Browsing all articles from October, 2011
Oct
28
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Washington Sportsjam MMA Pound-for-Pound Rankings: October 2011 Edition

Author Mark Kalriess    Category Articles, MMA     Tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

It has been a busy month in MMA. Three UFC champions defended their belts and welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre was scheduled to defend his before an injury delayed his match this weekend. In other organizations Bellator is gaining steam while Strikeforce looks like more and more of a lame duck each month. With the elite fighters abandoning Strikeforce for the UFC, the Bellator roster is starting to shape up as the second best in North America.

There is a bit of shakeup in the rankings with Jose Aldo dropping from the Top-5 to the “In Consideration” rankings and Dominick Cruz replacing him at the five spot. Aldo has looked lackluster in his two UFC title defenses while Cruz has continued to look solid.

1. Anderson Silva (UFC Middleweight Champion, Record 29-4)

In the Yushin Okami fight Silva avenged his most recent loss and extended his title-defense streak to an astounding nine times. He beat one of his most qualified challengers yet both mentally and physically. His in-ring mind-games showed how he can force an opponent into his gameplan. Unfortunately, it also showed why he is losing fans despite his massive talent. Love him or hate him, he’s the most dominant fighter in the world right now.

Next Fight – TBA

2. Georges St-Pierre (UFC Welterweight Champion, Record 22-2)

GSP was not able to dominate Jake Shields the way he dominated his six previous challengers. However he once again held off a red-hot challenger by not playing into their game and exploiting their weaknesses. It may not have been exciting but it was the smart move. He still looks unbeatable in the Welterweight division.

Next Fight – TBA vs.  Carlos Condit

3. Jon Jones (UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Record 14-1)

Jones proved he was for real in his first title defense. He beat Rampage Jackson thoroughly and in all aspects of the fight. He kept Rampage at range with varied striking, forced him to defend from submission attempts, and was never predictable. His critics say he’s never been tested; the truth is no one has been able to find a chink in his armor. Jones is so good in so many ways and is always improving. Right now his only weakness is his ego.

Next Fight – vs. Lyoto Machida @ UFC 140 12/10/11

4. Cain Velasquez (UFC Heavyweight Champion, Record 9-0)

After the reigns of the hulking Shane Carwin and Brock Lesnar, Velasquez proved that winning in the UFC required more than strength, power, and wrestling top-control. When Velasquez defeated Lesnar he proved that he was better all-around fighter than Brock and that he could contest with anyone in any aspect of a fight. There are a few UFC Heavyweights in his same class, but he’ll be a hard guy to take a belt from.

Next Fight – vs. Junior Dos Santos @UFC on Fox 11/12/11

5. Dominick Cruz ↑(UFC Bantamweight Champion, Record 19-1)

The “Dominator” continues to control the bantamweight division. In July, Cruz avenged his only career loss by outpointing Uriah Faber. At the beginning of this month he held off Demetrious Johnson, the only fighter with more speed at his weight class. Cruz’s critics complain his style is boring, but no one can accuse him of not working. He fights at a breakneck pace. That combined with his odd stand-up movement, his excellent takedowns, and complete ground game makes him a tough nut to crack. He’s also just a few more fights away from cleaning out the division of contenders.

Next Fight – TBA

Other fighters in consideration: Jose Aldo, Frankie Edgar, Cole Konrad, Hector Lombard, Gilbert Melendez

Oct
27
0

Episode 61 – The Optimist Show?

Author Mark Kalriess    Category Podcast Episode     Tags , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Matt and Mark breakdown the loss to the Panthers and preview the game against the Bills. They also hand out game awards, talk injuries, discuss John Beck’s performance and ponder the future of the franchise.

Oct
20
0

Episode 60 – The QB Shuffle Show

Author Mark Kalriess    Category Podcast Episode     Tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Matt and Mark talk Redskins and the NFL. They recap the Eagles game, preview the game against Carolina, and talk a lot about the various QB controversies around the league. Then they get into one of their trademark arguments.

Topics:

Eagles game recap

Grossman benched, Beck to start.

Injuries

Week 7 preview vs Panthers

Who is the favorite to win the NFC East?

Carson Palmer traded to the Oakland Raiders

 

Oct
17
0

Can the Skins Still Win the NFC East? Part I: They Still Have a Chance

Author Matt Trollinger    Category Football, Redskins     Tags , , , , , , , , , , ,

In the words of Modest Mouse, are the ‘Skins dead or are they sleeping? On Sunday afternoon the Redskins lost to the Eagles 20-13 and lost a chance to be the lead driver in the race for NFC East Crown. Now, many wonder whether the Redskins performance was a foreshadowing of the remaining eleven games.  This is the first of a two part piece on whether our hometown heart breakers still have a chance to capture the NFC East for the first time since 1999.

Why the Redskins Can Still Win the NFC East

NFC Beast this year has been the NFC Weak.

The NFC East is not as strong as it typically is.  The Giants, Eagles and Cowboys have a combined 5-7 record against out of division opponents.  That batch includes San Francisco, Detroit, New England, St. Louis, Atlanta, Buffalo, Seattle, and Arizona.  The Redskins have some tough games ahead of them, but the apparent weaknesses of the NFC East teams seems to suggest that unless the Skins go on a stretch of 4 or 5 straight losses, they’ve got a chance to be in it in the end.

Skins Don’t Need a Hero at QB, They Just Can’t Have a Traitor.

The Redskins do not need their QB (Rex or Beck, or collectively Reck…hahaha notice there’s not a W between them?  Ha, just kidding. Kind of.) to win games as often as they need them to not lose them.  This is because up until this past game against Philadelphia, Washington has had a decent run game, averaging 4.0 yards a carry.  With the loss of starting LG Kory Lichtensteiger for the year and the possible loss of starting LT Trent Williams for a couple of weeks, the 4.0 days may be over.  Still, the fact remains, if the Redskins don’t give the Eagles four turnovers on Sunday, the Skins probably win that game.  Part of that is because  the D, which will address in my next point.

Spelling W-I-N with a capital D.

Defensive Coordinator Jim Haslett’s Defense gives the Skins a chance to be in every game this season.  The Skins are allowing only 16.6 points per game through five games.  Heck, they held the Eagles remarkably well in the second half of Sunday’s game.  How many points would you expect the dynamic Eagles offense to put up if you knew that they would have four bonus shots due to interceptions?  As much as the Redskins were dominated throughout the game, they still had a chance to win it in the 4th Quarter.  If the Redskins defense continues its course, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan (and Rex Grossman/John Beck) should be able to manage the modest achievement of two touchdowns and a field goal a game.

There are plenty of other reasons why the Skins can win the NFC East, one of them being blatantly obvious- they are 3-2 and only one game back from the Giants.

Your Thoughts

What do you think?  Do you think the Redskins can and will win the NFC East, or were the Redskins revealed in their game against the Eagles as a pretender?

Oct
13
0

Episode 59 – Bye Week Blues? Time to Rock the Red!

Author Bryan Patton    Category Podcast Episode     Tags , , , , , , ,

Bryan and Jake preview the 2011-2012 NHL season. Plus Mark and Bryan talk NFL week 5, NBA lockout, and UFC 136.

Topics:

Washington Capitals 2011-2012 Season Outlook

Best and Worst NHL offseason Moves

NFL Week 5 News and Notes

NBA Lockout

UFC 136

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