1: Baltimore Ravens - They certainly didn't prove that they deserve to drop from my top spot. They manhandled the Browns this week.
2: New York Jets - They did well to come back after blowing a big lead. That defense is phenomenal, and that's what it takes to win.
3: New Orleans Saints - They looked sluggish before putting up 17 points in the 4th quarter to seal the deal. They move up because their defense is starting to look good. Uh-oh, NFC.
4: New York Giants - Maybe they're a better team than 4th in the league. They made it look easy against a hapless Tampa Bay team. I still wonder about their secondary, though. Plus, I just plain don't like them. Never have.
5: Indianapolis Colts - These guys made Arizona look silly at home on Monday night. I was reminded of just how scary good Peyton Manning is.
6: Philadelphia Eagles - The dominated the Chiefs. That isn't particularly hard to do, but I feel more comfortable moving them up after seeing two pretty impressive weeks out of Kevin Kolb.
7: Minnesota Vikings - They probably deserved to lose that game. Can someone please explain to me why they came out throwing? At least they showed they can when when Adrian Peterson is more or less neutralized by a surprisingly good 49ers team.
8: New England Patriots - They had a tough opponent this week and handled it well. Their run defense looked a lot better. Tom Brady still doesn't look quite the same. The receivers weren't as stellar as usual. They'll be happy to have Wes Welker back.
9: Atlanta Falcons - They went on the road and lost to the New England Patriots. I'll give them a mulligan for that one. They really didn't play that poorly...
10: Denver Broncos - They look worthy of a top 5 spot so far. They are playing great defense and protecting the ball well on offense. The only thing keeping them down at number 10 is their underwhelming strength of schedule thus far.
11: San Francisco 49ers - They deserved to win that game. They contained Adrian Peterson, made Brett Favre look old, and Shaun Hill had a pretty good day throwing to make up for Frank Gore's injury.
12: San Diego Chargers - They looked pretty good this week. Philip Rivers can get it done without a running game. They may be a bit concerned with having to settle for all those field goals when they get down near the end zone. Those should be touchdowns.
13: Cincinnati Bengals - These guys may be for real. They didn't look great against a tough Steelers team, but they got the job done. Carson Palmer's health is the key for the season.
14: Dallas Cowboys - They beat the Panthers, but looked pretty ugly in doing so the first half. So far this year, they just haven't been that impressive.
15: Pittsburgh Steelers - How bad do they miss Troy Polamalu? The defense has given up too many uncharacteristic game-winning drives. They've got to clamp down on those. Giving up 2 fourth down conversions on that final one this week stings.
16: Chicago Bears - Jay Cutler is settling in and playing well. As long as he avoids his turnover habits, they will win plenty of games.
17: Jacksonville Jaguars - The defense still doesn't look too good, but they found a way to bear down and hold on for the win. Maurice Jones-Drew is where it's at.
18: Green Bay Packers - They made plays when they needed to, and Aaron Rodgers had a pretty good day, but they just didn't look as in control of the Rams as they would have liked to have been. We'll find out if these guys are for real or not next week against the Vikings. Watch out, Favre.
19: Houston Texans - The offense is playing pretty well, and they managed to get the running game going this week. The defense completely sucks.
20: Tennessee Titans - I hate to rank them this low, but at 0-3, it's tough to cut them much slack. Kerry Collins wasn't very good, and the defense just isn't as physical as it was last year. The 4th quarter of that game was awful.
21: Arizona Cardinals - The Colts made them look pretty bad. They are starting to look like the Cardinals from last year (the defense isn't stopping much).
22: Buffalo Bills - They hung around for awhile, but imploded at the end. The offense really should have put up better numbers against the Saints. This team seems to be plagued with bad luck of every kind.
23: Miami Dolphins - This is another team that I'm surprised is 0-3. The passing game was sickly this week, but they continue to run the ball fairly well. They just look all out of sorts.
24: Carolina Panthers - They played well in the first half, but the defense let them down in the second, with the Cowboys running for almost 200 yards. Jake Delhomme simply isn't effective enough throwing the football for them to play catch-up all the time.
25: Seattle Seahawks - Seneca Wallace didn't look too bad, especially in the start. Olindo Mare is the goat, missing 2 field goals. The pass defense looked pretty bad. Getting Hasselbeck back should help them out.
26: Detroit Lions - VICTORY!! I thought they were going to give it up towards the end, but they held on. The defense needs some work still, but they finally seem like a competent football team.
27: Washington Redskins - How bad does it feel to be the first team the Lions beat in two years? They move the ball well, but don't score enough. The defense isn't as dominate as they thought it would be, plus Albert "$100 Million" Haynesworth is hurt.
28: Kansas City Chiefs - 0-11 on third down conversions is the critical stat of the week. Cassel needs to throw down field more. More importantly, he needs more protection. The Eagles harassed him all day. Larry Johnson is a nonfactor.
