Now I can understand if you don’t think the Phillies will win the NL East, let’s face it the Marlins have improved, and the Braves were on the Phillies heals for the majority of last year. The Phillies, in my eyes, are pretty much a shoe in for at LEAST a wild card playoff berth this year.  But today, Jim Bowden of ESPN predicted that the Phillies will NOT make the playoffs in 2012. Does he hate the Phillies since he was the Nationals GM? Or does he legitimately think that the Phillies won’t make the playoffs? Whatever the case may be Bowden does not like the Phillies chances in 2012.

So why are so many people down on the 2012 Phillies? Is it because Utley and Howard have no timetable for their returns? The Phillies played the first 2 months last year without Utley and ended up 14 games over .500 at the end of May. We have decent backup first basemen in Jim Thome and/or John Mayberry Jr, Whoever Charlie decides will play that day. Is it our question mark in left field? The Phillies lost Ibanez in the offseason, but statistically he was one of the worst left fielders last year. The Phillies just announced Juan Pierre would make the roster, and they have plenty of other options for left field. They still have the best Rotation in baseball and a top tier closer. So what is the Problem?

I believe that these baseball experts are just trying to stir the pot up and make a controversial statement for publicity. Many of these guys just make a bold prediction and hope it comes true and honestly it’s not that bad of a reporting strategy, I don’t blame them. You make a bold prediction and if it comes true, you look like a genius. If it doesn’t work out, you can just blame injuries or use any other excuse. But the fact is that’s not honest journalism, that’s just taking the easy way out. Now while I don’t think the Phillies are as good as they were in recent years past. I do believe that they could suffer an 8-9 game drop-off from last year and win the NL East with 93-94 wins.

Currently the Eagles have three quarterbacks under contract, Michael Vick, Trent Edwards and Nick Foles. Foles and Edwards are very small hits against the cap. Edwards is under contract through the 2013 season while Foles is under his rookie contract through 2015.

Vick on the other hand has a much bigger cap hit. His total cap figure is around $17.9 million with $7.2 million in dead money if he is cut and a roster bonus of $3 million due by February 6th if he hasn’t been released yet. It is highly unlikely that Vick lasts long enough to receive that bonus. He wants a fresh start and so does the front office. Why keep a struggling quarterback at such a high cap hit?

I believe Nick Foles is the future of this team at quarterback. The question still remains if the coach will feel the same why and if Foles can live up to that hype. He will get some competition, but we don’t know if that will come from a early draft pick or a veteran in free agency.

I fully expect Foles and Edwards to remain on the roster with some type of rookie(possibly undrafted free agent) and a veteran to compete with Foles and Edwards for roster spots. Foles will be the backup or the starter, while Edwards is competing with one or two other quarterbacks for a roster spot.

Foles was really tough to evaluate this season. He barely had DeSean Jackson before he was placed on IR, he had very little pass protection and a defense that couldn’t stop anybody. We did see some promise from Foles during a late two touchdown rally against Tampa Bay on the road late in the season. He showed the composure of a 10 year veteran. He didn’t sustain it over his last few starts, but there was promise nonetheless.

Quarterback will continue to be a work in progress during the 2013 season. This doesn’t mean the Eagles have no hope at the position right away, it just means there is going to be a lot of uncertainty and not a clear cut franchise guy just yet. How Nick Foles starts out in 2013 could very well define the rest of his career.

The Eagles have yet to interview any candidates for a second time and announced today that they never scheduled an interview with Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. After 11 interviews and being turned down by three college coaches, it now sounds like the Eagles have their guy.

Bradley first interviewed with the Eagles in Atlanta on Saturday and by all accounts, the interview went very well. If he impresses Lurie and company again tomorrow and lays out a great plan for the Eagles moving forward, the coaching search will be over.

Julio Jones intercepts Russell Wilson’s last ditch effort to take down the Falcons.

Russell Wilson’s late game heroics, the same heroics that should have catapulted the rookie into a whole new realm of stardom, were not enough to save the Seattle Seahawks’ post season dreams in Atlanta last Sunday against the number one seed Falcons.

After a scoreless first half and lethargic running game, Wilson put the game into his own hands. With the remaining minutes of the fourth quarter ticking away and his team down 27-7, the rookie sign caller, with help from safety Earl Thomas’ late game interception, put together drives that notched up 21 points for the visiting Seahawks and grabbing the lead away from the Falcons 28-27.

This seemed like the fabled tale that should have been told to every young fan that wears a blue and green jersey for years to come. How a number five seed defeated the number one seed in their own home, after having a sizable lead, and brought a shot at the Niners in the NFC Championship which could have been very winnable game.

However this would not be the story to be told.

