CLEVELAND — Cody Allen is one of the least acclaimed yet most productive closers in the major leagues. On Friday night. when the Cleveland Indians open a three-game series with the Oakland A’s Jahlani Tavai Jersey , Allen will be in uniform at Progressive Field for the first time as the Indians’ career saves leader.
In pitching the ninth inning of a 3-2 Cleveland win in Kansas City on Wednesday, Allen posted his 140th career save, breaking Bob Wickman’s franchise record of 139, which had stood since 2006.
“He means so much to all of us,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said of Allen. “This is a kid who was drafted in the 16th round, but through being a consummate professional, he’s now the Indians’ all-time leader. That’s pretty awesome. It’s a big accomplishment, and he’s not close to being done.”
Allen (2-3, 3.38 ERA) ranks seventh in the American League this year with 18 saves Will Harris Jersey , but his year-in, year-out consistency has been his trademark. He has had at least 30 saves in each of the last three seasons. Only two other closers in the majors can say that: the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Kenley Jansen and Boston’s Craig Kimbrel.
“This is something I’m extremely proud of,” Allen said of passing Wickman as the club’s saves leader. “It’s something I get to hang my hat on for my career. It’s very cool.”
The A’s (48-39) come to Cleveland with nearly the same record as the Indians (48-37), but what a difference a division makes. The first-place Indians lead the AL Central by 11 1/2 games. The A’s are in third in the AL West, 8 1/2 games behind the first-place Houston Astros.
The A’s won two of three games from the Indians last weekend in Oakland. That was part of a longer streak in which the A’s have won eight of their last nine. Since June 16, Oakland is 14-3.
“I think we’re having a lot of fun,” A’s third baseman Matt Chapman told MLB.com, “and no matter what the score is, I don’t think we count ourselves out. There’s no panic in the dugout. We just keep playing our game. We trust that we’re a good team.”
On Friday night Austin Bryant Jersey , the A’s will send Paul Blackburn (2-2, 6.46 ERA) to the mound. In his last start on June 29 in Oakland, Blackburn baffled the Indians, pitching 6 1/3 scoreless innings and giving up just three hits in a 3-1 victory.
Blackburn has started five major league games this year. In the one against Cleveland, he is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and an opponents’ batting average of .150. In the other four starts, he’s 1-2 with an 8.83 ERA and an opponents’ batting average of .324. In two career starts against the Indians, Blackburn is 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA.
Cleveland will counter with Carlos Carrasco (8-5, 4.24), who will make his first start since June 16 Rashan Gary Jersey , a 9-3 loss to Minnesota in which he was knocked out of the game in the second inning after getting hit in the right arm by a line drive off the bat of Joe Mauer.
Carrasco was placed on the 10-day disabled list the next day with a right elbow contusion. He made one rehab start at Double-A Akron on June 30, pitching four scoreless innings and giving up one hit with four strikeouts and one walk.
Carrasco’s last legitimate start was his best start of the year, a 4-0 win over the Chicago White Sox on June 11. In that game, he pitched seven scoreless innings and gave up two hits and one walk with 11 strikeouts.
In six career appearances, including five starts, against Oakland, Carrasco is 3-1 with a 2.61 ERA.
A Minor League Baseball team is moving to Colorado from Utah.
The Pueblo Chieftain reports the owner of Utah’s Orem Owlz announced Wednesday that he will move his team to Pueblo. The team is an affiliate with the Los Angeles Angels.
Jeff Katofsky says the team will be renamed the Pueblo Owlz and debut in June 2020.
Katofsky says his team’s lease in Utah was up and he saw an opportunity to start a youth program in Pueblo. He wasn’t taking his team anywhere without the youth program aspect of Pueblo County’s Youth Entertainment and Sports project.
The plan includes construction of a $25 million multi-purpose stadium and six new baseball fields at the Runyon Sports Complex. Details on the stadium’s location are not been finalized.
The project also calls for the construction of three hotels.
OAKLAND Deandre Baker Jersey , Calif. — The Oakland Athletics will encounter one of their all-time nemeses Thursday afternoon when they face Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander in the finale of a three-game series.
The Astros have dominated the first two games of the series between American League West rivals, riding a total of 10 RBIs from Evan Gattis to 6-3 and 13-5 victories.
Houston has won seven of eight from Oakland this season.
The Astros have done it without any help from Verlander (8-2, 1.45 ERA), who has yet to face the A’s this season.
They have seen plenty of each other in the veteran’s 14-year career, including five times in the postseason, when Verlander has gone 4-0 against Oakland.
Included in the four wins were Game 5 clinchers for Detroit in 2012, when Verlander pitched a 6-0 shutout, and 2013, when he threw eight innings of shutout ball in a 3-0 win.
A’s general manager Billy Beane got so fed up losing to Verlander, he attempted to stack the Oakland pitching staff in anticipation of a rematch in 2014, acquiring Jon Lester http://www.giantsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-oshane-ximines-jersey , Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel at midseason at the costly expense of Addison Russell and Yoenis Cespedes.
The A’s, who already had Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir anchoring their staff, never got a shot at Verlander in the playoffs that year, losing 9-8 to Kansas City in the American League wild-card game, which Lester started and Hammel finished.
With Lester, Samardzija and Hammel all leaving the team the following season either via trade or free agency, the A’s haven’t been back in the postseason since. In fact, they’ve never finished higher than fourth place the last three seasons.
Verlander has a 10-6 record and 2.61 ERA in 17 starts against the A’s in his career during the regular season. He’s 5-4 with a 2.38 ERA in 10 starts in Oakland.
The A’s will counter with their modern-day version of Verlander, rookie right-hander Frankie Montas (3-0, 1.25), who has been brilliant in three starts this season.
Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in one of Oakland’s many veteran sell-offs since becoming a non-contender in 2015 Julian Love Jersey , Montas has allowed a total of three runs in 21 2/3 innings in wins over Arizona and Kansas City (twice).
Montas pitched twice in relief against Houston in 2017, getting shelled in one inning in each appearance.
He gave up three hits and two runs in the ninth inning of a 10-6 loss to the Astros in his 11th career appearance early in the 2017 season, then served up a three-run home run to Marwin Gonzalez in the ninth inning of a 7-2 loss two weeks later.
Gonzalez had one of Houston’s four home runs in Wednesday’s shellacking, but the story of the game for the second consecutive night was Gattis.
The designated hitter, who had recorded four RBIs nine separate times in his career before this series began, enjoyed his second consecutive five-RBI performance in Wednesday’s win, belting two home runs along the way.
Gattis had been just 3-for-12 with no homers and no RBIs in six games against the A’s this season before exploding for four hits, including three homers, in seven at-bats the last two nights.
HOUSTON — One obvious benefit of a club-record-tying 12-game winning streak and 13 victories in 14 games is the positive impact it has on the standings, something the Houston Astros could attest to before dropping the opener of a three-game set with the Kansas City Royals on Friday.
On June 5, the Astros (50-27) were the scuffling team http://www.giantsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-darius-slayton-jersey , falling two games behind the Seattle Mariners in the American League West with a 7-1 loss, their seventh setback over 10 games. The entered this weekend 3 1/2 games ahead of the Mariners and maintained that lead Friday when Seattle lost at Boston 14-10.
Midseason standings are fluid, and it’s far too early to get enthralled by scoreboard watching.
“I think I pay attention to our team,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “I appreciate the stress that comes with whether you’re a game up or a game back or five games up or five games back. I really think we’re chasing ourselves. I think we need to play our best baseball and we’ll sort out the standings as it gets towards the later end of the season.
“I’m aware of it because I’m a baseball enthusiast; I watch the scores all the time. It’s what I do. I’m not emotionally drained when other teams go on win streaks and I’m not emotionally charged by a couple losses. I just want our team to play well.”
Right-hander Lance McCullers (8-3, 3.77 ERA) gets the start in the middle game of the series for Houston. He is 1-0 with a 2.33 ERA over four career starts against the Royals, and he recorded a no-decision in his previous outing against them after allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks with nine strikeouts over six innings in a 7-4 Astros victory on Sunday at Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals will hand the ball to right-hander Ian Kennedy (1-7, 5.31 ERA) on Saturday. Kennedy is winless over his last 13 starts, one behind Athletics right-hander Chris Bassitt for the longest active streak in the majors. He is 0-7 with a 6.12 ERA since his only win on April 7.
Kennedy is 4-1 with a 1.99 ERA over five career starts against the Astros, including 3-0 with a 0.92 ERA over three starts at Minute Maid Park.
The Royals (23-52) on Friday began transitioning veteran Alcides Escobar off shortstop, ending his string of 407 consecutive starts there by moving him to center field for the opener of their series with the Astros. Escobar finished 2-for-2 with two walks, marking the first time since Sept. 6 Quinnen Williams Jersey , 2017, against the Detroit Tigers that he reached base in all four plate appearances.
Escobar, a free agent following the season, has been a mainstay at short for the Royals since 2011. Before making his first career start in center on Friday, Escobar last played that position on Aug. 2, 2010, while with the Milwaukee Brewers, shifting in the eighth inning after starting at shortstop.
“We know that he’s athletic enough to play it and we want Mondi (22-year-old infielder Adalberto Mondesi) playing short,” Royals manager Ned Yost said of Escobar. “We just think that the time is right. We talked to the coaches about it and they feel like he’ll be fine.
“He’s really excited about the opportunity at playing multiple positions, not only center but some third and some second. He knows that his next career move is probably going to be a utility-type player on the field and he’s anxious to start showing people that he can handle it.”
ST. PETERSBURG Tytus Howard Jersey , Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays continue to win games they perhaps shouldn’t, and they’ll have an opportunity for more of that Saturday against Houston’s Justin Verlander.
The Rays (40-41) hit the midway point of their 2018 season with a 3-2 win over Houston, giving them six wins in their last seven games. Their pitching has led the way — three times in the last four games, they have held their opponent to three hits or less, this after doing so only three times in the first 77 games of this season.
“If we are going to win a lot of game and we are going to string a bunch together, we have to have good pitching,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “The timely hitting is great, but we have to stay in the ballgame. For us to have allowed three runs in 18 innings against arguably the best team in baseball, we should find a way to win one.”
Houston will send Verlander, who has been dominant (9-3, 1.82 ERA) but has gotten surprisingly little run support from a potent Astros lineup.
Houston is just 11-7 in games he starts, and the Astros have scored a total of two runs in five of those losses.
So Saturday could look like Thursday’s 1-0 Astros win, or could look like Friday’s 3-2 loss, which saw two errors factor in Tampa Bay’s scoring.
Verlander faced the Rays just 11 days ago in Houston, again pitching well, allowing one run on six hits in 6 2/3 innings, but ultimately taking a no-decision in a 2-1 loss. He has 136 strikeouts in 113 innings this season and a ridiculous 0.81 WHIP.
Against the Rays for his career, Verlander is 8-3 with a 3.18 ERA Nick Bosa Jersey , but since 2010, he’s just 4-3, despite a 1.72 ERA in his last five starts against the Rays. At Tropicana Field, he’s 5-2 all-time with a 2.53 ERA, including a 1.20 ERA in his last two outings.
The Rays counter with reliever-turned-starter Ryne Stanek, who has thrived in the “opener” role that Tampa Bay has essentially created in the past six weeks. He’s starting for the second time in three days against the Astros having thrown 1 2/3 innings of scoreless, hitless baseball Thursday night. For the month of June, he’s pitched in 11 games and 14 2/3 innings without allowing a run.
He’s held opponents to just four hits, lowering his season ERA to 1.85, just barely above Verlander’s.
The Astros know they have to be careful with the white ceiling of Tropicana Field — the Rays’ three-run fourth inning got a spark Friday when center fielder Jake Marisnick couldn’t hold onto a pop at the warning track, allowing a run to score.
“When you play here, you try to not take your eye off the ball,” Marisnick said. “With the ceiling, I kind of glanced quickly at the ball, then looked back up and lost track. I wasn’t able to come up with it. That’s a play I need to make 10 out of 10 times.”
Father’s Day was the crowning touch on rookie catcher Jose Trevino’s wild week.
Trevino blooped a two-run single to left-center field, capping a four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning that sent the Texas Rangers over the Colorado Rockies 13-12 on Sunday.
He has been a father for only a week, and a major leaguer for three days.
”It has been one of the craziest weeks of my life,” a teary-eyed Trevino said in a television interview. ”I can’t wait to tell (my son) about it.”
Rockies closer Wade Davis (0-2) retired only one batter while walking four and allowing singles to Rougned Odor and Trevino. He entered his third major league game in the top of the ninth after starting catcher Robinson Chirinos was hit on a foot by a foul ball.
Trevino is 2 for 8 for Texas D.K. Metcalf Jersey , including a game-tying single in Saturday’s 5-2 victory.
It was the fourth blown save in 24 opportunities for Davis, who threw 23 balls and 15 strikes while tying his season-high 38 pitches. As a result, Colorado lost for a National League-high 21st time after holding a lead.
”It looks as though his release point was way off,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. ”We’ll address that.”
Trevino took advantage.
”It’s everything a kid dreams about, except for there was one out instead of two,” he said.
Trevino has impressed manager Jeff Banister.
”Pretty incredible week for the young man. I think he’ll look back on these first few days in the big leagues and think about how special they really are.”
Colorado took a 5-1 lead in the fifth inning of the seesaw game. The Rangers scored five runs to take a 6-5 lead in the sixth, including Jurickson Profar’s three-run homer off starter Jon Gray.
The Rockies responded with a five-run seventh to go ahead 10-6. Colorado’s Gerardo Parra drove in four runs, three on a bases-clearing double in the seventh.
Texas pulled within 10-9 with three runs in the seventh. Trevor Story hit a two-run homer in the Colorado ninth against Jesse Chavez (3-1).
Yovani Gallardo, pitching for his hometown Rangers for the first time since 2015, allowed the Rockies’ first five runs in five-plus innings.
Nomar Mazara drove in three Texas runs with two singles and a groundout.
Story, the National League leader with 54 RBIs, drove in two runs with his 15th homer.
Gray retired the Rangers’ first 10 batters, striking out seven, before Delino DeShields singled, stole second base and scored on a single by Mazara.
Gray’s only walk of the game led to the five-run sixth.
”You’d like to have your starting pitcher be a good front-runner and attack,” Black said. ”That inning, Jon got behind guys, 2-0 to the first hitter Jamel Dean Jersey , 2-0 to the second hitter.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rockies: LHP Mike Dunn (rhomboid strain) and RHP Scott Oberg threw bullpen sessions before the game. ”Both successful,” Black said. ”No timetable on their returns. I suspect that they’ll throw another bullpen during the next couple days.”
