Edsall named to AFCA Board of Trustees

University of Connecticut’s Randy Edsall Named to AFCA Board of Trustees

WACO, TEXAS — University of Connecticut Head Coach Randy Edsall has been named to the Board of Trustees of the American Football Coaches Association.

Edsall joins a group of distinguished head coaches who guide the organization. The Board formulates policy and provides direction for the AFCA, which was founded in 1922 by Amos Alonzo Stagg, John Heisman and others. The AFCA has more than 10,000 members from all levels of the profession.

Edsall was selected to fill the the Football Bowl Subdivision District 2 position on the Board. District 2 is made up of Big East schools along with independents Army and Navy.

“It is both a privilege and an honor to serve the great game of football and the Big East Conference on the AFCA Board of Trustees,” Edsall said. “I really respect what the game of football stands for and I look forward to working with Grant Teaff and our Trustees to make our great game of football even better.”

Other members of the AFCA Board of Trustees include 2008 AFCA President Tyrone Willingham of the University of Washington; first vice-president Dick Tomey of San Jose State University; second vice-president Larry Kehres of Mount Union College and third vice-president Rob Ash of Montana State University.

Also serving on the Board in 2008: Mike Bellotti, University of Oregon; Tim Murphy, Harvard University; Joe Glenn, University of Wyoming; Tommy Tuberville, Auburn University; Rich Rodriguez, University of Michigan; Mike Welch, Ithaca College; Jim Tressel, Ohio State University; Mack Brown, University of Texas; Lee Owens, Ashland University; Jim Grobe, Wake Forest University; Bill Cronin, Georgetown College (Ky.); Frank Solich, Ohio University; Lou Tepper, Indiana University (Pa.) and Rob Ianello, University of Notre Dame, ex officio member and chairman of the Assistant Coaches Committee.

Edsall has a 41-31 (.569) record at Connecticut in the school’s six seasons of competition in the Football Bowl Subdivision. He is 50-55 (.476) overall in nine seasons at the school. He led the Huskies to a share of its first Big East title in 2007 and its second bowl appearance in four seasons. Edsall guided UConn to a 6-6 record in its first full season competition at the FBS level in 2002, including season-ending road wins over Navy and Iowa State. In 2004 the Huskies fell one win short of sharing the Big East title in their first year of football competition in the conference.

The AFCA was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 10,000 members around the world, ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, the AFCA was formed, in part, to “maintain the highest possible standards in football and the coaching profession” and to “provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football and coaching.”

For more information on the AFCA and its programs log on to the AFCA’s website at www.afca.com.

Edsall signs extension

Head football coach Randy Edsall and UConn have agreed on a 5 year extension worth $1.5 million dollars per year through the 2012.

Edsall will be paid $1.3 million this season and will gradually rise to a high of $1.7 million during the 2012 season.

Edsall will also receive 20 season tickets and five parking passes for football as well as four tickets to all men's and women's home basketball games. There is also a $15,000 car allowance as well as the purchase of a family country club membership.

There are some performance bonuses. One month's salary for a non-bcs bowl game and $100,000 for an appearance in BCS game. There are also bonuses for national and conference coach of the year.

Here is the buyout option:

If the Coach accepts a position during the term of this agreement as a head coach at a NCAA Division I institution, or as a head coach in any professional league, the following sums will be due to the University from the Coach: $1,500,000 from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008; $1,250,000 from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009; $500,000 from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010; $400,000 from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011; and $250,000 from January 1, 2012 to August 1, 2012.

UConn 2008 schedule

CONNECTICUT
Thu., Aug. 28 Hofstra
Sat., Sept. 6 at Temple
Sat., Sept. 13 Virginia
Fri., Sept. 19 Baylor (8 p.m., ESPN2)
Sat., Sept. 27 at LOUISVILLE
Sat., Oct. 4 at North Carolina
Sat., Oct. 18 at RUTGERS
Sat., Oct. 25 CINCINNATI
Sat., Nov. 1 WEST VIRGINIA
Sat., Nov. 15 at SYRACUSE
Sat., Nov. 22 at USF
Sat., Dec. 6 PITTSBURGH (ESPN/ESPN2)

Analysis: Make or break early in the season at UofL, North Carolina and Rutgers in a row.
Nov. 22 in Tampa? Heaven. Season ends Dec. 6th. Thumbs down on going into December again to play.

