Search
24 Hafis Williams So DTDid not see significant action in 2009Hecan playhe's a modern day midfield playerBut that's kind of the long and short of itGARO AND HIS WIFE MARITZA LIVE IN OXFORD PAThis is where the secondary takes a bad turnISTANBUL Jan 7 Reuters Turkish electronics companyAselsan ASELSIt was at half time when Carlo rang the changesHe's 72 years old and he got worked like he was 172 years oldThey had young stars solid role players and a growing fan baseIf that isnrsquot enough take a look at the rest of the EastThai Airways said last month the global crisis and theairport shutdowns would pull 2008 revenue growth below 10percent and the impact would continue to be felt in 2009. On Wednesday, its shares fell nearly 6 percent to 7.20baht, underperforming a 2.15 percent fall in the main index. (Reporting by Manunphattr Dhanananphorn; Writing by KhettiyaJittapong; Editing by Alan Raybould). Nineteen-Ninety Four.It was the year when Nancy Kerrigans legs were taken out by one of Tonya Hardings thugs Bill Clinton was President of the United States Kurt Cobain died O.J. Simpson was in the news. And there was no World Series because of a strike.Certainly, a lot happened in the U.S. 
in 1994, and most Americans can recall each of these culturally significant events.But something else happened in 1994 that was significant to a smaller group of peoplesomething that hasnt happened since.It was the last time Rutgers beat West Virginia on the college football field.Remember that one You might not, and thats okayyoure probably are not familiar with what a fat sandwich is, either.But think about that!Fourteen years!Since then, the Rutgers football program has gone through three coaches, including Greg Schiano, but has failed at defeating the Mountaineers year-after-year-after-year-after-year-after-you-get-the-point.Coach Schiano has gone oh-fer in his eight years coaching the Scarlet Knights, and its no surprise West Virginia is the only Big East team he hasnt taken down.So, to say Rutgers is due for a victory against the Mountaineers is like saying Bill Clinton likes-him-the-ladies.And although West Virginia has had Rutgers number for (virtually) ever, the past few matchups have given each team a run for their money.In 2008, Rutgers left Morgantown with a 24-17 loss after failing to convert a fourth down late in the final quarter.But last years defeat was nothing compared to the historic matchup on the last week of the 2006 season which pitted a 15th-ranked West Virginia versus a 13th-ranked Rutgers.If you are unfamiliar with the result of the game, this picture about sums it up.For those who are familiar, please accept my apologies for reminding you (Im still getting over that one).So, while recent years have carried modest optimism going into this game, West Virginia week always comes with a grain of salt.We Rutgers people like to think of WVU as rivals, but Merriam-Webster may disagree.According to M-W, rival is defined three ways: (1) one striving to obtain something that only one can possess; (2) a companion, associate; and (3) an equal, peer.Okay, lets see how that works.Definition 1: Sure, Rutgers is always striving to possess a win, I suppose, they have just done an awful job in the last decade plus.Definition 2: Ehh, not so much. Im not sure companions would constantly refer to each other as hillbillies or guidos.Definition 3: Heres the big red flag. When you havent beaten a team in this many years, its pretty aggressive to consider them equals.Rutgers has arguably beaten better teams than West Virginia in the past 14 seasons, so why cant Rutgers figure them outAre they simply in Schianos headIt would be foolish to disregard the idea that Schiano is unaware of his coaching record against the Mountaineers, so that could have something to do with his game-planning.Is it some sort of curseDoes the aroma of friedraccoon fur somehow scramble the brainwaves of players and coaches wearing scarlet(I kid, 'Eers fans. We all drink Jager-bombs in place of water and use pounds of hair gel, I know, I know.)Whatever it may be, I have a feeling this could be the year the tables turn in favor of the Scarlet Knights, and here are three reasons why. 1) TurnoversWest Virginia turns the ball over. A lot. They have 22 giveaways this year, and Rutgers leads the nation in turnover margin.Tasty matchup, rightGreg Schiano should be licking his chops. 