A Dunn Deal

To call Adam Dunn's time with the Chicago White Sox a disappointment, would be an understatement. On Sunday, Dunn was shipped off to the Oakland Athletics on the final day that teams could acquire players and place them on their postseason roster.

In the winter heading into the 2011 season, the White Sox tried to sell their "All In" movement to their fans. Dunn, was the face of the team's mindset that they would do whatever it took to win another World Series. Former general manager Kenny Williams, who was never afraid to jeopardize the future of the franchise in order to win right away, handed The Big Donkey a 4 year 56 million dollar deal.

Throw away what sabermetrics might say about Dunn's OBP being respectable at times. Don't be caught up in people pointing to the fact that Dunn saw a large number of pitches during his at-bats, his walk total, or his 95 homers over the course of the past three years. Adam Dunn's contract was the worst in franchise history.

Dunn's legacy with the White Sox will be highlighted by all those swings that would lead to him taking a slow stroll back to the dugout. His 222 strikeouts two years ago was horrendous and a symbol of the designated hitter's time in Chicago.

Yes, Dunn provided some moments of glory. He did have walk-off homers and would deliver occasionally in the clutch with a base hit. Heck he even was at the plate during that famous balk-off win. Despite these positives, Dunn was never that threat in the middle of the lineup that the Sox thought they were getting three and a half years ago.

What frustrated most of Dunn's teammates over the years was the criticism their beloved friend received from the media and fans. That's the thing, Dunn was not a bad guy. He was never cocky or full of himself. During his tenure in Chicago, he took the heat and admitted that he needed to do better. He took care of rookies like how he took pitcher Scott Carroll out to dinner after his first start this year.

At times, Dunn would even have fun with the negative words he would receive from others. He famously tipped his cap after getting on base amid his historically terrible 2011 season. While he never had a serious blowup while he was struggling, people could tell that the hardships were taking a toll on him at the plate. That could be a huge reason why he plans on possibly retiring after this season.

General manager Rick Hahn once again is showing that his sight is on the future and will do whatever it takes to cleanse the franchise of previous mistakes. Getting something, anything, for one of the biggest disappointments in White Sox history, is another step in the right direction.

Follow Nick on Twitter: @KapN93
Nick Kapetan hosts The Sports ReKap with co-host DJ Vogt on MarquetteWire.org.

Preseason Week 4: Santonio Holmes Makes His Case To Stay

By: Nick Kapetan (@KapN93)

For most people, preseason football as a whole is unbearable to watch. The fourth and final game itself barely draws any eyeballs as the starters never really play and the only real storyline of the contest is what bubble player is going to do something special to land on the squad as the fifth option at his respective position.

Thursday night's contest between Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns followed this same narrative.

Third string quarterback David Fales, who is destined for the practice squad, led the offense while the defense consisted of a plethora of players that won't sniff the field come next Sunday. However, there was one position battle that has drawn some interest from Bears fans, that continued to play out last night.

While the Bears sport two elite receivers, a versatile running back that can catch the ball out of the field, and a dynamic tight end, they lack a true third receiver. In a majority of offenses across the league, the third receiver rarely sees the field and is targeted only a hand full of times. However, in head coach Marc Trestman's offense anybody and everybody who is on the field has a chance to make an impact due to the system's nature of utilizing every single possible option.

With the Bears uncomfortable with the performances of the countless options they ran out there during the first two preseason games, they brought on castoff Santonio Holmes to possibly provide another veteran target for quarterback Jay Cutler.

Holmes, who is known for his off the field issues as much as he is for his Super Bowl winning catch with the Pittsburgh Steelers, promised that he has cleaned up his act. On a team that does not only sport a "team-first" culture, but also a high-powered offense, Holmes knew he landed in the perfect place to have a fresh start.

 After a rather unimpressive debut against the Seattle Seahawks, Holmes impressed many with his showing in Cleveland.

On the receiving end of a short pass from Fales, Holmes displayed his explosiveness as he spun away from defenders in pursuit of the end zone. That one play itself would have been enough to show the Bears brass that he still had something left in the tank, but then Holmes returned a punt for 30 yards with a sense of purpose that has been lacking from the numerous players the Bears have tried at that position all preseason.


"You see the explosion in him," Trestman proclaimed. "He separated himself from the defense. That's a good sign."

For the Bears and Holmes, that is indeed a good sign.

It is too early to definitively say that Holmes has put his past behind him. Two weeks is too small of a sample size for that. One thing is clear though: Holmes has the ability to be a factor on this year's Bears team.

 Nick Kapetan hosts The Sports ReKap with his co-host DJ Vogt. The show will begin airing again in September on MarquetteWire.org.

Follow Us On Twitter:

Nick- @KapN93

DJ- @DvJ14

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Be sure to visit Sobelman's this summer, the official sponsor of The Sports ReKap, and try their array of mouthwatering burgers. Visit their website: http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/

It is still over 8 months away but please start considering joining a Relay For Life team at your school next year. For more information on how to join a team at Marquette please contact Kristen Krawczyk at kristen.krawczyk@marquette.edu

The Sports ReKap is happy to announce the additions of Kevin Clancy, Nate Craft, Kevin Saad, Michael Felish, Chris Linskens, Matt Barbato, and Brendan Garrity as full-time contributors to the show. If you want to be a part of the show this year email Nick at nicholas.kapetan@marquette.edu.