More thoughts

Sorry for the late late post.

I was at CCSU-Robert Morris in New Britain on Thursday night. CCSU will win the league again soon (they are loaded with young players) but Robert Morris just was too good. Mind you Robert Morris beat Boston College on the road. Pretty good low DI team. They should win the league though Sacred HEart is going to have something to say about that. OK, enough about the Northeast Conference where me and about two or three others not affiliated with the schools are experts on.

On some of the big news of the day:

Scott Lutrus inside and Dahna Deletson to Husky. This make sense. Lutrus is a very good player and I think he is suited inside. He is a fast linebacker and to have that in the middle with his intellect and coverage abilities make him a good fit. Lawrence Wilson is going nowhere on the weakside. The options weren't great. C.J. Marx or Lutrus.

They have tried to move Deleston forever. If he didn't have academic issues he would have been the Husky this year. Dahna has great speed and likes to hit. But, Deleston has always struggled laterally. I just thought he was better going forward and not backward or side to side.

Deleston is going to love this. I talked with him several times about moving to the position and he always had a twinkle in his eye talking about it. He likes to hit people and make big plays. Now, only if he could learn not to over pursue on the blitz and not lose containment.

My prediction is he leads the team in tackles.

Now, on to Jarrell Miller. he is being moved from inside linebacker to tackle. The truth of the matter is I don't think this guy can keep the weight off all year round. I saw him last February when he enrolled and he was over 270 pounds. He is a big guy, if he was just a regular student he would probably carry on at about 270. If he could play linebacker at that size he would be a destructive force. But, he probably can't pursue fast enough laterally that heavy.

He could keep the weight down if he worked very hard at it, but letting him play at his natural weight is probably better. He is actually bigger than the defensive ends, so tackle makes sense. He could probably bulk up even more and still retain explosion as a DT. Dan Davis played the position a around 280 this past year. Miller can get near that now if he wants. Playing at around 265 is a good start. It will be interested in seeing him get out there this spring. The clock is ticking on him and he has already burned one year of eligibility (shame on you NCAA). There is opportunity to play here.

Mike Hicks switched at guard. This is another scenario which makes sense. At tackle Hicks really struggled with speed from the edge. He couldn't get out there fast enough. Hicks is a big guy and at guard he can lean forward and not be on an island worried about letting a clean break on poor Tyler Lorenzen. Hicks did well at guard. O-Line is loaded with Dan Ryan and Will Beatty the incumbents with Mike Ryan and Zach Hurd. In the background is recruits Jimmy Bennett and Adam Masters, whom have little shot at playing. I would say Ryan is going to have to show more this spring or Hurd and/or Ryan is really going to push him.

Other notes:

I know the super fans will be happy that spring practice is going to be open every day. Last year it was Fort Knox, now it's going to be like Cheers. That's a good start, though I am going to go into journalism complaint mode and immediately get on UConn football SID Leigh Torbin about how now that every practice is open it's going to require a much more creative effort (us darn writers are never happy. That's how you get crisp edgy copy. You think Herman Melville wrote Moby Dick in a good and fun loving mood? ).

For a practice buff like me, I plan on making as many as possible. It's a step in the right direction and more importantly, makes my job much easier. You don't have to get 10 interviews done in 10 minutes. It's also a chance to build relationships with the players and eventually probably end up writing more in depth and interesting stories as the year goes on.

I also asked Randy about in-state recruiting. It is no secret that the Huskies lost out on a handful of in-state recruits that went to other schools. Mike Cox to Michigan, Masengo Kabongo to Maryland, Torey Mack to Virginia, Marcus Cooper to Rutgers, Mike Golic to Notre Dame and a couple of others. Looks like Kevin Eagan is also out of the mix.

Edsall was careful what he said, but he did say that for some players they want to get as far away as possible. Others also don't meet the grade or character requirements that Edsall desires.

I think some of the recruits' thinking is narrow minded. Take a look at Zach Frazier for example. He went to ND and didn't consider anywhere else. was that really the best place for him to thrive as a player? He was careful when he transferred.

