Through My Empirical Lens

Through My Empirical Lens

Nick Dobis

The Changing of the Guard

Photo Via Sporting Universe

Linebackers can be incredible creatures.

The best ones appear to be half human, half beast. On the field their eyes need to pierce their prey. A heart-stopping stare with the ability to waiver a tailback’s determination and shake the confidence of a quarterback. They need the prudence of a predator, stalking their prey with precision. Then, in that moment of truth, they must unleash their tempered intensity in a spectacle of controlled violence. They must rile up the pack before the fight, and steady its nerves in times of doubt with their actions. Instead of fearing danger, they must have an insatiable thirst for it. Pain for them is an afterthought reflected upon long after the fight is complete.

They are athletes who mesmerize us with their speed, strength, and cunning instincts. But what separates the good linebackers from the incredible? The heart of a lion. A a fitting analogy for Ray Lewis and Patrick Willis. According to a Yahoo Sports report, Willis has often endearingly referred to Lewis as “Mufasa”, The Lion King.

There will be no shortage of incredible linebackers when the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens step foot under the brightest lights in all of American sports tomorrow, but number 52 will be the player to watch for both teams. The question is which lion will lead their pride to victory, the young up and coming Simba, or Mufasa, who in his final game has nothing left to lose?  

Ray’s Last Ride

Photo Via Injoymint

I was too young to remember an NFL in which Lawrence Taylor laid waste to offenses, but ever since I first became truly infatuated with the game, Ray Lewis has had as much of an impact on the game. Since entering the league as a first round draft pick out of the University of Miami in 1996, Lewis has been the physical and emotional cornerstone of the Ravens. In his hall of fame career, Lewis has registered 2,061 tackles (1,567 solo), 42 sacks (his first ever was against Jim Harbaugh, current 49ers head coach), 31 interceptions and 13 Pro Bowl selections. The last time he led the Ravens to a Super Bowl in 2001, they blew out the New York Giants 34-7 and was awarded MVP of the game. After tearing one of his triceps in October, Lewis returned to field in the Wild Card round against the Indianapolis Colts, vowing this season would be his last. It is that emotional momentum the Ravens have ridden all the way to the Super bowl.

Although he is beloved by the city of Baltimore, and many others around the league, there are those who cannot separate the extremely vocal and passionate player from the man with the off-field controversies. He is often marred for by his murder case and its misconceptions, along with the most recent allegations of his use of a banned substance. Despite the uncertainty of his overall legacy, two things do remain certain. One, The Raven’s need a lights-out, disciplined performance from Lewis and the defensive front-seven in order to stop a dynamic 49ers offense from being victorious. Two, the NFL will not be quite the same once he steps off the field for good Sunday. 

The Heir Has Risen

Photo Via Opinionsfordays

There are two specific plays from the linebacker’s days at Ole Miss which revealed Patrick Willis' potential as the chosen one to fulfill Lewis’ legacy. The first is this one against the Arkansas Razorbacks. If you don’t recognize the young man taking the snap in the Wildcat formation, that is Darren McFadden, future first round draft pick and current starting NFL tailback :




Still not impressed? This next one against LSU should do the trick:

Satisfied? Since entering the NFL as a first round draft pick in 2007, Willis has registered 812 tackles (622 solo), 18 Sacks, and seven interceptions. He was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2007 and has received six Pro Bowl nods in his young career. Despite having led the 49ers to the post season only twice, Willis transferred his regular season excellence when its mattered most, registering 35 tackles and two sacks in four playoff games. Though not as vocal or emotional as Lewis, Willis is the glue which holds together a stout 49er defense. Not only does he have the speed to chase down the league's best running backs, but he matches up nicely with almost every tight end. If the 49ers wish to hoist the Lombardi trophy in New Orleans, Patrick Willis must help bottle up a dangerous Ray Rice, and be a constant nuisance for Raven’s tight end Dennis Pitta. 

The Edge?

I usually love favoring the salty veteran, especially since he’s likely to play with reckless abandon in his final game. But I expect the young lion to help his team claim a 6th super bowl title for the red and gold. This is a 49er defense which has played arguably the toughest schedule in the NFL against its premier quarterbacks this season, largely proving their worth in those games. No matter the outcome, The NFL will see the torch be passed on to Willis, and shall hear Baltimore's favorite Raven say, "nevermore."

