Looking back,was Atkins the right move?

When the Orioles signed Garrett Atkins, I felt it was a solid move that had the potential to be even very good if Atkins regained a bit of it old form during the 2010 season.

I also said it was a very good move for MacPhail to get the $8 million 2011 option in case Atkins did have a very good year similar to his 2006 and 2007 seasons with Colorado. The option gives the O’s the chance to keep him for a 2nd year, and also would enhance his trade value.

Now that the Orioles have signed Miguel Tejada for 3B, I am not as excited about Atkins as I was when I expected him to play 3B and another FA signing to play 1B.

Both Miguel Tejada and Garrett Atkins are stopgap players for Josh Bell at 3B and Brandon Snyder.  Neither of these guys are going to be here for more than a year unless Atkins does bounce back in a fairly big way, which is possible but not extremely likely.

If they are going to be stopgaps, it is up to MacPhail to get the best bang for his buck as possible. The purpose of these 2 signings are to surround the young core with players who give them the best chance to win. MacPhail is putting more emphasis on wins in 2010, and therefore, is signing quality major leaguers to be stopgaps instead of throwing trotting out Wigginton and Aubrey which he may have done in past years when rebuilding, developing the young players, and saving money were the main priorities.

I was fine with Atkins for 3B, and actually liked the move. At worst, he would be similar to the production that the O’s received from 3B in 2009. At best, he would re-claim some of the form that he had in Colorado prior to 2009.

However, at 1B, I think that the O’s had better options. I would have much prefered Nick Johnson, who signed a 1 year deal with the Yankees for $5.5 million. I would have easily given Nick Johnson $6.5 million to play 1B. Yes he has had his fair share of  injuries, but he is a very productive top of the order hitter, a GG caliber defender, and would bring back more in a trade if he was healthy in July and if Snyder was knocking at the door. ‘

I would have prefered Johnson to Tejada, and gone with Johnson and Atkins, after Atkins was signed. However, looking back on the offseason as a whole, I would have still went with Tejada at 3B, but would have prefered Nick Johnson at 1B to Atkins.

Adam Laroche is also another guy that I would have prefered to both Tejada and Atkins, who signed with the Diamondbacks for a one year deal worth similar money.

Now, recently MacPhail has alluded to the fact that they did not expect Tejada to be available so late in the offseason without many suitors. I would say that perhaps that is the reason why he went with the Tejada/Atkins combination, if not for the fact that MacPhail has said that it was the plan all along or Atkins to play 1B.

“We’ve made no secret over the fact that it’s our preference to have Atkins go to first”

MacPhail made that comment before the O’s signed Tejada. Now, perhaps he knew that he would likely sign Tejada, and started to spin the signing. However, I do not think that is the case, as MacPhail has normally been a straight shooter and I do not think he would adjust his philosophy that much. Even Atkins has said that all along he believed he would be playing 1B for the Orioles.

If I would have known that Atkins was going to be our 1B when we signed him, I would not have been as big of fan of the move.

I felt the O’s would get another very solid bat for 1B in addition to Atkins. Tejada is a nice bat, but he is not quite the bat that I had in mind for 1B.

To be clear, moving positions does not change Atkins offensive potential. Obviously, he will put up the same numbers at 1B than he would have at 3B, perhaps even better as the defensive position is not as demanding.

The issue is that an average year for Atkins compared to his career numbers would play much better at 3B than it would at 1B, and would allow for a higher caliber bat at 1B in Nick Johnson, Adam Laroche, or Carlos Delgado if he is able to play the field.

Also, with Atkins at 3B, the option was still there for the Orioles to go with Scott at 1B, Reimold at DH, and Pie in LF against right handed pitching. Of course, it seems, for whatever reason, unlikely that they were going to go that way in any circumstance, so that may be a moot point.

Looking back, I do not like the Atkins move as much as I did when the Orioles signed him. I am still excited about the Tejada signing, but I feel that having Atkins at 1B puts just a bit of a damper on the situation.

Perhaps the real fault was in signing Atkins so early. Now, it is quite possible that the Orioles saw something in Atkins which led them to believe that he would rebound in 2010 and put up All Star numbers again. If that is the case, Atkins will certainly still be a big plus at 1B, especially compared to the production that the Orioles received there in 2010.

However, that does not change the fact that the O’s could have gotten a better bat at 1B than Tejada by keeping Atkins at 3B.

The Orioles certainly improved at the corners going into 2010 and are obviously better prepared to win games, in part due to the additions of Tejada and Atkins.

Having said that, I am a bit puzzled by the signing of Atkins so early in the offseason if they had planned all along to use him at 1B. I do not see how it makes a ton of sense given the options that I have laid out here.

