Former Skyforce Player Making NBA Impact

October 30, 2009

Forward Stephen Graham, a former Sioux Falls Skyforce player, is already playing a significant role on an NBA team. In the season opener for the Indiana Pacers, Graham played 29 minutes, recording 5 points and 4 rebounds off the bench in a loss to the Boston Celtics.

In the 2006-07 season, Graham played 32 games with the Skyforce and was 12th in the league in scoring (18.0 ppg) - tallying double-digit points in 31 of those 32 games. During that stretch, he recorded a career high 43 points on March 31st, 2007.

Coming out of Oklahoma State University, Graham built his reputation on racking up points in bunches. Now he finds himself with a shot at making an NBA career out of his scoring prowess.

Miami Connection

Ironically, the Pacers face off against the Miami Heat tonight in their second game of the season. And of course the Sioux Falls Skyforce are the D-League affiliate of the Heat. That means Miami will get a first-hand look at the player that developed in their very own backyard.

Not literally their backyard though, Sioux Falls, North Dakota is not a hop, skip and a jump away from Miami, Florida.

More NBA Impact from Former Skyforce Players

• Amir Johnson is getting minutes off the bench with the Toronto Raptors early in the season. He played for 6 minutes on October 28th a the victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

• Alexis Ajinca made the Charlotte Bobcats roster once again and is also playing a role off the bench. Ajinca played 9 minutes in Charlotte's season-opener as they lost to the Boston Celtics .
  

Amir Johnson (left) and Alexis Ajinca (right)

The Best of NFL Week 8

October 31, 2009

Denver Broncos (6-0) @ Baltimore Ravens (3-3)

It is unknown what is more surprising this season: Denver's success on defense or Baltimore's poor defensive efforts. The Broncos are ranked first in the league in points allowed, only giving up about 11 points each week. On the other hand, the Ravens are ranked 21st in points allowed, relinquishing 21 points to opponents. Despite those facts, the Ravens have a legitimate shot at handing Denver their first loss of the season.

QB Joe Flacco has a 93.8 QB rating for the season, couple with a 64.4 completion percentage. It's the Ravens offense behind Flacco's arm that has made up for their defensive woes. And with LB Ray Lewis and DB Ed Reed still on the roster, it cannot be predicted when the Ravens break out on defense.

The Broncos have had a hidden gem of their own in QB Kyle Orton. Orton has recorded a 100.1 QB rating thus far along with a 63.9 completion percentage. That tops Flacco's stats as well as his record. There is no telling what this underrated QB out of Purdue can do for the Broncos. Not to mention, Denver has a fervent defensive leader of their own in Brian Dawkins.

This will be an exciting match-up for fans of good defense and solid QBs.

Prediction: Ravens 24 - Broncos 23


Minnesota Vikings (6-1) @ Green Bay Packers (4-2)

The match-up that was hyped by the media and the drama behind the Brett Favre saga has now reached D-Day. Packers fans will see their former QB wearing the colors of their enemy and be forced to either cheer in appreciation or boo in disappointment. The stadium ambiance will be one that will go down in NFL history - mixed with tension, excitement and a top-notch football rivalry.

QB Brett Favre has performed will throughout most of 2009, recording 12 TDs and only 3 INTs. The combination of Favre's throwing ability and RB Adrian Peterson's running prowess have made Minnesota a team to reckon with. And that's not even counting their decent defense, led by DE Jaren Allen and CB Antonie Winfield.

The Packers have not lived up to their expectations early in the season, but have time to recuperate, especially with a win on Sunday against the Vikings. QB Aaron Rodgers has put up similar numbers to Favre, with 11 TDs and 2 INTs this season. Rodgers will need to show poise and leadership under the immense pressure of proving that he deserved to be Favre's heir. Fortunately, he can expect some help on defense as Green Bay ranks 3rd overall in the NFL - Minnesota ranks 17th overall.

Prediction: Packers 27 - Vikings 17


New York Giants (5-2) @ Philadelphia Eagles (4-2)

If a rivalry between New York and Philadelphia could not get any stronger, it just did. The World Series is underway as the Yankees and Phillies move to Philadelphia, but the focus on Sunday will include the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.

The Giants have lost two games in a row after starting the season 5-0, but have a chance to rebound against a struggling Eagles team. If New York reverts to their downhill running, smashmouth defense game plan then they will have a shot at dominating on Sunday. Wide receivers Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Domenik Hixon and Hakeem Nicks make-up a young core or receivers that can perform on any given week. If they minimize mistakes, such as dropping passes, they can create problems for the Eagles' secondary.