Now, for a guy like Golic, UConn really had no chance for practical reasons (father played at ND). Some of the other recruits however I don't get.

A lot of Connecticut players, and more importantly their high school coaches, have stars in the eyes. I have seen coaches who love sending players off to schools far away. There was always a sense of pride in these coaches when a player went Big 10 to Wisconsin or Iowa or up to Boston College or Syracuse. These guys get schmoozed too by the outside coaches. When a guy comes in on a helicopter, everyone loves it.

Now that UConn is in the mix competing, I don't think a lot of the high school coaches are willing to admit that the State U may be the best place for some of their players.

There have been a ton of players who have left Connecticut and done absolutely nothing on the football field. I would say UConn has had a pretty good track record with in-state players. Do we need to go through some of the busts?

Not saying this happens in every case, but I wish coaches would help direct their players to the best fit and opportunity, and not the most impressive sounding school or program.

It's about the fit, not the name.

Roster moves

Just some quick news from Edsall's briefing on Thursday.

Big news is a couple of position switches. OLB Scott Lutrus moves inside from the Husky position and Dahna Deleston moves to the Husky linebacker position from safety. Also, Jarrell Miller is moving from middle linebacker to defensive tackle. Miller is around 265 pounds now.

Edsall said Lutrus is more suited for the middle, and he likes Deleston's ability to play closer to the line and tackle. This isn't done if it were not for the young secondary that has a lot of talent. Kijuan Dabney, John Jean Louis and Aaron Bagsby are likely the first to get looked at the vacated safety spot.

Off the team: Brandon Dillon is battling academic issues and won't be with the team for the spring. Marcus Campbell is not in school currently and is taking care of personal issues. Edsall hopes to have both back in the summer if possible.

Also leaving the team were walk-ons, some guy named Cody Brumball (spelling?) and quarterback Matt Vollono. Also, Mike Conroy is headed to play pro baseball again. He is going to go back to school, but he is done playing football.

As far as injuries: Lawrence Green's career is likely over. The offensive guard is set for surgery on the left knee in a couple of weeks and it is perhaps a 2 year rehab. He is going to stay on scholarship , but his playing days are over.

As far as transfers: Brown went to Norfolk state, Derek Rich to Georgia (walk-on, it was girl related), and finally Terence Jeffers (parts unknown).

Edsall confirmed that Jeffers' leaving was because of playing time and how he was used at wide receiver. It makes little sense on Jeffers' end to be quite honest. Where is he going to play more and what place will he have a better situation?

Congressional hearings I would like to see

How far we have come with the Clemens hearings. Not quite Iran Contra, though I must say I do endorse Congress getting involved in things like this (though we saw the limitations). I thought the Mitchell Report was a joke. I enjoyed the hearings, but once they started talking about nannies it started to wane. Pettitte killed Clemens, he really did.

Chris Shay's cheap shot of McNamee about being a drug dealer was pretty nasty. Shays was right that others should have been invited, but calling McNamee a drug dealer is semantics. He is different than the drug dealer on the corner. It isn't the same. Shays knows that. For some reason he doesn't like McNamee.

Sorry to bother you Congressman.

Without further ado. If these are the kind of things we investigate, let's answer all my questions and curiosities.

Here are some additional hearings I would like to see:

1. A hearing on the rivals and scout ratings. What comes first, the rating or the offer? You could have CT reps Shays and Chris Murphy taking Connecticut's side. Then the Hunter guy from Tennessee can defend rivals since its his home state. It would be titanic. I hear there is a movement to award the national championship every first Wednesday in February instead of a BCS game. That's as good a way as any. Maimi is the 3 time defending champion.

2. Why has Nip Tuck gotten so disgusting? I don't know if ya'll are fans, but the show was always incestuous in nature. There is a love triangle between plastic surgeons Sean and Christian (best buddies and essentially brothers) and Julia. Julia and Sean were married for a long time and had a son Matt that is actually Christian's child. Somehow, they are all still best friends and business partners. Well, Matt was just dumped by a disfigured women and Christian helped set him up with a client that came in and begged for surgery. Well, it just so happens that the client is Christian's love child, and she is now in a relationship with Matt -- her half brother. Yuck. I can't be any more appalled.

