Villanova Football Preview: Catching up with WR Coach Brian Flinn

With just about a month and a half left before the start of the College Football season, we had the opportunity to talk to the WR Coach for the Villanova Wildcats, Brian Flinn. Coach Flinn played Tight End for Mount Union College, where he won the Division III National Championship in 1993 and 1996. Coach Flinn has now been at Villanova for 6 years where he works with the WRs and handles recruiting for Western Pennsylvania and Northeast Ohio.

To follow him on Twitter, click here: @Coach_Flinn

Here is the conversation we had with him:

How does it feel to be back at Villanova for your sixth year under Andy Talley?

Coach Talley built this program with good people.  It's a fun situation when you come to work every day and enjoy the players and coaches you spend so much time with.  I was fortunate (through the recommendation of Brendan Daly) to be hired as a GA by Coach Talley in 2000 and then hired back as the WRs coach in 2005.  I really have grown up as a coach here.  Villanova is a special place for me and my family – my kids have Westbrook throwback jerseys, my wife and the Crockers tailgate before every game, I never miss a Villanova Basketball game.  I have had some opportunities to leave – Brad Stevens from Butler once said “there is some pretty green grass out there” – but I realize how fortunate I am to be here and how green our grass is.

With Matt Szczur graduating, who do you think will replace him in the slot?

In our 3 wide receiver sets, Mikey Reynolds will be our slot and Dorian Wells will be our Z.  In 4 wide personnel, both will be in the slot.  Mikey and Dorian have both done an outstanding job in the slot for us.  This will be Mikey's fourth year getting significant snaps and Dorian's third.  When Szczur was hurt vs. Penn last year Mikey and Dorian make 2 huge plays on the go-ahead drive in the 4th quarter.  Three weeks later we had our best passing game of the season up at Maine – with both of those guys making huge plays in the run and pass game.  Despite what we lose at that position, we also have two guys returning we have the utmost confidence in.

Do you see any similarities between Brandyn Harvey and Norman White?

There are a bunch of similarities between Brandyn and Norman.  Both are outside receivers with great ball skills.  Both were good high school basketball players who needed to gain weight and strength when they got here.  Both are coachable guys who don't make excuses or defend mistakes.  Norman had the benefit of having Brandyn around his first two seasons.  Brandyn was a great practice player and competitor.  He practiced at a tempo in every day that was a challenge for our younger guys to meet.

One of our concerns going in 2010 would make the Red Zone and 3rd down plays Brandyn made for us.  Brandyn showed up for us in so many critical situations - against Temple in the 2nd half, @ Richmond, time and time again in the Playoffs - we knew that would be tough to replace.

Norman stepped up and made those critical plays for us last season.  Almost identical to Brandyn the year before, Norm came up big in when he was called upon – 4^th quarter vs. Penn, Temple, scoring in 7 straight regular season games, on the road in the playoffs. 

He does a great job of making all the plays that come to him – rather than running around outside the system trying to make something happen.  Norm made such a big jump from his sophomore to junior seasons because he is committed to mastering the position.  He has worked hard on the technical aspects of playing wide receiver this off-season - in the film room and on the field.  We are excited to see him continue to develop over his final season.   

I know you’re the WR Coach, but what can we expect from Dustin Thomas? Is he ready to start?

 I just read a great article in SI about Carlos Ruiz.  He basically says that anything that goes wrong with the pitching staff is on him – the mistakes all belong to the catcher.  That is the same way we look at QBs from the WR position, especially young QBs.  Incomplete passes are on us.  We don’t show our QB up if something goes wrong – we communicate with him, stay positive with one another and get things right.

When Chris Whitney stepped in for Antown in 2007 as a true freshman we knew as a WR group would have to elevate our play and make the game easier for him.  Our job is when the QB hits the top of his drop to be in the exact location on the field prescribed by the pattern.  If we do that throughout the course of a game, the QB sees the picture he’s supposed to and we slow the game down.

Dustin is going to do a great job for us.  I watch a lot of Big Ten Network this time of year (I’m from the Midwest!) and the guy he reminds me a lot of is Dan Persa from Northwestern.  He can run, he makes all the throws and he’s a tough kid.  Dustin lacks game experience – which is the most valuable thing for a QB.  With our schedule you are going to get thrown in some deep waters early – Temple, Penn, the CAA – and we’ve got to come through for him as he gains that experience.