Then again, the Eagles are ranked 9th in pass yards allowed. Defense will be on display on both sides and will determine the winner on Sunday. Philadelphia must rely on a low scoring game as QB Donovan McNabb and RB Brian Westbrook are both partially injured. Look out for RB LeSean McCoy to take up the running back responsibilities and showcase his skills - if he fares well he could open up passing lanes for the Eagles.

Prediction: Giants 21 - Eagles 17

Honorable Mention:

• Miami Dolphins (2-4) @ New York Jets (4-3): This heated AFC East rivalry will build off of the exciting Monday Night Football match-up two weeks ago as the Jets seek revenge and Miami seeks a season sweep of New York. The week 5 match-up between these two was turnover free, but don't expect the same come Sunday. Fumbles and interceptions are bound to occur at the Meadowlands. Prediction: Dolphins 24 - Jets 21
  

• Atlanta Falcons (4-2) @ New Orleans Saints (6-0): The Saints are favored to win this game, but never count out an equally dangerous offense in the Atlanta Falcons. QB Matt Ryan has TE Tony Gonzalez, WR Roddy White and RB Michael Turner at his disposal. Do not be surprised if Atlanta becomes a worthy adversary for New Orleans and goes toe-to-toe on offense. It is the Saints defense that will decide this game, in particular DB Darren Sharper, as he looks to continue his success in '09. Prediction: Saints 38 - Falcons 28
  

10/30 Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers Preview

October 30, 2009

vs.

Where: Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
When: 8:00 PM EST
Television: Sun Sports

Starting Lineups

Miami Heat
PG - Mario Chalmers
SG - Dwyane Wade
SF - Quentin Richardson
PF - Michael Beasley
C - Jermaine O'Neal

Indiana Pacers
PG - T.J. Ford
SG - Brandon Rush
SF - Danny Granger
PF - Troy Murphy
C - Roy Hibbert

The Miami Heat started off on the right foot this season by breaking a 3-game season-opener losing streak. Now they hit the road in an attempt to snap an eight year, 15-game losing streak at Conseco Fieldhouse against the Indiana Pacers; A place where the Heat have tasted victory at since December 31, 2001.

However, the match-ups are in favor of Miami. Miami's center, Jermaine O'Neal, will be up against a sophomore big man in Roy Hibbert, who has not lived up to his expectations since coming out of Georgetown. In addition, Pacers forward, Mike Dunleavy, will not suit up for the game due to an injury that will keep him off the court for about a month. Dunleavy has had great success against Miami in recent years.

The only concern for Miami may come from Danny Granger as he's coming off a 25.8 point-per-game 2008 season. Then again, the Heat have a lethal weapon of their own in Dwyane Wade.

It will be interesting to see O'Neal return to his former team and go toe-to-toe with the organization that built him up. Perhaps another 20+ point showing will be in the works for the Heat 7-footer.

Team Effort Drives Heat to Victory

October 29, 2009

Dwyane Wade may have scored 26 points and led all players in scoring, but this was no one-man show at American Airlines Arena on Wednesday night. The Miami Heat steamrolled past the New York Knicks by the score of 115-93, having five players with double-digit scoring numbers - three of which scored over 20 (M. Beasley, J. O'Neal and D. Wade).

Miami looked energized on the court, playing aggressive defense and disrupting any fluidity in the Knicks offense. Even Heat newcomers Quentin Richardson and Carlos Arroyo stood in for a few charges to force turnovers. It was evident that Erik Spoelstra's defensive mindset was settling into the minds of the entire team.


A Healthy Jermaine O'Neal

Miami's center looked reinvigorated from last season's injury burdened performances. Putting up 22 points and 12 rebounds gave O'Neal a double-double to start off the season. His turnaround jumper in the post was working effectively and provided Miami with an inside presence throughout.

The big man also had four assists in the night, adding to Miami's team total of 21. It was the J.O. of the past, reminiscent of the days in an Indiana Pacers uniform, that ran the floor Wednesday night and gave hope to Heat fans about the potential impact he may have this season. The true challenge lies in the remaining 81 games of the season and whether or not O'Neal can survive at least 70 of those.

Haslem Off the Bench

With 5:42 left in the first quarter, Udonis Haslem came off the bench to open the season for the first time since he backed up Lamar Odom in 2003. It was an experience so foreign to Haslem that he forgot to remove his warm up shirt before stepping onto the court. Fortunately, a fellow teammate tapped him on the chest and gave him a quick reminder.

Beyond that slip up, Haslem enjoyed 30+ minutes on the court and recorded 8 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists, including a Hail Mary pass to Dwyane Wade for the jam. Haslem is still a team captain and will be an intricate part on this Heat team, the only difference is that his role and minutes will vary. The point is that he will still be an effective player on the roster.