3. They should investigate the show 24. I don't understand how Jack Bauer could overwhelm Curtis in Season 4 so easily. And, how does Bauer move around Los Angeles so quickly? He never gets caught in traffic and never has to go to the bathroom. The show doesn't past the realism factor for me. And what happened to Elisha Cuthbert?

4. A hearing on Giuseppe Franco's endorsement of Procede. Does this guy really have a salon? Is it meant to grow hair or not? How does he endorse a product of a company he knows nothing about? I think there is great discussion whether this is a masking agent or actually grows hair. Has anyone gotten a haircut at this guys place. So many unanswered questions. All hat and no hair. And I think the oversight committee should investigate the price gouging at that salon.

5. Does expensive wine really taste better than the one in the box? Or, is it just a marketing gimmick?

My ND-UConn take

My only surprise about the recent ND-UConn game leak is that the series is that long. 10 games? That's quite a commitment. This game has been talked about for much of the last year. It's going to happen, just a matter of the details.

Ohh, the details.

If this is the first you are hearing about the game then it looks like a raw deal for the Huskies. I think it is somewhere in between (this is after months of thoughts).

I don't think a game at the Rent was ever in play. Notre Dame doesn't do games like that anymore. Every game Notre Dame plays has a strategic purpose. I don't think the Huskies could turn down the exposure. Whenever and whomever Notre Dame plays is an event. The Navy-Notre Dame game was front page material besides the fact both teams weren't any good.

There is a lot of griping about it, but Foxborough and Giants Stadium aren't that far away. They really aren't. For Fairfield County fans, Giants Stadium is closer (especially with the proposed train station going in). Foxborough is about 75 minutes from Storrs (yes, I am driving) and college football is made for TV anyway. 20,000 fans have to travel over an hour to the game, the other 2 million Huskies fans will have the same seat on the couch they have every week. If you are not at the game, what's the difference between Foxborough and East Hartford?

I understand the griping, but you either play ND on their terms or not at all. And this is about money and media markets. I would like to have seen one ND game at the Rent (just one?) but, it looks like ND is done playing in small stadiums. It's like a franchise fee. If you aren't a longtime rival, you have to play the game in an NFL stadium near a major media market.

Everyone wants to play Notre Dame. If it wasn't UConn, it could easily be Boston College, Syracuse or Temple. Rutgers is tentatively on the schedule and I imagine that game is going to be at the new Giants Stadium too.

Notre Dame wants to play in those metro Northeast markets. Connecticut isn't big enough. All the complaints about the series are right. Yes, ND is too powerful, too arrogant, and is in control of the Big East despite not playing football in it.

It is like being the best friend of a super model that you dream about dating but in reality you have no chance. In the end, you are just happy that you can call her a close friend.

Here is the crux of the matter:

In the end, is it still a good deal for UConn or not? What does UConn gain by telling ND to take a hike?

These aren't great terms, but they are better than no terms. does your pride take a hit? Yes. Is it groveling? Yes. You know what you can do about it? --- Beat them on the field.

Or you can stick up for your principles and pride and go schedule another MAC team.

Don't worry, there is always immortal Buffalo coming to the Rent.

Sign the world is ending

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

I enjoy a good hoax, this kid just went so far however. Held a signing day story about picking California? Is the coach an idiot? He never talked to Tedford and believed this? How do you get that far? Had the TV crews there, journalists etc. I know the journalists were upset, but I wish I as duped. It would have been a helluva second day story.

If he worked as hard on his game as he did the hoax, he may be playing somewhere.

BTW. Didn't he know that eventually someone would find out?

Reminds me of a story of a former co-worker (who shall remain nameless). When he was in high school in the mid 1990s he played a joke and declared himself for the NBA draft. The NBA actually called the high school to confirm and find out more about him. It didn't go over well.

Signing Day wrap-up

The hardest part about signing day is the fact that we won't know if this class is going to be good or not for several years -- probably three. It takes so long for the class to come through the pipeline that all the fanfare and griping is misplaced.