Eddie Lacy Looks To Take Another Step Forward

By: Nick Kapetan ( @KapN93)

For years, the high powered Green Bay Packers offense has been synonymous with an elite quarterback coupled with an array of receivers that rack up touchdowns.

In the years since Brett Favre’s departure, Aaron Rodgers has continued to carry the torch as the head of the Packers attack, with the help of various wideouts he has had at his disposal. It seems like every year Green Bay is penciled in as the favorite to win the NFC North thanks to their offense, despite the lack of consistency on the defensive side of the ball.

A top three quarterback in the league plus three or four pass catching playmakers equals a unit that can win a shootout against any offense. That has been the equation the Packers have relied on for years. Now in 2014, there may be another piece added to the mix that will tinker with how the Packers run their offense and make it less one-dimensional.

Last season the Packers drafted running back Eddie Lacy out of the University of Alabama in the second round. In the midst of an era when the running back position is being increasingly undervalued, Lacy’s stock dropped substantially. Without any viable options in the backfield, the Packers saw the broozer as a substantial upgrade over what they had on their roster at the time.

For years the running back position has been the biggest hole on the Packers’ offense. While some seasons the lack of a sturdy offensive line caused a number of problems for ball carriers, that was no excuse for the overall lack of consistent production coming from the various players plugged into the backfield.

In his first two games of professional football, Lacy racked up 51 yards on 15 carries. Then, against the Detroit Lions in the first week of October, Lacy went off.

During his coming out party, Lacy fell one yard short of his first career 100 yard game on the ground. He ran with such explosiveness and pure force, that he was knocking over Lions’ defenders like they were bowling pins. People started to notice how Lacy’s north to south style of running was effective.

In the modern day NFL, most elite running backs make their bread and butter running east to west. They rather run sideline to sideline in order to create more in space, and preserve their body over the long haul. Lacy instead lowers his shoulder and absorbs contact as he has made a habit of gaining yards after contact.

After that game against the Lions, Lacy had four 100 yard games, amassing 1,000 yards (1,178) in his rookie season. His 4.1 yards per rush is an unprecedented average for a guy that runs straight into contact and relies heavily on his upper body strength to fight for those extra yards after barreling into a would-be tackler. Lacy showed that the Packers finally had a worthwhile back in their offense.

Throughout the rest of the 2013 season, Lacy did struggle with consistency, as most rookies do, especially when they are quickly thrown into a starting role. While Lacy did have three total games with less than thirty yards, he bounced back from every lackluster performance.

What was also encouraging about Lacy’s season was that his numbers did not drop off late into the year.

In his final three regular season games, Lacy ran for 141, 84, and 66 yards respectively. Even in his first taste of the playoffs, a man who is not new to the big stage, amassed 81 yards against the San Francisco 49ers.

Entering the 2014, head coach Mike McCarthy stated that the Packers’ offense will have a different feel moving forward. Citing the success of the Philadelphia Eagles offense in 2013, McCarthy explained how his team’s offense will be more up-tempo.

Watching the Packers take down the Oakland Raiders rather easily in week three of the preseason, it is becoming clear what this new fast-paced offense will entail.

Instead of relying heavily on deep passes, Rodgers meticulously relied on short throws to an array of receivers. This allowed the offense to run more plays on its journey down the field, while setting up the long pass during the drive. The rapid offensive attack also featured a large portion of handoffs to Lacy. An offense that once would do everything in its power to beat opponents with the deep ball, is now focusing on a more conservative approach on drives that will hopefully end in touchdowns.

In Lacy’s second season in the NFL, the Packers will clearly ask their second round steal to take a gigantic step forward in his development. In a revamped offense, it will be Lacy’s job to keep defenses on their toes by displaying that Green Bay can beat them through the air and on the ground. If last year was any indication, he will not have any problem with that.

What do you think Eddie Lacy will do in his second season in the NFL? Let us know your thoughts.
 
Nick Kapetan hosts The Sports ReKap with his co-host DJ Vogt. The show will begin airing again in September on MarquetteWire.org.

Follow Us On Twitter:

Nick- @KapN93
 

DJ- @DvJ14

Like Us On Facebook

Be sure to visit Sobelman's this summer, the official sponsor of The Sports ReKap, and try their array of mouthwatering burgers. Visit their website: http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/

It is still over 8 months away but please start considering joining a Relay For Life team at your school next year. For more information on how to join a team at Marquette please contact Kristen Krawczyk at kristen.krawczyk@marquette.edu

The Sports ReKap is happy to announce the additions of Kevin Clancy, Nate Craft, Kevin Saad, Michael Felish, Chris Linskens, Matt Barbato, and Brendan Garrity as full-time contributors to the show. If you want to be a part of the show this year email Nick at nicholas.kapetan@marquette.edu.

A Fresh Start In Atlanta

 

By: Nick Kapetan (@KapN93)

Devin Hester caught a touchdown pass for the second straight week. That is so surprising that it bears repeating; Devin Hester caught a touchdown pass for the second straight week. The biggest take-away from the Atlanta Falcons’ loss last night was the fact that their experiment to transform Hester into a productive receiver, is working so far.

For the better part of his eight years with his former team the Chicago Bears, Hester was the most explosive returner in the NFL. Teams would instruct their kickers and punters to boot the ball away from Hester. They felt more comfortable sailing the ball out of bounds, then allowing Hester to have the ball in his hands.

The product of The U was, for some seasons, the best “offensive” threat the Bears had on their roster even though he never played a down with the actual offense. Then, the coaching staff, pressured by members of the front office, attempted to turn the speedster into a wide receiver. In the end, that plan blew up in the organization’s face.

