With so much success garnered from Pulse Wrestling’s “VS…Starring Matthew Michaels and PK~!“, it seemed only appropriate with the biggest football game of the year approaching, that it bring about some hearty discussion…and copyright infringement.
And since there is usually so much discussion on every sport imaginable going on over in the forums, we thought we’d share it with the whole world. So without further adieu, I present to you Triggs (Matt), Chuckles (CJ), and Spaulding (myself – Danny) as we have you…
1.) NBA All-Star Game – biggest snub/biggest dud
Chuckles: Without a doubt, the biggest dud is having Shaq being a starter. He’s played six games so far this year. I realize it’s just a big popularity contest, but only playing five games, they should have just skipped over him and went to Orlando’s Dwight Howard. Eighteen points, twelve boards, two blocks, and an assist per game. Even if Shaq had been healthy all year, I don’t think he’d be matching those numbers. Biggest snub is a bit of a toss up between Melo and Josh Howard. Both play the same position and in the West the forward position is absolutely loaded. I’d have to say Melo is the biggest snub. He leads the league in scoring and did it for most of the year without a second viable threat on the team. The only thing keeping him off must be the suspension, which is kind of a bogus reason because he’s already been punished for that. He should be free and clear now. If Shaq can start after playing 6 games, Anthony should be able to be a reserve after missing 15.
Spaulding: I really can’t stand all-star games. Sure it’s cool to see the top stars playing together as a team, but do they really care? No. And secondly, I agree with you Chuckles, even though it’s a popularity contest, give the spots to deserving players. Everyone on the team so far should be there except for Shaq. Just like the NFL will (should) be adopting a rule that if you don’t play a full season, you aren’t eligible for postseason awards. It’s already dumb enough that the game is midseason when you can barley judge “all-star†potential as it is. Playing five games does not an all-star make. And I’m sorry, but even though I don’t think Shaq should be in, it is all about the most popular. I believe with this as in any sports award…that if you serve a suspension for some reason or another, you definitely shouldn’t be eligible for awards and such.
Triggs: Shaq and Shaq! I think we will have a player like this every year until a clear definition of what an All-Star is determined. If an All-Star is defined as the best players in the game, then you have to see Shaq as a total dud and his mere presence certainly is snubbing just about any other Center in the East. You wouldn’t be hard pressed to find someone else in the league to take his place. But…if the definition of an All-Star is really the most popular player then it’s not hard to see how Shaq gets in. As long as the fans have the vote then this sort of thing will continue to happen.
2.) Senior Bowl – Does one exhibition game do anything to up your draft position?
Spaulding: I really hate the idea of the Senior Bowl. It’s an unglorified all-star game that changes absolutely nothing on where you go in the draft. These kids just got done with 4 years of playing college ball and still have the combine coming up to show their exact skills. Why make them play in this game that all sports writers think can drop them from 1st round to 3rd round, while all I think it does is put them at risk of tearing an ACL and keeping them out of the NFL totally.
Triggs: Just another thing I don’t get about college football. I just don’t see what this does for any player other than increase their chance of getting hurt. I think this would be a great game for those who are not entering the draft, but would we watch? Probably not, but I think I would understand its point a little more. I just don’t think you can really put much weight into an exhibition game. I would really be surprised if anyone was giving their all, especially when they don’t even play the whole game.
Chuckles: I LOVE the senior bowl. Jay Cutler LOVES the senior bowl. Last year Cutler would have been a late first or early second round pick, but he had a great senior bowl week and ended up going to the Broncos. A player that got helped tremendously by the game this year was Amobi Okoye, the 19 year old defensive tackle from Louisville. He started the week as a late first rounder but jumped up nearly into the top ten. Wide receiver Aundrae Allison out of ECU moved from unknown to someone who could go in the first or second round. The game doesn’t do as much for a player as the week of practice does. It gives the players a week with NFL coaches and the coaches a week watching the players. The players have no greater risk of injury than in any other game, and if they don’t think playing in the game is worth the risk…they don’t have to. Neither Brady Quinn nor Joe Thomas did.
3.) How can the Bears win the Super Bowl?
Triggs: RUN THE BALL! Early and often! Establishing a good ground attack is the difference between Rex Grossman and “Wrecks†Grossman. If they can pound the ball against the Colts they will be able to keep down the amount of desperation passes Grossman needs to make. More importantly this will also take time off the clock and keep the defense fresh. The most important part of this team will benefit from not spending the entire game on the field. They spent 40 minutes on the field against the Cards and won, but this will not work against Indy.
