Thursday, 15 January 2015
Why John Fox Would Be the Right Coach at the Right Time for Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears appear to be closing in on the right head coach at the right time.According to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report, the next coaching domino to fall is former Denver Broncos head coach John Fox, who is expected to become the 15th head coach in Bears history. The yet to be completed deal is likely to be finished within the next few days, per Cole's source.
Fox, 59, has been considered the front-runner for Chicago's opening since he and the Broncos went separate ways following Denver's divisional-round loss to the Indianapolis Colts.Over Fox's five years as the Giants defensive coordinator, New York finished in the top 10 in points allowed three times. His defensive work in Carolina turned around the Panthers, who went eight straight years ranking in the top 15 for scoring defense, including four times in the top 10.
Results showed up again in Denver, where the defense carried the Broncos into the postseason in 2011. Fox's defense also ranked second in yards and fourth in points allowed in 2012, and third in yards allowed in 2014.
Overall, Fox has been the defensive coordinator or head coach of a team for 20 seasons. His defenses have ranked in the top 16 in points allowed 15 times.
It will be on new general manager Ryan Pace to give Fox the right pieces to be successful, but his track record speaks for itself. Almost immediate improvement on defense would be assumed.
The only question now is if the Bears could have asked for a better coaching candidate to fall right into their laps.
Fox is experienced, versatile, respected and defensive-minded. He has wins, playoff appearances and conference titles. He's worked with a broad spectrum of quarterbacks and consistently gets the most out of his defense.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2331100-why-john-fox-would-be-the-right-coach-at-the-right-time-for-chicago-bears
Matchups to Watch for NFL Conference Championship Weekend
The NFL is a beautiful game—a dance and chess match all rolled up into one. The moves in the battle of wits on the sidelines and between the chess pieces on the field will provide dramatic theater in the conference championship games this weekend.
Which matchups will go the longest way toward deciding this weekend's games, based on each team's respective strengths and weaknesses? Bleacher Report breaks down the marquee ones with a fine-tooth comb right here.
We get to see the one-year difference between the New England Patriots having Aqib Talib get knocked out of an AFC Championship Game (by Wes Welker last year) versus having one of the best shutdown corners of all time, Darrelle Revis. A Hilton will visit Revis Island—the Indianapolis Colts' T.Y. Hilton, that is.
There is a rematch between the bouncer Rob Gronkowski and the man he "threw out of the club," Sergio Brown. The way the last one turned out, the Colts might want to get Brown's back in that nightclub fight.
We will see how the Seattle Seahawks defense tests the mobility of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his calf injury. It will be much better for Rodgers to have right-side pass-protector Bryan Bulaga healthy this go-around.
And, like every week, seeing how opposing teams try to attack the Seahawks' Legion of Boom with their set of wide receivers is always dramatic. We will see if Richard Sherman gets another NFC championship opportunity to call out "a sorry receiver" like he did with Michael Crabtree a year ago. Be careful of getting put on blast, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams.
Finally, who can stop Beast Mode, other than the media, which have him verbally clammed up? Clay Matthews is the name brand who will try. We cannot wait to watch that one
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2330734-matchups-to-watch-for-nfl-conference-championship-weekend
Which matchups will go the longest way toward deciding this weekend's games, based on each team's respective strengths and weaknesses? Bleacher Report breaks down the marquee ones with a fine-tooth comb right here.
We get to see the one-year difference between the New England Patriots having Aqib Talib get knocked out of an AFC Championship Game (by Wes Welker last year) versus having one of the best shutdown corners of all time, Darrelle Revis. A Hilton will visit Revis Island—the Indianapolis Colts' T.Y. Hilton, that is.
There is a rematch between the bouncer Rob Gronkowski and the man he "threw out of the club," Sergio Brown. The way the last one turned out, the Colts might want to get Brown's back in that nightclub fight.
We will see how the Seattle Seahawks defense tests the mobility of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his calf injury. It will be much better for Rodgers to have right-side pass-protector Bryan Bulaga healthy this go-around.
And, like every week, seeing how opposing teams try to attack the Seahawks' Legion of Boom with their set of wide receivers is always dramatic. We will see if Richard Sherman gets another NFC championship opportunity to call out "a sorry receiver" like he did with Michael Crabtree a year ago. Be careful of getting put on blast, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams.
