pace's successor when time comes in Long. Like his brother Chris, Jake has the physical tools to become an all-pro tackle in the NFL. Size, speed and power is the name of the game for this Wolverine. And the Rams will love it. Not only can he move opposing lineman out of the way with brute force, he has the footwork to get around and manipulate oncoming traffic with finesse.

3. Atlanta Falcons -- QB Matt Ryan/Boston College

The Michael Vick debacle has left a glaring hole at one of the NFL's most important positions for Atlanta. The Falcons have seen Joey Harrington, Chris Redman and Byron Leftwich at the helm and it's time to get some stability into the fold. with new coach Mike Smith in the fold and the purging of aging veterans, Ryan comes in to provide the Falcons with a young general on the field. Impressive across the board athletically, Ryan can come in and become the face of the franchise. Pairing up the young QB with running back Michael Turner can ease some of the growing pains.

4. Oakland Raiders -- DE/OLB Vernon Gholston/Ohio State

Darren McFadden would be a very sexy pick here, however, Al Davis and Co. re-signed Justin Fargas, as well as restructured the contract of Dominic Rhodes. They also have Michael Bush in the mix as well. Defensive tackle is also a need for the Raiders, but with Oakland backing up the Brinks truck to Tommy Kelly's door step, Sedrick Ellis or Glenn Dorsey appear out the running. But Davis shouldn't fret as he gets mitts on another physical freak in Gholston. Running a 4.58 40 at his Pro-Day, Gholston can provide Oakland with a pass rushing terror to couple with Derrick Burgess.

5. Kansas City Chiefs -- DT Glenn Dorsey/LSU

McFadden will certainly get some interest here with the Chiefs but, I doubt they want another headache when it comes to first-round running backs. With Larry Johnson already set, Kansas City will look to dam the suddenly potent running attacks from AFC West rivals Denver, Oakland and San Diego. What better way to do that than with Dorsey. Described as a man-child by many scouts, Dorsey can come in and cause havoc in the oppositions backfield. He also has enough speed and quickness to get the quarterback as well. Health concerns may be an issue now, but come draft day, the Chiefs are going to take this mountain in the middle.

6. New York Jets -- RB Darren McFadden/Arkansas

With the top five teams passing on DMC, Cowboys' boss Jerry Jones may make his move to get his hands on McFadden. The Jets may listen, but will decide DMC – who unofficially ran a 4.27 40 at the combine -- is too much of a talent to let by. The Jets get a big time play maker at the tail back spot immediately taking the heat off of whomever they choose to play quarterback. While Thomas Jones and crew have done a good job holding down the fort, McFadden's home run ability is too enticing for the Jets to pass up.

7. New England Patriots (from San Francisco) -- CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie/TSU

Don't be surprised if you're not familiar with Rodgers-Cromartie. Other than his last name, the corner has stayed under the radar. That is until the Senior Bowl and his combine performance. With the Patriots losing Asante Samuel to the Eagles, cornerback is suddenly a need for New England. But with a system that can create all-pro defensive backs, Rodgers-Cromartie's speed -- he ran an official 4.28 40 time at the combine -- will give the Patriots another shutdown corner.

8. Baltimore Ravens -- CB Leodis McKelvin/Troy

While quarterback is a position of dire need, there are no prospects worthy of taking at this spot. With that in mind, head coach John Harbaugh decides to fix the secondary. Chris McAllister is a great corner, when he isn't banged up, so the Ravens take a great cover corner in McKelvin. Like Rodgers-Cromartie, the corner from Troy isn't a popular prospect, but once he gets into the NFL, he probably will be.

9. Cincinnati Bengals – DT Sedrick Ellis/USC

After failing to land Shaun Rogers during the first weeks of free agency, the Bengals finally get their run stuffing defensive tackle through the draft in Ellis. Quickly rising up the draft boards with uncanny strength, Cincy will be extremely pleased if he fell into their laps. While he may be on the short side, 6-feet even on some scouting reports -- Ellis more than makes up for it with brute, Incredible Hulk type power.

10. New Orleans Saints – CB Mike Jenkins/South Florida

Name any of the Saints defensive backs. Go ahead, I’ll wait ... Honestly, names don’t matter. New Orleans 30th ranked pass defense does, however. While the Saints added former Pats CB Randall Gay through free agency, they’re going to need a lot more help than that. Enter Jenkins.
With the ability to play in either man or zone coverage, Jenkins provides the Saints with some youth and stability at an awful position.

The rest of the first round will be coming soon!

Posted by Ray Aspuria at 09:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

After covering at least three high school basketball contests that went into overtime (or double OT), I was not surprised that my first baseball game of the 2008 season ... went into extra innings. 3-2, St. Bernard's over Mack. Man, the weather feels nasty when the sun goes in, the breeze picks up and the temps drop. North Coast baseball in March is way different from the warm, sunny SoCal climate. By the way, the folks who do the field at St. Bernard's are to be commended for their excellent work on the infield. It looks in great shape. Even with Vince Ayala and Mike Dominick graduated, the Crusaders have five junior pitchers, so I think they will be tough again.

