Irish Have Plenty of Holes to Fill

Following an underwhelming 9-4 season, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame have not had the most encouraging offseason to date. The Irish have lost a lot of contributing parts on and off the field. Here’s a look at what has happened over the last two months.

Offensive coordinator Chuck Martin and defensive coordinator Bob Diaco have left the program to become head coaches at Miami (OH) and Connecticut respectively. The graduating class includes key players such as Tommy Rees, T.J. Jones, Zack Martin, Chris Watt, Louis Nix, Prince Shembo, Dan Fox, Carlo Calabrese, and Bennett Jackson. All nine of these players were starters for several seasons and will be tough to replace next season. In addition to the senior class, juniors Stephon Tuitt, Troy Niklas, and George Atkinson III have decided to enter the NFL Draft. All three played a major role the last two seasons and will also be missed. And to top it off, DaVaris Daniels has been suspended from the university for the spring semester for poor grades. Daniels is expected to rejoin the Irish in the summer, but that is far from a guarantee.

Like any program, the Irish have to move forward. To replace Martin and Diaco, Notre Dame has promoted wide receivers coach Mike Denbrock to offensive coordinator and former New York Jets linebackers coach Brain VanGorder as defensive coordinator. Now that we know who the new hires are, I don’t expect much change in philosophy on either side of the ball. Obviously, the offense is still Brian Kelly’s baby, so don’t expect any changes with Denbrock coaching Kelly’s offensive style. In fact, Kelly will resume play-calling next season after relinquishing those duties to Chuck Martin in 2012 and 2013. With VanGorder replacing Diaco there will likely be some tweaks to the defensive scheme, but Kelly and VanGorder are familiar with what each other wants to do defensively since the two worked together at Grand Valley State from 1989 to 1991.

On the field, Notre Dame will have to lean on some younger players to step up and fill the voids left by the veteran players. Obviously, the return of quarterback Everett Golson should be a huge lift offensively. Assuming Golson earns back his starting role, he should open things up offensively with his athleticism. During his fall suspension, Golson worked with renowned private quarterback coach George Whitfield Jr. to improve his mechanics. Golson has reportedly gained nearly 20 pounds of muscle and now throws the football the conventional way by griping the laces. With the change, Golson has stated that his throws are more consistent, accurate, and have more velocity.

Who will he throw the ball to with Jones, Niklas, and maybe Daniels not on the roster? Look for some younger guys to step up. We saw glimpses of what guys like Corey Robinson, Will Fuller, Chris Brown, C.J. Prosise, and James Onwualu can do this season, so there is plenty of depth on the roster. In addition, expect contributions from redshirt freshman Torii Hunter Jr. and incoming freshman Justin Brent who has enrolled early this spring. The tight end depth chart lacks experience outside of Ben Koyack who emerged last season, but redshirt freshmen Durham Smythe and Mike Heuerman will be eager to make impact as well.

The offensive line will lose at least two starters, but Brian Kelly has recruited the position heavily the last two seasons so I don’t expect this to be an issue. Also, guys like Steve Elmer and Mark Harrell earned valuable playing time due to some injuries.

Defensively, the Irish will have six or seven starters to replace depending on whether or not Austin Collinsworth returns for a fifth year. With Nix and Tuitt gone on the defensive line, look for Sheldon Day, Jarron Jones, and Isaac Rochell to receive the bulk of the playing time up front. All three received significant playing time last season, so they should be prepared to take on an increased role.

The linebacker unit is losing three starters in Shembo, Fox, and Calabrese, and there isn’t a whole lot of experience behind them on the depth chart. Out of all the positions, I’m concerned about this group the most. Ishaq Williams will replace Shembo and has the some experience, but I don’t think he has the athleticism and explosiveness to have the same type of impact Shembo made. In the middle, Fox and Calabrese weren’t great, but they were reliable. Kendall Moore will likely return for a fifth year and take one of the spots, but the other spot is anyone’s guess. Jarrett Grace is suppose to return after breaking his fibula in 2013, and will be the starter if he is healthy. Beyond that, the Irish lack depth. Redshirt freshman Michael Deeb, Joe Schmidt, and incoming freshman Nyles Morgan will all likely see significant playing time as well. This should be an interesting situation to follow in the spring and summer.