Has the possible transition into Big East Football affected recruiting at all this season?

 Villanova is a great place to recruit to.  We have a combination that is unique in all of college football.  We have a top tier school academically located in a great city.  We play in a great league in a great sports town.  Our head football coach built the program from day one up to a National Championship caliber program…and he’s going to be here all four years you play at Villanova.  We’ve played on national TV 5 times (ESPN – 4 Versus – 1) in the past 2 years.  So while all of the talk about the future is exciting, the current state of Villanova football is what makes people want to be a part of our program.  It’s a great time to be a Wildcat.

How important is it to face a FBS school (Temple) at the start of the season in the Mayors Cup?

The Mayors Cup is a great game in a first class venue against a tough opponent.  Even though we are different in scheme, Temple has the same goals as we do – run the ball, stop the run, be the tougher team.  After opening with Temple the past 2 season, we know what an outstanding team we face to start the season.  Philadelphia is a football town and the Mayor’s Cup is perfect for it – a tough man’s game, a war of attrition that comes down to the final play.

With some of the key starters gone, what can the fans expect from a new look Wildcat team?

 Coach Talley said it best – we lost most of the guys who helped us win a lot of games the past four years.  Particularly on offense, where we lose the toughest QB in the country and the left side of the offensive line who started 53 straight games.  However, there are also a number of guys back (particularly at DL and WR) who have been through the CAA and understand just how difficult this league is.  We have a group of good young players who are going to have to continue to develop during the course of the season.  How much these young guys develop – and how much our veteran players help that process along – will determine our success in 2011.

Who is the best Villanova player you’ve coached?

It would be hard for someone to top what Szczur did in 2009 – All-American, MVP of the league on Offense, Special Teams and MVP of the Championship Game.  But there are so many players who helped build the culture of being a Villanova WR even before I was here – Siani, Finneran, Sango, Brian White. 

I’ve coached guys who may not stand out statistically but who made a huge difference on and off the field – Anton Ridley and Jonathan Hughes come to mind.  I really can’t say enough about what Brandyn Harvey did for this current group – not just with his excellent play but with his competitive greatness day in and day out.  Reynolds, Wells and White in the current group have been consummate pros – at practice, in the weight room, in the meetings.  It is hard to single out one guy because I’ve been lucky to work with such a special group.

Can the Mets Contend in 2012?

After trading Francisco Rodriguez, the Mets freed themselves of what could have been a 2012 killer. The $17.5 million vesting option would have not allowed the team any financial flexibility. As of right now, the Mets have about $63 million tied up for next season to just five players (Santana, Bay, Wright, Dickey, Carrasco). So what does that mean for 2012? Can the Mets put a good team together for 2012 without sacrificing 2011? Here's what I would do if I was Sandy Alderson.

