Starting Inside Linebacker For the first time since 2013 http://www.thetitanslockerroom.com/authentic-luke-stocker-jersey , the Titans opening day starters at inside linebacker won’t be Wesley Woodyard and Avery Williamson. The team let Williamson walk in free agency and now must replace him in the starting lineup. There are three primary competitors to take the spot next to Woodyard in the starting lineup. The most notable is rookie first round pick Rashaan Evans. Evans’ talent level and status as a 1st round pick should give him a shot at the starting lineup as early as Week 1, but I don’t think that should be considered a foredrawn conclusion at this point. In minicamp Mike Vrabel commented that Evans “is not where he needs to be to start for our defense, and that’s OK. ... I think he’s improved. We all have a long way to go.”While nothing has been definitively reported on this, it appears from clips of OTAs that free agent addition Will Compton was working with the starting group alongside Woodyard. We will see if that was really the case when camp opens on Thursday, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him there at least initially. Compton has 5 years of NFL experience and 33 starts under his belt from his time in Washington. He also spent most of that time as the defense’s primary signal caller so it would not be surprising to see him out ahead of the pack early as the new scheme is getting installed. Jayon Brown is the other guy that factors in to this mix. He played a lot during his rookie season, primarily as a coverage specialist — something he does very well. I would expect Brown to have a significant role in the defense again in 2018, but the question is whether he can step beyond the passing down role and become a true contender for a starting role. To do that Taywan Taylor Jersey White , he will need to demonstrate the ability to hold up at the point of attack in the running game. Brown has once again drawn rave reviews from the coaches and media during offseason work and seems to be a lock to have at least some role in this defense in 2018.Another wild card at this position — at least in sub-packages — could be backup safety and special teams ace Brynden Trawick. Last season Trawick got very little action on defense, playing just 4 snaps total outside of special teams, but a new staff could bring new ideas. One meeting room scene from the most recent Igniting the Fire episode appeared to show a potential nickel package with players numbers in various positions on defense. The most interesting part of that package was the appearance of “41” — Trawick’s number — penciled in as a backup Will linebacker behind Jayon Brown. New Titans defensive coordinator Dean Pees used a converted safety as his Will linebacker last season to great success. Patrick Onwuasor, a 6’-0”, 217 pound safety who went undrafted in 2016, was moved to inside linebacker by the Ravens and by the end of his second training camp became a starter next to C.J. Mosley. He was the team’s second-leading tackler behind just Mosley last season.I don’t know that I would expect the same success for Trawick, but at 6’-2” and 225 pounds Womens Nate Palmer Jersey , he’s even bigger than Onwuasor. It’s an interesting idea that could give Trawick a more viable route to getting on the field on defense, though it’s hard to see him taking snaps away from Brown if everyone is healthy.Rounding this position group are Daren Bates, Nate Palmer, Nick DeLuca, and Robert Spillane. Bates and Palmer have been around, but are primarily special teams contributors. DeLuca and Spillane are UDFAs who will have a really tough road to making the roster given the talent and experience of the 6 guys ahead of them — 7 if you count Trawick.If I’m guessing today, I expect that Woodyard is likely to be the 3-down linebacker wearing the green dot communication helmet at least to start the season. It is only a matter of time until Evans takes that role though. Whether that time comes in camp or during the season or even next offseason will depend primarily on how quickly the rookie is able to show Mike Vrabel that he “knows what to do and can play fast and aggressive”. If Evans is not quite ready for that level of responsibility right away Johnathan Cyprien Jersey White , that’s OK. He will have a chance to contribute as another rush option on 3rd downs at the very least while he gets up to speed.So I would expect that Woodyard and Compton are the top unit in base defense with Compton coming off for Brown in nickel packages for the start of camp with Evans pushing to force his way on the field as quickly as possible. Again, that’s not a slight at Evans. I think he’s going to be an excellent player — you can get my full thoughts on him here — and expect him to have a major role by the end of the season, but for a team expected to contend it could benefit them to bring Evans along slowly.How the team balances the snaps between those 4 will be among the more interesting storylines in camp and leading up to the season. The Titans haven’t had much go right on Sunday and that includes the health of left tackle Taylor Lewan.Lewan left the game with a foot injury in the second quarter and he’s being called questionable to return. Tyler Marz has replaced Lewan in the lineup.The Titans fell behind 7-0 after a Taywan Taylor fumble and another turnover put them in position to fall further behind after cutting the Buffalo lead to four points. Taron Johnson stepped in front of a Marcus Mariota pass to Nick Williams and gave Buffalo possession in Titans territory.They drove to the 12-yard-line, but couldn’t get into the end zone and the field goal unit came in for the rare thing that has gone the Titans’ way. Punter Corey Bojorquez appeared to either bobble the snap or try a fake that no one else on the team was ready for him to run. He threw an incompletion under pressure and got an earful from special teams coach Danny Crossman on the sideline. Adding injury to insult, Bojorquez also hurt his shoulder and is also considered questionable to return.Whatever happened, the Bills still lead 7-3 with the first half winding down in Buffalo.