29: Oakland Raiders - Is there a worse starting quarterback out there than JaMarcus Russell? Everything they did out there was terrible. McFadden fumbled 3 times, and Russell had a grand total of 1 passing yard in the entire second half.
30: Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Here's another team that can't figure anything out. They couldn't run the ball, they couldn't pass the ball, they couldn't stop the run, and they couldn't stop the pass. That's how you get shutout.
31: St. Louis Rams - Kyle Boller looked not-too-shabby, and Steven Jackson was productive. They still simply don't have enough talent to compete.
32: Cleveland Browns - Holy smokes. Brady Quinn gets benched, so what does Derek Anderson do? Throws 3 picks in 25 minutes. This team has issues at every position. It is going to be a long year in the Dawg Pound.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Human Jumbotron
This was Today's Big Thing today or yesterday. I forget. The days are all kind of a blur. But it's nuts. Crazy Koreans.
Foam City
Anybody remember this Sony ad from awhile ago? If you don't, it's one of the most awesome things ever.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The Informant!
I saw it tonight. It was pretty good, I thought. It wasn't quite as funny as I was expecting, yet sufficiently funny. It was one of those movies that you thought should end long before it did--but it wasn't necessarily a bad thing, because it kept you guessing. Some movies (like The Benchwarmers) have no point after a short time, and feel like they should be done, but have a ton of filler just thrown on the end. Everything on the end in this one seemed necessary. Plus, I think Matt Damon is good.
Where the Wild Things Are
I know this video is kind of old, but at the same time, it isn't really dated. I'm pretty excited for this movie. It looks like the coolest thing ever. Plus, Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs is credited with the soundtrack, so that should be interesting/awesome. The background track in this video gives a faint hint as to what it is going to sound like. I think she can make this whole playful/terrifying thing work about as well as anyone.
Plus, in the trailer, the song choice with the Arcade Fire works perfectly.
It's out in less than a month!
Plus, in the trailer, the song choice with the Arcade Fire works perfectly.
It's out in less than a month!
NFL Week 2 Power Rankings
What a mess. Teams we thought looked bad last week looked good this week. Teams we thought looked good last week didn't look so hot this week. A lot of my predictions from earlier this year may not be true any more. I think this is going to continue to be tough to sort out for at least a few more weeks. Then things should settle into place.
1: Baltimore Ravens - Got a great road victory against what is supposed to be a very good Chargers team. The defense is dominant, and the offense has really come alive this year.
2: New York Jets - That was impressive. I think their defense is for real, and Mark Sanchez has proven to be effective. They are also running the ball well. Remember when we were all saying the Jets were going to go to the Super Bowl at the beginning of last year? This year's unit looks much improved.
3: New Orleans Saints - I don't care how many yards their defense gives up, they are still able to force turnovers. Besides, Brees and co. can keep pace with any team in the NFL.
4: New York Giants - Mario Manningham may be the missing piece to this team. There is a lot of talent and a great coaching staff. Eli Manning has already shown he has what it takes to win.
5: Atlanta Falcons - Another team I'm very impressed with. Matt Ryan looks like he's been doing this for years, Michael Turner is a constant threat, and the defense is playing well.
6: Indianapolis Colts - They gave up a ton of passing yards, but Peyton Manning will continue to be among the best in the business for a long time. The guy just wins.
7: Minnesota Vikings - They started out sluggish, but picked it up. They definitely have the talent to push for a Super Bowl, and have been doing everything right so far...
8: Pittsburgh Steelers - They still haven't found a way to run the ball, which is really holding them back. Something has to be done about that offensive line.
9: New England Patriots - Tom Brady doesn't look quite the same, and the losses of Jerod Mayo and Richard Seymour are showing more than we thought they would. Nevertheless, they still have Brady and Belichick. I'll bet money they get it figured out in a hurry. Next week we'll find out just how good both they and Atlanta are when they duke it out.
10: Dallas Cowboys - Not a bad showing against the Giants. Romo is looking fine without TO. The defense may be a concern, however. They aren't getting enough pressure and forcing mistakes.
11: Houston Texans - I wrote them off as losers last week. But now I'm thinking maybe the Jets were just that good. They certainly looked much better against the Titans. They need to find a way to cut down on the big plays on defense though. Chris Johnson destroyed them.
12: Tennessee Titans - What happened to that pass defense? They aren't generating enough pressure up front, and it's hurting. Maybe they do miss Jim Schwartz and Albert Haynesworth. At least they know they can run the ball well.
13: Denver Broncos - Here is another team that just may be for real. For all the bad Josh McDaniels did in the offseason, he's got his team playing pretty well right now. I don't think the Browns were much of an opponent, but maybe the Bengals were for real. Orton is doing what he does best: controlling the ball.
14: San Francisco 49ers - Michael who? They don't appear to be missing Crabtree right now, which sucks for him and his leveraging of the offer. The defense is playing well and Frank Gore is back to his 2006 form. Mike Singletary has really toughened these guys up.
