DC Pro Sports Report

Pothier, Morrison lift Caps

DCPSR — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:03:08 GMT

The Washington Capitals snapped out of a three gaming losing streak with a big 4-1 win over the Florida Panthers tonight in Florida. D Mike Green and D Jeff Schultz left the game in the second period and did not return. Extent of their injuries are unknown at this point.

Bruce Boudreau awarded Line 4 of rookie Mathieu Perreault, Tyler Sloan and Chris Clark for a good performance on Wednesday by keeping them in tact tonight. The line responded with a nice multiple puck pass play that ended with a Tyler Sloan goal to give the Caps a 1-0 lead in the first period. It was Sloan???s second goal in as many nights. Sloan???s goal 2 night ago was his first since 2008 and he re-fired up tonight. The first period ended with a 1-0 Caps lead. Caps and Panthers tied in shots on goal at 12-12.

Brendan Morrison scored half way through the second period to put the Capitals up 2-0. It was Morrison???s 5th goal of the year. Brooks Laich and Brian Pothier assisted the goal. Caps out shot Panther 10-8 in the second period.

Through the first two period, the Caps did not have any penalties, while Panthers had 1. Florida added a penalty in the third period that led to a booming shot from Brian Pothier on a Nicklas Backstrom pass that went right through Florida goalie Tomas Vokoun to put the Caps up 3-1.

Things suddenly turned slightly interesting yet again, as the Capitals committed three penalties near the half way mark of the final period, including a 5 minute major on D Shaone Morrisonn that led to his ejection from the game. The Caps played pretty much the last 9 minutes rotating just 4 defensemen. Nathan Horton scored on a power play goal on a Brendan Morrison penalty to pull the Panthers to within 2, at 3-1. Two minutes later, Morrisonn made an illegal hit along the board that led to a 5 minute major and his immediate ejection. The Caps penalty killers did an absolutely phenomenal job, not allowing a single shot on goal during the entire 5 minute penalty. Brendan Morrisonn scored his 2nd goal of the night to ice the game for the Caps in the Panthers empty net with 50 ticks left. Caps win 4-1.

Jose Theodore had a very nice game tonight, stopping 28 of 29 shots to improve his record to 4-2. Theo made some critical saves to save the Caps defense tonight. He was on his game.

Read it all

http://dcprosportsreport.com/2009/11/06/pothier-morrisonn-lift-caps.html

Pacers annihilate hapless Wizards

DCPSR — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:15:01 GMT

Roy Hibbert and the Pacers crush the Wizards - AP Photo Darron Cummings

The Wizards are a jump-shooting team that isn???t good at shooting jump shots. Also, Antawn Jamison can???t come back soon enough.

The Indiana Pacers, regarded by most as one of the weakest teams in the Eastern Conference, destroyed and humiliated the Washington Wizards tonight in Conseco Fieldhouse, 102-86. The Pacers led virtually the entire game and led by large margins for most of it. The Wizards were awful, shooting 39% from the field, 31% on threes and 58% from the free throw line. The Pacers shot almost as poorly, but they committed only 11 turnovers to Washington???s 19. In fact, the Wizards had more turnovers [19] than assists [16].

Gilbert Arenas seemed to have something better to do tonight, taking only 10 shots and 4 free throws [hitting 50% on both] despite playing more than 35 minutes. His -24 on/off court ratio was the worst in the game. Caron Butler scored 24 points, but shot only 8 of 21 and had a -22 on/off ratio. Butler did grab 12 rebounds. Brendan Haywood scored only 9 points, but was a monster on the boards, pulling down 19 off the rims and he blocked 4 shots. Andray Blatche has totally reverted to his prior [and probably truest] form, scoring 1 point and missing all 5 of his shots. The only production off the bench came from Randy Foye, who scored 16 points on 14 shots.

The Pacers out-scored the Wizards 23 to 6 on the fast break and the Wizards offense never looked natural. The passing and moving just weren???t there and possessions frequently bogged down into isolation plays or guys dribbling into traffic and getting stripped of the ball. After the game, coach Flip Saunders said the players wasted too many possessions trying to create something by themselves ??? and he does not believe they are capable of doing that [apart from Gil.] The evidence suggests Saunders is correct.

