Home Football Riley Breaks Down the Beavers Pre-Camp

Riley Breaks Down the Beavers Pre-Camp

269

Good info from Eggers here.

Every year we hear the same comments. “Pro offense needs more balance”, “hoping for development in the off-season”, “offensive line is a weak point”, etc. I mean this article could be from 2008, 2009, 2010, etc etc.

Agree with Riley that Ryan Nall can start now. It’s just a matter of which position. I had Nall ranked as the 2nd best player in the 2014 class. Now is there more need at LB or TE? I’d argue LB. Eggers writes:

Tight end remains a position of strength, with veterans Connor Hamlett, Caleb Smith and Kellen Clute, incoming freshman Ryan Nall and Cal transfer Jacob Wark.

Between Hamlett, Smith, and Clute TE is solid. The group of LBs is so so. Eggers feels it’s the strongest position, writing “Linebacker is OSU’s strongest position, with returning starters D.J. Alexander, Michael Doctor and Jabral Johnson and capable backups Rommel Mageo, Caleb Saulo and Darrel Songy.”

First off, Mageo, Saulo, and especially Songy have showed nothing. Not sure why they are even mentioned. They are all 1-star talents. Mageo maybe a 2+, but definitely not a guy I’d list as a strong point. Alexander is very good but always has nagging injuries, Doctor has weakness (finishing tackles/size), and Johnson looks the part but hasn’t put up numbers. Nall would be a great addition this year and looking forward. Also, why not consider playing Nall on both sides of the ball? OSU never seems to think outside the box and do something like that, but this guy has the frame and agility to play LB and TE, so why not do it?

269 COMMENTS

  1. Johnson turned in a pretty good season last year. I think he led the team in tackles and was pushing triple digits in total tackles. DJ when he is healthy is a beast, problem is we haven’t really seen him healthy in a while, and I’m a little higher on Doctor than you are Angry, not having him was big loss for the defense. On paper this is probably the strongest our starting LBs have been in years. And they guys behind have a lot of game experience.

    I watched Nall in the state Semi-finals and we was a man among boys. Running by and through everyone, catching jump balls, making plays in the backfield on defense. It takes a special player to play both ways, which is why you rarely see it, so I wouldn’t start him off playing both ways. I would like to see him on defense, just because there is less quality players at that linebacker position. But because of a new “wrinkle” we have seen over the last year is the use of 2-3 TE sets, so we need depth there also, especially this season with the amount of unproven receivers on the roster.

    • Johnson had 94 tackles, which was 2nd on the team. He only had 1 sack and 3 tackles for a loss, though, along with zero forced fumbles. So he’s a guy, imo, who accumulates tackles downfield but doesn’t play behind the line of scrimmage and “make plays”…

      • Why all the thumb’s down?
        Zero forced fumbles, 1 sack, 3 T for loss—those are just facts/stats.
        A lot of guys can accumulate tackles down field. Heck, I think even Pankey put up good tackle numbers one year.

        JJ is not Pankey, and at one point I was pretty high on him, but I don’t see him as a strength like Eggers does. And I don’t think you put Nall at TE because you have JJ at LB. I’d put Nall at LB and see where that goes.

          • That’s funny, but I swear some Pollys used tackles as an argument that he was good.

            Maybe not. The OSU site doesn’t seem able to archive former player stats so I’m not sure.

            Found this: http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/keith-pankey-1.html
            It looks like 62 tackles was his best.

            For the record, I am not saying JJ is as bad as Pankey. I know trolls will misconstrue this. JJ is serviceable just not as good as Eggers is making him out to be.

          • Take those stats and add 10 tackles in 11 games for 2007.

            Note how most of his tackles are assisted. Remember our biggest gripe about Pankey and Robinson was that those two would end up with a tackle at their feet so often. Just leaning down and touching the ball carrier on the ground after an actual tackle got those two an assisted tackle. I was so steamed after a couple games that I actually went through some games on replay and counted their “tackles” myself. It was a small sample, but there were games where their official stats were more than their actual tackles, including plays where they ran up to the pile after the whistle.