Time Adarius Glanton Jersey White , TV schedule, online streaming, and more The Buccaneers and Jaguars face off in the final game of the preseason at Raymond James Stadium.The Bucs first team will not get many looks — if any for some — as this game will be mainly for players on the bubble and those battling for position on the depth chart. And that is the most crucial part of this team.Tampa Bay already knows what they are getting in their first-team guys. But for several seasons now, the players behind them have been questions. Look closely at the linebackers and the linemen on both sides of the ball. Those positions come in with the biggest question marks on the depth chart. Also try to focus on the secondary and receivers. There are many names playing for spots at their respective positions but not enough space on the depth chart. It’ll be interesting to see who emerges. INFORMATIONGame time: 7:30pm ETLocation: Raymond James Stadium | Tampa, FlTV: WFLA/NBC - TampaAnnouncers: Chris Myers, Ronde BarberOnline streaming: NFL Sunday Ticket (paid DirecTV service - one-week trial); NFL Game Pass (paid service - shows preseason games live, replays of regular season games.) The Buccaneers will also be streaming the game live at Buccaneers.com/live.Twitter: @Bucs_NationFacebook: Please like us! The Buccaneers will close out their disappointing 2018 season on Sunday with a home matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Most of the talk in Tampa leading up to this game is what is going to happen after it’s over. The coaching staff is presumably on its way out, DeSean Jackson has clearly checked out and will be gone shortly and there are plenty of other changes that could be coming to the roster throughout the offseason.Before we get to all of that fun offseason talk, there is one more game for the Bucs to play. No matter how frustrating the franchise has been in the last decade-plus, it’s hard to look past any game. Without playoffs, there are only 16 chances a year to watch your favorite team play legitimate games. Sunday is the last one for Bucs fans until next fall. With that said, there are some records and positioning for records that could be impacted during Sunday’s game at Raymond James Stadium.Career ReceptionsMike Evans has 389 receptions in his career, leaving him second in franchise history. He needs 42 more catches to take the top spot from James Wilder (430).Career Passing YardsJameis Winston is up to 14,283 passing yards in his career, leaving him 538 away from passing Vinny Testaverde (14,820) for the franchise record.Career CompletionsWith 34 completions last week against Dallas, Winston claimed the franchise record for career completions. He now has 1,161.Career Passing AttemptsWinston is still fifth in career passing attempts, but he should be taking fourth on Sunday. He has 1,887, meaning he needs four more to pass Doug Williams (1,890) for fourth.Career Rushing TouchdownsWith nine rushing touchdowns in their careers, Winston and Peyton Barber are tied for 14th all-time. Both are two away from passing Michael Pittman (10) for 13th.Jacquizz Rodgers scored his fourth touchdown as a Buc last week Lee Roy Selmon Jersey , bringing him into a tie for 26th-most in team history. He needs one more to tie for 21st.Career TacklesLavonte David has 634 tackles in his career. He needs 47 more to pass Hardy Nickerson (680) for third in Bucs history.With 215 tackles in his career, Gerald McCoy needs 13 more to take 21st from Reuben Davis (227).Career SacksMcCoy has 54.5 career sacks, leaving him 15.5 away from passing Simeon Rice (69.5) for second all-time.Career SafetiesWith one career safety, Lavonte David is tied for the top spot in franchise history. One more would give him sole possession of the franchise record.Career InterceptionsDavid has 10 interceptions with the Bucs, which ties him for 17th all-time. One more would tie him for 15th, while two more would pull him into a tie for 12th.Career Passes DefendedDavid and Brent Grimes remain tied for seventh in passes defended with 38 apiece. Sunday will likely be Grimes’ last chance to move himself up the franchise’s record book, while David should be back in 2019. Both guys are five away from taking sixth from John Lynch (42). Career Forced FumblesWith 18 forced fumbles in his time with Tampa Bay, David needs two more to beat Simeon Rice (19) for second all-time.Career Games PlayedGerald McCoy will be playing in his 123rd game as a Buc on Sunday, which is good for 13th-most in team history.Playing in his 115th game with Tampa Bay, Demar Dotson will tie Karl “The Truth” Williams for 19th-most in franchise history.Sunday will be Lavonte David’s 105th game with the Bucs, which ties him for 30th all-time with Jeff Gooch and Ricky Reynolds.Single-Season Receiving YardsMike Evans has 1,418 receiving yards this season. He needs five yards on Sunday to break the team’s single-season receiving yards record, which was set at 1,422 by Mark Carrier in 1989.Single-Season Total Yards (Team)Last week, the Bucs set a new team record for offensive yards as a team. They are up to 6,215 this year, beating their previous record of 6,014 (2015). They can add to the new record on Sunday.Single-Season Passing Yards (Team)Another record fell last week, as Jameis Winston helped the offense set a new single-season record for team passing yards. Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick have combined for 4,784 passing yards this season, which breaks the old record of 4,366 (2017). Winston (and maybe Ryan Griffin?) can add to the new total on Sunday.
