NFL Power Rankings Week 12

Whadaya know? I'm getting the rankings up before any of the games this week! It's week one of the NFL network sticking it to the majority of NFL fans as two 10-1 teams face of on their over-priced, under-available station! Some of my friends are going to a bar to watch the game, but I won't give the No Football the Live network the satisfaction. I call for a boycott! The greatness of the NFL used to be that everyone could see their games. Now they are going the way of MLB, and I don't like it one bit! But I digress. On to the real reason for this post: Just My Opinion: Just The Facts Power Rankings:

1)New England (11-0) Last week: 1

Philly actually made NE look mortal! They found a weakness in the NE defense: the in route! Of course, this just means that Jedi Master Belichick (or is he Sith? I suppose that depends on which team you root for) will devise a way to stop it. He is like the robot on The Incredibles: When you find a way to defeat it, it finds a way to overcome it. I considered dropping NE to #2 following this poor defensive performance, but I didn't think that GB or Dallas could overcome Brady and Co. So here they stay, at #1.

2)Dallas (10-1) Last week: 2

Shame on you for piling it on! 34-3 over the hapless Jets! (Oh, wait, you don't play in Foxboro, so it's ok if you do it.) The big show-down is this week! You're playing to force GB to come to Dallas in the postseason. You certainly don't want to have to head to the frozen tundra in January! Your secondary is suspect, but without a running game to keep you honest, you should be able to defeat Favre and the Packers. I think you'll win by 4.

3)Green Bay (10-1) Last week: 3

Had you beaten Detroit like Dallas beat the Jets you might actually have visited the #2 spot this week, but you allowed Kitna a chance to win! If you want to defeat Romo, you can't give him the same opportunity, he'll capitalize.

4)Jacksonville (8-3) Last week: 4

You are one of the participants in the best game that people will actually see this week as you showdown against your division rival the Colts! Garrard is approaching an NFL record of most passing attempts without and INT! You're firing on all cylinders and I think you leave Indy after handing Peyton "False Start" Manning his third loss of the season!

5)Indianapolis (9-2) Last week: 5

Shame on you for piling it on! 34-13 over the hapless Falcons! (Oh, wait, you don't play in Foxboro, so it's ok if you do it. And it was ok when you did it in 2004 and 2005, too. But again, not a team run by Belichick, not a team from NE, it's acceptable.) Still no Harrison, no Freeny, not looking like you once did. You are struggling (and losing) to teams that you shouldn't be (TN, HOU, SD). I believe (yes, and hope) you fall into the grouping of the 9-3 after this week!

6)Pittsburgh (8-3) Last week: 5

Welcome back to the top 5. You beat Miami 3-0 and normally winning by such a small margin over a team that may go 0-16 would plummet you on the list (maybe even off the list!) But no one can fault you in a game where a punt hit the ground and stuck like a javelin! You're ground crew falls a few notches, but you over came the swamp that they called a field, the rain, and the fish to win the game. That is no small feat.

7)Detroit (6-5) Last week: 8

For the second week in a row you've lost the game and moved up in the power rankings! Having a chance to win on Turkey day over Green Bay when you were down by three scores is something to be proud of. You couldn't close the deal, but the fact that there was even some doubt raises you up to #7.

8)New York Giants (7-4) last week: 6

Four interceptions. Three run back for six points! I could understand it if you were playing your brother, or that team that piles it on... but no one, no one should lose 41-17 to the Vikings! Is this yet another late season collapse? Should NY be looking for a new QB? Looks like the little brother isn't going to live up to the hype!

9)Cleveland (7-4) Last week: 10

Cleveland has moved up! The first time in team history they are at #9! I don't think anyone thought the Browns would be 7-4 at this point in the season. I also don't think anyone thought they'd be in the top 5 for total points scored! And their back up QB is Brady Quinn! I expect more great things from this team!

10)Tampa Bay (7-4) Last week: 9

You beat Washington by only 6. If you are as good as the "experts" are claiming, it never should have been that close. With Cleveland's success and your difficulty with the Redskins, you two switch places. At least you're still on the list!

Off: None: There weren't any truly impressive performances by any of the fringe teams (SEA, SD, StL (just kidding)) and no massive monumental collapses (save perhaps the Giants) that caused anyone to fall off, so the brotherhood of ten remains.