Here are the combinations that I would have preferred, in order. This should give an idea of why I feel that the O’s kind of missed the boat as far as finding the best possible combination at the corners. Again, I understand if they felt that Tejada wouldn’t be available for cheap so late, which gives an explanation why they didn’t plan on a Tejada/Johnson or Tejada/Laroche combination, although they could have kept the option open.  However, having Atkins paired up with a better 1B seemed like the plan all along, and while Tejada is a very good value at 3B in my opinion, some of that value is lost going from Johnson/Laroche to Atkins at 1B.

1. Tejada and Nick Johnson
2. Tejada and Adam Laroche
3. Atkins and Nick Johnson
4. Atkins and Adam Laroche
5. Atkins and Tejada

Obviously, Atkins could have a breakout year and I will be praising the Orioles for seeing something in him so early and doing what they had to do to bring him in, but for now, I have a hard time believing that the Orioles got the maximum out of their options at 1B and 3B for the 2010 season.

MacPhail: Tejada won’t play SS, Thoughts

According to GM Andy MacPhail, Miguel Tejada will not be playing SS for the Orioles this year.

“If he makes the move to third, he makes the move to third. We don’t want to move him back and forth like a yo-yo.”

In my opinion, this is a mistake, and it is a matter of MacPhail closing the door on an option way too early. MacPhail has always done a great job keeping all of his options open in all aspects of his job, yet this is a complete opposite of that past history and philosophy.

Just this week, I wrote that the O’s need to make the most of their roster flexibility. http://charmcitysportstalk.wordpress.com/2010/01/25/os-need-to-take-advantage-of-roster-flexibility/

I laid out a plan that would see Tejada 110 games at 3B, and 42 games at SS.

That would allow the Orioles to see a better offensive lineup in the game, with Pie or Wigginton replacing Izturis in the lineup. Also it would allow Izturis to play 2B a few games a year to spell Roberts, although that is not a huge deal in this scenario.

I just do not understand how you close off this option so early in the process. Why not see how Tejada progresses at 3B? Why not see how Pie hits early in the season in his opportunities. If Pie plays as he did last August and Reimold continues to develop nicely, it is certainly beneficial to the O’s to play Tejada at SS, Atkins at 3B, Reimold/Scott at 1B/DH, with Pie in LF.

Also, Tejada should be a valuable trade chip at the deadline, and playing SS at different points can only help that value.

Tejada had very similar ratings in 2008 compared to Izturis in 2009. Tejada is not some huge liability defensively.

I am not saying that Tejada should play 81 games at SS and split with Izturis. I am saying that the option should not be closed off before the team even gets to Sarasota.

No team, especially the Orioles who compete with the Red Sox and Yankees, should be closing off any reasonable and realistic options in January. Tejada has played SS for his entire major league career. He was the All Star representative at SS the last 2 years in Houston. I can say very confidently that Tejada playing SS is not an unreasonable or unrealistic option. Therefore, keep the door open.

What if Izturis gets PH for in the 7th inning of a tight game? Do you still not move Tejada to SS now that MacPhail has closed the door? If you do, is he being treated like a yo-yo?

What if Izturis gets hurt and is out for 4-6 weeks? Do the O’s call on Blake Davis to come up and be very limited offensively, or do they do the obvious and align the defense as I laid out earlier?

Also, it is not as though Tejada is going to be the Orioles 3B for the next 2-3 years and we need to get him as acclimated as possible as soon as possible. Josh Bell, perhaps by August and by next April at the latest, is going to be their starting 3B. If Tejada is switching between 2 positions for 4-6 months, that is not a big issue. Playing SS is obviously second nature to Tejada; it is not as though he will have a hard time playing SS 1-2 times a week just because he is learning a new position.

Of course, things could always change between now and Spring Training, or over the course of the year. Perhaps Trembley and Tejada talk and Tejada assures him he would be fine playing both positions, although one would assume that would be talked about before the conservative MacPhail announced to the media that he would only play 3B. Knowing Tejada from his time in Baltimore, I have a hard time believing that he would be anything other than extremely open to any option that would keep him in the lineup every single game, and playing SS at times would certainly be an example of that.

Therefore, it seems as though this is coming straight from MacPhail, and I have to say that I am very disappointed in this announcement and train of thought.

This can affect so many players on the roster both directly and indirectly… Pie, Roberts, Scott, Reimold, Izturis.

If Tejada is not going to play SS at all, that means the O’s will have to carry a backup SS, likely Andino. A huge plus in signing Tejada was that he could serve as the backup SS, and therefore the light hitting Andino whos one and only position of value is as a solid defensive SS would not have to occupy a bench spot. By closing this door, Andino will be on the bench instead of a better hitter who can also be an asset as a PH late in the game, such as a Rhyne Hughes, Michael Aubrey, Lou Montanez, or even a Justin Turner.