A Tale of Two Brothers: The Harbowl

Examining Jim and John Harbaugh

Dan O'Brien

Photo Credit: theshadowleague.com

Let's face it: the NFL has lost a bit of its luster. Perhaps it is the ridiculous contracts or just the slowing down of the game to make it safer, but there is something about it that lacks the energy it had more than a decade ago. When the only thing we can point to for drama in the game is a late field goal for a win, I think it is time to reevaluate what it is about the game that makes it so enticing. Frothing-at-the-mouth fans tune into the NFL to watch a game that challenges the perseverance and the strength of the human condition, both physically and mentally. I am not going to turn this into a tirade about why distilling the game to a final kick in the final seconds has damaged the league (I will leave that to Skip Bayless), but instead talk about what drew fans to football in the first place: smash-mouth football. 

The Harbowl, as it is affectionately being called, is a return to a much older time in football, better times in the opinion of many fans and analysts .Strong defenses unwilling to give up an inch and a run game that keeps linebackers and defensive backs honest. The Baltimore Ravens have been this kind of team with Ray Lewis as an emotional and physically impressive centerpiece since he walked on the field. Over the past two seasons, the 49ers have emerged from the ashes to become a defensive stalwart and a truly impressive offensive presence. This Brother's Bowl has rejuvenated a love of football for many fans, creating a dramatic stage that has been painfully absent over the past couple of seasons. My inclination is that the threat of a Brother Bowl might lurk long after the final moments tick off the clock in New Orleans this Sunday. 

John Harbaugh

Photo Credit: fox59.com

Following nearly a decade in Philadelphia as a Special Teams coordinator and then working with the secondary and safeties in his final year (2007), John's coaching career really started at Western Michigan University in 1984 as the running backs and outside linebacker's coach in 1984. From 1988 until 2006, John was the man behind the Special Teams, an interesting career path of a coach in the Super Bowl. There has been a lot of talk recently of NFL head coaches who spent time as Special Teams coordinators and the value that front offices might place on that in the head coaching selection process. Looking at John's record, there might be something to that. 

As coach of the Baltimore Ravens, his all-time record of 80-54 (a .675 winning percentage) is quite impressive. The worst record he has carried as head coach was 9-7 in 2009, which was the last time they did not win their division. Going into the Super Bowl, he is 8-4 in playoff games, though he has yet to hoist the coveted Lombardi trophy. 

Jim Harbaugh

Photo Credit: usatoday.com

The turnaround in San Francisco was intense and dramatic and is due to the personality of its coaching staff heralded most prominently by Jim Harbaugh. He has been referred to as a player's coach and I imagine this comes from his time spent on the field doing precisely what he expects of his player's every time they step on the field. There is a mantra that I live by and it has served me pretty well: do not demand something of someone else that you are unwilling to do. Jim Harbaugh has stood in the pocket and taken a hit from Ray Lewis and can demand that toughness of his own players. 

Drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1987 (26th overall), Jim would spend the next 13 years as a quarterback in the NFL. He would not remain with Chicago, spending time in Indianapolis, Baltimore, and San Diego before retiring in 2000. He only posted two winning seasons as a pro quarterback and that was with the Chicago Bears in 1990 and 1991. His journey as a coach began at Western Kentucky in 1994 and then was highlighted by his time at Stanford. It is the radical change in philosophy that we saw transitioning from Mike Singletary to Harbaugh that speaks to his tenacity on and off the field. In only two years as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, Jim was one game away from a Super Bowl and now coaching in one. He has helped create a football culture in San Francisco that is reminiscent of the Bill Walsh days. San Franciscans have a team to cheer for once again, and they have Jim Harbaugh to thank for it. 

Opinion Time

Who do I think is the better coach? 

This is a tough call. What I would look to in determining this is an upward trajectory in terms of team play. John  made a risky move in bringing on Jim Caldwell to call the offense and it helped propel the Ravens into the Super Bowl. Jim created a stir in San Francisco by benching Alex Smith and starting Colin Kaepernick in his place: this turned out pretty well. If I had to choose one, then I would go with Jim because of the sudden transformation of the 49ers without changing any other piece other than him taking the helm. Jim Harbaugh essentially used the pieces that had been left behind from a sub .500 team the year before and made them a team to be feared in a division that was roundly dismissed until the 49ers started crushing teams and the Seahawks became the upstarts of the league. 

The larger point that looms is that one Harbaugh brother is going to win a Super Bowl and one of them is going to have to watch his brother lift the Lombardi trophy above his head. The novelty of a Harbaugh winning a Super Bowl regardless of who wins is a special moment in NFL history. A conference for Jim and John's parents best illustrates what it means to experience crushing defeat and overwhelming joy in the same breath. 

