Kirwan Leads No. 1 Jumbos Past Amherst, 13-9

My first In-Game Blog and Post-Game recap on "Inside Lacrosse."

Junior attackman Sean Kirwan led the Jumbos with six goals in yesterday's defeat of NESCAC rival Amherst at Bello Field (Medford, Mass.)

Jumbos and Jeffs Prepare for Rematch

As published in the March 11 edition of "The Tufts Daily."
On Saturday at 1 p.m., Tufts' national No. 1 men's lacrosse team will take to Bello Field and duke it out with Amherst in a rematch of the 2010 season-opener, in which the Jumbos dismantled the host Lord Jeffs 18-8. This year, on home turf, Tufts hopes to kick off the season with a repeat performance.

But standing in the Jumbos' way is a new Amherst coach and a squad determined to avenge last year's blowout. Jon Thompson — former head coach for Colby's program — has taken the helm for the maturing Jeffs, while Tufts alum Evan Crosby (LA '10), a defender from 2010's national championship team, joins Thompson to assist from an unfamiliar bench.

 Last spring, the Jeffs graduated their highest goal-scorer in attackman Thomas McDonnell (31 goals) and will look to last season's top point-scorers, junior midfielder Alex Fox (26 goals, 10 assists) and classmate and co-captain Evan Redwood, an offensive midfielder who recorded 20 goals and 16 assists, to match Fox's 36 points.

    

Last season, the Jeffs posted a solid 5-4 NESCAC record, and topped some of the conference's best teams, including Bowdoin. They struggled, however, in their March 13 matchup with Tufts. Although Fox and Redwood helped the Jeffs to an early 2-0 lead, the Jumbos went on to score eight straight goals in the first period.

The Jumbos, however, do not want to focus on last year's result, and prefer to set their sights on Saturday's game. Senior quad-captain attackman Ryan Molloy pointed out that despite last year's score, the Jumbos cannot take Amherst for granted.


"Last year we were just really fired up to get out there," he said. "In that game they had a few key injuries and they're a great team so they're definitely going to be more competitive this year and we have to be ready for that."

 This year, Amherst senior defender Parker Holcomb may assist junior Brian McFeely at the faceoff circle; *Holcomb led the team with 49 ground balls. Additionally, senior captain defender Gabe Mann must rally the Jeffs' defensive unit to face the NESCAC's most prolific offense.

While Amherst returns with the majority of its strongest starters, the Jumbos could have an advantage when it comes to depth. At every position, Tufts has experienced players who did not start in '10 but recorded impressive figures and made large contributions outside the record-books, including sophomore defensive midfielder Sam Diss, who played in every game last season.

"This year we really have to work on getting the chemistry going between the team and then I think we'll be a really solid defense," Diss said. "[Sophomore John] Heard played a lot last year and this year we also have [sophomore Div. I transfer] Matt Callahan. The guys who got playing time last year really got a head start coming into the season and that'll really help us come together and get things going."

Senior attackman Brian Donovan, who scored two goals in last year's win over Amherst, is recovering from knee surgery and will not play this Saturday, but explained that the young Jumbos' experience at all positions gives Tufts a large advantage.

"The best thing about our depth is that we can produce some really good mismatches on the offense," Donovan said. "Because we're so deep we can really go to anybody and target the weakest defender on Amherst and go there and not just rely on D.J. and Molloy."

 Amherst's Matt Cahn, a sophomore defender who played in 11 of the Jeffs' 14 games in 2010, gained substantial minutes, and will be a valuable asset to Thompson. Other Amherst defenders, however, excluding Holcomb and Mann, have significantly less collegiate experience than Tufts' defensemen — most notably pre-season All-American long-stick midfielder and senior quad-captain Alec Bialosky.

The Jeffs' veteran defenders will have to step up against Tufts' menacing lineup to prevent another rattling defeat. The Jumbos' well-rounded cast of scoring threats could both distract the Jeffs and spread their defense vulnerably thin.

"Offensively we're really just trying to diagnose the defense early," Donovan said. "We're really much more worried as a team about our Tufts offense rather than the Amherst defense. We're gonna try to go all out and just find the back of the net."

The No. 1 Jumbos certainly have the upper hand when it comes to firepower and experience, but Amherst's accomplished midfield and attack outfits proved in later games last season that they can hit a corner or two, as well.

"We know that we're getting their best game and they know that they're getting our best game so we're just trying to prepare for that," junior attackman Sean Kirwan said. "We're going to go out there like any other game to try to get to that 1-0."

5 Keys to Staying No. 1

This article appeared in the March 9 edition of The Tufts Daily.

Last season, the men's lacrosse team powered its way to an impressive 20-1 record and pocketed the school's first NCAA Div. III National Championship. This year, coach Mike Daly and his team are ranked No. 1 in the country and head into this weekend's opener with a target on their backs. After graduating several crucial players, the Jumbos must ignore the hype and focus on fundamentals. By reconstructing their defense, maintaining last year's offensive gains, perfecting the basics and staying healthy, the Jumbos have the potential to reproduce last year's successes. Here are five key areas for them to focus on.