The thought process behind lining up Hester at receiver was that he could utilize his speed to beat any defender downfield. No matter how athletic the guy covering receiver was, the belief was that Hester could beat him off the line, leading to an easy touchdown.

Lovie Smith and the array of offensive coordinators that he had underneath him over the years, did not understand receivers. Granted they never had a premiere talent until Brandon Marshall came around, but the coaching staff never could utilize the bodies they had on the roster in a productive manner, including Hester.

Looking back on it, Hester as a wide receiver in Chicago was doomed from the start. He would complain about the complexity of the playbook and on Sundays it was clear, while watching him consistently run the wrong route, that he was lost from the start. Hester's dynamic speed carrying over to the offensive side of the ball did not go as smoothly as planned.

Hester could get past a corner without a problem, but failed to break the next level and elude the safety that was on his side of the field. Having him run straight down the field, only leads to successful once in a great while. In his six years as a receiver Hester only recorded 14 touchdowns and his season high of receptions of 20 yards or more was 12.

With Hester failing to provide anything on offense or special teams the last two seasons, the Bears decided to not offer the former returner a contract, prompting the Falcons to swoop in and take a chance on the 31 year old.

While it has only been three preseason games, Hester appears more comfortable being a part of an offense where he does not have to be “the guy”. With proven receivers in Roddy White and Julio Jones ahead of him on the depth chart, Hester only has to be a secondary piece, while focusing mostly on special teams.

There is already evidence that the lack of pressure and being placed in an offense run by quarterback Matt Ryan, will allow Hester to be more successful in his second go-round as a receiver. In their attempt to place their horrendous 2013 in the rearview mirror, the Falcons need as many weapons as possible.

Nick Kapetan hosts The Sports ReKap with his co-host DJ Vogt. The show will begin airing again in September on MarquetteWire.org.

Follow Us On Twitter:

Nick- @KapN93

DJ- @DvJ14

Like Us On Facebook

Be sure to visit Sobelman's this summer, the official sponsor of The Sports ReKap, and try their array of mouthwatering burgers. Visit their website: http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/

It is still over 8 months away but please start considering joining a Relay For Life team at your school next year. For more information on how to join a team at Marquette please contact Kristen Krawczyk at kristen.krawczyk@marquette.edu

The Sports ReKap is happy to announce the additions of Nate Craft, Kevin Saad, Michael Felish, Chris Linskens, Matt Barbato, Kevin Clancy, and Brendan Garrity as full-time contributors to the show. If you want to be a part of the show this year email Nick at nicholas.kapetan@marquette.edu.

 

What Could Have Been





By: Nick Kapetan (@KapN93)

Gordon Beckham's time on the Chicago White Sox was so heavily chronicled the past seven years, it comes as kind of a shock how quickly it is over. On Thursday the team traded the once highly touted prospect to the Los Angeles Angels for a player to be named later or cash.

How fitting is it that the White Sox don't know exactly what they will be receiving in a trade for the second baseman because quite frankly they never really knew what they had with the former first round pick.

When the White Sox drafted the former Georgia product, speculation revolved around where the organization would place the highly athletic defender, in the field. It did not really matter in the eyes of the franchise because no matter where they placed him on the diamond, he would blossom into a Gold Glove caliber defender.

After an experiment at third base failed, the White Sox moved Beckham over to second for the long haul. That first season Beckham's bat surprisingly did all the talking. He batted .270 with 14 homers and 63 runs batted in. People raved about the youngster's approach at the plate and labeled his 2009 performance as something to build on.

In 2010 Beckham regressed at the plate as he made the transition across the diamond to second. His .252 average with 9 homers and 49 runs batted in were still solid for someone in his first full season in the majors, but the campaign was still considered a sophomore slump. "Never fear", the White Sox told their fan base, Beckham would rebound in 2011.

Unfortunately for the Sox and their fans, 2011 was a year that saw Beckham bat a horrid .230 and look completely lost at the plate. He could not hit at the top of the lineup as planned, so then skipper Ozzie Guillen slated him in the eight and nine hole where Beckham would call home for most of his time in Chicago.

Once again entering 2012, the narrative around Beckham was that this would be the year he finally got over the hump. At that point in time he became an elite second baseman that found himself on highlight reels several times. Still, he batted .234 while his power numbers rose (16 homers).

Beckham was not a polished product though. He would have mental lapses at the plate. He would tinker with his swing ever so slightly, but to do avail. The team saw enough positives in 2012 and assured the fans that 2013 would finally be Beckham's year.

Thanks to countless injuries, Beckham only played 103 games for the White Sox in 2013. He could never build off of his hot streaks at the plate because he was constantly on the disabled list.

The talk of Beckham being a bust clearly got to him as he had terrible mind lapses out in the field. He would drop easy pop ups and would be unable to turn double plays he once could do in his sleep. Entering this season, the talk was no longer about Beckham's potential to be a cornerstone of the franchise, but instead was about whether he could be a quality everyday player.

Enough was enough for the White Sox this year. In the midst of a rebuilding movement, Beckham continued to struggle at the plate. He batted .221 with a .263 OBP. It was clear that the 27 year old would not be a part of the club moving forward, which led to his trade to the Angels.

White Sox fans will always think about the "what-ifs" when thinking about Beckham's time in Chicago. What if he learned a better approach at the plate? What if there wasn't so much pressure placed on him right away? What if the White Sox never moved him from shortstop?

