The South Stander Edition 2

Broncos Thoughts of the Week:

The Offensive Line is key to the success of a quarterback. For Tim Tebow to be successful in his passing game, the offensive line is going to have to really improve and start better protecting the QB. Players on the Offensive Line are very difficult to evaluate individually. Instead, the offensive line needs to be evaluated as a unit, because they need to work together for a successful run game and for protecting their QB. This week, I have been pouring over O-Line stats to try to figure out exactly how the Bronco's line is doing because I have been very critical of them all season.

I was surprised by the offensive line passing statistics for the Broncos. I have felt the line hasn't been giving our QB enough protection all year and forcing Orton to scramble or hurry his passes. The closest statistic that I could find to represent this is 'QB Hits'. This stat tells how many times the QB gets hit after throwing the ball. This stat represents the amount of pressure on a QB, as a result of his offensive line. Denver ranks second in the league, allowing only 17 hits on the QB and is tied for sixth in the NFL for fewest sacks with 9.

I have tried to find the number of times a QB has been 'hurried', or forced to throw the ball before he wants to without getting hit. This stat does not seem to exist for a QB, only for hurries caused by defensive players.

I did, however, find The New York Life Protection Index. This statistic is a measure of how much the offensive line protects the QB and is based off of pass attempt, o-line penalties, sacks, QB hits and hurries. Denver ranks right in the middle of the league at #13 with an index rating of 66.2. As for why an insurance company calculates this statistic...I have no idea!

These stats show that the offensive line is doing a good job at protecting the quarterback. They aren't allowing many defensive players to get to the quarterback. This really surprised me because I felt that the offensive line was doing a terrible job at this, but I think this shows that Kyle Orton was playing much worse than I thought he was. I'm glad to see our line is doing an average job protecting the QB.

	Sks Allwd	QB Hits	NYLPI
DEN	9	17	66.2
NFL Rank	6 (tied)	2	13

The other job of the offensive line is to block and create holes for the running game. The Broncos running game is greatly improved over last season for a few reasons. First, running back Willis McGhee is a great addition and a powerful, fast back. Second, the addition of Orlando Franklin at right tackle has improved the running game. And third, the whole line has more experience playing together and are looking more comfortable in their positions. Denver has rushed for 509 yards on the season, averaging about 100 yards per game. Compared to last season when we barely had any running games over 100 yards, this is a great improvement.

The offensive line can still improve their blocking in short yardage runs on 3rd or 4th down. As shown in the table below by the power (Pwr) statistic. This stat gives the percentage of runs that are successful in getting a first down or touchdown on 3rd or 4th down and less than 2 yards to go and includes 1st and 2nd down and goal to go on the 2 yard line or less. The Broncos have 0% completion on these plays running to the left or the center. They only have a 67% completion running to the right. This shows that on these plays Denver will be more likely to run right, Orlando Franklin's side, to try to get the first down. To keep drives alive we need to get better in these situations running to the left and center.

Rush Left
1st	Neg	+10Y	Pwr
9	3	5	0
Rush Right
1st	Neg	+10Y	Pwr
9	3	7	67
Rush Center
1st	Neg	+10Y	Pwr
8	5	4	0

Beer of the Week:

The Twisted Pine Pumpkin Ale is one of my favorite beers of all time. It tastes like autumn. It tastes like a pumpkin pie that was made with beer. It tastes like all the best desert at thanksgiving. If you ask nicely The Pine will even add whipped cream and cinnamon on top of your pint to help you enjoy it even more. Now, what beer could possibly be better than that?

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Drew Litton Comic of the Week:


In honor of the Avalanche's great start (below), here is a classic Drew Litton Comic.

Outdoor Thoughts of the Week:

This week I interviewed to work at REI again. I had been thinking back to my first interview at the store in Portland and trying to remember what it was like. I couldn't remember much except that I was asked "If you could be any piece of outdoors gear, what would you be?" In 2007 I remember I decided on a chalk bag. I don't know why. I don't remember the metaphor I made up for it. But this week I spent a lot of time thinking about this question in preparation for my interview with REI again. Unfortunately, I was never asked to pretend to be a piece of gear this time around.

But I decided on a down jacket. They are very versatile, just like I am. They make the best

back-country pillows ever. You can tie the sleeve around your head to serve as a head band when you sleep to drown out your tent-mate's snoring. They can be crammed into a stuff sack and used as a football. Oh, and they keep you warm. And probably a bunch of other things that I just haven't thought of yet. I make sure to bring mine on nearly any trip I'm going on. It's like a silent friend you cab bring anywhere with you.

