Tag Archives: football

Who Is the Greatest Footballer of All-Time: Lionel Messi

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International championships or not, Lionel Messi is the greatest player to ever live. There is no one better. While some will argue Cristiano Ronaldo, or argue Diego Maradona is better. They are sadly mistaken. With Messi’s hat trick today, he has 48 career hat tricks and eight total in the Champions League, which gives him one more than Ronaldo’s seven. There is only one Messi and the world may never get someone quite like him ever again.

Messi’s Accolades

Let’s start with his club awards. Since 2004, Lionel Messi has brought nine La Liga championships in 14 years. That’s a 64% winning rate for him. In the five years, he didn’t win the league, Messi and Barcelona were the runner-ups four times. In Messi’s 14-year career with Barcelona, he has come in first or second place 13 out of 14 years. Messi has also helped bring Barcelona six Copa del Rey championships, two runner-ups, seven Spanish Super Cups, four UEFA Champions Leagues, UEFA Super Cups and three FIFA Club World Cups. That is a total of 32 championships for club. In comparison, Cristiano Ronaldo only has 25 total championships, and he has played for four different teams over his 16-year career. All of that only makes up Messi’s club championships. For is individual honors he’s won five Ballon d’Or, been the runner-up five times and came in third once. He’s won FIFA World Player of the Year once came in second twice, Won the World Cup golden ball and the FIFA Club World Cup golden ball twice. In terms of championships, no one even comes close to what Messi has accomplished over his 14 years career.

Stats

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Lionel Messi also has the stats to back up his accolades. Just for Barcelona, he has made 643 appearances scored 558 goals and registered 215 assists. That is only 17 goals less than Christiano Ronaldo, who has two years in hand on Messi. If you think Messi won’t score 17 goals in two years, you have never watched Lionel Messi play. Messi also has a higher goal per game average than Ronaldo with an outstanding 0.87 goals per game compared to Ronaldo’s 0.75 goals per game ratio. Now for internatonal play. Yes, Lionel Messi has never won any International competitions, but that doesn’t take away from his stats on the national team. In 128 caps he has scored 65 goals and tallied up 40 assists. Ronaldo might have better stats than Messi in some departments, but there is no doubt that Messi will eventually catch up to the majority of what Ronaldo has done. No matter where Messi plays, he dominates the field like no other athlete ever has. And that is why messi is the greatest footballer of all time

Why AJ Dillon is the Best College Football Player Right Now

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I know it is early in the college football season, but AJ Dillon has continued to impress since he stepped foot on the field last year. He is so valuable in making Boston College a legit football team for the first time since the Matt Ryan days. Dillon grew up in Massachusetts, and went to Lawrence Academy for high school. He had many offers from around the country like Michigan, Notre Dame, and Florida State, but decided to stay home and make Boston College football great. AJ is a very big running back, standing at 6’0″ tall and 245 pounds. His physical attributes brought one scout to say:

“If our league had a one-and-done like the NBA, AJ Dillon would be the perfect guy”

AJ Dillon burst onto the scene in 2017, and has only piled onto his resume ever since.

2017 Season:

The Eagles last year started the season 2-4 in their first six games. They averaged only 16 points per game in that span. The teams they beat were Central Michigan and Northern Illinois, while they lost to were Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Clemson, and Notre Dame. The season started with everyone thinking Boston College is the same team as the past few years. However, this was not true.

After that 2-4 start, Eagles’ head coach Steve Addazio made AJ Dillon the starting running back against Louisville. This proved to be one of the smartest coaching decisions of the year in all of college football. In AJ Dillon’s first start in his college football career he put up 272 rush yards, and four TDs as the Eagles beat Louisville 45-42 for their first conference win in two years. Dillon disrespected the Cardinals defense many times, but a 75 yard touchdown really opened a lot of eyes.

Dillon would not stop there, though. Over the span of three weeks against all conference opponents (Virginia, Florida ST, NC ST) Dillon racked up 434 yards and two TDs. The Eagles were 2-1 in those three games. His 2017 campaign concluded in a bowl loss to Iowa, where he had 157 rush yards and one TD. Dillon finished the year with 1,589 rush yards and 14 rushing TD in only six starts. When the Eagles started Dillon last year they were 5-2 with an average of 33.7 points per game. AJ Dillon won ACC Freshman of the Year for his 2017 performance, and was the first Eagles player to win that award.

2018 Season:

AJ Dillon has kept the hype train alive through three games this season. In his first game of the year against UMass, Dillon only played in the first half where he had 98 yards. Against Holy Cross, Dillon only had six carries. However, in those rushes Dillon racked up 149 yards and three TDs, which is absolutely insane production. His first real test of the year came against Wake Forest. Before this game against the Eagles, Wake Forest was 2-0. The Demon Deacons wanted to crush Dillon’s Heisman hopes, but they could not. Dillon had 185 yards and one TD en route to a 41-34 inter-conference win. So far in the 2018 campaign, Dillon has 432 rushing yards and four TDs.

Dillon is a very powerful and exciting running back. Even though he was not ranked to win the Heisman before the season started according to bookmakers, he is now at 40/1 odds to win the award. If he can keep this up, Boston College will be very competitive at the top, and he might win the Heisman.

Those Pesky Gronk Rumors Explained

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The Value of a Rumor in the NFL

As we head into the beginning of the NFL season news broke that star tight end Rob Gronkowski attempted to discourage the New England Patriots from trading him. On the surface and out of context this would seem to play into the big bad, evil image of Bill Belichick. The problem with rumors in the football world is that they come out in dribs and drabs. The Gronk rumors appear to come out of the end of a long offseason drama series. And the Patriots attempted to nail down what his plans were for the upcoming season. Let’s take a look at each rumor in chronological order and see if the entire picture makes anymore sense.