The San Francisco 49ers are not expected to have wide receiver Marquise Goodwin active in Week 5 vs. the Arizona Cardinals Deebo Samuel Jersey , according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. This is not surprising news given the team’s decision on Saturday to activate wide receiver Victor Bolden from the suspended list.Goodwin suffered quadricep and hamstring injuries last week and was limited in practice this week. The team was already going to be without rookie Dante Pettis, so this leaves them without two significant contributors. Pierre Gar莽on, Trent Taylor, and Kendrick Bourne will be the active regulars, and Bolden will join Richie James to round out the wide receiver depth chart.Bolden earned a roster spot last season primarily as a kick returner. He will likely see some wide receiver snaps against the Cardinals, but James is the guy who could get more wide receiver work of the two. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said that if Goodwin could not play Deebo Samuel San Francisco 49ers Jersey , “Richie James will definitely be involved.” James was a dynamic option in the preseason, but has only been active once this season.It would appear the 49ers starting wide receivers for Week 5 will be Garon and Bourne on the outside, with Trent Taylor in the slot. That would leave Bolden and James rotating into a variety of roles. 39-10.I don’t like bringing this up, but...39 to[site decorum] 10. Now, to be fair, that was not all on Robert Saleh. A lot of the questions I’d lay on his coaching I would ask to the whole team. Why didn’t anyone execute? That said Nick Mullens Jersey , the defense was pretty crummy. Todd Gurley may have been held to 63 yards, but he wasn’t held back from two touchdowns. Jared Goff had a 127.4 quarterback rating as he went 18 for 24 and hung 39 points on the 49ers. While they get 10. OK, two of those 39 points are part of a safety. We definitely can not blame Saleh for that. I’m not even bringing up the turnovers on the 50 yard line. Even if you’re Buddy Ryan, you’re not getting out of that situation the offense puts you in. This is not like previous weeks where we can look to Saleh and say WTH? This was bad football, from a bad football team, and we should feel bad for even talking about how bad this bad game was. Still Alfred Morris Jersey , only two sacks versus seven (four of which were by one dude) and zero turnovers. That’s your defensive highlights. Two sacks and no turnovers. Two sacks against one of the better offensive lines in the league isn’t a horrible margin, but the 49ers have again failed at getting a turnover. And it’s not like the two sacks were anything good. One of them was simply a botched snap and a gimme. But this is an ongoing thing here at Niners Nation. When sharks smell blood...well you know. Is this helping Robert Saleh’s cause? Or have the 49ers figured out that they just have issues beyond his control.That’s right, it’s time to bring back the heat-o-meter:
Chris Carson and his breakout seasonSeahawks 2018 report cards: Chris Carson and his breakout season. Carson showed why he should be an important member of the offense for years to come.What Naz Jones moving to five-tech means for SeahawksThe Seattle Seahawks shifted former three-tech Nazair Jones to five-tech toward the end of the season. What does that mean for 2019?Seahawks need to get running back Rashaad Penny more involved in 2019Running back Rashaad Penny is an asset the Seattle Seahawks need to find a way to work into the regular rotation in for the 2019 season.Seahawks unlikely to be active in free agency but may gain from departures710 ESPN Seattle's Brock Huard doesn't expect the Seahawks to make waves in free agency. More than that Duane Brown Jersey , he's hoping the big moves come from other teams signing former Seahawks. The reason? Much-needed future compensatory picks.Why Russell Wilson likely happy Darrell Bevell’s back in NFL | The News TribuneDarrell Bevell, the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator from 2011 until his firing 12 months ago, is back in the NFL after his first year out of football since he was a kid. The Detroit Lions have hired Bevell to be their new offensive coordinator.Delay of Kendricks' sentencing leaves Seahawks in linebacker limboThey don't know if Mychal Kendricks will be available, and they don't appear to wish to bring back veteran K.J. Wright.C.J. Anderson: 'I'm the freshest running back' in NFL - NFL.comC.J. Anderson had time to rest, watch the rest of the NFL -- and maybe put on a few extra pounds. The time off did him well, though, leaving him with fresh legs that are valuable in the postseason.ATN Podcast: 2019 Championship Sunday preview - NFL.comThe latest edition of the Around The NFL Podcast breaks down NFC and AFC Championship Games.Steelers LB T.J. Watt added to AFC Pro Bowl roster - NFL.comThe Pittsburgh Steelers announced Thursday that T.J. Watt was added to the AFC Pro Bowl roster to replace Texans pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney, who will miss the game due to injury.Texans DE J.J. Watt underwent minor knee procedure - NFL.comHouston Texans DE J.J. Watt underwent a minor knee procedure, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports. Per Rapoport Justin Coleman Jersey , Watt is "fine now" and the procedure served as a maintenance.Carson Palmer: Arians best thing to happen to Winston - NFL.comRetired Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer thinks the new relationship dynamic between Bruce Arians and Jameis Winston is the best thing to happen to the young signal caller.Chiefs' Andy Reid not concerned about rusty Eric Berry - NFL.comAll signs point to Eric Berry suiting up Sunday when the Kansas City Chiefs take on the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. Coach Andy Reid is not concerned about any lingering rust.Larry Fitzgerald respects Kliff Kingsbury, hasn’t decided whether to play for him – ProFootballTalkLarry Fitzgerald may retire from the Cardinals this offseason, but if he does that wouldn't be a reflection on their new coach. Fitzgerald told TMZ that he's never met new Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury but thinks highly of Kingsbury's offense.C.J. Anderson declares himself “freshest running back in the league” – ProFootballTalkAn unfortunate regular season for C.J. Anderson has left him in an incredibly fortunate situation now as a member of the Los Angeles Rams. Anderson was barely used in his two stops with the Carolina Panthers and Oakland Raiders over the first three months of the 2018 season.Robert Woods believes Superdome crowd shouldn’t, won’t have impact on outcome – ProFootballTalkThe Superdome will pose a difficult challenge for the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday as they attempt to reach the Super Bowl for the first time in L.A. since 1979. The New Orleans Saints are undefeated at home in playoff games with Drew Brees as the quarterback. Duane Brown says the Seahawks offense should pass more, and the defense adds some depth."