Posted by Neil Tarpey at 11:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

During my recent (first) visit to the Shark Tank (aka HP Pavilion) in San Jose, I had the great fortune to watch the Sharks and Canadiens work out in their late morning skating/shooting practice. There were about 10-15 of us (media, family members) observing their 3-on-2, 2-on-1, passing and shooting routines. The loud (remember, empty building) clink of the puck on the pipes is memorable. Before I left the arena to interview Christopher Higgins, I stood next to the glass on the goal line where I had an eagle-eye view of the Canadiens' #27 Alexei Kovalev standing in the face-off circle, receiving passes from a player on the other side, and either one-timing or slapping a long series of angled rockets into the net.

Posted by Neil Tarpey at 11:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

The Humboldt State softball team went to the Western Oregon Shootout last weekend with several goals in mind, and they accomplished them all, and in quite impressive fashion.

Wins for pitchers other than Lizzy Prescott? Check. Jenna Anderson and Hannah Jones each picked up a W against Northwest Nazarene on Saturday. Jones was particularly impressive, striking out an even dozen in a complete-game shutout of the Crusaders.

Keeping Prescott fresh for Sunday's doubleheader against the host Wolves, who are ranked eighth in the NCFA Division II poll? Check. With Anderson, Jones and Kristina Lewis getting the job done Saturday, Prescott relaxed in the dugout. Then on Sunday, she gave up just one run in 14 innings as the Jacks swept the Wolves 6-1 and 2-0. That should go a long way toward getting HSU back in the poll.

Production from the bottom half of the lineup? Check. Their five-through-nine batters hit .350 in the four games. Perhaps most significantly, catcher Marissa Slattery, a 2007 Daktronics All-American who hadn't found her groove yet in ’08, went 7-for-14 (a .500 average) on the weekend, boosting her average from .203 to .260 in two days.

And finally, a cleaner performance on defense? Check. The Jacks committed only one error in the four games. And it wasn't even by a regular fielder, it was by Prescott.

That kind of performance should demand notice from the coaches who vote in NFCA poll. The new rankings should come out Wednesday.

Posted by Erik Fraser at 05:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Division II Football Committee wants to adjust the “earned access policy” used to select teams for the championship bracket. Wouldn't it be nice if Humboldt State fans were actually concerned with this?

The change concerns the highest-ranked team from a particular conference in the final regional rankings. Committee members at their February meeting in San Diego agreed that six teams from each region would continue to earn access into the championship. In past years, though, if a conference had a team represented in the top 10 in the final regional rankings (but not among the six highest-rated teams), that conference and institution could “earn access” to the playoffs by bumping one of the other more highly rated teams within the top six.
Under the committee’s proposal, teams would now have to be ranked among the top eight in the final regional rankings to be considered for earned access.
In concert with the change, the committee agreed to produce a top 10 weekly ranking instead of the current top 12.

Posted by Sean Quincey at 12:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It was more than a little bit of an overreaction when people started wondering out loud if HSU could possibly drop out of the West Region Tournament. Sure HSU lost to Pomona by 3 in the first round of the CCAA touranment. Sure Pomona was the No.8 seed in that tournament.
SO WHAT.
The Jacks won the regular season title—OK, they shared it—but, like Coach Wood said "It would be a slap in the face" if they didn't let a conference champ into the Regionals. In fact, it's crazy that the only automatic bid the West Region gives is to the winner of the CCAA tournament, the only conference in the West Region that actually hosts a post-season tournament.
Here's some criteria they should think about:
1) Conference champs should get automatic bids even if it's a co-championship.
2) If conference tournament winners get automatic bids, every conference should have one.
1a) If all three conferences create touranments and all three have ties for regular season champions, or more than two are tied for any one regular season champion, put all their names together and throw darts.
3) make sure, absolutely sure, you only use eight darts.

Posted by Sean Quincey at 12:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Ok, what a game and what an entire existence the East Gym has had. And it came to an end Tuesday night.
Not to be callous, but it's about time.
It's about time HSU got a gym worthy of its program. The East Gym has plenty of history, lore, and all the other nice things you say about old stuff, but honestly, with the entire Jacks athletics program looking to step into the next generation, a new facility fits perfectly with those plans.
Just think of the time — and money — you'll get to spend ooh-aahing at the bells and whistles the new gym offers. Sunsets will glow through the windows, and in all likelihood, wins will continue to light up the scoreboard. The real thought, though, is that recruits and dollars will continue and begin flowing through the doors.
Well, in order for that to happen, HSU had to make a big step and it did. It's about time.

Posted by Sean Quincey at 12:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)