Rangers: RF Mazara (sore left wrist) and C Robinson Chirinos (body soreness) returned to the lineup after missing two games. Chirinos now may miss more time with a foot injury. ”Pretty sore, pretty numb in the area where he got hit,” manager Jeff Banister said. … SS Elvis Andrus (fractured right elbow) moved his rehab assignment to Triple-A Round Rock, where he was 0 for 2 with two walks leading off as the DH. Banister said he expected Andrus to make the trip to Kansas City for a series beginning on Monday.
LEADING OFF
Rockies 2B DJ LeMahieu hit his second leadoff homer this season and of his career. The Rangers’ leadoff batter, DH Shin-Soo Choo, extended his on-base streak to 31 games with a sixth-inning single.
MAY JUNE BE WITH YOU
SS Jurickson Profar leads the Rangers with 33 RBIs since May 1. For the season, he has 41 RBIs after totaling only 53 in his first four injury-riddled seasons.
Profar has five of his career-high eight home runs in his last 11 games. He has four homers in four starts batting fourth in Texas’ lineup this season.
UP NEXT
Rockies: They return home, where they have lost seven in a row, to play the Mets on Monday. LHP Tyler Anderson (4-1, 4.48) will start for Colorado against New York RHP Jacob deGrom (4-2, 1.55).
Rangers: RHP Bartolo Colon (3-4, 4.94) will start the series opener on Monday at Kansas City against RHP Ian Kennedy (1-6, 5.13). … Trevino will be making his first major league road trip. He said, ”It should be some fun.”
NEW YORK — The last time Giancarlo Stanton stood in front of his locker at Yankee Stadium Christian Wilkins Jersey , he was in a testy mood with the line of questioning after a rough day at the plate.
Two days later, Stanton was in a much better mood, especially when he discussed the poise the young hitters batting behind him are showing.
It was on display Tuesday when the Yankees cruised to a 7-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on a night when rookies Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres hit their ninth and 14th homers, respectively.
Now Stanton and his young teammates get a chance at winning another series Wednesday night when the Yankees host the Mariners in the middle game of a three-game set.
The Yankees are 15-4 in their last 19 games after Stanton followed up a four-hit night in Washington by homering on the first pitch he saw. Then he watched as Andujar blasted a two-run homer and Torres hit a solo shot, giving the Yankees the chance to clinch their 16th series victory since April 19 on Wednesday.
“Seeing the guys and playing with them, I’m not surprised by what they can do,” Stanton said. “But the way they’ve been able to do it and keep doing it is cool to see.”
Andujar is on the verge of becoming the seventh Yankee to hit double figures in home runs. His homer snapped a 0-for-14 skid and was his 35th extra-base hit, the third-most by a Yankee in his first 65 games behind Bob Meusel (41) and Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio (47).
Torres has four homers in his last 10 games and his latest home run occurred in his 50th game, matching Aaron Judge for the third-fastest in team history. Only Gary Sanchez (19) and Kevin Maas (15) did it faster and Torres leads all first-year players with 14 homers and 35 RBIs.
While the Yankees were marveling at more production from their youth, the Mariners are hoping to avoid losing three straight games for the first time since April 17-19 against the Houston Astros. The Mariners (46-27) are on their first losing streak since May 29-30 and are 37-19 since they last dropped three in a row.
The Mariners matched a season low by mustering two hits and went hitless in 20 straight at-bats at one point.
“The key on the road, is you have to play really good defense and you have to hit,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said before the game. “It’s hard to win the 1-0 game, 2-1 game. We’ve won a couple of them but it’s not easy. It’s not a formula you want to subscribe to often.”
Nelson Cruz homered and has seven in his last 10 games and eight in his last 13 contests.
“We’re going to play our game,” Cruz said. “Things didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to. We’ll come back positive tomorrow and try to make things better.”
After getting a rough outing from Marco Gonzales Tuesday, the Mariners will hope to rebound with Felix Hernandez on the mound.
Hernandez (6-6, 5.44 ERA) will start Wednesday after losing his last two starts. He allowed six runs (five earned) in three innings of a 7-3 loss at Tampa Bay on June 9 but took a tough 2-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox after allowing two hits on eight hits in seven innings on Thursday.
Hernandez has pitched at least five innings and allowed three runs or less in nine of 15 starts this season.
Hernandez is 10-7 with a 3.04 ERA in 21 career starts, including four complete games against the Yankees. In New York Garrett Bradbury Jersey , he is 7-2 with a 2.00 ERA in 11 starts, including a 6-1 record with a 1.41 ERA in nine starts at the current Yankee Stadium.
Since Aug. 4, 2012, he is 3-0 with a 1.36 ERA in five starts at Yankee Stadium.
Jonathan Loaisiga will make his second start in place of Masahiro Tanaka (hamstring). He picked up the win in his major league debut Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays when he allowed three hits in five innings of a 5-0 win.
Loaisiga was the 11th pitcher (eighth starter) in Yankees history to go at least five innings in his major league debut and only the second since 1943. The other was Sam Militello in 1992.
Loaisiga was the first native of Nicaragua to appear for the Yankees and the 15th Nicaraguan to appear in the major leagues.
The Yankees are 8-2 in the last 10 meetings with the Mariners.
Careers that achieve Hall of Fame endings in the NFL isn't something to take lightly in the grand scheme of things. There are 53 players on each individual roster every regular season and 32 teams. Added all together, that is equivalent to 1696 players. There are only six players inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame each offseason, which wouldn't create an even balance to one individual NFL roster until nearly a decade passed.The point of saying this is to establish how incredibly difficult it really is for a player to make his way to the Hall of Fame. Injuries, legal issues, team management, relationships Noah Fant Jersey , motivation, longevity, talent, having a good connection with all of these factors is vital to solidifying one's name in Canton. Guys like Larry Fitzgerald, Drew Brees, Julius Peppers, and Tom Brady (just to name a couple), have all been able to understand what it takes to be great, and are surely bound for Hall of Fame spots in the future.With those older players on their way out the door within the next couple of years http://www.cowboyscheapauthenticstore.com/trysten-hill-jersey-cheap , a lot of the attention moves to the potential the public sees in young talent. We all want to see the next Peyton Manning, Ed Reed, Randy Moss and Deion Sanders, guys who were simply transcendent athletes that altered the way the game was played and were beloved by millions of fans. Often times, we make unfair comparisons between the newly drafted players and the legends of old, but it all stems from our inner desire to see greatness erupt.Without further ado, TheSportster brings you Looking WAY Ahead: 15 NFL Players Under 25 Who Are Hall Of Fame Bound
Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott isn’t interested in revisiting his suspension from a year ago. It began in Week 10 against the Falcons Marcus Green Atlanta Falcons Jersey , a 27-7 loss that Jerry Jones refers to as the “burning of Atlanta” after Dak Prescott was sacked eight times.It was the beginning of the end: The Cowboys went 3-3 without Elliott, and they missed the playoffs by a game, finishing 9-7. 鈥淚 was at home watching it,鈥?Elliott said, via Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 鈥淚t was tough to watch, a tough time for me. I am out here this year and able to help my guys go out there and try to get that win.鈥滶lliott ranks second in rushing with 831 yards and fourth in yards from scrimmage with 1,093.He is coming off a dominant performance against the Eagles when he had 187 yards of total offense, including 151 rushing. “I think he鈥檚 played awfully well,鈥?coach Jason Garrett said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 run the ball the ball well. He鈥檚 caught the ball well. He鈥檚 blocked well. Certainly hasn鈥檛 been perfect, nobody is. But he鈥檚 an awfully good football player. He has a big impact on our team.鈥淗e certainly takes advantage of it. The more ways you can attack a defense the better. The more weapons you have, more guys you鈥檙e throwing the ball to challenges the defense that much more Youth Marcus Green Jersey , so getting him the ball I think is a priority for us whether you hand it to him or throw it to him he has a positive effect on the game.鈥漌hen the Cowboys return to the scene of the crime Sunday, they will have their not-so-secret weapon. Elliott enters seeking redemption as the Cowboys travel back to Atlanta still in a “must-win” frame of mind. 鈥淭hat is how we are going to be for the rest of the season,鈥?Elliott said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to need extra motivation when you go into this game 4-5. For the rest of this season, our backs are going to be against the wall. We have to do what we can to go out there and try to win every one of the rest of these games.鈥 This is the time of the year where bad teams are playing out the string. For a team like the Falcons who have determined they’re not firing their head coach and are returning their franchise quarterback and many pieces on both sides of the ball, it’s an especially awkward way to end the year. Who do you play? What do you care about? How invested can you truly be?The same is true of the Carolina Panthers, who will have Cam Newton next year, except the coach part. Ron Rivera may legitimately be in danger of being fired with a new owner in place in Carolina and a pretty epic collapse after the Panthers looked like a virtual playoff lock earlier in the year. Now Newton’s on the shelf for the team’s final two games and they’re also just playing out the string, hoping to beat the Falcons and (somehow) Saints to keep Rivera around.The end result, more than likely, will be some ugly football. The Panthers offense looks inept even without a backup quarterback under center, while the Falcons have done nothing good in over a month when they weren’t playing the absolute worst team in football. Something has to give here Youth Terrell McClain Jersey , but it’s anyone’s guess what it will be, given that both teams are capable of some truly abysmal play. In the end, Carolina’s strong defense might just get the job done, and we’ll be one week closer to an offseason I look forward to more each day.Here’s what you’ll need to know for Sunday. Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers, Week 16When: Sunday, December 23, 1 p.m. ESTWhere: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North CarolinaChannel: FOXRadio: 92.9 The GameAnnouncers: Dick Stockton, Mark Schlereth, Jennifer Hale Streaming: FOXSportsGoPrediction: Falcons lose Stitched Logan Paulsen Jersey , 24-20Key Questions: Will the Panthers even bother to play Cam Newton with their playoff hopes all but extinguished and Newton clearly flailing? Will the Falcons go right back to being terrible on offense against a quality defense? Will this game be watchable? Opponent Site: Cat Scratch ReaderTwitter: @TheFalcoholicFacebook: www.facebook.com/TheFalcoholic2018 Falcons Schedule (5-9)Week 1: Falcons @ Eagles, Thursday Night Football - LossWeek 2: Falcons vs. Panthers, WinWeek 3: Falcons vs. Saints, LossWeek 4: Falcons vs. Bengals, LossWeek 5: Falcons @ Steelers, LossWeek 6: Falcons vs. Buccaneers, WinWeek 7: Falcons vs. Giants, WinWeek 8: BYE WEEKWeek 9: Falcons @ Redskins, WinWeek 10: Falcons @ Browns, LossWeek 11: Falcons vs. Cowboys, LossWeek 12: Falcons @ Saints Youth Logan Paulsen Jersey , LossWeek 13: Falcons vs. Ravens, LossWeek 14: Falcons @ Packers, LossWeek 15: Falcons vs. Cardinals, WinWeek 16: Falcons @ Panthers, Sunday December 23 1:00 p.m.Week 17: Falcons @ Buccaneers, Sunday December 30 1:00 p.m.