1. Keeping the defense strong. A young Tufts defense must step up to fill the shoes left by last year's seniors. Last spring, Tufts graduated tri-captain Eytan Saperstein (LA '10), a gritty defenseman who, with 90 ground balls, consistently forced turnovers and set the pace for the Jumbos' defense. His departure leaves a void that the Jumbos' younger defensemen must fill. Senior quad-captain Alec Bialosky, who racked in 69 ground balls last season, leads a capable defensive squad.

Sophomore Matt Callahan, a transfer from Div. I Fairfield, will be an essential component of the Jumbos' new defensive unit. Sophomores Sam Gardner and John Heard, who both gained critical in-game experience last season, are expected to step up as well, and keep up last year's pace of holding opponents to a .211 conversion percentage in man-up situations.

2. Amping up the attack. As opposed to the defensive unit, the Jumbos are returning with the entire starting attacking group from a year ago. Last season, Tufts' offensive leaders dominated opponents, gaining nationwide recognition. Senior quad-captain D.J. Hessler, who tied for the most points scored in the NESCAC, tallied 37 goals and was named to the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association's All-American team. Fellow senior and quad-captain Ryan Molloy was quick on his heels with 36 goals. Hessler and Molloy also led the team with 54 and 29 assists, respectively.

While the Jumbos outscored opponents 268 to 174 last season, it is even more notable that only 103 of their goals were unassisted. This statistic speaks to the Jumbos' ability to work together in a team-oriented offensive strategy. Junior Sean Kirwan, who led the team with 49 goals, also returns as a formidable threat. Tufts must look for continued offensive dominance from these players and must continue to pressure defenses even when shorthanded, something they did last season, when the Jumbos scored six man-down goals.

3. Maintaining focus. Another key this season will be the degree to which the unit can ignore the hype of its top ranking. Not only does a No. 1-preseason ranking bring increased pressure and scrutiny to a team, it also warrants attention and challenges from rivals. With threatening teams like No. 2 ranked Stevenson on its schedule, the Jumbos must keep their noses to the grindstone, allowing neither expectation nor intimidation to affect their performance.

4. Mechanics Last season, Tufts was the most penalized team in the NESCAC, posting an in-conference-penalties-per-game-average of 5.11. It would be wise for the Jumbos to clean up their fundamentals in order to reduce the number of man-down scenarios their young defense must face.

The area in which the Jumbos dominated opponents last year was groundballs, scooping up 829 to opponents' 691. By maintaining this margin and controlling the ball, Tufts can severely limit the time of possession for other teams. The defense and midfield must force turnovers and capitalize on these opportunities, in order to give a skilled and experienced offense the opportunity to do what it does best.

5. Staying Healthy Facing several preseason injuries to key players, the Jumbos must stay healthy throughout the season. Kirwan is currently out with a broken hand, and senior attacker Brian Donovan is rehabilitating after undergoing knee surgery. Callahan, who has a bruised rib, is out for now but expected to return soon. If Tufts returns these players and stays healthy this spring, it has all the tools necessary to keep that No. 1 ranking all year long.

Judgment Day: Former Marine Brings Battlefield Lessons to Bello

This story was originally published in the March 4 edition of The Tufts Daily.

The men's lacrosse team may not have any scrimmages lined up for the last Saturday before the start of its regular season, but that hardly means a weekend off for the Jumbos. On Sunday and Monday, the team will hit the pool deck, the gym and the practice field, as it participates in its second−annual Judgment Day training program, as the team has dubbed it.

Hosted by Program Athletics, based in Woburn, Mass., the two−day program aims to improve teamwork and develop leadership skills. Coach Mike Daly (LA '95) implemented the program last spring after Program Athletics employee and former Marine Eric Kapitulik reached out to Tufts. Over the course of two days, the Jumbos were pushed to their physical and mental limit. The team last year won the school's first Div. III NCAA team championship.

This year, a young squad adds 13 freshmen to the 44−man roster, and with just over a week until the Jumbos' March 12 season−opener against NESCAC−rival Amherst, the team hopes to reinforce the skills Judgment Day emphasizes.

"I was able to see some of what the team participated in last year during [senior Arlin Ladue's] documentary, ‘Road to the Championship' (2010), but I don't really know what to expect," first−year attackman Jack McDermott said. "Judging by what I've heard from the upperclassmen, it's challenging, yet an incredibly worthwhile experience for our betterment."

The team's seasoned veterans can anticipate some of what Kapitulik will demand of them, but senior quad−captain Ryan Molloy said that even returning players could be in for a few twists when Sunday afternoon rolls around.

"All of the guys who competed in Judgment Day last year tried to instill what we learned into the freshmen and create recurring themes for them," Molloy, an attackman, said. "I think we are a little more prepared this year, but at the same time, we have no idea what they're going to throw at us, so it's almost like we're going into it blind again."

Last year, the Jumbos' were pushed to their physical boundaries, treading water in full sweatsuits and carrying teammates the length of a lacrosse field. But the program also tested players' mental strength and leadership capacities. Daly has stressed mental toughness during the offseason.

"Personally, the most challenging part of Judgment Day is when you're called out to lead the team," Molloy said. "You have to remember all the instructions, compete in all the events and delegate to teammates what you want them to do. But that's also the most beneficial part."