15: Philadelphia Eagles - Injuries are killing this talented team. The defense didn't offer any resistance to the Saints' high-powered offense. Vick comes back soon, so we should see some better offense. Until McNabb comes back, though, this team is just average.
16: Chicago Bears - They knocked off the defending champs, which says something. I still don't trust Jay Cutler to protect the football. Especially when they are struggling so much in the running game.
17: Green Bay Packers - That didn't look good at all. The offensive line had a lot of trouble keeping the Bengals off of Aaron Rodgers. They looked almost the complete opposite of last week. They need to be more consistent.
18: Arizona Cardinals - Kurt Warner looked good, setting a single-game completion percentage record, going 24-26. That's reassuring. But last week's loss looms large in my mind still. I'm going to wait a couple more weeks to see which is the true Arizona Cardinals.
19: San Diego Chargers - Injuries are plaguing this team too. They just haven't looked that impressive yet, barely beating the Raiders, then losing to a good Ravens team. Rivers threw for over 400 yards, and they still lost. That isn't good.
20: Miami Dolphins - They aren't looking bad by any means, but they are still 0-2. They ran the ball well, and controlled the clock, which will normally win you games. You just can't give the ball to Peyton Manning with 3:00 left when you are only up by a field goal. Late-game drives are what he does best.
21: Cincinnati Bengals - I can't tell if this team is for real or not. Cedric Benson has looked good, and the defense was able to get a lot of pressure on Aaron Rodgers. But, then again, these are the Bungles we're talking about.
22: Buffalo Bills - They haven't been playing bad by any means. Injuries have hurt them, and I simply don't like that TO is on their team. I have a feeling he's going to ruin both Dick Jauron and Trent Edwards. Fred Jackson looks good, though, doesn't he?
23: Carolina Panthers - They shaped it up a lot better after last week (particularly Jake Delhomme's play) but they are still 0-2. Something about this team doesn't look right to me, and I think they will continue to hover near the bottom of the NFC.
24: Washington Redskins - Ugh. This is a team with plenty of talent that just can't seem to get off the ground. Their offense is stagnant.
25: Seattle Seahawks - I've been saying it all along. Hasselbeck would get hurt early again this year...and here he is with a broken rib. Seneca Wallace just doesn't have the skills to carry this team, as we saw last year, and he will have no shot if the defense doesn't tighten things up. They couldn't tackle my 2-year old sister.
26: Jacksonville Jaguars - This team looks a lot like it did last year. That isn't a good thing. Garrard isn't making plays, and neither is the defense. Who does that leave? Tiny, fragile little Maurice Jones-Drew. The guy is talented, but he needs help.
27: Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Losing Monte Kiffin hurts bad. The defense can't stop anyone. On the plus side, I think the offense can have a very nice year. They're going to have to if they want to make up for all the points the defense is going to hemorrhage.
28: Oakland Raiders - They won, but they didn't deserve to. They have a lot of individual talents, but they all don't add up to a whole. JaMarcus Russell just isn't very good.
29: Kansas City Chiefs - This team has played pretty well in both of their first two weeks, but they just can't seem to finish it off. Matt Cassel looked just okay in his first game. They'll get better as they mature.
30: Detroit Lions - They started off the game well, but let it go. I think this team is going to win a few games this year. They drew the long stick having to face the Saints and the Vikings in their first two weeks. Stafford will improve.
31: Cleveland Browns - This team is u-g-l-y. They have the exact same problem as last year: no offense.
32: St. Louis Rams - A little better, but still leprosy team.
1: Baltimore Ravens - Got a great road victory against what is supposed to be a very good Chargers team. The defense is dominant, and the offense has really come alive this year.
2: New York Jets - That was impressive. I think their defense is for real, and Mark Sanchez has proven to be effective. They are also running the ball well. Remember when we were all saying the Jets were going to go to the Super Bowl at the beginning of last year? This year's unit looks much improved.
3: New Orleans Saints - I don't care how many yards their defense gives up, they are still able to force turnovers. Besides, Brees and co. can keep pace with any team in the NFL.
4: New York Giants - Mario Manningham may be the missing piece to this team. There is a lot of talent and a great coaching staff. Eli Manning has already shown he has what it takes to win.
5: Atlanta Falcons - Another team I'm very impressed with. Matt Ryan looks like he's been doing this for years, Michael Turner is a constant threat, and the defense is playing well.
6: Indianapolis Colts - They gave up a ton of passing yards, but Peyton Manning will continue to be among the best in the business for a long time. The guy just wins.
7: Minnesota Vikings - They started out sluggish, but picked it up. They definitely have the talent to push for a Super Bowl, and have been doing everything right so far...
8: Pittsburgh Steelers - They still haven't found a way to run the ball, which is really holding them back. Something has to be done about that offensive line.
9: New England Patriots - Tom Brady doesn't look quite the same, and the losses of Jerod Mayo and Richard Seymour are showing more than we thought they would. Nevertheless, they still have Brady and Belichick. I'll bet money they get it figured out in a hurry. Next week we'll find out just how good both they and Atlanta are when they duke it out.