Read it all at

http://dcprosportsreport.com/2009/11/06/pacers-annihilate-hapless-wizards.html

Nadamukong Suh takes over the lead, John Wall and Bryce Harp

DCPSR — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:51:53 GMT

The week has ended, some NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB mock drafts have updated, and of course, so have our Mock Draft Databases. Here is your recap on who leads the mock drafts for the 1st and 2nd overall slots. You will see updated at the top left ogf the main page of DCPSR. That will be updated weekly, end of the week. If the projection says "Leading" it means the pick does not have enough projected mocks to be labeled "Consensus" by the Mock Draft Databases. To be a Consensus pick, 60% of mocks have to make the same projection.

NL Mock Draft Database

Last week, it was QB Jimmy Clausen who was projected by the most mocks to be the 1st overall pick. Not this week. We had 20 mock drafts update this week, since Sunday NOV 1. Changes occurred. Here are the new leaders as the top 2 picks:

Projected 1st Pick in the NFL Draft: DT Ndamukung Suh, Defensive Tackle, Nebraska. 9 of the 20 mocks updated this week project Suh to be the top pick overall in the NFL Draft. 3 of those 9 switched the top pick to Suh this week. Suh does not have enough of the mocks to be considered a Consensus choice.

Others with more than 1 mock projecting: QB Jimmy Clausen from Notre Dame with 3 mocks, QB Jake Locker from Washington (5 mocks)

Projected 2nd pick in the NFL Draft: DT Ndamukung Suh - 6 of the 20 mocks project Suh to be the 2nd overall pick. Right behind Suh with 5 mocks is QB Jimmy Clausen. The 2nd overall pick is obviously a bit more scattered.

Others getting more than one mock projection are: S Eric Berry from Tennessee (4 mocks) and QB Sam Bradford from Oklahoma (2 mocks).

For more info on the Top 6 leaders, here is this week's article.

NBA Mock Draft Database

We have a total of 32 mock draft for the 2010 NBA Draft. Of the 32, 5 have updated this week. Since October, 13 mocks have updated. We will base the numbers on those 13 mocks.

Projected 1st pick in the NBA Draft: G John Wall (Kentucky) -12 of the 13 mock project Wall to be the first overall selection. Wall is easily right now the CONSENSUS choice as the 1st overall pick. In fact, of all 32 mocks, only 5 project someone other than Wall.

Read the rest

http://dcprosportsreport.com/2009/11/06/nadamukong-suh-takes-over-the-lead-john-wall-and-bryce-harper-retain.html

RED ALERT: Ovie out this weekend

DCPSR — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:44:09 GMT

Dialogue . . . Caps embark on a Friday/Saturday back to back series against the Florida Panthers tonight. The Caps have lost three in a row, going 0-1-2 against NY Islanders, Columbus, and New Jersey. The opportunity is present for the Caps to snap out of this losing stretch facing off against the 5-7-1 Panthers. The question will be though, can they stay out of the penalty box late in the game and can they put together a full 60 minute effort? This would have been a better bet for the Caps one week ago, but opposite the Caps, they head into Florida tonight against a Florida team that has strung together three consecutive wins.

So, the 3 keys are simple.

One, stay out of the penalty box, especially late in the game. Two, when they do get penalties, the penalty kill unit has to do a much better job. Coming into the New Jersey game, the Caps were ranked in top 10 in the PK, now they are 20th. The Caps have a tendency for some really dumb penalties at the most untimely of times. Third, the Caps have got to funnel energy into the third period. They need to play a full 60 minute game. The Caps can score. Even without Ovechkin. But they need to do it over three periods. It would be nice to see this team be late in the third period winning by more than 1 goal.

Schedule Ahead . . . Caps face off against Florida tonight in Florida then come home on Saturday to face Florida again. The Caps then will get a 3 day rest before facing 3 games in 4 days again, starting at home with the Islanders on Wednesday and Minnesota on Friday, then traveling to New Jersey on Saturday.