The defensive backfield finally appears to be looking better as the Irish have plenty of guys to lean on. The unit has not been particularly great during the past two seasons, but plenty of guys have received valuable playing time while the coaching staff tried to find the right groupings. KeiVarae Russell will man one of the corner spots, with youngsters Devin Butler and Cole Luke likely sharing time at the other spot. The safety positions have plenty of options with or without Austin Collinsworth’s return with Matthias Farley, Eilar Hardy, Max Redfield, and Elijah Shumate all figuring to be on the field a lot this season. I expect this unit to be vastly improved next season, and it might be the most athletic and talent bunch the Irish have had in quite some time.

For the second consecutive year, Notre Dame has endured a rough offseason, but it looks as though they will be better prepared to handle it in 2014. Brian Kelly has recruited very well the past two seasons, and will likely add another top 10-15 class this season. That type of recruiting provides depth to deal with adverse situations, but it remains to be seen how well it will translate on the field. With a daunting schedule that features games with Florida State, USC, Stanford, Arizona State, and Michigan, the Irish will need that young talent to develop quickly and perform at a high level if they are going to compete for a playoff spot in 2014.

-Eric Tichelbaut

Follow me on Twitter @etichel07

White Sox, Ventura Agree to Extension

On Friday, the Chicago White Sox and manager Robin Ventura agreed to a multi-year contract extension. The details have yet to be announced as general manager Rick Hahn stated that the particulars of the deal would be kept private. In any event, the extension ensures that Ventura will be managing the White Sox beyond the 2014 season.

The announcement may have come as a surprise to some for three reasons. First, prior to the 2013 campaign, Ventura turned down a contract extension because he did not feel it was necessary with two years remaining on his current deal. Next, following a 99-loss season in 2013 many fans began to question if Ventura was the right man for the job going forward. Lastly, those two prior reasons combined left some fans wondering if Ventura even wanted to manage a rebuilding ballclub.

At the very least, the last question was answered with a resounding yes when Ventura signed off on the contract extension yesterday. Whether or not the fans think that Ventura deserved an extension is irrelevant. What matters is that Jerry Reinsdorf, Kenny Williams, and Rick Hahn still believe that Ventura is the right man to manage this team through a rebuilding process.

Honestly, the contract extension does not come as a surprise to me. When the White Sox hired Ventura to be their manager prior to the 2012 season, they believed he would develop into a great manager once he gained experience. Obviously, the first two years have not been ideal, but I can guarantee Robin learned a lot from the ups and downs his teams have experienced. In 2012, the White Sox led the American League Central Division for the majority of the season before surrendering their lead to the Detroit Tigers with three weeks left in the season. Based on how close the White Sox felt they were to winning the division in 2012, the front office did not believe that the roster needed to change much in the offseason. That would prove to be incorrect as the White Sox lost 99 games last season convincing the organization that it was time to start over. Since last July, the White Sox have added plenty of young talent and appear to be on the right track to compete in 2015 and beyond. Now that a plan is in place to rebuild the roster, it makes sense to lock up the manager that the organization feels very comfortable with and very confident in his leadership abilities.

-Eric Tichelbaut

Follow me on Twitter @etichel07

Championship Sunday Preview

Championship Sunday is just two days away, so let’s take a look at the games. The AFC Championship kicks off the action with the latest installment of Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning. Now, I understand that the two don’t actually face-off against each other, but the storyline of having the two greatest quarterbacks of my era squaring off is something I’m always excited to watch. After that fun is over, the NFC Championship caps off the night by featuring two divisional rivals led by head coaches that simply do not like each other. With that being said, this Sunday figures to be seven hours of entertaining football that is sure to guarantee a great Super Bowl XLVIII matchup.

AFC Championship

(1) Denver Broncos vs. (2) New England Patriots

Although this game features two of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time, I think the running backs of each team will be the difference in the game. We all know that each quarterback will make some big-time throws on Sunday, but both teams need to be balanced on offense in order to advance to New York in two weeks.