Rumor #1: After the Super Bowl loss Rob Gronkowski contemplated retirement.

This is understandable looking back. He was coming off serious back surgery that ended his 2016 season. Gronk injured his groin in Week 2 that no doubt lingered for multiple weeks. The frustration over penalties culminated in the body slamming incident of Bill’s cornerback White. His suspension in Week 14 was an unpleasant punishment. Then the normal aches and pains that an NFL player goes through each week in order to suit up. And a concussion in the AFC Championship game. Reaching the Super Bowl and playing a spectacular game only to fall in the end. Elite athletes that put it all on the line to achieve their ultimate goal understandably suffer a severe letdown in the immediate aftermath.

 

Rumor #2: Rob Gronkowski was angling for a new deal.

Rob Gronkowski is the best tight end in the NFL. Full Stop. His contract is not paying him like that. The team and the player have been locked in negotiations for several years to come up with inventive solutions to rectify this. The team of course could cave and give Gronk’s camp everything they want and be completely unprotected and set a dangerous precedent. They don’t do this for anyone. They will continue to be tough negotiators in order to get the best deals for the team. A little sweetener, such as what he received after training camp was nearly done may have headed this off, or it may have not.

 

Rumor #3: Patriots quietly attempted to trade Gronk heading into the draft.

The bizarre press conference in late April with Gronkowski appearing in dirt bike uniform, standing at a podium talking about his biking skills. Rumors of a wrestling career, acting career and no clear statement from the tight end that he was preparing for a 2018 season came to a head. Belichick clearly believes in attempting to get the most value out of an asset if it’s good for the team. The antics of the player may have been wearing on the front office. And prompted them to reach out to some organizations in order to gauge interest and prices.  According to news reports, the 49ers, Lions and Titans were all involved. This make sense as they either have ties to the Patriots or have been recently been involved in quiet deals.

Rumor #4: Gronk makes his announcement.

Then the news that broke on Sunday just prior to the 2018 season that Gronk “protested strongly” any potential trade. This was accompanied by a powwow between the player, his agent and Patriots brass. Then on April 24th Gronkowski posted on his Instagram feed that he was coming back to the Patriots for the 2018 season. I’m sure the details regarding his involvement were all worked out ahead of time. Including his absences from voluntary team practices and his attendance at the mandatory ones. The result was that after a full participation in training camp and a healthy mindset, they inked a new set of incentives designed to give him up to a potential $4+ million dollars more.

Rumors and reports floating around breaking at different times during the offseason. Many times weeks or months after the actual events, it creates confusion. What is clear is that the franchise cornerstone is healthy, and ready to go. I’m sure there may be more rumors and hearsays in the months following another successful season. Just remember that these are business people and adults that all have a common goals. I’m going to ignore any more rumors and look to great games this season and a hopeful sixth championship at the end.

 

All photos courtesy of Getty images unless noted otherwise.

Be sure to check out other great articles for all your favorite Boston sports teams on Bostonsportsextra.com

Follow me on Twitter @ALykins32

Rob Gronkowski will be a Patriot as long as Tom Brady is quarterback

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Rob Gronkowski getting money added to his contract

Rob Gronkowski’s new deal is a lot like Brady’s. It’s all performance based for the tight end. The Patriots added $4.3 million to his contract this season. It gives him $1 million per game and $3.3 million in incentives. The total amount of his deal is now $13.05 million according to Adam Schefter. Gronkowski has been seeking a new contract since the start of training camp last season. He was also contemplating retirement in the offseason. Once he found out Tom Brady was coming back and he got a talking too by Bill Belichick he was a full go for the 2018 season.

Gronkowski wants to win championships but he also wants his money too. As Danny Amendola said- the Patriots aren’t known for playing their players. But if you want to win New England is the place to be. Like Brady, Gronkowski’s contract had no years added. Gronkowski is year to year. However, Brady’s contract is up at the end of the 2019 season. If Brady walks at the end of his contract you might see Gronkowski either retire or play somewhere else. Gronkowski’s contract is also up at the end of the 2019 season. Gronkowski will be 30 by the end of the season. The tight end wants to be on a winning team with a great quarterback, and with the Patriots he can get both.

Health is key

If he meets all the incentives he will become the highest paid tight end in the NFL. Gronkowski deserves it but he has to stay on the field. Gronkowski is so injury prone but the team really needs him healthy for the entirety of the season. If he remains on the field he’ll make the money. Same goes for Brady if he plays at a high level. With Brady skipping the offseason voluntary workouts the Patriots were questioning his commitment to the team. We could be seeing a completely different team in 2020.

AFC East Update

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When it comes to a formula for achieving the success that the New England Patriots have, it goes like this. Be disciplined and professional. Control all the details that could possibly matter in deciding games. Above all, strive to win the games in your division, then your conference, then the others. They’ll say that each game is just the next one and that they are all equally important. But we know that the games against divisional rivals carry a little extra hot sauce and can mean the difference between winning a title or fighting for a wild card spot.

