Youkilis - Like Jeter But Without the Price Tag?

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Wednesday, January 9, 2008


Why To Watch
The Cowboys have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They rested some key players in Week 17 and had last week to watch the first round of the playoffs from the comfort of their living rooms, while the Giants defeated Tampa Bay in the early game on Sunday. This will be the third meeting of the season between these NFC East rivals, with Dallas winning in both Week 1 and Week 10 by a combined 21 points. The Cowboys failed to score a touchdown in two of their last three games, but they should have WRs Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens and C Andre Gurode back for this matchup. Dallas clearly has one of the NFL's most dangerous offenses when healthy. Wade Phillips is 0-3 in the playoffs as a head coach, and though Dallas lost only three games during the regular season, two of those defeats came at home. Meanwhile, the Giants have just one road loss -- at Dallas -- and are very comfortable in someone else's building. These teams know one another extremely well, and with a berth in the NFC Championship Game on the line, won't hold anything back.




When the Giants have the ball
Rushing: The Giants put together long, sustained drives when playing with the lead last week, consistently eating up clock and scoring points. QB Eli Manning had a great deal to do with that success, but so did New York's running game. The Giants won the time of possession battle against Dallas in both of their previous meetings, which again should be a goal in order to keep the Cowboys' offense on the sideline. RB Brandon Jacobs was largely ineffective last week, but RB Ahmad Bradshaw provided a spark. Jacobs is a massive pounder who is very difficult to get on the ground. He likes to run off-tackle and will work downhill toward Dallas' outside linebackers in addition to pounding the middle of the field. Bradshaw is a smaller back, but he runs with great conviction while providing big-play ability in New York's zone rushing attack. The Giants often line up in the I-formation and don't hesitate to run against eight-man fronts. Their excellent run-blocking offensive line is a mobile group that can get to the second level and finish blocks. FB Madison Hedgecock is the run game's unsung hero and a big, mobile lead blocker who can bury linebackers. The Cowboys' underrated front three form the foundation of a solid run defense: NT Jay Ratliff lacks the prototypical body for the position but is tough and technically sound and has been more than capable, while the defensive ends have ideal builds and athleticism for an odd-man front and are continually improving. The outside linebackers are known for their pass-rushing prowess, but both starters are exceptional against the run as well. ILB Bradie James is constantly around the ball, diagnoses plays quickly and is a fundamental tackler. And it's no secret that SS Roy Williams is a better player near the line of scrimmage than he is in deep coverage. He should spend plenty of time in the box this week.



Passing: It might be too early to say that Manning has come into his own, but he played very well in the Giants' opening-round victory and nearly pulled off the upset against New England in the final week of the regular season. Manning has shown great poise, improved accuracy and a dedication to protecting the ball. His improved play has brought balance to New York's offense and given coordinator Kevin Gilbride a deeper bag of options. The Giants will attack the Cowboys on all levels: shallow crossing routes, intermediate outs, passes to the tight end over the middle and deep routes to WR Plaxico Burress, who is playing at a very high level. Adept at catching fade routes and using his tremendous size to go over smaller defenders, Burress clearly is Manning's first option near the end zone. WR Amani Toomer is aging but is Manning's most trusted receiver -- a security blanket and a frequent third-down target. Even without TE Jeremy Shockey (leg), the Giants continue to get production from their tight ends, namely rookie Kevin Boss.

Dallas has an exceptional pair of cornerbacks in Terence Newman and Anthony Henry, though the depth behind them is questionable and CB Jacques Reeves is consistently singled out by opponents in coverage. FS Ken Hamlin is solid in deep patrol, but he isn't at his best when matched up one-on-one with a wideout. New York may respond to those weaknesses with more multiple-receiver sets. OLB DeMarcus Ware is a terrific player who not only is an exceptional pass-rusher (14 sacks), but also has a tremendous knack for creating turnovers. His speed is phenomenal. Ware teams with fellow OLB Greg Ellis to form a disruptive edge-rushing duo that is very difficult to account for.



