Read More » | 0 views | no comments

Shawn Crable follow-up

Posted by Reiss' Pieces August 7, 2008 at 3:10 pm

On the second day of training camp, Bill Belichick talked about how the Patriots, like other teams, had placed a higher value on certain parts of their draft board than in past years.

Players like a third cornerback, third receiver, third-down running back, and second- and third-down rusher were closer to starter-like status based on their growing importance in today's game.

At that time, I wrote that the second- and third-down pass rusher was a point of particular interest and that rookie linebacker Shawn Crable, one of the team's third-round picks, was a player who seemed targeted for that role.

Following up on that thought through 18 training camp practices, Crable has created some havoc as a rusher. Initially, he probably does project mostly in a second- and third-down rushing role.

But after watching him to this point, he should not be overlooked as a possibility to emerge as a full-time outside linebacker in the 3-4 alignment at some point. While his legs might not look the part -- and might make one question if he can set the edge in the running game against bigger tight ends and tackles -- he has other attributes (e.g. long arms) that help him in that challenging aspect of playing the position.

Crable said that element of containment has been one of his biggest adjustments coming from Michigan.

"You're the end of the defense, so you have to set the edge and can't let plays get outside," he said. "In that terms, it's a lot different because the guys here are a lot stronger than they were in college."

Read More » | 0 views | no comments

Dressed Up and Playing Her Tune

Posted by Bob Ekstrom July 1, 2008 at 8:57 am

Welcome to July, the summer queen who is supposed to separate baseball’s cream from its crop, right? Well, our beloved Red Sox begin the month a game and a-half behind the Tampa Bay Rays, courtesy of last night’s 5-4 loss at Tropicana Field. It’s not the old Trop anymore says Jeff Horrigan, who has Justin Masterson (4-2) struggling with his command for the first time this season. Jeff Goldberg says the Sox start this series in a very different state than the Rays, which was evident from literally the first pitch, a B.J. Upton homer. Sean McAdam says the Rays were opportunistic in building their AL East lead last night. Bill Ballou reminds us it’s been all downhill since Boston’s high-water mark on Saturday night, when the Sox sat mightily atop the division. Gordon Edes can’t remember the last time the Rays’ crowd outnumbered Sox supporters at the Trop. Tampa has undoubtedly been reignited from the Tribune’s tips for fans , where Marc Lancaster reminds everyone the Sox are the new Evil Empire. Rob Bradford says there’s a different feel to the Trop this year, as the surreal setting last night illustrates.

In the wake of Saturday’s shoving incident, Bradford’s Red Sox Beat has the New Manny image already in the shop for repairs. McAdam has both Manny and skipper Terry Francona in damage control mode, trying to downplay the incident. Dan Shaughnessy calls out the Sox organization as “spineless” and labels them Manny enablers after this latest chapter.

Edes’ Red Sox Notebook has last night’s security beefed up in the wake of threats directed toward Manny and Coco Crisp, although they aren’t related to last month’s brawl with the Rays in Boston. Horrigan also has an account of the stepped-up security measures. Horrigan’s Red Sox Notebook has Big Papi on a slow recovery and officially out of this year’s All-Star Game. In his Red Sox Notes, Ballou has Ortiz reporting he won’t need surgery.

The C’s

With every title in Title Town comes the hangover and, as James Posey’s declaration for free agency yesterday attests, the Celtics are not exempt. Mark Murphy says that tight cap space around the NBA, coupled with Posey’s midlevel salary expectations, will make him hot this summer. Marc J. Spears says Posey will be the top offseason target for the C’s, who also failed to make Tony Allen a qualifying offer yesterday.

Pats

Karen Guregian features Randy Moss’s weekend work with youth, culminating with his golf tournament to raise funds for providing learning centers in West Virginia. With the good, comes some bad. Christopher L. Gasper has the details on Willie Andrews’ busy offseason, capped by his second arrest yesterday.

Odds & Sods

Tom King has former Sox infielder Brian Daubach returning to the area as hitting coach for the Nashua Pride. As the Sox tangle with the Rays in Tampa this week, Dan Duggan recalls Daubach’s involvement in an infamous Tropicana melee eight years ago.

Kevin Provencher has New Hampshire Motor Speedway GM Jerry Gappens dog tired after his first NASCAR Sprint Cup event last weekend, the 27th consecutive sellout in Loudon.

The Telegram updates us about Derek Jeter’s bat woes - not only in swinging them, but in holding them as well. Kind of a slow sports day.

Bruce will be taking some time off this week, so we guest bloggers will try to fill his shoes. Join us each day throughout the week and, as always, send me your comments at bob02878@yahoo.com. Thanks.

ShareThis

Read More » | 0 views | no comments

Morning Coffee

Posted by Mike Giardi June 12, 2008 at 9:43 am

Early morning thoughts while being thankful that I never said anything bad about Texas outfielder Milton Bradley (at least, as far as he knows or I’ll admit)…

- You know how athletes like to blame the media for taking quotes out of context, or being overtly negative? Apparently Curt Schilling doesn’t need our help. He can do it all on his own. Never mind the fact that he was right about Kobe. Schill objects to having clubhouse business spilled out on the back pages of newspapers, but obviously has no problem laying the hammer on a guy he doesn’t even know, playing for a team he doesn’t know. Hypocrisy anyone?