There’s hope in 2019 for the Jaguars Youth Chris Wormley Jersey , Raiders, Giants and other teams who will finish last in the division this year.The Chicago Bears (10-4) already won the NFC North to complete a worst-to-first turnaround, and the Houston Texans (10-4) are on the verge of securing the AFC South to become the second team to do it this season.At least one team has finished in first place in its division the year after finishing last or tied for last place in 15 of the past 16 seasons. Since the playoff format was expanded to 12 teams in 1990, at least four teams have reached the postseason each year after not qualifying the previous season.In 2017, the Philadelphia Eagles went from last place to winning a Super Bowl title. The Bears and Texans are hoping to duplicate that feat this year.Here’s a look inside more numbers entering Week 16:COUNTDOWN TO 50: Patrick Mahomes needs five touchdown passes to become the third quarterback to throw for 50 in a season. Peyton Manning had 55 in 2013, breaking Tom Brady’s mark of 50 set in 2007. Manning also threw 49 TDs in 2004, Dan Marino had 48 in 1984 and Drew Brees tossed 46 in 2011.RUNNING RAVENS: Led by quarterback Lamar Jackson and rookie running back Gus Edwards, the Ravens have rushed for at least 190 yards in five consecutive games. Baltimore is the first team since the 1976 Steelers to do so five straight games.MACK ATTACK: Indianapolis Colts running back Marlon Mack joined Eric Dickerson and Edgerrin James as the only players in franchise history with multiple games of at least 125 yards rushing yards and two TDs rushing in a season.JULIO’S WAY: Julio Jones of the Atlanta Falcons is the fifth player with at least three seasons of at least 1,500 yards receiving. Jerry Rice had four. Marvin Harrison, Antonio Brown and Andre Johnson also did it three times.DUAL THREAT: Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey needs nine receptions to break Matt Forte’s (102) record for most catches by a running back in a season.DUAL THREAT II: New York Giants star Saquon Barkley needs seven receptions to break Reggie Bush’s (88) record for most receptions by a rookie back.TIGHT END TAKEDOWN: Kansas City’s Travis Kelce needs 108 yards receiving to break the single-season record for tight ends held by Rob Gronkowski (1,327).TIGHT END TAKEDOWN II: Philadelphia’s Zach Ertz is 10 receptions away from breaking the single-season record for tight ends held by Jason Witten (110).4K CLUB: Brady (3,979) and Rivers (3 Stitched Tyus Bowser Jersey ,951) are close to joining Manning and Brees as the only quarterbacks to throw for 4,000 yards 10 times. Manning did it in 14 seasons. Brees needs 334 yards to reach that number for the 13th time. Two weeks remain in the NFL regular season. The Pittsburgh Steelers remain atop the AFC North at 8-5-1, albeit only a half game ahead of Baltimore. Both teams face huge challenges this week with their playoff hopes and division title on the line. Baltimore Ravens (8-6)The Ravens will face the red-hot Los Angeles Chargers (11-3) on Saturday night. The Chargers have three extra days of rest after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday Night Football in Week 15. With the division title and top seed in the AFC on the line, Los Angeles will come fully prepared.Baltimore’s top-ranked defense will have their hands full with the Chargers sixth-ranked offense, led by MVP candidate Philip Rivers at quarterback. Rivers is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career, throwing for 3,951 yards and 31 touchdowns to just eight interceptions. Rivers is surrounded by top-level talent on offense. Running back Melvin Gordon and wide receiver Keenan Allen are among the top of their positions and are both expected to return from injury against the Ravens. On the other side of the ball, rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson will face his toughest test yet against the eighth-ranked defense of Los Angeles. Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram pair for one of the best pass rushing duos in the league. Rookie safety Derwin James made the Pro Bowl in his first season and is a top candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year. The Chargers eighth-ranked run defense will look to force Jackson to throw by limiting Baltimore’s rushing attack.The Ravens can take the lead of the division with a win over Los Angeles and a Pittsburgh loss. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5-1)The Steelers pulled off the major upset win against the New England Patriots last week to remain in first place of the division. This week they will face an ever tougher challenge, however, as they travel to New Orleans to face the 12-2 Saints.In one of the toughest environments in football, Pittsburgh’s defense will have to find a way to slow New Orleans multi-headed offense, led by quarterback Drew Brees Youth Tyus Bowser Jersey , who is firmly in the talks for MVP as well. Brees’ biggest strength this season has been protecting the football, only throwing five interceptions to 31 touchdowns. At wide receiver, Brees’ most reliable target is Michael Thomas, who is quietly one of the best receivers in the league with 1,267 receiving yards and eight touchdowns this season. Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram provide an extremely lethal one-two punch of speed and power from the backfield. One of the biggest keys to the Saints success has been the defensive turnaround as of late. The unit which struggled heavily to open the season is now the 11th-ranked total defense in the NFL. Second-year cornerback Marshon Lattimore is the cornerstone of the secondary and defensive end Cameron Jordan leads the front seven with 12 sacks on the year. New Orleans has the number-one ranked rush defense as well, which could pose a challenge for Pittsburgh’s offense, who will be without starting running back James Conner yet again. Jaylen Samuel stepped up in Conner’s absence last week, however, rushing for 142 yards against New England.No matter the outcome of Baltimore’s game, the Steelers will remain on top of the division with a win over the Saints.Cleveland Browns (6-7-1)Winners of two straight, Cleveland’s playoff chances are still mathematically alive, although the odds are extremely slim. The Browns will have to win their remaining two games along with the Ravens Stitched Marlon Humphrey Jersey , Colts and Titans losing this week, the Dolphins losing one of their remaining games, and a Colts-Titans tie in Week 17 in order to sneak into the playoffs as a wild card.The first task for Cleveland is taking care of their own business at home against the 6-8 Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday. This should be an easier assignment, given the key injuries Cincinnati has suffered to quarterback Andy Dalton and wide receiver A.J. Green. Jeff Driskel has replaced Dalton under center and has thrown four touchdowns to two interceptions. Wide receiver Tyler Boyd has stepped up in Green’s absence with 1,027 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in his third season. Second-year running back has become the team’s workhouse in the backfield, nearing 1,000 rushing yards. The Browns offense will not have a hard time against the Bengals last-ranked defense, who are allowing 29.5 points and 413 yards per game this season. Despite such a horrid season on defense, Cincinnati still fields one of the best pass-rushing duos in the league in Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap. The two have 18 sacks between them for this season. Cleveland must make neutralizing the pass rush their main priority, which can help be accomplished by running the football. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)The Bengals may be out of the playoff race, but they still have a chance to spoil any hope remaining for the Browns this season.Pressuring quarterback Baker Mayfield will be key in this game. Mayfield, selected first-overall Youth Marlon Humphrey Jersey , has thrown for 3,065 yards, 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions as a rookie. Although he has enjoyed a very good rookie season, he has struggled with turnovers at times. Stuffing the run game and collapsing the pocket around Mayfield could force him into making bad decisions. Driskel will have to be careful with the football as well against Cleveland’s defense. Rookie cornerback Denzel Ward, selected fourth-overall, will likely shadow Boyd across the field. The real danger is defense end Myles Garrett though. Garrett, the 2017 number-one pick, has 12.5 sacks in his second season and has developed into one of the best edge rushers in the game.
The Panthers could have a chance to improve their pass rush with their first round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Keep Sounding PodcastPanthers 2019 NFL DraftCSR Film RoomPanthers 2019 NFL DraftCarolina Panthers take former Clemson DE Clelin Ferrell in Dan Kadar’s latest mock draftNew Donte Jackson Womens Jersey ,55commentsThe Panthers could have a chance to improve their pass rush with their first round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.ESTShareTweetShareShareCarolina Panthers take former Clemson DE Clelin Ferrell in Dan Kadar’s latest mock draftStop me if you’ve read this sentence before: The Carolina Panthers need to address their anemic pass rush in the 2019 NFL Draft. There are currently only three defensive ends on the 2019 Panthers roster—Mario Addison, Efe Obada and Marquis Haynes—so Marty Hurney will have to add someone to the roster before next season. As we’ve discussed several times already, there are two ways to do that: free agency, and the draft.In Dan Kadar’s latest mock draft for SB Nation Youth Donte Jackson Jersey , he projects the Panthers will address their need for a premier defensive end with the No. 16 overall pick. Last week he mocked Clelin Ferrell to the Panthers at No. 16, and this week is no different. However, his reason for Ferrell making it to No. 16 is because another defensive end jumped into his top-ten after an impressive Senior Bowl performance.WalterFootball ranks Ferrell as the No. 4 defensive end in this year’s class after Nick Bosa, Rashan Gary and Jachai Polite:My takeAs much as I hate to admit it Donte Jackson Men Jersey , Ferrell is pretty dang good. I think he would be a great pick for the Panthers at No. 16 because he immediately addresses a critical need for the roster. The only position I would even consider drafting above a defensive end in the first round is offensive tackle, and I believe Ferrell at No. 16 will be a better value than any of the offensive tackles who would be left on the board (unless someone like Jonah Williams or Cody Ford miraculously falls, which probably won’t happen).What do you think, Panthers fans? Should Clelin Ferrell be the pick if he’s available at No. 16 Color Rush Donte Jackson Jersey , or would you rather take an offensive tackle and find a pass rusher elsewhere? What do you think is the better strategy? Let’s hear what you have to say! 2019 is going to see enough change already, why force more?"Thomas Davis was the second best linebacker on the Carolina Panthers in 2018. He might have been the second best player on their defense and their is no heir who is apparently ready to step up in his place. The Panthers have drafted an abundance of linebackers in the past eight years and keep shuffling them off as they fail to beat out Davis for playing time.Former first round pick Shaq Thompson is the closest thing the franchise has to a succession plan for Davis and even he, now entering his fourth year, can’t match the 35-year old man on his nth knee. He lost snaps to Davis down the stretch of 2018 even after the Panthers have publicly spoken about their plans to favor Thompson in their game plans. Maybe Davis is actually the bionic man. Maybe his heart Donte Jackson Jersey Boys , either spiritual or physical, is actually superhuman. Whatever the reason, they haven’t been able to replace him despite an effort that looks shamefully desperate given their attention to other positions. If you don’t know what I mean, look at the Panthers draft history at defensive end and offensive tackle since drafting Luke Kuechly — an athlete they originally started at Davis’ weakside position after his third ACL tear in three years.Davis may be finally slowing down. He has had fewer tackles the last two seasons than in any other full season since his rookie year. Let’s ignore the fact that Davis didn’t play a full season in 2018. He served a four game suspension at the start of the season for a violation of the NFL’s performance enhancing drug policy. His recent statistics are imperfect evidence of his decline. The Panthers’ defense has been transforming with the NFL to a landscape where the old nickel (five defensive backs) sub-package is almost more common than a ‘base’ defensive formation featuring three or four linebackers. It comes as no surprise that Davis’ stats are depressed when there are fewer snaps to go around and the coaching staff has plans to share those unequally Cheap Donte Jackson Jersey , with Davis receiving the smaller portion. Speaking of a smaller portion, Thompson’s contract for 2019 pays him $3 million more than what Davis made in 2018. There is no grounded argument for letting Davis walk and keeping Thompson in an effort to save against a tight 2019 salary cap.For all their efforts, the Panthers have had no success in establishing a reason to move on from Davis. He has been the heart of their team for years and this team needs that after last season more than ever. They have no answer on the field for his loss. Forcing him out compounds the loss of Julius Peppers and Ryan Kalil in the locker room. I am struggling to find a positive effect to not re-signing him. Maybe general manager Marty Hurney has a bold new strategy wherein creating additional problems is the solution to the woes that plagued this team in 2018. If not then he should reconsider his position and re-sign Thomas Davis.
Smith is a likely day-three or undrafted prospect with great athletic ability."Through early Monday afternoon David Bakhtiari Jersey White , the Green Bay Packers had been connected to just four NFL Draft prospects who had reportedly scheduled pre-draft visits with the team. All four of those players are seen as day-one or day-two prospects, continuing general manager Brian Gutekunst’s trend of inviting several potential early-round picks to the team facilities.However, Monday afternoon also brought news of the first late-round or potentially-undrafted player who will be in Green Bay for a visit. That player is Boston College wide receiver Jeff Smith, who likely showed up on the Packers’ radar thanks to an impressive Pro Day performance a few weeks ago. Greg Auman of The Athletic first reported the news.Smith, a former quarterback recruit from California, switched to receiver after his freshman year. He played a multifacted role in the Eagles’ offense over the next three years, picking up at least 296 receiving yards and more than 100 rushing yards in each of his final three seasons. However, he never exceeded 30 receptions or 400 yards through the air in any one campaign.As a result, Smith’s projection to the NFL is largely due to his skill set and athleticism rather than his college production. On that note, however, Smith’s Pro Day opened some eyes, as the 6-foot, 191-pound receiver was timed around 4.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash with a 6.87-second time in the 3-cone drill and a 4.06-second time in the short shuttle (h/t to Gil Brandt for the numbers). Those results put him well inside the typical numbers for a Packers receiver draft pick.Smith’s work at BC makes him appear to be an intriguing option as a slot receiver in particular. Many of Smith’s carries came on jet sweeps, a play that the Packers seem likely to implement more under head coach Matt LaFleur. Take a look at this brief highlight package of the dynamic receiver:If the Packers end up eschewing the receiver position on the first two days of the 2019 NFL Draft for other positions, don’t be surprised if Smith ends up hearing his name called to come to Green Bay late on April 27th. When the Packers looked up at the scoreboard with the seconds ticking down at the end of the first half, it showed Lions 24 Packers 0. Yet Mike McCarthy’s team out-gained the Lions 201-160 http://www.packerslockerroom.com/authentic-aaron-jones-jersey , ran more plays, were more efficient, and had the ball longer. Three turnovers, including two sloppy fumbles from Aaron Rodgers turned into 17 Lions points and three Mason Crosby misses were the difference in a game that quickly turned into a Murphy’s Law game. Even once the offense started to find its feet in the second half, the deficit overwhelmed them and the defense needed just one or two more stops than it ultimately managed. In the end, a 31-23 loss hung on the turnovers and special teams problems on a day that is a microcosm for the Packers season to this point: penalties and bad execution prevents a talented team from reaching its potential. A penalty took a touchdown off the board on the Lions opening drive, only to see Detroit regain the ball on a dubious call that Kevin King touched the ball on a punt return, setting up the Lions for a one-yard touchdown. But Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, down two of their top three receivers, responded. A DPI call and 17-yard dig route to Equanimeous St. Brown offered Green Bay some momentum, but the drive stalled, leading to a Crosby field goal attempt. Miss. This was the theme of Crosby’s day. Four plays later, the Lions found the end zone again after Josh Jackson misplayed a sideline throw to Kenny Golladay that become a 60-yard catch and run instead of what looked like a possible interception. On the ensuing possession, Rodgers, who looked off most of the first half, lazily rolled right andhad the ball stripped from behind. Luckily for Green Bay Bart Starr Jersey White , the Lions managed just a field goal, but the deficit was already 17-0 and nothing that could go right for this team had gone right. Mike Pettine got the defense going after that field goal, but the offense didn’t follow suit. Rodgers and the offense missed two more field goals, points that could have at least made the game interesting. And after the second straight punt for the Lions, the offense got the ball back with 1:30 left and plenty of time to go put points on the board. Another fumble from Rodgers led to a Lions touchdown and the game appeared over at that point. But McCarthy handed the game over to Rodgers in the second half and the two-time MVP found his form. On the first drive, Rodgers looked more decisive and more accurate on an 11-play 75-yard touchdown drive. This was the drive QB1 had been asking for. Multiple big plays to Adams and Graham including a key fourth down propelled the Packers first successful scoring drives and the two-point conversion cut the deficit to 24-8. A borderline taunting call on rookie cornerback Tony Brown extended a Lions drive to set up a Matt Prater field goal, but there must have been a draft at Ford Field Sunday because Prater shanked the kick. Rodgers got rolling again with quick passes and found rookie Marqueze Valdes-Scantling on a handful of throws to the middle of the field. On a day when quarterback and receiver were often not on the same page, QB1 seemed to build something with MVS, who had his second touchdown of the day overturned despite a great play. Rodgers found Lance Kendricks for the one-yard score immediately following the review,but the two-point conversion failed, making the game 24-14. That third-quarter spirt helped the aesthetics of the game, but the Lions marched the ball right back down the Packers’ throats, extending the lead to 31-14 and although the game wasn’t totally out of reach, it sure felt that way. Another successful drive from the Packers offense featured better balance, with solid running from Jamaal Williams and big plays from Adams and EQ, ending in a beautiful out route from Adams on Darius Slay for the touchdown. But Mason Crosby missed the PAT Corey Linsley Jersey , to make him a -10 in a game the Packers trailed by 11 at the time. Ultimately, the Packers offense couldn’t get those critical plays when they needed them on offense or defense. A crucial possession after a Lions punt with under five minutes left ended in a 56-yard Mason Crosby missed field goal, but was set up by poor execution and penalties. The kick would have made it an eight point game, but a 56-yard field goal try isn’t what any good offense should want. In the end, the Packers outgained the Lions 521-265, out-possessed the ball, out-rushed them and out-threw them. Green Bay was the more efficient offense on a per-play basis, more first downs and more sacks. But 11 penalties for 107 yards and three turnovers, to go along with the special teams mistakes reveal a team playing too much undisciplined football. Given the slow starts the Packers have endured over the last few years, it’s fair to believe this team can right the ship and move forward. They were, after all, without Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison. Rodgers still clearly isn’t right physically and didn’t have any reps to get on the same page with these rookie receivers. Once he found some rhythm with them in the second half, the offense got into gear. Rodgers finished with 442 yards and three touchdowns, the most yards ever in a regular season loss. Valdes-Scantling caught seven balls for 68 yards and a score, while fellow rookie St. Brown posted three catches for 89 yards. And despite facing All-Pro Darius Slay, Adams put up a monster nine-catch 140-yard day with a score of his own. This was the offense Rodgers was looking for Kenny Clark Jersey White , but again they settled for field goals (they missed) too often. If this was a Murphy’s Law game, the blame for these slows starts has to fall in the lap of head coach Mike McCarthy and there’s a Murphy whose word is now law in Green Bay. The Packers fell behind 10-0 to the Bears, 14-0 to Washington and 24-0 to the Lions thanks to an offense that looks outdated in the face of tremendous innovation around the league. They’re running a 2011 offense in a 2018 league, and in NFL years, that’s about 20 years behind. Slow starts, both in seasons and in games, have plagued this team going back to 2015 and if not for the Run The Table stretch in 2016, the questions about McCarthy’s job status may have been much louder much sooner. This type of effort, preparation and creativity (or lack thereof) simply isn’t acceptable for a team expecting to compete for a championship every year. If they don’t fix it in a hurry, the questions about McCarthy’s relationship with Rodgers will gave way to potential replacements, talk of Lincoln Riley and John DeFelippo. We’ve seen this team start slowly and wind up making a deep playoff run. This Packers team can still do that. After an offseason of building the deepest, most talented team in several years, there are no longer any excuses not to for McCarthy. As the weather turns colder, his seat will only grow warmer if this team doesn’t start looking championship caliber in a hurry.