What is the point of having guys that can be flexible and present more options if the manager and GM are not going to be flexible and use those options?

Within the past week, we have heard MacPhail say that Reimold will be the Orioles LF for the next 10 years, and that Tejada will not play SS. He closed 2 huge options off, especially that of Pie playing LF full-time at some point in the future for the Orioles. Why did he do that?

I have respected MacPhail’s work as GM since he arrived in Baltimore, and have compared him to a poker player. He is tough to read, always considering all of his options, and never folding or bluffing until he has to.

With his recent proclamations, MacPhail is folding when he could have just checked. I have a hard time justifying that.

O’s need to take advantage of roster flexibility

Andy MacPhail has given Manager Dave Trembley the opportunity to be very flexible when making out his lineup card throughout the 2010 season.

Throughout the past years, Trembley has worn down guys like Roberts, Mora, Markakis, and Jones. Much of that was out of necessity. Furthermore, when Trembley did rest starters, it seemed to always be on Sunday afternoons. Often, Trembley had 3 backups playing on Sunday’s.

There is no excuse for any of this to happen this year. Trembley has major leaguers stacked at every position as well as the bench. He has 2 guys in Pie and Wigginton that would have started on most prior Orioles teams who will be on the bench. He has numerous players that can play multiple positions.

Based on Trembley’s history and recent remarks about Reimold, I am pessimistic that Trembley will utilize his roster to its highest potential. For example, will Trembley play Tejada at SS at any point, moving Atkins to 3B, Scott to 1B, Reimold to DH, and Pie to LF? Will Trembley give Jones and Markakis 7-12 days off to keep them fresh? Will he give Roberts a breather, moving Izturis or Wigginton to 2nd for 7-12 games? Roberts has declined in the 2nd half during some years, obviously due to fatigue. That can easily be prevented this year, and the O’s will not suffer on the field when giving guys a rest.

Trembley needs to be flexible, and again, needs to play Felix Pie consistently. If I was Dave Trembley, this is how I would utilize my main offensive roster in the 2010 season.

C: Wieters 120 games, Moeller 42 games
1B: Scott 40 games, Atkins 100 games, Wigginton 22 games
2B: Roberts 150 games, Izturis 6 games, Wigginton 6 games
SS: Izturis 120 games, Tejada 42 games
3B: Tejada 110 games, Atkins 30 games, Wigginton 22 games
RF: Markakis 154 games, Reimold 8 games
CF: Jones 150 games, Pie 12 games
LF: Pie 88 games, Reimold 74 games
DH: Scott 100 games, Reimold 50 games, Wieters 12 games

Total starts:

Matt Wieters: 132
Luke Scott: 140
Brian Roberts: 150
Cesar Izturis: 126
Miguel Tejada: 152
Nick Markakis: 154
Adam Jones: 150
Felix Pie: 100
Nolan Reimold: 132
Ty Wigginton: 50

Thoughts?

Felix Pie is being left out; Why?

Orioles fans have been discussing the return of Miguel Tejada to Baltimore.

As I have mentioned, I like the signing. What the signing, as well as recent comments and indications, tells fans, is that Felix Pie is being looked at as a bench guy and 4th OF’er, and I feel that viewing him that way is a mistake.

Last year, Andy MacPhail, who originally signed Pie into the Chicago Cubs organization, traded Garrett Olson and Henry Williamson for Pie. He made that trade for a reason. Pie is a 5 tool talent who was a very highly rated prospect in the Cubs system.

Things never worked out for Pie in Chicago. Under Lou Piniella, the Cubs were always expected to contend for the NL Central Title. A team in contention is not a very good recipe for a young player to be able to come up to the big league level and learn on the job. The Orioles allowed Nick Markakis to do this in 2006, Adam Jones in 2008, and Nolan Reimold for most of 2009. The Cubs could not afford Pie the opportunity to do this, and rightfully so. When Pie did get sparadic AB’s as a member of the Cubs (he only was afforded 260 AB’s as a major leaguer prior to joining the O’s) he did not produce well enough to stay in the lineup for a contending team. Neither did Nick Markakis in 2006, but again, the Orioles could afford to be patient, while the Cubs could not do the same with Pie.

Upon making the transition to the Orioles, Pie, understandably, had a tough time. Pie was coming to a new league, playing in the best division in baseball. He was in a new organization for the first time since being signed as an internationally by the Cubs at age 17. New hitting coach, manager, teammates, team. Also, he was asked to play LF when he had been a CF, and a very good one, throughout his minor league career.