New England unleashed their ground attack last week versus the Indianapolis Colts when LeGarrette Blount’s 166 yards and four touchdowns led the Patriots to 234 yards on 46 carries. While I don’t expect Blount to have the same success this week, Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen should help the Patriots run effectively against this Broncos defense. Denver does rank 8^th against the run at 101.6 yards per game, but that is almost entirely due to their opponents having to play from behind. Bill Belichick knows that the Patriots will have to keep the ball out of Peyton Manning’s hands to win the game, so expect New England to try to reach 200 yards rushing once again.

Peyton Manning loves to throw the ball, but he is also smart enough to lean on the running game when it is needed as he did last weekend. The Patriots have a lousy run defense that ranks 30^th in the NFL at 134.1 yards per game. As bad as that number may look, it is even worse when remembering that the Patriots won 12 games this season because that would suggest that teams were throwing the ball when attempting to make a comeback. In any event, the Broncos should be able to run the ball with Knowshon Moreno and Montee Ball leading the way. The duo combined for 134 yards on 33 carries, and they will have to be just as effective if the Broncos are going to win on Sunday. New England does have a below average pass defense that ranks 18^th at 239 yards per game, but you can bet that Bill Belichick will devise a scheme to disrupt Manning’s rhythm. Manning should play well with all the weapons he has, but I don’t think he will eclipse 300 yards passing in this game.

Part of me wants to pick the Patriots, but I can’t go against my preseason pick.

Prediction: Denver Broncos 27, New England Patriots 24

NFC Championship

(1) Seattle Seahawks vs. (5) San Francisco 49ers

The Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers may hate each other, but they could not be any more similar in their style of play. Both teams know that their opponent loves to lean heavily on their defense and running game, so that is why I believe the quarterback play of each team will determine the outcome of the game.

Seattle’s passing offense has been downright anemic the last five weeks (averaging 157.6 passing yards per game), so Russell Wilson will have to step-up his game against a tough 49ers’ defense. San Francisco’s great defense is fueled by a 7^th ranked pass defense (221 yards per game) and a 4^th ranked rushing defense (95.9 yards per game). The 49ers’ stout run defense is led by a dynamic set of linebackers, meaning Marshawn Lynch may have trouble finding running room. If that is the case, Wilson will have to make plays with his legs and arm to win the game. With Percy Harvin sidelined with a concussion, Wilson will have to rely on Golden Tate and Zach Miller to make plays in the passing game. Since San Francisco’s defense figures to give the Seahawks fits all afternoon, Seattle’s defense or special teams unit may have to score a touchdown to come away with a victory.

San Francisco has been on quite a run lately by winning their last eight games, with four out of the last five coming on the road. If the 49ers are going to advance to the Super Bowl, they will have to find a way to move the ball against the best defense in the NFL. The Seahawks own the best passing defense at 172 yards per game, but they also defend the run very well by allowing just 101.6 yards per game. I don’t expect Frank Gore and company to run the ball efficiently against the 7^th ranked run defense, leaving Colin Kaepernick having to be a difference maker. If Kaepernick can make some plays on the edge of this defense with his legs, he could open up the middle of the field for Gore to pound the ball. In addition to Kaepernick’s running game, he will have to get the ball into the hands of Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis down the field. While both of those players present matchup problems for the rest of the NFL, Seattle’s secondary might be good enough to keep them in-check. And, at home, I like Seattle’s chances defensively.

Like the AFC Championship, this game is a coin flip. But, I’ve been picking Seattle and Denver all season.

Prediction: Seattle Seahawks 20, San Francisco 49ers 17

-Eric Tichelbaut

Follow me on Twitter @etichel07

NFL Divisional Preview

The greatest weekend of football begins today when the NFL Divisional playoff round gets under way. This weekend features regular season rematches in three of the four games, and it will try to be as exciting as last weekend’s Wild Card round.

Who will advance to Championship Sunday?

