August 26, 2014 at 5:29 p.m.
Football on the mind of readers
Rays of Insight
Football is here.
Indiana high school football got underway Friday. College football, beginning with three games Thursday, and Ohio high school football join the party this week.
And the NFL kicks off Sept. 4 when the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks host the Green Bay Packers. (Look for my NFL predictions next week.)
So it only makes sense that the gridiron is the focus of most of the questions this month. We’ll start with an NBA query, but after that, it’s all football.
••••••••••
How do you see the "Big Three" (LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love) in Cleveland this year in the division and playoffs? I predict second in the central division and a bounce in the second round at the hands of someone like the Indiana Pacers with a big center.
—Nathan Miller,
Wanamaker
It seems like Mr. Miller may have forgotten Paul George will miss the 2014-15 season following his gruesome leg injury and Lance Stephenson left for Charlotte. Regardless of the size up front with Roy Hibbert and David West, the Pacers are not a team that’s making it back to the Eastern Conference Finals.
That said, let’s get to the heart of your question.
James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh combined to average 62.3 points, 18 rebounds and 12.2 assists last season. Meanwhile, James, Love and Irving averaged 74 points, 23 rebounds and 16.9 assists. Granted, the numbers will change when they all become teammates, but the comparison is valid.
And let’s not forget Dion Waiters (15.9 points per game last season), Anderson Varejao (8.4 ppg, 9.7 rebounds per game) and Tristan Thompson (11.7 ppg, 9.2 rpg).
Cleveland is the favorite in the Eastern Conference, with Chicago as a strong challenger.
••••••••••
Do you expect Trent Richardson to emerge as a top running back this season as many of the Indianapolis Colts opponents will be forced to acknowledge their improved receiving corps or will he continue his sub-par play behind an inexperienced offensive line?
—Joseph Vormohr, Indianapolis
He will continue his sub-par play, because he is a sub-par player.
Let’s take an honest look at his numbers.
As a rookie, he averaged 3.6 yards per carry in Cleveland. He only seemed good because he caught 51 passes and scored 12 touchdowns.
With Cleveland and Indianapolis in 2014 he averaged just 3.0 yards per carry.
Richardson is a good receiver out of the backfield, but he’s a below average runner who will be playing behind a line that has struggled. Don’t expect much.
••••••••••
Who are your NFL preseason winners, losers and biggest question marks?
—Jason McGraw, Portland
One preseason winner is New England running back James White. I was alone in my opinion that he was the best running back in the draft this year, but he has made a lot of noise in Patriots training camp. Bill Belichick will continue to use a committee of runners, but expect several big games from White this year.
Easily the biggest loser of the preseason was Sam Bradford. After missing most of the 2013 season with a torn ACL, he tore the same ligament again Saturday against the Browns. He will miss the entire 2014 season.
The massive question mark is in Carolina — the Panthers. After going 7-9 in 2012, they soared to 12-4 and the playoffs in 2013. But they lost a ton of key players, including most of their receiving corps, in free agency. They could be a playoff team again this season, but they could just as easily fall well below .500.
••••••••••
Let me give you a series of NFL over/unders. Over/under: 40 – Touchdowns for Peyton Manning; 10.5 – Wins for the Colts this year; 4.5 – Games Johnny Manziel will start this year.
—Steve Garbacz, Greenwood
Peyton Manning will throw fewer than 40 touchdowns this year. Yes, he threw 55 last season, but those gaudy numbers are unlikely to repeat themselves. He tossed 37 TDs in his first year in Denver. Also, after throwing 49 TD passes in 2004 he finished with just 28 the following year.
I’m not a big Colts believer, but they still have the glorious advantage of playing in the horrendous AFC South. And they have Reggie Wayne back. They should win at least five games in the division, and another 11-5 campaign seems to be the most likely result.
For my sake, I hope Johnny Football starts fewer than 4.5 games. But I’m taking the over. If the Browns are 1-2 or 0-3 in their first three games against the Steelers, Saints and Ravens, which seems likely, Manziel will start following the bye in week five against the Titans.
••••••••••
What is the estimated crowd for the Jay County/Fort Recovery high school football game Sept. 5? My guess … 2,027 paid.
—Bob Staugler, Fort Recovery
I’ll take the over on that number.
Paid attendance can sometimes be hard to gauge, given the band, cheerleaders and other supporters and volunteers who are admitted free. But I’m going to guess 2,500 fans will be at Harold E. Schutz Memorial Stadium for the inaugural meeting between the Patriots and Indians.
Regardless of the number, it should be a great atmosphere for the fans, coaches and players alike.