10: Dallas Cowboys - Not a bad showing against the Giants. Romo is looking fine without TO. The defense may be a concern, however. They aren't getting enough pressure and forcing mistakes.
11: Houston Texans - I wrote them off as losers last week. But now I'm thinking maybe the Jets were just that good. They certainly looked much better against the Titans. They need to find a way to cut down on the big plays on defense though. Chris Johnson destroyed them.
12: Tennessee Titans - What happened to that pass defense? They aren't generating enough pressure up front, and it's hurting. Maybe they do miss Jim Schwartz and Albert Haynesworth. At least they know they can run the ball well.
13: Denver Broncos - Here is another team that just may be for real. For all the bad Josh McDaniels did in the offseason, he's got his team playing pretty well right now. I don't think the Browns were much of an opponent, but maybe the Bengals were for real. Orton is doing what he does best: controlling the ball.
14: San Francisco 49ers - Michael who? They don't appear to be missing Crabtree right now, which sucks for him and his leveraging of the offer. The defense is playing well and Frank Gore is back to his 2006 form. Mike Singletary has really toughened these guys up.
15: Philadelphia Eagles - Injuries are killing this talented team. The defense didn't offer any resistance to the Saints' high-powered offense. Vick comes back soon, so we should see some better offense. Until McNabb comes back, though, this team is just average.
16: Chicago Bears - They knocked off the defending champs, which says something. I still don't trust Jay Cutler to protect the football. Especially when they are struggling so much in the running game.
17: Green Bay Packers - That didn't look good at all. The offensive line had a lot of trouble keeping the Bengals off of Aaron Rodgers. They looked almost the complete opposite of last week. They need to be more consistent.
18: Arizona Cardinals - Kurt Warner looked good, setting a single-game completion percentage record, going 24-26. That's reassuring. But last week's loss looms large in my mind still. I'm going to wait a couple more weeks to see which is the true Arizona Cardinals.
19: San Diego Chargers - Injuries are plaguing this team too. They just haven't looked that impressive yet, barely beating the Raiders, then losing to a good Ravens team. Rivers threw for over 400 yards, and they still lost. That isn't good.
20: Miami Dolphins - They aren't looking bad by any means, but they are still 0-2. They ran the ball well, and controlled the clock, which will normally win you games. You just can't give the ball to Peyton Manning with 3:00 left when you are only up by a field goal. Late-game drives are what he does best.
21: Cincinnati Bengals - I can't tell if this team is for real or not. Cedric Benson has looked good, and the defense was able to get a lot of pressure on Aaron Rodgers. But, then again, these are the Bungles we're talking about.
22: Buffalo Bills - They haven't been playing bad by any means. Injuries have hurt them, and I simply don't like that TO is on their team. I have a feeling he's going to ruin both Dick Jauron and Trent Edwards. Fred Jackson looks good, though, doesn't he?
23: Carolina Panthers - They shaped it up a lot better after last week (particularly Jake Delhomme's play) but they are still 0-2. Something about this team doesn't look right to me, and I think they will continue to hover near the bottom of the NFC.
24: Washington Redskins - Ugh. This is a team with plenty of talent that just can't seem to get off the ground. Their offense is stagnant.
25: Seattle Seahawks - I've been saying it all along. Hasselbeck would get hurt early again this year...and here he is with a broken rib. Seneca Wallace just doesn't have the skills to carry this team, as we saw last year, and he will have no shot if the defense doesn't tighten things up. They couldn't tackle my 2-year old sister.
26: Jacksonville Jaguars - This team looks a lot like it did last year. That isn't a good thing. Garrard isn't making plays, and neither is the defense. Who does that leave? Tiny, fragile little Maurice Jones-Drew. The guy is talented, but he needs help.
27: Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Losing Monte Kiffin hurts bad. The defense can't stop anyone. On the plus side, I think the offense can have a very nice year. They're going to have to if they want to make up for all the points the defense is going to hemorrhage.
28: Oakland Raiders - They won, but they didn't deserve to. They have a lot of individual talents, but they all don't add up to a whole. JaMarcus Russell just isn't very good.
29: Kansas City Chiefs - This team has played pretty well in both of their first two weeks, but they just can't seem to finish it off. Matt Cassel looked just okay in his first game. They'll get better as they mature.
30: Detroit Lions - They started off the game well, but let it go. I think this team is going to win a few games this year. They drew the long stick having to face the Saints and the Vikings in their first two weeks. Stafford will improve.
31: Cleveland Browns - This team is u-g-l-y. They have the exact same problem as last year: no offense.
32: St. Louis Rams - A little better, but still leprosy team.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Midnght Special
Sometimes I wish I was alive in the 70s, so I could maybe perhaps see a band like Steely Dan in concert. Seriously. Everything about this video claims victory: musicality, fashion, facial hair, regular hair, stage presence...