            I didn’t do the same for JJ, so his assisted tackles column may also be overstated. But it’s hard to argue that he doesn’t take care of business on his own with the solo tackles he makes. Also, he made a lot of tackles in the gaps. So his TFL numbers aren’t going to be great. He was conservative, but he was also in position to stop for a minimal gain as opposed to running up to the pile seven yards down field and touching an already tackled player… or having a tackle end up at his feet as he stood there looking bewildered seven yards down field.

            I think our coaches agree with you on his ability. That’s why he’s only ever been a back-up at OLB. I think his style does translate well to playing MLB. Filling gaps is what he can do.

  2. We have 3 senior starters at LB – I think thst counts for something. Senior starters are always candidates to finally put it all together in a bid for the NFL. That’s true in general but especially true with the infamous “complex play book.”

    IMO Nall would have a hard time pushing the starters for play time as a true freshman. Could be a different story if one gets hurt though, and 2015 looks very shaky at the position.

    • Incidentally, Wark and Hamlett are gone after this year. If Smith takes a big step forward, he has the physical talent to leave early for the NFL as well.

      That would leave…Clute and Nall. And that’s it. Given depth like that, I’m not sure you can afford to risk a key player by playing them both ways. Maybe Stanton and/or Hopkins will be flipping back to TE….

      I think part of the issue is that we’ve seemed to underutilize talented TEs in the past. LB seems like a position where a talented athlete would have a much bigger impact on the team. Hopefully, Garrett will be able to change that trend.

  3. The biggest change is still OC Garrett. Will be interesting to see if we notice anything different in the plays we run and/or play calling.
    Obum playing on D is interesting too but I wonder if it’s too little too late for him to really contribute. I’m sure he played some kind of d back in high school but picking up how to read and shed blocks at the D1 level in one season is a lofty goal.
    I’m really interested to see Del Rio in action. In fact this is a major factor in me probably taking a day or two off work to go watch fall camp.

  4. I always vote to stockpile defense over offense so I’m really hoping they make Nall a LB. You’ve got to think he would be right in the mix to grab a starting spot at one of the LB positions next year with three senior starters this year. Plus I don’t like the idea of making him a small TE (he’s only 6’3) when his size and speed combo would be very effective on the defensive side of the ball.

  5. I think Saulo and Songy are at least Doctor caliber.

    Both lines are a mess, especially on defense. James and Wynn are backups on competitive teams (or slow LBs). Hopefully Pritchard pushes to start and Grimble is a monster? Not much hope overall.

      • The Peko news from Eggers is another example of how poor the reporting is at the O. Sheesh, the O has two “reporters” covering the Beavs while Eggers covers a whole range of sports topics for Dr. Pamplin. Yet, it is Eggers who usually gets the scoop.
        Connor and Gina are supposed to be “beat reporters”, and, while they do often have a way with wordst, they simply haven’t developed the kind of resources and relationships one would like to see from a true beat reporter. The way the O operates, I doubt they’ll get the chance to do much more than parrot whatever comes out of formal press conferences.

        • It’s been mentioned here that Eggers has a great relationship with Riley and it shows, but I also felt like Eggers was the first one to question some of Robinson’s psycho-babble while the O just gave CR way too much slack for his coaching abilities. Eggers is more experienced and a better journalist.

          • Eggers also has a good relationship with Casey. Yes, his experience and talent show; part of the reason the O’s folks don’t have sources is the fact that they haven’t spent years on the beat. And with the continual turnover at the O I don’t see that changing soon.
            Even the banter found on Eggers twitter is more interesting than what you see from Gina and Connor.

            Imagine what we’d learn from Eggers if he didn’t cover anything but OSU related sports. That is the disappointment for me, Connor AND Gina cover nothing but Beavs and still don’t dig out anything worthwhile. End Rant.

            One more thing, I really appreciate Angry and the folks here; much better at satisfying my need for Beavs info “fix”.

  6. I see this as a 6-6 or 7-5 season despite a very manageable schedule. Only good thing is it will be 1 year closer to being done with De CareLess forever. Riley will likely earn yet another extension for a ho hum year and bottom tier bowl. Change being needed calls are likely to get louder. BDC should be on an island with no raft if fans voice their displeasure enough.