After running back Marshawn Lynch hammered the ball in for the go ahead score, Falcon’s quarterback Matt Ryan was left with a mere 31 seconds to make up a one point difference.

Unfortunately, Ryan needed less.

In two plays, Ryan threw two passes for a combined 41 yards and right into kicker Matt Bryan’s field goal range. His kick stole Seattle’s amazing comeback story and any chance for this seasonal underdog to take it’s game to the “Big Dance” in February.

So who can we blame for tarnishing Wilson’s fantastic 300 plus yard career day? Most will blame Pete Carroll, saying “go for points,” other will blame both offensive coach Darrell Bevell and defensive coach Gus Bradley for participating in head coach interviews while preparing for this big match up during the post season. My blame will fall solely on the defense itself.

In 31 seconds remaining, the Seahawks could do nothing to halt Ryan’s aerial attack. Two plays netted 41 yards. I find that hard to fathom. Granted, the missing Chris Clemons and Jason Jones were clearly felt on the defensive side of the ball. But the game came down to just a few more play, a mere 31 seconds to close out what could have been the greatest post season comeback on the road for Seattle.

No go. Wilson can only do so much. Now Seattle must wait again.

However, there is some positives to take away from this entire season. I for one have never seen a rookie quarterback progress at this level at the rate that Wilson has done. His intelligence, presence, and ability to make plays happen even with defenders bearing down on him, has made this player the most exciting to watch all season long. I can find myself getting excited to watch football again. To see exactly what this Seattle team has coming in the very near future. What they did this weekend was no fluke. Coming back from a 20 point deficit is no easy task. Hopefully next season, they will be able to bring it home.

The Seahawks’ defense created a turnover on the Falcons’ second possession. Bobby Wagner intercepted a Matt Ryan pass over the middle after pressure up front caused Ryan to try beating Seattle’s “man” defense. While the Seahawks gave up a lot more points than usual, their defense was very effective in the second half. Throughout the season, all areas of the Seahawks’ team have given great service.

Lynch gets pinched.

After appearing comfortable in the early running game, Marshawn Lynch lost another fumble. This is a more anxious time of the game, unlike last week when it had already appeared the Seahawks’ offense was in control and their defense was through giving up points.

Zach is back.

Zach Miller, who had exited the game early with what looked to be an injury, came back the next series to grab two receptions, including a 23-yard catch.

Still waiting for that wake up call?

Shutting down the screens.

Brandon Browner closes the door on many screen passes. I haven’t heard it yet, but he is a screen pass expert.

Miller grabs another big catch.

Zach Miller pulls down a 34 yard catch in the Seahawks’ 1st possession of the 2nd quarter. #86 is up to 65 yards receiving already.

Knocking on the door.

4th and 1.

The Seahawks, faced with a 4th and 1 in the Red Zone, fail to pick up the yard and come away without any points. Falcons-13 – Seahawks-0

Jaw-dropping momentum.

The Falcons hit a big play over the top after Kam Chancellor gets called on a defensive holding, which was quite obviously an offensive hold on Gonzalez. Roddy White hauls in a huge TD against Richard Sherman. All is not well at 20 – 0.

 Zach attack.

Before the end of the first half, Zach Miller has 5 catches for 94 yards.

Second Red Zone 4th down failure.

It would be nice to be going into the locker room and 20 – 10 or at least 20 – 6. Games don’t end at the half though.

Halftime

Let’s get Leon Washington in the game at running back. He’s got a lot of speed and can hide behind the line as well as Quizz Rodgers.

Tate Touchdown

It appears the Falcons, who normally aren’t such a good run-defense, are playing a strong run-defense and leaving plenty of passing opportunities for the Seahawks. Zach Miller has 113 receiving yards. Seattle has been moving swiftly with their passing game, which favors them, while they are playing from behind. Now the Seahawks are on the board with Golden Tate’s grab ‘n’ go on a short field. Falcons- 20 Seahawks-7.

Running the clock.

The Falcons a running the clock down a lot with their running plays. The Seahawks will have to make quick work of scoring in all of their remaining possessions. The Falcons have just scored and now lead 27 – 7.

Hurry up, offense!

The Seahawks need to save the clock. They also need to find an answer on defense. The Falcons are having their way with points. The Seahawks need to push the tempo as they pick apart the Falcons’ defense.

Quick order TD.

After surrendering the Falcons’ 27th point, the Seahawks moved quickly down the field, capping off an 8 play, 80 yard drive with a Russell Wilson rushing TD. The drive took just over four minutes.

Did they have it coming? INT

The Seahawks put on an all out blitz and Matt Ryan made the mistake of lofting a pass deep left with Earl Thomas over the top. Result: Earl Thomas makes his second interception in consecutive weeks.