• Sift through the market with Carlos Beltran. He's the best offensive player on the trade market right now and the Mets should be looking for a top level prospect in return. If a team offers a great deal for Beltran, I'd take it. I know the Mets are playing well this year, but the truth of the matter is that they are simply not contenders. The Phillies and Braves own the best records in the MLB and the Mets are automatically blocked by the two from the playoffs. I can't see the Mets staying with either team through September. Plus, if Beltran leaves, the Mets will not receive draft picks as compensation, due to the structure of his deal. Unless the Mets rip off a big winning streak in the next two weeks and get within a couple of games of the Braves, I think Beltran will be traded.
• Try to trade Tim Byrdak and Jason Isringhausen for prospects.
• Mike Pelfrey and Angel Pagan are both due for arbitration again and both will be tendered a contract. As much as Pelfrey has struggled, trading him now would not bring back any great prospects. Expect both of them to be Mets next year, which would add approximately $9-$10 million to the payroll total.
• Jose Reyes will be offered a contract by the Mets, but it will be difficult to lock him up. He's going to demand at least a 6 year contract worth upwards of $20 million per year; however, he's a player that you must keep. Players of this caliber don't come around often and when one of them shows his desire to stay on your team, you have to do everything you can to keep him. It is likely he would take a tad bit less money to stay in New York, so I would match almost any offer he gets.
• Murphy, Thole, Davis, Niese, Beato, and Duda will all be back with salaries under $500,000. So I'll say that $3 million will go to these players.
• Gee and Turner will also return on their rookie contracts.
• KEEP DAVID WRIGHT: I cannot stress the importance of this step. Wright is an elite 3B and he is the face of the franchise. Trading him would provide a lot of prospects in return, but this guy is irreplaceable. Daniel Murphy doesn't provide the same pop or defense, while Justin Turner is better suited for second base.
• It will be difficult to sign anybody this off-season with the Mets strapped for cash and I expect the team to focus on the bullpen through free agency.
• The RF will come from within and is likely going to be a battle between Duda and Fernando Martinez.
• The payroll for the team I listed above is probably going to be around $110 million, which is right around where the Mets are aiming to be next year.
• The Rotation will likely be Santana, Dickey, Pelfrey, Niese, Gee.
• The Lineup: Reyes, Turner, Wright, Davis, Bay, Pagan, Duda/F-Mart, Thole
• Bench: Murphy, Duda/F-Mart, Paulino.  The rest can be filled out with veterans on the market.
• Bullpen: Parnell, Beato, Carrasco, with the rest filled out through free agency.

If Santana returns back to form, this team can contend. It puts the rest of the rotation back into place. The lineup will score if they stay healthy and will allow for this team to at least stay competitive for the rest of 2011, even if Beltran is traded. This team has the ability to contend in 2012, but it will all come down to the one thing that has doomed the Mets the past three years: Health.

USA vs. Japan World Cup Final

United States vs. Japan

Sunday, July, 17, 2:00 pm EST

Commerzbank Arena, Germany

Televised: ESPN and ESPN3.com

Behind Hope Solo’s extraordinary goal keeping ability and clutch goals coming without a minute to spare the Americans find themselves in the World Cup Final. The United States’ women’s soccer team has been on a roller coaster ride of highs and lows from the start of the World Cup.

From being down 2-1 in the 122 minute in stoppage time in extra time to being outplayed by France for a large portion of the semi-final, the US team has looked shaky at times; however, somehow it always finds a way to come out with a victory.

In the thrilling last minute victory over Brazil, Megan Rapinoe sent a cross through the box that was headed in by Abby Wambach, sending the match to penalty kicks. The United States made all five opportunities to Brazil’s four. Goalie Hope Solo made a diving save which sent the United States on to the semi-finals (below).

The semi-final against France looked all but certain for the United States. Although they jumped out to an early lead the American midfielders looked as though they were still fatigued from playing 120 minutes the previous game, and playing with a man down for nearly 60 of those minutes. The French were able to tie the game in the 55^th minute, and continued to out play to United States in the middle of the field. However, France was never able to capitalize with good shots on goal and never put the United States away. In the last fifteen minutes the U.S. scored twice to finish the game and advance to the World Cup Final.

Coming in to the game the United States is favored considerably by odds makers, but Japan has been the underdog in its last two games. The Japanese quick style of play presented problems for both Sweden and Germany. At the start of the tournament the Germany team was favored to win the World Cup, but after a 90 minute draw the Japanese were able to take the match 1 – 0 in extra time. Japan’s victory over Sweden was much less nerve-racking for the Japanese faithful. Japan asserted its dominance from the 10^th minute on and cruised to a 3-1 victory.

The United States may have a tough time keeping up with the Japanese quickness over the course of the game. Both Sweden and Germany were worn down by the constant motion and ran out of fresh legs by the end of the match. However, the United States has proved that is both well-conditioned and resilient. The American team’s physicality may be what decides the game in their favor as the US players are much large and more physical than the Japanese players. No matter the outcome of the game it should be a good one, either restoring the United States to its #1 spot in women’s soccer, or putting Japanese soccer on the map.

Sam Borden: An unforgettable week of fathers and sons, triumph and tragedy

SI.com's Sam Borden wrote a great article on the unforgettable week of fathers and sons in baseball. The article focuses on Christian Lopez, the Yankees fan who caught Derek Jeter's 3000th hit.