From their American−flag−themed helmets to their camouflaged shooting shirts, patriotism is a core principle for Daly's squad. The team aims to emulate the military's values of commitment each time it takes the field.

The military presence at Judgment Day puts the Jumbos' season in perspective.

"If people are willing to risk their lives for a greater cause, then we should certainly be able to focus and practice in a game," McDermott said.

The Jumbos feel that they are well conditioned for Kapitulik's challenge. Throughout the fall, the team worked out during captains' practices and conditioned in the weight room almost daily to reach their physical peaks for the season.

"One thing we learned last year was never to just get through something but to attack it," junior midfielder Kevin McCormick said. "That's something about Judgment Day. There's no way to get by doing the bare minimum. I think our upperclassmen will really help the young guys, too, but we're going to really work at pushing it."

The veterans also feel that they have more to gain from participating in another Judgment Day. Molloy explained that, last year, the lessons the team learned defined the season.

"When it came to the tight games we were able to pull it out and come up with big plays like we really hadn't before," he said.

According to McCormick, a national−championship−caliber team must continue to embody Kapitulik's lessons of teamwork, leadership and persistence far past the Marine's early−March visit.

"The staff is only there for two days, so the choice is left up to the team of whether we just want to get better for two days and go through the motions or whether we're going to get better the whole season," McCormick said. "[Last year] we decided to take what we learned from Judgment Day and got better the whole season."

Sometimes, Judgment Day boils down to refining even the most basic skills.

"We worked on doing one perfect jumping jack," Daly said. "The point Eric hammered home to our guys was that if we don't have the discipline and attention to do one perfect jumping jack, how could we expect to apply that in a whole lacrosse game where there are so many other moving factors and scenarios?"

Purple Friday

     Every Friday, the Ravens cheerleaders and the organization's mascot, Poe, board a coach bus and make stops every hour or so at different local establishments and locations in the Baltimore metro area. Every week, the Ravens post the upcoming Friday's stops online, and fans, decked out in beads, jerseys, and cold weather gear go to meet the bus. The crew often stops by supermarkets, banks, and shopping centers as they weave their way from Baltimore to Annapolis to Hartford County. Cheerleaders sign swimsuit calendars, Poe gives out hugs, and at each stop, Ravens employees make their mark by spray-painting a Raven logo and a giant "W.I.N." into the sidewalk.  W.I.N., one of this season's mottos, stands for "what's important now," and has been used as a motivator and a rallying call for both the players and their fans.
     Last night, after a family dinner at nearby Langermann's we, by chance, happened upon the bus, which was heading for its final destination of the night at a Canton sports bar (located where linebacker Ray Lewis's own 'Ray's Full Moon Barbecue' used to be located). Fortunately, I was able to capture some of the serendipitous moment on camera. Men passing by on the street scramble away from their lives and whip out their smart phones, attempting to capture some shots of the cheerleaders before they disappear into the bar. Some of the men even know the ladies by name, and call out to them. Children run around excitedly screaming, "I hugged Poe! I hugged Poe!" and collecting the SWAG that the Ravens PR people hand out. The ladies, in turn, want their picture taken next to the bus, or the funky purple car.
     Additionally, Baltimore City officials have, again, lit City Hall and the War Memorial up with purple lights, and crews have installed purple bulbs into the street lights. Constellation energy has cast a bright, purple sconce upon the side of its building that faces President St., and the Legg Mason building has illuminated the company's lettering with purple accents as well. Thus, as one approaches the city on 83 South, he is immediately greeted by these purple glares, and projections of runningback Ray Rice's #27 on buildings, and as he turns on to the side streets, the excitement only increases with each string of purple christmas lights, jersey clad Baltimoreans out on the town, and spray-painted sidewalk art. It's not only rare, but actually impossible, to go anywhere on a Friday and not see the numbers 20, 52, 86, 55, and 92 whirling around you. The Ravens have painted our town purple and within hours we will see if they can do the same in Pittsburgh, Penn. But it's playoff season, and the (purple) spotlight is on the players now. With the entire city watching, the Ravens are ready to hunt.

Spring 2011 – New York Fashion Week, Style Forecasts

At Mercedes-Benz Spring 2011 Fashion Week in Bryant Park, NY, designers debuted new pairings of classic pieces, from clean-cut pant suits, sleek a-lines, and simple geometric prints, to metallic flourishes, denim, and updates on long-popular florals and patterns. My top designers included old favorites like Rebecca Taylor, Tracy Reese, and Tibi, but the ranks also grew to include up-and-comers and long-established names that I have just recently acquired a taste for.

Popular trends included a country look, which played flowy frocks, floral prints, leather and denim together in an updated, sophisticated, and decidedly feminine manner. This folksy look featured new takes on big belts, denim shirts, fringe, and boots, putting a softer spin on a classic, all-American western pioneer motif.

In a transitional look, designers again turned to leather boots and belts and denim touches to mix up various lace dresses and blouses. Lace is a huge trend this season, making appearances in designer RTW apparel as well as in pieces by distributors like Urban Outfitters and Free People, and buttons, zippers, crochet, and other intricate design details accomplish similar goals, appealing to similar aesthetic sensibilities.