Miami still remains winless! As Miami was the last team to go undefeated, the sheer poetry of the possibility that the Patriots may match that record (technically break it, as the 'fins did it when they only played 14 games per season) in the same season that Miami matches Tampa Bay's infamous 0-16 season is priceless! I'm pulling for both! Miami's best shot at a win is this week when the 2-9 Jet's visit ProPlayer Stadium. (I never thought I'd say this..) Go Jet's!

1 part politics, 2 parts sports

What a surprise, this post is about politics and sports! I'll start with politics so most of you can stop reading once that part is complete:

Russia: Former International Chess Champion Garry Kasparov has been arrested and imprisoned in Russia. What was his crime? Speaking out against Vladimir Putin. That's it. All he did was voice his opinion against the Head of the Russia state. This is a despicable cowardly action that is only now coming to light because Putin has finally arrested someone of note. He's been breaking up demonstrations and quieting opposition voices for quite some time now.

Why do I bring this up? Well, it's been a few days now, and I don't hear the outcry from people who exercise the freedom in this country that Kasparov has been denied in his. I don't hear the Left crying for his release. Where is the outrage?! What if it were Bush doing this? We'd never hear the end of it (Just look at how they respond on behalf of people who want to destroy our country! Could you imagine how they'd respond if it were someone who thought that what he believed in was best for the country?!) What I would expect to hear is, "Well, it's not our country, we don't have any right saying what they should and shouldn't do, but Bush needs to release the prisoners at Gitmo!" Hmm. Funny, they welcome the criticisms of the French and Germans regarding our country (And anyone else who agrees with them, for that matter.) When did the Left because isolationist anti-world-cop? Oh, right, it was when the policies they'd normally support coming from a (D) started coming from an (R)!

So, here is Putin, recent regular critic of the White House, imprisoning a dissenting voice with seeming impunity. Well, I call for Kasparov's release! Russia is no longer a Communist Nation with disappearances and a strong armed government! Putin: Free the chess master!

AL Cy Young Award: Beckett got robbed! What a joke that C.C. Sabathia was awarded the AL Cy Young award! Everyone knows that the awards are based on stats, so let's take a look at them. There are only 12 stats that matter when determining the best pitcher in the league and they are usually separated into four groups: First and foremost (normally) is Wins, all by itself. If you lead the league in wins, you've got the best chance at the Cy Young. Somebody better be blowing you out of the water if they have fewer wins and want the hardware. The second group consists of Strike outs, ERA, and Hits given up. If you have more wins, this category is where your opponent must be head and shoulders above you to have a shot at victory. The third group that is considered, but not very important consists of Earned Runs given up, Runs given up, Home Runs surrendered, and Walks. The final group that is more academic than anything is made up of innings pitched, Complete games, Shut outs and number of starts.

So, how do C.C. and Josh compare? Well, Josh was the only 20 game winner in the Major Leagues (that's AL and NL). If Josh wore any other uniform, other than one with a "B" it'd be a given that he's the Cy Young Pitcher. In category two C.C. leads Josh in SO (by 15), ERA (by 0.06 runs per 9 innings) but gave up more hits (49 more, to be exact). This is by no means a blowout in those stats. Category three: C.C. gave up more earned runs (13), more runs (18), three more HRs, but allowed three fewer walks. Based on these stats, does C.C. really sound like a better pitcher?

Supporters of C.C.'s victory cite only two stats: Strike Outs (remember he had 15 more than Josh) and innings pitched (241 for C.C., 200 2/3's for Josh). Somehow, this is why he's worthy over Beckett! The biggest problem with this is that these two stats contradict each other! Of course he had 15 more strike outs, he had 39 1/3 more innings in which to compile them! Fans of Sabathia say that's also why he had hits, runs, etc. Hmm, I for some reason, I doubt that.

I would say that 200 innings is more than enough to gather an accurate average for a pitcher. I propose we extend Josh's season to 241 innings, just like C.C. pitched and see how the numbers compare then!