So many times we lose sight at what's important in the game of baseball. With players making millions of dollars to play a game, fans have the right to question their motivation. Do they truly love the game? I think Robinson Cano answered that during the Homerun Derby. Cano had a blast just by being involved in the derby, showing the world that you can be paid $15,000,000 per year, but still respect the game for what it is: America's Pastime.

The Effect of K-Rod on the NL Central

The Milwaukee Brewers made a big splash last night by landing Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez (K-Rod, Frankie). The deal is a salary dump for the Mets as they were trying to avoid his 55 games finished-vesting option of $17.5 million. The Mets sent $5 million along with Frankie for two players to be named later. K-Rod is not the elite closer he was a few years ago, but he will fill a huge hole as the setup man in Milwaukee. With this deal occurring three weeks before the trade deadline, we could see some teams push hard for trades in the next few days. Other teams in the NL Central, particularly the Cardinals, will need to make a move to keep up with the Brew Crew.

Here are what the other contenders in the NL Central should look to do:

• The Cardinals are in need of pitching, both in the pen and in the rotation. They will look at Heath Bell, but the Padres asking price might be too heavy. The Cardinals could also add a starting pitcher and move Kyle McClellan to the bullpen.
• The Pirates must decide if they are buyers or sellers. Since this team is 4 games over .500 and hasn't had a winning season in nearly 20 years, I would be shocked if they were to trade anybody away. I could see the Pirates picking up a bat to stay in the race. Somebody like Adam Lind of Toronto makes sense.
• The Reds need help in their rotation. After sending Volquez to AAA, the Reds brought up Dontrelle Willis, but the D-Train can only take them so far. Look for the Reds to make a run at Aaron Harang or even Chris Capuano of the Mets.

The NL Central is a four team race right now, as Milwaukee, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh all are capable of winning the division. The Reds are just four games back, but they will definitely need to play better to win the division. The Brewers have the best team in the NL Central without a question, but will their rotation stay healthy and keep producing? The Cardinals are in an interesting position because they have under-performing talent they could trade away for pieces, but they also have players such as Lance Berkman, who are having career years at an old age. Pujols' return could jump start this team, pushing the Brewers to make another move. The Pirates are the story of the first half of the season so far, but nobody expects them to keep it up; however the pitching has been a lot better this season and led by CF Andrew McCutchen, the Pirates could make some more noise. With the addition of a bullpen arm or a power bat, the Pirates have the ability to win the Central.

This division will come down to the wire and should be a lot of fun to follow, so stay tuned for more on the closest division in baseball.

Greatest Players of our Era

Answer this question: Who is the best player in baseball history?

There is no right answer, because there are too many elements of baseball. Pitchers and position players can never be judged together because there are no measures to compare the two side by side. Similarly, it is too difficult to evaluate players from different eras, because numbers don't translate the same way. For example, Babe Ruth led the American League in homeruns in 1918 with just 11 bombs, even though he was a pitcher.

So the real question is: Who is the greatest player at each position during this era? In a time defined by steroid allegations, the Mitchell Report, and the Sosa/McGwire showdown, there are few players we can honestly call "clean", but to be fair, all players were included, even those with steroid connections. Our Era will consist of players that have retired in 2005 or later, or are still playing. 

C: Mike Piazza

There might be a little bias here considering he is my favorite baseball player, but the numbers don't lie. He's a career .308 hitter with 427 homeruns. In 1997, Piazza posted one of the best seasons of all-time for a catcher: .362/.431/.638 with 40 homeruns and 124 RBI.

Others considered: Ivan Rodriguez, Jorge Posada, Joe Mauer

1B: Albert Pujols

This was a tough call, as 1B is one of the most offensive positions in baseball. So many of the greats played first base and posted ridiculous numbers. Pujols is still tearing up the league, but his career numbers are already impressive. .329/.422/.618 with 426 homeruns in just 10.5 seasons. That's insane! He's just 31 years old and has the ability to become one of the greatest of all-time.