    • Even if the team is better (which is certainly an open question what with the loss of the best offensive and best defensive players) you have to figure 7-5 is the likely result, with an 8-4 at the top end. I’ve done a statistical/trend analysis on the Riley II era (which I will explicate in detail when we get closer to the start of the season) which is consisted with the w/l records I’ve adumbrated above.

  7. Off-Topic: nice recent article in the G-T about OSU baseball recruit Jackson Soto, who is starting at 3rd base for the Corvallis Knights this summer. Soto was West Albany High School’s best baseball player for the past few years, and I’ve enjoyed watching him compete against the kids from Corvallis (mine and others). Soto is a fireplug, with a strong arm, pop in his bat, and plenty of mental toughness. Looking forward to watching Soto play for the Beavs.
    http://www.gazettetimes.com/sports/community/soto-is-up-to-the-challenge-with-the-knights/article_527e1904-ace8-5394-809b-e1ad4d3c64d8.html

  8. OT: UW Whitewater coach
    I remember that a few posters on this site have had a major hard on for Lance Leipold.
    We were in Whitewater for a day over the weekend and I struck up a conversation with a twenty something guy working at the local liquor store. Asked him how come nobody has poached their coach away and he laughed and said, “because everybody around here knows that they cheat their asses off.” Basically he told me that they circumvent the no scholly D3 rules by giving “academic scholarships” to players and recruit the washouts from UW Madison. He told me that a HS buddy of his with a 18 on his ACT and a GPA of 2.6 received one of the said academic scholarships.
    FWIW.

    • I feel likes fairly common practice among the d3 schools. A guy a played baseball with got an academic scholarship from George fox and he was in no way a good student.

      • Absolutely true – although some of the more elite NAIA and d3 do give “academic scholarships” to good students who happen also to be good athletes. I don’t know if that means non-athlete students with good academics don’t get scholarships, (assuming there’s only so much money and so many scholarships) but it probably does.

      • It is very common. Even the Ivies are giving out more in need-based aid. In fact, by doing so they can give their athletes more than they could under a typical scholarship in terms of food, campus housing, full cost of tuition, etc. Those kids still have to meet academic requirements to enter school. But it’s not that hard. The hard part is being a legacy or a D1 athlete. That’s what gets you into the Ivies now. In fact, there was some guy from Columbia whining about it some four or five years ago. He complained about recruited athletes at Ivies having SAT scores about 100 points below the class average. He glossed over the stats about them having the same graduation rates as the “rest” of the class. He also zoomed right by the fact that they would go on to be economically and civically just as successful. But at least he dropped those nuggets before he finished his whine by comparing athletes to affirmative action and getting into school through some egregious “back door” that needs to be shut.

        I can think of two schools who don’t pay athletes in some way–CIT and Reed College. The next least would probably be UCSD, where the students themselves cap the award at something like $500 per term.

  9. OSU’s LBs are overrated by the media; it’s not that there’s exceptional Pac-12 talent and depth, its really more of a comparative analysis to recent OSU rosters and lack of depth. Just because OSU has had a poor LB corps and some injury issues the past several years does not mean this is “OSU’s best position group” as is becoming the cliche local media statement I’d argue that experience, talent, and depth, it’s probably the RB group of Ward/Brown/Haskins/Woods that’s the strongest on the team.

    Nall would be a tremendous addition to the LB unit, where OSU has had more trouble getting impact players of late (i.e. since Doggett’s departure). I think OSU finds it easier to recruit TEs.

  10. I personally like Mageo a lot too..Especially against the run. I don’t get Angry’s criticism there. He is strong and fierce at the point of attack and he plays with passion already for such a young kid. I remember the Sand Diego state game in particular since I was there live, he look great in the stadium and even better when I re-watched the film the next day he mad a few really nice plugs in the hole when we finally started stopping Muema . He flies to the ball.

    I think he will be a player for us the next few years. Just needs to improve coverage and he can be a solid 3 down MLB

    • Such a clusterfuck. First, how does Oregon State’s compliance/academic advisers tell the kid to take a class that’s not transferable? It almost sounds like he passed the 1st class but the NCAA declined to allow it for transfer.
      Then OSU has him take one of their own English classes and he doesn’t pass it? And it was his only class while he spent the rest of his time working out? This stuff can be so maddening. Imagine coaching these guys….

