NHL Quarterfinal Playoff Prediction Review

The NHL Playoffs have arguably had the most evenly matched series in recent memory. All but one matchup went at least six games with two series headed to a final game seven. Before the NHL quarterfinals we did a prediction and breakdown of each series much like the one below.

Let’s see how accurate Shaft Sports playoff predictions were.

We’ll begin in the East:

In the Washington/Montreal series, we said Washington would win and that they would do it in five games. I didn’t realize Halak was so good, game seven is this Wednesday night!

We took a big swing in the New Jersey/Philadelphia series and struck out terribly. We choose Martin Brodeur and the Devils in five games. The Flyers would prove us wrong winning the series in five behind goaltender Brian Boucher brilliance.

In the Buffalo/Boston series, we said Sabres in seven but the Bruins spoiled our prediction closing out the series in six.


Finally we thought the Pittsbugh Penguins had lost a step in the regular season. So we picked Ottawa in seven but the Penguins flexed their muscle and won the series in six.

Now to the West:

In the San Jose/Colorado series, we predicted the #1 seed San Jose Sharks to win in six. Both of which were correct.

Over in the Chicago/Nashville series, we predicted the Blackhawks to edge the Predators in five. We picked the right team but wrong number of games. Chicago closed out the series in six.

Then in the Vancouver/Los Angeles series, we predicted the Canucks to win in five games. Vancouver did in fact win the series but in six games not in five.

Finally we predicted the Phoenix/Detroit the Red Wings to end the series in five games. The game is headed to a game seven tonight, the Wings can make my selection half true.

Adding up our total we selected 3 out of 4 teams correct (with a possible 4 of 4 if Detroit wins tonight). We selected 1 of 4 series correct(Sharks in six games). In the East we didn't correctly select a team or series. (1 of 4 is possible if Washington wins game seven)

2010 NFL Mock Draft First Round (22-32)

This is the final installment for the 2010 NFL Mock Draft picks (22-32). You can win Shaft Sports merchandise if you send in your round one mock draft. The fan with the highest number of picks selected in the first round will in a Shaft Sports T-Shirt. Email your Draft picks to jtshafer@eagle.fgcu.edu



#22: New England Patriots: Sergio Kindle, DE – Texas

Kindle will play the hybrid role of defensive end/outside linebacker in New England. He has good athleticism and runs relatively well but not elite. He will be an immediate contributor on special teams and as a rotation player. Kindle will need to add some weight to his frame so he’ll be able to put up with the constant punishment he’ll receive at his position.





#23: Green Bay Packers: Mike Lupati, OG – Idaho



Green Bay was one of the many teams who had difficulty staying consistent with their offensive line play. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was able to manage because of his ability to move around in the pocket and make plays with his legs. However if they want to be atop the NFL North they need quality offensive linemen. Lupati has excellent size and strength along with great power. He is one of the larger linemen in the draft (6’5, 331 lbs) allowing him to block almost anyone. This could help the Packers have better success against the Minnesota Vikings defensive tackles Pat and Kevin Williams.



#24: Philadelphia Eagles: Devin McCourty, CB – Rutgers

The Eagles are starting a new era in Philadelphia after trading starting QB Donavan McNabb. They have gotten rid of a few other players over 30, like CB Sheldon Brown. Philly seems to want to get young and drafting Scarlett Knight’s corner Devin McCourty would make sense. He has the ability to contribute immediately at nickel and special teams. He has great ball skills and is active in the secondary. Look for the Eagles to draft someone like McCourty who can contribute sooner rather than later.



#25: Baltimore Ravens: Brian Price, DT – UCLA

Price would be an ideal fit for the Ravens because of his ability to hold the point of attack. He maintains his gap responsibility and uses his hands well against defenders. He doesn’t have ideal size for the nose tackle position (6’1, 303 lbs) but makes up for it with his motor. He never stops playing and is a force to be reckoned with along the defensive line.



#26: Arizona Cardinals: Bruce Campbell, OT – Maryland

The Arizona Cardinals have a lot of question marks heading into this coming season. Kurt Warner has finally retired and Matt Leinart doesn’t seem to be the answer at quarterback. However the Cardinals will be unwilling to reach on a QB like Colt McCoy or Tim Tebow. They look to improve their offensive line with Bruce Campbell. He has improved his draft stock in recent weeks, therefore he might not be available at 26, but if he is the Cardinals will snatch him up.