Wade Enjoys Supporting Cast

After the game, Wade was interviewed by Jason Jackson of SUN Sports on the team's victory over the Knicks. His reaction towards not having to score in excess of 30 points to win a game was a resounding "It feels real good."

It had been Wade's MVP-esque season in 2008 that kept Miami competitive last year. To start off this season, it seems that he may not have to carry the load on offense day-in and day-out for the Heat to have success.

The sophomore forward, Beasley, enjoyed more minutes on the court and switched between SF and PF throughout the course of the game. With more minutes came more production, locking in 21 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and one blocked shot. Beasley could become Miami's second scoring option this season, followed by O'Neal, in what will help Wade stay healthy an exert less energy on the offensive end.

Other Notables

• Quentin Richardson only tallied 5 points and 2 rebounds in the night, but is quickly finding into Miami's system; Richardson dropped from 250 lbs to 228 lbs and lowered his body fat to 6.5 % during the offseason.

• Daequan Cook provided a spark off the bench with 15 points in 20 minutes of play; Pat Riley stated that his dribbling skills have improved and show translate into more open shots - fans saw a glimpse of that on Wednesday.
  

Knicks, Heat Share a Common Thread

October 28, 2009

While it may not seem evident, the New York Knicks and Miami Heat have a significant trait in common. It's not their players - both have clearly different talents. It's not Isiah Thomas - he's in Miami, but works for Florida International University. It's not even the rivalry that extends back to the days of Alonzo Mourning and Patrick Ewing - that has diminished.

It's their search for an answer in the 2010 offseason.

Whether it's New York rumoring that they will target LeBron James at this season's end or Miami speculating that Chris Bosh could be a part of their future, the fact is that both clubs are poised to make moves this coming offseason with so many contracts off the books.

The Heat only have F James Jones, F Michael Beasley and G Daequan Cook on contract beyond this season, with G Dwyane Wade and C Joel Anthony holding player options and G Mario Chalmers holding a team option. That totals up to approximately $30 million in contracts under a $69.92 million NBA salary cap - that is if you count the player/team options, which could very well be dropped.

In essence, Miami has more than two-thirds of their budget available to sign free agents and make trades. It's already expected that a portion of that will be allocated for a 6-year, $120 million contract offer for Wade.

As for the Knicks, they have a maximum of $27 million in contracts beyond this season. C Eddy Curry takes the brunt of the salary pie for 2010-11, with a player option for approximately $11 million. Whether or not he will take that option is unknown, but regardless of his decision New York will have plenty of cash to throw around at marquee players in the league.

That frees up New York to potentially offer two maximum contracts to players of their choosing and still have room for a slew of role players. Knicks GM Donnie Walsh will need to rid his franchise of its history of bad acquisitions in order to restore New York's reputation.

So while the 2009-10 season is just starting, the sights of the New York Knicks and Miami Heat front office personnel are focused on a very enticing upcoming offseason; one which may bring both franchises up to elite status or plague their organization for seasons to come.

The money is there, but it must be spent wisely in order for either club to succeed.

10/28 New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat Preview

Where: American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
When: 7:30PM EST
Televison: Sun Sports

Starters

New York Knicks
PG - Chris Duhon
SG - Wilson Chandler
SF - Jared Jeffries
PF - Al Harrington
C - David Lee

Miami Heat
PG - Mario Chalmers
SG - Dwyane Wade
SF - Quentin Richardson
PF - Michael Beasley
C - Jermaine O'Neal

The Miami Heat were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Atlanta Hawks last season. Dwayne Wade did everything he could to carry the team on his back, leading the NBA in scoring with 30.2 points a game in the process. This season he must accept that challenge once again.

Wade refused to sign a contract extansion with the team that drafted him in 2003 over the summer. With the star guard being eligible for free agency at the end of the season, the Miami Heat did the bare minimum to keep him happy.

Miami added SG Quentin Richardson in a trade that sent Mark Blount to the Minnesota Timberwolves and signed PG Carlos Arroyo, who was playing over seas.

The Heat have lost three season openers in a row, including last year's loss to the Knicks in New York. The home team has won the last four meetings between these two clubs.

New York has not had a winning season since 2000-2001. With Isiah Thomas out as President, New York will try to return to their winnings ways. They were able to re-sign Slam Dunk Champion PG Nate Robinson and PF/C David Lee at the the end of September - perhaps the best personnel moves they have made in a long time.

The Heat-Knicks rivalry spans back to the 90's, when both franchises were competing for a title every season. Although both teams have not faced off in significant match-ups as of late, the rivalry always seems to re-ignite whenever its game time. Expect a surprisingly exciting duel.