Other bohemian looks employed bright, geometric prints, from ikats to Aztec and Native American inspired designs. These tribal prints, as well as other tropical and ethnic prints, capture a trend of globalization that the fashion world has attempted to capture and develop in recent seasons. Gypsy skirts, bright hues, bold swatches of color and pattern, and more subdued earth tones are all mixed and matched together to develop this look.

Finally, clean, angular solids are used to compose sophisticated pantsuits and ensembles with stunningly crisp lines and sleek, trimming dimensions. Often, these angular cuts echo the geometric qualities of some of the bolder pieces, but with more sophistication and subtlety. These looks involve layering of classic and basic pieces that are cut with rich, luxurious material in a simplistic manner. The epitome of “understated elegance,” these looks are versatile, clean, and stunning, and the neutral colors, largely monochromes and whites, means that the pieces can be used in a variety of pairings and settings. Occasionally, designers gave these pieces metallic touches and hints of glinting gold and silver, in order to light up the pieces, but such touches are given sparingly and tastefully, so as not to overwhelm or undermine the integrity of the simplistic ensembles.

By using basic materials, updating prints, and pairing pieces in both unconventional and classic modes, the designers have given favorite design concepts a fresh face and underscored a carefree, globalized, yet sophisticated lifestyle. Below, I have assembled some of my favorite pieces and looks from both the runway and more conventional retailers.

spring stroll (kbk) by suplolz featuring chanel sunglasses

spring metallic (kbk) by suplolz featuring a floral tote

spring tones (kbk) by suplolz featuring a suede satchel

spring bold (kbk) by suplolz featuring zip dresses

spring ethnic and prints (kbk) by suplolz featuring viscose scarves

spring lace (kbk) by suplolz featuring leather shoes

spring folk (kbk) by suplolz featuring striped dresses

spring tribal 2 (kbk) by suplolz featuring print scarves

It's Personal

It seems just about everything nowadays is personal to Rex Ryan. First was his wife’s infamous YouTube video. To questions about this alleged personal video account, the New York Jets coach responded, it’s personal. And as the Jets headed to Indianapolis to take on Peyton Manning and the Colts in last week’s Wild Card matchup, Ryan’s rivalry with Manning was personal. Now, as New York prepares to take on the regular season AFC champion New England Patriots this weekend in Foxboro, Mass., it seems nothing has changed. On Patriots coach Bill Belichick, Ryan had this to say; “There’s no question. It’s personal. It’s about him against myself, and that’s what it’s going to come down to” (nfl.com). Ironically, it is a defense-minded coach who has gone on the offense in addressing the Jets’ opponents this season.

Now that Ryan has made clear to all that just about everything in the National Football League is personal, we turn our attention to his team, hoping to see how Ryan’s press conference rhetoric will affect the players’ attitudes and game plans going into the weekend. Belichick has urged his own players not to respond to Ryan’s prods and provocations, understanding that the last thing the Patriots want to do is give the underdog Jets material to use for inspiration. As the Jets head into the divisional round, they come off a 17-16 win in last week’s Indianapolis game hungry to avenge their embarrassing loss to the Patriots’ in a Week 13, 45-3 rout.

Ryan finally realized his very personal goal of beating Manning, but is unsatisfied, and seems to take some enjoyment in letting upcoming opponents in on his sensitivities. In this way, Ryan has captured media headlines and attempted to shift and dictate pre-game narratives throughout the season, but has only grown more outspoken as the postseason progresses. New England quarterback Tom Brady, in addition to Belichick, has recently fallen subject to Ryan’s pokes and jabs. Last week, the Jets’ coach playfully critiqued Brady, suggesting that he does not study the game as seriously as does Manning, and implying that perhaps Brady receives undeserved compliments and media attention.

While the jury’s still out as to how exactly the trash talking will affect the game, if at all, it was certainly very daring of Ryan to challenge mastermind Belichick, no matter how personal things may be. This week, during an interview with the New York Daily News, Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie had some choice words (that included profanities) when describing his own affection, or lack thereof, for Brady. When questioned about these comments, the cornerback expressed no regret, but rather fervent conviction in his prior statement. In light of Cromartie’s statements, the question may shift from, ‘how will this affect the game?’ or ‘is this the smartest thing for the Jets?’ to ‘have they gone too far?’ It is clear that Ryan’s vitriolic words have ignited his own players, pushing them to make inappropriate statements. While Cromartie described a “hatred” in his relationship with Brady, the ever-charismatic Patriots QB made light of the remarks, dismissing them with a few jokes and some backhanded compliments of the Jets’ other corner, Darrelle Revis.

In their attempts to get under the Patriots’ skin, however, Ryan and Cromartie may have done nothing more than to awaken a sleeping giant. The Patriots have been unstoppable this season, and if there is one thing a football fan should know, it is that the Pats have the ability to turn their level of play up even higher when the calendar pages flip and the weather turns cold. In the past decade, Brady, Belichick, and the Patriots are, perhaps, the most dangerous and least predictable (except in their ability to win) team come January. Furthermore, with an outstanding undefeated home record (many of those wins were brutal and decisive), the Patriots have not dropped the ball (figuratively) a single time when competing on their own turf. The cards are certainly stacked against Ryan and his players, and inciting a feud with the best team in the NFL before heading off to play on their field, may have only served to dig the Jets’ grave deeper. That, ultimately, may not have been the best call in the playbook.