Nobody will ever know the answer to these questions. The White Sox will never really know what they could have had with Gordon Beckham. They decided to cut their losses and move on. At this point in time, it was the right move.

Nick Kapetan hosts The Sports ReKap with his co-host DJ Vogt. The show will begin airing again in September on MarquetteWire.org.

Follow Us On Twitter:

Nick- @KapN93

DJ- @DvJ14

Like Us On Facebook

Be sure to visit Sobelman's this summer, the official sponsor of The Sports ReKap, and try their array of mouthwatering burgers. Visit their website: http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/

It is still over 8 months away but please start considering joining a Relay For Life team at your school next year. For more information on how to join a team at Marquette please contact Kristen Krawczyk at kristen.krawczyk@marquette.edu

The Sports ReKap is happy to announce the additions of Nate Craft, Kevin Saad, Michael Felish, Chris Linskens, Matt Barbato, Kevin Clancy, and Brendan Garrity as full-time contributors to the show. If you want to be a part of the show this year email Nick at nicholas.kapetan@marquette.edu.

Preseason Week 3: The Next Chapter in Chris Conte's Career Begins

Chris Conte is the new Steve Bartman. Sure, there are not many similarities between the two men. One is a potential starting safety in the NFL while the other is a former travel baseball coach who continues to hide from the public spotlight, eleven years after being thrusted into it.

The one characteristic that the two individuals do share is that they are both labeled as scapegoats for a failure that cost two beloved Chicago teams a chance to either make the playoffs or the World Series.

While Bartman has been all but forgotten since that fateful night at Wrigley Field in 2003, Conte continues to be a huge topic in the Chicago sports scene. Fans' hate for the man still exists thanks to his horrific lapse in judgment that allowed Randall Cobb, and the Green Bay Packers, to trot into the playoffs.

Conte has become the symbol for the awful season the Bears defense had in 2013. Yes, the safety was horrendous at times. His inability to tackle in open space and prevent deep receptions was head scratching. There is no excuse for his play, but there is no way he deserves all of the blame for the fact that the Bears did not make the playoffs yet again.

The 2013 Bears defense was historically awful. Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker's unit ranked last in almost every statistical category. The defensive line could not generate any pressure and played a significant part in the defense giving up, on average, over 200 yards on the ground from week six on.

Since the season began last year, the linebacking position was a revolving door for Chicago. Thanks to injuries and inconsistent play from a plethora of players, there was no stability at the position. Guys were thrown into spots they had not played in years, and the lack of consistent playing time at a certain position took a toll on the effectiveness of the entire unit.

While the cornerbacks, especially Tim Jennings, were a lone bright spot on the defense, the safeties were unbearable to watch. Deep throws that resulted in touchdowns by opposing quarterbacks became the norm as the lack of pressure up front gave receivers plenty of time to get open down the field.

As a whole the defense was the Achilles' heal for last year's Bears team, not just Conte. It's easy to throw all the blame his way due to the season deciding play that sticks in everyone's mind. However, people are quick to forget the Bears contest against the St. Louis Rams when Benny Cunningham had the game of his life, rushing for 109 yards. That winnable November game was an embarrassment but fans seem to forget that one. There were other games throughout the season that indicated that the Bears defense as a collective unit would prevent the squad from reaching the promise land.

It is time to stop labeling Conte as the reason the Bears failed to make the playoffs. He is an average safety that could be productive, like he has shown in previous seasons, if the pieces around him are upgraded. General manager Phil Emery did just that by revamping the defensive line. Now it's up to Conte to take his game to a whole new level.

The safety's first preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks will be a great test to see where he is in his physical and mental recovery process. If Conte can transform into a quality safety, he will go from scapegoat to just another footnote in Bears history.


Nick Kapetan hosts The Sports ReKap with his co-host DJ Vogt. The show will begin airing again in September on MarquetteWire.org.

Follow Us On Twitter:

Nick- @KapN93

DJ- @DvJ14

Like Us On Facebook

Be sure to visit Sobelman's this summer, the official sponsor of The Sports ReKap, and try their array of mouthwatering burgers. Visit their website: http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/

It is still over 8 months away but please start considering joining a Relay For Life team at your school next year. For more information on how to join a team at Marquette please contact Kristen Krawczyk at kristen.krawczyk@marquette.edu

The Sports ReKap is happy to announce the additions of Nate Craft, Kevin Saad, Michael Felish, Chris Linskens, Matt Barbato, Kevin Clancy, and Brendan Garrity as full-time contributors to the show. If you want to be a part of the show this year email Nick at nicholas.kapetan@marquette.edu.

Will Badger Fans Be Jumping Around this Year?

By: Nate Craft (@nathancraft2)

Wisconsin Badger football fans have been pretty spoiled as of late.

Under Bret Bielema’s tenure from 2006-2012, the program had on overall record of 68-21 with 7 bowl appearances, three of those at the Rose Bowl. However, Bielema’s failure to only go 2-4 in bowl games, including the two Rose Bowls he coached in, is a good indication why Badger fans welcomed his departure to Arkansas and Gary Andersen’s hiring. It was clearly time for a change as the Badger’s looked to take that next step and finally start producing some big time bowl wins.

As we look back on 2013, which marked Gary Andersen’s first season on the job, the Wisconsin Badger’s football team played well. The 9-4 record does not necessarily reflect how talented Andersen’s first squad at Madison actually was.