Edsall said for the first time he is hitting his numbers and balance on how he wants the roster to look. The Huskies are at their full complement of players at every position. He said that have one extra offensive player however. But, the blueprint is filled right now. He has the balance that he wants.

However, since this has become a burgeoning industry, here are the Huskies' recruits for 2009.

Strength of the Class: Just idle speculation, but I would assume that the offensive linemen in Jimmy Bennett and Erik Kuraczea are the two jewels of this class. The Huskies have raked some pretty good offensive lineman with Barzdak, Petrus and Ryan last year and along with Kuraczea and Bennett, along with Adam Masters, it looks like the future of the line is going to be strong. Kuracza is big enough to play now, while Bennett projects like a major tackle down the road with his athleticism and footwork. I have never seen a good team with a bad offensive line. That is a good sign.

D-backs another strength: There are some major athletes in the secondary coming. Dwayne Gratz is a highly sought after corner back while Matt Edwards from Holliston, Mass. is another high ceiling athlete. Add in the raw Blidi Wreh-Wilson and Jerome Junior at safety (was a LB and has great size) and it looks like a strong class athletically.

Ready made receivers: I don't know if any of the receivers are ready to play, but at least one of them is going to have to. The Huskies don't have many options at wide receiver and a guy like Brian Parker at 6-4 is something this team doesn't have. He isn't a burner, but looks like a big physical target that can get downfield. Michael Smith is a good route runner (which this team doesn't have) and could be a nice slot receiver. Gerrard Sheppard has one year of high school football under him. He is a great athlete and could have had a hoops scholarship. He probably has the chance to be the biggest steal of the class.

BTW, still scratching my head at the Jeffers transfer.

Linebackers with some speed: The linebacker position is loaded but Edsall added a pair in Sio Moore and Jerome Williams. Both good athletes. They are going to have wait their turn, though being good a special teams is important. You can always move linebackers around too.

Light on the defensive line: The Huskies have almost a full complement of defensive lineman and signed some longterm projects. Trevardo Williams has tremendous speed, but he is going to prep next year. One defensive tackle, Ryan Wirth out of Cheshire Academy, looks to have the size Edsall is looking for at 6-3 w75 pounds. The rest are going to have to sculpt their bodies into it. Al Portee is 6-4 215 and Ted Jennigns 6-5 215 have tremendous frames to add weight. I am not sure if they stay at defensive end or bulk up to tackle. Maybe they stay at defensive end and the Huskies alter their scheme somewhat.

Searching for the tight end: Speaking of bulking up for defensive tackle...3 tight ends? I remember when the Giants drafted two tight ends in Derek brown and Aaron Pierce and everyone asked why? Why do yo need so many tight ends? The Huskies have 3. What's the need? Unless someone has left and we don't' know yet (wait until net Thursday). Stve Brouse, Martin bedard and Yianni Apostolakos with three recruits is 6 TIGHT ENDS! Someone has to be switching positions eventually. John Delahunt is enrolled in school now and is 6-3 245, Ryan Griffin is 6-5 225 and a good athlete and Corey Manning is 6-4 238. They are all different sizes and looks to be different ability levels.

6 tight ends though, what gives?

Huskies add explosive player: Jordan Todman looks like he can return some kicks and be the explosive kind of running back the Huskies are going to need for the future. 5-10 180 is very small, but he is fast and explosive. There is room on kickoff and punt returns as well as a chance to vie for carries backing up the Dixon and Brown tandem. Todman had a lot of nterest from BC and Penn State and the Huskies like his game breaking ability.

More Nuggets

Edsall didn't waste anytime lambasting recruiting services. Here is what got him. He had a recruit schedule for a visit in December that no one has really seen. The storm had his visit postponed and then after the Huskies offered Nebraska and Ohio State got in the mix. This recruit was a two-star under the radar type guy who visited Ohio State and then committed. When all was said and done, he was rated as a 4-star recruit.

This is not a joke.

Here is Edsall on it:

"That one player no one knew about him. His name got out on the internet and people saw him, Ohio State calls for film and invites him up on Friday and he commits on Saturday. He was under the radar then he is 4 stars? That is ridiculous.”