When the Cowboys have the ball
Rushing: Though RB Julius Jones technically is Dallas' starter, Marion Barber should earn the bulk of the carries and clearly is the superior player. Barber has good size and strength, runs low and with attitude and seeks out contact. Running behind a very big offensive line, he is capable of wearing down a defense. Jones is niftier and probably faster than Barber, providing value as a change of pace. The offensive line is very balanced and has the great size to wear down an opponent. But when the Cowboys need a tough yard on the ground, they usually run behind massive RG Leonard Davis. Dallas likes to use a lot of two tight end sets because TE Anthony Fasano is an excellent run-blocker and an underrated receiver, while TE Jason Witten is a tremendous pass catcher and also an effective in-line blocker. Expect to see plenty of both on the field together this week against the Giants' elite defensive ends. New York's defense, which held Tampa Bay RB Earnest Graham to 63 yards on 18 carries last week, is formidable against the run. If there's a knock on offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, it's that he occasionally abandons the running game too quickly, so keep an eye on that.



Passing: Dallas QB Tony Romo is having a spectacular season and now ranks among the league's best passers. As the quarterback of the NFC's top seed, the pressure on him is significant, but Romo is very difficult to rattle and shows fantastic poise. For a young quarterback with just 26 career starts he has an exceptional understanding of protections and an uncanny comfort level in the pocket. He has a quick release and is extremely accurate, usually hitting his target in stride. He occasionally runs cold, though, and turnovers often ensue, especially when he misreads coverages. Witten finished the regular season with a whopping 96 catches and obviously is a featured receiver in the offense. He is ultra-reliable and clearly has Romo's trust when the Cowboys need to move the chains. But as good as Witten has been, it's WR Terrell Owens who makes the offense go. Owens is a mismatch against nearly any NFL cover man, and by putting him in motion or moving him around the formation, Garrett often allows Owens a clean release. There isn't a player on New York's roster who can keep up with Owens when he is healthy, though he is a game-time decision this week due to a high ankle sprain. He runs every route on the tree and is a scary weapon over the middle. If speedster Terry Glenn (knee) is close to 100 percent, a potent Cowboys passing attack becomes much more dangerous. The Giants sacked Romo only once in each game this season, but there's no doubt they have the league's best pass rush. LDE Michael Strahan, RDE Osi Umenyiora and backup DE Justin Tuck are a frightening group that will give Dallas' edge protectors all they can handle. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is an aggressive playcaller, but if his pass-rushers don't get home, the suspect secondary won't often bail out the Giants. New York plays a lot of Cover 3 behind its blitzes, which will open the middle of the field for Witten. CB Corey Webster was steady and made plays in place of the injured Sam Madison (abdominal) last week, but the Giants will need every capable cover man they can send onto the field this week.



Special Teams

Dallas PK Nick Folk had an outstanding rookie season, but he never has been asked to kick in a game of this magnitude. P Mat McBriar is among the league's top punters, but the Cowboys' punt coverage team has struggled. The kickoff unit has been better but still is a weakness. Neither team has a dynamic return specialist. The Giants' punt coverage has been a glaring problem this season, but veteran P Jeff Feagles at least is a reliable directional punter. The Giants have the overall special teams edge here, but the difference is nearly negligible.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/giants/ny-spspags095531023jan09,0,202473.story

BY BOB GLAUBER AND ARTHUR STAPLE | bob.glauber@newsday.com. arthur.staple@newsday.com
January 9, 2008


Steve Spagnuolo's work in turning around the Giants' defense has drawn the attention of at least one team looking for a head coach.

The Falcons yesterday asked permission to interview Spagnuolo later this week, but the Giants denied the request because he is busy preparing for Sunday's divisional playoff game against the Cowboys. Once the Giants' season is over, Spagnuolo will be free to interview with Atlanta.

The Falcons also are hiring a general manager and interviewed Giants personnel executive Chris Mara yesterday. Eagles GM Tom Heckert, believed to be the front-runner, interviewed with the Falcons Monday




Mara and Heckert are familiar with Spagnuolo's work. Mara has seen Spagnuolo transform the Giants this year from an underachieving unit the last several years to one of the league's better defenses, while Heckert knew Spagnuolo from his days as the Eagles' linebackers coach.

The Falcons are also interested in Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, who interviewed with them during the bye week. So the outcome of Sunday's Giants-Cowboys game will be a major factor in the Falcons' search; whichever team loses will have one of its coaches freed up to explore the Falcons' opening.