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections VideosCoffee and CigarettesGame AnalysisThe Numbers GameCigar ThoughtsPodcastsThe OffseasonField Gulls podcastsField Gulls Podcast: Russell Wilson’s contract deadline is likely just a goalNew,1commentDuane Brown says the Seahawks offense should pass more, and the defense adds some depth.PDTShareTweetShareShareField Gulls Podcast: Russell Wilson’s contract deadline is likely just a goalTim Heitman-USA TODAY SportsOn Tuesday, the news broke that Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has set a deadline of April 15th to complete contract negotiations. But can it really be considered a deadline? If Wilson isn’t planning to sit out offseason workouts or hold out into training camp, then the mid-April date should be considered more of a goal than an actual deadline. Adam Emmert and Brandan Schulze are optimistic about the idea that it is a true deadline and a deal gets done Dion Jordan Jersey , but will it do anything to stop continued speculation about all the other teams Russ would rather play for?Left tackle Duane Brown says he would like to see Wilson and the Seahawks throw the ball more in 2019. If the Seahawks wanted a more balanced offense, then they would need to shift back toward the pass after going run heavy in 2018. With so much talk about if it’s better to pass or run, we settle on the simple fact that it’s better to win than to lose. Apart from the final game of the season, the run heavy approach led to more winning than losing.Doug Baldwin has another surgery set for April, but despite a relatively productive season for a receiver over 30 years old, there is a question about whether Wilson’s favorite target could be back in 2019. We discuss a receiver from the Mike Holmgren coaching era who played into his mid-30s who has a similar type of game. Max Unger has decided to retire, so maybe now is a good time to dig into which team really won the trade between the Seahawks and Saints.In the “Do Better” segment, the guys discuss the site of the NFL Draft as well as the Alliance of American Football and how many players we can expect to see in the NFL next season. Better at Life honors go to an AAF legend and to our rival Arizona Cardinals for the entertainment value their franchise provides as they are seemingly unable to manage the situation they find themselves in going into the draft.Subscribe to the Field Gulls Podcast via:Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify |Overcast | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Castbox | Subscribe on Android | PlayerFM | RSS
Every year Womens Marcus Mariota Jersey , the NFL draft features a handful of undersized prospects who make an immediate impact at the next level, regardless of draft slot or the logo on their college helmet.One such member of this year’s class is Umass wide receiver Andy Isabella, a Biletnikoff runner up who’s starting to capture the attention of scouts around the league.An instinctive receiver with a knack for finding the end zone, Isabella scored 30 touchdowns in three years as a starter. His best performance this year came against Georgia when he posted 219 yards on fifteen receptions and 2 touchdowns.Isabella recently spoke exclusively with MCM about his recent success, his favorite routes to run, the emphasis being placed on slot receivers around the league, and what fans can expect from him in the future.JM: You graduated a few weeks ago. Congratulations on that.AI: Thank you. I had my last exam a few Fridays ago. I’ve been back in Cleveland since then. JM: For those who may not be too familiar with your game, how do you describe your skill set?AI: I consider myself to be a pretty smart player. I know how to get open because I know what the defense is doing at all times. I just know how to find little ways to get open.JM: 101 receptions this year that went virtually went for 1,700 yards and 13 touchdowns. Do you feel like you’re getting enough attention nationally?AI: There’s been a lot of All-American awards that have come out recently. I think I’m getting a lot of recognition as of late. I’m excited for the next chapter.JM: Would you agree that the NFL seems to be placing more value on slot receivers with each passing season?AI: Yeah Quinton Spain Jersey White , I’d agree with your statement. We saw Ryan Switzer get drafted in the fourth round recently. Trent Taylor was drafted in the fifth round. I definitely think the NFL is starting to appreciate guys with my sort of skill set. They respect the type of player that I am. They’ve definitely been putting more emphasis on slot receivers as of late.JM: You mentioned being a smart player and knowing how to get open. Do you have a favorite route to run?AI: I’d have to say anything with a double move. I like baiting the corner or baiting a safety into thinking I’m doing one thing but doing something different altogether.JM: You understand what the defense is doing. What do you credit that to?AI: I would have to give credit to my coaching staff. They do a great job preparing me throughout the week for what our opponent likes to do. We spend a lot time looking at that and making sure we understand how the defense likes to operate. We study their tendencies. Before we snap the ball, I’m paying attention to how the defense is lined up and that usually gives me a pretty good idea of what they’re doing pre-snap. We spend time practicing that. It’s all about going out there and understanding what you practiced.JM: Which receivers did you enjoy watching growing up? Do you model your game after any of them in particular?AI: I’ve always enjoyed watching Antonio Brown. I think a lot of guys my size would say Antonio Brown. He’s not a big receiver but he’s incredibly intelligent out there. He runs crafty routes and finds little ways to get open.JM: Going back to your touchdown totals, 13 this season and 30 overall in your three seasons as a starter. What is it about your game that allows you to find the end zone so often?AI: I would have to point to my big plays. I’ve made a habit out of creating explosive plays. A lot of my touchdowns have come off big plays. My coaches give me an opportunity to run those plays.JM: You absolutely shredded Georgia this year for 219 yards and two touchdowns. How important do you think that performance may be for your draft stock?AI: That could be pretty big for me. We didn’t really play any big time opponents this year. We played Boston College early in the season but that got outta hand pretty quickly. I had a good game against them though. I think the Georgia game was somewhat of a final statement game for me as far as my draft stock goes. Hopefully teams will take a look at that tape and see that I could play at that level.JM: Were you a little disappointed to not win the Biletnikoff?AI: I was happy to be nominated. I didn’t expect to be nominated to be honest. I think a lot of people would have been pissed off if a kid from UMASS won (laughs). I think people would have been like UMASS? What the heck is that? Sure, I was a little upset to not win. You always want to win. It’s just an award though. It doesn’t reflect how I played. It’s not like anyone is gonna go out there and play