The Orioles seemed fairly committed to giving Pie AB’s early in the season, but it seemed their patience wore thin, and Pie did not get the leeway that he should have gotten, and that other players on the team received. In a lost year win/loss wise, and in a year during which development, not wins and losses, was the main priority, the Orioles let Pie sit on the bench and garner only 121 AB’s, an average of 30.25 AB’s, throughout the first 4 months of the season.

To be clear, I had no problem with Nolan Reimold getting the call and playing nearly everyday in mid May. I did have a problem with Pie getting AB’s taken away by Lou Montanez and Ryan Freel, and also, there is no reason why Pie could not have gotten into 2-3 games a week against a right handed pitcher, with Reimold going to DH and Huff or Mora going to the bench.

The Orioles were patient with Markakis and Jones, and a guy in Pie who arguably has more natural talent than both of them was being left to spit sunflower seeds on the bench. The whole situation did not make a lot of sense.

In August and September, Pie was able to play more due to injuries to Nolan Reimold and Adam Jones. In those 2 months, Pie had more AB’s than he had in the first 4 months, reaching the plate 131 times. During those 2 months, Pie hit .278 with a .348 obp, 7 HR’s, 19 RBI’s, with a.865 OPS.

Those numbers projected out over a full season AB’s with the stats that he put up when he was playing full time, Pie’s line would look as follows.

28 HR’s, 76 RBI’s, .278, .348, .865.

Of course, I am taking Pie’s 2 best month’s as a major leaguer and projecting them out. Did Pie have 2 lucky months, or was he playing better because he was comfortable with his surroundings, not playing for his job everyday, and gaining regular AB’s? The answer is likely somewhere in between, trending more towards the latter explanation than luck.

In comparison, Adam Jones’ line in 2009…

G

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

SB

CS

BB

SO

HBP

IBB

SH

SF

DP

AVG

OBP

SLG

OPS

119

473

83

131

22

3

19

70

10

4

36

93

7

3

0

3

13

.277

.335

.457

792

Pie is the same age as Adam Jones. Pie’s first 250 AB’s are very, very comparable to Adam Jones’. The difference? The Orioles were patient with Jones, and strangely impatient with Pie.

Even in June when the Orioles were making baserunning blunder after blunder night after night, Pie was the only player called out in the media by Dave Trembley. Why is that?

At Fanfest, Andy MacPhail made the comment that Reimold is his LF for the next 10 years. Pie is unquestionably the better athlete and better defensive Of’er than Reimold. Reimold performed admirably in 2009, and should be a fixture in the O’s lineup going foward.

The reported comments made by Dave Trembley at the MASN contest luncheon, which have gone unconfirmed, support the idea that Trembley looks at Pie as a 4th OF’er on the team.

I am not suggesting that Pie should be handed the LF job. But I see no reason that Trembley should not make it his business to give Pie a very nice amount of playing time.

Pie is actually most likely a better CF than Jones, but we all know that the Orioles would not make that switch, so that is for a whole different discussion.

Before the Tejada signing, I had hoped that the Orioles would play Luke Scott at 1B against RHP’s. This would have allowed them to have the following OF alignment:

VS RHP’s - LF: Pie   CF: Jones  RF: Markakis  DH: Reimold  

VS LPH’s - LF: Reimold  CF: Jones  RF: Markakis  DH: Scott

With the Tejada signing, Atkins is going to play 1B full time. That leaves 2 positions, LF and DH, for Reimold, Pie, and Scott. Obviously, Trembley and MacPhail are penciling in Reimold for the LF position full time. Pie is unlikely to DH over Scott, and quite honestly, his defensive advantage would be wasted in the DH position. So, this leaves Pie as the 4th OF’er on the team.

Again, I am not suggesting that the O’s convert Reimold to a full time DH and anoint Pie the LF for the next 10 years. I am just asking that A) they do not close off their options by actually doing that same anointing with Reimold and B) they treat Pie fairly based on where he has come from.

I see comments from the coaching staff saying that you don’t stick a 1B mitt on Reimold and that it can’t be learned in Spring Training, yet the O’s tried out Luke Scott at 1st last year. Did they do that for the heck of it, or did they think that an athletic major leaguer might actually be able to make the transition to 1B? They don’t want to move Reimold around, but had no problem treating Pie like a defected yo-yo for the first 4 months of last season.

Now, the Tejada signing makes it tougher for Pie to get AB’s, but the reason that I generally like the signing is because it is unlikely that the O’s would have put Scott at 1B much anyway, even before moving Atkins there permanently. However, it does add one more body that will keep Pie from playing, and more importantly, keep him from progressing.

Here we are in a more win/loss oriented season, yet we still have unanswered questions about Pie because of the way he was treated last season.

