“It ain’t too late!”

It was a clear, bright Saturday morning, and like the wails of a religious zealot entreating the doomed masses the words rang out across the parking lot, somewhere between Academy Sports and Home Depot. I was on foot, waiting to cross an access road there in the lot, and I had to look around – first to figure out who was being spoken to, and then to figure out who had done the speaking.

Not the easiest task as I’m not always the sharpest knife...

Back in early February, I found myself sitting on a friend's couch, cold beer in one hand, small paper plate of chicken wings in the other. I was joined by about 10 or 12 other similarly armed friends, all of us circling around the giant big screen TV, staring with anxious anticipation as we awaited the kickoff to Super Bowl 43.

As I watched what would be the last opening kickoff for the next 7 long months, a less-than-hardcore fan of the sport sitting next to me innocently asked...

I must be mad. Out of touch. An anachronism. Hell – I’m certain of it.

I don’t believe Michael Vick was wrong. I don’t believe he was ‘misguided’. He wasn’t mislead by his ‘cultural upbringing’. Michael Vick wasn’t immature or confused. He didn’t use ‘bad judgment’, or make some ‘bad decisions’.

Michael Vick was evil.

Yep. The ‘E’ word. You know what evil is, right? Raping a woman? Evil. Bludgeoning someone weaker than you and taking something from...

It’s the fool’s season. Time to make a wish, throw a dart, say a prayer, make a human sacrifice, consult the Gods.

It’s the start of the 2009 NFL season and it’s prediction time.

And certainly, this fool is going to make a prediction. But not before a thoughtful, cerebral, academic pause. Because, really, who the hell do I think I am? What precise, educated, and informed knowledge leads me to a conclusion others should pay more than a passing attention to? Yes –...

The gaps on either side of the center are the A gaps. The gaps between the guard and tackle are the B gaps. Outside the tackles are C through E gaps, but we'll concentrate on the first two.

A defensive lineman can do one of two things, he can line up (generally) over an offensive lineman, or he can line up in front of one of the gaps between offensive linemen.

If he is lining up directly over an O lineman, then he is responsible for controlling the gaps on either side...