the game for me. It really wasn’t that important to me.JM: Who would you say is the best defensive back you’ve ever gone up against?AI: I would have to say Anthony Chesley from Coastal Carolina. I played against Georgia of course but Deandre Baker didn’t really cover me a lot. He didn’t really press me like that. He’s obviously the best overall player but I didn’t really square off with him. Anthony Chesley pressed me and I thought he did a great job late in the game once he started following me around.JM: Is there an NFL defensive back you look forward to squaring off with one day?AI: I don’t wanna say any names (laughs). You’re trying to get someone to have it out for me. I’m gonna pass on that one (laughs).JM: Fair enough. What’s more satisfying for you, catching a 75-yard touchdown or chipping away slowly at a defense by making multiple catches on a long drive?AI: Definitely the 75-yarder. Give me that explosive play. That sounds good to me. I’m always looking to make a big, explosive play.JM: I’m gonna hit you with two stereotypes you’re gonna hear throughout the draft process. They’re unfortunately inevitable. First off, how will you respond to the undersized label?AI: I’ve been healthy throughout my career. I’ve never missed a game. They can point to my size all they want but I’ve been extremely durable. I’ve played mostly outside the last two years so I’ve proven that I can play there.JM: Teams will ask you about the smaller school competition as well.AI: Yeah, I’m not gonna lie to them. It’s a totally different game when you’re going up against Georgia rather than Duquesne. I’ve played in big games and I performed well. I played against Florida, I think that was my first career start. They had about 6 guys get drafted that year on their defense. I played against Mississippi State last year. I don’t really think too much about that.JM: What has the opportunity to represent UMASS meant to you?AI: It’s been great. They gave me an opportunity. Not a lot of guys come out of UMASS so it’s pretty cool for me to be doing what I’m doing over here. I hope to inspire other people to attend this program and hopefully they can accomplish something.JM: What can fans expect from Andy Isabella going forward?AI: I’m gonna keep working hard. I’m never gonna give up. A pair of former NFL players have gained election to the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday night.Former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez has been declared the winner of the Ohio 16th congressional district http://www.thetitanslockerroom.com/authentic-tajae-sharpe-jersey , according to the . Also, former Tennessee Titans linebacker Colin Allred has unseated 11-term congressman Pete Sessions in the Texas 32nd congressional district, per multiple race calls.Gonzalez, who attended Ohio State University, was a first-round pick of the Colts in 2007. Gonzalez, a Republican, defeated Susan Moran Palmer to earn election to the House.Gonzalez played five seasons with the Colts, catching 99 passes for 1,307 yards and seven touchdowns. He appeared in just 11 games over his final three seasons due to injuries.Allred went undrafted out of Baylor University in 2006 Corey Davis Jersey White , but managed to carve out a five-year career with the Titans. Allred appeared in 32 career games with 46 tackles.Allred, a Democrat, knocked off Sessions, who had served the district since 2003, was chairman of the House Rules Committee.
— a survey of fans across the NFL Mike Evans Jersey , powered by SurveyMonkey. Each week, we send 32 polls to 100+ plugged in fans from each team. Bucs fans, sign up HERE to join FanPulse.The Buccaneers loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers this past Monday night caused some fans to lose a bit of faith heading into Week 4.As the Buccaneers head to Chicago to play the Bears, Tampa Bay’s No. 1 offense will have their hands full against Khalil Mack and Chicago’s Top 5 defense. Couple that with a recent loss, some aren’t sure how to view this game.With all that said, the fanbase still feels pretty confident for the most part that the team will leave Chicago with a win.The confidence rating heading into the season was a strong 86-percent. After that, it went up to 87-percent before the game against the Eagles. It climbed to 95-percent before the Steelers game but there has been a two-point drop to 93-percent confidence for Week 4.As for who will win the game, Bucs fans feel Tampa Bay will win by six points while Bears fans feel Chicago will win by three.Weekly FanPulse Confidence RatingsWeek 1 - 86%Week 2 - 87%Week 3 - 95%Week 4 - 93%Week 4 Staff PicksLatest line: - Bears by 3, over/under: 46.5Gil (2-1): Bucs 27, Bears 20 (**UPDATE** Teams were previously flipped.)James (1-2): Bucs 24, Bears 14Evan (1-2):Bucs 20, Bears 17Alex (2-1): Bucs 28, Bears 13Jon (1-2): Bears 24, Bucs 23Kyle (2-1): Bears 27, Bucs 17David (1-2): Bucs 41, Bears 24Bailey (1-2): Bucs 24, Bears 20Dustin (1-2): Bucs 31, Bears 17Hard Count Episode 18-6: Josh Gordon, Sean McDermott and the Pittsburgh Steelers In this Week 3 Hard Count, we’re taking a look at three teams who just can’t seem to get it together.The Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns have been perennial struggle-shows, but a 2017 playoff run for the Bills had fans hoping there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Turns out, there’s just more tunnel.Losing Ryan Shazier, falling to the Jaguars at home in the playoffs, the Le’Veon Bell holdout, and now Antonio Brown’s actions. The Steelers have been knocked off balance. Will they rebound?FALSE START: Josh Gordon’s one-game return to the Cleveland Browns.One game. One catch. One touchdown. Seventeen yards. This was Gordon’s triumphant return to the Cleveland Browns.Gordon’s story kind of reminds me of Tiger Woods’. A story about an elite athlete at the top of his sport - or at least at the top of his position - when personal demons derailed everything. Then, following comeback after comeback after comeback, everyone sort of stopped paying attention.Had it not been for “Hard Knocks” visiting the Browns this season, Gordon’s story would have been even more forgotten. It’s not like he didn’t grab headlines, because he did. But they were fleeting headlines. The kind which stuck around for about a 12-hour period before something more interesting came along and everyone forgot about it.A friend of mine who is a Browns fan actually asked me during the pre-season, ‘Hey, did Gordon ever actually show up?’Yes, yes he did. And I knew that. Because I Googled it as he was asking the question. I found a few articles about his return. But nothing more.That’s about as peripheral as it gets for a 27-year old receiver who once led the league in receiving.And his release from the Browns for this latest, unconfirmed, incident got me thinking about other players in the league who’s personal demons and/or personality got them cut or shipped out.Guys like Chris Carter, Terrell Owens Gerald McCoy Jersey , and the like. Can Josh Gordon still meet his full potential?Well, yes. That’s the short answer.He’s on his way to New England. A team which