- The Buccaneers defense made the first big play of the game Gerald McCoy Jersey , when LB Lavonte David recovered a fumble from Ravens QBLamar Jackson at the Tampa Bay 49-yard line. The fumble recovery was David’s second this season and the 13th of his career.- David’s 13 career fumble recoveries establish a new franchise record, surpassing Ronde Barber for the most in team history.MOST OPPONENT FUMBLE RECOVERIES – Team History1. LB Lavonte David, 2012-Pres. 132. DB Ronde Barber, 1997-2012123. DE John Cannon, 1982-90 113. LB Cecil Johnson, 1977-85115. DE Lee Roy Selmon, 1976-8410- Since entering the NFL in 2012, David’s 13 fumble recoveries are the most in the league.2012-18 NFL OPPONENT FUMBLE RECOVERY LEADERS 1.LB Lavonte David (TB)132.DE Julius Peppers (CAR) 11*2.DE J.J. Watt (HOU)114.S Mike Adams (CAR) 10*5.LB D’Qwell Jackson (FA) 95.LB Craig Robertson (NO)9*5.DT Fletcher Cox (PHI) 9** Does Not Include Week 15 Game- David finished the game with a game-high 12 tackles, 2.0 sacks and a fumble recovery. His 2.0 sacks tie a career high & mark his third career multi-sack game (also 9/8/13 at N.Y. Jets & 1/1/17 vs. Carolina).- David is one of only four active players with at least 20 sacks and 10 interceptions, alongside LB Thomas Davis, LB Derrick Johnson and DE Julius Peppers.- David is only the fifth player in team history to record multiple sacks and a fumble recovery in the same game, joining Rond茅 Barber (9/10/00 vs. Chicago), Michael Bennett (10/3/11 vs. Indianapolis), Simeon Rice (10/12/03 at Washington) and Warren Sapp (11/26/01 at St. Louis). - On the possession following David’s fumble recovery, Tampa Bay went 51 yards in eight plays, taking up 4:16, ending in a three-yard touchdown run by RB Peyton Barber. Barber now has five rushing touchdowns this season and nine in his career.- The Buccaneers added a field goal with under two minutes remaining in the first half, driving 70 yards in seven plays, lasting 2:10, with K Cairo Santos connecting on a 21-yard field goal. The drive featured a 64-yard reception by WR Mike Evans, the third-longest catch of his career.- Evans finished the game with four catches for 121 yards, his seventh 100-yard receiving game this season, the second-most in a single season in team history. He now has 20 career 100-yard receiving games, extending his franchise record.- Evans now has 1,328 receiving yards this season, a new career high and the third-most in a single season in franchise history. He has the most receiving yards through 14 games in franchise history.MOST RECEIVING YARDS - SINGLE SEASON (Team History)1.WR Mark Carrier, 19891,4222.WR Vincent Jackson, 2012 1,3843.WR Mike Evans, 2018 1,3284.WR Mike Evans Lavonte David Jersey , 20161,3215.WR Joey Galloway, 2005 1,2876.WR Keyshawn Johnson, 20011,2667.WR Antonio Bryant, 2008 1,2488.WR Vincent Jackson, 2013 1,2249.WR Mike Evans, 20151,20610.WR Michael Clayton, 2004 1,193- Evans’ 1,328 receiving yards rank second in the NFL this season.2018 NFL RECEIVING YARDAGE LEADERS 1.WR Julio Jones (ATL) 1,5112.WR Mike Evans (TB) 1,3283.WR DeAndre Hopkins (HOU)1,3214.WR Davante Adams (GB) 1,3155.WR Tyreek Hill (KC) 1,304- Evans now has 5,907 career receiving yards, surpassing T.Y. Hilton, DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Johnson for the seventh-most receiving yards by a player through their first five seasons since the 1970 NFL/AFL Merger.MOST RECEIVING YARDS BY A PLAYER IN HIS FIRST FIVE SEASONS(Since 1970 Merger) 1.Torry Holt (STL, 1999-2003) 6,7842.Randy Moss (MIN, 1998-2002) 6,7433.Jerry Rice (SF, 1985-89)6,3644.Julio Jones (ATL, 2011-15) 6,2015.A.J. Green (CIN, 2011-15)6 Vita Vea Jersey ,1716.Larry Fitzgerald (ARI, 2004-08) 5,9757.Mike Evans (TB, 2014-18) 5,9078.Calvin Johnson (DET, 2007-11)5,8729.DeAndre Hopkins (HOU, 2013-17)5,86510.T.Y. Hilton (IND, 2012-16)5,861- Tampa Bay recorded its second takeaway of the game when S Josh Shaw recovered a muffed punt by Ravens PR Cyrus Jones at the Baltimore 14-yard line, helping set up a 28-yard field goal by Cairo Santos.- The Buccaneers have registered at least two takeaways in each of the past three games, the team’s longest streak since 2016 (five games: 11/13/16 vs. Chicago-12/11/16 vs. New Orleans).- With today’s totals, the Buccaneers now have 4,464 passing yards this season, the fourth-most in NFL history through the first 14 games.MOST PASSING YARDS THROUGH FIRST 14 GAMES - (NFL History)1. Denver Broncos20134,7132. St. Louis Rams 20004,7063. New Orleans Saints20114,6394. Tampa Bay Buccaneers20184,4645. New England Patriots 20114,461- Tampa Bay’s 4,464 passing yards are the most in a single season in franchise history.MOST PASSING YARDS - SINGLE SEASON (TEAM HISTORY)1.2018*4,4642.2017*4,3363.20123,9834.2016*3,9265.2015*3,852* Dirk Koetter Offense- The Buccaneers now have 5,832 net yards this season, the second-most in a single season in team history.MOST YARDS - SINGLE SEASON (TEAM HISTORY)1.2015*6,0142.2018*5,8323.20125,8204.2017*5 Carlton Davis Jersey ,8165.2016*5,5426.20085,4567.20035,4538.20105,3629.19845,32110.20075,160* Dirk Koetter Offense- Tampa Bay has scored 344 points this season, the sixth-most in a season in franchise history.MOST POINTS - SINGLE SEASON (TEAM HISTORY)1.2012 3892.2000 2883.2008 3614.2016*3545.2002 3466.2018*3447.2015*3428.2010 3419.1984 33510.2017*335* Dirk Koetter Offense Can Bucco Bruce realistically turn this team around fast enough?"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections 2016 NFL DraftInjuriesFree AgencyGame FilmWhat if Bruce Arians doesn’t fix the Buccaneers?New,16commentsCan Bucco Bruce realistically turn this team around fast enough? ESTShareTweetShareShareWhat if Bruce Arians doesn’t fix the Buccaneers?Kim Klement-USA TODAY SportsScary thought, I know. But in all honesty... what happens if Bruce Arians isn’t able to turn around this team and right the ship?The Tampa Bay Buccaneers job was an interesting one if nothing else simply due to the terms of the position available. The general manager, Jason Licht, needs a fast turnaround. The owners for that matter, need a fast turnaround. Jason Licht needed an offensive minded coach to utilize the talent already here and build a scheme that Jameis Winston can succeed in. Add to it all that the fans are not going to continue to wait around for this team to figure it’s stuff out, these aren’t Browns fans after all. So the question at hand is simple, what happens if Bruce Arians can’t turn things around? Let’s take a quick look at what he needs to do to make magic happen in Tampa Bay. Scheme. All things considered, Bruce Arians scheme is a big factor as to why Jason Licht singled him out of the pack of head coaching candidates. Arians pushes the ball down the field and with the offensive weapons at receiver and tight end, this football should be able to do it. Along with scheme comes the fact that the head coach is having to rely on Jameis Winston who has struggled a bit with injuries, suspension and you know... turnovers. If Bruce Arians offense fails him, there’s a good chance the quarterback will hold a lions share of the blame. Speaking of scheme, Arians will have to prove to be a dynamite schemer given the voids at left tackle and right guard that face the team immediately. Running back isn’t all that shiny either and with a limited amount of money to spend, things won’t be easy to “reload” all that fast. Personnel. We’ve heard it non stop as an excuse for past coaching regimes and it won’t be any different early on for Bruce Arians. This team lacks talent both at starting positions and in the form of depth. With two offensive line positions needing a body and an upgrade at running back potentially being a priority... it’s scary to think that the same team may need upgrades at corner and on the interior and exterior pass rush wise. With the team strapped for money and rumors of Gerald McCoy’s days being numbered, freeing up space with his release ultimately opens up yet another hole to fill. If the team becomes a more predominantly odd numbered front scheme wise then there is reason to believe that edge rushers will also be of the utmost importance to add this off-season. Let’s not forget that the defensive backfield is suspect at best and will again rely on a very young group of corners and safeties to shoulder the load. Vernon Hargreaves III and Carlton Davis should surely benefit from an attacking defense such as the one Todd Bowles likes to run, but whose to know how Hargreaves III will bounce back, if at all, after a lost season due to injuries and poor coaching for his entire NFL career. Throw in the fact that the team still doesn’t have a solid kicking game from it’s punter or place kicker and the number of bodies that Licht and Arians are tasked with filling becomes quite scary for a fast turnaround that’s expected by fans and was already forecast by Arians. So what happens if Bruce Arians and his staff can’t turn this thing around and turn it around quick? The whole ship sinks. That’s what. The roster will be in shambles, the team will be looking for a new quarterback because if one thing is for sure it’s that Jameis Winston’s future, Arians future and Jason Lichts future’s are all interlocked for good now. If Bruce Arians doesn’t fix the Buccaneers then the team will continue to lose fans and be a seller dweller in the NFC South and NFL all together. If Bruce Arians doesn’t fix the Buccaneers it means his legacy and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Legacy will forever holds stains that never needed to be fostered. Tampa Bay had a chance to wipe clean the Jameis Winston era, the Dirk Koetter era and/or the Jason Licht era and they chose to stand by Jameis Winston and Jason Licht.Bruce Arians affection for Winston won him the job, it won him the hearts of many fans that want to believe. It’s all on his shoulders now to help groom Jameis and this entire roster of players. It’s up to Arians, Bowles, Byron Leftwhich and Jason Licht to get this ship sailing in the right direction. But what if its again all for not? What if.
One of the Cincinnati Bengals’ best players in franchise history is still waiting for his gold jacket."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections #BITESIZEFilm RoomRoster Transactions and ContractsOrange & Black InsiderSalary Cap And CBABreaking NewsKeep track of the 2019 Bengals draft脳Bengals news (2/17): Canton callsOne of the Cincinnati Bengals’ best players in franchise history is still waiting for his gold jacket. ESTShareTweetShareShareBengals news (2/17): Canton callsCincy Jungle’s Orange and Black Insider Bengals podcastBengals newsBengals & Microsoft Bring Real-Time Technology to the FieldThe Bengals enjoy an enhanced partnership with Microsoft to bring technology to the field so that coaches Youth Germaine Pratt Jersey , analysts and players can access real-time data from the sidelines.Cincinnati Bengals Draft Profile: CJ Conrad, Tight End, KentuckyWould drafting a tight end to bolster a position that is depleted on the depth chart make sense during the mid to late rounds of this year’s draft?Kenny Anderson turns 70: Should the Bengals great be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?Former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Kenny Anderson turns 70 today, so it’s only natural to question why he isn’t in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. Week In Review: Coaching Staff Takes ShapeThe Bengals coaching staff continues to take shape as three assistants were added to the team.Random newsAntonio Brown takes aim at Ben Roethlisberger White Germaine Pratt Jersey , Mike Tomlin in Twitter Q&A | Pittsburgh Post-GazetteSteelers receiver Antonio Brown took to Twitter Saturday afternoon to air some grievances with the Steelers. Geragos: Kaepernick “absolutely” wants to play – ProFootballTalkThe NFL and quarterback Colin Kaepernick could have negotiated a resolution to his collusion grievance that would have ended forever his relationship with the league. Apparently, they did not.Dolphins adding Reggie McKenzie as personnel exec - NFL.comThe Miami Dolphins have added another veteran executive to their renovated front office. Miami is hiring former Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie as a senior personnel executive.Cardinals should deal Josh Rosen, pick Kyler Murray in NFL draft - NFL.comPart with Josh Rosen after just one season? Bucky Brooks says that’s exactly the move the Cardinals should make ... right before they draft Kyler Murray first overall. NFL Draft: 5 prospects whose combine performances loom especially large | Pro Football WeeklyLouisiana Tech EDGE Jaylon Ferguson won’t get the opportunity to explain his 2015 arrest on a simple battery charge at the NFL scouting combine, which begins at the end of February.2019 NFL Mock Draft: Chargers land Philip Rivers’ heir apparent Drew Sample Cincinnati Bengals Jersey , Dolphins trade up for Kyler Murray - CBSSports.comPlus the Broncos grab a tackle to help protect Joe Flacco, the Giants add an edge rusher and more It now appears the Bengals’ have their next head coach, and it’s just a matter of when they can announce it. Today, the Bengals have let go of three assistant coaches. Apparently Drew Sample Jersey 2019 , they’ve been told the next head coach already has several assistants lined up to replace them, according to NFL Network reporter Michael Silver.Paul Dehner of the Cincinnati Enquirer added that about half of the current staff is expected to stay:Jeremy Rauch added that his source says it’s a slam dunk that the next hire will be outside of the organization. Combined with previous reports over the last few days, it appears the Bengals next head coach will come from a group that includes Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Rams QBs coach Zac Taylor and Rams passing game coordinator Shane Waldron Color Rush Drew Sample Jersey , though I would venture to guess Waldron is more of an offensive coordinator candidate if Taylor gets the job. That means former secondary coach Vance Joseph and current assistant Hue Jackson are out of the mix. Joseph is actually already interviewing for other jobs.If we had to guess, it’s looking more and more like it will be Bieniemy.Of course, nothing is ever a done deal until the ink is dry (see Josh McDaniels), but it looks like whoever the Bengals think they’re getting is set on being the team’s head coach in 2019.