NFC Divisional

(1) Seattle Seahawks 31, (6) New Orleans Saints 20

The Seahawks stomped the Saints 34-7 back in Week 13, but I expect this one to be a little closer. The Saints will be riding the momentum from last weeks’ victory over the Eagles, and Sean Payton is too good of a coach to allow his team to struggle offensively again. Look for Payton to make adjustments and try to get the ball out of Drew Brees’ hands as quickly as possible.

The Seahawks will likely lean heavily on Marshawn Lynch and he should have a huge day. The Saints bottled up Lynch in Week 13 (45 yards on 16 carries), but he seems to be a different runner in the playoffs. Russell Wilson has played exceptionally well this season, and he should get a boost with the return of Percy Harvin. However, the Saints own the 2^nd best pass defense in the NFL by allowing just 194.1 yards per game. The Saints won’t be able to keep Wilson below 200 yards passing, as the second-year quarterback makes enough plays with his arm and legs to earn an impressive victory.

AFC Divisional

(2) New England Patriots 38, (4) Indianapolis Colts 34

Last week, Andrew Luck had to pull off a miraculous comeback all by himself as the second-year signal caller threw for 443 yards and four touchdowns. Most of that damage went to wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (13 receptions for 224 yards and 2 TDs), but I wouldn’t expect similar numbers Saturday night. Bill Belichick will undoubtedly be determined to shutdown Hilton, so I imagine the Patriots defensive gameplan will be centered on disrupting Hilton’s routes. If the Colts are going to win this game, Luck will have to spread the ball around more effectively.

Despite losing virtually every weapon from last season, the Patriots have averaged 31.7 points per game over the last 11 weeks. Tom Brady has learned to work with what he has, and he has turned Julian Edelman (105 receptions for 1,056 yards and 6 TDs) into the new Wes Welker. Although the Patriots have a potent passing attack (10^th ranked, 255.4 yards per game), their rushing game actually ranks better at 9^th overall with 129.1 yards per game. That rushing attack has been primarily led by Stevan Ridley and LeGarrette Blount who have combined to rush for 1,545 and 14 touchdowns, so the duo should fair quite well against the Colts’ 26^th ranked run defense. Look for New England’s balanced offense to be the difference in this matchup.

NFC Divisional

(5) San Francisco 49ers 17, (2) Carolina Panthers 16

In November’s 10-9 victory, the Carolina Panthers’ defense was suffocating against San Francisco’s offense and held the 49ers to just 151 yards of total offense. How will Colin Kaepernick and company be able to move the ball against this stout defense? For starters, wide receiver Michael Crabtree did not play in week 10, but he could be a big factor in this game. Crabtree caught 8 balls for 125 yards last weekend versus the Green Bay Packers, and Kaepernick will likely be targeting him very often on Sunday as well. Besides the passing game, I expect Kaepernick to be much more active with his legs in this game. In Week 10, Kaepernick carried the ball just four times for 16 yards, but he had a ton of success last week with 98 yards on 7 carries. If San Francisco is going to win this game, Kaepernick will need to make plays with his legs to ensure the 49ers have a balanced attack.

Despite winning in Week 10, Carolina’s offense did not have much success against San Francisco’s defense. The Panthers only gained 250 yards on the afternoon, and they will need to be better than that if they want to win on Sunday. Just like the 49ers, the Panthers love to run the ball as they rank 11^th in the league with 126.6 rushing yards per game. Carolina will likely try to pound the ball with their trio of running backs, but Cam Newton will need to make plays through the air to win the game. Look for tight end Greg Olsen to be a bigger factor on Sunday after catching just one pass for 14 yards in Week 10. If Olsen can stretch the 49ers’ defense down the middle, Steve Smith could have a big impact on the edge.

AFC Divisional

(1) Denver Broncos 34, (6) San Diego Chargers 27

Peyton Manning has had his share of struggles in the postseason, but he should play exceptionally well on Sunday. Wes Welker is back after sitting out the final three games with a concussion, and his return should open things up for Manning. With all the weapons Manning has, I can’t see the Chargers defense shutting him down as San Diego ranks 29^th against the pass.