Since the 2003 season when the divisions realigned the Patriots are 26-4 against the Bills, 21-9 against the Dolphins and 24-6 against the Jets. That translates to a .789 win percentage (71-19). Divided among all the seasons they are averaging nearly 4.75 wins every year out of six total divisional games. How do they do it? By knowing their opponents. You have to know them to beat them. Control all the things that can help win you games, right? So we dive into some of the changes that each of these squads underwent from the last time you saw them and how they have fared in the preseason. When the Patriots see them on the field you will have all the information that you need in order to root your team on for their sixth ring.

Miami Dolphins

 

The Dolphins underwent a season of change after Head Coach Adam Gase’s sophomore season. I’m sure that Patriots players are glad to see Jarvis Landry and Ndamukong Suh gone. An offensive line shuffle that Mike Pouncey leave and Josh Sitton come in. Patriots fan favorite Danny Amendola joined the aquatic mammals along with the league non-kicker old man – Frank Gore. The Dolphins drafted DB Minkah Fitzpatrick and TE Mike Gesicki with their first two picks and Quarterback Ryan Tannehill is back throwing the ball for the 2018 season.

Preseason

The 2018 preseason has gone, uh, not good. Three close losses against the Buccaneers, Panthers and Ravens have fans wondering if they are going to be any good this season. Despite their struggles on 3rd downs they have scored 24, 20, and 10 points in each game. Unfortunately, their opponents have been better and according to my in-depth analysis, have been scoring more points. This team feels like it’s struggling to find its identity. Perhaps too much flux happened in the offseason?

Outlook

The fish squashing in New England happens on September 30th. The Patriots will get a mini-vacation in the Miami sun on December 9th. Despite the historical record the Dolphins have a weird hex on the Patriots. Miami has split the season series in 3 out of the last 5 seasons and last made the playoffs in the 2016 season. There is most certainly a small fire being lit under Tannehill and Gase without greater success this year.

Buffalo Bills

 

In case you don’t live near the football Mecca of Buffalo, NY; they are quite pleased with themselves. Ending a playoff drought of 17 seasons and getting that monkey off your back will do that to you. Unfortunately, they also fell victim to a snoozer loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the playoffs. Still, you have some success, keep the core in place for your second year head coach and make some incremental changes for improvements next season, right? Not these guys! Wholesale changes! BUY, SELL, TRADE! EVERYTHING MUST GO!! Tyrod Taylor – GONE! Cordy Glenn – GONE! Throw in some Jordan Matthews, Richie Incognito and Preston Brown and you got yourself a DEAL!

Others of note that are no longer on the team include: E.J. Gaines, Eric Wood, and Mike Tolbert. This is a tremendous amount of turnover. Fortunately, they brought in many more players to begin the job of rebuilding. A.J. McCarron, Chris Ivory, Star Lotulelei, Vontae Davis will all get a chance to make a name for themselves under second year head coach Sean McDermott. Joining valuable draft picks Tremaine Edmunds and the polarizing Josh Allen, they may form a core that will be the team that the coaching staff wants.

Preseason

Beating the Browns and losing to the Panthers and Bengals should do nothing but provide you with optimism heading into the regular season. Yet, it seems that there is growing dread for the fans of this team. The team was riding high following the skills competition that Josh Allen put on in week 2 after an injury knocked out veteran starter McCarron. He seemed poised to seize the job in the dress rehearsal of week 3. It went poorly. The offensive line was a sieve. The quarterback looked slow and harassed. The team looked nothing like a squad ready to take it to the next level and challenge the incumbency for glory.

Outlook

The Patriots make a Halloween weekend trip to Buffalo for some tricks and treats on October 28th. The Bills travel to snowy New England for some playoff gifts on December 23rd. This could get ugly this season. If the new personnel and coaching do not coalesce into a cohesive unit they could be in line for a bad campaign. In the last 6 seasons the Bills have 2 victories against the Patriots, including a week 18 meaningless win in Foxboro when New England had already secured their playoff spot.

NY Jets

 

Who starts for the Gangrenes? Veteran signal caller with magnificent hair in Josh McCown? My Boy, Teddy B, trying to regain his shine following his freak and horrific knee injury after nearly 2 years? Or the young upstart apprentice in the hair game in Sam Darnold? The head coach Todd Bowles has some decisions to make. Mike Maccagnan also had some decisions to make in the offseason when he JETtisoned (see what I did there?) Demario Davis, Muhammad Wilkerson and Kony Ealy in favor of some new energy in Isaiah Crowell, Terrelle Pryor and Trumaine Johnson among many others. Will it come together for this team in 2018?

Preseason

Weeeellll, it might? And while the coaching staff has to be encouraged by the growth of Darnold and the resilience of Bridgewater, they have gone 1-2 so far in the preseason. There might just not be enough on offense to improve the scoring output of 17, 15, and 16 points. A win against the Falcons sans their talent, and losses against Washington and cross-stadium rivals the Giants didn’t help their case. These games have the fans hoping for some quick improvements once the contests matter.

Outlook

The Patriots look to work off all that turkey by beating the stuffing out of the Jets on November 25th in New Jersey. And the Jets may be clamoring for a playoff spot on the final week of the regular season in Foxboro. It would be fitting if the Patriots were in the position to not rest their starters and deny this team a playoff spot with an easy win. The Patriots generally have good success against this team in the regular season as they have lost just twice in the last seven seasons. This followed the playoff loss to the Rex Ryan squad led by Mark Sanchez. The Patriots will look to continue the success against whoever the jets have slinging the ball in 2018.

Finishing Them Off

There you have it. The Patriot’s divisional opponents for the 2018 season. I believe it was Sun Tzu who once said, “In order to secure your playoff spot, you must beat your divisional opponents” (Probably). The New England Patriots have been death of dreams and destroyers of worlds for fans with championship aspirations in the division and I hope they continue that for the 2018 season.