Jaquiski Tartt doubful Matt Breida Jersey White , Matt Breida, Alfred Morris questionable for Week 4 The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Chargers each released their final injury reports on Friday, and there are some notable names to consider. The 49ers will be without starting cornerback Richard Sherman, and likely will be without starting strong safety Jaquiski Tartt. Jimmie Ward and Ahkello Witherspoon will start at cornerback, and Antone Exum would likely start at strong safety.Running back Matt Breida is questionable after some ups and downs in practice. He injured his knee against the Chiefs in Week 3, and went from limited to full to limited in practice. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said the coaches and trainers will see how Breida is feeling when Sunday arrives before making a decision.The Chargers will be without defensive end Joey Bosa and right tackle Joe Barksdale once again. Bosa has yet to play this season, and Barksdale injured his knee in Week 1, and has not played since. Keenan Allen is the name to watch on Sunday. He was a DNP the first two days of practice, but got in a limited workout on Friday. My guess is he plays against the 49ers, but we’ll see how limited he is.49ers final injury reportOut: G Joshua Garnett (toe — DNP, DNP, DNP), CB Richard Sherman (calf — DNP, DNP, DNP)Doubtful: S Jaquiski Tartt (shoulder — DNP, DNP, DNP)Questionable: RB Matt Breida (knee — Limited, Full, Limited), S Adrian Colbert (hip — DNP, Limited, Limited), RB Alfred Morris (knee — Limited http://www.49erslockerroom.com/authentic-trent-taylor-jersey , Limited)Chargers final injury reportOut: T Joe Barksdale (knee — DNP, DNP, DNP), DE Joey Bosa (foot — DNP, DNP, DNP), LB Kyzir White (knee — N/A, DNP, DNP)Questionable: WR Keenan Allen (knee, tooth — DNP, DNP, Limited), WR Travis Benjamin (foot — Limited, Limited, Limited) We always talk about players we like. Let’s change it up."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections 49ers Salary CapLevi’s Stadium Events49ers Transactions49ers Injury News49ers Press Conferences & Conference CallsNFL DraftNFL Draft Scouting Reports2019 NFL Draft: 49ers picks, mock drafts, news, rumors, analysis2 players the 49ers should avoid if they trade back in round 1New,220commentsWe always talk about players we like. Let’s change it up.PDTShareTweetShareShare2 players the 49ers should avoid if they trade back in round 1Matt Bush-USA TODAY SportsIf the San Francisco 49ers stay put at number two, they are likely going to draft Nick Bosa from Ohio State, or Quinnen Williams from Alabama. Both players are incredibly talented. It’s tough to have a wrong answer there. What happens if John Lynch gets an offer he can’t refuse? Then what? Well, he will be faced with a pool of players that we are not considering. In the event that this happens http://www.49erslockerroom.com/authentic-garrett-celek-jersey , here are two players that the Niners should avoid on each side of the ball if they trade back.WR D.K. Metcalf-Ole MissMetcalf has the highest ceiling of any wide receiver to come out of the draft in recent memory. The problem is the former Rebel is far from a finished product. Let’s say the 49ers stay in the top 15. Metcalf is widely regarded as the number one receiver in the draft. That does not mean he warrants a top 15 selection. Here are his three biggest drawbacks to me.Linear athleteRoute runningRoute treeI want to make this clear: Metcalf is good. I also want to make this clear: He is not Julio, Calvin, or any of the other greats thats came out. Those guys were insane players early on in their college careers. There’s a production argument with Metcalf. That can go a couple of different ways. His shuttle times were concerning. Not just because they were awful, but because they show up when you watch him play. Metcalf ran a 7.38 3-cone and a 4.5 short shuttle. For reference, Solomon Thomas ran a 6.95 3-cone. Deforest Buckner ran a short shuttle of 4.47. They do not play wide receiver. Metcalf is such an explosive athlete that he is able to create separation at the line of scrimmage. I’ve seen many point out the first play of Alabama, where he scored on a long touchdown. Context is key. The corner he beat was benched after that play. That same corner gave up 5 touchdowns all year, gave up 61% of passes his way, for a passer rating of 105 when targeted. He wasn’t very good. After that Metcalf disappeared. In 2017, Metcalf faced two quality corners from Bama and struggled. The same can be said this year against LSU’s Greedy Williams. Metcalf just couldn’t shake loose. You see that he is a linear athlete when he has to stop and start, or break down to change directions. He’s a big guy. That’s not too surprising. It is concerning, though.The last thing on Metcalf is what he was asked to do. Metcalf had zero catches in the slot. He lined up about 80% on the left side of the formation, seemingly. That might not seem like an issue, but previous players have had difficulty overcoming this. Former first round pick and now Arizona Cardinals WR Kevin White was like that coming out of West Virginia. When you consistently practice releasing only one way, or routes from one side, there’s a learning curve. With Metcalf, it was a deep route or a slant, with a curl route mixed in here and there. Against Williams and LSU, that was a perfect example of what the NFL will be like. You’re not going to be able to just run by everyone and score. Will there be opportunities to do so? Of course. They will be few and far between if Metcalf doesn’t add a little nuance to his route running. If you watch him run underneath routes, like a curl, there’s an extra hop in there. That’s where the shuttle drills show up. For this, and a double digit drop rate, I’d pass early in the first round. Good? Yes. I would only take a receiver in the first round if I felt like there were very few questions. This isn’t the case. Add in who is calling plays for the 49ers and no thanks.LB Josh Allen-KentuckyI am higher on Metcalf as a player than Allen, so Fred Warner Jersey , brace yourself. You never root against a kid, but this has bust written all over it. That’s not to say he doesn’t have value. Allen absolutely does. If you can get to the quarterback and get the offense off of the field, you can play in the NFL. Allen can do that. Here are my three biggest issues with Allen.Counter moveStrength at the point of attackInconsistencyAllen is fast, but he’s not explosive. Explosive players jar your helmet back when they get their hands on you. That’s not the case with Allen. With the 49ers, Allen would play on the strong side of the formation, opposite of Dee Ford. He is plenty quick enough to play on the line of scrimmage, as he will out athlete tackles and tight ends against the run. He can also win with speed around the edge. The issue is when that athleticism doesn’t work.Allen’s lack of counter moves are concerning. That’s why he’s a notch below the Bosa, Williams, and Brian Burns of this class. Too often during games you’ll see Allen get stuck rushing the passer. That’s generally the case when you don’t have a plan. I like judging guys when they go against top competition. He made Florida’s right tackle Jawaan Taylor look like peak Joe Staley. There wasn’t an answer for Taylor, who is a pretty good athlete himself.Because Allen will likely be playing on the line of scrimmage in this defense, you have to be concerned with his ability to set the edge or hold his ground at the point of attack. Again, athleticism will only get you so far if you are not refined in the NFL. You saw Taylor get give up the edge against the run, or get destroyed against double teams. These weren’t just a play here or there. It was consistent.Speaking of consistent, Allen lacks that. There are too many inconsistencies in Allen’s game for me to say he’s worthy of a top pick. The “dog” in him is inconsistent. Perhaps that’s him being unsure of what he’s doing. Whether that be dropping into coverage, or looping around on a stunt. There were too many plays where I felt like Allen didn’t finish the play. Let’s say there are 10 plays. On three of those, it’ll be a short yardage play and he will blow it up and look like a sure fire top pick. On the other seven he comes off as lackadaisical. I can’t co-sign that.Allen seems at his best when he can run and chase. He’s more linebacker than pure pass rusher. That’s not what you take in the top 15. Not unrefined pass rushers. There’s an argument to be made in his favor that on the Niners he’ll be the third rusher. That does have significance. With there likely to be better pass rushers available, or players in general, there’s no need to reach on Allen. Because of that, I’d be out on him.Is there a player that you want to avoid in the first round if the 49ers trade down?
Survivor Kaden Smith Jersey , straight up picks for Week 6 NFL action We are entering the sixth week of the season, and we are starting to see some separation at the top of the standings. The Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs are looking like the favorites in each conference, while our 49ers are a dumpster fire for the time being. San Francisco heads to Green Bay to close out the week on Monday Night Football, but the week gets going with an NFC East affair on Thursday Night Football with the New York Giants hosting the Philadelphia Eagles.It’s time once again for our pick ‘em and Survivor pool contest options. We have the weekly prediction contest this season, and you can make those picks here. We also have a traditional “Pick ‘Em” contest. If you still want to join, the group name is Niners Nation, the group ID is 45734, and the password is go49ers. You’re pretty far behind, but feel free to join.I took my first strike in my double-elimination Survivor pool. I got greedy, and like Icarus I flew too close to the sun in choosing the 49ers to beat the Cardinals. I pondered the Carolina Panthers, but thought I was the smart one. Welp. I’m still alive, but it’s a disappointing strike.This week, I think I am going to play it relatively safe and take the Minnesota Vikings over the Arizona Cardinals. If I lose to the Cardinals in back-to-back weeks, it clearly just was not meant to be. I would take the Green Bay Packers over the 49ers, but I used the Packers two weeks ago when they thumped the Buffalo Bills.Tonight, Week 6 opens with the Giants hosting the Eagles. This is a tough call. The Giants stink, but the Eagles are proven to not be particularly good this season. The Eagles are a field goal favorite, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. Are the Giants emotionally spent after that last second loss to Carolina? I’m thinking I’ll just take the points and be done with it. This is a tough matchup, so Giants +3 it is!Here are the rest of my straight-up picks. I was 11-4 last week, bringing my season record to 52-24-2. I’ll have my picks against the spread later this weekend.Eagles @ Giants: EaglesBuccaneers @ Falcons: FalconsSteelers @ Bengals: BengalsChargers @ Browns: ChargersSeahawks @ Raiders: SeahawksBears @ Dolphins: DolphinsCardinals @ Vikings: VikingsColts @ Jets: JetsPanthers @ Washington: WashingtonBills @ Texans: TexansRams @ Broncos: RamsJaguars @ Cowboys: CowboysRavens @ Titans: TitansChiefs @ Patriots: Patriots49ers @ Packers: Packers San Francisco’s options at No. 2 overall have been discussed ad nauseam. Here’s what the 49ers should do with pick No. 36 in the NFL Draft."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections 49ers Salary CapLevi’s Stadium Events49ers Transactions49ers Injury News49ers Press Conferences & Conference CallsNFL Draft2019 NFL Draft: 49ers picks, mock drafts, news Kaden Smith San Francisco 49ers Jersey , rumors, analysisRound 2 pick should come down to two positions for 49ersNew,110commentsSan Francisco’s options at No. 2 overall have been discussed ad nauseam. Here’s what the 49ers should do with pick No. 36.PDTShareTweetShareShareRound 2 pick should come down to two positions for 49ersChuck Cook-USA TODAY SportsThe 2019 NFL Draft is less than a week away. What the 49ers should do with the No. 2 pick has been discussed at length. What hasn’t gotten nearly as much press is what they should do next. The 49ers’ second-round pick, No. 36, is just four spots removed from the first round. There will be impact talent available and it’s imperative that general manager John Lynch lands a starter with this pick.Two of the strongest positions groups in this draft class are at wide receiver and safety. Both are also significant needs on the 49ers’ still rebuilding roster. If the team chooses to improve the defensive front with pick No. 2, as expected, they’ll be in prime position to land another starter on either side of the ball. Either receiver or safety should be Lynch’s target in the second round.The 49ers parted ways with veteran wideout Pierre Garçon in the offseason after two disappointing seasons, both ending on injured reserve. Rookie standout Dante Pettis is expected to take on a more significant role in 2019 while speedster Marquise Goodwin is best in a complementary role. It’s clear that Kyle Shanahan’s offense is in need of an additional perimeter threat.This year’s group of wideouts is without Top 10 talent, but it’s a stacked with late-first, early-second-round prospects. The 49ers have met with 14 receivers leading up the draft. the second-most of any NFL team. It’s unclear how these players stack up in the eyes of the team’s scouting department, but it seems like a foregone conclusion that the 49ers will target a receiver early. A.J. Brown, N’Keal Harry, Hakeem Butler and Deebo Samuel are just some of the names to visit Santa Clara that are expected to have their name called on Day 1 or early Day 2.Safety is another strong need for the 49ers. The team is currently relying on the upcoming competition between Adrian Colbert and Jimmie Ward, both of which ended last season on injured reserve. Before his ankle injury, Colbert struggled as the team’s free safety in 2018. Ward’s biggest flaw is availability, having played in only 31 of 51 games over five seasons. Neither has proven themselves as suitable options for one of the defense’s most critical positions.Fortunately for the 49ers, safety is another position that features promising prospects slated in the neighborhood of Picks 25-45. Darnell Savage, Juan Thornhill and Nasir Adderley are all prospects with the speed, range and ball skills to be an immediate impact player for the 49ers defense.San Francisco is essentially guaranteed a blue-chip player with pick No. 2, whether that’s the popular picks of Nick Bosa or Quinnen Williams. It’s in the second round that Lynch will earn his money. The receiver and safety classes are both ideally suited for the 49ers at pick No. 36. The need will align with the value. It’s up to the 49ers to find the player that’ll provide the roster with the boost it needs.