Other pieces of gear I debated included: a bivy sac, a carabiner, an ice ax or a sling.

In other outdoor thoughts, make sure to read Brendan Leonard's outdoors blog. This week he gave away some of his best back-country recipes! My favorites include when he mixes mac and cheese with chili or when mac and cheese is mixed with Palak Paneer. I would like to add that I enjoy a healthy serving of cholula mixed with my back-country mac and cheese.

The Mountain Gazette published a great piece on what it's like to go through transitions in your outdoors life as you begin a family. I am currently in the middle of many transitions (though not the starting a family kind!) and it helped me to realize it's okay to put your outdoor passions to the side for a while as you focus on something else (in my case, apply for a crazy amount of jobs every week.) I think that once I'm through these transitions I'm going to start enjoying rock-climbing a lot more. Plus, I'm really excited for the ice to form and get to Ouray this winter!

Finally, here is a great bouldering video from South Africa.

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Rapids Thoughts of the Week:

The Rocky Mountain Cup showdown this weekend ended in a hard fought, 0-0 draw and Real Salt Lake held onto the cup for the fifth straight year despite receiving 4 yellow cards. The Rapids still got a point out of the match, and with the NY Red Bulls loosing on Saturday, the Rapids clinched a wild-card playoff spot.

The Rapids had the majority of scoring chances against Real Salt Lake but could not get anything past the goal keeper. Colorado had 8 shots at the goal, though most of them were off target. Colorado also won five corner kicks to RSL's one. Caleb Folan, the Rapid's big Irish forward, came into the game with 22 minutes remaining and quickly had the best scoring opportunity of the night. In the 82nd minute Kimura launched a cross towards the goal and Folan got his head on it right in front of RSL goal keeper Nick Rimando. Rimando pushed the ball up and over the goal to force a corner kick. On the corner kick, Folan again got his head on the ball. But the ball bounced straight down off the crossbar and onto the goal line and was able to be cleared by the RSL defense.

The Rapids kept their intensity high during the end of the game and kept pressuring RSL. It was good to see the 'Pids hold onto a draw in the final minutes as they have not been able to do much during the season.

After the game The Class VI Rapid's Supporters in section 108 presented Drew Moor and Kosuke Kimura with the offense and defensive player of the year awards. Both had great seasons and

have been fan favorites all year.

The Rapids playoff opponent will be determined by the end of the season next week. The Rapids need a win against Vancouver next week to get a home play off game as the 2nd seeded wildcard team. The Rapids can also clinch the second seed with a Houston loss. The Rapid's will play either Houston, Columbus or NY to begin the playoffs on Oct 28 or 29th.

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TV Thoughts of the Week:

1. I think the new season of House started great. It was fun to see House work his magic in a different and difficult setting. I wish there were going to be more episodes like that.

2. Fox's show, The New Girl, about a socially awkward hippie girl living with three guys she met online, is really fun. I enjoyed the first few episodes and think it's a very refreshing show. Highly recommended.

3. I do not like Robert California on The Office.

4. Will Arnet's new show, Up All Night, is clever. He has a great cast with him and I really like his acting and sense of humor.

5. The three episode "special assignment" of Archer to start season 3 was fantastic. Archer is hands down the best show on TV right.

6. I wish I had Showtime to watch Edward James Olmos on season 6 of Dexter! If I did I would consider it better than Archer.

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Band of the Week:

I recently discovered Publish the Quest while listening to The Dirtbag Diaries on a long drive to the mountains. Publish the Quest is a group from the Pacific North West and their music reminds me of Dispatch mixed with The Cat Empire. It swings, has a great beat and powerful lyrics, a good jam band. I highly recommend their single Sodade. I enjoy the back story of how this song was written in collaboration with musicians from around the world.

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MLB Playoff Thoughts of the Week:

I had hoped Detroit would make the World Series but after loosing two games in the 11th inning off of a walk-off grand slam and a three run homer, both by Cruz, it seemed nearly impossible for Detroit to win the series. Such heart-breaking losses. The Rangers showed their offensive power in Game 6, winning 15-5 and Cruz set a post-season record for home runs in a single series (6). After seeing this game, The Rangers are my new pick to win the World Series. I don't think the Cardinals will be able to keep up with them on offense...but I'm still going to root for the Cardinals to win it all.

