Ivan

[Wile_E_Coyote]

Q.
How do you think the Bulls will finish this year? I have read in a magazine I respect very well that they are expected to finish second to last in the Eastern Conference next to the expansion Bobcats. I know a lot of it depends on the "Baby Bulls"...and if they don't do well should I expect another 6 years of rebuilding?Chris, Kansas 10/18/04
A.
Man, I can't wait for the NBA to get rolling. I loved the Bulls draft this year. Ben Gordon is going to provide a nice little backcourt mate for Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng has some serious talent. Eddy Curry keeps getting better and Tyson Chandler provides length and hustle. The problem remains the same however: who can shoot? The Bulls ranked last in team field goal percentage last season and really didn't add a pure shooter. Now, I think you'll see Hinrich become a more consistent three-point threat (he only shot 38 percent from the field last season) but you really don't want your PG doing a lot of pulling from deep anyway. The X-factor could be SF Andres Nocioni from Italy. I don't know much about the dude but I hear that he has game. The problem will be that division. It's loaded. Detroit, Indiana, Milwaukee and Cleveland are all better than the Bulls right now so it's hard to see them making a major move up in the standings. Ivan Carter 10/19/04
Q.
I have noticed a lot of blame for the recent losses still being placed on the defense. I personally feel, except for the Denver game, this defense is doing its job. Especially run defense. McCleon has had a few bad plays in recent weeks, but those were some great offensive efforts made against him. Can't blame Dex for everything. I feel the offense should shoulder a good portion of the blame for not getting it done down the stretch in some critical situations. What do you think?Matt, Oklahoma City, OK 10/19/04
A.
The Chiefs led the NFL in scoring in 2002 and 2003 and returned with essentially the same players. Kennison was back Sunday. Morton has been playing great ball. Priest is Priest. The O-Line was coming off a dominant performance agianst a great defense at Baltimore as so was Trent Green. Tony G is still the best tight end in the game. The Jacksonville defense was starting a journeyman OLB at DE Sunday (Greg Favors), had a stiff at one corner (Dewayne Washington) and had just been lit up by Drew Brees and the Chargers. Yet the Chiefs produced 16 lousy points Sunday and couldn't get the one key first down they really needed to put the game away. So yes, it's hard to put the blame squarely on the defense and/or Lawrence Tynes. As my man Whitlock wrote in his column Monday, this was a total team loss. Ivan Carter 10/19/04
Q.
Ivan, Where do you see the rest of the season going? Do you think they can go better than 4-12. When you are in the 4th quarter and force the other team to turn the ball over on downs, then run 3 times and go for only 3 points, that shows even the coaches have no confidence in this team. Still hoping in GermanyGriz, Ramstein AB Germany 10/19/04
A.
Griz, I know this is going to sound funny but you're probably asking the wrong guy. I've seen this team up close every single day all season and I can't figure out what the heck is going to happen. I'm 0-5 picking their games this season so what does that tell you? As for Vermeil's decision to run Priest Holmes three straight times after stopping Jacksonville late in the fourth quarter, I don't have a problem with it. At the time, I was sitting up in the box thinking: give it to your best player three times, run some clock and get the heck out of here. Bottom line: if you can't get 10 yards at crunch time with that running back, that fullback and that offensive line, you probably don't deserve to win. I hit the Jacksonville lockeroom after the game a lot of their players were buzzing about the hit Donovin Darius laid on Priest to keep him short of the first down on that third-and-six carry. If Darius doesn't make that tackle, Holmes gets the first down and the game is probably over. Ivan Carter 10/19/04

[Gaz]

Originally Posted by Ivan Carter

…Bottom line: if you can't get 10 yards at crunch time with that running back, that fullback and that offensive line, you probably don't deserve to win…

Yep.

xoxo~
Gaz
Agrees.