Others considered: Jeff Bagwell, Todd Helton, Carlos Delgado, Jim Thome

2B: Craig Biggio

This position is probably the most scarce in terms of Hall of Fame talent in our era, but we had the privilege of watching a few tremendous baseball players. Craig Biggio, a member of the 3000-hit club, hit .281 in his career and for a little guy, showed a lot of pop. Biggio hit 291 homeruns and also won four Gold Gloves at second base.

Others considered: Jeff Kent, Chase Utley

Note: Roberto Alomar would have been selected, but he retired in 2004.

3B: Chipper Jones

Larry Jones is a gamer. He goes out there every day despite having been hurt pretty much his entire career. In his career so far, he has a .304 average with 444 homeruns. In 2000 he hit 45 homeruns AND stole 25 bases, while winning the MVP honors. He's been the face of the Atlanta Braves for years and I just hope he can stay on the field until 500. 

Others considered: Scott Rolen, Alex Rodriguez

SS: Alex Rodriguez

A-Rod has put together some of the best statistical seasons in the history of baseball. In a position that is known for its defense, A-Rod combined those skills with his unmatched offensive skill set. Despite his move to 3B for the Yankees, he could just be the greatest SS of all time. Just purely on stats before becoming a Yankee, he hit 345 homeruns with a .307 average. He also won the Gold Glove twice as a shortstop, as well as three AL MVP awards. In his career, A-Rod has hit 626 homeruns and is poised to break Barry Bonds' all-time mark.

Others considered: Derek Jeter, Omar Vizquel

LF: Barry Bonds

Despite all of the steroid allegations, Barry Bonds has posted the greatest numbers of all-time. In his 22 year career, he had a .298 average, 762 home runs, 1996 RBI, 2227 runs scored, 2935 base hits, 601 doubles, 77 triples, 514 stolen bases and a .444 on base percentage. In 2001, Barry Bonds hit a record 73 homeruns. That year he started on a string of four consecutive MVP awards to put his total count at 7. He's posted an OBP as high as .609 when he was walked 232 times.

Others considered: Manny Ramirez

CF: Ken Griffey Jr.

In my mind, Ken Griffey Jr. is the most exciting baseball player of our era. He posted amazing numbers, but his love for the game is unmatched He is one of the best defensive players ever, even though many of his dives into the wall cost him hundreds of games. Griffey hit 630 homers and had a .284 career average. He would certainly be the Homerun King if it weren't for his injuries, since he missed over 700 games in his career due to injury. The owner of the prettiest swing in baseball is certainly the choice for the CF of our era.

Others considered: Jim Edmonds, Andruw Jones, Bernie Williams

RF: Ichiro Suzuki

This one was pretty close. It was hard not selecting Vladimir Gurrero, but Suzuki definitely deserves this title. He's a career .328 hitter and averages 226 hits per 162 games. Ichiro is a great defensive player, as he's won a Gold Glove in every season of his career. He is the owner of the single season hits record of 262 and has had over 200 hits every year.

Others considered: Vladimir Guerrero, Larry Walker

Rotation:

Roger Clemens
Pedro Martinez
Greg Maddux
Randy Johnson
Tom Glavine

There have been a ton of great pitchers in baseball for the past fifteen years, but nobody matches these five....yet. Roy Halladay definitely can be in this conversation, as well as, Johan Santana and John Smoltz. When its all said and done though, you couldn't go wrong with these five. Clemens, Martinez, and Johnson just had filthy stuff. They are some of the most dominant pitchers in the history of the game. Glavine and Maddux had great stuff too, but what separated them was there durability and intelligence. Glavine would never let you get comfortable in an at-bat, while Maddux was always methodical and efficient. In fact Maddux once threw a complete game with 76 pitches. He even gave up 5 hits and 1 run, but threw just 13 balls in 9 innings.


Closer: Mariano Rivera

Not even a question. He's the best of all-time. His cutter is probably the best pitch in the MLB, as it even forces some switch hitters to bat righty against him. He has a career 2.22 ERA and has saved 581 games.

Others considered: Trevor Hoffman, John Smoltz, Billy Wagner


I'm sure I made someone angry about this. Let me know if you think I've made any mistakes!

