The TEN: 1/01/2018

(“The TEN” is not a top ten but ten items worth being included in The TEN”)

1. The Oakland Raiders fired Jack Del Rio after Sunday’s 30-10 loss to the LA Chargers and are expected to hire Jon Gruden as their next head coach.

2. Arizona Cardinals HC Bruce Arians announced his retirement from coaching Monday citing family.

3. The Indianapolis Colts fired head coach Chuck Pagano Sunday after its final game and the Detroit Lions dismissed Jim Caldwell Monday.

4. The Los Angeles Rams will host the Atlanta Falcons Saturday at 5:15 p.m in the NFC Wild Card Round.

5. The Chargers missed the playoffs despite beating the Raiders Sunday and the Buffalo Bills are in. The Chargers beat the Bills 54-24 on November 19 at StubHub Center.

6. The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Houston Rockets 148-142 Sunday in double overtime.

7. Other playoff matchups: NFC: Carolina at New Orleans; Byes-Philadelphia, Minnesota. AFC: Buffalo at Jacksonville, Tennessee at Kansas City; Byes- New England, Pittsburgh.

8. Monday’s College Football semi final matchups: Rosebowl – #3 Georgia vs. #2 Oklahoma, Sugar Bowl: # 4 Alabama vs. # 1 Clemson.

9. Other NFL coaching changes: The Chicago Bears fired HC John Fox Monday and the New York Giants are looking for a new HC after firing Ben McAdoo during the season.

10. The Cleveland Browns announce that HC Hue Jackson will return in 2018 despite the Browns 0-16 record this season and 1-31 over the last two years.

4 Comments to "The TEN: 1/01/2018"

  1. Pac 5 Scout's Gravatar Pac 5 Scout
    January 2, 2018 - 7:19 pm | Permalink

    Sound points GG. If you watched Army or Navy play football they had fine seasons playing with fine men first and football players probably third on their list of wants. They played physical ball, rarely passed maybe 3 times a game and just wore down opponent teams that were loaded with supposed 4 star recruits. Local high schools have been seduced by the flash and dash of no huddle screens and pick plays, jet sweeps etc. that try to catch other teams unaware. Its gimmick football and getting found out for what it is, sissy football, because you can’t coach up your boys to play tough football.

  2. Gordon Gekko's Gravatar Gordon Gekko
    January 2, 2018 - 1:58 am | Permalink

    As a high school and college football fan it’s hard to admit but West Coast football is weak and is falling way behind. If USC is the best the West Coast can put out onto the national stage then wow, get use to more mid tier bowl games. The west coast, especially the Southern California area got too cute with so-called creative offenses, throw the ball. It has placed an emphasis on overrated QBs and by stacking their teams with WRs who have supposed speed to catch the ball.

    Nowadays every parent or their kid thinks that if they can throw a spiral they’ll be the next super QB. That’s when their selfish quest begins and where most football problems begin. Parents begin playing in the “new era” high school recruiting game. Many coaches have fallen into this game as well. Then the guru steps in and advises parents what school they should transfer or have their son enroll in. If the kid is going to be a super star qb they can make it anywhere and be productive despite who’s playing WR.

    What has been lost over the last two decades due to the QB phenomena is breeding tough mentalities and a physical style of play. What happened to placing focus on the trenches? It has died. High school coaches have gotten too soft and have no line development because they’re too worried about the QB issue. Again, if the QB is a great one it will be obvious. A team has to be able to run the ball and stop the opposing team’s running game. It’s a very simple concept. Do I get paid for that tip?

    There has been a negative impact to the quality of play at the college level because of all the sensationalism behind certain skill positions. It was evident today on TV and watching the PAC12 get their rears handed to them. Instead we now have overrated and soft players. Good job. We have soft, pretty boy QBs surrounded by so-called athletes but they can’t win the big games. Don’t get me wrong there’s still some talent on this side of the country. USC’s Sam Darnold is a pro qb. But, Ucla’s Rosen sat out of his team’s bowl game, oh boy. Yeah yeah yeah I know he doesn’t want to get hurt before the draft. That’s not a guy I’d want to go to war with.

    Another fact, the west coast “athletes” can’t hang with the South’s either. ‘Bama and Georgia’s defensive backs and linebackers are way more superior. They are too big, too strong and are faster than what the PAC12 has to offer. The South and Midwest own the PAC12. Today was a wake up call for the entire West Coast. Let’s see which PAC12 school answers the challenge. Happy New Year SGV Foootball Fans.

  3. Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man's Gravatar Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man
    January 1, 2018 - 11:35 pm | Permalink

    Don’t do it, Jon. The Raiders’ owner, Mark Davis, is the Jim Buss of the NFL.

  4. My Two Cents's Gravatar My Two Cents
    January 1, 2018 - 2:53 pm | Permalink

    Happy New Year MVS! Working hard even on New Years Day.
    #6) Seldom do a team recover the next day after such a tough loss. Unless the line is -20, feel free to put a grand on MIN tonight (I am not condoning gambling and past results does not guarantee future success).
    #8) Oklahoma and ‘Bama with ‘Bama winning it all.
    #10) What a joke! You can’t change the culture with the same coach who has a 1-31 record. He has zero credibility with the team.

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