Interestingly…

Due to the interception and the Seahawks pulling within six point of Atlanta on a Zach Miller receiving TD, the Falcons have some thinking to do. The Seahawks pulled within one score with over nine minutes left on the clock. Had the Falcons maintained possession, more time would have been drawn off the clock. The Falcons may not be able to remain content trying to chew up the clock. Key play: Robert Turbin’s 30 yard reception to get the Seahawks inside the 5 yard line.

3 and out.

After a first down incompletion, the Falcons fail to make anything out of a screen (snuffed out for a loss of 3 yards by K.J. Wright), then a 6 yard reception on 3rd and 13 leads to a punt.

4th quarter on the East Coast.

Very exciting. One more Seahawks’ possession. 3 minutes left, down by 6. Looks like Pete Carroll reminded Russell Wilson to use all 4 downs.

2 minute warning.

From just shy of mid-field at the 2 minute warning, it’s important for the Seahawks to score a touchdown this possession. They have all 3 timeouts left to help them.

12 men on defense.

Marshawn Lynch, touchdown!!!

Seattle now has the lead 28 – 27 with :31 left in the game.

What goes around.

Last year, game 4, at Seattle, Seattle was two points down driving to set up for a game winning field goal. Seattle missed a 61 yard field goal to lose at home. 13 seconds left, Matt Bryant, the Falcons place kicker hits a 49 yard field goal to put the Falcons up by 2, 30 – 28.

8 seconds left.

Squib kick blocked by the Seahawks’ front line. The Hawks will have it near midfield with 6 seconds left. After a short “out” route, the Seahawks chose to go for a last play Hail Mary rather than to test their newly acquired kicker Ryan Longwell’s leg on what would have been a 65 yard attempt.

What a season!

The Seahawks had a great run. This loss will take some time to get over. Then the Seahawks and their growing fan base will prepare for the next great campaign. As a lifelong football customer, I can say I have had a great experience following the Seahawks.

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 Go Seahawks!

Seahawks, thanks for giving me reason to wake for early football. Reminds me of my old college days. Don’t ask, please.

Go Seahawks!

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Here’s your chance to voice your thoughts. Tell me and the rest of the Seattle Sports Nuts what you expect to see when the Seahawks take on the Falcons in Georgia. As I sat here at Lincoln Square in Bellevue, preparing to put together a brief post, two young men walked by and asked me, “Seahawks, or Falcons?” I looked up from my computer and looked over at them, wondering what they were saying. They repeated themselves, this time as if they were bringing me into a social survey, as if to remind me of the Seahawks’ divisional game on tomorrow morning. They seemed happy to have caught me (off-guard?). They just wanted me to say “Seahawks”. I’m sure. But the idea that they gave me the choice, seemed as though I should be giving them a clinic on pep-propaganda. What would have happened if I chose “Falcons”? I probably would have been treated to a correction for my response. Of course if they thought they recognized me as a bookie or well known sports-better, the question would have made more sense. They were probably looking for guidance from a pro. But in this case, I think they two gentlemen were just trying to have some fun with a topic that is a bright spot on the local sports social scene. Will the Seahawks cast the Falcons aside to set up a rubber match against the 49ers in the NFC Championship game?

The answer, is “Seahawks”. Brush up!

For novices, the point is to say, “Go Hawks!” That’s it. There’s too much rhetoric in testing someone’s loyalties or awareness of current events in Seattle pro sports. Besides,

Get a good night’s sleep, however many hours that requires, get up early, prepare the cocoon for a three hour tour and enjoy some Seahawks football. Oh, and for those of you who don’t know me well enough that you’d have to ask me “Seahawks or Falcons” you probably also need to be reminded not to let your nerves get the best of you. Remember the victory in Chicago and D.C.? It sometimes requires working out jet lag and early game cobwebs before the Seahawks take full control of the game.

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 Go Seahawwwwwwks!

After a 113 day lockout, the NHL will create a 48 game season starting next Saturday January 19^th, which will force the playoffs into late June.

The NHL is releasing puck size previews of the first few games of the season but they could not be any bigger.  The Philadelphia Flyers will play their first game on Saturday January 19^th at 3pm at the Wells Fargo Center against hated rivals the Pittsburgh Penguins.  What a hell of a way to start off the season right?  It’s the least the NHL could do to satisfy the palates of hockey fans around the world after starving them of hockey goodness for months.

It was originally rumored to be a home and home series however CSN confirmed the Flyers second game will be in New York against the Buffalo Sabres at noon the following day.

With a little over a week before the NHL season ultimately begins, the Flyers will have a very short training camp next week and will be hard at work defining their roles in this shortened season.

One who could see a visual change in their role is center Claude Giroux.  It has been rumored and speculated that Giroux would be donning the captain letter “C” on his jersey as previous captain, Chris Pronger, is still on long term injury reserve for a concussion sustained early last season.  It is also being speculated Pronger will never don a Flyers (or any) uniform again.