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Avalanche Thoughts of the Week:


The Avalanche have jumped up to near the top of ESPN's NHL Power Rankings to begin the third week of the season after being ranked near the bottom. Thanks to an undefeated road trip, the first in franchise history, the Avalanche have the most points in the league (10) and are looking to be the Cinderella story of the season!

Last week the Avalanche embarrassed their former goalie Craig Anderson and his Ottawa Senators by finally finding their offense. The Avs scored 7 goals on Anderson. On their road trip the Avs are 5-0-0, and 5-1-0 on the season.

Thanks to the explosion of offense against Ottawa and a 6-5 win against Montreal, the Avalanche have the 2nd best goal differential in the league with +6. It's still early in the season, but it's nice to see them doing well after such a miserable year in 2010.

On the road trip the Avs also beat the defending cup champions in a 1-0 win, won two exciting shootout games against Columbus and Montreal, and won in OT against Toronto.

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Cheerleader Thoughts of the Week:

One thing that always impressed me about Roller Derby is the creative and fun names the teams have like "The Mile High Club" or "The Philadelphia Liberty Bells".

I recently learned that cheer leading squads around the NFL have more creative names than just "The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders" or "The Denver Broncos Cheerleaders". Below is a list of a few of my favorite cheer leading squad names.

The Buffalo Jills

The Cincinnati Ben-Gals

The SF Gold Rush

The Seattle Sea Gals

I think the Broncos cheerleaders need a new name. It needs to be more creative. I propose "The Mile High Fillies". What do you think?

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Sports & Public Health Thoughts of the Week:

Last week ESPN's Gregg Easterbrook wrote a column that implied the increasing number of boys playing football across the country is influencing the admission rate of colleges and universities. Easterbrook states that there are more women attending college than men, a dramatic change from just twenty years ago. He also states that boys play High School Prep football across the country has increased by 21% since 1990 and that football is becoming a year round sport for kids. Easterbrook speculates that the rise in concussions from football is one of the reasons we are seeing more women in college. Easterbrook writes:

"Having ever-more boys being bashed on the head in football, while more play full-pads tackle at young ages, may be causing brain trauma that makes boys as a group somewhat less likely to succeed as students. In the highly competitive race for college admissions, even a small overall medical disadvantage for boys could matter. "

Now, Easterbrook has always been great at advocating for concussion prevention in all his columns. Having worked in childhood injury prevention, I admire his effort and I am glad to see the NFL trying to reduce the number of concussions players suffer (by changing rules and improving protective gear). I do however disagree with Easterbrook on his theory about college admission rates for boys. First, Easterbrook presents no facts other than discussing how the Female:Male ratio in several colleges has increased recently. Second, a ratio and a rate are not the same thing and cannot be compared. Third, a quick Google Scholar search for "concussions and college admissions" provides no research on the subject (even without football). The closest result was concussions and hospital admissions, which obviously is related.

College Enrollment of Recent HS Graduates

Year	Total HS Grads		# Enrolling in College		HS Dropout Rate
	Male	Female	Male	Female
1990	1,173,000	1,189,000	680,340 (58%)	737,180 (62%)	12.1%
2009	1,407,000	1,531,000	928,620 (66%)	1,132,940 (74%)	8.1%

All data presented is from The US Census Bureau and The National Center for Education Statistics.

Had Easterbrook looked at the numbers of boys and girls enrolling in higher education over the last 20 years, he would have seen that the amount of boys and girls enrolling in college has increased dramatically. In 1990 there were 680,340 boys and 737,180 million girls enrolling in college who had just finished high school. By 2009 both those numbers had increased to 928,620 and 1,132,940, respectively. 8% more boys are enrolling in college and 12% more girls are enrolling in college. Also, it should be pointed out that the number of boys enrolled in college has been less than the number of girls enrolled since the 1970s.

More people than ever have been enrolling in colleges. Sure, more girls than boys are going to college but concussions from football have nothing to do with that. Even though more people are enrolling in college than ever, I am curious why the rate of girls enrolling has always remained higher than the rate of boys enrolling. Like I said, I don’t think football has anything to do with it. But it’s an interesting issue that should be studied further.

I think that it would be interesting to follow a cohort of boys throughout their lives and record what sports they play, how many head injuries they receive and high school and college graduation rates. But this doesn't seem feasible or necessary. There does need to be more of a focus in injury prevention, especially in sports. I'm glad to see that football is leading the way with this by changing rules to make players safer and improving equipment to reduce injury. High School football should be especially commended for the efforts they have made to reduce concussions.

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