Today, our focus is on junior defensive end Aldrick Fordham. As a high school player at Timberland High School, Fordham was clearly a beast! In his senior season alone he recorded 11 sacks and 83 tackles, 13 of them for loss. In his freshman season at Carolina he had four tackles in his debut game against SC State on October 3, 2009. After that game he played in six more throughout the season, almost exclusively as a member of special teams.
This past season Aldrick started all 14 of games, again, as a member of South Carolina's special teams unit, but was also occasionally used in defensive schemes. His most notable play at Carolina would have to be his recovered fumble in the November 20 game against Troy University, which led to a touchdown only two plays later.
As of this spring he was placed second to Devin Taylor on the depth chart. Fordham has the potential to be a great force behind what is said to be one of the best defensive lines Carolina has had in recent memory.
donderdag 14 juli 2011
South Carolina Gamecocks Football Countdown Day 52: Aldrick Fordham
Fulham belong in Europe, says Schwarzer
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Zapata crosses to Villarreal
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Prosecutors: Clemens' DNA, steroids on evidence
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Winning Liverpool debut for Adam
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WWC: Japan beats Sweden 3-1 for place in final
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NBA Trade Rumors: Could Danny Granger Become the New Face of Detroit Pistons?
In 2005, President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird and the Indiana Pacers drafted University of New Mexico product Danny Granger to be the face of the franchise.
Going into the ’05 NBA draft, many considered Granger to be one of the most versatile talents available and a surefire NBA star.
He led the New Mexico Lobos in minutes, scoring, rebounds, steals, blocked shots and free throws.
NBA scouting website draftexpress.com said that “Granger has a prototypical body for an NBA small forward. He has good size and strength at 6"8", 225 pounds, a solid wingspan and very solid athletic ability. He is smart and smooth, but very physical, and has fantastic footwork to go along with an excellent (and very quick) vertical leap.
"What makes Granger an especially intriguing player for playoff teams who are picking in the second half of the first round (15-30) is the fact that he is so versatile. He can score from anywhere on the floor, create his own shot, defend, rebound, block shots, come up with steals and pass very well.”
For six NBA seasons, Danny Granger put the Indiana Pacers organization on his back.
He is the only player in NBA history to raise his scoring average by at least five points per game each year (7.5, 13.9, 19.6, 25.8) for three consecutive years.
And in 2009 he was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game.
Unfortunately for the Pacers, the Danny Granger project never really took off.
Though Granger is widely considered one of the league's most promising talents, many attribute his inability to carry the Pacers deep into the playoffs to the team’s powerlessness to surround him with proven talent.
In 2010, with Granger at nearly 28 years of age, the Pacers were forced to begin preparations to head in another direction.
The Pacers' decision to trade for second year point guard Darren Collison in 2010 meant that the Pacers were serious about moving in a new direction.
Granger has since become the center of various trade discussions involving the Indiana Pacers.
The hiring of Kevin Pritchard as the new director of player personnel only means that the Indiana Pacers are serious in their efforts to assemble a playoff caliber basketball team.
In my opinion, it is an absolute certainty that, barring a complete NBA lockout, Danny Granger will be dealt before the 2011-12 season.
A player of Granger’s caliber is s lock to garner serious trade inquiries throughout the league.
And I believe that he fits the Detroit Pistons mold to a T.
Pistons' president of basketball operations, Joe Dumars, is known for going out and finding players like Granger and plugging them into his roster. He did it with Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton and Ben Wallace.
Dumars also attempted to do it with Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon.
Granger is still capable of being the elite game changing forward that the Indiana Pacers drafted him to be in ’05.
Danny Granger has serious scoring ability, and the combination of Greg Monroe and Brandon Knight would allow him to excel in the Pistons uptempo offense.
Assuming the Pistons can move Richard Hamilton's debilitating contract, I think that the Pistons are very much in play for Danny Granger.
I often compare Granger to Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson. He’s quiet, unselfish and exploding with talent. Unfortunately for both Johnson and Granger, they have both been hidden on a team incapable of providing them adequate assistance.
Granger is exactly the type of veteran player that the Pistons need right now, and it behooves of the Pistons to make a strong run at the electrifying superstar.
The acquisition of Danny Granger could signify an impact of Grant Hill ‘97 proportions.
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woensdag 13 juli 2011
Heynckes expects Vidal reunion
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NBA Free Agents 2011: 10 Players That May Not Get a Contract This Summer
With the NBA locked out, basketball fans nationwide will be speculating for months about the 2011 free agency class, figuring out which of the most valuable free agents will get picked up, and what teams will sign them.
Of course, not every NBA free agent is highly coveted, even if their brand (their name, that is) seems large enough to covet.
These players could offer something to an NBA team, but most likely, they're asking for too much money or there are other players who can provide the same thing with less of a hassle.
Here are ten free agents that may not get a contract in this offseason.
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Coach's call pays off as USA advances to World Cup final
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Minnesota Twins: Ranking the Top 6 Starters-Turned-Closers for the Twins
This past week, Glen Perkins was asked to do something he had never done before in his career with the Minnesota Twins—close out a game and preserve the victory.
Perkins picked up the first two saves in his sixth season with the Minnesota Twins, one in the third game against against the Brewers on July 3rd, and the second only two days later against the Tampa Bay Rays. In both instances, it was at the expense of Matt Capps who, over three appearances, had given up nine hits and five earned runs in only 1.2 innings pitched.
Perkins made his Twins debut in 2006 when he pitched in only four games working only 5.2 innings with a 1.59 ERA. His best season was two years later in 2008 when he started 26 games. He finished the season with a 12-4 record and a 4.41 ERA. His 12 wins were enough to tie him with Kevin Slowey for the most on the Twins pitching staff.
It looked like Perkins had established himself as a starter for a long time to come. In 2009 he was limited to only 17 starts and a 6-7 record with his ERA bloating to 5.89. He fell out of favor with manager Ron Gardenhire and pitching coach Rick Anderson and would spend most of the 2010 season pitching for Triple-A Rochester.
Perkins has re-emerged as a dominant force out of the bullpen with the ability to retire right-handed batters as easily as lefties. His 1.87 ERA leads the Twins pitching staff.
Has Perkins done enough to possibly get a shot at closer for the Twins?
Both Joe Nathan (5.82 ERA with three blown saves) and Capps (4.42 ERA and four blown saves) have struggled taking a turn at closer.
Here's a look at six Twins pitchers that started as starters and ended up earning some saves for the Twins.
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Transfer wrap: Cisse to Lazio, Stoke near Cole deal
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