Haslem Off The Bench Is The Right Move

On Tuesday, Coach Eric Spolstra made a change to his starting line-up. For the first time since his rookie year, Udonis Haslem will serve as a 6th man. He will join SG Daequan Cook,PG Carlos Arroyo and SF Dorell Wright off the bench. Off-season acquisition Quinten Richardson will start a Small Foward along side Beasley, Wade, Chalmers and Jermain O'Neil.

The Heat open the season at home on Wednesday versus the New York Knicks.

Haslem,who is entering the last year of his contract, vowed to spend his off-seasons working on his offense but has only managed to average 10 points per game for his career. He has never materialized into the second or third scoring option that the Heat needed. His forte has always been defense and rebounding. There was a fire in his eyes when he came off the bench his rookie year. He dominated the boards and hit clutch 15 foot jumpers.The Heat lacked a spark off the bench last year. They constantly moved around the starting line-up but never made the switch that made sense.

The Heat are now looking foward to the future at Power Foward with Michael Beasley. Despite his off court problems, Beasley has what it takes to take the Heat to the next level. He was the second leading scorer behind Dwayne Wade with 13.9 points a game last year coming off the bench. The Heat will know be smaller and faster. Richardson will now bring perimeter help on defense to take some load of Dwayne Wade.

No one has more heart on this team then Haslem. He has always done everything that was asked of him. He wasn't pleased when he spoke with the media on Tuesday but said he will do whatever is asked of him. "I've been the ultimate team player and I made the ultimate sacrifice throughout my career. This is just another situation where I've been asked to do it again."

Saints vs Dolphins Post-Game Interviews

It was unforeseeable. The outcome of the game may have been expected with odds favoring New Orleans, but not they way it all played out. Miami jumped to a surprising lead early in the game, making everyone watching believe that dethroning the Saints was possible. And it was, but in the end possibility did not turn into reality.

A tale of two halves is the best way to describe Sunday afternoon's game at Land Shark Stadium. From Miami dominating in the first half to the Saints taking over after halftime, it was as if two completely different games took place in Miami, Florida. Leading 24-3 just moments before the half did not prove enough to psyche out the undefeated Saints and the tables turned in quick and drastic fashion - to the point that one could believe both teams switched jerseys at the half.

Here is some exclusive locker room footage after the game (just select the second option from the playlist):

And Then There Were Two - Best Week 7 Matchups

Astoundingly there are four remaining undefeated teams going into week seven of the 2009 NFL season. At the end of the week it could very well drop to two. Lets look at the match-ups.

1. Minnesota Vikings (6-0) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)

The Vikings narrowly escaped their first loss of the season last week against Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers started the season off slow, but have now won three consecutive and are quickly regaining steam. Minnesota has struggled against tough teams this year. They beat the 49ers on a last second heave by Brett Farve and the Ravens missed a 44 yard field goal with two seconds left that would of sank the Vikings. Three of their wins came against teams with a combined record of 2-16(Cleveland, St. Louis and Detroit).

Safety Troy Polamalu shook off the rust last week as he returned from a knee injury that he suffered in week one. Wide receiver Percy Harvin is questionable with a shoulder injury and Cornerback Antoine Winfield is doubtful with a right foot injury.

This is a dangerous game for the undefeated Vikings as the defending Super Bowl champions return to elite form.

Prediction: Minnesota 18 - Pittsburgh 24


2.New Orleans Saints (5-0) @ Miami Dolphins (2-3)

Here's a potential pitfall game for the Saints as the Dolphins are seemingly better than their record suggests. The Dolphins have dominated the running game both offensively and defensively, while the Saints have molded their reputation through the air along with surprising success on defense.

The key to this game will be New Orleans' passing game against Miami's secondary - the winner of that match-up will likely determine the outcome. The Dolphins young secondary could take blame for the home opener loss to the Colts. With 5 games under their belt, they have had time to get accustomed to the speed of the game. Watch the match-up between TE Jeremy Shockey and Miami's Linebackers. Tony Gonzalez, Dallas Clark and Antonio Gates gained a total of 317 yards and scored two touchdowns against Miami. Another important element is how well the Dolphins run the ball, including the Wildcat, compared to how effective the Saints stop the rush.

Prediction: New Orleans 27 - Miami 35


3.Arizona Cardinals (3-2) @ New York Giants (5-1)

The Giants were embarrassed by the Saints last week, resulting in their first loss of the season. The Saints were the first real good team the Giants faced this season. They were beneficiaries of a weak schedule and the Saints exploited that. Now that the Giants were kicked back to earth, they are out to recapture their winning ways as the defending NFC champions stroll into the Giants Stadium.