Pie came on at the end of last season, and his performance was very comparable to that of Adam Jones, who most Orioles fans consider to be a cornerstone in CF for the next decade.

I agree with that assessment of Jones, and I also agree that the 2 players past performance, both in the majors and minors, is very comparable. Therefore, I want to see Pie get significant playing time this season.

MacPhail has been good at getting the highest value out of his investments, and I have praised him for that numerous times. However, he is not getting that value out of Pie if he does not play consistently in a comfortable, relaxed environment.

The O’s missed the boat last year in that regards, and should make it clear to Pie that he will be a large part of an OF rotation this year.

Unfortunately for O’s fans who want the best for the team, and for Pie, it seems as though manager Dave Trembley, and surprisingly, GM Andy MacPhail, do not plan on Pie getting that opportunity.

Felix Pie is being left out; Why?

Orioles sign Miguel Tejada, Thoughts

The Orioles signed Miguel Tejada to a 1 year deal worth $6 million with up to $1 million in incentives.

Miguel Tejada will play 3B for the Orioles, taking over for Melvin Mora who the Orioles did not attempt to re-sign.

Tejada played for the O’s from 2004-2007,  averaging 25 HR’s and 108 RBI’s, with his MVP like 2004 during which he put up a .311, .360,  34, 150 line.

In 2 years with the Astros, Tejada averaged 13 HR’s, 76 RBI’s, a .298 average and 42 doubles.

Obviously, Tejada has experienced a drop in power, but the doubles are still there for him. He stands to be a fairly clear upgrade over Mora both on the field and in the clubhouse. During yesterday’s Fanfest, the players, especially Brian Roberts, who called Tejada one of his 5 favorite teammates, expressed their affection forMiguel Tejada. Tejada is a vibrant, outspoken leader, and even for one year, this team could certainly use one.

Of course, there are some questions and about this signing. Tejada left as a 31 year old after the 2007 season, and will be turning 36 during the 2010 season. Tejada was involved in the steroid scandal, and one cannot help but take for granted that much of Tejada’s power loss is due to his not taking steroids since the Mitchell Report and all of that exposure.

Tejada also did not always give 100% effort as an Oriole. His reluctance to run out ground balls was well publicized in Baltimore during his latter years with the team.

It is obvious that Tejada was tired of the losing that the O’s experienced during each of Tejada’s years with the team. Orioles fans were tired of it as well. The Orioles had no direction and AAAA players or major league retreads made up half of the roster.

Under MacPhail, all of that losing culture is in the past, and I think this signing represents that. The Orioles are not signing the franchise cornerstone Miguel Tejada. They are signing the best possible 3B stopgap in order to help the team win as many games as possible while continuing to develop their young talent. Andy MacPhail said that wins and losses were the focus this year, and this signing represents that. In addition, you will not find one player that fits into that equation like Tejada that also brings the off the field perks that Tejada brings.

Another point that cannot be overlooked about the 3 players that MacPhail has acquired on one year deals in Garrett Atkins, Kevin Millwood, and Miguel Tejada, is that all are likely to be sought after at the deadline if they are having average or slightly above average years, especially the latter 2. A team like the Orioles who have to compete with the Red Sox and Yankees need to take full advantage of all of their resources. Getting 4 months out of Millwood and Tejada, parlaying them into 2-3 solid prospects, and then promoting Josh Bell and Jake Arrieta is a very possible scenario and would represent MacPhail taking full advantage of all of his resources and getting top value out of players both on the field and in trade.

Also, something that cannot be overlooked is that MacPhail actually went after Tejada. It would have been very easy for MacPhail to dismiss the possibility as water under the bridge or as a thing of the past. However, he realized that Tejada was the best option available to fit the need, and he went and got him, regardless of the past circumstances. Now, we have a mostly positive reaction by both the fans and players because of the “risk” that MacPhail took with this signing. I think that I can speak for most Orioles fans as being pleasantly surprised and encouraged by a GM acting as MacPhail did with this move; not that I did not feel that MacPhail would explore all of his options, but it is encouraging to see it acted out in reality.

I feel that the signing of Miguel Tejada is a positive for this team and organization. He will spark this team on the field and off. He will support MacPhail and the organization’s goal to put more of an emphasis on wins and losses in 2010.

O’s fans should be excited about the return of Miguel Tejada to orange and black.

Coaching Blunder of the Day

I am going to start a recurring theme – Coaching blunder of the day.

These posts will highlight a decision that a coach or manager made during the course of a game that I feel makes absolutely no logical sense at all. I welcome comments showing how this decision in fact made sense in some way.