Chuckles: Running will work, but they have to run to the right area. “Booger” really clogs up the middle and the Colts LB’s are really fast so you can’t run sweeps. The Bears need to run right at Freeney and Mathis. Line up in a Power I. Have the Tackle block down on the interior lineman, the guard pulls out and blocks out on the DE, the TE goes out and picks off either one of the LB’s on that side, then the FB leads the way picking up the left over LB which leaves Benson or Thomas one on one with a safety or corner. If they can do that successfully, they have a chance. To stop the Colts on the other side of the ball will be more difficult. But the Bears have a chance. Lance Briggs is one of the few linebackers who can cover Dallas Clark down the middle. But Peyton can still pick apart the secondary if he has time, so on the first couple pass plays the Bears need to level Manning. Even if it costs then 2-3 personal fouls. Have Urlacher and Briggs blitz and even if Manning gets rid of it, still hit him and drive him down, get in his head, get him looking for who’s gonna hit him and it will make him throw the ball a little before he is ready and it will throw off his timing. And pray…they need to do a lot of that too.
Spaulding: With their defense, straight and simple. It has been their bread and butter all year, even when it wasn’t looking good near the end of the season. These Bears know one thing and one thing only…how to beat the other team’s offense. Bringing up the Arizona game again…their offense scored only, no wait…they didn’t score. Two defensive touchdowns, a punt return, a field goal, and six turnovers have them come back from a twenty point deficit to win. If they can have their defense play at its top form for however long of 60 whole minutes they are on the field, then they can actually win this game. Give their offense a chance, any chance. A chance to run, pass, anything. Just do NOT let the Colts’ offense stay on the field. If they give Peyton Manning a single inch, then he’s going to take about 350 yards and let Joseph Addai grab another hundred.
4.) How can the Colts win the Super Bowl?
Chuckles: D-Fence…D-Fence…D-Fence. Through the playoffs, the Colts’ defense has actually showed up and been pretty good. They all praise the return of Bob Sanders as the reason, and he’ll be the key to stopping the Bears’ offense. Indy’s defense is a form of the Tampa 2 scheme, which is designed to do two things. First is to stop the run. Second, stop the big pass play. And what is Chicago’s offense based on? That’s right, running and big pass plays. Indy’s defense is built perfectly to not only contain Chicago’s offense, but outright shut it down.
Spaulding: Are ya blind and stupid? Did you not see or at least read up on the Saints/Bears’ game? Deuce McAllister had six carries. SIX! My Saints’ abandoned the hardcore running game too early and Drew Brees ended up having almost fifty pass attempts. The Colts need to attack the Bears’ Tommie Harris-less line with Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai so Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, and Marvin Harrison can open up the field for Mr. “Rub some dirt on it†Manning. The Colts D- has been doing enough to stop the hapless Bears’ offense, so their main goal is to not go away from the run like my Saints did or it will be their potential downfall.
Triggs: Run the Ball…yup the same goes for the Colts. Run defense is the weakest link for the Bears D. Doing this will open the field for Peyton and allow him to hit Harrison and Wayne all day. Tommie Harris is out and largely Mike Brown is out. Attacking this a must and not doing this will play right into the Cover 2 and the Bears D-backs will be sitting on the ball and the turnovers will begin. Ask Drew Brees.
Spaulding: Ask Drew Brees? Dude…unnecessary!
5.) Super Bowl predictions
Spaulding: I have to say that I truly believe this will be Manning’s year and like Steve Young finally did, he’ll get that monkey off his back. He hasn’t played stellar Manning-like at all in the playoffs, but that has come to be the norm. The Colts’ defense is playing phenomenal and if they stick with the run to wear the Bears’ down, I really think their high-powered offense will come through big. And do you really expect me to root for the team who knocked my boys out in the NFC Title Game? Come on, I’m biased as all living hell. Colts take it 31-21.
Triggs: Well being a Bears fan we all know where my pick is going…Bears. The Colts D has decided to show up during the playoffs but my key to the Bears success is running the ball and I just don’t see the Colts’ defense coming up big for a fourth game. The Colts’ run defense was a sieve all season and I think this will pick up where it left off. This one will be close but a low scoring affair, 24-17 Bears.
Chuckles: I agree with Triggs. This is going to be a low scoring game. A lot lower than most people are thinking. Even you Triggs. Both defenses show up, the offenses will be too hyped up to get in sync right away. The Colts will slowly wear down the Bears D, and pick up a couple late scores for a 17-7 win for the Colts. A Bears’ TD set up by either a turnover or big Devin Hester return. Colts score on a Dallas Clark TD when the Bears try to cover him with Ricky Manning Jr. and a Peyton Manning run, and an early FG by Vinatieri.
Well, there you have it folks in this, our first ever edition of Pardon The Pulse. We will return next week tackling the hottest topics in the world of sports with our lovely candid commentary. And as we are fans of all sports, we welcome any questions, comments or mistakes that we may have made so feel free to e-mail or let us know in the forums.