Stat.....C.C.....Josh(real)....Josh(w/241 IP)
IP......241......200.6........241
Wins.....19.......20...........24
Loss......7........7............8
SO......209.......194.........233
Hits....238.......189.........227
ERA.....3.21......3.27........3.27 (it's an average)
ER.......86........73..........88
R........94........76..........91
HR.......20........17..........20
BB.......37........40..........48

Even if we extend Josh's workload to 241 innings, he still doesn't beat C.C. in every category. He'd have given up more earned runs (2) and more walks (11). But I'd like you to note that in both cases (actual and extended) more batters struck out when facing Josh than managed to hit safely!Josh's numbers are so far and away better than C.C.'s that, if Sabathia had more wins, I wouldn't have been surprised if Josh still won the Cy Young. Which makes it even more of a travesty that Josh didn't walk away with the award!

NL MVP: It appears that the writers who voted for this award used the same criteria as those that voted for the AL Cy Young. Somehow Jimmy Rollins of the Phillies edged out Matt Holliday of the Rockies for the MVP. Just check out their stats! The only categories Rollins leads in are At Bats and Strike outs!

Stat.....Rollins........Holliday
AB........716............636
Hits......212............216
Avg......(.296).........(.340)
OBP......(.344).........(.405)
SLG......(.531).........(.607)
TB........380.............386
Runs......139.............120
2B.........38..............50
3B.........20...............6
HR.........30..............36
BB.........49..............63

It's staggering just how obvious who the winner should have been!

At least they got the AL Rookie of the Year right! Congrats PedROYa!

NFL Power Rankings Week 11

My apologies on the tardiness of this weeks rankings. I understand that three games have already been played (Thankfully, without any surprises). Therefore, I shall attempt to bestow my football wisdom as though it were before Thanksgiving and Thursday's games:

1)New England (10-0) Last week: 1

I've heard some complain that you are "piling it on." Well, can we blame you? After week one's "Camera-gate" you're out to prove that you didn't even need it. I'd hate to be one of the final 6 teams that stand between you and the undefeated season! Most of all, I'd hate to be the Jets. The NFL record for most points scored by one team in a game is 73 by the Chicago Bears in 1940. Anyone wagering that record will be broken when the Jet's visit Foxboro? Anyone? 23.5 pt spread over Philly. No question, you'll cover.

2)Dallas (9-1) Last week: 2

Your 28-23 win over Washington makes the game look closer than it really was. You've drawn the Jets on Turkey day, which means an easy win. The question is, can your secondary contain Favre's receivers next Thursday. It'll be a great game where two 10-1 NFC teams face off and no one is watching because it's on the NFL Network!

3)Green Bay (9-1) Last week: 3

Depending on how you handle Detroit, you could take the #2 spot on this list! It'll be fun to watch a team with no running game (you) play against a team that tends to give up big plays in the air (Dallas). But I think that Dallas is more well rounded and has a bit of an edge. T-day's match up against Detroit shouldn't be too difficult, they've yet to rise above the bottom four of this list all year.

4)Jacksonville (7-3) Last week: 7

You have rocketed to number 4 for two reasons: You've strung together a couple of impressive wins: TN, SD. Nobody else deserves it. I'll admit, I struggled a bit putting you this high, but someone has to be #4, and seeing your name here made my football senses squirm less than any of the other options.

5)Indianapolis (8-2) Last week: 4

Your fall continues. Yes, you won. You beat KC. But you did it by 3 and you were losing 10-3 at the end of the first half. Vinitiari had four consecutive misses and you nearly lost to a QB named Croyle! It's disgraceful! Sounds to me like Mr. Manning needs Harrison and Freeny a bit more than people like to admit. You've been handed a huge confidence booster with ATL this week (I hear one lucky fan will get a chance to be their QB) but unless you find a way to look like the Colts of old, you can expect to continue your plummet on JMO: JTF.

6)New York Giants (7-3) Last week: 6

You managed to hold off Detroit, but you sure don't deserve to move up for that win! Talk about missed opportunities! Kitna isn't exactly known for his game winning drives and he certainly shouldn't have had a chance at one this week! If you want to crack the top 5, you have to finish with 7 more than you finish with 3!

7)Pittsburgh (6-4) Last week: 5

You're lucky to still be on the list. I've removed people for less than what you managed to do this week! Losing to the Jet's is inexcusable! They sacked Big Ben more times than they sacked any other QB this season combined! Maybe you should have borrowed Belichick's tapes, you might have had a better chance! Pitiful.

8)Detroit (6-4) last week: 9

Yes, you lost and you gained a spot. There must be a reason that New York wasn't able to simply stomp on you. So for showing heart, getting some key interceptions, and keeping it close with a team that's much better than you: You get to be number 8. Let's see how you handle GB on Thursday.