I will give an example of what I will be posting here. A few years back, Louisville played Kentucky in a football rivalry game. Kentucky was down 1 point, 34-33,  and scored a TD with 28 seconds left. Kentucky Head Coach Rich Brooks opted to kick the extra point and not go for 2, against Brian Brohm and Louisville’s high powered offense. Kentucky held on to win 40-34, but to this day, that decision has caused me to always think of that decision when I see Kentucky playing with Brooks on the sideline. I can honestly say that the decision that Brooks made not to go for 2 in that situation caused me to lose most of the respect that I had for a very well respected coach within the ranks. (Here is the game recap that includes the scoring summary – see for yourself http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=272580096)

The first installment of Charm City Sports Talk’s “Coaching Blunder of the Day” involves Norv Turner.

In yesterday’s game vs the New York Jets, Turner was down 17-14 with 1 timeout left. Jets had first down going in around the SD 38 yard line. SD stopped NYJ on 1st down, which brought up 2nd and 9, with 2:07 left in the game.

Now, common coaching logic says you call a timeout there to conserve as much time as possible. The clock would stop at 2:07, and then after 2nd down, the clock would stop at 2:00 or 1:59 due to the 2 minute warning.

The goal here is to conserve as much time as possible for Phillip Rivers and the offense to go down and tie or win the game.

Norv did not call his last timeout, and the clock went down to the 2 minute warning. After the play, Turner called a timeout at 1:55 I believe. The decision cost Turner and the Chargers 4-5 seconds, and it could have been more if the 2nd down play would have lasted a few more seconds.

It is a somewhat minor decision, but one that makes no sense at all. I find it hard to believe that Norv nor any coach on that staff knew that calling a timeout after first down was the right decision.

If SD would have gotten the ball back and drove down within FG or TD range, that 4-5 seconds could have been very, very important…possibly season changing.

Lane Kiffin deserves some slack

I really do not understand all the criticism Lane Kiffin has taken around the college football world in the week following his departure from Tennessee and his arrival at USC.

I expect Volunteer fans to be disappointed. For them, Kiffin as a breath of fresh air, and was bringing in top recruiting talent that rivaled Florida, Alabama, and USC. Kiffin brought a swagger to the program that fans thought was lost under Phil Fulmer.

However, the dissapointment of the fans should not equal hating Kiffin and feeling as though he is some coach that will be leaving different places every 3-4 years.

Lane Kiffin joined the USC staff in 2001, and moved up the ranks as a wide receivers coach and QB coach. Kiffin became offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator in 2005.

On January 23, 2007, Kiffin was offered a job with the Oakland Raiders. Considering the head coach of USC  just jumped to the NFL, I think it is fair for Kiffin to jump to that job when it was offered to him.

After 20 games, Kiffin was fired from the Raiders in 2008.

Before the 2009 season, Kiffin was offered the Tennessee Volunteers head coaching job. Now, this is not just any collegiate job. Tennessee is a historic program in the best and most storied conference in the country. Many people consider UT to be a top 10 coaching job in the country. Kiffin went 7-6 in his first year, including a Peach Bowl appearance against Virginia Tech. Kiffin also turned around recruiting and was bringing in top recruits at an elite level.

I’m sure Lane Kiffin planned on being at Tennessee for a good while. He told his players he wanted to make Tennessee the USC of the East. He wanted to run a pro style system, with his dad Monte Kiffin as the defensive coordinator and Ed Orgeron on the sidelines coaching up the offensive line and bringing in prized recruits left and right. He spent time bringing attention to Tennessee, and he succeeded in that. Tennessee was on the rise.

Then USC comes calling. USC is considered on par with Florida, Alabama, and Texas as far as the top programs in the country. Of course, the advantage that USC presents is the cool, Los Angeles atmosphere. Movie stars are present at very game and the weather is beautiful. When USC is winning consistently, they are at the top of the world.

Lane Kiffin spent the great majority of his coaching years at USC. It was his dream job. Why would he not take it?

The issue here that is driving many of the negative opinions against Kiffin is the fact that UT is so highly respected. For example, no one cared when Urban Meyer left Utah to go to Florida, because Utah was not an elite job.

Many college football fans feel it is OK and logical for Meyer to leave Utah for Florida.

Many football fans also do not feel that it is OK for Kiffin to leave Tennessee for USC. I am saying that it is very clearly logical.

Yes, it’s a top 10 job, Kiffin himself said that. But if USC is #1 and his dream job, isn’ that a logical leap? Kiffin said USC was the only place that he would leave UT for, and I believe him. You cannot pass up an opportunity of a lifetime, even if it is a bit early to leave UT.