 

All photos courtesy of Getty images unless noted otherwise.

Be sure to check out other great articles for all your favorite Boston sports teams on Bostonsportsextra.com

Follow me on Twitter @ALykins32
https://mobile.twitter.com/alykins32

 

College Football Week 0 Preview and Predictions

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The 2018 college football season starts this weekend. There are only four games on the schedule with no ranked teams, but some games are interesting. This week in college football has been called week 0 because of the lack of teams that play. The four matchups include 2 FBS VS FBS matchups, and 2 FBS VS FCS matchups.

Duquesne VS UMass

Betting Odds: UMass -24.5, O/U 67.5

The first college football game of the season will feature the UMass Minutemen vs the Duquesne Dukes. UMass enters this game with high expectations for the year. If they win all of their favored games they will become bowl eligible for the first time since they joined the FBS. UMass got off to a really rough start last year going 0-6. However, it was not all bad as they played teams like Mississippi ST very close, and finished winning the 4 of 6. The Minutemen have a great offense led by QB Andrew Ford. On the other hand, Duquesne is only playing for the upset. If they lose it is no big deal for them, but a win means a lot. The Dukes start this year right outside the top 25 in the FCS, so a win would do wonders for their season.

Final Prediction: UMass 41, Duquesne 16

Prairie View A&M VS Rice

Betting Odds: Rice -21, O/U 61

This is probably the least appealing FBS game of the week. One major storyline is how new head coach Mike Bloomgren will fare in his debut with Rice. Prairie View A&M will also be welcoming in a new head coach in former Grambling State offensive coordinator Eric Dooley. Prairie View has a very good defense at the FBS level led by cornerback Ju’Anthony Parker who led the team in INTs (4), and turned 2 of those 4 picks into touchdowns. On the other side of the football is C-USA team, Rice. Rice has been at the bottom of the C-USA for years now, and look to get out of there with a new head coach. The Owls have a good running game with twin running backs Aston and Austin Walter running behind fullback Giovanni Gentosi. This team is still a few years away from competing in the C-USA, but they should be able to pull out a win this week.

Final Prediction: Rice 23, Prairie View A&M 16

Hawaii VS Colorado ST

Betting Odds: Colorado ST -14.5, O/U 58

This game will be the first head-to-head conference matchup of the year in college football. The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors will face the Colorado ST Rams in Mountain West action. Colorado ST enters this season trying to get past the 7-win mark as they have not won a bowl game in their last 3 attempts. The Rams will have to figure out some things early on as they look to replace star wide receiver Michael Gallup, as well as their top receiving tight end from a year ago. Colorado ST will have a new QB as Washington transfer K.J. Carta-Samuels takes over under center. For Hawaii, this game will set the tone for how their season will go. They went a very disappointing 3-9 last year just one year removed from a bowl game. Hawaii will return their famous run-and-shoot offense that made them so good a few years ago. Overall, with Colorado ST having so many pieces to replace on offense, I believe Hawaii will pull off the upset.

Final Prediction: Hawaii 26, Colorado ST 23

Wyoming VS New Mexico ST

Betting Odds: Wyoming -3.5, O.U 45

This game will feature 2 FBS schools that made a bowl game last season. The pair of teams have major holes to fill on both sides of the ball. New Mexico ST is the only FBS team to lose their leading passer, rusher, receiver, and tackler from last season. The Aggies will open up with new QB Matthew Romero, a very mobile talent. Wyoming has to fill the shoes of first-round pick Josh Allen who played QB for them last year. The Cowboys defense will bring back most of their starters from a year ago. The Wyoming defense in 2017 led the nation with a +24 turnover margin thanks to Andrew Wingard and Carl Granderson. Overall, Wyoming and New Mexico ST will look different than what they looked like last year in their bowl winning season.

Final Prediction: Wyoming 20, New Mexico ST 14

This week in college football is a fun week to sit back, and enjoy a few games with bowl implications. I will continue this series every week of the college football season while keeping score of my picks.

2018 College Football Season Preview and Predictions

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The college football season is getting closer by the minute. With the first games coming on August 25th, a lot of things have changed. Teams like Alabama, Notre Dame, and Clemson will have to decide who will play QB while teams like Wisconsin and others return many of their key players from last year. We will also get to see how Oklahoma, Penn ST, and USC will fare without their best players from last season.

In this article I preview every single conference in the FBS. I will also make my final top 25 predictions and new year’s six bowl game predictions while predicting every single conference winner.

American Athletic Conference:

The American Athletic Conference is most likely the best group-of-five conference in the FBS. They were home to the only undefeated team in the FBS last year with UCF going 13-0 overall. However, UCF will look a lot different without head coach Scott Frost, and defensive leader Shaquem Griffin. Houston will look to improve this year to what they were in 2015 when they beat Florida ST in the Peach Bowl. They will be bringing back defensive tackle, Ed Oliver, who is likely the best player in college football. Navy is always a team to look out for with their option run game being the best in college football. Teams like Memphis, USF, and Temple have slim chances to win the conference this upcoming year. UConn, Cincinnati, East Carolina, Tulsa, SMU, and Tulane will fight for a bowl game.