The Arizona State game clearly was an anomaly with subpar decisions made by the referees (Madison should’ve won this one), Ohio State was able to save their skin at the last minute and avoid a Badger win in Ohio (again Madison should have won this one), and the matchup against Penn State was just the Badger’s having their annual game where the state of Wisconsin was simultaneously wondering: “do the Badger’s know they are playing a football game now?” (Badgers deserved to lose this one).

Andersen’s first season very well could have been 11-1 going into a bowl game.  Yet it clearly was not and many of the issues that led to these losses and the team’s bowl game loss to South Carolina mark the glaring obstacles that will need rectified in 2014 in order to have another positive season.

With the loss of the 2013 seniors, 2014 marks the first year that we will see Andersen’s rebuilt system fully implemented. Let’s take a look at the four main issues the Badgers need to address in order to win the Big Ten Championship and compete in the new BCS Championship.

Offensive Line:
The offensive line really is not an “issue” for the Badgers, yet it has the potential to decide games for the team. A large, powerful offensive line has become the symbol of the Badger offense, however in 2013 the Badgers had some difficulties scoring in the red-zone. With 4/5 O-line starters coming back, be prepared to see Melvin Gordon produce many red-zone TD’s and hopefully some major protection for Joel Stave.

Putting together a semi-decent defense:
So the Badger defense really was not as awful as many believe it was in 2013, but they were pretty bad especially at the end of the season. Considering Andersen and Defensive Coordinator Dave Aranda instituted a 3-4 defense, issues were bound to arise. But now that Andersen & Aranda have had the off-season to tweek the defense, it will be interesting to see how a less experienced linebacker corps, a probably less talented secondary, and a pretty normal defensive line will fair. My hope is that the young guns will prove themselves and play well, but I’m rational and don’t expect the Badger defense to be that much better this season.

Joel “Sunshine” Stave:
Let’s be frank, Stave’s only real job this year is to not be a liability. We all know that he is not going to be a great quarterback like Russell Wilson. All we should be asking is for him to play like Scott Tolzein: advance the offense, make a few good passes, not fumble/throw a bunch of crap passes at the feet of the receivers/into the hands of the defense, and hand off the ball to Melvin Gordon like a champ. Really, that’s all he needs to do. Without Jared Abbrederis, the receiving corps is kind of depleted. There are many decent receivers Stave can throw to but Stave really doesn’t have a great #1 receiver so the passing game is going to be a bit of a struggle. But that doesn’t really matter, as we all know the Badgers are a running team. As long as Gordon and the rest of the backfield remain healthy and the O-line is able to push through to the second level, expect to see some explosive runs.

Improve the once mighty special teams:

Remember when the Badger special teams were great? It was a few years ago so if you can’t remember I don’t blame you. For being Bielema’s responsibility, the special teams really seemed to go south. Even last year with Bielema gone, the special teams were not fun to watch at all. Case in point, the punt game was awful. It seems like every time the Badgers had to punt, they were either going to get a wimpy punt out of Drew Meyer, or they straight up got destroyed with a fumble or huge return. Thankfully, the Badgers have a good return man again. Kenzel “be chilling” Doe will put the offense in prime positioning after big returns this year. The only other liability on special teams may be their place kicking. Thank you God that Kyle French is finally done.

If Coach Andersen and the Badgers have the ability to rectify the above issues and play some decent ball, then expect the team to cake walk through the division and make the Big Ten Championship.

Finally, let's dissect the Badger schedule. 

How is the program continuing to schedule early games against these sub-par programs. Thankfully, Wisconsin added to their strength of schedule by opening the season against LSU (thankfully might not be the right word because I could definitely see Les Miles and LSU absolutely laying the hammer on the Badgers). The Badgers should start scheduling tougher games so that when it comes to bowl season, the argument can be made that Wisconsin had a stellar strength of schedule.

As Saturday the 30th approaches, Badgers fans hope that Coach Andersen continues to work his squad hard so that they will come out and perform on the national stage. Wisconsin supporters hope the issues from last season have been rectified so that Bucky can do plenty of pushups, which in turn will give fans a lot to jump around about. 

Nate Craft is a contributor for The Sports ReKap which is hosted by Nick Kapetan and DJ Vogt. The show will begin airing again in September on MarquetteWire.org.

Be sure to follow Nate on Twitter: @nathancraft2

Follow Us On Twitter For The Latest Insight On The Happenings In The Sporting World:

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Be sure to visit Sobelman's this summer, the official sponsor of The Sports ReKap, and try their array of mouthwatering burgers. Visit their website: http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/

It is still over 8 months away but please start considering joining a Relay For Life team at your school next year. For more information on how to join a team at Marquette please contact Kristen Krawczyk at kristen.krawczyk@marquette.edu

The Sports ReKap is happy to announce the additions of Nate Craft, Kevin Saad, Michael Felish, Chris Linskens, Matt Barbato, Kevin Clancy, and Brendan Garrity as full-time contributors to the show. If you want to be a part of the show this year email Nick at nicholas.kapetan@marquette.edu.

Preseason Week 2: The Search For Jay's Backup Continues

By: Nick Kapetan (@KapN93)

Fans never want to hear that their team’s second string quarterback is starting a regular or postseason game. For most teams, if the backup QB laces it up and begins to take a majority of the snaps under center, they begin to kiss their chances of winning the game good-bye. Luckily for some teams, the number two signal caller never sniffs the field unless the club is up by an unorthodox amount of points.

Most people could not tell you that Jim Sorgi was slotted behind Peyton Manning on the depth chart in Indianapolis from 2004-2009. Sorgi, who played in 16 career games with the Colts over that span of time, never started a game in his career.