Ovie not likely this weekend . . . Alexander Ovechkin opened up a small bit and said that his 'upper body strain', that we are still betting is a shoulder injury, is feeling better, but he will likely not play in either Florida game this weekend. Ovie did skate with the team yesterday and is ready mentally to get back on the ice.

"I miss it -- it is not my thing to sit in the press box and watch the game with you guys," Ovechkin said. "It is a boring time [watching practice]. Especially when [assistant coaches Bob Woods and Dean Evason] take me and [Eric] Fehr after practice to skate -- jesus, I don't like that. I don't mind playing 30 minutes, but I don't like that."

The good news is --- he practiced.

"It's still a little sore," he said. "I feel a little bit better, but there is still a little bit [of] pain. From last night to today, I feel much better.
"I don't want to disturb my injury," he added. "Without my stick, it's better."

As for Ovie and his injury, it can't hurt to summon higher powers, right?

What's a hockey-loving owner to do, but pray? And the good news is that when you're a bazillionaire, you've got some powerful friends.

Ted was at an event at Vice President Joe Biden's house last night and had the leader of the Orthodox Church, Bartholomew I, say a little prayer for Ovie's wounded wing.

Read the rest

http://dcprosportsreport.com/2009/11/06/red-alert-ovie-out-this-weekend.html

Smoke Signals: BS from Zorn & Blache

DCPSR — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:26:26 GMT

As you know, earlier this week the Redskins demoted Antwaan Randle El on punt returns and made CB DeAngelo Hall the man. We approved of this move, though not the timing of it:

I think I speak for many Redskins fans when I ask: Why didn't this happen sooner? Sure, Randle El has only recently begun fumbling, but it has been obvious since before Thanksgiving of LAST YEAR that the offense was in a major funk that it will not might not come out of as long as Dan Snyder, Vinny Cerrato and Jim Zorn are making the decisions on this team for a long time. The offense has needed a boost from the special teams for some time, but nothing was done about it until now. As is often the case with this franchise, the obvious decision is made only after it could make a real difference.

But that was then and this is now. Randle El is back in and Hall is back out.

Coach Jim Zorn today contradicted comments he made the previous two days about the team's punt return situation, saying after practice "nothing has changed" and Antwaan Randle El would remain the team's primary returner. "Antwaan, I guess he got asked a couple of questions, and he came into my office to talk about it," Zorn said. "I said, 'Well, there's really nothing to talk about. Nothing has changed.' That's how I would bill it. There's no difference." ... On his radio show Tuesday, Zorn said he wasn't certain who'd return the first punt Sunday against the Falcons. Asked the same question after practice Wednesday, Zorn said Randle El would return the first punt. Asked to explain his comments about Randle El on his radio show, Zorn said he never made an official statement regarding the situation. "Remember, I was asked that on every single thing I did yesterday," Zorn said. "I did four or five interviews yesterday. That was the No. 1 question. And I guess what I'm doing is saying there's not as much to it as whatever's been reported."

Things being what they are at Redskins Park, we have no idea if Zorn just changed his mind, was talking out of his ass [repeatedly] or if he made a decision and had that decision reversed by Vinny Cerrato or Dan Snyder or Sherman Lewis or Danny Smith or Snagglepuss. Look, it's not like this is a huge deal. The Redskins are bad this year and have been bad for most of the last 10 years for reasons totally unconnected to the identity and production of the team's #1 punt returner. This is just indicative of the fact that the powers-that-be at Redskins Park are confused, contradicting each other and themselves and generally not organized the way a team two months into the regular season ought to be. Greg Blache actually spoke to the media today -- to deny that Dan Snyder is the black-hearted villian John Riggins says he is.

DT Ndamokung Suh leads the Top 6 Picks, 31 mock drafts munch

DCPSR — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:43:36 GMT

Here is our weekly update in words, to what is going on in the 2010 NFL Mock Draft Database, the largest and most updated on the web. We have an impressive 20 mocks already updated in November.

We munched 31 mock drafts to come up with which players are leading the race for the Top 6 picks, but there is far from a consensus in any of the top 6 spots. To be declared a consensus pick by the NFL Mock Draft Database at least 60% of the mocks must project the same player.

Here are the current NFL Mock Draft Database stats.