      • OSU’s academic advisors were a joke when I was a student. It was always obvious to me that I had a much better handle on things than they did, so I always just dictated my plan.

        But I knew many, many people who were screwed over by listening to their advisors. I would describe it as gross incompetence. Definitely a black mark on the school. While Peko is clearly not the sharpest tool on the shed I would certainly be willing to accept OSU advisors as the major problem in this case.

      • I agree this just doesn’t sound like it should be possible of happening at any University..

        Most of our jobs are much more complicated in terms of the various things you have to master. These guys have really one core expertise and then still manage to poo in their beds??!!

        It cant help that the NCAA is filled with mouth breathers as well but still..

  11. WOW!!!! Scroll up a few inches and see Jack’s AngryBeavs all time record an incredible 15 negatives and counting. Congrats Jack!! It would seem that lots of readers think that you are a major tool. Perhaps consider a new user moniker maybe….. JacknDecker?

    • I think beavblazer set the all-time record a couple months back. But then you wouldn’t know that because you’ve done nothing constructive here… ever.

      I wish it would push into the 20’s though. Then I would know we have at least 10% reading comprehension plus cowardice from Duck lurkers. Not all Duckies have your “look at me” tendencies plus Duckpidity and can ooze idiocy with such ease.

      And yet… I’ve never given a rating, negative or positive, to any post here or anywhere in all my time on the interwebs.

      Maybe I need to start doing that? Would that make me Duckid too?

    • Oh… I just got it… JacknDecker… because Jack rhymes with Black.

      That almost whooshed over my head… that witty bit of highbrow Duck humor. I can’t believe lowly old me could figure it out.

      • It also tells me what to think of your ability to build or fix anything if you think Black n Decker makes anything worthy of being called a tool.

        Note to anyone anywhere: Do not buy Black n Decker products.

    • Soooo sooo close….

      Perhaps, boner, you can elicit a couple extra votes from similar minded dooshy sarky trolls like yourself?

  12. This time last year almost every verbal was 3*. This year lrss than half at about 44% only. Looks like Riley is not selling tge Pac-12 as a premier conference witb an injection of new money as well as other head coaches in the conference. There is a new normal and this class looks like the old normal from several years back of the Pac-10.

  13. Who is this Haley LB that is apparently Plan B to “Plan A: Peko passes english class.”?

    The more I think about it the more I think the O-line is going to really hinder this team, again. Is the answer at LT really either an underweight project or a transfer who no doubt will “struggle with OSU’s complex playbook?” How about sticking your best player out there and developing a center? This does not portend well for an immobile QB with no Cooks to bail him out…Riley will likely get to trot out the injury excuse – first for the Oline, then for whatever happens after.

    God it’s not even fall camp and I’m losing what optimism I had. Then there’s this hot start to 2015 recruiting mentioned above…

  14. Anybody know if Rahmel Dockery is eligible to play this year? I had totally forgotten about him being part of the post Brandin Cooks WR corp.

      • wasn’t sure if he still had to sit out a year? Sounds like he grey shirted in 2011, red-shirted in 2012, then transferred out in the summer of 2013, before the season started.

        I believe there’s a 2 year rule in the Pac-12 for players that transfer within conference, but since this guy never actually played, it seems like he should be available immediately.

        i just don’t understand the rules surrounding transfers enough to know if that’s correct.

        • I think the two-year rule was found by the NCAA to usurp their rules, so it became invalid. There’s still the bullshit rule where coaches can dictate where the kids who transfer can (more so can’t) transfer. But it seems kids are getting smarter and finding ways around that now.

          Dockery is one of them. As long as he wasn’t working in fall camp last year when the fall term began, his one-year transfer eligibility clock begins for that term. He might not be eligible for the first game or two depending on when he left Wazzu.

    • Wife and I tried to go see Letterman but failed to realize their interns give you a quiz about the show which you need to pass before they give you tix. We failed.

    • What do you like to do? I live in NY and can give you some tips.

      If you like broadway shows, get in line early afternoon at TKTS in Times Square and get discount tickets to a show – Rock of Ages is fun – especially if you like to drink.

      If you like Stand Up, the Comedy Cellar in the West Village is the best. There are two, the original is better. This is also where Louis CK and others often show up unannounced.