 [Story can also be found at Ravens Blackout; photo: LA Times]

Koch Can Leave Steelers Kicking Themselves Sunday Morning

If the Pittsburgh Steelers overlook Ravens punter Sam Koch this Sunday, as the rest of the NFL and its fan base have consistently done, they could find themselves, quite literally, in deep trouble. Koch, a fifth year punter out of Nebraska, was again snubbed in Pro Bowl voting for the 2010-2011 season, and continues to fly under the radar as he delivers consistent kicking performances outing after outing.

In his fifth season, Koch played in all 16 regular season games, completing 81 punts for a total of 3,530 yards (3,175 net). On a weekly basis, Koch pins opposing teams deep within their own territory, often within the 20-yard line, if not the 10. In fact, in 2008 he led the league in punts landing within the 10-yard line. This is crucial because Koch’s placement gives the Baltimore special teams and defense more room to work and suffocates opposing offenses. In 2010, opposing teams took control of the ball within their own 20-yard line 39 times, and Koch has not been blocked on a single attempt.

The 28 year old has long been underappreciated in the National Football League, but his kick placement could be a deciding factor as the Ravens head to Pittsburgh this Saturday. Facing Pittsburgh’s threats like Hines Ward, Heath Miller, and Rashard Mendenhall, Baltimore will need all it can get, and field position will provide a major advantage. Of course, it is also imperative that the Ravens be up to brush on special teams tackling.
The special teams unit has, perhaps, demonstrated more growth than any other Ravens unit over the course of this season. Specialists must continue to tackle quickly, relinquishing little return yardage. Missed tackles negate Koch’s efforts, and furthermore, have a psychological impact on the game. Since Koch’s 2006 debut in Baltimore, the Ravens special teams have consistently improved upon this aspect of their game, particularly since John Harbaugh, a former special teams coach, assumed the head coaching position.

Last week versus Kansas City, Koch was forced to punt only twice, for a total of 62 yards, but may well be a larger factor if Baltimore runs into more trouble with the Steelers’ defense. Because the Ravens often have difficulty converting on third downs, Koch’s role is maximized, as he is regularly brought on to punt, and averaged about five punts a game in 2010.

Sam Koch may have been a sixth round draft pick, but his invaluable punting gives him the potential to impact the game as a first round pick would. Any team that disregards the threat posed by Koch stands to be taught a lesson, and many here in Baltimore are hoping that Koch is among the factors that coach Mike Tomlin and Pittsburgh overlook in their preparations for Saturday. With a big outing by Koch, the Steelers may wake up Sunday morning kicking themselves. 

[See story, and others regarding this weekend's game at Ravens Blackout; photos: Baltimore Ravens, www.photos.upi.com]

Healthy Heap Lends Two Helping Hands

As the Baltimore Ravens defeated the Kansas City Chiefs on the road Sunday, one of the largest felt presences came from 247 pound, 6’5’’ tight end Todd Heap. Heap, a tenth year veteran and first round draft pick out of Arizona State, missed three games this season. He left the first quarter of Baltimore’s December 5^th 13-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers with a concerning hamstring injury incurred during the Ravens’ first play from scrimmage, and did not return to the game. His absence was felt through and through, as Baltimore held Pittsburgh to just 13 points but failed to produce on offense, missing Heap as both a receiver and a fill-in blocker for back Le’Ron McClain. Despite missing four games, Heap finished the regular season with 40 receptions, nearly 600 yards, and five touchdowns.

            The tight end is not unaccustomed to serious injuries and is often at the receiving end of gigantic hits, including the one he endured from the Patriots’ Brandon Meriweather in Baltimore’s Week Six outing in Foxboro (Meriweather was later fined $40,000 for the illegal head-to-head collision that left Heap temporarily immobile). Prior to this season, Heap has battled ankle and thigh injuries, as well as unrelated sicknesses. In his rookie season, Heap suffered a high ankle sprain in a Week 3 Baltimore-Cleveland meeting. He started every game the following year, and led the Ravens in receptions in two consecutive pro-bowl years, but in September of 2004, following an impressive 57-reception, 693-yard third season, Heap injured his ankle (ironically in a Ravens-Steelers matchup). He missed more than ten weeks of the following season, returning in Week 13 only to re-injure it before the final game of the season. After continuing to struggle with his ankle, Heap was activated in August of 2005, and became the franchise’s all-time receiving yards leader. He remained relatively healthy until December of 2007. In 2005, Heap pulled in 75 passes and chalked up 855 yards and 7 touchdowns. The following year, Heap helped the 2006 Ravens to the top of the AFC North, contributing 765 yards and 6 touchdowns to Baltimore’s efforts.

In 2007, however, Heap returned to the ranks of the injured. After tearing his hamstring in September, he attempted to play in two of Baltimore’s following five games, but was eventually forced to sit out the remainder of the season. He played in just six games until landing on injured reserve in December. After a heartbreaking 2008 AFC Championship loss to the Steelers, Heap struggled with nagging injuries in the 2009 season, but nevertheless was able to close out the season with six touchdowns prior to Baltimore’s second-round loss in Indianapolis. In 2007, Heap was all too eager to return to the field. While well intentioned, his desire to return to the game put his recovery process in jeopardy, and ultimately led to his missing even more of the season. His resilience, however, demonstrates that the tight end is not easily deterred by injury, and underscores his dedication to the program, a commitment that will come into play as the Ravens march deeper into this 2010-2011 playoff season.

