The New Orleans’ Saints have already taken big steps towards improving their 2013 season by firing two coaches just one day into Sean Payton’s new regime.
Payton, back in the New Orleans fold after a one-season ban following the bounty scandal, is determined to make swift changes in order to boost the Saints’ on-field performances that have dipped so low in recent years.
Having been back in the job just one day he has already fired defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, while the NFL betting odds suggest secondary coach Ken Flajole will also walk.
The move comes at an important time for the Saints, who must start rebuilding their tactical approaches to games after a 7-9 season that saw them record the second-worst defence in the NFL. Under Spagnuolo they conceded a 28.4 points a game and averaged the worst yards-per-play score of 6.5.
Having admitted on Wednesday that the team’s defensive problems “keep him up at night”, Payton explained his decision to dismiss Spagnuolo in a brief statement:
“Philosophically we are changing our defence to a 3-4 alignment, and right now is the best time to accomplish this transition.”
Indeed, things must change if the Saints are ever going to pose a threat in the NFC South, where they only finished third in 2012 because Tampa Bay are so disastrous at defending themselves.
Going forward New Orleans aren’t that bad. At 34 Drew Brees is still an accomplished quarterback – throwing 43 touchdowns this season, a career second-best total, while running back Marcus Colston made 10 touchdowns and over 1,000 yards yet again this season. The Saints ranked second for yardage over the regular season (410.9 per game) and first in passing yards (312.3) although their rush game leaves much to be desired.
With a new defence strategy next season and possibly a strengthened rush game from the draft, punters in betting NFL markets feel New Orleans under Payton have a great chance to make the playoffs again and maybe even challenge for a Conference championship.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Injuries again halt Serena
Serena Williams’ injury concerns flared up again this week at the worst possible time as the American, en route to the final of the Australian Open, crashed in the quarters to Sloane Stephens after complaining of back spasms.
Williams, clear favourite at the start of the tournament between punters on Betfair, had breezed through the opening rounds in Melbourne and looked set to take a straight-set victory over compatriot Stephens and charge into the semi-finals. She had taken the first set 6-3 with ease and even broke her opponent in the second before her trainer was called.
Her hurt was treated but still visibly affected the world number three as she let Stephens back into the set and when her opponent took the second 7-5, it became increasingly clear there was only going to be one outcome.
Williams crashed out 3-6 7-5 6-4 in the end to a young opponent making only her first Grand Slam quarter-final. Stephens looked composed heading into the last set at 4-4 and confident enough to power through a weakened opponent.
Give credit the Stephens, for this tennis odds defying victory may send her into the top 10 on the WTA circuit by the end of the season, but also spare a thought for Williams, who now must be wondering if her body can keep up with the strain of the tour.
For Williams has suffered injury setbacks before – most notably in the mid-2000s - but has always come back to again dominate the circuit. The 31-year-old won Wimbledon, the US Open and an Olympic gold medal at the second-half of last season and took the WTA Championship title in Istanbul.
Yet a toe injury in the winter hampered her preparations for Melbourne and she rolled her ankle in week one. If injuries persist over the coming months expect the American to tighten her calendar and play less tournaments – the solution to her problems in 2006 and the reason she’s won so may Grand Slams.
Williams, clear favourite at the start of the tournament between punters on Betfair, had breezed through the opening rounds in Melbourne and looked set to take a straight-set victory over compatriot Stephens and charge into the semi-finals. She had taken the first set 6-3 with ease and even broke her opponent in the second before her trainer was called.
Her hurt was treated but still visibly affected the world number three as she let Stephens back into the set and when her opponent took the second 7-5, it became increasingly clear there was only going to be one outcome.
Williams crashed out 3-6 7-5 6-4 in the end to a young opponent making only her first Grand Slam quarter-final. Stephens looked composed heading into the last set at 4-4 and confident enough to power through a weakened opponent.
Give credit the Stephens, for this tennis odds defying victory may send her into the top 10 on the WTA circuit by the end of the season, but also spare a thought for Williams, who now must be wondering if her body can keep up with the strain of the tour.
