Opening day Monday was not nearly as bad as opening day in 2007, but it wasn't that great either.
First, how I saw the game: ESPN 1050 radio had just joined forces with the Dragons to "broadcast" all 16 games in the season. This, however, hardly was the case in this game. This was for sure the worst broadcast of any sporting event I have ever seen. It was bad enough that I couldn't see the game on TV, but ESPN felt the need to cut off the best parts of the game with COMMERCIALS. That is all this game was, a load of commercials and only some game. Almost every single touchdown call was cut off by an advertisement for Mike & Mike, and at some points commercials would be running for five minutes, cutting off the play by play entirely. And no, that was not all. At multiple points during the game ESPN would play footage from earlier in the game by accident which tricked many who were listening (I was in a chatroom). At one point, everyone was getting their updates from ONE GUY, unable to get any game stats or play by play for themselves. It was a complete joke and a corporation such as ESPN should be ashamed to be putting such crap on their radio. A high school run radio program would have done a better job at playing the game than this, this was hardly a radio program at all.
As if that was not bad enough the game was worse (ok maybe not that bad). I am starting to get seriously pissed off at Aaron Garcia. This guy is NOT A DRAGON, he is hardly even a fan. This chump is never playing and always injured, it is the same old story every game - every season. In the first quarter, Garcia threw a pick, and then he was "rattled" so he couldn't continue for the rest of the game. I do not want him on this team anymore, lets get D'Orazio from the Soul or someone else from anywhere - EVEN STICK WITH DAVEY. By the way, Garcia's new nickname is "Glassia". I could withstand hits without pads better than he can with them, this guy is seriously a girl.
Now onto Davey, he....was......AWESOME! The announcers said that he looked totally different from last year, and he stepped up big time. He threw 5 touchdowns, and one interception. He should have had more TDs, but Swayne and crew could not catch the damn ball. Supposedly he was also many pounds lighter and more in shape. This is a good sign for the rest of the season if Glassia breaks a finger nail again. Davey was money too, completing almost every pass that wasn't simply dropped (AKA no completely bad throws like last year). Davey partially credited this change to Garcia being in the camp this season. Well, Rohan, if you follow that guy, you will be out of the next game with "a severely bruised eyelash".
The amount of drops in this game was incredible, totally unacceptable coming from this touted crew of receivers. They were simply misused, with Groce and Keron Henry hardly playing. Much of this game can be blamed on Weylan Harding. With a penalty almost every play, the Dragons were NOT PREPARED to play. From the oldest vets to the youngest rooks, penalty flags were flying everywhere. From roughing the kicker on Idris Price, to tripping on Dartangon Shack, the mistakes made were a clear lack of preparation and this is on the shoulders of Weylan. In the post game report, Harding said that "these mistakes are fixable", and while that is all good and true, Weylan himself has to step up and actually fix the issue. The problem is, from past history, he hardly ever does.
Another huge issue was defense. Davey being amazing can't win us the game if the Gladiators are scoring on every drive. When Davey would throw a touchdown, the D would go right out and allow one themselves. Levy Brown was ok, with an interception to his name, but there was one serious issue. Thats right, the other overrated veteran....BILLY PARKER! Wow this guy must have third degree burns from the amount of times receivers run by him. It isn't just this first game either, it was also EVERY game last year. Maybe this guy was good once, but he certainly isn't good anymore. And again, penalties were also a huge issue on defense.
Special teams: Well, it sucked. Seemingly every drive was started from the 5 yard line or less, which was terrible field position for Davey. So kickoffs receiving sucked, and so did out kickoffs themselves. Onorato lacks the Warley golden leg, which just reminded me of how awesome our kicker was last year. I hope the only reason Warley isn't on the team now is because he is going to the NFL, because any other reason is a load of crap. That guy had the best right foot in the AFL, mark my words. He was tough too, never afraid of a long kick or a tackle of a returner. He would sprint down the field to tackle a man and get there before the rest of the guys on the special teams unit, always. Also, when he goes to bed at night and he turns of the lights, he is in his bed before it gets dark.
So, now the outlook. This was suppose to be the easiest game of the year, so that kind of puts into perspective how things might go for the rest of 2008. I can only hope the Dragons fix their issues this week, and I hope the home opener is a good time, I'll be there. Section 102, Row F, Rodney Filer authentic away jersey - find me.