Total 2010 Mocks: 91

Updated in Vovember: 20

We Updated Today: 19

Total Munched: Mocks updated between 10/26 and 11/5 (total of 31 Mock Drafts)

Here are your Consensus Leaders at the top 6 spots.

1st Pick: DT Ndamokung Suh (NEB) (11 mock drafts or 35%) - This is a change in the top spot. Last update, QB Jimmy Clausen held the overall 1st pick spot.

Runner Up: QB Jimmy Clausen

2nd Pick: DT Ndamukung Suh (NEB) (13 mock drafts or 37%, that is +8% from last update)

Runner Up: S Eric Berry (UT) this is a change. Last week it was QB Jimmy Clausen

Read the entire article at

http://dcprosportsreport.com/2009/11/05/dt-ndamokung-suh-leads-the-top-6-picks-31-mock-drafts-munched.html

DT Ndamokung Suh leads the Top 6 Picks, 31 mock drafts munch

DCPSR — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:42:36 GMT

Here is our weekly update in words, to what is going on in the 2010 NFL Mock Draft Database, the largest and most updated on the web. We have an impressive 20 mocks already updated in November.

Here are the current NFL Mock Draft Database stats.

Total 2010 Mocks: 91

Updated in Vovember: 20

We Updated Today: 19

Total Munched: Mocks updated between 10/26 and 11/5 (total of 31 Mock Drafts)

Here are your Consensus Leaders at the top 6 spots.

1st Pick: DT Ndamokung Suh (NEB) (11 mock drafts or 35%) - This is a change in the top spot. Last update, QB Jimmy Clausen held the overall 1st pick spot.

Runner Up: QB Jimmy Clausen

2nd Pick: DT Ndamukung Suh (NEB) (13 mock drafts or 37%, that is +8% from last update)

Runner Up: S Eric Berry (UT) this is a change. Last week it was QB Jimmy Clausen

Read the entire article at

http://dcprosportsreport.com/2009/11/05/dt-ndamokung-suh-leads-the-top-6-picks-31-mock-drafts-munched.html

Dwyane Wade conquers the Wizards

DCPSR — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:20:12 GMT

Wade couldn't be stopped - AP Nick Wass

The Wizards are reeling after losing back-to-back games to Eastern Conference foes. Last night the Wiz were crushed in Cleveland and tonight they fell 93-89 at home to their division rival Miami Heat. Dwyane Wade was sublime, clearly outplaying everyone on the court on his way to 40 points on 14 of 26 shooting. Gilbert Arenas countered with 32 points of his own, but his horrible lob pass at the basket with less than 15 seconds left to play clanked off the rim and Miami hit free throws to seal their win. Arenas shot poorly for the second straight game, missing 18 of his 27 shots.

Apart from Arenas, only Brendan Haywood [16 points, 11 rebounds] really played well tonight for the Wizards. Caron Butler grabbed 10 rebounds, but scored only 13 points on 13 shots and Andray Blatche missed 8 of his 12 shots and appears to have completely reverted to his prior self. As a team, the Wizards shot under 38% and allowed the Heat to shoot almost 49% from the field. Miami also hit 8 of 14 3-pointers, while the Wiz hit only 5 of 16 on threes. In fact, the game was only close because Washington took 9 more free throws than Miami, though they managed to hit only 4 more.

The Wizards began the game asleep, falling behind by 19 points in the first quarter as their offense couldn't buy a bucket and their defense was nowhere to be found. They fought their way back to a 9-point deficit by halftime and tied the game up after 3 quarters. The team actually took a 3-point lead at one point, but every time it seemed the Wiz were about to take control, Dwyane Wade would exert his mastery and take the game right back from them. Quentin Richardson bombed the Wiz from the outside and added 19 points and Udonis Haslem gave the Heat 13 points and 7 boards off the bench, but it was all about Wade tonight. Without Wade, the Heat are one of the worst teams in the league. With him, they are a playoff team and maybe more.

Read it all at

http://dcprosportsreport.com/2009/11/04/dwyane-wade-conquers-the-wizards.html

Campbell likes the road better, Campbell is a bit ignorant a

DCPSR — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:51:16 GMT

QB Jason Campbell thinks it is a good time to have a road game, it is easier.

