Funkerstation » H: 14 (of 15)Really, only third base with Eva

Prior to his current job as the head coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Kent Austin, a former all-star quarterback himself, has had two other opportunities to work closely with quarterbacks in the CFL, and on both occasions, those QBs were named the leagues Outstanding Player. In 2005 as the offensive coordinator in Toronto, he worked with the veteran Damon Allen, who was entering his 21st year in the CFL. For two decades the much-maligned Allen had fought for respect from his critics, who had always called him a great athlete and runner but seldom mentioned his passing skills. Prior to that memorable season Allen had played in Edmonton, Memphis, Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto and BC and in 20 years had averaged 202 yards/game passing, and had only thrown over 25 touchdowns in a single season once. Enter Kent Austin, a quarterback himself for BC and Saskatchewan, and one of only four players to ever have a 6,000-plus yard passing season. In 2005 with the Argos, Allen threw for 5,082 yards, a career best. He found the end zone 33 times on the season. He also wasnt told to change his style and eliminate his running talent - instead he was instructed to complement it with a concerted effort to improve his passing accuracy. Allen would comment that year that, "he had never worked with a coach that held him that accountable before." Allen would go on to say that, "coach Kent would stand behind him in practice early on and quiz him after every throw, asking what did you see, what was the read, and where should you go with the ball," and expected immediate answers. That year Allen was named the CFLs Most Outstanding Player. In the 2007 season Austin landed the head coaching job in Saskatchewan and had even more say as to which quarterback would start, and how that pivot would be handled and coached, and for Austin, that meant a hands on approach. That year his student would be Kerry Joseph again, a QB that was an athlete first and a quarterback second according to the media. Joseph was a former safety in his NFL days but was able to play his favourite position when arriving in Ottawa in 2003. Over the course of four years as a starter Joseph, much like Allen at that time, was being praised for his ability to run the ball, but there were very few mentions of his passing prowess. Joseph was averaging 236 yards passing per game prior to 2007, and had averaged 19.8 TDs/year for the four seasons. Enter Austin, who Joseph says, "expanded my knowledge of the game, and took my mental game to a whole new level." According to KJ, Austin was a perfectionist in practice, always making sure he understood what to do with the football on every play. "Coach Austin would always say, you have to know on every play where you should be going with the football," Joseph recalled. The quarterback knowing what he should be doing with the ball is at times different than what he actually does with the ball, even on successful plays. Just because a QB finds an open receiver for a long TD, or scrambles to buy time, and makes a play down the field doesnt necessarily mean it was what he should have done with the ball. Joseph while playing for Austin had to know what he should have done with it on every play, despite the outcome of the play. In 2007 the Riders would win their third Grey Cup in franchise history, and Kerry Joseph won the leagues Most Outstanding Player award. What does all this mean for Henry Burris? Well it is hard to imagine that Burris could improve on his numbers from last year. He threw for a league-leading 5,367 yards and 43 touchdowns, both personal bests. However if there is anyone that could coach an even better year out of Burris it would be Kent Austin. After Austin signed in Hamilton, Joseph sent a text to Burris and congratulated him for getting Austin as his coach, and told him to prepare for his best year ever. In 2012 the MOP in the CFL was Chad Owens, and no player deserved it more. When you average over 200 yards per game you are the most outstanding player in the league. However, if in 2013 Burris stays healthy, and like Allen in 05, and Joseph in 07, takes his "mental game" to a whole new level, he just may add a second MOP award to his resume.Wholesale Nike Free Nz . Already owning gold from competition in Vancouver in 2010, Loch posted a combined four-run time of 3:27.526. That included a track-record third run of 51. Clearance Nike Free Nz . Hey!" The lower tier of the School End of Queens Park Rangers Loftus Road was packed solid with a very festive-sounding Chelsea choral section in this particular part of South Africa Road London, W12. http://www.cheapnikefreenz.com/ . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Clearance Nike Free Nz . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. Cheap Nike Free Wholesale . The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim.With free agency set to begin Tuesday, the offseason is about to get underway. What are the big questions facing all 30 teams? Were starting with the American League East.Who will replace David Ortiz?2016 record: 93-69Lets be clear: No one can replace Big Papi.Ortiz was the face of the Red Sox for most of these past 14 years, the lone link between the 2004, 2007 and 2013 World Series winners. And he delivered more than clutch hits. When something needed to be said, Ortiz usually stepped forward.But Ortizs production must be replaced. Third baseman Pablo Sandovals return from shoulder surgery, a full season of young outfielder Andrew Benintendi and an eventual contribution from top prospect Yoan Moncada will help, but its doubtful they will add up to Ortizs farewell-season totals of 38 homers and 127 RBIs.Conventional wisdom has the Sox paying top dollar for Edwin Encarnacion, who has averaged 39 homers, 110 RBIs and a .912 OPS per season for the Toronto Blue Jays since 2012, and he would slot in as the designated hitter. But the 34-year-old bats right-handed, and the Red Sox already lean heavily right with Mookie Betts, Hanley Ramirez, Xander