Saturday night at AT&T Stadium the Seattle Seahawks and the Dallas Cowboys faced off for the second time during the 2018 season Marshawn Lynch Jersey Green , however, this time around the stakes were much higher. When these two teams went head to head in Week 3 they entered the game a combined 1-3, after having combined to go 0-8 in the preseason. This time around The Hawks entered having won six of seven, while Dallas came in having won seven of their last eight. We all watched the game, so I won’t beat around the bush in making the point that this time around the Seattle offense simply could not do enough to defeat the Cowboys, and thus the offseason has arrived for Pete Carroll’s squad. There were defensive failures, special teams issues and, as always, multiple places to point the finger regarding why the team lost, however, it was the struggles of the offense that garnered the most attention. The offense managed just 299 yards of offense in the game, with 75 of those yards coming on a drive that started with the team down two scores with just over two minutes remaining. So, what happened to the Seattle offense? What led to the complete collapse of the running game in the most important game of the season? To start with, both of the guards played through injury. Right guard D.J. Fluker played in spite of a hamstring that caused him to missthree of the team’s final four games http://www.seahawkslockerroom.com/authentic-j.r.-sweezy-jersey , and left guard J.R. Sweezy played through a broken bone in his foot. However, it’s likely that wasn’t all that led to the putrid offensive performance Saturday evening. As noted, this was the second time these two teams played this season, so the Cowboys coaching staff was familiar with the Seahawks offense and its pre-snap reads. As I’ve worked to show through the season, including in Week 11 against the Green Bay Packers and Week 12 when they went up against the Carolina Panthers, the Seahawks offense is far from complicated. Specifically, there appear to be specific reads that the team uses on offense in order to execute its strategy of a ball-control, physical offense. Unfortunately for Seattle fans, the reads don’t seem to be too difficult to discern. Over the final four games of the regular season the Seattle offense struggled, even as the team managed to work its way to a 3-1 record in those games. It’s the Week 15 loss to the San Francisco 49ers that shows what could be a troubling trend that continued in Dallas Saturday. In short, the Seahawks have had trouble beating teams when they played for a second time this year. With the Wild Card game now in the books, the Seahawks finished the year having played four teams twice. Those four teams were the Cowboys and three divisional rivals from the NFC West, the 49ers, the Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams. Now Gary Jennings Jersey , it could certainly simply be a coincidence or it could be a sign of something bigger, but here’s how things shook out during each of the two matchups when Seattle faced off with these teams. Opponents Seahawks played twice in 2018OpponentGame 1Game 2OpponentGame 1Game 2Now, obviously a sample size of four is not enough to base an opinion on, but let me put it another way. Here is the list of teams the Seahawks defeated when they played a second time during 2018:Arizona CardinalsThat’s it. That’s the end of the list. The only team that the Hawks could beat the second time around was the team so bad that they finished the season 3-13, fired their head coach and hold the first pick in the draft this year. And even in defeating the worst team in the NFL while playing at home in the regular season finale, it took a game ending field goal from Sebastian Janikowski to secure that victory. So, hopefully it’s just an anomaly and not an indication of things to come, but at this point it’s impossible to rule out the idea that the reason the Hawks have trouble beating an opponent a second time around is because the offense is shockingly uncomplicated and highly predictable. On paper, the idea of playing Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright and Mychal Kendricks at the same time wouldn’t seem to be the easiest fit for the Seattle Seahawks.However, head coach Pete Carroll is excited about finding a way to make it all work.“Really looking forward to the combination of the three guys playing together,” Carroll said at the league meetings on Tuesday morning. “I don’t think we’ve ever been better. When that all comes together — we’ve got all kinds of ideas and things we want to do with those guys to use their strengths.”Wright and Wagner have played together for seven years. However, Wright and Kendricks would both seemingly be best suited at Seattle’s weak-side linebacker position. It’s the spot Wright has played for most of his Seahawks’ tenure and the spot Kendricks played last season in place of Wright when he was injured. The weak-side and strong-side positions have fundamentally different roles in Seattle’s defense. The strong-side linebacker lines up on the line of scrimmage while the weak-side lines up four yards off the ball.In an interview with KJR last week, Wright said he fully expects to remain at his weak-side spot.“I’m not going to SAM Gary Jennings Seattle Seahawks Jersey ,” Wright said. “If the SAM is off the ball, I’ll go to SAM but I’ve got to be off the ball. They’ve got to get creative with how they utilize everyone. But me on the ball is no-go.”The strong-side position is better suited for a larger player, which makes Kendricks – listed at 6-feet, 240 pounds – a curious fit for that spot.Nevertheless, the trio of Wright, Wagner and Kendricks are arguably as talented a set of linebackers as the team has had under Carroll. Roles could be tweaked to better suit the collection of talent they’ve accumulated.“That flexibility is going to give an added dimension to us, we’ll be able to move those guys around. The plan is absolutely to play them at the same time,” Carroll said.With Wright injured and Kendricks suspended for large portions of last season, the Seahawks had to call upon Barkevious Mingo, Austin Calitro and Shaquem Griffin to cover the absences at linebacker. Mingo’s remains an option at the strong-side linebacker spot as well. It’s the spot he played most last season.Additionally, it provides some insurance in case any of the three go down. The caveat with Kendricks remains potential jail time stemming from a guilty plea to insider trading charges last September. However, his sentencing hearing has been postponed for a second time. He already served an eight-game suspension for the transgressions last season so no further league penalties are expected.Now it’s just up to Carroll to find a way to make it all work together.“The expectations are really high and those guys are going to be really good,” Carroll said.
Continuing our look at potential free-agents the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could show interest in.This time Jameis Winston Jersey , we’re looking at the NFC Wild Card match-up between the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys.SEATTLE SEAHAWKS2019 FREE-AGENTSPOSITIONNAMEAGEPOSITIONNAMEAGEPLAYER TO WATCH: DE, FRANK CLARKJoe Nicholson-USA TODAY SportsJason Pierre-Paul has proven to be one of the best moves Jason Licht has made in his time as the general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After starting his career with 29.5 sacks in his first four seasons, he’s continued his years as one of the league’s top pass rushers netting 12.5 sacks in his ninth NFL season.But, what if Licht added another defensive end to play on the other side who has started his career with 36 sacks in his first four years?Now, that would be something.Tampa Bay has the ability to clear tons of cap space if they choose to do so, and if they do they could legitimately afford Clarks price tag of somewhere between $11-$14M per year.Clark has three seasons of at least nine sacks, and two with double-digits playing in Seattle. The problem here is, the Seahawks have plenty of money to tag him if they can’t get him inked before the start of the new league year.DALLAS COWBOYS2019 FREE-AGENTSPOSITIONNAMEAGEPOSITIONNAMEAGEPLAYER TO WATCH: TE http://www.buccaneerslockerroom.com/authentic-vernon-hargreaves-iii-jersey , BLAKE JARWINMatthew Emmons-USA TODAY SportsIf you’re looking back at the list for Jarwin’s name, it isn’t there. See, we need to watch Jarwin this weekend becuase his performance will greatly impact what the Dallas Cowboys do in relation to tight end, Geoff Swaim.Swaim went down after nine games this season, and when he did he had collected 26 receptions for 242-yards and one touchdown.Turning 26-years old early next season, Swaim’s measurables and stats are very comparable to Cameron Brate who will be 28-years old before next season and is set to earn $7M and carries zero dead money into 2019.I’m not saying the Bucs should move on from Brate, but given the team’s current situation and their lack of overall improvement over the past few seasons it wouldn’t be surprising to see the team do so.Bringing in Swaim would give the team a second tight end who can catch and block to play behind O.J. Howard and free up cap room for another potentially impactful signing.Something worth watching, anyway.The Seattle Seahawks visit the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday Bryan Anger Jersey , January 5th. Looking at the players with expiring contracts, there will be plenty to look for as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers look for talent to add in 2019. There’s football to watch this Saturday in the form of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) or ‘The Alliance’ as members call it.One such member of the alliance is Tom Alexander, team reporter of the Orlando Apollos, one of eight teams in this league’s inaugural season. He joined Evan Winter of this very site and myself to talk professional football.In his own words,Some of these players will be familiar to fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Guys like Donteea Dye Jr. for example.If fans are wondering just how serious to take the league, Alexander informed us during the interview that scouts have been attending camps and scrimmages throughout the build-up of the league, and are expecting the presence of most NFL teams during games this season.One thing to watch is the base 3-4 defense being run by the Apollos in this first year. With the assumption largely being new Tampa Bay defensive coordinator will operate out of a 3-4 base, there may very well be some future pieces who could help the Bucs in the near future.No matter how it all shakes out for the league Gerald McCoy Jersey , players and personnel involved, this league is looking to bring a solid brand of football.At a minimum, they’re getting on the field, and like Bruce Arians says,Catch the action as the Orlando Apollos take the field in Week 1 to face the Atlanta Legends. Check out the full interview with Apollos team reporter, Tom Alexander to get the rest of the information on what to expect when the AAF kicks off this weekend!
New Packers head coach Matt LaFleur hoped to take Arthur Smith with him to Green Bay. The Titans Bruce Matthews Jersey White , though, named Smith their new offensive coordinator Monday.“Of course I would have loved to have had him here,” LaFleur told Paul Kuharsky of paulkuharsky.com. “But I knew there was no way he was going to get out of that building.“I just have a lot of respect for him. Not only as a football coach, but as a man. I think he is of the highest character. He’s a good family man; he loves his wife and kids; he’s a fun guy to be around. I think he is exactly what you look for when you are trying to hire people.”Smith has survived three head coaching changes in Tennessee, working for four head coaches. He has worked his way up the coaching chain, with his latest promotion coming from tight ends coach.“You can’t have enough guys like him,” LaFleur said. “He’s a grinder. He’s going to work his tail off. I can’t tell you how many times this last year he would be there with us after midnight and he’d be there at 5:00 in the morning. He’s incredibly intelligent. I think he’s got such a great overall knowledge of football.” The Titans still have not filled their 53rd spot on the active roster, but they did add a receiver to the practice squad this morning per Paul Kuharsky.Lewis signed on with the Giants as an undrafted receiver out of Bowling Green before the 2016 season and stuck on the roster. He ended up playing in 13 games and starting one during his rookie season. Last year, he started 8 games for the Giants Austin Johnson Jersey , catching 36 passes for 416 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Giants left him off their 53-man roster at the end of camp this year which left him available to join the Titans practice squad.At 6’-0” and 203 pounds he’s got average size, but his 4.46 40-time at his pro day in 2016 indicates above average speed and he was known as a deep threat during his college career. The Giants used him primarily as an outside receiver during his time in New York.He also played significant snaps on punt, punt return, kick, and kick return teams for the Giants which could be valuable if the Titans do call him up to the 53-man roster at some point in the future. Right now the Titans have three wide receivers on the practice squad: Cameron Batson, Chad Hansen, and Roger Lewis. Will one of those three be promoted to the 53-man roster or will they add another outside receiver today? My guess is still that they will add a veteran receiver either via free agency or trade by the end of the day. The team also still has one more practice squad spot to fill as they currently sit at 9 there:WR Cameron BatsonG Jamil DouglasWR Chad HansenLB Nigel HarrisCB Joshua KaluLB LaTroy LewisG David QuessenberryS Damon WebbWR Roger LewisThey will likely be adding a quarterback to that open 10th spot after releasing Austin Davis earlier this week. Davis is not practice squad eligible so this spot will probably go to Logan Woodside (who was on the practice squad for the first three weeks of the season) or another young, developmental quarterback.
Previewing Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ underperforming offense During quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ last healthy season in 2016 Kaden Smith San Francisco 49ers Jersey , the Green Bay Packers ranked fourth in total scoring, eighth in total yards and first in passing touchdowns. That’s what fans have come to expect with any Rodgers-led team, yet this season, the Packers seem to be stuck in neutral.Through five weeks, Green Bay ranks 18th in total scoring, 10th in total yards and 12th in passing touchdowns. While Rodgers hasn’t been 100 percent with a knee injury, he still hasn’t missed any time, but the Packers’ offense seems to be missing that punch.Does this allow a glimmer of hope for the 49ers’ defense to slow down Rodgers and the Packers? Likely not, but I don’t expect the Packers to just steam roll Robert Saleh’s defense either.“We’re very close to getting things going and like I said, I’ll say again now, I feel like if we can get off to a better start on offense, it makes the entire squad play with a different type of confidence,” Rodgers said to the media earlier this week.“Now, we need to execute at a higher level, but we’re not far off,” Rodgers added. So how far are they off and why are they not in sync?It starts back in the offseason, when Green Bay’s front office decided to part ways with wideout Jordy Nelson and shuffle Rodgers’ receiving corps. While wide receiver Davante Adams leads the way with 37 receptions, newly-signed tight end Jimmy Graham is second with 22 catches on the season. Wideouts Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison have both missed time, not building any rhythm with Rodgers on the season.It’s pretty much the same story with the Packers’ running attack as well. Running back Aaron Jones has been the Packers’ most effective runner at 6.1 yards per attempt, but he’s already missed two games on the season. Tailback Jamaal Williams leads Green Bay in carries, but also has the worst yards per attempt on the roster (3.7). Despite all of these problems, there’s still one magic eraser that can fix all of the Packers’ problems — it’s No. 12. Yet, through five weeks, Rodgers just doesn’t look as comfortable as he normally does. When Rodgers is in control, there’s a sense of confidence and borderline cockiness within him that brings calmness to the rest of the team, but so far this season, that’s just been missing.In Week 1, when Rodgers returned in the second half against the Bears and led a comeback, that’s the version of No. 12 that everyone’s accustomed to watching. This throw below is vintage Rodgers, sitting in the pocket, slinging the ball with mostly his arm and dropping it into a basket 43 yards away from the end zone.Yet, more often than not, Rodgers has been out of sync with his receivers. Here’s a play in Week 2 against the Vikings, where the Packers’ signal caller spreads out the receivers and has a simple five-step drop and throw. Usually, this is an easy pitch and catch for a first down, but instead Rodgers fires high and wide, forcing an incompletion. Are his knee or calf injuries starting to catch up with him?Another customary Rodgers’ move is to slide out of the pocket when he feels pressure and making a throw on the run. However, his knee injury has handicapped his movement and he takes a sack on this play. Oddly, this has been a consistent theme with the Packers, giving up sacks as Rodgers is somewhat of a sitting duck in the pocket. This might give the 49ers some opportunity to bring pressure Rodgers, but I doubt it, considering the 49ers’ own pass-rushing woes.Typically Cheap Deebo Samuel Jersey , Green Bay is explosive in the red zone, converting a lot of their trips into touchdowns, but that’s been a struggle this year too. They’re 19th in the NFL in touchdown percentage, a statistic that is a ratio of touchdowns to red-zone trips. In this drive against Detroit, the Packers got to the Lions’ 24-yard line, but three straight incompletions forced a field goal attempt.In this three-play sequence, Rodgers gets pressured on first down and is forced to throw it away, then misses on the deep ball to wideout Equanimeous St. Brown and on third down has to get rid of the ball as well. In the red zone, the receivers are struggling to separate and Rodgers isn’t able to extend plays with his legs, causing a lot of throwaways.As Rodgers mentioned to the media, they’re certainly close to clicking on all cylinders, but there’s either a penalty or sack or incompletion that continues to hold them back. Once they start to put all the pieces together and get fully healthy, they’re probably look like the typical Green Bay offense.Will a game against the middling 49ers’ defense allow the Packers’ offense to find its ways? We’re going to look at departures from each position prior to Week 1 of the 2018 season and see how they fared after leaving the San Francisco 49ers. Some players went on to better careers, while others may be out of the league. We won’t be highlighting every transaction, just some notable ones. Today, we look at the tight ends.How do we discuss this one? There isn’t much from the tight end position for us to really discuss. There was only one tight end from the 2017 53-man roster that spelled Garrett Celek and a rookie George Kittle, Logan Paulsen. Keep in mind, our list is in no way complete with all the transactions, so there are other tight ends, but the goal is to try and stick with who was there at the start of the season.That said,there’s also another tight end who departed late into 49ers’ 2017 training camp. Yes, he was a 2017 departure and not a 2018 one, but he had such a strong season we should bring him up today given the timing. Yes, we’re cheating. But first...Logan PaulsenLogan Paulsen was a decent tight end addition to the 49ers. He had experience in Kyle Shanahan’s system when the two were at Washington, so he was already valuable. Paulsen also was depended on during his early years at Washington, but his numbers fell off a cliff in 2014. His time with the 49ers couldn’t get much worse.Paulsen became victim of roster musical chairs, getting released and signed through the season. He finished 2017 with a near-invisible stat sheet, having started one game, getting two targets, and nothing else.. Paulsen was signed to the Atlanta Falcons for 2018 and went on to start 10 games, notch a touchdown, and have a better season than the one in San Francisco. He still was a shadow of his former self in Washington and failed to meet the numbers he had in his one season with the Chicago Bears (which were not very great either). Vance McDonaldVance McDonald should be excluded from our list—he was traded during the 2017 training camps and this series focuses on players who departed after that year’s season, but before 2018 began. The thing is, McDonald was traded so late that he was put on the bench for most of that year while he learned the Steelers’ playbook. He showed up eventually with much potential to close 2017, but 2018 was where everything came together. Because of this, we’ll break the rules and talk about a 2017 departure. So what was McDonald’s 2018 like? Oh, just this. McDonald’s numbers in 2018 improved in every category. He caught 50 passes on 72 targets for 610 yards and four touchdowns. Now that isn’t George Kittle, but that was pretty darn good for a person nicknamed “Old Stonehands” around these parts. When Garrett Celek was going through his pains in 2018 and often ignored, it was a thought of maybe the 49ers traded the wrong guy. Kittle on one side and McDonald blocking on the other? Alas, a change of scenery may have just been what he needed. You still can’t look at that above video and say, “Dang it...” Would you like to have any of these tight ends back on the team?