I wish bands played music like this today. Maybe one day I'll be in a 70s rock band...
I wish bands played music like this today. Maybe one day I'll be in a 70s rock band...
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
NFL Week 1 Power Rankings
1: Pittsburgh Steelers--they had a tough opener against a good Titans team. They need to find a way to run the ball better (it probably starts with the offensive line). With Roethlisberger and that defense, they will continue to win a lot.
2: New England Patriots--their defense has been depleted, but Tom Brady is back, and he hasn't lost a regular season game since December 2007. The guy just wins.
3: Baltimore Ravens--this is a dangerous team. Their defense is suffocating, they run the ball well, and the passing game is making big strides. Granted, they were at home against Kansas City; nonetheless, they have all the right pieces of a winning team
4: New York Giants--they handled the Redskins in the opener. The big question has been how the passing game would fare. Eli Manning is good, and their defense will cause lots of turnovers. That generally translates into wins.
5: Atlanta Falcons--this team is complete. Their offense is dangerous, and their defense continues to play well. I can easily see them pushing deep into the playoffs this year.
6: New Orleans Saints--they made it look easy against a struggling Lions club. The defense is improved from last year, which is all they needed. With that offense, they are never out of a game.
7: Tennessee Titans--they played very well against the Steelers. They are returning much of the same group as last year, only without Albert Haynesworth and Jim Schwartz. They didn't seem to miss them too much.
8: Minnesota Vikings--they have the best running back in the league, a monstrous offensive line, a tough defense, and developing weapons in the receiving corps. As long as Brett Favre doesn't flop and the special teams gets their act together, this team can easily make a Super Bowl push. They'd better if Childress likes his job.
9: Green Bay Packers--Dom Capers turned their defense around on a dime. Aaron Rodgers is good, and their defense will provide him with a lot of opportunities to score.
10: Philadelphia Eagles--this is possibly the most talented team in the NFC, but they have just had too much bad luck with injuries. McNabb had better heal that rib soon.
11: New York Jets--Matt Sanchez played very well, and their defense played even better. Sanchez may or may not be for real, but I'm willing to bet the defense is. Rex Ryan is one of the better defensive minds in football. They embarrassed the Texans.
12: San Diego Chargers--this team is good, but they didn't look great against the Raiders. I have a feeling they'll get things picked up before too long.
13: Dallas Cowboys--they played very well this week against a suspect Tampa Bay team. They have the Giants this week. We'll see if they are for real...
14: Indianapolis Colts--they just aren't as scary as they used to be. Peyton Manning is still one of the best, but something just doesn't feel right. Losing Anthony Gonzalez will hurt.
15: San Francisco 49ers--they got an impressive win on the road against the defending NFC champs. The defense looks good, and the offense has potential. I'm still not completely sold, but they could surprise me.
16: Arizona Cardinals--Kurt Warner looks old, doesn't he? I'm not too worried about this team. They are well coached, and have a lot of talent. But dang, Kurt Warner looks old.
17: Jacksonville Jaguars--I don't think these guys are as bad as people say. Jack Del Rio is a very good coach, they have a offense that can move the ball, and an underrated defense.
18: Seattle Seahawks--They got the shutout this week. Against the Rams. For some reason, I'm not sold. They will be better than last year if Hasselbeck can stay healthy. I'm just not sure he can.
19: Denver Broncos--their defense showed up and played very well against the Bungles (except for that final drive). Even with all their issues, the Broncos may actually be better than we all thought. Or maybe they aren't. Orton has to play better.
20: Chicago Bears--Cutler looked pretty bad in his opener, and losing Urlacher will hurt. I feel like they have been over-hyped. Cutler is good can light up the scoreboards, but he doesn't win enough. Turnovers are a great way to lose a game.
21: Buffalo Bills--this team played very well in a place they historically don't. That fumble at the end stings. Nevertheless, they have an offense that can score, and a defense that has proved nothing to me. I feel like they could very easily go either way from here.
22: Miami Dolphins-- this team isn't going to be as good as they were last year. The wildcat jig is up. They won last year by taking care of the football, and they didn't do a very good job of that against the Falcons.
23: Washington Redskins--you'd think sooner or later this team would live up to its expectations, or get a return on its offseason spending sprees. Until I see it, I won't believe it. They are mediocre in my book.
24: Houston Texans--that was awful. Their offense was shut out at home by the Jets. With all that talent, that wasn't expected. They need to run the ball better, and tackle better if they are going to contend in the AFC South. They've got the Titans this week. Good luck.
25: Tampa Bay Buccaneers--they didn't play too awfully against the Cowboys. But they still have a completely new and unproven coaching staff, which is a major red flag for me.
26: Cincinnati Bengals--I thought their offense was going to rebound this year, but they looked pathetic against a Denver defense that was more porous than cheesecloth last year. Still the Bungles.
27: Oakland Raiders--they played well against the Chargers. I still think they are a bad team, and will continue to be bad until Al Davis dies. His puzzle pieces don't fit.