For Williams has suffered injury setbacks before – most notably in the mid-2000s - but has always come back to again dominate the circuit. The 31-year-old won Wimbledon, the US Open and an Olympic gold medal at the second-half of last season and took the WTA Championship title in Istanbul.
Yet a toe injury in the winter hampered her preparations for Melbourne and she rolled her ankle in week one. If injuries persist over the coming months expect the American to tighten her calendar and play less tournaments – the solution to her problems in 2006 and the reason she’s won so may Grand Slams.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Are five-set matches ruining Grand Slam competition?
The debate over whether five-set matches are in fact hampering the competition of men’s Grand Slam tennis has arisen once against after world number three Andy Murray suggested the format favours only the very best in the world.
Murray answered questions ahead of his semi-final clash with Roger Federer at the Australian Open this week: the season’s first Slam in the calendar and a good measure of how the ATP’s top players will perform throughout the year.
On the hard Melbourne surface, the balls skid off at such a pace it takes great concentration to play even one game, let alone five sets. Indeed, over such a long period of time – many matches exceeding two hours in the blistering heat this year – only the very fittest can survive.
Only two men outside the top four seeds have defied the Tennis odds and reached a Grand Slam semi-final last year: Jo-Wilfired Tsonga at Wimbledon and Tomas Berdych in New York, something Murray himself feels is down to the five-set format.
“There are way more upsets in tournaments that are best-of-three sets in the men’s [game] just because you get off to a bad start and guys can get a quick win over you,” Murray told reporters.
“Whereas over best-of-five it often takes five hours sometimes to beat the top players in the world. It’s not easy.”
Indeed, physicality is beginning to dominate over technique and shot selection as Novak Djokovic, Murray and Rafael Nadal power through opponents over five sets. Although Roger Federer is slightly less ‘built’ as his three main rivals, the Swiss can pull out a strong performance when required in Grand Slams.
The most recent example of physicality taking over the men’s game was Djokovic’s 6-2 6-2 6-1 demolition of world number five David Ferrer in the Australian Open semis. Ferrer, who had worn down Nicolas Almagro in the pervious round, was defenceless against the sting in Djokovic’s serve and returns, leaving him no chance of even making a set let alone three.
Although it is good TV watching, five-set tennis is starting to become predictable and favours the physically strongest on court. Maybe a three-set Grand Slam would be more competitive, although the proposal would sadly never get through organisers and sponsors.
Murray answered questions ahead of his semi-final clash with Roger Federer at the Australian Open this week: the season’s first Slam in the calendar and a good measure of how the ATP’s top players will perform throughout the year.
On the hard Melbourne surface, the balls skid off at such a pace it takes great concentration to play even one game, let alone five sets. Indeed, over such a long period of time – many matches exceeding two hours in the blistering heat this year – only the very fittest can survive.
Only two men outside the top four seeds have defied the Tennis odds and reached a Grand Slam semi-final last year: Jo-Wilfired Tsonga at Wimbledon and Tomas Berdych in New York, something Murray himself feels is down to the five-set format.
“There are way more upsets in tournaments that are best-of-three sets in the men’s [game] just because you get off to a bad start and guys can get a quick win over you,” Murray told reporters.
“Whereas over best-of-five it often takes five hours sometimes to beat the top players in the world. It’s not easy.”
Indeed, physicality is beginning to dominate over technique and shot selection as Novak Djokovic, Murray and Rafael Nadal power through opponents over five sets. Although Roger Federer is slightly less ‘built’ as his three main rivals, the Swiss can pull out a strong performance when required in Grand Slams.
The most recent example of physicality taking over the men’s game was Djokovic’s 6-2 6-2 6-1 demolition of world number five David Ferrer in the Australian Open semis. Ferrer, who had worn down Nicolas Almagro in the pervious round, was defenceless against the sting in Djokovic’s serve and returns, leaving him no chance of even making a set let alone three.
Although it is good TV watching, five-set tennis is starting to become predictable and favours the physically strongest on court. Maybe a three-set Grand Slam would be more competitive, although the proposal would sadly never get through organisers and sponsors.
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