While situations like Indianapolis faced for the better half of a decade do occur, most organizations do not face that same luxury.  It has become a necessity for teams to sign or draft quarterbacks that could hold their own when their number is called. No place is this more true than in Chicago.

Since the Bears acquired Jay Cutler in 2009, he has played in every single regular season game only once. Everyone knows about the season ending injury the quarterback sustained against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game years ago. Countless times during the Cutler era in Chicago, the Bears’ season has gone down the tubes due to the lack of quality options behind their face of the franchise; until last season.

After barely seeing any time on the field for the Bears in his first two seasons in the Windy City, veteran Josh McCown was given the reigns when Cutler went down last year. While people began counting down the days until Cutler’s return, McCown thrived in Marc Trestman’s offense. The Bears transformed their image from a punishing defense to a lively offense. The backup picked up right where Cutler left off and took advantage of the plethora of weapons general manager Phil Emery assembled on the roster.

After McCown signed a worthy deal that gave him a substantial raise in Tampa Bay, the Bears began their search for Trestman’s next project. Jordan Palmer, who served as a third quarterback on the roster for parts of the 2013 season, was given a chance early in the summer but the organization showed they did not possess enormous faith in him by signing Notre Dame standout Jimmy Clausen.

As far as we know, Palmer could have been a capable backup for the Bears. He understands the offense and showed flashes in the past of being a quality number two or three. Last week he was 8 for 11 for 104 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Not eye-popping numbers but still nothing special. While he has very little mobility and his arm is average at best, he is not much worse than Sorgi was in Indianapolis.

The difference is that the Colts were never worried that Sorgi would see the field. They could have had incredibly immobile/ should have been an offense lineman from the start, Jared Lorenzen as their number two and would have been fine. Unlike the Colts, the Bears are fearful that they might have to turn to their number two at some point this season. If history teaches us anything, their fear is warranted. That is why they decided to sign Clausen.

Clausen impressed many in his Bears debut last week. Granted he went against mostly second and third stringers, Clausen showed incredible presence in the pocket. He managed the game like an aging veteran, displaying his ability to make decisions on the fly. His 150 yards and two touchdowns on 13 passes catapulted him into the lead for the number two job. While he may be the newest member of the quarterback group, Clausen has shown that he has picked up Trestman’s playbook and has the knowledge of tinkering different plays after he breaks the huddle.

Clausen is the man to keep your eye on this week as he will most likely received the most reps against the second and third strings on defense for the Jaguars. It will be interesting to see if he can build off the momentum he created last week, and if he truly put his horrendous past behind him.

In 2010 for the Carolina Panthers, Clausen was terrible. His 58.4 QBR and three touchdowns and nine interceptions do not do justice on how lost the rookie looked during his first taste of NFL action. Clausen could not make the necessary adjustments after seeing how the defense was lined up during a particular play. Underthrown ball after underthrown ball would come from Clausen’s hand prompting the franchise that drafted him to quickly lose faith in their second round selection.

Marc Trestman is all about second chances and his offense is all about catering to the strengths of whoever the quarterback is. The Bears cannot leave it to chance that they will be okay all season with a healthy Jay Cutler. They need a guy that can step in and lead the team to the playoffs if Cutler suffers another injury. Clausen is hoping his performance tonight is another step in the right direction, in his pursuit of being that guy.

Nick Kapetan hosts The Sports ReKap with his co-host DJ Vogt. The show will begin airing again in September on MarquetteWire.org.

Follow Us On Twitter:

Nick- @KapN93

DJ- @DvJ14

Like Us On Facebook

Be sure to visit Sobelman's this summer, the official sponsor of The Sports ReKap, and try their array of mouthwatering burgers. Visit their website: http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/

It is still over 8 months away but please start considering joining a Relay For Life team at your school next year. For more information on how to join a team at Marquette please contact Kristen Krawczyk at kristen.krawczyk@marquette.edu

The Sports ReKap is happy to announce the additions of Nate Craft, Kevin Saad, Michael Felish, Chris Linskens, Matt Barbato, Kevin Clancy, and Brendan Garrity as full-time contributors to the show. If you want to be a part of the show this year email Nick at nicholas.kapetan@marquette.edu.

 

New King of the PGA Castle

By: Nate Craft (@nathancraft2)

Imagine this scenario: It is the final round of the PGA Championship. After three rounds of electrifying golf the leader goes into Sunday with a score of 13 under par leading the next player by one stroke. The confident leader shows up to the course with his normal final round attire of all Nike products. The media is positive the leader is going to take the trophy home at the end of the day, even though current golf greats like Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, and Rickie Fowler are in the hunt to make a move and win the Championship. Yet when it’s all said and done, the leader wows the gallery with a thrilling round, drains his final putt and seals the deal with a fist pump to celebrate his 3 under score for the round and 16 under score for the tournament, clinching the Wanamaker Trophy.

Normally, you would probably assume the winner of this fictional yet non-fictional scenario is the best golfer ever the great golfer, Tiger Woods. However, since Tiger Woods’ life literally blew up in his face in 2009, with the revelation that Tiger was not only putting golf balls in many holes but was putting well you know…, Tiger’s very public infidelity scandal, divorce, and subsequent therapeutic break from golf opened the door for the field to replace him at the top of the game. One player has done so, Rory McIlroy-the protagonist of the above scenario.

So how has the 25 year old from Ireland become the most beloved player of the PGA, dethrowning Tiger and taking the keys to the PGA castle? It is simple, Tiger is done.