28: Kansas City Chiefs--Brodie Croyle played pretty well against a very good Ravens defense. They didn't move the ball well, but they protected it which is pivotal. They are feisty. I imagine they will only improve as the season wears on.
29: Carolina Panthers--there's no way they're this bad. They looked completely awful last week, and I can't envision them winning many games as long as Jake Delhomme is in his funk. He is a quarterback on the decline. Show me the last two games were flukes, and these guys will soar up in the rankings. Until then, they will be bottom dwellers.
30: Cleveland Browns--they didn't look very good at all. There just isn't enough talent on this team to win many games.
31: Detroit Lions--they had some good things happen against the Saints. Regardless, they still haven't won in over a year. Stafford will come around.
32: St. Louis Rams-- leprosy team.
2: New England Patriots--their defense has been depleted, but Tom Brady is back, and he hasn't lost a regular season game since December 2007. The guy just wins.
3: Baltimore Ravens--this is a dangerous team. Their defense is suffocating, they run the ball well, and the passing game is making big strides. Granted, they were at home against Kansas City; nonetheless, they have all the right pieces of a winning team
4: New York Giants--they handled the Redskins in the opener. The big question has been how the passing game would fare. Eli Manning is good, and their defense will cause lots of turnovers. That generally translates into wins.
5: Atlanta Falcons--this team is complete. Their offense is dangerous, and their defense continues to play well. I can easily see them pushing deep into the playoffs this year.
6: New Orleans Saints--they made it look easy against a struggling Lions club. The defense is improved from last year, which is all they needed. With that offense, they are never out of a game.
7: Tennessee Titans--they played very well against the Steelers. They are returning much of the same group as last year, only without Albert Haynesworth and Jim Schwartz. They didn't seem to miss them too much.
8: Minnesota Vikings--they have the best running back in the league, a monstrous offensive line, a tough defense, and developing weapons in the receiving corps. As long as Brett Favre doesn't flop and the special teams gets their act together, this team can easily make a Super Bowl push. They'd better if Childress likes his job.
9: Green Bay Packers--Dom Capers turned their defense around on a dime. Aaron Rodgers is good, and their defense will provide him with a lot of opportunities to score.
10: Philadelphia Eagles--this is possibly the most talented team in the NFC, but they have just had too much bad luck with injuries. McNabb had better heal that rib soon.
11: New York Jets--Matt Sanchez played very well, and their defense played even better. Sanchez may or may not be for real, but I'm willing to bet the defense is. Rex Ryan is one of the better defensive minds in football. They embarrassed the Texans.
12: San Diego Chargers--this team is good, but they didn't look great against the Raiders. I have a feeling they'll get things picked up before too long.
13: Dallas Cowboys--they played very well this week against a suspect Tampa Bay team. They have the Giants this week. We'll see if they are for real...
14: Indianapolis Colts--they just aren't as scary as they used to be. Peyton Manning is still one of the best, but something just doesn't feel right. Losing Anthony Gonzalez will hurt.
15: San Francisco 49ers--they got an impressive win on the road against the defending NFC champs. The defense looks good, and the offense has potential. I'm still not completely sold, but they could surprise me.
16: Arizona Cardinals--Kurt Warner looks old, doesn't he? I'm not too worried about this team. They are well coached, and have a lot of talent. But dang, Kurt Warner looks old.
17: Jacksonville Jaguars--I don't think these guys are as bad as people say. Jack Del Rio is a very good coach, they have a offense that can move the ball, and an underrated defense.
18: Seattle Seahawks--They got the shutout this week. Against the Rams. For some reason, I'm not sold. They will be better than last year if Hasselbeck can stay healthy. I'm just not sure he can.
19: Denver Broncos--their defense showed up and played very well against the Bungles (except for that final drive). Even with all their issues, the Broncos may actually be better than we all thought. Or maybe they aren't. Orton has to play better.
20: Chicago Bears--Cutler looked pretty bad in his opener, and losing Urlacher will hurt. I feel like they have been over-hyped. Cutler is good can light up the scoreboards, but he doesn't win enough. Turnovers are a great way to lose a game.
21: Buffalo Bills--this team played very well in a place they historically don't. That fumble at the end stings. Nevertheless, they have an offense that can score, and a defense that has proved nothing to me. I feel like they could very easily go either way from here.
22: Miami Dolphins-- this team isn't going to be as good as they were last year. The wildcat jig is up. They won last year by taking care of the football, and they didn't do a very good job of that against the Falcons.
23: Washington Redskins--you'd think sooner or later this team would live up to its expectations, or get a return on its offseason spending sprees. Until I see it, I won't believe it. They are mediocre in my book.
24: Houston Texans--that was awful. Their offense was shut out at home by the Jets. With all that talent, that wasn't expected. They need to run the ball better, and tackle better if they are going to contend in the AFC South. They've got the Titans this week. Good luck.