            In Sunday’s wild card victory over the Chiefs, Heap pulled in a franchise record 10 catches, gaining 108 yards in a single postseason game. On one drive, the tight end pocketed four passes from Joe Flacco, totalling nearly 60 yards, and throughout the afternoon the veteran was dependable, providing Flacco with a reliable target as receivers Boldin, Stallworth, Mason, and Houshmandzadeh struggled to evade Brandon Flowers and Eric Berry.

Despite persistent ankle, thigh, and hamstring injuries, Heap has always been, when healthy, a uniquely dependable receiver. The tight end is not only a fantastic player, but a smart and experienced one who is often able to read coverage, sight openings, and gain crucial yardage that turns second and third down situations into new firsts.

            Heap winces through his injuries and is more eager than many contemporaries to return to the field and produce for his team. While this work ethic may put the tight end at acute physical risk, a healthy Heap is indispensable to the Baltimore lineup. He possesses an awareness that the Ravens’ young tight ends do not yet have, and is one of the best ball-handlers on the team. He consistently protects the ball after his receptions and makes few turnovers, instead running a clinic in gaining post-reception yardage. 

            It is crucial that Heap remains healthy this playoff season, and Joe Flacco and Cam Cameron must capitalize off of his talent. Heap is not only a skilled receiver but also a warrior, one who refuses to sit back and watch. The Ravens must ensure that he is well protected, but also use Heap as an example of textbook receiving, one whose grit and endurance both on and off the field can and should be emulated by younger tight ends and receivers. Heap comes up big at clutch moments, and his potential to be a game-changing receiver cannot be overlooked, as his scenario-presence and experience performing on the big stage cannot be supplemented of replicated. While his doggedness and refusal to quit is certainly something for the Ravens training staff to be wary of, it is also a trait that must and will be embraced and appreciated by Harbaugh, Flacco, Purple Nation, and opponents alike.

With Todd Heap back in the lineup, the Ravens significantly increase their threat-level and add dimension to their offensive playbook. No stranger to physical adversity, Heap has returned healthy, and all of Baltimore certainly has its fingers crossed that his Steelers Curse ends Saturday, as beloved No. 86 may well be the “x-factor” as Baltimore returns to icy Heinz Field for the division rivals’ third matchup of the season.

[story available at Ravens Blackout]

(photos: boston herald, baltimore sports report, zimbio, espn)

Ravens Defeat Chiefs, Look to Pittsburgh

Kansas City, MO – Amidst the mourning of Ed Reed’s missing brother, the Baltimore Ravens marched into Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday afternoon, and proved that when push comes to shove, they are capable of closing out big games. Over the course of the afternoon, the Ravens improved dramatically in many areas where they have been criticized, often rightfully, throughout the 2010-2011 season.

After winning the coin toss, the host Chiefs elected to kickoff first, delivering the ball to the Ravens’ own 30-yard line. Kansas City strong safety Eric Berry made his presence known early, nearly picking off a Flacco play-action fake on the first offensive play of the game. Flacco recovered, however, and identified the Chiefs’ blitz, quickly completing to receiver Anquan Boldin for 27 yards. Again, Flacco looked to veteran Derrick Mason, but was deterred by cornerback Brandon Flowers’s meticulous single-man coverage. On 3^rd and 8, Flacco completed to tight end Todd Heap over the middle, gaining 12 yards and a first down.

After several unsuccessful runs by Ray Rice, it became apparent that the Chiefs’ coverage was strongest towards the sidelines. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron recognized this opening, and capitalized on defensive holes, calling a series of short, downfield passes to Rice. Flacco successfully threaded the ball to Heap, who worked the ball to Kansas City’s own 1-yard line. In a chaotic hurry-up play, however, a disorganized Flacco fumbled with the snap, dooming his attempted QB sneak, and forcing Baltimore to settle for a Cundiff field goal. This sort of goal line inefficiency has characterized of much of the Ravens’ season, particularly in the second halves, as CBS’s Jim Nantz commented, “and so the Ravens get three when seven looked like a certainty.”

Later Michael Oher, who is heavily penalized and has missed crucial blocks, allowed the Chiefs’ Tamba Hali to slip by, stripping Flacco and recovering possession for Kansas City. The Chiefs made Flacco pay, and back Jaamal Charles evaded several Ravens tackles on his way into the endzone for a 41-yard touchdown. Kansas City recognized the age and size of the Baltimore defensive line, and mixed up its play-calling in an attempt to wear out the defense and minimize the impact of Baltimore’s size.

Kansas City, looked to the sidelines, hoping to exploit Baltimore’s inconsistent secondary and aged defensive line. Brandon Albert interrupted this strategy, however, drawing a false start, and allowing Ed Reed to make colossal hit on Dexter McCluster on the next play. The impeccable tackle, textbook in legality and timing, was not only NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s dream but also a momentum-shifter.