Bogaerts and Dustin Pedroia.A potentially better free-agent fit: Carlos Beltran.Beltran turns 40 in April. Hes primarily a DH now and has leadership qualities that would fit well on a young, contending team. Hes a switch-hitter with relatively similar left-right splits. And hes coming off a season in which he hit 29 homers and drove in 93 runs with an .850 OPS.According to multiple sources, the Red Sox were interested in Beltran at the trade deadline before the New York Yankees dealt him to Texas. Beltran says he hasnt considered following Ortiz into retirement, but given his age, Beltran also isnt likely to get more than a two-year commitment.For those reasons, Beltrans market bears watching. -- Scott LauberHow high will the payroll climb?2016 record: 89-73Fact: Toronto is the fifth-largest media market in North America.Another fact: Nearly 3.4 million fans flocked to Rogers Centre this year, marking the Blue Jays most well-attended season since 1993.Myth: The Jays cant afford to re-sign both Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista.By now, after losing in the American League Championship Series in back-to-back seasons, it should be evident to ownership that the Blue Jays can compete with almost any team, on the field and financially. According to most estimates, the clubs 2016 payroll was roughly $150 million, and surely theres room to grow. But that doesnt make the decisions on their free-agent sluggers any easier.Bautista is 36 and coming off his worst season since 2009. Encarnacion will be 34 by Opening Day, and after a 42-homer season, he figures to command a four- or five-year contract worth more than $20 million annually. Multiyear deals for players in their mid-30s tend not to be good business, and Jays president Mark Shapiro knows it. But Bautista and Encarnacion rank with the most accomplished hitters in franchise history. Losing both would profoundly weaken one of the ALs mightiest lineups, to say nothing of demoralizing a fan base that has displayed renewed enthusiasm for baseball over the past two years.Theres growing belief within the industry that the Jays will push hard to keep Encarnacion while allowing Bautista to walk. -- Scott LauberCan the Orioles lock up Manny Machado?2016 record: 89-73If the Orioles stand any chance of signing Manny Machado to a long-term contract extension, nows the time. The 24-year old slugger wont come cheap, not after another standout season in which he set career highs in doubles (40), homers (37), RBIs (96) and OPS (.876). He also continued to look like one of the best fielders on the planet.ddddddddddddMachados current contract is set to expire after the 2018 season. If he makes it to free agency, theres no way Baltimore wins a bidding war to retain his services -- not with deep-pocketed poachers such as the Yankees waiting in the wings. So owner Peter Angelos and GM Dan Duquette must act now if they want to keep Machado in orange and black. With only $54 million currently committed to the 2018 payroll, and just $32 million on the 2019 books, the Birds should have the kind of fiscal flexibility to get a deal done. But does Machado want to stay? No doubt the numbers will play a big part, but extending Jonathan Schoop -- who is Machados BFF and one of the games up-and-coming second basemen -- wouldnt be a bad idea either. -- Eddie MatzWill the Yankees be big spenders?2016 record: 84-78You say, Spend Hals Money! Well, the Yankees probably wont do too much of that this winter. Owner Hal Steinbrenners plan for years: have more financial flexibility with a younger, more athletic roster. The Yankees are, finally, really making this a reality, as evidenced by their trade deadline deals as they slowly move under the luxury tax threshold.This winter, the Yankees wont stand still -- GM Brian Cashman is always active -- but there will be no mega-splurge.The Yankees could reunite with Aroldis Chapman or former prospect Mark Melancon to team with Dellin Betances. Neither Chapman nor Melancon would cost a draft choice, unlike?Kenley Jansen.Meanwhile, the Yankees want to add a starter. Rich Hill once was a Yankee, and he could be a Yankee again. In 2014, the Yankees failed to recognize Hills potential as a starter. Now, he has been dominant but injury prone. Still, a lefty at Yankee Stadium is always enticing, especially one who had a 2.12 ERA in 20 starts in 2016. -- Andrew MarchandWhere will the runs come from?2016 record: 68-94From 2008 to 2013, the Rays averaged 92 wins per season, second most in the majors behind the Yankees. Tampa Bay made the playoffs four times in that span. But since then, the team has suffered three straight losing seasons, bottoming out at 68-94 in 2016. The Rays bashed a franchise-record 216 home runs in 2016, but there wasnt much else to go with the power. Tampa ranked 14th in the AL in runs after ranking 14th in 2015 and 15th in 2014. So while Chris Archer and Drew Smyly?will certainly have better seasons down the road, the Rays need to improve their offense.Last season, the Rays were last in batting average and strikeouts, 12th in walks, and Kevin Kiermaier?was their only player to steal more than seven bases. So we know they need to draw more walks and put more balls in play. Heres where reach position ranked in wOBA:C: 27 1B: 19 2B: 14 3B: 7 SS: 7 LF: 17 CF: 22 RF: 23 DH: 14 (of 15)Really, only third base with Evan Longoria was a position of strength. Brad Millers poor defense at shortstop forced a move to first base late in the season, with Matt Duffy taking over in 2017. Kiermaier isnt going anywhere with his defense, so that leaves catcher, DH and the corner-outfield positions as the places for upgrade. Corey Dickerson and Steven Souza combined for 41 home runs but just 2.4 WAR last season. While the free-agent market will be flooded with DH types, the Rays are unlikely bidders for Edwin Encarnacion or Mark Trumbo. The Rays will need Dickerson and Souza to improve their approaches at the plate, strike out less and get on base at a much higher rate -- and probably hope for the best with stopgaps at catcher and DH. -- David Schoenfield ' ' '