      H

    • went there about 10 years ago without a real agenda, other than to “see the city”

      We missed out on most of the popular tourist attractions (museums, empire state building, statue of liberty, etc.) but I can say that just taking the time to walk around the city and soak it all in was still totally worth it. There’s so much to do, but just remember to wear comfortable shoes because your feet will be on concrete all day long.

      I was there 3 days but wish I could have stayed longer to visit some of the bigger attractions. The time will fly by. Have fun a good time

      Spend an evening grabbing dinner at a place with outdoor sidewalk seating.

    • If you have never been Check out Big Onion Walking Tours. They have a lot of good neighborhood type options for a good overview. They are lead by young area graduate students the groups are small and the only expect to be tipped if you like the work.

      If possible take the subway up to the Bronz or the 7 train for a baseball game. There is a physical stubhub office by Bryant Park, so you choose your seats.

      Eat in the Irish Pubs that are all over town. Enjoy JB

      • I must now retract my statement that you’ve never done anything constructive here. In fact, it was a lie. You also had a discussion about France and Basque Spain a couple months back. But I was trying to push buttons on the lie.

        This is a really good idea, if not just to ride the metro. That in itself should be a part of the quintessential part of visiting NYC. But I wholeheartedly agree that a tour based on tips beget by (I assume) kids is a great way to just see the city. It’s much better than the drive-by tours that are available, not that those are bad in themselves.

      • Thanks for the tips yall. The walking tour sounds like a great idea. We’re staying at a place across the street from Central Park and plan on doing a lot of walking. Only 3 nights and going to try and pack in a lot. Broadway play (looks like a lot of good ones right now), always wanted to check the comedy cellar, grab a 5 star dinner, just try to take In as a much as possible.

        • Yes, Comedy Cellar is legit, Carolines is for tourists. Make a reservation online though.

          Steakhouses are a good choice for a nice dinner.

          Hill Country BBQ is a really fun experience and the food is excellent. They often have live music downstairs too.

  15. Mannion highlights Bolden, Jarmon:

    “Who else is standing out during workouts?

    Victor Bolden has just continued to grow. I think he’s a guy who’s becoming a better and better receiver, getting better at all the little things that make a guy a great receiver. And then Hunter Jarmon’s made a lot of strides. He’s a real athletic, real smooth kid. He’s just been getting better and better each day.

    You mentioned Bolden a lot during the spring, as well. When did you notice he had turned the corner and was becoming a guy you expect to be a real playmaker?

    I don’t know if it’s one moment. I think it’s just every day, you see him making strides. Last year, his role was a little smaller than it will be next year. You could see he was really fast and great for us in the fly sweep. But I think throughout spring ball, you could see him developing as a receiver, if that makes sense. Learning the subtleties about running routes, continuing to work on his hands. I think it’s just, you see a fast kid and you see him just make more and more strides as a receiver and a pass-catcher. ”

    http://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/index.ssf/2014/07/oregon_state_beavers_quarterba_8.html

  16. Just saw this. Hasn’t been reported by any OSU writers yet. Nice hire by Tinkle’s staff if true:

    K.C. Johnson ?@KCJHoop 15m

    Athletic trainer Fred Tedeschi left Bulls after 16 years to take position at Oregon State, where his daughter is enrolled.

    Tedeschi was the top athletic trainer in the NBA in 2013 I believe.

    • You don’t get the luxury of gathering a bunch of low hanging fruit and stashing it on your 100 man roster in hoops. When you do that, you lose your job. Football coaches get to take the lazy route simply because they can under the auspices of words like “potential” and “development.” I think the NCAA should cut ship restrictions to the same levels as roster positions at the NFL level. But that’s another story.

      That being said, Gottlieb would be the guy yo look at for uncovering hidden gems… well… uncovering one hidden gem. He has zero wiggle room if he wants to keep his job or move up in the ranks (get his own head gig). So he goes out and identifies players like Allen Crabbe. The past does give form to future decisions and performances. Mark Banker’s really really complicated and oh so brilliant defense will never stop a mobile QB. Gregg Gottlieb will find the next Pac POY under some rock.