Standings:

East

  1. UCF*
  2. Temple
  3. USF
  4. UConn
  5. Cincinnati
  6. East Carolina

West

  1. Houston*
  2. Navy
  3. Memphis
  4. Tulsa
  5. SMU
  6. Tulane

Conference Title Game: UCF VS Houston

I believe that the American Athletic Conference title game will feature defending champs, UCF, and 2015 champs, Houston. UCF brings a high-powered offense into the game led by quarterback, Mckenzie Milton. Milton had over 4,000 passing yards for the knights last year while throwing 37 touchdowns and 9 INT. Houston enters with the best player in college football, Ed Oliver. It is unlikely that defensive tackle leads a team to the title game, but Oliver is just that good. I believe Houston will win this game 23-20 mostly because of Houston’s defense and the loss of Scott Frost for UCF.

ACC:

The ACC has claimed that it is the best conference in college football. They are home to powerhouse, Clemson, who will look to avenge their loss to Alabama last year, and win the National championship. Clemson has the second best odds to win the National championship, trailing only Alabama. Quarterback, Kelly Bryant, looks to improve from last year, while the entire front seven, excluding Dorian O’Daniel returns next season. Even though Virginia Tech has lost a lot of starters, they have a favorable schedule. They do not play Clemson, and play Miami very late in the season in Blacksburn. They are a sneaky team to make the ACC title game.

Other teams like Florida ST and Miami are expected to have big years with expectations being ACC title or bust. Boston College is probably the biggest dark horse in the entire FBS. They went on a surge late in the season beating Louisville 45-42, beating Florida ST 35-3, and Virginia 41-10. BC will bring back Heisman hopeful, A.J. Dillon, and most of their team from a year ago.

Standings:

Atlantic

  1. Clemson*
  2. Boston College
  3. Florida ST
  4. Louisville
  5. Wake Forest
  6. North Carolina ST
  7. Syracuse

Coastal

  1. Virginia Tech*
  2. Miami
  3. Georgia Tech
  4. Duke
  5. Virginia
  6. Pittsburgh
  7. North Carolina

Conference Title Game: Clemson VS Virginia Tech

This conference title game will be a rematch of the ACC championship from 2016. Clemson won that game 42-35 en route to a national championship. This Virginia Tech team is a lot worse than the one from 2016 though. With the high-powered offense and stacked front seven for Clemson, this game could get ugly. I believe Clemson will win by a score of 49-13 to advance to the college football playoff.

Big 12:

The Big 12 is a very interesting conference this year. Players like Baker Mayfield and Mason Rudolph were drafted into the NFL, so it will be fun to see how those teams fare without them. Texas will be looking to live up to high expectations under head coach Tom Herman, and win the conference for the first time since 2009. They were dissapointing last year under Herman, but they have a very solid recruiting class and have a chance of winning this conference. There are other recognizable teams in the Big 12 like West Virginia, Oklahoma, and TCU who will all also battle for a shot in the Big 12 title game. West Virginia has arguably the best QB in the whole country in Will Grier, while Oklahoma has to fill the void of Baker Mayfield.

Standings:

  1. Texas*
  2. West Virginia*
  3. Oklahoma
  4. TCU
  5. Iowa ST
  6. Kansas ST
  7. Oklahoma ST
  8. Texas Tech
  9. Baylor
  10. Kansas

Conference Title Game: West Virginia VS Texas

My prediction for the Big 12 conference title game is Tom Herman’s Longhorns versus Will Grier’s Mountaineers. Texas has a few things to work out on the offensive side of the ball, specifically at QB. However, their defense can compete with anyone in the Big 12, and Tom Herman is a mastermind at head coach. On the other hand, West Virginia will look to have the best offense in the country. I see this game leaning towards West Virginia, as Will Grier puts on a note-worthy performance. West Virginia beats Texas 31-28.

Big Ten:

The Big Ten seems to have the highest amount of quality teams this upcoming college football season. Michigan has disappointed under Jim Harbaugh, but they have always had a top defense, and now bring in Ole Miss transfer, Shea Patterson, at QB. Ohio ST is in a little bit of trouble with head coach Urban Meyer under investigation from the NCAA. They have probably the best team in the Big Ten talent-wise, but they have a dark-cloud hanging above them which could be a distraction. Penn ST loses Saquon Barkley, but brings back most of their team including Heisman candidate, Trace McSorley. Michigan ST brings a top defense to the table, and Rutgers look to finally show that they belong with a strong showing this season.

On the other side of the conference there is Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Purdue. Wisconsin got some love from the AP as they are ranked #4 to start the year which is their highest since 2000. They are bringing back almost their entire team including running back Jonathan Taylor and QB Alex Hornibrook. They also make the case for the best offensive line in the country. Purdue and Nebraska will look to fight it out for the second spot in the division. They both have some of the best head coaches in the nation in Scott Frost and Jeff Brohm.

Standings:

East

  1. Michigan*
  2. Ohio ST
  3. Penn ST
  4. Michigan ST
  5. Rutgers
  6. Indiana
  7. Maryland

West

  1. Wisconsin*
  2. Purdue
  3. Nebraska
  4. Northwestern
  5. Iowa
  6. Minnesota
  7. Illinois

Conference Title Game: Michigan VS Wisconsin

This title game will be the first for Michigan under the Jim Harbaugh era. They will look to finally overcome Ohio ST in the last game of the season since they have a legit QB in Shea Patterson. Michigan also brings in one of the best defenses with Rashan Gray holding down the d-line while Devin Bush continues to add to his defensive highlight reel. Wisconsin has all the makings of going undefeated in the regular season with most of their starters returning. I see this game being a defensive battle with Wisconsin running back being the deciding factor in a 24-17 win for the Badgers.