9)Tampa Bay (6-4) Last week: off

I've toyed with bringing you on board a few times. Now seemed appropriate with your 31 to 7 grounding of the Falcons combined with TN's loss to DEN, and SD's lack of "Charge" against JAX. Welcome to JMO: JTF, you've shown yourself as a force to be reckoned with.

10)Cleveland (6-4) Last week: off

When I added you for defeating Cinci when you scored 52 and then removed you the next week, I thought that would be the last we'd hear of the Browns on the power rankings. But yet again, Romeo has surprised me! You've beaten Baltimore 33-30 and you've beaten 5 other teams this year! The number of teams you've beaten is more than the number of TDs I thought you'd score all year! And some of the games you've lost have been close! I doft my cap to you and welcome you back.

Off: Tennessee: A two week losing streak has dropped you from the list. But it's not just the two in a row (Detroit has managed that as well), it's also the manner in which you've been beaten. You really should have handled JAX and DEN and you were unable to do either. It may take some extra special effort for you to find your way back on the list. San Diego: Honorable mention over. Yes, you toppled Indy, and for that we thank you. But then you go and lose to Jacksonville without much of a fight. You've got all of the same "superstars" that you had last year. The only difference is Marty isn't your head coach. Maybe if you beg, he'll come back for next year. I wouldn't.

Miami remains winless. The Patriot's "net points" (254) are higher than "total points for" all but five teams (Dallas: 324, Cleveland: 288, Indianapolis: 278, Pittsburgh: 269, and Green Bay: 259.)! And the Pat's D is stout as well. Fourth in the NFL (Points Against: Pittsburgh 145, Tampa Bay 151, Tennessee 152, NE 157).

One additional thought on the NFL. The NFL Network is a terrible idea! There are some key games on that station which means 97% of football fans won't be able to see them. (the 10-1 Cowboys vs the 10-1 Packers. And New England's final game of the season vs the NYG where the Pats could be making history!) It's gotta end!

NFL Power Rankings Week 10

What a week in the NFL! It was one of those weeks where if you actually know anything about football, you'd have been lucky to have picked 8 of the games correctly! Let's see where the chips fell on Just My Opinion: Just the Facts after this semi-stunning week:

1)New England (9-0) Last week: 1

Definitely the easiest game for them not to lose all season. They had their bye. Seven teams left and seven teams gunning to be the spoiler! I think Pitt or NYG have the best shot, but in the past it's been a team like NYJ or Miami that's ended the run at perfection for other teams. But the question remains, can anyone beat the Patriots?

2)Dallas (8-1) Last week: 3

I feel as though you've somehow you've slipped under some people's radar. However, with another convincing win over the Giants, I think everyone has to sit up and listen now! Oh, that and you've knocked Indy from the number two spot.

3)Green Bay (8-1) Last week: 4

You're the only team in the NFL that only has one loss and it wasn't to the Patriots. Your loss to Chicago was painful. Mostly because you actually had a chance to win. You, too, could be undefeated which is why I've placed you at number three. That and you shut out MN. Even though they lost their RB for the year in that game, it's still not an easy task. I think there are only two teams that would definitely defeat you, too bad one of them is in the NFC.

4)Indianapolis (7-2) Last week: 2

A two game losing streak? That's unheard of in Indy! Truthfully, I don't recall the last time I watched a game and wished that somehow both teams could receive a notch in the loss column! SD scored 1 offensive TD! Adam "I'm not in Foxboro anymore, Toto" Vinitiari missed a "chip shot" 27 yard FG to win! And you can't have a six interception game and stay in the top 3. Harrison is still questionable and Freeny is out for what may be the rest of the season! I'm beginning to think you may end the season with four losses, not just two!

5)Pittsburgh (7-2) Last week: 5

You had to come from behind to beat the Browns. Just so you know, if any team beneath you had performed somewhat above expectations, you'd have dropped a spot or two even though you won. Lucky for you, nobody did.

6)New York Giants (6-3) Last week: 6

It's difficult to punish a team for doing exactly what was expected of them. You lost to Dallas. It wasn't a blow-out, you gave your fans a little bit of hope, but couldn't overcome Romo and TO. So here you'll stay this week, at number six.