25: Tampa Bay Buccaneers--they didn't play too awfully against the Cowboys. But they still have a completely new and unproven coaching staff, which is a major red flag for me.
26: Cincinnati Bengals--I thought their offense was going to rebound this year, but they looked pathetic against a Denver defense that was more porous than cheesecloth last year. Still the Bungles.
27: Oakland Raiders--they played well against the Chargers. I still think they are a bad team, and will continue to be bad until Al Davis dies. His puzzle pieces don't fit.
28: Kansas City Chiefs--Brodie Croyle played pretty well against a very good Ravens defense. They didn't move the ball well, but they protected it which is pivotal. They are feisty. I imagine they will only improve as the season wears on.
29: Carolina Panthers--there's no way they're this bad. They looked completely awful last week, and I can't envision them winning many games as long as Jake Delhomme is in his funk. He is a quarterback on the decline. Show me the last two games were flukes, and these guys will soar up in the rankings. Until then, they will be bottom dwellers.
30: Cleveland Browns--they didn't look very good at all. There just isn't enough talent on this team to win many games.
31: Detroit Lions--they had some good things happen against the Saints. Regardless, they still haven't won in over a year. Stafford will come around.
32: St. Louis Rams-- leprosy team.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
What if...
we smelled things with our butts? Would we walk around putting our butts on everything to sniff it like it's no big deal? Even things like fresh baked pies? Or would it still be considered weird putting things like pies near our poopers?
The 2-test studying session is going fantastically, thanks.
The 2-test studying session is going fantastically, thanks.
needz moar moniez.
I'm in negotiations with Jeff Kummer (Early November drummer) to purchase a ride cymbal from him. How cool is that? Too bad I'm broke right now...
Monday, September 7, 2009
Politics!
I've been quiet about politics because I know it makes for nasty conversation material. But this blog isn't so much a conversation as a one-sided "this is what Bryan thinks" outlet. So I'm going to let you know what I think.
The political state of our country is sickening. This has nothing to do with whichever party controls Washington at any time. I was sickened by what happened under the Bush Administration, and I'm sickened by what's happening now. The problem has a lot to do with our 2-party system. It makes for an environment where unless someone makes the most neutral and inconsequential of statements, he or she is going to be waved off as a right or left wing nut job by half the country. If I were to open up this blog by saying something like "the public option health care may not be such a bad idea" half of you would call me a socialist and a communist and an enemy to American values.
Tomorrow, President Obama will be giving a speech to students addressing the beginning of the school year, just like Reagan did. Just like George H.W. Bush did. Just like Clinton did. Just like George W. Bush did. Only this year, there is a huge uproar from the right with parents threatening to keep their kids home from school so Obama can't brainwash their children with his leftist agenda. The text of the speech is here. Tell me if you see any political propaganda. I don't. The right has recently been on this trip, convinced that all mainstream media (which, incidentally, plays host to such names as Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity, and O'Reilly) is completely controlled by the left, and is trying to turn everyone into a socialist.
Earlier this week, Van Jones resigned from his post as an adviser to President Obama on the creation of environmentally-friendly jobs, after what he called a "smear campaign" spearheaded by Glenn Beck was launched against him. It is a sad day for America when an extremist (I don't believe I am overstating anything with this word) radio show host holds enough conference in our government to be able to pick-and-choose which guys he doesn't like, and have them removed. This is all while Beck complains that the media (except for his buddies at Fox...duh) is brainwashing us.
To be fair, Jones had his faults and made his mistakes, and it was a terrible oversight for the Obama administration to appoint someone who signed an "anti-American" petition and freely called Republicans "assholes" to any position of power, even one as trivial as green jobs adviser. How his attitude towards conservatives hinders his ability to adequately fulfill his job of creating environmentally friendly jobs for disadvantaged and unskilled workers, I'll never know. I guess one of the requirements for holding public office includes a lack of opinion and/or courage to openly share said opinion.
This is why our government cannot function properly: people like Glenn Beck. People like him leave no room for compromise--a critical part of American society, especially in his sacred US Constitution. No decision Washington makes will swing far enough to his side of the spectrum, and he will consequently continue to undermine our government by tearing out the pieces he doesn't like. It starts with Van Jones. Where does it end? People like him seem to be hell bent on bringing down Obama's administration. It's as though they are trying to make our government fail. But for what? Bragging rights?
Forget the left and the right. We're all Americans, and we're all in this together.
The political state of our country is sickening. This has nothing to do with whichever party controls Washington at any time. I was sickened by what happened under the Bush Administration, and I'm sickened by what's happening now. The problem has a lot to do with our 2-party system. It makes for an environment where unless someone makes the most neutral and inconsequential of statements, he or she is going to be waved off as a right or left wing nut job by half the country. If I were to open up this blog by saying something like "the public option health care may not be such a bad idea" half of you would call me a socialist and a communist and an enemy to American values.