There is also no guarantee that Spagnuolo will interview with Atlanta, especially if he doesn't feel ready for a head- coaching position, or if the Giants sweeten his contract to keep him. A person familiar with Spagnuolo's situation said last night that even if the Giants had given him permission to interview with the Falcons this week, Spagnuolo would have declined because of the more pressing issue of getting ready for the Cowboys. It is believed that Spagnuolo would be interested in at least exploring the position at a later date.

The Giants are within their rights to deny permission at this point in the playoffs. According to league rules, "A team in the playoffs is under no obligation to grant permission for an assistant coach to interview for a head-coaching position of another team. But if it does , it must grant to all teams that inquire or none. Once its season is over, it cannot deny such permission through March 1. After March 1, it can deny permission [if the coach is under contract for the next season]."

There is also a possibility that Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride could be on the move. He was reported to be a possible replacement for outgoing Hawaii coach June Jones. Gilbride's son, Kevin, graduated from Hawaii in 2003.

Giants quarterbacks coach Chris Palmer also has been mentioned as a possible offensive coordinator in Miami if Cowboys assistant Tony Sparano is hired by Dolphins director of football operations Bill Parcells.

More articles

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/giants/2008/01/spagnuolo-could-also-interview.html



Steve Spagnuolo, in his first year as a defensive coordinator, did a masterful job of turning around the Giants’ defense. In fact, it was good enough to get someone’s attention.

Spagnuolo is now a candidate for the vacant Atlanta Falcons head coaching job. The Falcons asked the Giants for permission to talk with Spags later this week, but the Giants temporarily denied the request – presumably because they want Spagnuolo to focus his attention on the Dallas Cowboys. However, they can’t stop him from interviewing between the end of their season and March 1, according to NFL rules.

And it appears the Falcons are willing to wait.

It’s not clear how strong a candidate Spagnuolo would be. But one thing on his side is that, according to reports, Eagles GM Tom Heckert is the leading candidate to become the next GM in Atlanta. It’s also believed he’s the one that turned Falcons owner Arthur Blank on to Spagnuolo, who was a former Eagles assistant. As you now know, Giants VP of player evaluation Chris Mara, also has interviewed for the Falcons GM job.

That makes two GM candidates down there who could be on Spagnuolo’s side.

Meanwhile, Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride could be a candidate to become the next head coach at the University of Hawaii. Reportedly, in a letter to friends, the former Hawaii coach mentions Gilbride as a possible successor.

This probably won’t happen, but it would not be a good thing for the Giants if they lost both their offensive and defensive coordinators in back-to-back years. Yes, they fired the coordinators last year, but that kind of constant turmoil at the top is never a positive thing.

***

The Giants signed TE Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame) and DB Jeff Shoate (San Diego State) to their practice squad. They cut TE Johnny Harline, DB Chad Johnson and WR Todd Lowber.

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By Scouts Inc
Insider

Wednesday, January 9, 2008




Why To Watch
The Cowboys have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They rested some key players in Week 17 and had last week to watch the first round of the playoffs from the comfort of their living rooms, while the Giants defeated Tampa Bay in the early game on Sunday. This will be the third meeting of the season between these NFC East rivals, with Dallas winning in both Week 1 and Week 10 by a combined 21 points. The Cowboys failed to score a touchdown in two of their last three games, but they should have WRs Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens and C Andre Gurode back for this matchup. Dallas clearly has one of the NFL's most dangerous offenses when healthy. Wade Phillips is 0-3 in the playoffs as a head coach, and though Dallas lost only three games during the regular season, two of those defeats came at home. Meanwhile, the Giants have just one road loss -- at Dallas -- and are very comfortable in someone else's building. These teams know one another extremely well, and with a berth in the NFC Championship Game on the line, won't hold anything back.