The Titans will need an offensive coordinator."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Tennessee Titans PodcastReport: Packers to hire Titans’ offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur as head coachNew Tajae Sharpe Jersey ,426commentsThe Titans will need an offensive coordinator.CSTShareTweetShareShareReport: Packers to hire Titans’ offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur as head coachChristopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY SportsAfter just one season in Nashville, Matt LaFleur is heading north to become the next head coach of the Green Bay Packers, according to multiple reports. ESPN had it first. This is without a doubt Green Bay’s attempt to find the next Sean McVay, as several organizations have tried to do this offseason. However, the numbers certainly weren’t there for the Titans in year one. Tennessee ranked just 25th in total offense in 2018. To be fair, LaFleur dealt with several huge blows to the offense, including losing tight end Delanie Walker in week one. Marcus Mariota’s growth in the offense was stunted by a week one nerve injury that seemed to have lingering effects throughout the season. To make matters worse, Rishard Matthews quit the team in the first month of the season. LaFleur wasn’t exactly dealt a great hand in Nashville, but this is still a total leap of faith for the Packers. It’s a great deal for LaFleur though, who will now get to work with Aaron Rodgers. For the Titans, it’s going to be Marcus Mariota’s fourth offensive coordinator in five seasons. If you’re wondering why Mariota hasn’t developed into a big time NFL passer Quinton Spain Jersey , you can probably start with that fact. Let the offensive coordinator search begin. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Anthony Firkser could be working in banking or finance, maybe even on Wall Street with the applied mathematics degree earned at Harvard.Luckily for the Titans, the converted wide receiver is playing tight end in Tennessee.“He just makes it easy for us to throw it to him,” Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota said of Firkser. “Whether that’s creating separation, using his body to make a couple tough catches. I think he’s done a great job in just being friendly for us as quarterbacks.”Firkser has caught every pass thrown to him, an unexpected but welcomed stat for the Titans (7-6). Tennessee lost three-time Pro Bowl tight end Delanie Walker in the season opener to a broken right ankle and a second starter when a knee injury forced Jonnu Smith to go on injured reserve.The Titans also have veteran Luke Stocker and MyCole Pruitt while adding tight end Cole Wick earlier this week. Firkser is the tight end in line for more work starting Sunday when they visit the New York Giants (5-8) thanks to his production already.“They’ve all gotten better and tried to find a little niche in our offense,” coach Mike Vrabel. “With that being said, MyCole is going to get more opportunity. Firkser is going to get more opportunity. What do I like about Firkser? I would say that when you throw the guy the ball, he usually catches it. Hopefully, he gets more opportunities to do that and work him into the run game.Firkser already ranked second on the Titans for most catches among tight ends this season Taylor Lewan Jersey , but he’s also one of only two tight ends in the NFL this season with at least 15 targets to catch every pass thrown at him. Firkser has 16 catches for 201 yards and a touchdown, and Ravens tight end Maxx Williams has caught all 15 passes thrown to him.“You can see the confidence building in him, so we’ve just got to continue to find ways to get him the football,” Mariota said. “I think he’s done a good job for us. He’s made a couple big plays in critical situations, and from there I think he’s got what it takes to help us out.”A native of Manalapan, New Jersey, the 6-foot-2, 246-pound Firkser signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent in May 2017 only to be released at the end of the preseason. He sat at home for nearly three months until the Chiefs signed him to their practice squad at the end of November, and they signed him to a futures contract in January only to cut him April 30.Firkser came to Tennessee for a rookie tryout minicamp, and the Titans signed him May 14. He started the season on the active roster for two weeks before being cut, then was signed to the practice squad a day later. The Titans signed him back to the active roster Oct. 9 Brian Orakpo Jersey , and all his production has come in the last eight games.“We know Anthony’s strong suit is as a receiver, and he’s been working all year,” Titans tight ends coach Arthur Smith said. “He’s a very willing blocker. Same thing, we’ve got to make sure we put him in the right spots to play to his strengths.”He even caught his first career touchdown pass just before halftime to help start the Titans’ rally from a 16-point deficit in beating the New York Jets.Playing in the NFL may have been a dream when Firkser was a child. Playing in the Ivy League and competing in the Harvard classroom kept Firkser more focused on academics. Then he started hearing from NFL teams, keeping him away from the business world for now.“I’m thankful and grateful for the opportunity that I’ve gotten here and just doing my best to keep contributing,” Firkser said.Notes: OT Dennis Kelly, who is expected to replace Jack Conklin at right tackle, practiced Thursday after missing Wednesday for a personal matter. LB Brian Orakpo (elbow) missed a second straight practice, while WR Tajae Sharpe (ankle) did not practice after being limited Wednesday.
Winners & Losers At Dawn Of The Arians RegimeThe Bucs have decided that Route 66 is the preferred path to the playoffs. East-West Shrine Day 1 Standouts: OffenseDay one of practice is in the books as we got our first opportunity to look at the talent that will be participating in the East-West Shrine Game.Shannon Sharpe: Jameis Winston ‘is equally as talented as Ben Roethlisberger’The difference? The Steelers QB had Bruce Arians working with him. And now Jacquizz Rodgers Jersey , so does the Bucs’ signalcaller.NFL playoffs AfterMath: Football announcers gone wildNo, Troy Aikman. When a team trailing by 15 points in the fourth quarter scores a touchdown, it should NOT settle for the extra point. It should attempt a two-point conversion.Bucs’ 2018 draft class underwhelming, but Vita Vea shows potentialThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2018 draft class finished significantly below expectations. The first edition of 2019’s journey into the unpredictable world of predictive drafting."Mock drafts are fun. They show us what could be and what is. It’s an exercise in evaluating the state of a franchise while judging the future of abilities of student-athletes turned professional ball players to grant the wishes of fans world-wide.It’s also a fun little exercise in psychology. What is it that makes an individual respond so rabidly to what can only be categorized as a work of fiction in it’s truest form. Education levels have been insulted, future’s threatened, follower counts on social media rise and fall daily with the visceral reactions of (insert team name here) fans.Still. It’s fun. For me. I use them as a progress tool. See, right now, your favorite NFL team’s roster is almost exactly what it was at the end of the season as far as how it looks heading towards next season.Yes, there’s been the occasional trading of a quarterback or releasing of a cornerback here and there. But, except for those few facts, your roster is as it should be.As for the prospects. Well, this is a different story. Raise your hand if you heard of Nasir Adderley before the Senior Bowl. To those who raised their hands, you are the real MVPs of the draft world. Also, I hope you were in a really awkward place to suddenly raise your hand seemingly for no reason at all. Ya big weirdo.Anyway. Some of your favorite draft experts are likely on version five or six or even more by now. I’m on version one. And I waited for one specific reason. We’re about to enter the NFL Scouting Combine.After this, there will be little else a college player can do to publicly increase or decrease their draft stock. Pro Days are coming, and private workouts. Even some podcast, radio and television interviews.But for the most part, the combine and their game film will be the main tools used to measure their worth as a football player.So, before we get to it next week in Indianapolis Donovan Smith Jersey White , I wanted to put on record just how I perceive this first round going. Then, when it’s all said and done, and we’ve all packed up from Lucas Oil Stadium to head home I’ll do another to see how the combine impacted my outlook on the future.To be clear. This is a look at what I think each team ‘should’ do, followed by a brief synopsis of why. If you’ve visited as a member of a different fan base, I welcome you and I look forward to comments telling me about my lack of knowledge of your favorite team.If you’re a Bucs fan, well then, prepare to celebrate - or not - and tell me everything you think about my pick(s) and what it says about me as a husband, father and person in general. You know the drill.I’ll be surprised if any of you actually read all of those words leading to this part. So, let’s get to it.PICKS 1-4If the first four picks go the way I and many others feel it may, there’s going to be a quickly depleting pool of defenders going early.Here, Arizona gets a young lineman in Quinnen Williams who can roll in their renewed dedication to a 3-4 base defense and be equally as impactful for when they move him inside on four man fronts.San Francisco 49ers fans will probably feel like they got away with something seeing Nick Bosa fall into their laps while the Jets get one of the Top-2 edge rushers in this class by selecting Josh Allen. CBS broadcasters anxiously await the opportunity to comment on how Josh Allen sacked Josh Allen because Josh Allen was great while Josh Allen simultaneously didn’t execute his roll effectively. Fun for the entire family.Meanwhile, coach Jon Gruden gets his Khalil Mack replacement. Spoiler alert, Gary is good, but he’s not Mack.PICK 5 - TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: LB, DEVIN WHITE (LSU)Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesCurrently, the Bucs have Lavonte David, Kendell Beckwith, Riley Bullough and a few other linebackers who have never really served a significant roll for this or any other NFL franchise.If the team is moving to a 3-4 base defense it’s not going to matter that they won’t be in base all the time. They need more linebackers. Having more than one they know can impact a game significantly would be nice.Hopefully Beckwith comes back from his season-costing ankle injury suffered last off-season. Hopefully Kwon Alexander comes back from his ACL and suits up for the Bucs once again. But it’s entirely possible neither of those things will happen. Which means Devin White is the right guy to pick for this situation. If Alexander and Beckwith both return, and return to form http://www.buccaneerslockerroom.com/authentic-ryan-smith-jersey , then Tampa Bay will have one of the most dangerous linebacker groups around.Which is good, seeing as how they want four starters at the position.PICKS 6-10I know quarterback is a popular position pick for the sixth spot, but I can’t agree with it. Not with this team and this class.Manning is getting one more trip around the sun to try and put it together, and he’s getting a nice offensive tackle to help in the mission. If it still doesn’t pan out, next year’s class is likely to be better or at least the same.Jacksonville on the other hand, has to get a quarterback this year, and Haskins is the most plug and play of the group as of right now.Detroit, Buffalo and Denver all get better in key areas as the Lions bolster their pass rush while the Bills’ Allen gets a nice target in D.K. Metcalf and Greedy Williams goes to Mile-High to reinvigorate a declining Broncos defense.PICKS 11-15I feel like the Bengals are going to look at quarterbacks more than most realize, but ultimately I think they go with offensive line help instead. Green Bay follows suit in order to take advantage of a relatively deep defensive class later in the draft.For Miami, Kyler Murray is about the most Dolphins thing they could do, and it should at least put some butts in seats while the team figures out what to do around him.Atlanta getting Ed Oliver will make nobody in the NFC South happy. But it’s just too good a fit not to happen.With Alex Smith done for a long time, the Redskins need a quarterback. Hard to imagine this team is going from Kirk Cousins’ ‘You like that!’ moment to Drew Lock in such a short time span. Yet, here we are.PICKS 16-20Carolina is far from perfect on offense, but they’re better there than on defense. They brought in Julius Peppers to help out, and he’s riding into the sunset. Jachai Polite will help them secure an edge presence for years.If the Cleveland Browns don’t continue to build around Baker Mayfield I’d be surprised. Marquise Brown won’t work out at the combine, but it doesn’t mean he won’t be ready for camp and the 2019 season. This offense will be electric.I was really tempted to give the Vikings a tight end here, but instead I think they roll forward with Rudolph and a later draft pick and bring in Garrett Bradbury in the meantime to give Cousins more time in the pocket.Brian Burns to the Titans was an easy pick, and Mike Vrabel is going to love having this Seminole on his team. Finally, the Steelers draft another cornerback. It feels like all they do is draft first-round cornerbacks these days.PICKS 21-25Legion of Boom 2.0 is underway with the drafting of Deionte Thompson by Seattle Womens Deone Bucannon Jersey , while the Baltimore Ravens tool up for Lamar Jackson’s first year as the full-time starter after shipping Joe Flacco to Denver.For the Houston Texans, keeping Deshaun Watson clean and comfortable has to be their primary objective. Even if they lose some key defensive pieces, they’ll have the remaining pieces to keep it together.Gruden gets the best running back in the draft for his new look Raiders and the Eagles bolster their defensive front by bringing Clemson’s Christian Wilkins to Philly.PICKS 26-32Rounding out the first round on this first mock of the year, Andrew Luck gets a nice big target to use opposite of T.Y. Hilton. Given the growth of the Colts’ defense in 2018, giving the offense another weapon makes sense.I don’t know if there are any cornerbacks in Oakland coach Gruden likes - let alone loves. He’ll look to bring his own caliber of secondary to the franchise by drafting DeAndre Baker with his third first-round pick of the year.Jeffery Simmons’ injury is going to drop him down some boards, and quite possibly out of the first round. However, if there’s a team who might take a first round flier on him, it’d be the Chargers.They have a solid defense as is, and depending on how they feel he is medically the future returns of such a dynamic player might just warrant the early investment.Kansas City needs help on defense and they need it now. Montez Sweat isn’t the most polished prospect, but what he does he does really well. After going offensive with their first pick of the draft, Green Bay addresses the defense by selecting Nasir Adderley out of Delaware. They’ll address pass rushers later.If the Los Angeles Rams are going to get back to the Super Bowl they’ll need more than just a linebacker, but Mack Wilson is the best player available and given all the money coming up in extensions for their defense it’ll be nice to have a solid contributor on a rookie deal.Finally, the Super Bowl champs are up, and with Rob Gronkowski retiring drafting T.J. Hockenson as his replacement will help keep Tom Brady on top of the league until who knows when.That’ll do it for my first mock of the year. I’ll be back soon with a complete Bucs draft and more versions of both as we continue to sift through the news, rumors, tape, measurables and immeasurables.*Mock draft constructed using The Draft Network’s ‘Mock Draft Machine’.