Joe Flacco recovered from his previous two series, scrambling and then completing a series of passes to Todd Heap. This set Ray Rice up to run a Ravens touchdown into the endzone. This touchdown exemplified the day’s most effective strategy; the Ravens needed to stick with simple playcalling and pursue the over-the-middle completions to tight ends and backs, who could turn short passes into first downs.

As the Chiefs hoped to strike back, Ravens safety Haruki Nakamura intercepted a tipped Matt Cassel pass, but as he attempted to gain return yardage, carelessly handled the ball and fumbled, returning the ball to the Chiefs on the same play. Nakamura’s gaffe echoed Ed Reed’s scattered judgment lapses, and for a minute it appeared that what could have been a defining play for the Ravens, would instead shift momentum to Kansas City. Charles and Jones drove, providing the Chiefs with several firsts, until Dawan Landry and Kelly Gregg finally delivered a Ravens stop.

As Flacco, Mason, and Boldin drove into the Red Zone, Baltimore could not convert to Heap, double-covered, and settled for another, 29-yard field goal. Matt Cassel, too, failed to force the issue, and after an intentional grounding call put the Chiefs in a 2^nd and 20, Terrell Suggs finally unleashed his gruesome alter ego, T-Sizzle, picking up a huge sack. On the very next play, Ray Lewis made his own voice known, forcing a fumble. In a heads-up play, Chris Carr retrieved the ball and dove on top of it, avoiding the risk of a Nakamura-like turnover.

Eric Berry, who proved a worthy adversary for the Ravens throughout the afternoon, was called for illegal contact (the Chiefs were lucky to avoid the pass interference call), but linebacker Jovan Belcher sacked Flacco again. Under pressure from Hali, Flacco failed to convert a Ravens touchdown, and Cundiff tacked on another Ravens field goal. After a Dawan Landry interception, the Ravens returned to the strategy they should have pursued all game. Flacco completed over the middle to McGahee, and then Heap, before Anquan Boldin pulled in a touchdown to give the Ravens a 23-7 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Heading into the fourth quarter with a sizeable lead, the Ravens faced a familiar challenge– keep the pressure on, don’t let the other team stay in the game. The Ravens dominated the Chiefs in play-count and time of possession, but after an impressive Kansas City runback, it appeared that, again, the Ravens would have difficulty closing out the game. Paul Kruger and Lardarius Webb disagreed, and forced a Matt Cassel fumble, which upon review, was deemed an incompletion, by token of the same tuck rule that saved Tom Brady nearly a decade ago in a Patriots’ upset of the Oakland Raiders. Josh Wilson stepped up his coverage, and a declined holding penalty on the Chiefs forced them to punt at 4^th and 7.

As the Ravens drove, tensions peaked, and Michael Oher mixed things up with various Chiefs players. At one point, Kansas City’s Tyson Jackson attempted to rip Heap’s helmet off, an unsportsmanlike motion that prompted officials to conference with the head coaches. The extracurriculars carried the potential to distract the Ravens from their ultimate goal, and John Harbaugh urged his players to focus on the game.

Baltimore, thankfully, was able to do just that, looking to Boldin, Rice, and McGahee to extend the Ravens drive. As McGahee curtsied into the endzone, he performed his own interpretation of the Chiefs’ “tomahawk” celebration, hoping to spite the players who, after sacking Flacco, had mocked the Ravens’ touchdown dance. On this drive, the Ravens successfully wore down the clock, engineering the longest-lasting offensive drive of the season, and leaving the Chiefs with little time and energy for rebuttal. Terrell Suggs leveled Matt Casel and recorded his second sack of the day, and Ray Lewis followed suit, adding a sack of his own to the stat-book. A Josh Wilson interception closed out the game, as Joe Flacco and back Jalen Parmele ran down the clock.

The Ravens, uncharacteristically, proved themselves not in the first, but rather the second half, as they have done only a handful of times this season. While Kansas City’s scoring drives highlighted persistent weaknesses in the Ravens’ offensive line, Baltimore demonstrated an increased adaptability to their opponents’ defensive strategies. Eventually, Baltimore responded to the Chiefs’ strong outside coverage and settled into a consistent, and effective, method of making its way down the field through short, over the middle gains. Joe Flacco demonstrated a promising confidence in the pocket, reading blitzes and pressure much more perceptively, and illustrating growth over the course of the game. He seemed to understand and react to early sacks, incompletions, and fumbles, internalizing those mistakes and improving with each series.

On defense, the line demonstrated a durability and stamina that has often been wanting, and grew stronger, rather than weaker, as the game wore on. The hits were harder and came quicker. The backs looked fresh and hungry, rather than tired and worn-down. Bottom line; the Ravens made stops when they needed to, and, for the first time in recent memory, they converted touchdowns when they needed to. Their game got better, not worse, as the clock ticked on, and combined strategy, physical prowess, and the traditional, carnal Ravens hunger into a winning combination that they have not always been able to contrive.

Next week, the Ravens head to Pittsburgh to face division rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers for the third time this season. There is much contention and bad blood between these teams, and Baltimore must settle this feud by continuing to show the same growth they did at Arrowhead.

Note: Strong Safety Ed Reed (20) was awarded the game ball, in a show of support from the Baltimore Ravens organization, regarding his brother's disappearance. 