DUH!

"The reason you say that is because if there's a bad play or there's a throw-away or something, we know why we had to do it," Campbell said. "But from fans' standpoint, they don't understand. They think that everything's always open or everything always supposed to be done a certain way. You don't have to worry about the negativity. On the road, you can kind of regroup on the sideline and move forward." QB Jason Campbell

Jason, you have never been the subject of the ire of DCPSR. You're still technically not, but the above statement is a bit of ignorance on your part as well, in particular, the bolded part for emphasis.

Problem here Jason is this. It is not that fans expect someone to always be open. It is not that the fans expect thing to always be done a certain way. You Sir, are wrong, very wrong.

What fans expect Jason is basic competence. At least an average offense. Right now, the Redskins offense, that you Captain, is neither competent or basic, it is inept. Let's take a look, shall we ....

Offensive Team Stats:

Yard Per Game: 24th ranked

Points per game: 28th ranked

Offensive plays: 31st ranked

3rd down conversion %: 28th ranked

Time of Possession: 30th ranked

Passing Yards per game: 20th ranked

Passing TDs: 21st ranked

Rushing Yard per game: 27th ranked

Rushing TDs: 27th ranked

Total Touchdowns: 29th ranked

Sacks allowed: 29th ranked

Read the rest here

http://dcprosportsreport.com/2009/11/04/campbell-likes-the-road-better-campbell-is-a-bit-ignorant-as-well.html

RED ALERT: Perhaps Dan Snyder could learn from Ted Leonsis e

DCPSR — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:32:56 GMT

The Washington Capitals are moving on, looking forward to a showdown with the hot New Jersey Devils. They will do so without the greatest player on the planet, Alexander Ovechkin. Ovechkin is listed as week to week and will not play on Wednesday.

Devil fans should not get too confident, not should Caps fans be too concerned. There is more fire power on the Caps roster than just Great 8.

"We're not a one-man show," said Caps defenseman Brian Pothier. "[Ovechkin] brings something to the team that nobody else can bring -- nobody in the league can bring. Obviously, he'll be missed. But every team goes through hard stretches where they have key components of their team out. It's just an opportunity for guys to perform."

And don't worry, Alex will be preoccupied.

"Take some nachos, Coke and enjoy the game," Ovechkin said with a laugh when asked about traveling with the team despite being injured. "Hopefully guys gonna win."

The latest the AP is reporting is that Ovechkin may miss 2 weeks.

Caps owner Ted Leonsis has decided to clear up some of the notions out there about how much he is involved with the Washington Capitals front office.

Lately I have been getting positive feedback from fans and media because I don???t get involved in hockey related decisions regarding the Washington Capitals. I help set vision, strategy, culture and provide the resources. Then I am a cheerleader for the team and the franchise and I also get involved in many business affairs such as sponsor relations and season ticket holder communications.
I believe in the folks that work for us in hockey operations. I trust them. And the results are starting to speak for themselves.

And perhaps this above all, is the lesson Dan Snyder could learn, and learn quickly . . .

I hear from many of our fans that it is a good thing that I am not involved because after all, I am not a ???hockey person.??? Their rationale is that I never played in the league - even though I went to my first hockey game in 1966 and went to my first Capitals game in 1976 and have been a season ticket holder since 1992 and have owned the team for 11 years spending literally thousands of hours per year around the team and the professionals managing the team and the players - I still wouldn???t know what I was doing. I try to attend every home game and I watch every road game on television if I don???t attend it myself. I literally have watched tens of thousands of hours of hockey in my lifetime now. But I am not a ???hockey person??? by definition.
I am also on the Executive Committee now at the NHL. I am on the Board of Governors too having attended almost 50 meetings since we bought the team. I have also become a student of the game talking to as many successful people in the league as I can so I can do what is called ???Best Practices??? for our team.
Yet even with all of this on the job training and exposure to the team and league, I AGREE that I am not a hockey person and would never assume that I would know what to do to build a team as to specifics; salary cap management; execution; systems; lines to play; players to draft and the like. So I agree with you all. Thank you. And thank goodness.