“It’s propaganda and a way for people to make money. If these guys were such great evaluators they would be in the NFL or an institution where people say come in evaluate and recruit."

Of course, Edsall's UConn class is ranked last in the Big East., but I think Edsall would feel the same if they were ranked No. 1.

I go with Edsall on this. When who offers you is a big part of what your star ranking is, then that is a problem. A mere offer by Ohio State gets you to 3 star level. Also, what's the difference between a 2 star and a three star? It's just arbitrary. Most of the time it is schools involved. As long as people believe these rankings then they mean something. Some schools love saying how many stars their players get. I guess it builds momentum and drives interest. Listen, the recruiting sites are great if you are generally interested in the stuff. But the rankings? After the top 100 players their isn't enough film on them.

And, how do you compare a quarterback in California against a quarterback in Florida? From grainy high school film? Highlight reels? Do analysts watch an hour of tape on every single recruit?

I just find the evaluations farcical. Yes, Ohio State and company recruit and get the best players around. That is a good judge of who the best players around are. But, to go with 3 or 4 stars is silly.

The sad part is players are the ones who really follow this. Some obsess over their star rating. The emperor really has no clothes here.

Signing Day --- 22 sign

22 signeess for the Huskies including a pair who have not been reported yet -- -6-4 wide receiver Brian Parker from Bradenton Prep in Sarasota Fla. and Jory Johnson, a 6-1 220 pound OLB from Mobile Ala.

Will have more later, Edsall is due in the interview room around 3:30 p.m. Got to go. Will be back later.

Update: Interesting things from Edsall. He once again railed against the internet recruiting sites (rightfully so, though I do get cash from them so keep purchasing). Got to pay the bills so I will be back late...

Declining access in college football

Inside baseball story here, but I can tell you this is a big issue for college football writers across the country. For the sake of interesting reading and accuracy I would hope some schools and coaches see the light of day, but I am skeptical.

http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/fifthdown/index.html

Signing Day Wednesday

One day to go before signing day. I'll break things down later, but it looks like a typical class the last few years. The D-linemen are all athletic and quick and have a projectable frames. The O-Line looks like the strength of the class, which to me is a good sign.

A couple of good secondary prospects in Jerome Junior and Dwayne Gratz and a playmaker at running back in Jordan Todman.

I am interested in the receivers however. They really need someone who can come in and push for some PT.

It should be an interesting day.

Super Bowl hangover

No, not that kind. But I have been in some kind of bliss for the last 24 hours.

Just some final thoughts:

1. Didn't like the narrative of the Super Bowl leading up. I know there is a lot of hype, but I found the Patriots arrogant all week and it was the Giants who were chastised for being talky. Plaxico was killed mercilessly for no reason. Everyone always said the Patriots were all business and were pros and yada, yada yada, but I thought the entire week they were overconfident and dismissive.

2. Eli was 10-of 20 for 104 yards until the 4th quarter. He surprised no Giant fan with his heroics. If there is one thing Eli does is he has 4th quarter comebacks. He rallied the giants against the Cowboys, Packers and Pats. I have seen it almost a dozen times in his three years. That is what he does. He doesn't have Peyton's computer like precision or Tom Brady's ridiculous accuracy. He doesn't have Farve's arm or Romo's mobility. But the thing that Ernie Accorsi saw in Eli when he was a junior at Ole Miss was the ability to raise his level at the right time. Eli's best qualities are his intangibles. He isn't fiery and he isn't a vocal guy, but he has a knack for making big plays late. Go back to last year's loss verse the Eagles. He tied the game and sent it into overtime in a playoff game on the road. He never got the ball again to win the game. He has had maybe 3 or 4 more comeback wins thwarted by a defense that couldn't close the deal.

The guy is a money player. If he doesn't lose you the game early, he will win it late. I don't think he is ever going to have the big years like Peyton, Brady etc. He isn't a machine. I don't think he is that kind of talent. But, if the Giants are in striking ditance in the fourth quarter this guy will put the fear of god in you.

He has been a starting quarterback for only 3 1/2 years. In his career he already has 11 fourth quarter rallies and a Super Bowl comeback. It is an impressive resume so far. Accuracy issues, yes. But, when he stops thinking and starts playing, he is awfully tough to stop.