First, how I saw the game: ESPN 1050 radio had just joined forces with the Dragons to "broadcast" all 16 games in the season. This, however, hardly was the case in this game. This was for sure the worst broadcast of any sporting event I have ever seen. It was bad enough that I couldn't see the game on TV, but ESPN felt the need to cut off the best parts of the game with COMMERCIALS. That is all this game was, a load of commercials and only some game. Almost every single touchdown call was cut off by an advertisement for Mike & Mike, and at some points commercials would be running for five minutes, cutting off the play by play entirely. And no, that was not all. At multiple points during the game ESPN would play footage from earlier in the game by accident which tricked many who were listening (I was in a chatroom). At one point, everyone was getting their updates from ONE GUY, unable to get any game stats or play by play for themselves. It was a complete joke and a corporation such as ESPN should be ashamed to be putting such crap on their radio. A high school run radio program would have done a better job at playing the game than this, this was hardly a radio program at all.
As if that was not bad enough the game was worse (ok maybe not that bad). I am starting to get seriously pissed off at Aaron Garcia. This guy is NOT A DRAGON, he is hardly even a fan. This chump is never playing and always injured, it is the same old story every game - every season. In the first quarter, Garcia threw a pick, and then he was "rattled" so he couldn't continue for the rest of the game. I do not want him on this team anymore, lets get D'Orazio from the Soul or someone else from anywhere - EVEN STICK WITH DAVEY. By the way, Garcia's new nickname is "Glassia". I could withstand hits without pads better than he can with them, this guy is seriously a girl.
Now onto Davey, he....was......AWESOME! The announcers said that he looked totally different from last year, and he stepped up big time. He threw 5 touchdowns, and one interception. He should have had more TDs, but Swayne and crew could not catch the damn ball. Supposedly he was also many pounds lighter and more in shape. This is a good sign for the rest of the season if Glassia breaks a finger nail again. Davey was money too, completing almost every pass that wasn't simply dropped (AKA no completely bad throws like last year). Davey partially credited this change to Garcia being in the camp this season. Well, Rohan, if you follow that guy, you will be out of the next game with "a severely bruised eyelash".The amount of drops in this game was incredible, totally unacceptable coming from this touted crew of receivers. They were simply misused, with Groce and Keron Henry hardly playing. Much of this game can be blamed on Weylan Harding. With a penalty almost every play, the Dragons were NOT PREPARED to play. From the oldest vets to the youngest rooks, penalty flags were flying everywhere. From roughing the kicker on Idris Price, to tripping on Dartangon Shack, the mistakes made were a clear lack of preparation and this is on the shoulders of Weylan. In the post game report, Harding said that "these mistakes are fixable", and while that is all good and true, Weylan himself has to step up and actually fix the issue. The problem is, from past history, he hardly ever does.
Another huge issue was defense. Davey being amazing can't win us the game if the Gladiators are scoring on every drive. When Davey would throw a touchdown, the D would go right out and allow one themselves. Levy Brown was ok, with an interception to his name, but there was one serious issue. Thats right, the other overrated veteran....BILLY PARKER! Wow this guy must have third degree burns from the amount of times receivers run by him. It isn't just this first game either, it was also EVERY game last year. Maybe this guy was good once, but he certainly isn't good anymore. And again, penalties were also a huge issue on defense.
Special teams: Well, it sucked. Seemingly every drive was started from the 5 yard line or less, which was terrible field position for Davey. So kickoffs receiving sucked, and so did out kickoffs themselves. Onorato lacks the Warley golden leg, which just reminded me of how awesome our kicker was last year. I hope the only reason Warley isn't on the team now is because he is going to the NFL, because any other reason is a load of crap. That guy had the best right foot in the AFL, mark my words. He was tough too, never afraid of a long kick or a tackle of a returner. He would sprint down the field to tackle a man and get there before the rest of the guys on the special teams unit, always. Also, when he goes to bed at night and he turns of the lights, he is in his bed before it gets dark.
So, now the outlook. This was suppose to be the easiest game of the year, so that kind of puts into perspective how things might go for the rest of 2008. I can only hope the Dragons fix their issues this week, and I hope the home opener is a good time, I'll be there. Section 102, Row F, Rodney Filer authentic away jersey - find me.
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