You see, Tiger was always our boy. ESPN thought he was a god, advertisers loved him, and kids everywhere wanted to be him. Little did we know Tiger was just as mortal as any human.

Logically, it was Tiger’s flaws and how he dealt with them that have caused people to redefine him in a drastically different, less iconic fashion. Not only have Tiger’s flaws impacted his public image, but they seem to have impacted his ability to play the game that originally elevated him to that iconic status.

Prior to 2009, Tiger had won 14 majors. Since then he has won none. After his scandal he didn’t win a tournament until 2012, and his 38 year old body has seemingly been injured all the time.

Tiger has not adopted his game to his old body. He still tries to absolutely kill the ball but shanks it, he misses the killer puts he used to always make, and he refuses to play the links which he clearly needs to do. If you are into betting I would put down some big money that the U.S. Ryder Cup 64 year old Captain, Tom Watson, can probably outplay Tiger at this point like he did at the British Open this year.

Since Tiger's win in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, he played in 7 PGA events, finished in the top 25 once, withdrew twice and got cut twice. Tiger is yesteryear, he is not fun to watch anymore, he disrespects the media more than ever, and like I said: it always seems like he has a new injury. The 2014 PGA Championship’s Sunday final round of golf is the greatest indication that golf is moving on.

Going into the first round, there was chatter that Tiger Woods had decided to play in the tournament after suffering an injury at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. But the real chatter was about how Rory McIlroy, who had already won the WGC- Bridgestone Invitational and The Open Championship in 2014, was prime to continue his success. That chatter turned into reality after McIlroy’s unbelievable final round and tournament win.

As the current leader of the PGA rankings, McIlroy is continuing to make the case that he is new the figure for golf. He is racking up many of the endorsements and advertising gigs Tiger once was the face of. McIlroy is even becoming the new king of Nike with his a) better style than Tiger, b) better sense of humor for commercials and most importantly: c) this reported $200 million deal he inked with the sports company. The rising superstar even has up-ed his personal life chatter after deciding to break off his engagement from Caroline Wozniacki after sending out the wedding invites.

Whether you think that was a power move to call off the wedding or it made McIlroy come across as a jerk, it was absolutely the best move for him personally as his golf game drastically made a 180 and he started to play at the high level the galleries came to expect. This relationship and abrupt split is a similar situation in comparison to Tiger but had a complete opposite outcome. Tiger’s divorce subsequently killed his golf game, Rory’s split greatly improved his.

As this golf season continues to roll on, it is certain that the talk of the town will be how the new King of the Castle will fair while Tiger continues to be a footnote. McIlroy on the other hand is here to provide the entertainment golf needs. McIlroy just clinched his 4th Major; don’t be surprised when he takes home a few more trophies, endorsements, and the hearts of golf fans.

Nate Craft is a contributor for The Sports ReKap which is hosted by Nick Kapetan and DJ Vogt. The show will begin airing again in September on MarquetteWire.org.

Be sure to follow Nate on Twitter: @nathancraft2

Follow Us On Twitter For The Latest Insight On The Happenings In The Sporting World:

Nick- @KapN93

DJ- @DvJ14

Like Us On Facebook

Be sure to visit Sobelman's this summer, the official sponsor of The Sports ReKap, and try their array of mouthwatering burgers. Visit their website: http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/

It is still over 8 months away but please start considering joining a Relay For Life team at your school next year. For more information on how to join a team at Marquette please contact Kristen Krawczyk at kristen.krawczyk@marquette.edu

The Sports ReKap is happy to announce the additions of Nate Craft, Kevin Saad, Michael Felish, Chris Linskens, Matt Barbato, Kevin Clancy, and Brendan Garrity as full-time contributors to the show. If you want to be a part of the show this year email Nick at nicholas.kapetan@marquette.edu.

Way Too Early To Pass Judgment

By: Nick Kapetan (@KapN93)
It's been one week since Javier Baez mania took over the baseball landscape.

In a matter of just seven days the baby faced Baez, scruff on his chin and all, has people flocking to the airwaves proclaiming that the kid is the real deal. Others voice their concern over his lack of discipline at the plate and start whispering that four letter word that no prospect ever wants to be called; bust.

Hold up there people on both sides of the argument; the guy has been up in the majors for a week. If players were evaluated on one week of play than Jeff Francoeur would be a first ballot Hall of Famer.

It is understandable that Cubs nation is quick to label Baez as the savior due to the direct impact he has had on a few victories the Cubs have been able to muster this past week. It is also, yet far less understandable, why others point to Baez's overaggressive swing and inability to lay off pitches in the dirt, and say that these issues will plague him for his entire career.

Baez mania was inevitable. Cubs fans have been sold on "the future" ever since Theo took over the reigns. Once the first piece of the Fab Four, Fantastic Five, Spectacular Six, or whatever people call the Cubs' core, reached the majors, people started to see the light at the end of the tunnel and overreacted. That's valid for people who have been waiting their entire lives to reach the promise land.

Still, give Baez a break. The kid has been in the majors for seven days. It takes longer to read half of a Harry Potter novel than the time that has passed since Javy first donned the Cubbie blue.

He is going to go through slumps. Scratch that, Baez is going to go through a large number of slumps. The kid (yes, he is still considered a kid) needs time to get his feet wet in the majors. He needs to be able to pick up major league pitching. He needs to be taught how to lay off a pitch that is clearly heading for the dirt when there is two strikes on him. He needs to adjust to playing a position he is not used to playing. Finally, and most importantly, he needs to adjust to being on the big stage where everyone is tuning into his every at-bat and dissecting his every swing. That stuff comes with the territory though.