      • If Derrien King is that hidden gem, then so be it. Crabbe was the same out of HS in terms of high major interest compared to his abilities. Hell… Derrick Williams was Sean Miller’s best recruit ever. And that was after USC dumped the kid. There are other circumstances which led to him not going to SCum. But there was also no interest in him as anything more than a role big. I feel the same way about Cameron Oliver right now. I also felt that way about LMW. In fact, I fully expect LMW to be a star.

        This is the first coaching change where I can’t look at the past regime and blame them for anything in terms of talent left behind. CR did a great job of building and selling OSU hoops. He just couldn’t get over his own lack of in-game coaching abilities.

        What’s scary is that CR may have learned enough from this job to go on to future success somewhere else. We (rightfully) complained about having a coach who was still learning on the job. With his ability to build and sell he can end up somewhere in the future where he will just nail it. And OSU dumping him now would still have been the right move. I hope he does make it there, and we get to have this discussion in full at that time. It will end up being a story of both parties getting what is/was best for each at the time.

        • There is some history with King btw. Gottlieb saw him play for years while he was recruiting Cheikh Diallo for Cal. That would be one player who is not hidden from anyone. But King was actually a decent player at SG before he sprouted another six or seven inches. Imagine an Eric Moreland type player only he played hoops forever and just happened to grow out of his position. He has a nice perimeter stroke and a decent handle… for a SG. Imagine that ability in a swing player or a power hybrid.

          Like I said, Gottlieb knows the kid’s limitations better than anyone out there. If he thinks his talents translate well to the next level, then we might be in for a good ride. And remember that they would be making that decision based on available ships for the 2015 class as well. So making that decision so early in Tinkle’s tenure means they think the kid would have some major upside and ability in order for them to put so much value on him.

          Obviously Manderson has that value as a big who can push the paint. But if that kid can’t see his own value in this very important stretch of a new regime, then magic or nothing needs to happen.

        • Are you a politician/lawyer/english major working at starbucks? You have an amazing ability to expound, even when given almost nothing to go off of. I would bet that you’ve written more words on this blog than Angry himself.

          • But you accused me of taking my degree and working at Starbucks (which is not an original slam here or anywhere). That makes me a Nikegon grad.

          • “almost nothing to go off of”

            That means this is almost nothing:
            “Commence AB hate in 3…2…1…”

            Your words… not mine.

          • I mean, to be honest, my comment is pretty low quality and pretty much just trolling. Though it might be the most successful troll in internet history… :P

          • Not even close.

            I suffer from stream of consciousness and an ability to type more than 60 wpm. This blog is just a sports outlet. Sometimes other blogs and the arguments I have there spill over here. But that’s usually only when those arguments are so stupidly outlandish that they can’t go anywhere with the dumbfucks I end up with.

            It’s almost 100% true that if you end up in a long term feud with me you’re just arguing with yourself but don’t know it. I can can spill stupid on a page in a heartbeat. One does need to know the devil in order to really know god.

          • For instance, I have a persona on another blog (open in another tab right now) who is in a long term feud with my real life next door neighbor. I play the neocon shill on that blog, and I am so despised by my adversaries. It’s too much fun to be had by one person. My neighbor thinks I’m a Duckpid from… well… he’s a Duck fan, so I can’t discount the fact he’s reading this post right now. But he thinks I’m some supreme sycophant of sheeple proportions who thrives on destroying the nation. In fact, I’ve led him to research and support what beliefs he thought he had at the beginning of the whole process. By no means do I think I’m some sort of puppet master. I’m just a burr in a saddle… well… many saddles.

  17. For those who live in the Portland area, just read there’s a new OSU Beaverstore opening at the Clackamas Town Center in August. I like this news, have always been annoyed they have a giant duck store front and center at that mall but no OSU presence, plus the downtown store isn’t a very convenient location unless you work downtown.

    • Btw, if you read the comments you’ll see Keith Appleby chime in. DO NOT EVER bring an argument about anything to him without having your ducks in a row (pun unintended). He is a data monster.

      • Bag of dicks is a decidedly Navy term. I was surprised to see the term so wrongfully used.

        I think we should petition the sham of of a PD that is the Nikegon campos to stop using what is and always should be revered as a term used by people who are paid less than minimum wage.

        Thanks Obama.