The question in this game is whether or not the Broncos’ defense will be able to hold their own against the Chargers’ offense. San Diego ranks 4^th in passing yards and 13^th in rushing, so they feature a balanced attack. Phillip Rivers should play well against the Broncos as he has his whole career. Rivers owns a 96.6 quarterback rating in 17 games against Denver, and is 6-2 lifetime in Denver. Besides Rivers, running back Ryan Matthews will need to have a big day if San Diego is going to win. Matthews has rushed for 1,255 yards this season, and he will have to eclipse 100 yards to keep the ball out of Manning’s hands. If San Diego can control the ball, they could have a shot at pulling off the upset.

-Eric Tichelbaut

Follow me on Twitter @etichel07

Frank Thomas Elected to HOF

Frank Thomas earned Major League Baseball’s highest honor by being elected to the Hall of Fame today. The first baseman/designated hitter was able to join the prestigious group on his first ballot by receiving 83.7% of the votes, surpassing the 75% needed for election.

The “Big Hurt” played 19 seasons in the big leagues, but he will forever be remembered as a member of the Chicago White Sox organization.

During his illustrious career, Thomas made five straight All-Star Game appearances from 1993 to 1997, won two American League Most Valuable Player awards (1993 and 1994), collected four Silver Slugger awards (1991, 1993, 1994, 2000), and won a Batting Title in 1997 with a .347 average. In addition to the two MVPs, Thomas also finished in the top-10 of the AL MVP voting seven other times which gave him a total of nine top-10 finishes. In fact, Thomas earned his MVP recognition across 16 seasons from 1991 to 2006, signifying that he was such a dominant hitter for a very long time.

Despite all of those achievements, I still believe that Frank Thomas deserved more hardware based on his career statistics. During his 19-year career, the Hall of Famer hit .301, with 521 home runs (18^th all-time) and 1,704 RBIs (22^nd). Thomas’s ability to hit for average and power highlighted his career, but his patience at the plate was what separated him from most of the sluggers of his era. Thomas’ 1,667 bases on balls helped him carry a .419 on-base percentage (20^th) for his career which led to a .974 OPS (14^th) when paired with his .555 slugging percentage (22^nd).

There was no doubt that Frank Thomas deserved to a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but it was still a great day for White Sox fans. Although nothing is a guarantee, Thomas’ first-ballot recognition was attainable because his career has never been linked to steroids. I firmly believe that the Steroid-Era actually helped Thomas garner first-ballot votes because the voters wanted to acknowledge that they appreciate “clean” players.

On a personal level, Frank Thomas was one of the reasons I became a White Sox fan. I enjoyed watching him play during the prime of his career, and I have many of memories of him in a White Sox uniform. Unfortunately, one of my greatest memories came while Thomas was not a member of the White Sox. In 2006, I was at the game when the “Big Hurt” made his first return to U.S. Cellular Field. I remember giving him a standing ovation as he came to the plate, only to sit down for a brief moment before giving him another standing ovation after Thomas sent a ball flying into the left field bleachers. He would later add another home run, giving me another reason to remember that game forever.

Hopefully, I’ll have another memory to add on July 27^th as I am planning a trip to Cooperstown to see Frank Thomas officially inducted to the Hall of Fame!

-Eric Tichelbaut

Follow me on Twitter @etichel07

2013-2014 NFL Playoff Predictions

The 2013 NFL regular season is over and Wild Card Weekend is just hours away. That means it is time for some playoff predictions. First, here’s a recap of how I thought the 2013 season would go back in August. So much for the Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans winning their divisions…

NFC Wildcard Weekend

(3) Philadelphia Eagles over (6) New Orleans Saints: The Eagles have been playing extremely well of late and that will continue tonight. Their running game and improved defense will be too much for a Saints team that struggles away from home.

(5) San Francisco 49ers over (4) Green Bay Packers: The Packers sneaked into the playoffs because the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears couldn’t take care of business while Aaron Rodgers was out. Rodgers is back and will play well, but the Packers will have a hard time stopping Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers’ offense.