frankly, just looks no fun to be a part of. Rob Gronkowski could party during a root canal, Julian Edelman apparently had help to get as hyped as he’s been, and Tom Brady is still the sad little bench-warmer from a substandard Big Ten team on the inside.Outside of them, it just doesn’t look like anyone is living their dream there in New England. The fans enjoy it though.I don’t know if New England is going to be Gordon’s last stop, but when his story is done and written, it may be the most important.He really doesn’t even need to blow up the stat sheet for the Patriots for this change of scenery to be successful. Just stay active. Don’t get suspended.Listen folks, addiction is no joke. And I don’t know Gordon personally, so I don’t know what he’s battling. However, I do know this, even Hall of Fame wide receivers wear out their welcome if they can’t get their lives together.New England is one of the least forgiving organizations when it comes to extra curricular activity outside of gaining on-field advantages. If Gordon can’t make it work here, his problems may finally outweigh his talent.OFFSIDES: Sean McDermott sees Hue Jackson’s quarterback handling and raises the stakes.Kim Klement-USA TODAY SportsNobody could possibly botch a quarterback situation more than Jackson did last year in Cleveland, right? Wrong.Sean McDermott was hired to lead the Buffalo Bills beginning in 2017. At the time of his hiring, he said his mind was set on winning now. Doing what was best to make the Bills because,Which is why McDermott decided it was a good idea to bench the NFL’s safest quarterback and one of their team’s leading rushers at the time, Tyrod Taylor. In his place, was fifth-round rookie Nathan Peterman.Because it was what would help the Bills win, now. Right......We know what happened when McDermott rolled Peterman out against the Chargers. From that point on, it was Taylor’s team. The head coach had no choice. And had he not pulled Peterman at the half against Los Angeles, he may have been left in California himself.What did Taylor do? The quarterback who wasn’t the right guy to help the team win now to sustain future success? He took his team to the playoffs. Yes. The AFC is the NFL’s version of the NBA’s Eastern Conference.Still, the Bills won. And McDermott was a hero. Nevermind the fact he made decisions based off the type of quarterback he wanted, and not the best guy for the job.So, after this success, how did the coach and general manager Brandon Beane decide to build upon it? They traded it. To Cleveland.Ok, not all was lost. The team could re-tool with a handful of draft picks within the first two days, right? Nope. Instead, they traded them all for two picks: Josh Allen and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.Edmunds is a solid linebacker prospect who could develop into a Pro Bowl caliber player. Allen was incredibly inaccurate in college going against bad defenses in a weak conference.I like Allen. Just not as a starter in Week 2 of his rookie season. Or as the result of multiple trades in which a handful of picks was converted into him on a team which just traded the only quarterback to take them to the playoffs since Jim Kelly.This team is going nowhere, fast. Despite the fact it had a roster capable of challenging for a playoff spot less than ten months ago. Now, all of the sudden, rebuild is the theme. One year ago, it was not.In July of 2017, following McDermott’s hiring, Matthew Fairburn of NYup.com posted an article surrounding the coach’s opening statements to the media after being hired. They were disturbing.The coach spoke about the importance of leadership, and gave no hints as to how he would lead the team. Then Lavonte David Jersey , Fairburn mentioned how McDermott was busy bringing in guys who fit what he wanted.Leadership, ladies and gentlemen is skill, not a chart. Everyone can be great if given the exact people who fit your mold. Sean McDermott didn’t think Tyrod Taylor fit his mold as a quarterback. Apparently, winning and keeping the ball wasn’t enough. Josh Allen and Nathan Peterman fit his mold. And it’s led the team to an 0-2 start, one touchdown pass, four interceptions, and being outscored 78-23.It’s ok though, because as McDermott says about building on top of the winning the did in 2017,Last year, winning now would lead to sustained success. This year, tearing it down and starting over will lead to sustained success. Bills fans seem to be behind McDermott. Which is good. But honestly, I think it’s more out of necessity than anything, because most teams who see their playoff quarterback run out of town for a record setting turnover machine wouldn’t be so supportive.The coach will get some time to prove this madness is leading to something. Good luck to him, but from where I sit, I don’t think he knows what he’s doing.FREE PLAY: A must-win for Pittsburgh in Week 3Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY SportsAt one point in the 2017 season the Pittsburgh Steelers lost four games in a row to the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys. Some questioned whether the team had enough in them to pull it together.This year, it’s taken only two games to bring up the same questions. There are some differences though.Last year, Le’Veon Bell wasn’t holding out during the losses and teammates weren’t publicly speaking about how his actions are disrupting the team. Antonio Brown didn’t suddenly disappear without a trace following the first loss. Finally, the team didn’t lose - symbolically - to the Cleveland Browns to start the season.In 2016, Ben Roethlisberger considered retirement. In 2017, his confidence was visibly shaken after a five interception performance against the Jaguars, the same team which knocked Pittsburgh out of last year’s playoffs.Thus far in 2018, he looks inaccurate, unfocused, and has connected with star receiver Antonio Brown just over half as many times as he’s targeted him. (18/33)Following his absence from the team, and subsequent return, Brown had this to say according to NFL.com’s Herbie Teope,He continued by saying,While the words carry meaning and AB is one of my favorite receivers, hes’ not at work everyday. Because he missed Tuesday. And all it’s done is add to the storm clouds sitting over the Steelers right now.Which is why winning this Monday Night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is absolutely the top priority. And not in the normal way where every team goes in planning to win. No, this team HAS to win. Or they may very well implode and leave a large black and yellow crater in the middle of Pittsburgh when they do.Every loss only hardens Bell’s holdout. Every missed pass from Roethlisberger feeds Brown’s frustrations. We’ve seen fighting from the team against Cleveland and fighting among each other against Kansas City. The star receiver has run away - even if he did come back - and the star quarterback has doubted himself or thought about walking away all together twice in the last two years.Most of these battles seem to be internal, but if the Steelers lose to the Buccaneers, we may not see any more fight out of this team at all.