C-USA:

The C-USA has one of the most fun teams to watch in college football in FAU. Lane Kiffin has turned FAU into a group-of-five powerhouse, and they only look to get better. Running back Devin Singletary will look to lead the offense while the ball-hawking defense does what they do best. Marshall has a QB problem with the loss of Chase Litton. However, they still have many ways to win on both sides of the ball. The other side of the conference is razor thin with Louisiana Tech, UTSA, North Texas, UAB, and Southern Mississippi. Louisiana Tech brings in the best defense in the West division, but the running game will be a problem they will have to resolve.

Standings:

East

  1. FAU*
  2. Marshall
  3. Middle Tennessee
  4. Western Kentucky
  5. FIU
  6. Charlotte
  7. Old Dominion

West

  1. Louisiana Tech*
  2. UTSA
  3. North Texas
  4. UAB
  5. Southern Mississippi
  6. UTEP
  7. Rice

Conference Title Game: FAU VS Louisiana Tech

The C-USA conference title game will be a matchup between Louisiana Tech and defending champs, FAU. FAU is just so good under Lane Kiffin that it is hard to pick against them. They won last years C-USA championship by a score of 41-17 against North Texas, and will look to do the same here. I believe FAU beats Louisiana Tech 52-16.

Mid-American Conference:

The MAC has been one of the funnest conferences to watch in college football. They have most of their games early in the week which is a fun gimmick to have to get a wider audience than playing on Saturday with no coverage. This year will be very competitive in the MAC. Starting off with Northern Illinois they have the best offensive and defensive lines in the entire conference. However, they do lack in skill positions on offense. Toledo has seemed to be the powerhouse of this conference, but this year they will be without QB Logan Woodside, but they have a great wide receiver group.

Miami (OH), Ohio, Akron, and Buffalo will all battle for a spot in the title game. Ohio brings one of if not the best offenses in the MAC, but their defense is shaky. Miami is coming in with two QBs that can play right away, and James Gardner at wide receiver.

Standings:

East

  1. Miami (OH)*
  2. Ohio
  3. Akron
  4. Buffalo
  5. Kent ST
  6. Bowling Green

West

  1. Northern Illinois*
  2. Toledo
  3. Eastern Michigan
  4. Western Michigan
  5. Central Michigan
  6. Ball ST

Conference Title Game: Miami (OH) VS Northern Illinois

My prediction for the MAC title game is Northern Illinois versus Miami of Ohio. Northern Illinois have a glaring hole on offense, but defense is the reason they are in the title game. Miami is an offensive powerhouse which will be a nice contrast of styles in this game. I see Northern Illinois beating Miami 23-20 to claim their fourth conference title.

Mountain West Conference:

The Mountain West Conference is home to the best group-of-five team since the 2000s. Boise ST is the front-runner for a New Year’s Six Bowl with QB Brett Rypien and RB Alexander Mattison. They also have a great secondary, and a defensive line that is not far behind. Wyoming will have to deal with the loss of Josh Allen, but still bring back a great defense led by safety Andrew Wingard. San Diego ST is Boise ST’s biggest threat in the conference this year. They always produce great running backs, and it will be no different this year with Juwan Washington. The Aztecs also have the best o-line in the conference, and a great defense.

Standings:

Mountain

  1. Boise ST*
  2. Utah ST
  3. Colorado ST
  4. Wyoming
  5. New Mexico
  6. Air Force

West

  1. San Diego ST*
  2. Fresno ST
  3. Nevada
  4. Hawaii
  5. San Jose ST
  6. UNLV

Conference Title Game: Boise ST VS San Diego ST

This conference title game will be one of the best in Mountain West history. Both Boise ST and San Diego ST are group of five powerhouses, and have a legit shot in a New Year’s Six Bowl game. In the end, Boise ST’s defense will be able to stop San Diego ST’s running attack as the Broncos win 27-20.

Pac-12:

The Pac-12 is wide open this year. Washington is the favorites to win it all with no major holes for the Huskies. Their backfield is the best in the conference, and both offensive tackles are NFL-caliber. They also have one of the best defenses in the league even with the loss of Vita Vea, but there is not a lot to complain about. Oregon brings in what could be the first overall pick come 2019 in Justin Herbert, while Stanford brings back Heisman runner-up, Bryce Love. USC will bring a great defense, but will have to fill the Sam Darnold void with an 18 year-old QB. Utah is a team to look for as they have a high-powered offense led by QB Tyler Huntley, and a solid defense.

Standings:

North

  1. Washington*
  2. Oregon
  3. Stanford
  4. Washington ST
  5. California
  6. Oregon ST

South

  1. Utah*
  2. USC
  3. Arizona
  4. UCLA
  5. Arizona ST
  6. Colorado

Conference Title Game: Utah VS Washington

The Pac-12 conference title game looks to feature a great defense versus a great offense. A story as old as time as Washington will take on Utah. Washington at this time will be looking to get into the CFB playoffs with an emphatic win against the Utes. Utah’s up tempo offense is no match for the Huskies top defense as Washington wins 26-7.

SEC:

The SEC has long been the powerhouse conference in football. They even had two teams in the National Championship last year as Alabama beat Georgia in overtime. Georgia will look to repeat as SEC champions as Jake Fromm will enter his second year, and they have a loaded offense. Missouri really came into their own last year under potential top pick, QB Drew Lock. South Carolina has one of the best offenses in the conference, but defense could come back to bite them. The Gators look to rebound after an abysmal season as they bring in head coach Dan Mullen to reinvigorate their offense.