These coaches should be allowed to follow their dreams without criticism. If fans want coaches to be shown loyalty, perhaps the athletic department should show it back to them. Look what UT AD Mike Hamilton did to Phil Fulmer after 35 years involved in the program. Look what Auburn did to Tommy Tuberville after 1 5 win season. Look what is happening to Mike Leach after contract disputes last offseason.

If Lane Kiffin went 2-10 in his first 2 seasons, he was going to be out of Knoxville. Why shouldn’t he be allowed to leave on his own terms if he can’t stay on his own terms?

Of course, there is the human element of the players he is leaving behind, of the recruits that he recruited but will never coach. There is also a human element when a coach is fired, or when any employee is fired.

Yes, it is disheartening for Vol players and fans. Yes, it is probably a year too early that causes Tennessee a bit of a mess. No, Derek Dooley is probably not what Vol fans had in mind as their next coach. But yes, it sucked for Phil Fulmer last year, and no, being unemployed is not what he had in mind as his 2009 job title.

Lane left a top 10 job for the #1 job in his eyes. He is at a job where he will likely coach for the next 5-10 years at least. I understand why Lane did it, and college football fans should to.

Harbaugh likely needs an extension

Going into his 3rd year of a 4 year deal, it seems like it is time for John Harbaugh to sign a contract extension with the Ravens.

During his first 2 years, Harbaugh is 23-14, 3-2 in the playoffs. He has led the team to the AFC Championship game, and AFC Divisional Round in his first 2 years as head coach.

Unless the Ravens plan on firing John Harbaugh if he does not have a good season next season, he needs to be signed to an extension this offseason.

Even if the Ravens were to have a tough year next season, it would be a bad idea to fire Harbaugh. The Ravens need continuity. With Flacco, Rice, and the other young players on this team, Harbaugh has been their coach and they have established relationships with him. Successful franchises have continuity at the coaching position. The Ravens had that with Billick, the Eagles had that with Reid, the Steelers with Cowher, the Patriots with Bellichick, the Titans with Fisher, and the Broncos with Shanahan.

It is very rare for a coach to go into the last year of his deal without a contact extension. It happens, like John Fox potentially next season, but it is not very common at all.

John Harbaugh has been too successful to tell him that next year will make or break his future here. He has established himself thus far as a successful, winning coach both in the regular season and playoffs. It’s time to reward him, and I have little doubt that Steve Bisciotti and the Ravens will do that.

I am not a huge Harbaugh fan, but I feel he is a solid coach who has won much more than he has lost here. As a young coach, he has time to work on his weaknesses. Certainly, I would extend him and not take the chance of getting a worse coach while at the same time destroying the continuity that successfully franchises value so much.

Bisciotti took a risk firing Billick, and whether you liked the move, didn’t like the move, liked Billick or didn’t like Billick, no one can say that the move has backfired. Harbaugh is a solid coach, and he has passed phase 1.

John Harbaugh should be congratulated and extended as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.

Colts defeat Ravens 20-3, Thoughts on game, season, moving forward

Due to a last minute Indy trip, I was not able to post many thoughts leading up to the Ravens/Colts game.

I thought the Ravens had a chance if they played their style of football, but I did not see the Ravens getting up 2 scores at any point in the game. Because of that, you have to give to edge to Peyton Manning and the Colts if they were to have the ball in their hands in the 4th quarter with a chance to win the game.

The Ravens defense played admirably early in the game, but when the Ravens failed to really advance the ball on their 2nd and 3rd series, I knew things were not going well, even with the score tied 3-3. The Ravens knew they were going to need to score a fair amount of points to win this game. As good as the Ravens defense is, it is hard to keep the Colts from scoring 20-24 points in the least. Their offense needed to come up with a gameplan to move the football. Aside from the first drive, they did not really do that. I did not see the sense of urgency, nor the creativity that was needed in this game.

The Ravens gave up less than 300 yards to the Colts, and 20 points. It is just a huge missed opportunity to play that well against the Colts in Indy on defense, and to not even be in the game.

Many people will blame Flacco for his performance, but what the struggles on offense keep coming back to is the lack of a #1 WR. Our receivers just get no separation. When the Ravens are in a situation where they are forced to throw as they were after halftime in this game, teams do not respect their vertical game. Actually, they do not respect their vertical game at all and they stack the box early to stop the Ravens main weapon, their running game.

 I do not understand why Mark Clayton keeps starting for the Ravens, and I would like to ask the coaches what they feel he brings to the team over Kelley Washington or Demetrius Williams.

In this game, Cam needed to take a shot early. There is no excuse for not taking a deep shot to Demetrius Williams and at the very least, putting it in the minds of the Colts defense that the Ravens are capable of the deep shot. Of course, that is hard when Williams, the Ravens most explosive WR, is on the bench.