Although they have struggled, the Cardinals are still a threat to the G-Men with the weapons available on offense; let's not forget the Giants defense allowed seven yards shy of 500 yards last week. It's no secret that Arizona is a pass first, pass often team. An aspect that the Giants defense could concentrate on. A one dimensional will not be enough for the Cardinals to get a win on Sunday. Expect Kurt Warner to have at least two turnovers.

Prediction: Arizona 21 - New York 38

Miami's Early Success Not Enough

Despite Miami's incredible start, they are ranked 10th in the first BCS rankings of the year.

The Hurricanes might have had the hardest start to a schedule in NCAA history having to face four ranked opponents. Certainly, no one expected them to come out of the first four games with a winning record. Their only loss came at the hands of the Viginia Tech Hokies; a loss that could cost them a chance at the ACC title.

The Canes find themselves in a three-way tie with Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech after the Yellow Jackets defeated the Hokies on Saturday. If all three teams go undefeated the rest of the way, the ACC Champion will be decided by a random drawing from a hat. The ACC has eight tiebreakers with the last one being by draw; an outcome that no one wants to see.

It will take a bit of luck in order for Miami to avoid leaving their fate to a lottery shot at the ACC title. After all, there's nothing better than settling the score on the gridiron.

Florida Panthers vs. Buffalo Sabers Preview - Oct. 21, 2009

(4-1-1)

Versus

(2-4-0)


Location: Bank Atlantic Center
Time: 7:30pm EST
Television: FSN -Florida
Radio: 790 The Ticket


The Buffalo Sabers are coming to Bank Atlantic Center where they are 4-1 in the last 5 meetings against the Florida Panthers. It will be the first meeting between the two teams this season. The Panthers are coming off a big win against the Philadelphia Flyers and are looking to start their first winning streak of the season. At the same time, the Sabers are coming off their first loss of the season.

Left Wingers Clarke MacArthur and Matt Ellis are probable for the Sabers in tonight's game. Both are suffering from the flu. MacArthur is leading the team in points. He has been filling in nicely for injured star Thomas Vanek, who is out with an upper body injury.

Center Nick Tarnasky has begun skating and should be returning to the Panthers soon. He has been out with a broken orbital bone since the preseason.

Where's the Pressure?

Let's face it. Trent Edwards and the Buffalo Bills were not the best example to define Miami's defensive skill. The Dolphins have a total of 12 sacks in five games, but six of them came against an ailing Bills offensive line.

With the presence of Joey Porter and Jason Taylor, along with the emergence of Cameron Wake, Miami's defensive front line is geared for dominance in pass rush.

At least on paper they are.

Besides the secondary having troubles of their own, the reason why opposing QBs have averaged 225 yards through the air is due to Miami's lack of pressure on those QBs.

Historically, the Dolphins have been able to contend with elite teams, such as the New England Patriots, by pushing the envelope against their QBs. Ask Tom Brady himself, he hates playing against Miami, no matter what their record is.

But to put things in perspective, sacks don't have to be the indicator of successful application of pressure. Just take a look at the Jets.

Rex Ryan's revamped defense has only accounted for five sacks all season, but have been highly regarded by opposing coaches and football analysts. Hurried passes and knock downs are factors that are not accounted for in the stat book, but are as valuable, if not more, than sacks.

Either way, the reality is that Miami's defense has not lived up to it's expectations, outside of it's success against the run (ranked 3rd overall).

When you have struggling safeties and young corners, something must be done to help the cause. The solution lies in creative blitz packages and personnel rearrangement.

Keep Taylor exchanging between RE, LE and OLB to throw off opposing teams. Bring in Wake to line up alongside Porter and Taylor and apply added pressure. Don't be afraid to call the occasional all out blitz and safety blitz.

Be bold on defense.

This will be key if Miami wants a shot at dethroning the undefeated New Orleans Saints come Sunday. Nobody has been able to consistently apply pressure to Drew Brees. That trend must end once Miami steps on the gridiron at Land Shark Stadium this week.

If Brees does not find himself with a facemask full of grass more once, it could be a long day for the Dolphins. Those two weeks of rest and preparation must be used as efficiently as possible in order to avoid another embarrassing "air show."

Lex Hilliard Gets a Shot

Late in the Monday Night Football game between the Jets and Dolphins the crowd at Land Shark Stadium saw RB Patrick Cobbs run down the sideline and get tackled by a Jets defender - a tackle that forced him to fall towards the ground and clutch his knee. That sight was the last one teammates and fans had of Cobbs' season as he tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

Miami, having arguably the best running back trio in the league, took a hit by losing their third-string RB for the remainder of the year. His efforts in 2008 were essential to Miami's success and were much appreciated by the Dolphins organization.