Finally, who can stop Beast Mode, other than the media, which have him verbally clammed up? Clay Matthews is the name brand who will try. We cannot wait to watch that one
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2330734-matchups-to-watch-for-nfl-conference-championship-weekend
Charlotte, Bayley and Latest WWE NXT Developmental News
Charlotte and Bayley, two of WWE NXT's top Divas, are both getting press this week.A respected wrestling magazine gave the NXT women's champ a major award. As for Bayley, she's getting the reward of doing a good deed. She announced that she's leading the charge at a charity event in February.
In other WWE developmental news, NXT will take its show northward for one night, Corey Graves gets extra work and Sasha Banks punched her time card far from Full Sail University.
We begin a Diva-heavy batch of reports with the current queen of that division—Charlotte.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2329577-charlotte-bayley-and-latest-wwe-nxt-developmental-newsed-outside-of-the-ppv
In other WWE developmental news, NXT will take its show northward for one night, Corey Graves gets extra work and Sasha Banks punched her time card far from Full Sail University.
We begin a Diva-heavy batch of reports with the current queen of that division—Charlotte.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2329577-charlotte-bayley-and-latest-wwe-nxt-developmental-newsed-outside-of-the-ppv
Remembering the Royal Rumble Matches That Occurred Outside of the PPV
The wild, massive Royal Rumble match has existed outside of the pay-per-view that goes by the same name.
WWE, like the wrestling industry as a whole, writes its own history. The history that WWE so often recounts says that the 2015 event will be the 28th time the Rumble bout will take place and that Jim Duggan won the first edition of the match back in 1988.
In reality, St. Louis hosted the first Rumble, a match that wasn't even televised.Other lesser-known versions of the clash happened at house shows and in the Far East, crowning the only woman to win a Rumble and giving Undertaker his second win. Some of them felt like Rumble-lites, while others shared the same scale of the real deal but with the victor celebrating in the darkness of obscurity
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2329578-remembering-the-royal-rumble-matches-that-occurred-outside-of-the-ppv
WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from January 14, 2015
WWE NXT wasted little time demonstrating why it is the best wrestling show on television, regardless of whether it is on Wednesday or Thursday night, with a phenomenal broadcast headlined by Sami Zayn defending his NXT Championship against Adrian Neville.
The two delivered a classic at Takeover: R Evolution, and expectations were reasonably high for the rematch.
Zayn and Neville did not disappoint.Elsewhere on the program, Finn Balor battled Tyson Kidd in singles competition to kick off the evening's festivities. One look at the talent involved would seem to indicate an extraordinary contest.
They, too, would not disappoint.After weeks of dominating the opposition, Bull Dempsey and Baron Corbin faced off in singles match. Rounding out the card was Divas tag action pitting Charlotte and Natalya against Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch.
The most electric brand in WWE delivered another can't-miss show.For all that went down, including grades and analysis for each match, click the little "next" button to the right
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2330443-wwe-nxt-results-winners-grades-reaction-and-highlights-from-january-14-2015
The two delivered a classic at Takeover: R Evolution, and expectations were reasonably high for the rematch.
Zayn and Neville did not disappoint.Elsewhere on the program, Finn Balor battled Tyson Kidd in singles competition to kick off the evening's festivities. One look at the talent involved would seem to indicate an extraordinary contest.
They, too, would not disappoint.After weeks of dominating the opposition, Bull Dempsey and Baron Corbin faced off in singles match. Rounding out the card was Divas tag action pitting Charlotte and Natalya against Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch.
The most electric brand in WWE delivered another can't-miss show.For all that went down, including grades and analysis for each match, click the little "next" button to the right
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2330443-wwe-nxt-results-winners-grades-reaction-and-highlights-from-january-14-2015
Daniel Bryan Exclusive: On His Injury, Style Change and Return to WWE SmackDown
Undersized, outmuscled and lacking the seemingly requisite tan, Daniel Bryan, though obviously talented, didn't appear to have the skill set needed to survive in wrestling's major leagues. While his gift for constructing incredible matches in the ring guaranteed him a spot on the roster, he was relegated to the middle of the card. An immense talent—but one too flawed to make the perilous climb to the top.