 A #1 WR will totally open up this offense. This team is too talented overall, and Flacco is too big a part of the Ravens future, to not go out and get a top target for this offense. The Ravens cannot go into Flacco’s 38th start next season without having given him a better target than Derrick Mason to throw to throughout his career.

 It may seem simple or naïve to think that a #1 WR will totally open up this offense, but I really believe that to be true, in addition to perhaps a drafted WR. Having a Brandon Marshall or Vincent Jackson on this team will cause defenses to respect our vertical passing game potential. Therefore, less players will be stacked in the box on defense to stop the Ravens running game, and Flacco will not see as many blitzes as he has this year.

All in all, expectations were high for this season, but ultimately, fans cannot be too disappointed. The Ravens ran into some tough luck numerous times, saw some questionable officiating, tough injuries, and played one of the toughest schedules, particularly on the road, that I have ever seen. In 2005 and 2007 the Ravens ran into similar luck, and went 6-10 and 5-11 respectively. This season, the Ravens won a playoff game against the New England Patriots in Foxboro, and made it to the divisional playoffs.

The Ravens have played 5 playoff games the last 2 seasons under John Harbaugh, second to only the Arizona Cardinals.

Ravens fans have reason to be proud. When firing Brian Billick, Steve Bisciotti mentioned that he wanted to avoid the valleys that Brian Billick’s teams saw. Under Harbaugh, the Ravens have 2 playoff appearances, and have advanced, in 2 years. When you consistently get into the tournament, only good things can happen.

I will have much more to come regarding the Ravens offseason. During the last 2 years, the Ravens have made a lot of progress. They found their franchise QB last year, and their franchise RB this year. With that development, and as veterans such as Ed Reed and Derrick Mason hopefully give it another go, the Ravens are in a good position to take the next step with some key off-season moves.

Was this year a peak? Was it a valley? It is tough to call the a divisional playoff round appearance a valley, but in the eyes of Steve Bisciotti, I feel that he wants the 9-7 to be a valley, with the playoff appearance an unexpected bonus. Members of the organization have mentioned the New England Patriots as a model. Last year at 11-5 they did not make the playoffs, so that can be considered a valley, but they were still a relevant team and were playing meaningful games in weeks 16 and 17. That is what Steve Bisciotti wanted when he fired Brian Billick, and so far, he has to be happy with his decision and its results.

The Ravens end the year at 10-8, losing in the second round of the playoffs.

Under John Harbaugh and Joe Flacco, the Ravens are 23-14 including 3-2 in the playoffs. Ravens fans have a lot to look forward to. Much of this team is staying together, including the 2 most important skill positions. The coaching staff should be staying together.

Things are looking up for the Ravens, and the future is bright.

The Boise State/BCS Dilema

If a team plays in a bad conference and does nothing to try to improve their competition in their out of conference schedule, then they should not really be respected nationally along with the known powerhouses.

However, if a team cannot get out of their conference, yet tries to schedule as many tough out of conference games as possible, they need to be noticed and respected. Boise State does this, and they are beginning to earn respect that they should have received for some time now. Their situation is just another sign that the college football playoff situation needs to be dramatically altered.

Boise State sent an open letter to every Division 1A, BCS football program. In this letter, Boise State offered to play one game in 2011 at that team’s stadium, with no return needed the next season. Boise State has received 0 responses to that letter.

Why would they? What does a team have to gain from playing Boise State? If Florida can play Charleston Southern every week in the non-conference schedule, go undefeated or have 1 loss in SEC play, and make the National Championship, why would they want to play Boise, even in Gainesville?

It is just a cycle that represents a no win situation.

This year when Boise and TCU, 2 mid majors, did earn a BCS berth, they played each other. What does that prove? 1 of those teams should have played Florida, and the other Cincinnati.

If Boise cannot switch conferences, cannot schedule quality opponents, and keep winning all of their games, why should they not have the CHANCE to play for a National Championship? 

I am partial to the power schools and conferences. I am a Maryland Terps basketball fan, and I cannot stand to see teams like Air Force get in over MD when Air Force’s best win would be a bad loss for Maryland.

That is not the case here though. If you are going to ask Boise to play tougher competition, then lets find a situation where teams actually benefit from playing Boise.

Also, in recent weeks, the talk has been that next year, it will be tough to keep Boise out, after they have proven the past few years that they can compete nationally, and they will start the year ranked higher, perhaps #3. How nice…they will start the year ranked higher by the Associated Press; therefore, they have a better chance at a National Championship.

Is this a sport or a fashion show?

The BCS is just very bad. Examples like these come up much too often. Something needs to be done about it before college football begins to lose any credibility that it has left.