Yardbarker: John Carlson

For John Carlson, It's Been a Season To Remember

Mon, 18 May 2009 06:48:41 -0500

This past weekend in Hershey, I sat near and among pro scouts from the Caps, the Bruins, the Flyers, the Senators, and the Avalanche, and while a press box full of scouts rarely views any individual hockey player with unanimity of assessment, when it comes to John Carlson, I learned, they do. Early on in Saturday night's game one in the AHL's Eastern conference finals a scout from a rival NHL Eastern conference team pointed out Carlson's beyond-his-years savviness in calmly cleari...

Cameron Morrah: A Berkeley (Cal) Perspective

Wed, 13 May 2009 18:11:17 -0500

With their final pick of the 2009 NFL Draft, the Seahawks selected Cameron Morrah, a tight end from California. Morrah was one of Cal’s more reliable targets in the passing game last season, and could develop into a nice option behind starter John Carlson. Although his blocking may need improvement, he is very athletic and [...]

A New Bear Is Making Big Growls

Mon, 04 May 2009 09:15:43 -0500

The Hershey Bears have played six games this postseason and won all six, the most recent Sunday night's 3-1 triumph over Wilkes-Barre in game 2 of the East division finals. In 2006, Hershey won 10 straight postseason games en route to its Calder Cup victory. More kudos for Kid Carlson arrived in my inbox via the Hershey press box last night; the Dale Hunter protege scored the game-winner last night. Last autumn, near the end of Capitals' training camp, there were some in the Caps&...

A Fresh Face on the Farm

Sat, 02 May 2009 23:30:02 -0500

Hershey made it a Saturday sweep of the Penguins' organization, besting the baby Pens 5-3 at Giant Center in the opening game of the East division finals. Michal Neuvirth had 35 saves.Caps' 2008 first-round pick John Carlson made his pro hockey debut for the organization, and he impressed. Late Saturday night I asked a couple of buddies in the Giant Center press box for top-surface impressions of Carlson's debut; I received "excellent," "a lot of tape-to-tape passes...

The Del Zotto/Grachev Shot

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:18:17 -0500

There are two very good reasons why when we hear The Sather speak about New York Ranger young players that we get very nervous. The first is Michael Del Zotto and the second Evgeny Grachev as every time The Sather says he is not going to move young players we do not trust him because his actions always say otherwise.

A prospect like a Michael Del Zotto is going to need time to develop into a full time Ranger contributor IF he is given a real chance to develop. Yes people can argue that the Rangers should have taken his current teammate John Carlson but the deed is done and Del Zotto is no slouch.

Stupid Snub

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:41:43 -0500

Good thing USA Hockey left London Knights' defenseman John Carlson off the American World Junior team -- the one that finished fifth in Ottawa last week. Carlson after all is just an OHL rookie -- one named the league's Rookie of the Month for December. From the OHL website:

My Final Word On Mays (For Now)

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:36:28 -0500

I posted this in the comments section in the last Mays post, but I thought that since the subject has stirred up so much controversy, I should bring it up to the main page. Kevin and I are not necessarily in agreement on this one, and I won't detail all the reasons. I don't like him as a prospect, but this the bottom line reason on why we should not draft him. I will not talk about Mays any more after this until the NFL Combine.

I feel like I have said all I have to say about Mays, so I'll just wrap this up. For better or worse, the hawks are probably stuck with the 4 pick. It's simply too expensive to trade away, and that expense (Darren McFadden, last year's #4 pick, signed for 60 million over 6 years) makes getting this pick right simply too important to mess up. The Hawks can not endure a bust.

The last time a safety taken in the top 4 was in 1991. Even Sean Taylor went #5. Could Taylor Mays possibly justify being the 4 pick? He has incredible tools, but it's really not likely. Mays looks like more of a boom or bust prospect, way too big of a risk for a top 5 pick. Even if he succeeds, he will need to perform at a perennial pro bowl level to justify his contract.

The Hawks have other big needs to fill, and there are safer players than Mays. With the great group of safeties in the second and third rounds, it's really not worth the risk for Mays. That's what it all comes down to for me.

One thing I haven't mentioned is that I don't see Seattle drafting a player like Mays. Tim Ruskell has shown in the past that he is not really interested in players with fantastic tools who don't back them up 100% in their play. In fact he goes after the opposite type of player, ones who outplay their 40 yard times. Lofa Tatupu and John Carlson are both excellent examples of this. Ruskell has never really shown any interest in the tools monsters before, and I don't think that changes this year. I would be absolutely shocked if the Seahawks drafted Mays.

Note to Seahawk Fans: We'll Be Alright...

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 23:00:07 -0500

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By Kevin NeuzilSeahawks Guest Writer

Although the Seahawks had a tough loss this Sunday, Seahawks fans have no reason to panic, yet. The Seahawks proved that they can run the ball effectively, and that their young receivers can step up. Most notably John Carlson, who had a breakout game with some key receptions.
One area of concern is the defensive secondary. Deon Grant prides himself on not being beaten deep. However there were numerous instances where he strayed away from the best aspect of his game and went for a big hit or a big play. He needs to stay back in coverage and make sure nobody gets behind him. Also, the 49ers killed the Hawks on third down and long, often completing wide open passes over the middle of the field.
Offensively, it was apparent that we do not have a deep threat. The young receivers were great on short receptions, but the long ball was not there at all. The Seahawks have to bounce back next week and I am confident that they will.
The drive they had at the end of the third quarter into the fourth was the best I have seen in a while from the Hawks. It looked like the offense of 2004-05, running on first down, usually completing a pass on second, and I saw a confidence on third and short that this team had been lacking last year as well as the year before.
If we can get a win next week Seahawk fans have a reason to be optimistic. After Week 3 the Hawks have a bye week. By then, hopefully Engram and Branch will be back. Those two combined with Hawks' new found running game and John Carlson should be enough to win the division at least. It may be a rocky road to the playoffs but don't lose hope on our Hawks just yet.

Keeping It Real

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 23:07:47 -0500

NHL Combine

Fri, 30 May 2008 14:45:12 -0500

The NHL is in it's last day of the NHL Combine for the upcoming NHL Draft. TSN has a nice live blog going. Today is the physical aspect of the Combine. One of the major events is the bench press just like at the NFL Combine. Unlike the NFL where you have to bench press 225lbs, the players will only have to bench press 150lbs. Colin Wilson from Boston University did 21 reps. John Carlson...

John Carlson is Heading to London

Thu, 29 May 2008 19:19:31 -0500

A few weeks ago I did an interview with John Carlson a top defensive prospect for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He would not comment to me about the London Knights of the OHL. He said he was heading to UMass-Amherst to play college hockey...

Laws and Carlson Named to the NFF Hampshire Honor Society

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:22:32 -0500

The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced today the members of the 2008 NFF Hampshire Honor Society, which is comprised of college football players from all divisions of play who each maintained a 3.2 GPA or better. Seniors Trevor Laws and John Carlson were the Notre Dame recepients of the Honor Society.