AFC Wildcard Weekend

(4) Indianapolis Colts over (5) Kansas City Chiefs: I think this is the toughest game to predict because the teams are so evenly matched, but the Colts defeated the Chiefs 23-7 in Arrowhead just two weeks ago. Now the game is in Indianapolis and I believe the Colts will come out on top again.

(3) Cincinnati Bengals over (6) San Diego Chargers: The Bengals are 8-0 at home this season and defeated the Chargers in San Diego on December 1^st, 17-10. Andy Dalton will play well at home as the Bengals roll in this one.

NFC Divisional Round

(1) Seattle Seahawks over (5) San Francisco 49ers: The Seahawks and 49ers split their regular season meetings with the Seahawks winning in dominant fashion at home. The Seahawks lost just once at home this season, and I don’t see that happening again.

(2) Carolina Panthers over (3) Philadelphia Eagles: I feel like the Panthers don’t get the respect they deserve, but they have won 11 of their last 12 games with wins against the 49ers, Patriots, and Saints. The Panthers defense will slow down the Eagles offense, and Cam Newton will make enough plays to earn a home playoff win.

AFC Divisional Round

(1) Denver Broncos over (4) Indianapolis Colts: This game won’t have any storylines, will it? The Colts did defeat the Broncos 39-33 in Indianapolis earlier this year, but I still think the Broncos are the better team. Peyton Manning will be on a mission this postseason to prove he can win in “bad weather”, and his historic season continues with a win over his former team.

(3) Cincinnati Bengals over (2) New England Patriots: Part of the reason I’m picking the Bengals is because I picked them to defeat the Patriots in my August predictions. The other reason is that the Patriots have struggled in the playoffs against good defenses in recent years, and Tom Brady will miss Rob Gronkowski in this game. The Bengals defeat the Patriots for the second time this season.

NFC Championship

(1) Seattle Seahawks over (2) Carolina Panthers: Seattle defeated the Panthers in Carolina during Week 1, 12-7. Not many people thought that was going to be a potential NFC Championship preview back then, but the outcome will be similar. Seattle is just too tough at home and Carolina isn’t experienced enough to pull off a win this big in a hostile environment.

AFC Championship

(1) Denver Broncos over (3) Cincinnati Bengals: Cincinnati’s playoff run will end in Denver with Peyton Manning getting to his third Super Bowl. This will be a shootout and I’ll side with Manning over Andy Dalton every time.

Super Bowl XLVIII

(1) Denver Broncos over (1) Seattle Seahawks: I’m sticking with my August prediction and have the Broncos beating the Seahawks in New York. Part of me wants to pick Seattle, but I can’t go against Denver now.

-Eric Tichelbaut

Follow me on Twitter @etichel07

Bears, Cutler Agree to Seven-Year Deal

The biggest question heading into the offseason for the Chicago Bears was answered today when the organization agreed to a seven-year deal with quarterback Jay Cutler. The deal is reportedly worth $126 million, with roughly $54 million guaranteed. In other words, the Bears have potentially locked up their franchise starting quarterback for $18 million a year through the 2020 season. In addition, the $54 million guaranteed means that Cutler will likely be in a Bears uniform for at least three seasons. I say that because it is important to remember that since NFL contracts are not guaranteed, the Bears can choose to release Cutler at any time. At age 30, it would probably be a surprise to see Cutler finish out his new contract with the Bears, but the opportunity is there if Cutler continues to flourish under Marc Trestman’s offense.

Overall, this is a deal that the Bears needed to get done. The list of potential free agent quarterbacks is extremely weak, and it is doubtful the Bears would be able to draft an elite prospect this season. Personally, I was hoping that Cutler would agree to a four or five year deal with less guaranteed money, but the Bears went to seven years to help stretch out the salary cap hit. As mentioned above, the Bears can always decide to part ways with Cutler if he doesn’t perform well, or if they were to draft and develop a quarterback over the next few seasons.

The bottom line is that the Bears offense is in position to win now and letting Cutler walk would have been foolish. The weapons are there, the system is effective, and Cutler has a good relationship with the coaching staff. The Bears can win a Super Bowl with the offense they currently have. Now they need to fix the defense.

-Eric Tichelbaut

Follow me on Twitter @etichel07