I’m hoping for a game that comes down to the wire. Overtime anyone?
Indiana high school football got underway Friday. College football, beginning with three games Thursday, and Ohio high school football join the party this week.
And the NFL kicks off Sept. 4 when the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks host the Green Bay Packers. (Look for my NFL predictions next week.)
So it only makes sense that the gridiron is the focus of most of the questions this month. We’ll start with an NBA query, but after that, it’s all football.
••••••••••
How do you see the "Big Three" (LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love) in Cleveland this year in the division and playoffs? I predict second in the central division and a bounce in the second round at the hands of someone like the Indiana Pacers with a big center.
—Nathan Miller,
Wanamaker
It seems like Mr. Miller may have forgotten Paul George will miss the 2014-15 season following his gruesome leg injury and Lance Stephenson left for Charlotte. Regardless of the size up front with Roy Hibbert and David West, the Pacers are not a team that’s making it back to the Eastern Conference Finals.
That said, let’s get to the heart of your question.
James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh combined to average 62.3 points, 18 rebounds and 12.2 assists last season. Meanwhile, James, Love and Irving averaged 74 points, 23 rebounds and 16.9 assists. Granted, the numbers will change when they all become teammates, but the comparison is valid.
And let’s not forget Dion Waiters (15.9 points per game last season), Anderson Varejao (8.4 ppg, 9.7 rebounds per game) and Tristan Thompson (11.7 ppg, 9.2 rpg).
Cleveland is the favorite in the Eastern Conference, with Chicago as a strong challenger.
••••••••••
Do you expect Trent Richardson to emerge as a top running back this season as many of the Indianapolis Colts opponents will be forced to acknowledge their improved receiving corps or will he continue his sub-par play behind an inexperienced offensive line?
—Joseph Vormohr, Indianapolis
He will continue his sub-par play, because he is a sub-par player.
Let’s take an honest look at his numbers.
As a rookie, he averaged 3.6 yards per carry in Cleveland. He only seemed good because he caught 51 passes and scored 12 touchdowns.
With Cleveland and Indianapolis in 2014 he averaged just 3.0 yards per carry.
Richardson is a good receiver out of the backfield, but he’s a below average runner who will be playing behind a line that has struggled. Don’t expect much.
••••••••••
Who are your NFL preseason winners, losers and biggest question marks?
—Jason McGraw, Portland
One preseason winner is New England running back James White. I was alone in my opinion that he was the best running back in the draft this year, but he has made a lot of noise in Patriots training camp. Bill Belichick will continue to use a committee of runners, but expect several big games from White this year.
Easily the biggest loser of the preseason was Sam Bradford. After missing most of the 2013 season with a torn ACL, he tore the same ligament again Saturday against the Browns. He will miss the entire 2014 season.
The massive question mark is in Carolina — the Panthers. After going 7-9 in 2012, they soared to 12-4 and the playoffs in 2013. But they lost a ton of key players, including most of their receiving corps, in free agency. They could be a playoff team again this season, but they could just as easily fall well below .500.
••••••••••
Let me give you a series of NFL over/unders. Over/under: 40 – Touchdowns for Peyton Manning; 10.5 – Wins for the Colts this year; 4.5 – Games Johnny Manziel will start this year.
—Steve Garbacz, Greenwood
Peyton Manning will throw fewer than 40 touchdowns this year. Yes, he threw 55 last season, but those gaudy numbers are unlikely to repeat themselves. He tossed 37 TDs in his first year in Denver. Also, after throwing 49 TD passes in 2004 he finished with just 28 the following year.
I’m not a big Colts believer, but they still have the glorious advantage of playing in the horrendous AFC South. And they have Reggie Wayne back. They should win at least five games in the division, and another 11-5 campaign seems to be the most likely result.
For my sake, I hope Johnny Football starts fewer than 4.5 games. But I’m taking the over. If the Browns are 1-2 or 0-3 in their first three games against the Steelers, Saints and Ravens, which seems likely, Manziel will start following the bye in week five against the Titans.
••••••••••
What is the estimated crowd for the Jay County/Fort Recovery high school football game Sept. 5? My guess … 2,027 paid.
—Bob Staugler, Fort Recovery
I’ll take the over on that number.
Paid attendance can sometimes be hard to gauge, given the band, cheerleaders and other supporters and volunteers who are admitted free. But I’m going to guess 2,500 fans will be at Harold E. Schutz Memorial Stadium for the inaugural meeting between the Patriots and Indians.
Regardless of the number, it should be a great atmosphere for the fans, coaches and players alike.
I’m hoping for a game that comes down to the wire. Overtime anyone?
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