7)Jacksonville (6-3) Last week: 9

Well, you evened the score. I believed that you would fall to TN just as you had earlier in the season. I was wrong! Winning convincingly helps you leap-frog over the Titans into 7th on the power rankings.

8)Tennessee (6-3) last week: 8

The only reason you get to stay at number 8 after being handed your helmet's on a platter with the 13-28 loss to Jacksonville is because there's nobody to put above you! Detroit fell, Washington fell, and SD and TB didn't do quite enough to over come you. However, yer on the block. Do something against Denver or don't expect to see your name on this list next week!

9)Detroit (6-3) Last week: 7

Someone referred to you today as an "enigma." I could not agree more! You've lost to Arizona and Washington and yet you've beaten Tampa Bay, Chicago, and Denver! If I didn't know it to be true, I'd think those stats were completely reversed! Now stop Kitna-ing around and start being consistent!

10)San Diego (5-4) Last week: off

When you topple the champs you make the list. Granted, the only power you showed was the power to run back kicks, the power to challenge the spot of the ball, and the power to be the luckiest team on the field. (However, the two interceptions by Cromartie were amazing!) You're lucky because Adam V. is usually a gimmie and there is absolutely no way that you should have 6 interceptions and still need to rely on a kicker choking so you can win the game! Consider this an "honorable mention." Do something this week to truly earn a spot in the top ten!

Off: Washington: Power has to start at home. Not necessarily on your home field, but you've gotta be able to handle the teams in your division. It looked like the Eagles took you by surprise. Even if that's not true, they beat you and they shouldn't have. Maybe you can make it up next week.

Congrats to the Rams on ending their win-less streak! Wouldn't it be poetic if the year someone matches Miami's '72 unbeaten season the Dolphins go without a win completely!?

That would be amazing!

Logic? Where?!

While watching a national "unbiased" news station the other day, I saw the following opinion poll:

"Do you think that abstinence only programs in schools should be abolished?"

Take a moment and read that again.

My basic reaction to this is, "What the..?!" Are you kidding me? Abolished? I paused to consider what rational thought might be behind this inquiry. The only one I could come up with is the age old "Well, we know they are going to do it anyway." Alright. If they are going to do it anyway, why encourage them not to? What else should we apply that bastion of wisdom to?

drugs
Let's end all of the "Just say no" campaigns. It's unreasonable to expect our teens to resist drugs entirely and, because we know they are going to do it anyway, let's provide them with clean needles so at least they aren't spreading disease.

alcohol
Clearly we are losing this battle. but, if they are going to do it anyway, we might as well provide them with the fake IDs. No sense in them spending their money on them. Let's stop arresting parents who provide their kids with booze, too. No better place to get loaded than with mom, right?

reckless driving
Why do you think their car insurance is so high? Because they're all doing it! Let's institute a "teen only" night on those roadways that we know they use. Berlin Turnpike in central CT. Route 1 on the North Shore of Boston. Meadow Road in my old home town. That way they'd only risk hurting themselves.

cigarettes
Despite the evidence and the warnings, teens are still lighting up. Seeing as we can't stop them all, we might as well manufacture a less dangerous cancer stick for youths. We'll call 'em "Cigs" and the tag line can be "these ain't your father's smokes." Half the tar, twice the taste, just as addictive.

Ridiculous, right? Why, then, do we actually hold this view:

sex
We know that nothing ends the days of youthful irresponsibility quicker than a teen pregnancy and many STDs are incurable but, we know they are going to do it anyway. So let's not encourage them not to all together and give them the tools they'd need to engage in this at risk behavior. Let's also encourage this activity so that they separate love and sex earlier and earlier ensuring that their understanding of commitment will be underdeveloped and our divorce rate will be underestimated. We certainly don't want to be viewed as "unhip" or "party-poopers."

I think the problem is that opponents of these programs that support abstinence from any of these dangerous choices feel that because we can't convince them all, we should stop trying to convince the rest. By that logic, because we can't send everyone's cancer into remission, we should attempt to save any.

Those programs helped me, and I know some people who wished that they'd listened when they were a member of the targeted demographic. Let's start acting like mentors by assisting our young people in growing to be responsible adults, rather than trying to be their buddies and not wanting to restrict their "experimentation." The 60's are dead. Let's leave it that way!