[Kate is now a contributor at Ravens Blackout; this game recap can also be found through that site. Ravens Blackout, founded by former classmate, Wiley Spears (Bowdoin College) and his project partner John Dame (Tufts University), is a site dedicated to keeping Ravens and NFL fans updated with the latest recaps, news, editorials, and multimedia available.]

(photos: ESPN via Getty Images, AP Photo)

Good Will Hunting

     For all the acclamation "Good Will Hunting" has received from critics and viewers alike since its 1997 premiere, I had never bothered to watch it until last night. I find this fact particularly shocking considering the number of times I have seen "The Town" and "The Departed," or the fact that I attend school not far from MIT or Harvard; in fact Tufts is just two stops farther on the dearly beloved MBTA Red Line. Regardless, my recent viewing confirmed my suspicions; "Good Will Hunting" is, undoubtedly, one of the most riveting and intriguing movies ever made.
    Directed by Gus Van Sant, the film, written by Massachusetts natives Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, is sincere and deeply personal. As a result of their Boston-area upbringings and their familiarity with the mean streets of South Boston, Damon's and Affleck's acting performances are convincing and wholly realistic, providing an added dose of credibility and gravity to their roles and the film's storyline. "Good Will Hunting" delves into the life of Will Hunting (Matt Damon), a young Southie boy and unlikely genius, who works as a janitor at MIT. An award-laden, and rather self-assured professor begins to post challenging equations in the hallway outside his classroom, daring brave students to attempt the proofs. The equations are mysteriously solved overnight, and the professor soon realizes that it is not one of his students, but rather the unsuspecting janitor, who computes in just minutes the answers that took him years to develop.

     The professor, a Mr. Gerald Lambeau, encounters Hunting one evening and engages him in an unlikely and complicated partnership, one that all too often proves to satisfy Lambeau's own professional motivations. Meanwhile, Hunting, a rough and tough twenty year old from South Boston, faces legal troubles and struggles to balance his violent tendencies and abuse-filled past with his singular yet often burdensome cunning. Throughout the film, Hunting battles his ingenuity, and refuses to accept his intellectual giftedness. To help him accept this, Sean Maguire (Robin Williams), a psychiatrist and former roommate of professor Lambeau, counsels, but more importantly befriends Hunting. Maguire pushes hunting to leave behind the cold, impersonal world of books and academia that he has protectively and instinctively buried himself in. His tragic background is at once gripping, repulsive, and endearing, and viewers feel deep compassion for Will's unfortunate upbringing. This empathy strengthens our personal connection to Hunting, and to the film's other characters. As we witness Will's striking personal transformation, we see, conversely, that Hunting's appearance in Maguire's life is equally affecting.

     Affleck and Damon draw from a genuine Bostonian culture to produce a thought-provoking masterpiece refreshingly drenched with vulgarity and provocative comedic relief. Like "The Departed" and "The Town," "Good Will Hunting" is appropriately laced with profanities and crudities, particularly sexual references and the f-word. The writers capture the deep-seeded comradeship and loyalty among Hunting and his friends, which more often than not is manifested through choice dialogue and blatant violence. These touches, rather than add distaste, echo the writers' intentions to provide viewers with a painfully straightforward, intensely aggressive, and deeply realistic story. As Hunting discovers himself and confronts his past, his personal struggles endear viewers to him, and as his romance with a young Harvard student (Minnie Driver) progresses, we become personally invested, even trapped, in the throes of infatuation and love.

     Through their development of Hunting's friendships and romantic relationships, sexual and not, Damon and Affleck examine complex and incredibly sophisticated issues. The writers use a juxtaposition of "success" versus "failure" and "wealthy" versus "poor" to explore socioeconomic inequalities, social mobility, and social standards of decorum, inferiority, and superiority, while honing in on the ever-touchy and controversial subject of circumstance and opportunity. To do so, the writers craft the gifted Hunting, and juxtapose him with those academically, economically, and socially more and less privileged than he. Hunting's future hinges on his own decisions, his own impulses and actions, and the plot revolves around the nagging debate of whether to ignore or develop the unique potential he has been equipped with.

     "Good Will Hunting" is thought-provoking in a revolutionary manner - it begs viewers to consider their own potential and their own god-given talents, and to reflect on what they have done or might do with those gifts that, like Will's, might otherwise be rejected, overlooked, or even thrown away. We are forced to re-examine our own priorities, to challenge ourselves, and to ask if we have done all that we can do with the tools we have been given. "Good Will Hunting" demonstrates that to fully embrace one's potential, he must first confront and accept his past. As Dr. Maguire and Hunting's childhood friend Chuckie Sullivan (Ben Affleck) urge Will to really live and experience life, outside of his books and his Southie-centric world, by opening his eyes and heart to passion, and trust, and love, they unwittingly dare us to do the same.
     Against the backdrop of a shockingly realistic blue-collar Boston neighborhood, Will Hunting, Chuckie Sullivan, Skylar, and Sean Maguire dare us to face our own pasts, to embrace our talents, and live for the future. We are asked, like Will is, to live without the fear that love and trust will only one day disappoint us, and to anti-up, even after losing a hand, because pushing others away will really only ensure that we never really have to know anybody. And living life like that, that's not living; it's not anything you can't just read about in a book.