Plaxico to Chicago Makes Sense

Lovie Smith and the Chicago Bears are traditionally a conservative bunch. They let go of Tank Johnson when he started having trouble with the law and even their play on the field suggests a conservative organization. After the addition of a pass-heavy quarterback in Jay Cutler, the Bears went under a huge change last season. Mike Martz was hired to run the offense, but he failed to take the offense to the next level. The offense struggled with consistency, as it ranked 22nd in the NFL in rushing yards and 28th in passing yards. It's difficult to pass the ball effectively without a solid ground game, so there was a lot of pressure on Cutler and the wideouts to perform.

So how can the Bears get to the Superbowl? I think taking a chance on Plaxico Burress could push this team to the next level. Back in Denver, Jay Cutler was putting up ridiculous numbers every game with his favorite target: Brandon Marshall. Marshall is 6'4 with big play ability, similar to Plaxico Burress. Plax stands at 6'5, which would give Cutler the big target that Chicago has been missing for years. Plax will come cheap and will pounce at any opportunity to start. He's been in jail for so long and you can already tell that he has come a long way from the "shooting himself" incident.

The Bears currently have a decent group of wide receivers, but they don't have a clear #1. Each NFLteam must have a possession-type receiver (one who will move the chains on 3rd down and be a proficient redzone target). The Bears don't have anybody that fits that mold, even if you include TE Greg Olsen. Johnny Knox, Earl Bennett, and Devin Hester are all capable of being good WRs, but none of them can be the leader of the receiving corps.

Insert Plaxico Burress and the Bears have a dynamic group of receivers. Knox's speed will be best utilized in the slot, so he could be used there while Bennett and Plax are the X and Y. The addition of Plaxico would also help the running game, as Burress is a matchup nightmare for cornerbacks with his big stature. There will be a safety there to help on him, pushing one more man out of the box, which will create a little more running room.

The Bears always have the defense to win a championship, but their offense seems to always bring them down to earth. Maybe taking a chance on Plaxico Burress will transform this team into a SuperBowl caliber team.

"Bad" can never be "Good"

I'm a die-hard Mets fan. I love the team to death and would love nothing more than to watch this team win. The current roster does not have the talent to make the playoffs, but as a typical Mets fan, "ya gotta believe." I love watching this team compete every night, knowing they will never just rollover. All season long the Mets have been carried by All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes. He leads the team with hits, batting average, triples, runs, stolen bases, on-base-percentage, and others as well. He's the most exciting player in baseball, and if you don't believe me just watch one of his triples.

Just last week, Reyes left a game against the Yankees due to tightness in his hamstring. He's been riddled with leg injuries throughout his career, causing large concern among the Mets front office and fanbase. In a walk-year, Reyes has displayed how dynamic he can be, but he has also shown that he's only one stride away from a hamstring injury. He has been ruled out of the All-Star game and placed on the DL. He will likely miss at least two more weeks, but that's not why I wrote this post. Mets fans have the nerve to say that this injury could be a blessing in disguise, because his price will be driven down due to his injury history.

Are you serious? So you're happy the face of the franchise is sitting on the bench, aching every single time he steps? Just stop it. These guys put their bodies on the line every single night for our entertainment. Yes they get paid big bucks, but it is stupid to think that the Mets are better off with him being hurt right now. I don't care if the injury occurs to players on the Phillies, Braves, or even the Yankees. This is what I think is wrong with sports today. I love nothing more than passionate fans who live and breathe their favorite teams; however, when you start cheering injuries or wishing harm on people, it just makes me sick. If you want to wish poor play upon someone, then by all means due it, but when athletes are forced out of games, it is often a serious injury.

Booing is fine, but the line should be drawn there. For ecample, Mets catcher Josh Thole created a Twitter account in the offseason, but deleted it after a couple of weeks because he received death threats from people who call themselves Mets fans. The hatred from fans stems to all other sports as well, with many people calling for Lebron James' head. I don't like the guy at all and I constantly ridicule him, but I don't think I have it in me to say that.

Athletes make a ton of money and as fans, we constantly want them to produce. We want our team to win. All the talk about how injuries can benefit a team or how losing would be better for a team, is garbage. You play the game to win and you want to win with your best players. So I beg you, stop all the crap. Be happy that you are able to watch the greatest athletes in the world.