NFL Power Rankings Week 9

We're half way through the regular season and it's been another stellar week for Just My Opinion: Just the Facts! Every team but one was the victor over the opponent that they were expected to defeat based on this power ranking! That makes JMO:JTF 19 for 20 over the past two weeks! The loss by Jacksonville will cause them to fall from 7th. Where did they land? Read on to find out:

1)New England (9-0) Last week: 1

And then there was one! The Patriots have faced and defeated 3 teams this season that had not yet experienced the bitter taste of defeat this season until they faced off against New England. That, in itself, is quite a feat. But overcoming Manning, the Colts, and the zebras* was no small task either. So the Patriots have two games left that concern this writer: Pittsburgh (A saving grace is that it's in Foxboro) and the Giants (If it were the Giants in week 10, I wouldn't be worried, but it's the final game. The game Belichick is notorious for not playing his starters when they are headed to the post season). Once the Steelers are sent packing you may hear the mention of 16-0 on this list. But not before. With a bye next week, the 72 Dolphins will have to keep the Champaigne chilled until much later in the season.

2)Indianapolis (7-1) Last week: 2

It was the latest in any previous season that two undefeated teams met on the field. They are the defending Super Bowl Champions. It was on their home terf, and yet they were 3 point underdogs. Even with the help of the men in black, they were unable to overcome the juggernaught that is New England. I expect that when these two teams face off again in January, the winning team will remain the same, but the margain of victory will be much greater. The game will be in Foxboro and the refs will be unbiased.

3)Dallas (7-1) Last week: 3

That is how it's done. You showed everyone how to man handle a team and leave no question that you are superior. You effectively clipped Philly's wings and kept the post season on the endangered species list for them. Well done!

4)Green Bay (7-1) Last week: 4

I've heard some say that KC is a formidable opponent this year. I've yet to see much evidence of that. It was another come from behind win, but you overcame by 11. That'll do to keep you in the fourth spot.

5)Pittsburgh (6-2) Last week: 5

Handly defeated the Ravens. Prevented them from scoring the entire second half! Now, if I thought you could win over Green Bay that would have jumped you up a notch. But I don't think you can, so you stay where you were before: rounding out the top 5.

6)New York Giants (6-2) Last week: 6

(to the tune of "Bye-bye love") It's your bye week/ you didn't lose, so to speak/ I think you will lose, next week/ Hey do not harbor malice/ it's 'cause you're playing Dallas.

7)Detroit (6-2) Last week: 8

I debated on whether or not to bump you up over the Giants, and at 6-2, that certainly isn't out of the question. But I'm not totally sold that you can be consistant. Seems like you're beating teams you shouldn't be beating and losing to teams you should be walking all over. Display some staying power in the next few weeks and we'll see what happens.

8)Tenessee (6-2) last week: 9

You held Carolina to a single score. Now-a-days that's not so difficult, but you made it look easy. Let's see how you fare against Jacksonville next week, there's the real test. I see your two teams as fairly evenly matched, but I've got you to win, don't let me down.

9)Jacksonville (5-3) Last week: 7

You fell to New Orleans, pretty badly, too. Granted, NO isn't as low as they were, but they aren't on this list, and they probably sit somewhere below TB and SD. Putting them in 13th at best (even that might be too generous). A 41-24 loss should have been enough to plummet you to tenth, but considering what Washington did, you only drop two spots. You're welcome.

10)Washington (5-3) Last week: 10

Ok, you lost 52-7 against NE, then you barely beat the crashing 1-7 Jets by three points? You won, so you stay, but this is your last chance. Make a statement or one of the teams waiting in the wings will take your place!

Off: once again, Nobody: Sure, there are some teams that are inching they're way closer to the list. However, none, as of yet, warrent being a new addition. Once we get this far into the season, there are less teams moving on and off, and more teams moving up and down. Of course, those with the greatest risk of falling off of the list are the ones at the bottom. Watch for Jacksonville vs Tenn this week as the game of the week!

Anyone think that Miami or Saint Louis will win at least one game this year between the two of them?

*I'd just like to point out that not only did the Patriots defeat the Colts, they also defeated the back judge who obviously had money on the game! Someone explain to me how pass interference can be called on the cornerback being taken down by the wide receiver? Or on the wide receiver in the air with his back to the defender? Just wondering.