- I don’t spend too much time worrying about the Pats and their habit of not disclosing injuries. I mean, why should I, and more importantly, why should they? Ellis Hobbs was right earlier this week when he said the opposition will go after you if they know you’re hurt. I don’t see how the NFL can make them tell the truth. If Hobbs ends up getting scratched, they could say he slipped on banana peel the morning of the game. How can the league prove that wrong? So that said, I think Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo blogging about his ankle injury is the height of stupidity. Unless he’s setting the Lakers up for something, there is absolutely no reason for it. I guess its youth…or something.

- Did you see Bill Simmons claim that Kevin Garnett didn’t sleep for like 4 days straight in the Detroit series? Am I suppose to be impressed? As a professional insomniac, I can triple that with no effort. But seriously…KG needs to dial it down a bit. Part of being great is getting a handle on your emotions and managing your intensity. 1st Quarters mean as much as 4th Quarters on the scoreboard, but its those final 12 minutes that determine a player’s legacy. I suspect Garnett knows that, even bleary eyed…

- If Rondo doesn’t play tonight, or is ineffective, how does Doc handle it? Pray that Eddie House’s dribbling skills have taken a quantum leap in the 48 hours since the C’s and Lakers last played? Hope that someone got the smelling salts for Sam Cassell? Mercifully, LA doesn’t have a Lindsey Hunter type to hound the ball, although Jordan Farmar did a pretty good job Tuesday. I suppose you could have Pierce and/or Allen bring the ball up, but I have to believe that would impact the offense in a negative manner. The more I think about it, the more Rondo just has to pull a Pierce, put on a Cape and play Superman…or at least the Green Lantern or Flash Gordon (I loved the Green Lantern as a kid, but you gotta admit, his gimmick was pretty lame. Not as lame as the Wonder Twins, but I digress…)

- If you don’t like “The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret” by Queens of the Stone Age, I’m not sure we can be friends.

Read More » | 259 views | no comments

Heady time for the Celtics

Posted by Ted McEnroe June 9, 2008 at 12:45 pm

Pretty heady time for the Boston Celtics. They lead their series in the NBA finals with the LA Lakers 2 games to none, but there was a big complaint after the game from Laker coach Phil Jackson, who was disgusted with the disparity in foul calls. Celtics shoot 38, Lakers get  a 10. Leon Pow or Poe as Jackson corrected himself after messing up Leon’s name with more free throws. One player than the in the entire Laker group had as a team. Paul was very aggressive. He deserved those foul calls. On the hand, the Lakers weren’t aggressive at all, and that goes right on down to Kobe Bryant who surprisingly has not yet attacked a basket. You have to give the Celtics deense credit. Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, James Cosy and even the bigs for sliding over and life difficult for Kobe. They continue this in those 2 wins, they might come in L.A, and then they wrap this thing up before having it come back to Boston for. listen

Powered by Jott

Read More » | 248 views | no comments

Confidence key in NBA Eastern Conference finals

Posted by Allison Sonfist May 20, 2008 at 6:22 pm

The Boston Celtics were the best team in the regular season, but the same hasn’t remained true in the post season. However, the Celtics’ confidence remains high.

Read More » | 173 views | no comments

Celts won’t let lack of rest bring them down

Posted by Allison Sonfist May 20, 2008 at 6:03 pm

Detroit is at Boston tonight for Game 1 of the best-of-seven NBA Eastern Conference Finals. Though the Pistons have had plenty of time to rest up for the series, the Celtics are ready to rumble.

Read More » | 235 views | no comments

4th Quarter Flameout

Posted by Mike Giardi May 13, 2008 at 10:41 am

Boy, this is aggravating. The Celtics continue to have opportunities to win on the road, and continue to let them slip away. Down 3 going into the final quarter last night, the C’s score just 12 points. That’s not a misprint. 12! You should get 12 by accident, with weapons like Allen, Garnett and Pierce littering the roster. But not these guys, not in these playoffs. Perhaps that why C’s Coach Doc Rivers said that his team needed to play better “under stress.”

When I heard that, I said “uh oh.” You knew that quote would be presented to the Celts stars. It was, and the results were predictable. According to the Boston Globe, they didn’t like.  Garnett refused to acknowledge that the team was lacking poise, and then turned around and put some of the struggles on his coach.

“In a situation like ours, we are trying to do everything that Doc wants us to do. He makes all the calls. He gives us direction. For the most part, we pretty much try to do what he wants.”

Call me crazy, KG, but I don’t think Doc is designing play for you to take 20-foot jumpers with the game on the line. How about you park you butt on the block, and the offense runs through you from there? That’s what your Coach has wanted all season, and it worked to the tune of 66 regular season wins. During the second half last night, the “Big Ticket” peeled out of the post because of pressure from Anderson Varejao. Yeah, Sideshow Bob did a nice job working over the C’s MVP. That’s scary. The two men aren’t even close in talent, and Varejao was actually questionable coming in with a knee injury.

Paul Pierce also had issues with Doc’s quote, saying, “I don’t know what he means. I’m stressed every game. Stressed to get a win.” Hmmm, then shouldn’t it be incumbent on Pierce to get to the rack, and get to the line? Yes, PP took 17 shots (hitting a paltry 6), but he earned just two free throws. This went on during the Atlanta series as well, and you have to wonder if the light will go on the next time the C’s are in Cleveland.

Mercifully, the Celts are back at home tomorrow night, and I fully expect them to play better and to win. Of course, LeBron might have something to say about that. He went 7-for-20, his 4th straight subpar shooting night. I keep saying “The King” is due to bust out. The C’s better hope that doesn’t happen in Game 5, because I wouldn’t bet a cent on them winning away from the Garden a couple of nights later.

Read More » | 240 views | no comments