On the other side of the conference their is Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi ST, and LSU. Alabama has run the college football world for years, but they will have a tough decision to make at QB between Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa. Their defense will also be great as always. Their secondary is a cause of concern with the losses of Ronnie Harrison and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Auburn looks to beat Alabama again with returning QB, Jarrett Stidham. Their defensive line competes with the best in the country led by Derrick Brown.

Standings:

East

  1. Georgia*
  2. Missouri
  3. South Carolina
  4. Florida
  5. Kentucky
  6. Tennessee
  7. Vanderbilt

West

  1. Alabama*
  2. Auburn
  3. Mississippi ST
  4. LSU
  5. Texas A&M
  6. Arkansas
  7. Ole Miss (Ineligible for Postseason Play)

Conference Title Game: Alabama VS Georgia

The SEC title game looks to be a rematch of the 2017 National Championship between Georgia and Alabama. Alabama will enter this game without missing the playoffs so far since its induction. Meanwhile, Georgia will look to get revenge from the National Championship. In the end, I believe Georgia’s high-powered offense is enough to beat Alabama’s hard-nosed, gritty defense.

Sun Belt Conference:

The Sun Belt conference is probably the worst conference in the FBS in terms of depth. However, Appalachian ST, Arkansas ST, and Troy are no joke in the college football world. Appalachian ST has the best cornerback group in the entire group of five, and an offense led by running back, Jalin Moore. Troy will look to repeat as conference champs as they bring back their great defense from a year ago. Arkansas ST is hands down the best team in the Western division. The offense is one of the most fun in the nation led by QB Caleb Evans, but their defense won’t stop anyone.

Standings:

East

  1. Troy*
  2. Appalachian ST
  3. Georgia Southern
  4. Coastal Carolina
  5. Georgia ST

West

  1. Arkansas ST*
  2. South Alabama
  3. Louisiana
  4. Texas ST
  5. Louisiana-Monroe

Conference Title Game: Troy VS Arkansas ST

The Sun Belt title game will feature defensive-minded, Troy versus offensive minded Arkansas ST. I believe Troy’s defense will be too much for Arkansas ST to handle as they bring home their second consecutive Sun Belt title.

FBS Independents:

The FBS Independents feature nation-wide powerhouse, Notre Dame, and other bowl-worthy teams. Notre Dame will look to finally make the CFB playoff after many years. Their offense is led by Brandon Wimbush, with a great backup QB option in Ian Book. Their defense is some of the best in college football. They are strong at all three levels with Jerry Tillery on the d-line, Te’Von Coney at linebacker, and All-American Julian Love at corner. Another team to look for in the Independents is UMass Amherst. UMass played in 8 games that were decided by 8 points or less last year including almost upsetting Tennessee and Mississippi ST. Their offense is dangerously good led by QB Andrew Young, but they have a bad defense.

Standings:

  1. Notre Dame
  2. UMass Amherst
  3. New Mexico ST
  4. Army
  5. BYU
  6. Liberty

Top 25

At the end of the year I believe the Top 25 in college football will look like this:

  1. Georgia*
  2. Clemson*
  3. Wisconsin*
  4. Notre Dame*
  5. Alabama
  6. Washington
  7. Michigan
  8. West Virginia
  9. Auburn
  10. Texas
  11. Michigan ST
  12. USC
  13. Oklahoma
  14. Ohio ST
  15. Boston College
  16. Boise ST
  17. Florida ST
  18. Penn ST
  19. TCU
  20. Stanford
  21. Utah
  22. Miami
  23. Houston
  24. Virginia Tech
  25. Oregon

The four playoff teams for the upcoming season are SEC champions Georgia Bulldogs, ACC champions Clemson Tigers, Big Ten champions Wisconsin Badgers, and the Notre Dame Fightin’ Irish from the Independents. This would mean that Alabama would not make the playoff for the first time ever. It also means that even though Washington and West Virginia won their conferences, they still do not make the playoffs.

Non-Playoff New Year’s Six Bowls:

Rose Bowl: #6, Washington VS #7, Michigan

The Rose Bowl will look to feature Pac-12 Champion Washington Huskies against Big Ten runner-ups, the Michigan Wolverines. Both of these teams are very balanced on both sides of the ball, but Washington’s defense will be too much to handle for Michigan’s offense as the Huskies win 30-17.

Sugar Bowl: #5, Alabama VS #8, West Virginia

Alabama will be playing in their first non-playoff New Year’s Six Bowl game since the playoffs were introduced. They will take on one of the best offenses in the country led by QB Will Grier. Overall, I believe Alabama will look to make a statement in this game by beating Big 12 champions by a score of 42-20.

Peach Bowl: #9, Auburn VS #10, Texas

The Peach Bowl will feature SEC powerhouse, Auburn versus Big 12 runner-up Texas. Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham is one of the best in the country as he takes on the best defense in the Big 12. I believe Auburn vs Texas will be one of the best bowl games as Auburn wins 43-42.

Fiesta Bowl: #11, Michigan ST VS #16, Boise ST

The Fiesta Bowl will feature Michigan ST vs Boise ST. These teams met once before where Michigan ST won 17-13 in 2012. Now they meet with a lot more on the line. Boise ST will look to place themselves at the top of the group-of-five college football world with a win while Michigan ST’s top defense tries to shut them down. I see this game going a lot like the last time these teams played as Michigan ST wins 21-17.