Where there's a void to be filled there's another player ready to step up to the challenge. That player is the 5'11, 230-pound sophomore out of Montana - Lex Hilliard.

Not many teams enter the season with four RBs on the depth chart and activate all four each week. In Miami's case, they were so confident in their RB core that they found it a necessity to do such a thing this season.

Hilliard impressed many during the preseason with his bursts of speed coming through gaps and turning corners. He showed sparks of light in the Jacksonville and Carolina preseason matches, running for a combined 94 yards on 18 attempts and 1 TD during his limited time on the field.

He cooled off in the final two preseason games and had fumbled the ball twice during the four-game preseason, but was mostly viewed as an asset to the Dolphins.

More recently he's been making sound tackles on special teams, with a total of seven take downs this season.

As he takes on the responsibility of third-string RB along with his special teams duties, coaches will look out to see if he can continue his preseason effectiveness. Most notably, his influence on the Wildcat will be the focus of Sparano and company - due to Hilliard's power running style as opposed to Cobbs' finesse.

Could we see a three-headed monster implemented now with Hilliard's presence?

Cobbs rarely ran the Wildcat, but was efficient in the times he did. Implementing a power back like Hilliard may stretch the Wildcat functions to a three back system over the current two man "Ronnie and Ricky Show."

With the undefeated New Orleans Saints marching into Miami, the Dolphins will need to pull all the stops in order to keep up with Drew Brees and the Saints' high octane offense. Time of possession may be the key to that game and decide whether Miami stays close or is blown out early.

Lex Hilliard could be an intricate part to keeping control of the clock and pounding the ball often - helping Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams stay fresh throughout the game.

* * *

The Dolphins picked up RB Kory Sheets off of the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad to add another back to their depth chart. Sheets is a rookie draft pick out of Purdue University, where he posted 4,944 all-purpose yards, 3,341 rushing yards and 54 TDs (48 rushing TDs).

It is still unclear what role Sheets will play in Miami's system, but it will become evident as week seven nears. There is a possibility that Sheets could take on some of Hilliard's special teams duties - giving Hilliard more energy to run out of the backfield often.

The Emergence of Chad Henne

The instant that Chad Pennington crashed to the turf in week three of the regular season, re-injuring his shoulder in a season-ending incident, Chad Henne automatically took the reigns as leader of the Miami Dolphins. Just one moment shifted an entire franchise's direction coming off an AFC East Championship, 11-5 season.

In his second NFL start on Monday Night Football, Henne began to gain the confidence of his teammates and fans with a stellar performance against a fierce Jets defense.

It was more than just the 241 yards and 2 touchdowns in the box score that the sophomore Dolphins QB impressed with. The popular Jets QB, Mark Sanchez was gaining all the attention going into Monday and Henne stole the show with poise, accuracy and a canon arm. Sanchez threw for 69 yards less than Henne and only one TD.

It became clear that Henne was prepared to take on the challenges that come with being an NFL QB, even with the fate of his team on the line.

The player that was once referred to as "the other Chad" showcased skills that were a promising sight for a Dolphins organization that was staring at a complete collapse from their 2008 season. Standing tall in the pocket, Henne delivered in crucial moments throughout the game and, as Rex Ryan alluded to, brought back flashes of the Marino-era. Whether it was an all out blitz or a zone coverage that the Jets threw at him, Henne completed 20 of his 26 attempts and did not turnover the ball once. It was more than expected from a QB that had never faced such adversity at the NFL level.

But then again, he did face it at the college level while starting four consecutive seasons at the University of Michigan.

Valuable College Experience

From impressive victories in bowl games to gut-wrenching losses to rival teams, Chad faced some of the most immense pressure situations that a college QB could have ever been exposed to. Couple that with one year of tutelage under Chad Pennington's wing and you have yourself a well-prepared, fairly experienced professional entering as your QB. It even had local South Florida writers expecting him to perform well under the pressure.

While Henne was at Michigan (2004-2007) the football team went 36-14, which was below their expectations, but also during an unstable time in the program. He threw for 87 TDs and 9,740 yards combined in those four seasons.

Opening Up the Offense

In Miami, Henne has already executed a wide range of passes, opening up Miami's dynamic offense even further. Most importantly, he's delivered the deep ball with ease - something that Chad Pennington was not skilled at. Henne and Ginn may have sounded like a drink one can buy at a local bar, but it was the biggest connection of the night in a 53-yard missile that electrified the crowd at Land Shark Stadium.

Pennington was only able to deliver such a toss one time last season with an 80-yard pass that was mostly gained with yards after the catch. Beyond that, he threw for a maximum of 21 yards in a pass play during his short-lived 2009 season.