#27: Dallas Cowboys: Arrelious Benn, WR – Illinois

Miles Austin emerged last season as the number one target for Cowboys QB Tony Romo. Roy Williams has been a disappointment for Dallas and with no other receiving options they look to the draft. Benn has great ball skills and leaping ability allowing him to catch the ball at the highest point. He needs to improve his route running but could compete for the other starting position aside Miles Austin.



#28: San Diego Chargers: Ryan Mathews, RB – Fresno State

After parting ways with longtime Charger LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego now only has Darren Sproles and needs someone to help shoulder the workload. Fresno State’s Ryan Mathews is a one cut runner with great speed (4.45 forty). He is elusive in space but has some injury concerns due to his inability to stay healthy for a full season during his college career. Sproles and Mathews would be a great one-two punch that would help Philip Rivers stay away from throwing the ball over 35 times a contest.



#29: New York Jets: Brandon Graham, DE – Michigan

Graham is just the type of player Jets head coach Rex Ryan likes. He is a disruptive defender that has a high motor. Graham has good initial quickness as an edge rusher, and could transition well into Ryan’s 3-4 schemes. The Jets allowed less then 100 yards rushing per game last season, but can’t pass up having another option like Graham because of the likelihood of injuries taking place.



#30: Minnesota Vikings: Patrick Robinson, CB – Florida State

The Minnesota Vikings have some positions they would like to improve, but the one which needs the most attention is cornerback. Starter Cedric Griffin was injured during the playoffs last season and won’t be ready till after the start of the 2010 season. To add insult to injury Antoine Winfield missed a portion of last season due to injury. Robinson is solid in the run game but isn’t always the most physical corner. He is aggressive in zone schemes and will contribute on special teams as well as nickel during his rookie season.




#31: Indianapolis Colts: Jared Odrick, DT – Penn State


The Colts have lacked a dominate force in the middle during the past few years since their Super Bowl run. Odrick is more of a run stopper who will clog the middle. He has the ability to feel pad pressure and constantly get pressure up on opposing offenses.





#32: New Orleans Saints: Kareem Jackson, CB – Alabama


Jackson has great speed (4.48 forty), and great foot quickness to be able to hang with the faster receivers. New Orleans only weakness last season was the play from the cornerbacks. This season teams will try exploiting that weakness. Jackson is inconsistent as a run support defender but should get quality playing time due to his ability to anticipate and jump routes.

2010 NFL Mock Draft First Round (11-21)

Here are the second installment for Shaft Sports 2010 NFL Mock Draft picks (11-21). Monday will be the final publication of picks (22-32). Let us know what you think!



#11: Denver Broncos (From Chicago): Rolando McClain, LB – Alabama

The Broncos look to strengthen their defensive unit after breakdowns in coverage’s and poor tackling cost them a few games last season. McClain would transition well into Denver’s 3-4 defense. His power and strength along with his ability to shed blockers would make him a good fit along side D.J. Williams. Other options could be Oklahoma State’s Dez Bryant to replace recently traded Brandon Marshall but Bryant is a lot like Marshall in the attitude department.



#12: Miami Dolphins: Dan Williams, DT – Tennessee

Dan Williams was an anchor for the Tennessee Volunteers over the past three seasons, and would be an ideal fit for the Miami Dolphins. He’s a great run defender and can consistently cog the middle and get penetration. He’s got a nasty attitude and has the power to bull-rush defenders with ease.



#13: San Francisco 49ers: Trent Williams, OT – Oklahoma

The 49ers made progress last season buying into head coach Mike Singletary’s philosophy. They have some weapons that could blossom into elite talent this season. San Francisco will need better protection if they have any chance at surpassing the Arizona Cardinals for tops in the NFC West. Trent Williams has good technique and translates well at right tackle with the ability he has to sustain blocks.




