Category: sports

2024-2025 Rainbow Wahine Volleyball

I’ve been watching several of their games this season, and I wanted to jot down some thoughts. First, this team plays ugly. Bad passes on serves, hitting errors, and other mistakes—this team commits too many of them. Additionally, at times their block seems non-existent. And yet, they’re 6-1. If they were a high school team, I would guess their opponents just played worse–making a lot more errors. But that’s not the impression I’m getting.

So what explains their winning? Defense–i.e., digs–seems like the biggest reason for their success. This is a really scrappy team, at times reminding me of Japanese teams. If you want to see some good digs and long rallies due to defense, this is a team to watch. On the other hand, with good defense, I would expect better passing on serves. They’re passing can get really shaky at times, even from Ikenaga or Levya. (Levya has been an impressive freshmen, and in time could be special.)

Tough serves and good play in timely moments are probably the other reasons they’ve won. For example, against Oregon State, after an almost non-existent block in the early part of their match, their block game alive. In terms of serving Levya seems like a best server. (Ikenaga has been solid as a server, too, and follows Levya in the serve rotation, creating what looks like a solid one-two punch.)

With the way they play I’m not sure how long they can keep winning. I feel like they will get destroyed by really good teams, based on the way they’ve been playing. On the other hand, this team hangs in there (They’ve had a lot of 4 or 5 set games), and they shouldn’t be too rattled when going through rough patches during a match.

One other thing I want to mention–the coaching, particularly in terms of substitutions and making adjustments. Coach Robyn will pull Kate Lang and put in Jackie Matias at surprising moments. Against Oregon State, Ah Mow-Santos took out starting middle Jacyn Bamis pretty early in the match and put in Maddie Way, a shorter (5′ 11″) freshmen, who hadn’t played much (if at all). It seemed to be a good move, as Way provided a good spark for the team.

Now, while I do think the play has been inconsistent and ugly, they do have a lot of new players (while losing really good ones). It may take times for this team to gel and clean up their game. They have shown grit and fight, though, and that makes them worth cheering for.

2024 NFL Offseason

I have just about two feet out of the door when it comes to the NFL, but I’ve been interested in the player movement during free agency. Russ going to the Steelers, with Arthur Smith as the OC, is really interesting and appealing. On the opposite end of the spectrum are the rumors that the Raiders are interested in Justin Fields.

2023-2024 NFL week 13

Don said, “

…Hawks, Cowboys: I wonder what Reid would have thought if he watched this game. The Hawks receivers were killing the Cowboys for a lot of this game especially in the first half. Geno wasn’t getting too much time in the pocket, but he and his receivers consistently made plays. Bland, who people are saying should be the front-runner for Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) gave up more yards to his receivers in a half than any other DB this year. He did get a pick in the second half though.

I also thought Seattle’s DBs were playing decent despite the Cowboys being able to march up and down the field. The DBs had some tick-tack calls on them, but they seem to be a physical group in general. But Dak played too well. He even had some drops that cost the Cowboys points.

2023-2024 NFL week 12

I might not even watch the Seahawks play today. I’m pretty sure about their style of play now, and I think the results will be bad. It’s pretty hard to continue watching your favorite team when this is the situation (which is why I became emotionally detached from the Raiders).

2023-2024 NFL week 8

If the Browns have been the “factory of sadness,” the Raiders should be called the “factory of mediocrity.” The fact that the Raiders have been so bad for so long just came to mind over the weekend. No matter who the coach is for about the last 20 years or so, the Raiders have been mediocre and sometimes awful, especially on defense. I can’t remember the last time the Raiders had a really, really good defense. It’s a good thing I don’t care so much about the team.

Bucs@Bills

The Bills seemed to have a returned to a more pass-centric style. In a way, I can understand it, and I might even support the move. Allen looked out of sorts. Tonight he looked in rhythm and just looked like his old self. My guess is that he’s just not comfortable operating from under center. (The Bills were mostly in shotgun.)

The Bucs are a middling team. I kinda like Dave Canales, but I think he takes the balanced play calling too far at times–using R-P-R or P-R-P sequences. (Maybe not so much in this game, but the one or two before this.) I also think he should diversify his run game a bit.