Giroux’s now infamous “The Shift” took place in game 6 of the Conference Quarterfinals against the Pittsburgh Penguins, a game which eliminated the Penguins from the playoffs.  Before the game started, Giroux told Coach Peter Laviolette, “I don’t know who you’re planning on starting tonight, but I want that first shift.”  Shortly after, and right before the puck dropped, Giroux skated over to the Flyers bench and motioned for teammate Danny Briere.  “Watch this shift”, was all Giroux said.

As the puck dropped and made its way to Penguins star Sidney Crosby, just six seconds into the game, Giroux leveled Crosby sending a thunderous roar throughout the sold out Wells Fargo Center.  Twenty six seconds later Giroux fired a shot from the point that beat Goalie Marc Andre Fluery en route to a 5-1 romp, sending the Flyers to the Conference Quarterfinals.

It is a defining moment in all of Philadelphia sports and topped many lists for best Philly sports moment of last year.  Giroux’s leadership, determination, fire, energy, whatever you want to call it resonates so well with Philly fans that it is hard to imagine him not receiving the coveted Captain status that has been rumored in this extended offseason.

An extra piece of fabric sewed onto his jersey or not, one has to be excited with the return of the Philadelphia Flyers in a year that has been less than ideal for Philadelphia sports.  The Phillies failed to make the playoffs for the first time in several years.  The Eagles were an abysmal 4-12 and saw the firing of longtime coach Andy Reid.  And the 76ers are without their star player Andrew Bynum, who was acquired in a blockbuster trade last year, because of knee surgery.

Hockey is back.  The Flyers are back.  Philly fans, it’s time to get excited again!

At this point we don’t know if this is just another college coach trying to get an extension and a pay raise by interviewing with an NFL team or if he has serious interest in the NFL. Like the other Kelly who interviewed with the Eagles last Saturday, he has zero NFL experience both as a player and as a coach.

The Eagles coaching search has certainly been an interesting and very mysterious ride to this point. They have interviewed offensive, defensive and one special team coach in the NFL and have also interviewed with three different college coaches as well.

They are certainly doing their homework with all of the coaching candidates. They aren’t looking at any specific criteria with their coaches. They are taking their time, talking to as many different candidates as possible and gathering who can best lead this Eagles franchise from here on out.

College coaches build and sustain winning programs for long periods of time. Several former NFL offensive and defensive assistants are having great success as NFL head coaches right now. Some people believe you need to hire a coach with head coaching experience whether it be in college or the NFL, some believe a defensive assistant makes a better head coach, while other believe a offensive assistant is better suited to lead an NFL team. Truth be told, neither side is wrong. There are 8 teams left in the NFL playoffs right now. Of those 8 teams(when you look at each head coach’s last job before being hired by his current team), 2 are lead by a former offensive assistant, 1 is led by a defensive assistant, 1 is led by a special teams coach,  2 are led by recent college head coaches and 2 are led by former NFL head coaches who have gotten a second chance in a new city.

The point being is that its insane to rule out a head coach for any other reason other than he can’t put together a NFL quality coaching staff or he can’t lead an NFL team. That is what is really boils down to. Andy Reid was a quarterbacks coach with the Green Bay Packers and had never been a head coach or coordinator, but man could he put together a coaching staff. Some of the notable names on his first coaching staff in Philadelphia were Brad Childress, Leslie Frazier, Ron Rivera, Jim Johnson, Juan Castillo, Pat Shurmur, Steve Spagnuolo and John Harbaugh. Six of those coaches went on to be head coaches in the NFL while Jim Johnson was an elite defensive coordinator through the 2008 season in Philadelphia and Juan Castillo is still a very respected offensive line coach in this league.

This brings us back to Brian Kelly. He has no NFL experience and nobody really knows what his offensive preference is. His Cincinnati teams were very passing orientated, while this year’s Notre Dame team relied more on the running game. This really just means that Kelly can adjust to his staff and to his team. That is a huge plus in the NFL. The Saints are a passing orientated team now, but if Drew Brees was lost for the season they would have to become more of a balanced offense.

Too much is made of the offensive and defensive schemes of the head coaching candidates. The majority of the time the offensive coordinator calls the offensive plays while the defensive coordinator calls the defensive plays. It’s more important for the head coach to get maximum effort, be extremely detailed orientated and be a respected leader in the locker room. There is no question about Kelly’s ability to do those three things based on his success in college.

Brian Kelly isn’t a lock to be the next Pete Carroll, and may not even be as interested in the NFL as he leads on (see Bill O’Brien and Chip Kelly), but with all his accomplished so far in his career he is certainly worth the interest.