When the Giants have the ball
Rushing: The Giants put together long, sustained drives when playing with the lead last week, consistently eating up clock and scoring points. QB Eli Manning had a great deal to do with that success, but so did New York's running game. The Giants won the time of possession battle against Dallas in both of their previous meetings, which again should be a goal in order to keep the Cowboys' offense on the sideline. RB Brandon Jacobs was largely ineffective last week, but RB Ahmad Bradshaw provided a spark. Jacobs is a massive pounder who is very difficult to get on the ground. He likes to run off-tackle and will work downhill toward Dallas' outside linebackers in addition to pounding the middle of the field. Bradshaw is a smaller back, but he runs with great conviction while providing big-play ability in New York's zone rushing attack. The Giants often line up in the I-formation and don't hesitate to run against eight-man fronts. Their excellent run-blocking offensive line is a mobile group that can get to the second level and finish blocks. FB Madison Hedgecock is the run game's unsung hero and a big, mobile lead blocker who can bury linebackers. The Cowboys' underrated front three form the foundation of a solid run defense: NT Jay Ratliff lacks the prototypical body for the position but is tough and technically sound and has been more than capable, while the defensive ends have ideal builds and athleticism for an odd-man front and are continually improving. The outside linebackers are known for their pass-rushing prowess, but both starters are exceptional against the run as well. ILB Bradie James is constantly around the ball, diagnoses plays quickly and is a fundamental tackler. And it's no secret that SS Roy Williams is a better player near the line of scrimmage than he is in deep coverage. He should spend plenty of time in the box this week.



Passing: It might be too early to say that Manning has come into his own, but he played very well in the Giants' opening-round victory and nearly pulled off the upset against New England in the final week of the regular season. Manning has shown great poise, improved accuracy and a dedication to protecting the ball. His improved play has brought balance to New York's offense and given coordinator Kevin Gilbride a deeper bag of options. The Giants will attack the Cowboys on all levels: shallow crossing routes, intermediate outs, passes to the tight end over the middle and deep routes to WR Plaxico Burress, who is playing at a very high level. Adept at catching fade routes and using his tremendous size to go over smaller defenders, Burress clearly is Manning's first option near the end zone. WR Amani Toomer is aging but is Manning's most trusted receiver -- a security blanket and a frequent third-down target. Even without TE Jeremy Shockey (leg), the Giants continue to get production from their tight ends, namely rookie Kevin Boss.

Dallas has an exceptional pair of cornerbacks in Terence Newman and Anthony Henry, though the depth behind them is questionable and CB Jacques Reeves is consistently singled out by opponents in coverage. FS Ken Hamlin is solid in deep patrol, but he isn't at his best when matched up one-on-one with a wideout. New York may respond to those weaknesses with more multiple-receiver sets. OLB DeMarcus Ware is a terrific player who not only is an exceptional pass-rusher (14 sacks), but also has a tremendous knack for creating turnovers. His speed is phenomenal. Ware teams with fellow OLB Greg Ellis to form a disruptive edge-rushing duo that is very difficult to account for.



When the Cowboys have the ball
Rushing: Though RB Julius Jones technically is Dallas' starter, Marion Barber should earn the bulk of the carries and clearly is the superior player. Barber has good size and strength, runs low and with attitude and seeks out contact. Running behind a very big offensive line, he is capable of wearing down a defense. Jones is niftier and probably faster than Barber, providing value as a change of pace. The offensive line is very balanced and has the great size to wear down an opponent. But when the Cowboys need a tough yard on the ground, they usually run behind massive RG Leonard Davis. Dallas likes to use a lot of two tight end sets because TE Anthony Fasano is an excellent run-blocker and an underrated receiver, while TE Jason Witten is a tremendous pass catcher and also an effective in-line blocker. Expect to see plenty of both on the field together this week against the Giants' elite defensive ends. New York's defense, which held Tampa Bay RB Earnest Graham to 63 yards on 18 carries last week, is formidable against the run. If there's a knock on offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, it's that he occasionally abandons the running game too quickly, so keep an eye on that.