More about the author: A psychologist, author, philosopher, freelance editor, and skeptic, Dan O’Brien has published several novels and currently has many in print, including: The End of the World Playlist, Bitten, The Journey, The Ocean and the Hourglass, The Portent, The Path of the Fallen, Book of Seth, and Cerulean Dreams.

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Harbaugh's Heroes: Ray Rice vs. Frank Gore

Ray Rice vs. Frank Gore

by Dan O'Brien

Photo credit: cbsnews.com

The comparisons continue; this time with two premier backs. Frank Gore became the leading rusher in 49ers history this year and has stuck with the team through thick and thin. Ray Rice became the main attraction of a powerful run game the moment he stepped on the field. Both of these running backs are strong downfield runners who are not afraid of some contact. Part of what makes this Super Bowl (or Harbowl) so fascinating is that the match-up is between two old-style clubs: a strong run offense and a hardnosed, lights-out defense.

Ray Rice

Photo credit: sports-kings.com

Ray Rice is a complete running back. He is great off-tackle and he is great in the open field. He has the speed and the strength to be considered an elite running back, which he most certainly is. When he came into the league in 2008, he was not the first option for Baltimore. This, however, quickly changed. In 2009, he rushed for 1339 yards and 7 touchdowns. He caught 78 passes for 702 yards, solidifying his presence as a double-threat back. In 2012, the year that matters because the Ravens are in the Super Bowl, he rushed for 1143 yards and 9 touchdowns; he added to that 61 receptions for 478 yards. Despite a strong season, this was by no means his best season. 

Frank Gore

Photo Credit: examiner.com

Frank Gore is a part of 49ers history and this game might mean more to him than a lot of the other guys on the team. Gore, while being a powerful runner, is not the same dynamic back that Rice seems on track to be. He rushed for 1695 yards and 8 touchdowns in his first year as a starter (2006), which are monster numbers, but he managed to only hover around 1200 yards for the remainder of his career. If you add 61 receptions for 485 yards, then you are talking about more than a 2000-yard season in 2006. Fast-forward to 2012: this was a pretty good year as well, as he rushed for 1214 yards and 8 touchdown, adding to that 28 receptions for 234 yards. It seems clear to me that he never recovered from the knee injury, taking a little power and speed out of his step.

Opinion Time

Both teams are going to threaten the run. Both defenses are prepared for the run. Both of these running backs are willing to stretch and fall for that extra inch. I feel like Kaepernick should be included in the running back conversation, simply because the threat of his quickness and the Read-Option make the 49ers running game more of a threat. Gore average 4.7 yards per carry for an average of 75.9 yards per game. Rice average 4.4 yards per carry for 71.4 yards per game. Those numbers are too close to call. Gore had three fumbles on the year, one of which was taken back for a touchdown, while Rice had only one. I think whichever team wins the contested run game will inevitably emerge victorious this Sunday. With numbers this tight between two powerhouse running backs, something has to give.

More about the author: A psychologist, author, philosopher, freelance editor, and skeptic, Dan O’Brien has published several novels and currently has many in print, including: The End of the World Playlist, Bitten, The Journey, The Ocean and the Hourglass, The Portent, The Path of the Fallen, Book of Seth, and Cerulean Dreams. 

Follow him on Twitter (@AuthorDanOBrien) 

Visit his blog at http://thedanobrienproject.blogspot.com.

Our Pacific Northwest: Ticketmaster Helps a Fan's Super Dreams Come True

Our Pacific Northwest

Ticketmaster Helps a Fan's Super Dreams Come True

Ticketmaster, criticized in the past by some musical artists and their fans for unfair ticket prices, displayed a rare act of compassion for one unfortunate Bay Area resident. Earlier this week, the Oakland Tribune reported Santa Clara resident Sharon Osgood was duped out of Sunday’s Super Bowl game between the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens. According to the Tribune, Osgood wired nearly $6,000 to a Raven’s fan for tickets, only to receive an empty box with “Go Ravens! LOL!” written all over it. Soon after the Tribune released this initial story, they reported today Ticketmaster CEO Nathan Hubbard personally called the Osgood residence to inform them they will be receiving four free tickets to Sunday’s game in New Orleans. The 49ers front office also made a call to the season ticket holder with another free ticket offer. Altogether, Osgood received five free tickets for her and her family to cheer on their team after all. Empirical would like to commend Ticketmaster for reaching out and exhibiting a seldom seen act of kindness for a resident of our Pacific Northwest.

Sharon Osgood, Photo Via Oakland Tribune