#14: Seattle Seahawks (From Denver): Jason Pierre-Paul, DE – South Florida

With Patrick Kerney getting long in the tooth, Seattle uses their second of two first round picks on the freakishly athletic defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul from USF. At 6’5, 270 lbs he has the ability to add more bulk as he matures. He has good range and natural quickness being able to run down defenders within the backfield.





#15: New York Giants: Kyle Wilson, CB – Boise State

The Giants are looking to get more out of their corners this season after a porous previous season. Kyle Wilson’s athletic ability in the return game is an added bonus. He’s lacks ideal speed but makes up for it with his quickness and his ability to close quickly on double-move routes.





#16: Tennessee Titans: Dez Bryant, WR – Oklahoma State

The Tennessee Titans will take risk with Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant because of his athletic ability. Paired with last years first round pick Kenny Britt, Bryant would give the Titans a legitimate target they haven’t had since Derrick Mason left years ago. The Titans have never had a problem selecting players with personal issues as they selected Adam “Pacman” Jones when he had issues brought up in his draft year.





#17: San Francisco 49ers (From Panthers): Derrick Morgan, DE – Georgia Tech

San Francisco will use their second first round selection to help improve their defense. Derrick Morgan is the best available player on the draft board and would step into and give the 49ers a good rotation player. He has the ability to play either defensive end or outside linebacker, making him more valuable because of his versatility.





#18: Pittsburgh Steelers: Maurkice Pouncey, C – Florida

Ben Roethlisberger was sacked a league high 50 times during last season. The Steelers need to improve their offensive line production and Maurkice Pouncey could be the answer. He can play either center or guard so his versatility is a bonus. Pouncey has been a four-year starter and has a good first step while being able to block larger defenders. He will see the field early and often.





#19: Atlanta Falcons: Taylor Mays, FS – Southern Cal

Atlanta finished 28th in pass defense for the 2009 season. They allowed an average of 241.9 yards against per game. Mays has size (6’3, 230 lbs), speed (4.43 forty), and athleticism which is a rare combination at the safety position. He’s an aggressive hitter and plays the run game exceptional. Mays would give the Falcons someone opponent’s receivers would fear across the middle.





#20: Houston Texans: Carlos Dunlop, DE – Florida

If Dunlop would have been a year old he would have easily been a top-ten draft pick during the 2009 draft. At an enormous 6’6, 277 lbs he is an exceptional run stopper. He also has shown flashes of being able to dominate the offensive line to get pressure on quarterbacks. Dunlop would be a great addition to a young and talented defense in Houston.




#21: Cincinnati Bengals: Earl Thomas, SS – Texas

In recent draft the Bengals have done a great job at improving their defense. They will continue this trend drafting Longhorns strong safety Earl Thomas. He is an excellent open-field tackler who has ball skills that give him big-play ability whenever he is on the field. The Bengals finished within the top ten in pass defense but can’t pass up a play maker like Thomas.

Tebow Prepared for NFL Draft

Tim Tebow out to prove skeptics wrong

Everyone has gotten their opportunity to build up former Florida Gators Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow during the last four seasons… how fast the tides have turned on the well liked Tebow. Leading up to this Thursday’s NFL Draft, Tebow has been criticized by many writers and “draft experts” on why he will not succeed in the pros. They say Tebow can’t read coverage’s; his throw motion and mechanics are slow and will not translate into the NFL. These talking heads say Tebow won’t be able to run away from defenders like he did during his days at the University of Florida. Ok, I can buy into all of the criticism. However, he has the attitude and willingness to succeed at any cost. Tebow’s taken the negative comments and turned them into something that motivates him furthermore not to fail.


With all of the immeasurable qualities Tebow has, one has to wonder what it will take for him to be successful. We must first define what successful means in terms of arguably the greatest collegiate football player of all-time. Success in terms of Tim Tebow will simply mean, he must become one of the elite players in the league for the next eight to ten seasons or he’ll be called a bust regardless of what round he’s selected in. You know it, I know it, and most NFL executives know it. It would be ideal for Tebow to be drafted by a team who has a veteran locker room and an experienced starter one of whom would be willing to tutor Tebow.


A few teams come to mind that fit those particular qualities Tebow would need to succeed in the NFL. The Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, and the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints all could be serious contenders for Tebow. Each team has a solid veteran starter in place which would allow Tebow to sit and learn from a Super Bowl champ (each team listed above has a QB with at least one Super Bowl win under his belt).