Over the next few months we will analyze positions of needs for the San Francisco 49ers. What position is key? What positions can be addressed in free agency versus the draft? The position that jumps out is wide receiver. Outside of the trade market Kwon Alexander Jersey , the receivers available in free agency are slim, so could the draft be the 49ers opportunity to add a playmaker for Jimmy Garoppolo? The 2019 wide receiver draft unit is an interesting one to say the least. Players like DK Metcalf, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and N’Keal Harry are headlining the class, but most evaluators are still twisted on who is “the guy” in this class. Expectations are we could see anywhere from 1-4 receivers taken in the first round with a bevy of receivers slated to come off the board later. Just because the class is a little murky at the top doesn’t mean the receivers available in the draft are weak. This is the perfect draft class for an organization to get creative with finding their next pass catcher. Kyle Shanahan is known for having an eye for receivers, but could his next weapon be right under his nose? Keelan Doss is a name you might have heard circulating the draft wire around the Senior Bowl, or if you’re a UC Davis alum you might be familiar. If you don’t know much about the former Aggie, now is the time. Doss had insane production in the Big Sky conference, specifically his 26 touchdowns and 3,744 yards in three seasons. How legit is that production against Doss’s competition at Davis? It’s an important question that most small-school athletes face. Doss took to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama to show he’s true to his numbers and proved it. Doss stood-out in practices each day on Jon Gruden’s South squad. His 6’3, 200 lb stature stood out on the field. If you type in “Keelan Doss” into youtube you’ll find one of the better highlight packages you can find in the 2019 class. FCS cornerbacks simply couldn’t handle Doss. He continually bodied smaller corners game after game. Doss was a physical presence when he stepped on the field at Davis and in Mobile. Doss matched up with physical corners like Texas’ Kris Boyd and Penn State’s Amani Oruwariye and looked good. Finally, Doss showed-out in the game as well Dee Ford Jersey , grabbing four receptions for 55 yards. The numbers may not jump out, but he looked smooth in a new offense in limited reps versus top-tier competition. Doss has unique body control skills for a player his size. He understands how to box out defenders while the football is in the air which a solid trait that should transfer to the NFL. When the ball went up in the air, Doss was that player to come down with it.What was really impressive about Doss’ trip to Mobile was his route running ability, something that was unexpected before seeing him work in person. Doss ran every route with ease in Mobile, showing off impressive footwork and easy breaks. Doss was the playmaker at UC Davis— they got him the football in almost every way they could. Doss racked up over 115 receptions each of the past two seasons at Davis. A player with his skillset should be putting up those type numbers, but this also showed Davis has a bit of versatility to his game. Doss’s size projects him to be more of an outside threat, but his past at Davis gives him experience in the slot which could make him a matchup nightmare at the next level. Doss was also a multi-year captain at Davis. Doss could’ve entered the transfer portal or went pro last season after leading the nation in receiving, but instead he came back to Davis for his senior year. Aggies head coach Dan Hawkins described Doss as “Humble” to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Jennifer Lee Chan: “He is rare. He doesn’t just want to play, he will put in the work. He’s always the first one in and the last one out.”Versatility, route running, leadership— plus size? Sound like anything a certain team in Santa Clara could use? Doss could be a perfect piece of clay Shanahan could wield in his offense. We know how much Shanahan values things like versatility and route running skills in his young receivers and Doss checks a lot of those boxes. Doss also provides an element to Shanahan’s offense the 49ers are lacking — size in the red zone. Outside of George Kittle, the 49ers receiving options are small. The minute Doss steps on the field teams need to respect his size at the least George Kittle Jersey , which would hopefully free up situations for Shanahan to get creative with Kittle and Dante Pettis. Another thing that needs to be considered when speaking about Doss is his local appeal. Doss is from Alameda, only about 40 miles away from Santa Clara. Doss is a Bay Area kid that speaks the language— he told reporters at the Senior Bowl that he listens to Too Short’s “Blow The Whistle” every game day. Something tells me he’d fit in here. It’s rare that a FCS receiver immediately steps up to the next level and produces, but Doss’s traits show a lot of positives that’s hard to ignore, especially with a coaches like Shanahan and newly reported staff member, Wes Welker leading Doss’s development. Doss will need to show off some speed at the Combine to stamp the final box, and if he does you could see his name roar up draft boards. Doss did a lot for his draft stock in Mobile and with continued refinement in the pre-draft process he could turn from late-sleeper to high riser in the 2019 class. Doss could be in line to be one of the highest drafted UC Davis product of all-time. The NFL closes out Week 7 with a battle of last place NFC teams. The Atlanta Falcons host the New York Giants, with kickoff set for 5:15 p.m. PT on ESPN. Joe Tessitore and Jason Witten will call the game from the booth, with Booger McFarland serving as an analyst from the field. Lisa Salters continues her duties as the sideline reporter.The Falcons were expected to be a playoff contender, but injuries have ravaged them, particularly on defense. They now sit at 2-4 and in the cellar of the NFC South. The Giants are 1-5, and very firmly the worst team in the NFC East. Their decision to stick with Eli Manning for another year netted them an impressive running back in Saquon Barkley, but huge issues at the quarterback position. If they lose Jimmy Garoppolo Jersey , they will hold the No. 1 pick in 2019 NFL Draft heading into Week 8. If they win, the San Francisco 49ers will hold the No. 1 pick ahead the Arizona Cardinals.Atlanta is a 3.5-point point favorite, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. There was a ton of movement on this line, climbing as high as a touchdown. It’s come back down as some more professional money has come in on the Giants. I did not take them in the SuperContest, but if I had, it would have been at 5.5 points. I’m comfortable with the Giants at +5.5, and while I don’t love them +3.5, I’ll take the points with the hook.Giants vs. Falcons, MNFTime: 5:15 p.m. PTLocation: Mercedes-Benz StadiumChannel: ESPNLive Stream: WatchESPNOdds: Falcons -4