Credit Due to Offensive Line

And Henne's success could not go without giving credit to the offensive line. Miami invested a total of $155 million in contacts for their O-Line and it's beginning to pay off. There is no doubt that it is easier for a new QB to get comfortable with the offense when they have solid protection.

Jake Long, Justin Smiley, Jake Grove, Donald Thomas and Vernon Carey are working as a unit and progressively improving each week, which will only benefit Henne's cause.

Marino Comparisons?

We are a long time away before Henne can be included in the same level of performance as Dan Marino, but it's interesting to see the comparison between Henne and Marino in both of their first two NFL starts.

Marino started his first game against the Bills, such as Henne did, and threw for a whopping 322 yards and 3 TDs. His next game was against the Jets - strikingly similar to Henne's situation - and he passed for 255 yards and 3 TDs, completing 56.7% of his passes.

Henne was not as prolific in his game against Buffalo, but he did not throw any interceptions, whereas Marino threw two, and had a similar completion percentage of 63.6% (compared to Marino's 65.5%). Then in his second start, Henne virtually matched Marino in yards by posting 241 yards - throwing for 2 TDs and completing 76.9% of his passes.

While Henne may not be the next Marino, he may be the future of this Dolphins franchise if he continues down his progression as a worthy NFL QB.

Miami's Wildcat - More Than a Gimmick

The New York Jets entered week five's Monday Night Football game with all the necessary tools to stop Miami's run game and, most importantly, the Wildcat. The Jets were allowing under 100 rushing yards per game, were ranked in the top 10 in rush defense and had Rex Ryan (last season's Wildcat stopper in Baltimore) as their head coach. All those factors would lead many NFL analysts and football enthusiasts to believe that the Wildcat would not be as effective as usual.

As we know now, that wasn't the case.

The Dolphins recorded 151 yards on the ground with over 100 of those yards coming from the Wildcat formation, which was run 19 times throughout the game. Rex Ryan did not have the answer for Miami's dynamic formation this time around, perhaps because two particular defensive studs by the name of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed were not part of his arsenal. Whatever the case may have been, the Dolphins not only executed it successfully, they literally won the game with it.

So is the Wildcat really a gimmick or is it becoming a legitimate part of NFL offensive playbooks? The debate is quickly shifting towards the idea of legitimacy in the league.

There is a reason why Miami is ranked number one in rushing offense - the Wildcat. The concept of gimmick suggests that the Wildcat is a short-term solution that is only effective because of how "new" it is. Well, Miami has now used the Wildcat for an entire season and is continuing to execute it in 2009, meaning that it has become a long-term solution and is no longer a surprise to opposing teams.

Given that, it's difficult to apply the term gimmick to the Wildcat anymore.

Even with all of the skepticism it received from New York Jets coaches and players, the Jets themselves executed two direct snaps and a fake punt in the Monday Night game.

Since those plays were used sparingly and were not a part of their general offensive strategy, they could be deemed gimmicks in the purest sense of it.

Now that the Wildcat has broken loose on two Monday Night Football games in front of national audiences, maybe the skeptics will become more accepting of the reality that it is here to stay. Don't expect Miami to stop lining up Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams at QB any time soon.

Skyforce Look Forward to Draft Talent Pool

The Miami Heat's D-League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, are anticipating the 2009 D-League draft. They will have the 13th pick in the first round followed by the 20th, 45th, 52nd, 77th, 84th, 109th and 116th overall in the 128-player draft.

This is a prime opportunity for talented players to get a second chance at their basketball careers and prove themselves worthy of making it to the pro level - the NBA. The Skyforce have already cultivated highly skilled players that have gone on to succeed in basketball as professionals, whether it be players or coaches.

Just last month, former Sioux Falls guard, Corey Gaines coached the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury to a championship title. The success that has come from the Skyforce extends beyond the NBA and leaks into all levels of basketball.

Beyond that, the Skyforce have plenty of former players that were invited to join NBA teams for this year's training camp and preseason. For the Miami Heat in particular, Andre Bown is currently on their roster fighting for a spot on the team. Other notables include Alexis Ajinca (Charlotte Bobcats), Stephen Graham (Charlotte Bobcats), Amir Johnson (Toronto Raptors) and Chris Richard (Chicago Bulls).

We've already stated how the Skyforce are making their presence felt in the NBA, but now with the upcoming draft there will be another wave of athletes with a shot continuing this trend.

Andre Brown (left) and Amir Johnson (right)

News Flashes: October 13, 2009

Miami Dolphins

• With six seconds left on the clock, the Monday Night Football game was decided by the Dolphins finishing things off the way they started - dominating with the Wild Cat.