3. Belichick is insufferable: I don't think I have ever seen a more miserable person in my life. I feel sorry for him in a way. He is just an awful personality. How do you get like that? He has an anti-social personality. You have to lose with grace. Belichick is incapable of that.

Brady is as classy as they come --who doesn't like Brady? --and I even kind of like Randy Moss. The pats are generally likable except for Rodney Harrison and Belichick. But, the head coach has such a terrible personality and treats everyone with such disdain that the Pats have become villains. It wasn't just this year. He is a better football coach than Tony Dungy, but Dungy exudes class. Belichick reminds me of the science geek who is brilliant, but never leaves the lab and over time becomes marginalized. You can't treat people like that. If it was just anti-media, I would understand, but he thumbs his nose at everyone else around him. It's personal with Belichick. The press conference he had at the Super Bowl was embarrassing. Does he not think he owes Pats fans an answer?

That he and Robert Kraft had to eat crow is absolute justice.


3. Which leads me to Coughlin. If you saw my early posts on the Giants, I essentially said the Giants needed a coaching change. I felt that way all the way up to about week 6 or 7. Now, Xs and Os wise you are not going to out coach Couglin. I was amused at the thought pre Super Bowl that Belichick had a coaching edge. Coughlin isn't ever going to be out coached by anyone. this guy can coach football.

It was always more of a personality thing. I felt his personality would prevent his talent as a coach from shining through. But, he had a dramatic change out there this season. It wasn't Xs and Os, and I don't think he compromised his values, but he did was layoff a bit. He wasn't an animal on the sidelines, and he stopped openly feuding with players. The being fined late for a meeting when you were 2 minutes early for it was ridiculous.

Make no mistake, if he was fired as Giants coach that was it for Coughlin. At 61, his career would have been over. I think he realized that and ever so slightly changed his tune. The team got rid of the locker room lawyers, and I think his acceptance of Strahan after the holdout was key. He could have buried Strahan but he didn't. I think he gained a lot of points in the locker room by not going after Strahan when he came back.


Most importantly, he finally constructed the team like he wanted. They were a low penalty team that was superlative on special teams. This team didn't implode in big spots, they thrived. He got pros to buy into a team concept. He did a great job this year, even if they lost to the Cowboys he should have come back. As long as the players respond to him then he is the guy for the job.

Maybe Wellington Mara knew what he was doing after all. He adored Coughlin.

4. Strahan proved that training camp is useless: Athletes are paid well and keep in shape year round. There is no need to have pro training camps anymore. It should be 2-3 weeks of bonding and chemistry building. Not conditioning. Does Strahan skip camp this year? I would if I was Strahan. He looked fresh at the end of the year. Maybe he has a mysterious back injury that heals right at the end of training camp.

5. You can find a running back anywhere, draft pass rushers: Tiki was a great player, but you can get production from backs anywhere. If I have a top 10 pick I am going to pass on McFadden (can't believe I said that). But Bradshaw is a 7th round pick, Jacobs a 4th rounder, Maroney a 3rd rounder. Ryan grant was a free agent. Would yo rather have Reggie Bush or Mario Williams right now? I am going after the defensive linemen first. You can find a running back in the second and third rounds.

Quarterback first, defensive ends and tackles second. Get pass rushers. I would never take a first round running back ever again.

6. Last point is that. You have to get a pass rush: Ernie Accorsi was ridiculed for taking Mathias Kiwanuka two years ago. He knows exactly what he is doing. The thing is that with the way the NFL is played now, it is impossible to cover wide receivers. There are so many rules geared towards the receiver to promote scoring and exciting plays. Because of that, it is nearly impossible to stop passing offenses with coverage. The only way the giants could cover the pats was to get pressure with the front 4 with the blitz every now and then and cover with seven.

It becomes a math problem. I don't know if the Giants have the best D-line in the league, I don't think they do, but they do have the best pass rush in the NFL and are we really that surprised at what happened?

The only team could beat the Pats was one that ferociously got after the passer and made big plays in the fourth quarter. There was only one team in the NFL that could actually do that, and the Pats faced them in Arizona.