If you would want to reference a player who was criticized for his side-arm motion and his inability to read coverage’s, look no further than Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young when a lot of the same was said for him during the 2006 draft. The main components which saved Young’s career was his ability to scramble and the reemergence of teammate Kerry Collins who led the Titans to a 13-3 record in 2008. You might be thinking Shaft! Why would the reemergence of Kerry Collins have anything to do with the development of Vince Young? Simply put, Young was allowed to do what was best for him, develop while holding a clipboard. Young didn’t work hard and publicly stated he felted as if he’s was entitled to a spot in Canton. He was the anti-Tebow. They both have similar athletic qualities but one thing Tebow has that Young doesn’t is the ability to humble himself. He can stay positive and learn from constructive criticism; where as other players’ ala Vince Young have struggled to do.

NBA Western Conference Quarterfinal Playoff Matchups

NBA Western Conference Playoff Matchups

These are the matchups and predictions for the 2010 NBA quarterfinals brought to you by Shaft Sports.

#1: Los Angeles Lakers vs. #8: Oklahoma City Thunder


Lakers Regular Season Record: 57-25
Thunder Regular Season Record: 50-32

Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers take tip-off against the leading scorer in the NBA, Kevin Durant and his Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers finished with the best record in the West but that’s all they have to cheer about. The Thunder are an athletic group and were the top team in shots blocked per game during the regular season. Pau Gosol, Ron Artest and Larmar Odom need to perform well for the Lakers otherwise the Thunder will have success.

Prediction: Lakers in 6 games


#2: Dallas Mavericks vs. #7 San Antonio Spurs


Mavericks Regular Season Record: 55-27
Spurs Regular Season Record: 50-32

The Dallas Mavericks mid-season trade for Brandon Haywood and Caron Butler paid off, finishing in the number two seed out West. Drik Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Jason Kidd are the unsung heroes for Mavs this season. Tim Duncan and the Spurs are a lot younger of a team then in years past. San Antonio will always be dangerous with the combo of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili in the back court. The battle in the trenches will end up telling the story of this series.

Prediction: Mavericks in 6 games


#3: Phoenix Suns vs. #6: Portland Trail Blazers

Suns Regular Season Record: 54-28
Trail Blazers Regular Season Record: 50-32

Amar’e Stoudemire is playing the best basketball of his career this season for the Suns. Who would have thought during the deadline they were seriously considering shipping him out? Suns guard Steve Nash has benefited from Grant Hill rejuvenating his career. Portland leading scorer Brandon Roy is questionable for this playoff series after getting injured in the final few games of the season. If Roy is unable to play, the Trail Blazers 50 win season will go to waste.

Prediction: Suns in 5 games

#4: Denver Nuggets vs. #5: Utah Jazz


Nuggets Regular Season Record: 53-29
Jazz Regular Season Record: 53-29

Both teams finished tied within the Northwest Division with a 53-29 record respectively. The Jazz have two of their première players questionable for this playoff series which blonds well for the Nuggets. Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko are two key components that make the Jazz click on both end of the floor. The duo of Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups give the Nuggets two legitimate scoring threats. Add 3-oint specialist J.R. Smith to the mix and the Jazz will have a tough time defending all these scorers.

Prediction: Nuggets in 5games

Derrick O'Neil "Shaft Session" Volume 1

“Shaft Session” Volume 1

Player: Derrick O’Neil
Number: 24
Position: Forward
School: Florida Gulf Coast University
Height: 6-5
Weight: 185 lbs
Home: Moreno Valley, CA
2009-2010: Senior

O’Neil completed his senior season averaging 6.4 points with 5.5 rebounds. He shot 46.3% from the field and averaged 22.9 minutes per game. O’Neil compiled 154 rebounds in the 2009-10 season, good enough to place him within the top 20 in rebounds for the Atlanta Sun Conference. He was also featured on the FGCU men’s basketball team poster and billboard. Prior to transferring to FGCU, O’Neil attended Florida Community College in Jacksonville, FL. He was named 1st Team All Mid-Florida Conference following his sophomore season.