• The victory pulls Miami to a 2-3 record with a 2-0 division record, leaving them only one game behind the Jets and Patriots for the AFC East lead.

• Chad Henne had a 130.4 passer rating and threw for over 240 yards and 2 TDs - the best QB performance a staunch Jets have allowed all season.

• The Wild Cat was run over 20 times throughout the game and accounted for most of Miami's success in the running game.

• Now the Dolphins have a bye week, but then must come back to face the high octane offense of the New Orleans Saints.

Miami Hurricanes

• After Saturday's victory over the Florida A&M Rattlers, the Miami Hurricanes moved up in the national rankings from #11 to #9.

• QB Jacory Harris threw for 217 yards on 24 attempts, completing 16 of them and throwing two touchdowns and interceptions. Harris was benched after the first half after a 31-point rout that had been mounted on the Rattlers.

• RB Damien Berry ran for over 160 yards, with his longest run being of 49 yards, and scored a TD in the process.

• Miami is now 4-1 and looks forward to an upcoming match-up versus their instate rivals, the UCF Knights.

Florida Panthers

• The Florida Panthers fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning Monday night in a 3-2 loss - they are now 1-4-0 to start off the season.

• The Panthers began the season with a shootout victory in Helsinki against the Chicago Blackhawks.

• With high expectations prior to the season's start, the Panthers look to rebound against the Philadelphia Flyers Friday evening at the BankAtlantic Center.

Miami Heat

• The Miami Heat addressed the need for a veteran point guard by signing Carlos Arroyo Monday afternoon, whom was playing overseas in Israel for Maccabi Tel Aviv BC - he is a graduate of Florida International University.
  

• Sunday marked the third loss for the Miami Heat as they continued their winless preseason by dropping another one to the San Antonio Spurs.

• G Dwyane Wade and C Jermaine O'Neal did not play against the Spurs due to rib and foot injuries respectively.

• Jamaal Magloire will not be available for the season-opener after being suspended by the NBA for his involvement in an altercation during the Heat-Pistons preseason game on October 5th.

Coaches Not Taking Chances After Tebow Concussion

With the current ranking system in NCAA Football, ranked teams not only have to beat teams they are supposed to beat but they must do it convincingly. For years powerhouse schools preyed on the weak. They ran up the score and showed no mercy. It wasn't done to embarrass anyone - it was they law of the land.

That's exactly what #1 Florida was doing in their game against Kentucky. Up 34-7 half way through the third quarter, Tim Tebow was attempting to capitalize on a 74-yard drive when the unthinkable happened.

DE Taylor Wyndham came around the corner with a full head of steam and speared Tebow to the ground. On the way down, Tebow's head hit the knee of teammate Marcus Gilbert and his neck violently whipped forward.

As Tebow lay unconscious on the Kentucky 14-yard line, the questions began to swirl: With such a big lead why was Tebow still in the game? Why would Urban Myer take that risk?

But no one was asking questions while he was orchestrating a symphony on the field. America as a whole waits until something happens before a change is made. We ignore warning signs and are reactive instead of proactive. As they saying goes, "If it isn't broken, don't fix it."

This past weekend, four coaches decided they were not going to wait that long.

The Hurricanes are on a mission to prove the critics wrong. To prove that they are better than they were predicted to be and have what it takes to return to the big stage. They walked the green mile to start the season and came out alive, going 3-1 versus 4 ranked opponents. University of Miami Head Coach, Randy Shannon, shut down QB Jacory Harris at halftime with a 31-3 lead over Florida A&M.

Virginia is the front runner to win the ACC and has a chance to play in the National Championship Game. Virginia Tech is ranked fourth behind Florida, Alabama and Texas. Texas has some tough Conference games coming up and only one SEC can remain undefeated. QB Tyrod Taylor of Virginia Tech participated in one drive after the half and left the game with a 34-0 lead.

Half way through the third quarter, Joe Paterno sent QB Daryll Clark to the showers with a 45-3 lead over Eastern Illinois.

With a 45-14 lead over UNLV going into the 4th Quarter, Bringham Young's Max Hall was done for the day.

One thing is for sure: If teams don't take care of business the right way, their stock will drop.

Going into their game against Air Force on Saturday, TCU was 4-0 and ranked tenth in the nation. They grinded it out for 60 minutes and came out with a 20-17 victory. When the polls came out Sunday afternoon, TCU had dropped two positions to number twelve.

How far are coaches willing to push the issue? How much of a lead do their teams need to have before they send in their backup quarterback and how long do the wait before they put their starter back in if their lead starts to dwindle?

For now only time will tell.