Tomorrow, President Obama will be giving a speech to students addressing the beginning of the school year, just like Reagan did. Just like George H.W. Bush did. Just like Clinton did. Just like George W. Bush did. Only this year, there is a huge uproar from the right with parents threatening to keep their kids home from school so Obama can't brainwash their children with his leftist agenda. The text of the speech is here. Tell me if you see any political propaganda. I don't. The right has recently been on this trip, convinced that all mainstream media (which, incidentally, plays host to such names as Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity, and O'Reilly) is completely controlled by the left, and is trying to turn everyone into a socialist.
Earlier this week, Van Jones resigned from his post as an adviser to President Obama on the creation of environmentally-friendly jobs, after what he called a "smear campaign" spearheaded by Glenn Beck was launched against him. It is a sad day for America when an extremist (I don't believe I am overstating anything with this word) radio show host holds enough conference in our government to be able to pick-and-choose which guys he doesn't like, and have them removed. This is all while Beck complains that the media (except for his buddies at Fox...duh) is brainwashing us.
To be fair, Jones had his faults and made his mistakes, and it was a terrible oversight for the Obama administration to appoint someone who signed an "anti-American" petition and freely called Republicans "assholes" to any position of power, even one as trivial as green jobs adviser. How his attitude towards conservatives hinders his ability to adequately fulfill his job of creating environmentally friendly jobs for disadvantaged and unskilled workers, I'll never know. I guess one of the requirements for holding public office includes a lack of opinion and/or courage to openly share said opinion.
This is why our government cannot function properly: people like Glenn Beck. People like him leave no room for compromise--a critical part of American society, especially in his sacred US Constitution. No decision Washington makes will swing far enough to his side of the spectrum, and he will consequently continue to undermine our government by tearing out the pieces he doesn't like. It starts with Van Jones. Where does it end? People like him seem to be hell bent on bringing down Obama's administration. It's as though they are trying to make our government fail. But for what? Bragging rights?
Forget the left and the right. We're all Americans, and we're all in this together.
The Rumors are True
Remember when I told you about Aim & Ignite? I just went back to Pella this weekend to find my copy waiting with my mail. I gave it a listen, and I can confirm it is one of the best albums you'll hope to hear. SO GOOD!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
No Homo.
-"Hey man, what's up?"
-"Oh, nothin' bro, just hangin' out in my singlet"
-"Cool! Mind if I come over and hang out in my singlet too?"
-"Yeah man! Oh, and hey, could you bring your laptop too, I want to show you my favorite, totally heterosexual, video ever!"
-"Yeah bro!"
...10 minutes later...
-"Hey bro! Nice laptop!"
-"Thanks man! It's super thin!"
-"I know man! Try putting it in my butt crack! I bet it fits!"
-"Huh?"
-"Dude, just try shoving your laptop up my ass! It's gonna be so sick!"
-"Umm...okay..."
-"Right on dude! It fits! Now try throwing it at my ass and I'll catch it between my cheeks!"
-"Umm..."
-"Dude! I caught it! This is so awesome! Let's call up our buddy Jeremy and see if he wants to hang out in a singlet too!"
-"Yeah! And then we could make a video of insane things like me throwing my laptop at your ass and you making all these totally sick catches while we all wear singlets, and then post it on the internet and all the girls will date us!"
-"Yeah, because I'm not gay, are you?"
-"Oh, nothin' bro, just hangin' out in my singlet"
-"Cool! Mind if I come over and hang out in my singlet too?"
-"Yeah man! Oh, and hey, could you bring your laptop too, I want to show you my favorite, totally heterosexual, video ever!"
-"Yeah bro!"
...10 minutes later...
-"Hey bro! Nice laptop!"
-"Thanks man! It's super thin!"
-"I know man! Try putting it in my butt crack! I bet it fits!"
-"Huh?"
-"Dude, just try shoving your laptop up my ass! It's gonna be so sick!"
-"Umm...okay..."
-"Right on dude! It fits! Now try throwing it at my ass and I'll catch it between my cheeks!"
-"Umm..."
-"Dude! I caught it! This is so awesome! Let's call up our buddy Jeremy and see if he wants to hang out in a singlet too!"
-"Yeah! And then we could make a video of insane things like me throwing my laptop at your ass and you making all these totally sick catches while we all wear singlets, and then post it on the internet and all the girls will date us!"
-"Yeah, because I'm not gay, are you?"
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
The Sinking of Santa Isabel
This movie comes out on DVD September 22. It is about this guy who's life is all out of sorts, so he returns to his childhood home to fulfill an old dream of his: to build the world's best treehouse and live in it all summer. It looks pretty good.
The best part, I think, is that it features an original score by Sam Means, Nate Ruess' "other half" in The Format. It also features Marko Buzard and Don Raymond from The Format. You can download a free track here.
The best part, I think, is that it features an original score by Sam Means, Nate Ruess' "other half" in The Format. It also features Marko Buzard and Don Raymond from The Format. You can download a free track here.
The Sinking of Santa Isabel Trailer from Phelps Harmon on Vimeo.
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