2) A Let Down GameLast week, the Mountaineers exercised some 2007 demons by defeating the ninth ranked Pitt Panthers at home on a field goal as time expired.Pair the win with the fact that it was Senior Day for the Mountaineers and they are set to face a Rutgers team who hasnt won in a decade and a half, and you end up with a classic let down scenario.Not to mention, it has been rumored that the 'Eers will be invited to the Gator Bowl, regardless of the outcome of the game. 3) The Protection of 'R' TurfThe Mountaineers boast a respectable 8-3 record, but all three of their losses have come away from Morgantown.Rutgers, on the other hand, has played extremely well at home over their last five games.West Virginias worst loss of the season was a 30-19 defeat at South Florida on Oct. 30.Rutgers best win of the season was a 31-0 spanking of South Florida in Piscataway on November 11th.It was also the last time Rutgers played at home.Just saying.In addition, its Senior Day for Rutgers, which means the seniors will be playing their last home game On The Banks.Oh, and there will be over 10,000 more fans packing Rutgers Stadium than the last time WVU came to town.You can bet that Rutgers Stadium will be overflowing with energy given the magnitude of this showdown with West Virginia.And to top it off, a win will likely secure a spot in the Meineke Car Care Bowl against an ACC opponent, possibly against the Miami Hurricanes.Its been a long 14 years, but a win this Saturday will wipe the slate clean and turn a new page for Rutgers Football.Last home game of the season, against a division rival, on Senior Day, at noon on a Saturday, televised on ESPN, and with a chance to go to the best bowl game the program has ever been toSounds like a storybook ending, 14 years in the making.R!!!.
Tommy Kelly has been a center of controversy ever since he signed a seven-year $50.5 million contract prior to the 2008 season. Which has since then been surpassed by Albert Haynesworth's seven-year $100 million deal including $41 million in guaranteed money.Kelly has been the victim of finger pointing and blame as fans and critics often place him at the center of the Raiders' struggles against the run.Is Tommy Kelly just another over-paid walrus in the middle of the Raiders defense, like Warren Sapp and Terdel Sands were Or are we as fans being too hard on himTake a look at the numbers and the answer will be more clear. Last year Kelly ranked sixth in tackles behind the likes of Pat Williams, Kevin Williams, Vince Wilfork, Shaun Rogers and Demato Peko. He also ranked eighth in sacks and deflected two passes.And this year, despite that Tommy Kelly seems to be the main concern of opposing offenses as they constantly throw double teams at him, he is leading all NFL&yearseason2009&sort130&timeframeToDate" target"blank">NFL DTs in tackles this year with 46, though he does only have one sack.So if Tommy Kelly is so good then why do so many people point fingers at him and why is the run defense so badThe reason Kelly receives so much blame against the run game is simply because people don't understand what his job is, or the difference between the two DT positions.Tommy Kelly plays the three technique in this position he lines up on the outside shoulder of the weak-side guard His job is to penetrate and shoot the B-gap His job is to hold his gap and disrupt the backfield.
Kelly is doing an excellent job at what his position asks.Then there is the nose-tackle. They line up either in a zero- or one-technique, either head up or on the strong-side shoulder of the center. This is usually the biggest, strongest player on the defense. They are responsible for clogging the middle, holding the A-gap, and commanding double teams.This is where the true problems lie The Raiders do not have a true nose-tackle. Gerrard Warren, Desmond Bryant, Richard Seymour, and William Joseph have all taken snaps at nose-tackle this season. But they are all better suited to play the three-technique and in an ideal world they would be backing up Tommy Kelly and rotating in at the three-technique.The Raiders don't have a player big enough or strong enough to play the nose tackle position Right now this is the biggest hole on the Raiders defense. And filling it would improve every position on the Raiders defense.In order for the Raiders defense to truly be formidable they need to find Tommy Kelly a partner in crime in a true nose-tackle.