Passing: Dallas QB Tony Romo is having a spectacular season and now ranks among the league's best passers. As the quarterback of the NFC's top seed, the pressure on him is significant, but Romo is very difficult to rattle and shows fantastic poise. For a young quarterback with just 26 career starts he has an exceptional understanding of protections and an uncanny comfort level in the pocket. He has a quick release and is extremely accurate, usually hitting his target in stride. He occasionally runs cold, though, and turnovers often ensue, especially when he misreads coverages. Witten finished the regular season with a whopping 96 catches and obviously is a featured receiver in the offense. He is ultra-reliable and clearly has Romo's trust when the Cowboys need to move the chains. But as good as Witten has been, it's WR Terrell Owens who makes the offense go. Owens is a mismatch against nearly any NFL cover man, and by putting him in motion or moving him around the formation, Garrett often allows Owens a clean release. There isn't a player on New York's roster who can keep up with Owens when he is healthy, though he is a game-time decision this week due to a high ankle sprain. He runs every route on the tree and is a scary weapon over the middle. If speedster Terry Glenn (knee) is close to 100 percent, a potent Cowboys passing attack becomes much more dangerous. The Giants sacked Romo only once in each game this season, but there's no doubt they have the league's best pass rush. LDE Michael Strahan, RDE Osi Umenyiora and backup DE Justin Tuck are a frightening group that will give Dallas' edge protectors all they can handle. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is an aggressive playcaller, but if his pass-rushers don't get home, the suspect secondary won't often bail out the Giants. New York plays a lot of Cover 3 behind its blitzes, which will open the middle of the field for Witten. CB Corey Webster was steady and made plays in place of the injured Sam Madison (abdominal) last week, but the Giants will need every capable cover man they can send onto the field this week.



Special Teams

Dallas PK Nick Folk had an outstanding rookie season, but he never has been asked to kick in a game of this magnitude. P Mat McBriar is among the league's top punters, but the Cowboys' punt coverage team has struggled. The kickoff unit has been better but still is a weakness. Neither team has a dynamic return specialist. The Giants' punt coverage has been a glaring problem this season, but veteran P Jeff Feagles at least is a reliable directional punter. The Giants have the overall special teams edge here, but the difference is nearly negligible.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3187785

TUFTONBORO, N.H. -- Edward "Buddy" LeRoux, former part owner of the Boston Red Sox and real estate baron, has died of natural causes. He was 77.

LeRoux died Monday in a New Hampshire hospital, according to the Lord Funeral Home in Wolfeboro.

LeRoux started as a trainer for the Red Sox from 1966-74. He served as the team's vice president from 1978-79, then became an owner as part of a group that included Haywood Sullivan and Jean Yawkey, widow of longtime team owner Tom Yawkey.

He was forced to sell his share of the team after a failed attempt to wrestle control from Sullivan and Yawkey.

The so-called "Le Coup LeRoux" occurred June 6, 1983, on a night to honor former Red Sox player Tony Conigliaro, whose career was derailed after he was hit in the face with a fastball in 1967.

Conigliaro was in a coma after suffering a stroke the previous year when LeRoux announced he had enough support from the team's partners to take control of the team. The announcement turned the Conigliaro celebration into an afterthought.

Red Sox fans were outraged by the timing, and Sullivan and Yawkey later took LeRoux to court, where he lost. Yawkey purchased LeRoux's piece of the Red Sox in 1987.

LeRoux was born in Woburn, Mass., and graduated from Woburn High School in 1950. He served briefly in the Marines before starting a career as a sports trainer with the Barrie Flyers, a minor league hockey affiliate of the Boston Bruins. LeRoux also served as trainer for the Boston Celtics from 1958-66, when the team won eight world championships.

LeRoux invested extensively in real estate in New England and Florida. He said he made his first successful real estate sale at age 9 when he bought a lot in Woburn using $25 he earned working as a farmhand.

"You name it, I've probably owned it," LeRoux once told a reporter. "I've owned garbage trucks, gas stations, restaurants, Dunkin' Donuts franchises ... but it's property I like best."

He also owned the Suffolk Downs horse racing track in Boston from 1986-89.

LeRoux was considered a pioneer after opening New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Woburn, one of the first facilities that focused on treatment of sports-related injuries. He also served on commissions for the disabled and physical fitness.

He is survived by his wife, Adelaide; two daughters, Lisa Tranchita of Tuftonboro and Denise McCall of Weston, Fla.; a son, Scott of Tuftonburo; a brother, Roger of Tuftonboro; and two sisters, Judy McGue of Medfield and Dianne West of Nashua, N.H.

His funeral will be Saturday in Wolfeboro, and he will be buried in Tuftonboro in the spring.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press