The conversation takes place throughout the week inside the Seattle Seahawks training facility. A group of four or five throwing out suggestions and discussing whether their idea can actually be executed.By the time Friday rolls around Shaquem Griffin Jersey , a final decision has been made and the group spends part of the day seeing if they can pull off the plan successfully if the opportunity presents itself on game day."They're actually a group effort. We all put our two cents in and come up with something," Seattle wide receiver David Moore said. "(We'll) come up with something, 'Hey we can throw this in, maybe this will look good,' and then there you go."The talk isn't about a play or scheme. Instead, it's about what has become a must-see event anytime the Seahawks wide receivers find the end zone. Their touchdown celebrations have drawn attention around the NFL and set a standard they're trying to top each week."At first, it was all just about having fun, right? ... It has become an expectation," wide receiver Doug Baldwin said. "Now everybody's asking us what's coming up next, but first and foremost we've got to score so let's take care of the football aspect of it first and then just have fun if it comes along."The group of receivers 鈥?Baldwin, Moore, Jaron Brown and Tyler Lockett primarily 鈥?may not come close to leading the league in catches because of Seattle's run-first offense. But when any of the four find the end zone, getting past the goal line is just the beginning.It started in London when the Seahawks beat Oakland and Brown caught a touchdown on Seattle's opening drive. Brown at first briefly celebrated by himself before being joined by Baldwin, Lockett and Moore with an ode to "Drumline" and a fight scene from the movie that was released in 2002.Two weeks later after Lockett caught a TD in Detroit, it was an ode to baseball , the World Series and Nolan Ryan when Baldwin, the hitter, charged Lockett, the pitcher, and was knocked out in the process.Against the Chargers, it was "The Four Heartbeats ," which was a tribute to the 1991 movie "The Five Heartbeats." Each wide receiver showed off a bit of his dance moves and Brown 鈥?who caught the touchdown 鈥?ended up getting the "featured" role at the end of the routine. It's the celebration most say was the best."I told them from the jump, 'Yeah that's not going to work.' Because you have to be on beat with that and you all aren't going to hear each other," running back Mike Davis said. "It actually looked good. I was surprised by that."And last week in the victory over the Packers, tight end Nick Vannett was added to the mix following Baldwin's TD catch. The celebration this time : "Swag Surfin'.""I don't think it went as well as we wanted it to," Baldwin said.There was supposed to be one more celebration thrown into the recent mix, but as Baldwin said, "Tyler screwed it up." After Lockett's 23-yard touchdown reception against the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 11, there was supposed to be another group performance. But before everyone could gather, Lockett handed the ball to boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., who was in an end zone suite.That celebration was supposed to be specific to the Rams game and was not carried over to the following week. It's another sign of how serious and how much fun this group is having.And no, it's not taking away from their preparation for what's important 鈥?the actual game 鈥?including this week's matchup against Carolina that has major NFC playoff implications."It's minutes Michael Dickson Jersey , but obviously you guys know when we focus in on something, we get focused in on something so it doesn't take us too long to get it down," Baldwin said. Back in a time where being a coach for the Seattle Seahawks under Pete Carroll used to mean something, Ken Norton, Jr. was hired away by Jack Del Rio to be the defensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders in 2015. Norton had spent 11 years with Carroll, including the previous five for the Seahawks as linebackers coach under Gus Bradley and Dan Quinn, with back-to-back Super Bowl appearances.When Quinn left after Seattle’s second straight season of winning the conference, Carroll hired Kris Richard to take over as defensive coordinator, while Norton went to the Raiders. The two assistants saw their paths take different directions from that point forward, but now as things have come full circle, Norton suddenly looks to be “ahead” of his longtime colleague with USC and the Seahawks.But really isn’t just about timing and talent?Oakland went 3-13 and finished 32nd in points allowed in 2014, which is why they fired Dennis Allen (and replacement Tony Sparano), and hired Del Rio. That’s where Norton came in and he helped the Raiders improve to 22nd in points allowed, with 16 more sacks than they had the year before, and a notably better pass defense. All because of Norton, right?Probably a lot more to do with second-year linebacker Khalil Mack actually, who went from three sacks to 15. And as we’ve seen, Mack doesn’t need a certain coach in order to be productive. Not that the Raiders had a super talented defense (Charles Woodson, Aldon Smith, Malcolm Smith, David Amerson, Dan Williams, Mario Edwards), but they also weren’t super good. They were just a little better.Then they weren’t.Then in September of 2016, Del Rio reportedly took playcalling away from Norton following a terrible start to the season by the defense; they gave up over 1,000 yards over the first two games. They stopped giving up 500 yards per game, but the Oakland defense was still among the worst in the NFL, even after adding Bruce Irvin and Reggie Nelson, probably because many other starters were still very bad. The Raiders finished dead last in net yards per pass attempt allowed. They did go 12-4, but lost badly in the first round of the playoffs. Maybe it’s a different story if not for Derek Carr’s broken leg, but the defense still stood no shot of helping them through that gauntlet.After a 4-6 start last season, Oakland fired Norton Alex McGough Jersey , severing ties completely. They had forced just five turnovers in 10 games. He hit the open market as a coach who wasn’t good enough to even improve the Oakland Raiders defense. Not a good place to be in.Luckily enough, Carroll didn’t care about any of his Oakland issues. He knew Norton for over a decade and he knew that he had the talent for a good defense. Isn’t that really the majority of what you need?Richard had the Seahawks back at their number one ranking for scoring defense in 2015, getting through a bad wild card game in Minnesota before losing on the road to the Carolina Panthers; they gave up 31 first half points to the Panthers but a significant problem that day was incompetence by the offense and then Seattle shut Carolina down in the second half. The Seahawks were third in points allowed in 2016, including first in yards per carry allowed. Quarterbacks had a rating of just 85 against Seattle, with only 16 touchdown passes.The Seahawks held the Detroit Lions to six in a wild card win, but again lost badly on the road in the divisional round.Things finally took a downward turn in 2017, with Seattle finishing 13th in points allowed and surrendering 30+ five times. However, there was a significant change that year: No Cliff Avril for 12 games, no Richard Sherman or Kam Chancellor for seven, Earl Thomas missed two games and was recovering from a broken leg, K.J. Wright was out for the defense’s worst game in years.It was a lack of talent.Carroll decided to shake things up — this is more the cause for Richard’s firing than anything, I believe — and found his old friend on the coaching free agent market. Now where are the Seahawks, Richard, and Norton?Well, somewhat quietly Norton has certainly raised his stock, hasn’t he? Seattle is ninth in points allowed, seventh in yards allowed, fourth in net yards per pass attempt allowed, and has a top-10 ranking in DVOA again. What’s the difference between the 2018 Seahawks and all of his Raiders defenses that weren’t as good? Well, Oakland had Mack, and Seattle has had an actual defense.That obviously changes now with the injury to Thomas. And if the Seahawks’ pass defense gets worse week-to-week, we’ll know why. If Norton’s resume goes from “coached a top-10 defense” to “helped sink a top-10 defense,” it’ll be because he didn’t have as much talent to end the year as he did to start it. Norton may be a great coach — whatever that even means — but coaches are only as good as the talent that they can put on the field. Bill Belichick is famous for overturning players-not-named-Brady all the time, but less talked about is the decade he’s spent with Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung as his safeties. If the players work, they work. If they don’t, you’re out of a job.Richard is drawing praise for his work with the Dallas Cowboys secondary as an assistant there now, including the Pro Bowl-caliber season for Byron Jones at cornerback. Certainly Richard’s knowledge has something to do with that, but it would be for nothing if Jones wasn’t one an extremely special athlete with the capacity to play at this level. And eventually, Richard will get another chance as a defensive coordinator too, perhaps leading to a head coaching opportunity.His best way back there will be to continue to follow the talent.
A roundtable with instant reactions"You’re going to hear plenty of analysis about the San Francisco 49ers first-round selection Nick Bosa over the coming days. How about some instant reactions from the NN staff? Here’s our take on the newest 49er.KyleThe 49ers had a big need at edge rusher. It’s tough to find a better fit than Bosa. He’s the best pass rusher in the draft http://www.49erslockerroom.com/authentic-ahkello-witherspoon-jersey , and it’s not really close. The Niners struggled mightily to get after the QB. That is Bosa’s speciality. He should be able to come in and produce right away. I think it’s important to understand that Bosa makes everyone around him better. Deforest Buckner is better because of this. Dee Ford is bette because of this. Solomon Thomas gets better. That’s before we even get to the secondary.PatBack in December, I said the 49ers had a shot at this guy given the Cardinals needs. When healthy, Bosa has the potential to transform this defensive line. We are talking about one of the best lines in football in one or two year. The big x-factor is Solomon Thomas. If he can take his next step, you have Dee Ford, DeForest Buckner, Thomas, and Bosa running a pass rush? Yikes. The decision was easy, but Quinnen Williams was very very tempting.The secondary can benefit from this as well. A quicker pass rush means more erratic throws, which means interceptions and dangerous passes. Part of the 49ers issues last year was the lethargic pass rush, which again has been vetted with Nick Bosa. The health issues do concern me, but hopefully the 49ers new and improved strength and conditioning unit has vetted this extensively. When healthy, the ceiling of this defensive line is nothing short of jaw-dropping. It’s a good day to be a 49ers fan. RobNick Bosa was the easiest pick John Lynch has made in his three years as the 49ers’ general manager. Bosa is the most complete pass rusher in the draft and the need aligned perfectly with the value for San Francisco. If his injury concerns are behind him, the 49ers should’ve just drafted a blue-chip pass rusher with yearly Pro Bowl potential.FoochIt’s pretty clear how I feel about his personal beliefs. From a purely football perspective Mike Person Jersey White , however, there’s not a lot to dislike about Bosa. He’s the kind of edge rusher the 49ers have lacked since they released Aldon Smith. There is no sure thing in the draft, but he has the production, pedigree, and physical tools to be the next great Niner pass rusher. If he does not pan out, nobody will fault the 49ers for the football side of this decision (well, almost nobody).The core muscle injury that cut short his final season at Ohio State left some folks concerned, but once the injury happened, it made all the sense in the world for him to shut it down and focus on the NFL Draft. Injuries are a concern for anybody in the NFL, but it doesn’t bother me.Alex EisenNick Bosa has been at the very top of most draft boards including mine. For the longest time the San Francisco 49ers have been searching for help in the pass rushing department. In a pass friendly league you have to be able to create pressure and get to the quarterback. The 49ers did what they had to do this off season, first trading for Dee Ford, then selecting Nick Bosa with the second overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. As I mentioned in previous mock drafts and scouting reports, Nick Bosa was a no brainer pick for the 49ers. He is a perfect scheme fit Womens Y.A. Tittle Jersey , and a week one starter. I am excited to see what the 49ers defensive line will produce with the likes of Bosa, Dee Ford, DeForest Buckner, and Arik Armstead. Bosa instantly improves the defense, not only along the defensive line, but in the secondary as well. The injuries are a bit concerning, however the talent and production more than make up for this. Injuries are unpredictable and are part of the game. They can happen to anyone at anytime. Let’s hope for a healthy season for our ENTIRE roster! The 49ers get an A+ with this selection. Josh EcclesSan Francisco, as we all know, have lacked a serious threat at pass rusher for about 5 seasons now. With the selection of Nick Bosa it just about shores up the defensive line - which now boasts newly-acquired free agent Dee Ford along with Arik Armstead, Solomon Thomas, and perennial DPOY-candidate Deforest Buckner. The 49ers entered the offseason with zero firepower at EDGE and now have 2 clear-cut get-to-the-quarterback-at-will players who will, with their skillset, make the rest of the defense look better.Matt Breida ankle MRI comes back negative Fooch’s update: Kyle Shanahan announced that Breida is doubtful for Week 6 vs. the Green Bay Packers.The San Francisco 49ers dodged a bullet in Week 5. Running back Matt Breida suffered an ankle injury that looked bad Mike McGlinchey Jersey White , but fortunately is not a long-term injury. X-rays came back negative on Sunday, and an MRI came back negative on Monday, according to NBC Sports Bay Area reporter Matt Maiocco.Breida suffered the injury when Budda Baker fell on his ankle during a tackle attempt. The running back seemed to be in a lot of pain and needed help limping off the field. The trainers put tape on his ankle but he went back to the locker room and did not return. NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport reported on Sunday that it was not a serious ankle injury, and Breida seemed to think the same.The x-ray revealed no break, and the MRI revealed no significant ligament damage. A high ankle sprain involves ligament damage and can result in an absence of several weeks. Not having that damage could result in a relatively limited absence. As Maiocco said in his tweet, he has proven to be a quick healer amidst several injuries the past few weeks.The 49ers travel to face the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football in Week 6, so they have an extra day of rest for the players. My guess is Breida sits out the game, but like Maiocco said, he’s proven to be a quick healer. The 49ers return to practice Thursday, so we’ll see what the injury report brings.
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12.06.2019 09:46