But a funny thing happened on his path to being just another guy. Along the way, Bryan managed to connect with fans in a way few have in the modern history of the industry. Routinely, night after night, Bryan received the most consistently positive response, bigger, louder and more robust even than wrestlers presented as much bigger deals on television.
In time, WWE took note. At WrestleMania 30, Bryan triumphed against all odds, in both storyline and real life, to become WWE champion.
In May of 2014, however, just as his story was getting started, Bryan was forced out of action with a lingering neck injury. A surgery that was supposed to keep him on the shelf for eight weeks kept him at home for eight long months instead.
On Thursday, he makes his much anticipated return to Syfy, main eventing WWE SmackDown as the popular cable show moves to a new night. Bleacher Report caught up with him for an exclusive interview about what exactly happened and what is to come.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2329192-daniel-bryan-exclusive-on-his-injury-style-change-and-return-to-wwe-smackdown
But a funny thing happened on his path to being just another guy. Along the way, Bryan managed to connect with fans in a way few have in the modern history of the industry. Routinely, night after night, Bryan received the most consistently positive response, bigger, louder and more robust even than wrestlers presented as much bigger deals on television.
In time, WWE took note. At WrestleMania 30, Bryan triumphed against all odds, in both storyline and real life, to become WWE champion.
In May of 2014, however, just as his story was getting started, Bryan was forced out of action with a lingering neck injury. A surgery that was supposed to keep him on the shelf for eight weeks kept him at home for eight long months instead.
On Thursday, he makes his much anticipated return to Syfy, main eventing WWE SmackDown as the popular cable show moves to a new night. Bleacher Report caught up with him for an exclusive interview about what exactly happened and what is to come.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2329192-daniel-bryan-exclusive-on-his-injury-style-change-and-return-to-wwe-smackdown
Ryan Dilbert's 10-Count: WWE Is Failing the Ascension
Someone please remind WWE and John "Bradshaw" Layfield what a squash match is meant to do.Newcomers rolling over no-name enhancement talent as a means to introduce them is a time-honored tradition. This kind of match portrays the rookie as a dangerous force. It gives him a tomato can to crush before moving on to bigger challenges.
For some reason, The Ascension's dominance is instead being treated with indignation.JBL, in particular, is dismissing Viktor and Konnor's accomplishments. He scoffs at the lack of competition in front of them rather than tell us how wowed he is by their dominance.
On Tuesday's Main Event, The Ascension took on another pair of jobbers and won easily. JBL shrugged it off, saying "It's easy to beat up a punching bag."
When Tom Phillips tried to blame The Authority for not giving The Ascension tougher opponents, JBL implied it was Viktor and Konnor who were choosing inferior foes.
That's the exact opposite of selling the former NXT tag champs to the crowd. Why make them look like cowards when you can portray them as overpowering beasts? Why discount the damage they are doing in the ring?
Compare how the announcers have treated The Ascension with how WWE handled Razor Ramon's jobber-crushing. In his WWE debut, he faced the same kind of little-known grappler that The Ascension has faced so far.
Mr. Perfect and Vince McMahon spent much of the match blown away.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2329580-ryan-dilberts-10-count-wwe-is-failing-the-ascension
For some reason, The Ascension's dominance is instead being treated with indignation.JBL, in particular, is dismissing Viktor and Konnor's accomplishments. He scoffs at the lack of competition in front of them rather than tell us how wowed he is by their dominance.
On Tuesday's Main Event, The Ascension took on another pair of jobbers and won easily. JBL shrugged it off, saying "It's easy to beat up a punching bag."
When Tom Phillips tried to blame The Authority for not giving The Ascension tougher opponents, JBL implied it was Viktor and Konnor who were choosing inferior foes.
That's the exact opposite of selling the former NXT tag champs to the crowd. Why make them look like cowards when you can portray them as overpowering beasts? Why discount the damage they are doing in the ring?
Compare how the announcers have treated The Ascension with how WWE handled Razor Ramon's jobber-crushing. In his WWE debut, he faced the same kind of little-known grappler that The Ascension has faced so far.
Mr. Perfect and Vince McMahon spent much of the match blown away.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2329580-ryan-dilberts-10-count-wwe-is-failing-the-ascension
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