finally return home to CenturyLink Field for a major inter-conference showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers (5-2) Kam Chancellor Jersey , who figure to be a playoff contender in the AFC. Seattle has won four of its last five, with that one defeat coming by two points against the undefeated Los Angeles Rams. As for the Chargers, their only losses have been to the Rams and AFC-leading Kansas City Chiefs. A little fun fact for Seahawks fans to note is that Russell Wilson has never lost at home to any AFC opponent, although the Seahawks did lose at the Chargers in 2014, so Russ has a chance to make this the 29th team he’s prevailed against. On the other side is the great Phillip Rivers, perhaps making his final appearance in Seattle, with a record of 1-1 at CLink and 2-1 overall.It should be a high-energy, emotional day in Seattle, as this is the Seahawks’ first home game since the deaths of owner Paul Allen and former head coach Jack Patera. It’d be great to honor them both with a vital win towards a playoff push. Here are the details you need to watch this Sunday’s game, including broadcast information, live streaming options, radio commentary, and more:TV ScheduleDate: Sunday, November 4th, 2018Time: 4:05 PM ET/1:05 PM PTChannel: CBS (check NFL coverage map)Announcers: Kevin Harlan and Rich GannonLocation: CenturyLink Field | Seattle, WashingtonRadio: 710 ESPN Seattle/97.3 KIRO FM (click here for additional TV and radio affiliates outside of the Seattle area)Radio Announcers: Steve Raible, Dave Wyman (Reporters: Jen Mueller and John Clayton)Online Streaming: NFL Game Pass (Free 7-Day Trial) | Sling TV | PlayStation Vue | CBS All Access |YoutubeTV Current 53-man roster: Click hereOpponent Blog: Bolts From The BlueFollow Field Gulls on social media!Twitter - @FieldGullsFacebook - Field Gulls: For Seattle Seahawks News and AnalysisSeahawks regular season schedule 2018September9/9: L 27-24 at Denver Broncos 9/17: L 24-17 at Chicago Bears 9/23: W 24-13 vs. Dallas Cowboys9/30: W 20-17 at Arizona CardinalsOctober10/7: L 33-31 Los Angeles Rams 10/14: W 27-3 “at” Oakland Raiders in London10/21: BYE10/28: W 28-14 at Detroit Lions November11/4: vs. Los Angeles Chargers (1:05 PM PT, CBS)11/11: at Los Angeles Rams (1:25 PM PT, CBS)11/15 (Thu): vs. Green Bay Packers (5:20 PM PT, FOX/NFL Network)11/25: at Carolina Panthers (10 AM PT, FOX)December12/2: vs. San Francisco 49ers (5:20 PM PT Rashaad Penny Jersey , NBC)12/10 (Mon): vs. Minnesota Vikings (5:15 PM PT, ESPN)12/16: at San Francisco 49ers (1:05 PM PT, FOX)12/23: vs. Kansas City Chiefs (5:20 PM PT, NBC)12/30: vs. Arizona Cardinals (1:25 PM PT, FOX) The 2019 NFL Draft is just a couple of weeks away, and the Seattle Seahawks leading receiver over the past several years, Doug Baldwin, is reportedly recuperating from a third surgery this..."The 2019 NFL Draft is just a couple of weeks away, and the Seattle Seahawks leading receiver over the past several years, Doug Baldwin, is reportedly recuperating from a third surgery this offseason. As such, it is not difficult to understand why some observers have begun to predict that the Hawks could use an early draft choice on a wide receiver that has the potential to develop into a dominant force. The need for receivers is obvious, as there is little proven talent on the roster behind Baldwin and Tyler Lockett, and that talent level drops precipitously should Baldwin decide to hang up his cleats, which reportedly is a possibility. “Waiting to see what Doug Baldwin decides on his future” is not what any Seahawks fan wants to hear heading into the 2019 season, but after knee, shoulder and reportedly hip procedures this offseason, Baldwin walking away would not be that much of a surprise. In any case, as reported, wide receiver N’Keal Harry of Arizona State visiting the Hawks certainly indicates an interest on the part of the team to at least kick the tires on receiving talent largely viewed as top end in the draft. DraftScount.com lists the 6’3”, 225 pound Harry as the number two available receiver in the draft Michael Dickson Jersey , and so he comes with the potential to be that big-bodied, dominant type receiver that Pete Carroll has sought after since his arrival nearly a decade ago.One of the commonly repeated phrases when discussing prototypical big receivers is that they have the potential to routinely draw a double team from defensive backs, allowing other receivers to get open. Is that the case? One of the beautiful things about the current data age is that this is something that while we have not had this data in years past, it is something that is possible to evaluate at a basic level given the rapid expansion of data on these types of details. As such, what may have simply been an untestable belief or concept decades or years ago is now something for which we often have data. How often wide receivers command double coverage is one of exactly these types of things. And that data is pretty telling - of the hundreds of player seasons for the dozens of wide receivers across the league, only seventeen times between 2014 and 2018 was a wide receiver double covered on more than ten percent of offensive snaps. Further, no wide receiver in any season was double teamed more one out of six offensive snaps. In short, even the most dominant wide receivers in the game, guys like Odell Beckham, Antonio Brown, Mike Evans, Calvin Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins are only double teamed on one out of every ten or one out of every eight snaps on which they run a route. With that being the case, it seems fairly easy to dismiss the idea that any receiver is going to command a double team regularly, as no NFL receivers command a double team regularly. Obviously, this does not take into account situational football, such as plays in the red zone or third down, where a dominant receiver like a Johnson or a Jones may command a double team from the defense more often. Thus, it’ll take digging deeper into the data to determine the value of a dominant receiver in those higher leverage situations.