        • For those of you confused by this… think about it.

          bag of dicks = a ship

          Yes, that was before women deployed. And that’s another dark history for the Navy. But it is what it is.

  18. I’m sorry. If you like what Rush did after their second album you are destined for boredom. They had that one album in the 80’s that was kinda decent. But they are a monotone whoopee in the world of music.

    Discuss

    Note: arguments about Tull and their 500 albums do not apply

    • Why do you talk to greatness this way? You should first bow to my crotch then suppose that money given by rich people to the school I never went to makes me superior to you because…

      … well…

      … because.

  19. I must admit that I’m not at my best right now (I’d say about two sheets).

    But if y’all want me to continue dumb discussions amongst… umm… myself… then by all means… continue the dumb discussions.

    Here’s one:
    Sarah Palin suggests that Obama can’t quit since it’s not his first term anymore.

    In other news, Sarah Palin is a quitter.

    • But just imagine the morass of anarcho teabagger shit out there. I can’t establish a solid persona in that community because that community has no fucking idea what they’re supposed to be thinking.

      I guess that’s neat in that I can go to certain places and find my talking points for the GOP once a week. And as long as I never waver from those points nobody but the frustrated anti-christs who oppose me say anything about it.

      Ooooh… but stray just a little from those talking points… and someone unnamed sends you an email with wicked intent about how you can lose your parents… or something like that.

      Of course, dude is not unnamed. Nor is he unevil. But he makes a shit-load of money!

      So yay for him.

      • Oh… did I forget them?

        Whatever. It’s not like anyone pays attention to them anyway.

        What are they… like 20% of the Dems?

        Tell them to join the party or go on feeling like they’re not corrupt politicians who take gobs of money from lobbyists.

        Friggin losers!

      • excuse you with your MP3 which carries 10% of sound quality… versus a CD… which is at best 20% of the master.

        … unless you understand….

      • that Take Five is another of their albums I covet.

        I have all the others. My wall of sound is an actual wall.

        If anyone asks… my heart melts when I hear Ella.

  20. I have a couple directions to go right now. Wife is on a business trip, so music is flowing freely. I’m looking at Bowie’s Cracked Actor, US3 and Criss Cross.

    They will all be played. But I think Monk gets the nod for now.

    • I love the lead’s voice. He’s a session gitar… and the drummer looks bored. Bass is all in… even if you can’t hear him.

      I can say this… they’re not Nickelback.

      Trust me… that’s a compliment.

    • This is a supremely better riff than the one above. Vocals are even better. I need to look into their latest. Cool stuff. Better than session on the lead… I don’t quite know why you tout the drums.

      Question: Is it bad that I see their name and instantly think “April Wine?”

          • Twenty years + with Dream Theater–a lot of progressive rock time changes.

            29 Awards from Modern Drummer Mag.

            I looking at my list above–think I’ve seen roughly 25 shows combined…only one with Tommy Bolin, RIP.

          • He’s good. He’s not a life-changing talent. I don’t see him inspiring kids to be the next him.

            But the pool ain’t that deep when it comes to drummers. They’re so many times too specialized within a certain genre and can’t get out of their own way when it comes to being what they can be. You and I can probably come up with a list of “greats” that numbers in the single digits.

            I’m just saying Portnoy’s not transcendent. He’s very good. He’s obviously a technician. I like listening to him. But he’s not someone a kid 30 years from now will hear and say, “Holy crap! I want to do what that guy does!”

          • And please do not compare Portnoy with Ulrich. Ulrich is just crap. He’s a super smart dude if you sit down and talk with him. But his drumming is terrible.

            Again, I respect Portnoy and his talent. So I guess that tells you how I feel about Ulrich.

            Trust me here… I spent a lot of time at the Omni in days past. And I personally like the guy. And I’ve told him this same stuff to his face… albeit in a stupor… with him being in one as well.

            It didn’t end up in a fight. But we did agree that Sam Lay is one of the greatest unknown drummers ever. And if you need me to drop names, Andy Galeon was there and fully participating in the argument.

    • No real surprise there from that Drama Queen…much prefer Durant’s text about renewing with OKC to LeBron’s desperate need for attention.