It's difficult not to get amped up when Baez strolls to the plate. His power and ability to hit to all fields is exciting. He has the potential to be Gary Sheffield. For years Baez will be a force in the Cubs lineup who will benefit from hitting before or after Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro.

Still, Baez is only 21 years old. Give him time. Admire the positives you see but don't schedule your flight to Cooperstown for his induction ceremony quite yet.

Nick Kapetan hosts The Sports ReKap with his co-host DJ Vogt. The show will begin airing again in September on MarquetteWire.org.

Follow Us On Twitter For The Latest Insight On The Happenings In The Sporting World:

Nick- @KapN93

DJ- @DvJ14

Like Us On Facebook

Be sure to visit Sobelman's this summer, the official sponsor of The Sports ReKap, and try their array of mouthwatering burgers. Visit their website: http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/

It is still over 8 months away but please start considering joining a Relay For Life team at your school next year. For more information on how to join a team at Marquette please contact Kristen Krawczyk at kristen.krawczyk@marquette.edu

The Sports ReKap is happy to announce the additions of Nate Craft, Kevin Saad, Michael Felish, Chris Linskens, Matt Barbato, Kevin Clancy, and Brendan Garrity as full-time contributors to the show. If you want to be a part of the show this year email Nick at nicholas.kapetan@marquette.edu.

Adam Eaton is Changing The Culture Of The Chicago White Sox

By: Nick Kapetan (@KapN93)

To say that the 2013 White Sox were terrible would be an understatement.

One of the worst teams in franchise history didn't have a single problem, they had a plethora of them. A glaring issue that could be attributed to the overall mediocrity was the attitude in the clubhouse.

Issues in the clubhouse were not the same as the ones that infested the team when Ozzie Guillen was the manager. There wasn't any yelling between Robin and his players. Ventura wasn't going on rants calling out his guys all the time while feeding the media with one liners that would come back to bite him in the end. Players were not pointing fingers at each other or fighting in the dugout. Instead, the 2013 Sox were hampered by what they did not do, rather than what they did do.

There was a lack of energy among the players. Granted the team knew that they were amid a season that continued on a downward spiral from the start, but guys who got paid millions of dollars acted like they did not want to be there.

Starting in 2006, every Sox team has and will be compared to the 2005 ball club that won the World Series. Stacking last year's squad against the '05 bunch, it was obvious that their talent level was not the same, along with the enthusiasm and personality levels.

2005 was centered around the whole grinder ball mentality that individuals like Scott Podsednik and Aaron Rowand displayed every game. There were characters on the team like Joe Crede and Mark Buehrle who genuinely enjoyed showing up to the the ballpark. Players played with a sense of purpose and their ability to come together as a team drastically changed the culture of the franchise, even though it was brief, which helped the team win it all for the first time since 1917.

The White Sox have been missing that "give it your all at all costs while enjoying every moment of every game" mindset until this season.

Enter Adam Eaton.

Eaton, or Spanky as he affectionately called, is the definition of a grinder. His first season with the Sox has been littered with spectacle catches that bring fans back to the days when Rowand was patrolling centerfield on the Southside.

The former Arizona Diamondback does the little things that has made him a fan favorite so quickly. Whether it be running to first base even after a walk, to jumping in the air to give a high five to his teammates after a victory, Eaton has displayed something that hasn't been on the Southside for close to a decade: personality.

Sometimes Eaton's aggressiveness does lead to trouble. He slammed violently into the wall last week after chasing a ball that was clearly going to clear the fence. After returning prematurely, he hurt himself and landed once again on the disabled list.

This whole incident however led to Eaton taking full responsibility for his actions. He explained how, with seriousness clearly on his face, how his injuries will not become a trend. Eaton wanted his new team and the fans to know that his is incredibly sorry for landing himself on the DL again, which will not allow him to help his struggling team. When have you ever heard a player apologize for going TOO hard? Never.

Eaton is a special type of player. Not only will he be a force at the top of the lineup for the White Sox moving forward, but he has gained the respect of his teammates for his team first mentality. The gathering of players helping his battered body off the field after crashing into the wall showed how much they care about the scrappy youngster.

Eaton's .304 average and .370 OBP speaks volumes about the impact his play has directly made to the White Sox exceeding moderate expectations. However, it is what the 25 year old does that doesn't show up in the box score that has made the biggest difference this season.

Nick Kapetan hosts The Sports ReKap with his co-host DJ Vogt. The show will begin airing again in September on MarquetteWire.org.

Follow Us On Twitter For The Latest Insight On The Happenings In The Sporting World:

Nick- @KapN93

DJ- @DvJ14

Like Us On Facebook

Be sure to visit Sobelman's this summer, the official sponsor of The Sports ReKap, and try their array of mouthwatering burgers. Visit their website: http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/

It is still over 8 months away but please start considering joining a Relay For Life team at your school next year. For more information on how to join a team at Marquette please contact Kristen Krawczyk at kristen.krawczyk@marquette.edu

The Sports ReKap is happy to announce the additions of Nate Craft, Kevin Saad, Michael Felish, Chris Linskens, Matt Barbato, Kevin Clancy, and Brendan Garrity as full-time contributors to the show. If you want to be a part of the show this year email Nick at nicholas.kapetan@marquette.edu.