      BTW – Jesus Christ this thread went off the rails. we need to remember to use the “Free For All’ forum…there could be some interesting and entertaining threads in there with the people that use this site.

    • LBJ hasn’t announced anything. That’s just the rumor according to Chris Broussard and Chris Sheridan’s “sources” and even they’re not 100% sure. Broussard is notorious for being off with his predictions.

      • Sheridan is 100%. He was so this morning. He broke it down as him being only 80% a couple days ago to being 90% yesterday… to being 100% today.

        He says he stakes his career on it. That means nothing in today’s cut-n-paste news media. But he sounded like he meant it. He says LBJ will announce it all before he boards a plane for the World Cup final.

  21. so here’s my conspiracy theory. Angry has decided to close the blog down, but can’t quite pull the trigger on that decision, so he has engaged Jack to drive everyone away and shut it down indirectly.

      • Oooh!

        Maybe you guys want me to be to be some Pollyanna uber-fan?

        Let’s start now.

        Your completely on-point constructive criticism of me and this site is just a joy to read. I will take note of everything you listed in order to make myself the better person you think I should be. And praise praise praise something pretend and other than myself… because the new found me doesn’t believe in accountability anymore.

        Sorry… that went sideways. This is going to take a little work. I’m going to go chant “believe in Riley” for a while. I hope to get back to y’all with some more constructive BS.

  22. Let’s put it this way:

    If you don’t like the content on this blog, do something about it. I’m not stopping you. Angry will never censor you. You can say any damn thing you want to say (as long as you don’t go Jeff Perry on here). And you will not only be heard. You will also be conversed. You’re looking at me for drowning this board.

    But you all are just stuck in the mud and not drowning me out. Get some friggin balls people (apologies to helmsley… she has balls)! Say what you mean when you mean it. Be right… be wrong… be something other than afraid of some stupid like me.

    • You are not this blog.

      Nobody is scared of you.

      You babble incessantly about shit nobody cares about. When you start yammering everybody tunes out.

      • So GODDAMN SAY SO!!!!!

        You chickenshit whiners are just pathetic.

        OOOOHHHH… he’s just blabbering… and that keeps me from saying anything… ever… and forever… because every time he posts something I’m a chickenshit who has NOTHING. And it hurts my sensibility because I’m weak sauce and can’t handle something someone says on the interwebs!

        HELP ME!!!!!! POOOOR ME!!!!!!!

        Bring something people. Just kill me with something more than silence!

        • I just said so dipshit.

          You over value yourself. Nobody responds to you because you’re an insignificant waste of time.

          I come here for sports insight and occasional off topic banter. If nothing interesting has been posted I move along. 99% of what you post is of no interest. So I move along, just like everybody else apparently.

          • Other than this little weird tiff we seem to be having, what makes me so important that you have to comment on me?

            I agree. I’m not important… which makes me disagree with your premise… because… I’m not important.

            I’m not sure what your point is now.

          • Actually, you replied to ObjCritic and called me out personally.

            Did you expect me to not respond to that complete bullshit?

            Do you even think you know who I am?

          • I’m actually intrigued with why you and I are having this little tiff. Did I step on your tail somewhere in the past?

            I remember testing a lot of people as they found their way here. I loved the spat Jason and I had. He’s a stalwart and nonconforming… so I like his contributions. There have been others. And they seem to be too weak in the knees to gather any staying power… shit… any power whatsoever.

            But why this right now? I’m calling out wimps. You don’t strike me as one… never have.

          • And no… you really didn’t say so.

            Unless that’s what you want to be your legacy for “I said so.”

            If that’s the case… then I’m singing to the deaf.

  23. Wow!

    Unchallenged for the whole thread?

    The above discourse ain’t pretty, but it damn sure is what it is.Let’s all make a vow for me to never run wild again… by that I mean for someone to show some nuts.

  24. One of the most amazing things, from a recruiting failure standpoint, is the fact that the staff was surprised that a kid they spent a year recruiting to play football, wants to do track and field!
    I am referring to the kid from Idaho who was recruited to play TE. How can that happen?

    Every true Beav fan saw the Peko thing coming a mile or two away. Groundhog Day with the O-line.
    How many years in a row have we heard this. The easiest position to fill on a football team and we are always short.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here