College Football Playoffs:

Cotton Bowl (CFP Semi-Final): #1, Georgia VS #4, Notre Dame

In the first playoff semi-final game, SEC champ, Georgia takes on FBS Independent Notre Dame. These teams met in a thriller in 2017 with Georgia edging out the win. This year is different as Notre Dame has improved a lot on defense, and Georgia has developed more on offense. I see this game going in Notre Dame’s favor with them winning 34-31, and advancing to the National Championship.

Orange Bowl (CFP Semi-Final): #2, Clemson VS #3, Wisconsin

In the second playoff semi-final game, ACC champ Clemson takes on Big Ten champ Wisconsin in the Orange Bowl. Clemson has made the CFB playoffs the last three years with them winning one under head coach Dabo Sweeney. This is Wisconsin’s first trip to the playoff as they are led by running back Jonathan Taylor. I believe this game will be won by Wisconsin due to their defensive ability, and ability to chew the clock with Jonathan Taylor. Wisconsin beats Clemson 17-16 to advance to the National Championship to play Notre Dame.

National Championship: #3, Wisconsin VS #4, Notre Dame

The 2019 National Championship will feature Wisconsin against Notre Dame. Notre Dame is arguably the biggest brand in college football history, and Wisconsin will look to prove that they are the best in the country for the first time in their long history. This game is between two very evenly matched teams on both sides of the ball. Both QB’s are good, both o-lines are good, both defenses are good, so it will come down to a few key players for each team. I believe Notre Dame’s defense, specifically Te’Von Coney, will lead Notre Dame in stopping Jonathan Taylor en route to their first National Championship win since 1988. Notre Dame beats Wisconsin by a score of 22-19.

This will wrap up my college football season preview and predictions. A lot has changed as Ohio ST, Alabama, Washington, and Oklahoma did not make the playoffs, and Notre Dame finally won. Be sure to watch this upcoming college football season, and see how correct I am in my predictions.

 

 

 

Lionel Messi’s Impact On The World Is Unparalleled

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The Messi effect is one that has impacted people worldwide. Whether it be attracting crowds, inspiring children, or jersey sales, people can’t seem to get enough of the Argentinian phenom. There’s a reason why Lionel is very often, and rightly so, involved in the talk to be the greatest football player in the world.

Messi’s Reputation is Worldwide 

Messi has spent his entire career in Barcelona, but he is still world renown. He has led the world in jersey sales the last few years and is followed everywhere. No matter where he plays, a crowd will follow at the sound of his name. A big example of this was in 2016 at Gillette Stadium, a place that barely averages 20,000 spectators for MLS games. In 2016, Argentina played Venuzuala and sold 59,183 tickets. Being in attendance myself, the commotion every time Messi touched the ball was absurd. People rose out of their seats when he took a corner. Messi is just one player on a team, but it doesn’t take an expert to know he is the centerpiece.

There have been borderline riots over people who have been mistaken as Lionel Messi. In 2017, a 25 year old student in Pakistan was detained for disturbing the public because he looked like the star. Who could forget the 6 year old boy who gained fame after making a makeshift Argentina jersey out of a plastic bag? Lionel went on to walk out onto the pitch with the 6 year old during a friendly in Qatar.

                                                           Respect

Lionel Messi has turned himself and his team into a tourist attraction. In fact, some people claim Messi ruined the atmosphere of Barcelona games by turning Camp Nou from a football stadium into a tourist attraction.

The coversation about Messi cannot be had without mention of his undeniable rain of success. He has notched nine league championships, six Spanish cups, five Ballon d’Or, and many more championships. His claim to fame is much deserved. There’s a reason why Messi is the highest paid athlete in the world, earning $84,000,000 a year. The fact that Messi started off in Barcelona’s academy team and has been a member of the Barcelona squad his whole career is just icing on the cake.

The #NERevs Tough Road Ahead

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The Revolutions season is now past the halfway mark and they still remain in a playoff position. However, the toughest part of their schedule has yet to come. According to Benjamin Baer of MLSsoccer.com, New England have the hardest schedule in the league for the second have of the season. Eight of their next 13 games will be on the road. While the Revs have only lost four road games this season, they have also only won one. With only five more home games in the regular season, where on the road will they be getting their points?

Source: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

 

Revs Three Point Opportunities

Orlando City: Orlando has been having a tough season. After jumping out to a great offseason, they were expected to go far this year. However, it has been quite the opposite so far. They have only managed to get 22 points through their first 19 games. Not to mention they are tied for 2nd for most home losses in the league this season with four.

 

D.C. United: D.C. may have a new stadium and may have signed Wayne Rooney, but they’re still D.C. United. Just like how the 49ers signed Garoppolo, they are still the 49ers. For the most part, this team is still weaker than New England. Along with the fact that Revs fans usually travel well to D.C., the team will most likely have the advantage going into D.C.

Toronto FC: Toronto FC is the joke of the league at the moment. They have gone from MLS Cup champions to the bottom of the table. The Revs were able to beat TFC at Gillette, even with Mark Geiger as the ref. So a win in Toronto is definitely possible.

Philadelphia Union: The Revs team is a completely different team that went down to Philly in March. This team now has an identity and a system. The Revs are ranked higher in the standings as well. A major boost the team is getting; as opposed to 72 traveling fans, they will be backed up by about 1,000 fans from around New England.

Revs One Point Opportunities

Real Salt Lake: This game will be a tough one for the Revs. As we speak, RSL has only lost one home game this season. Along with this, they have more points than the Revs, but only by two. Overall, these teams are very even and will definitely be a tough match.

LAFC: LAFC will be another difficult bout for New England, even more difficult than RSL. LAFC has yet to lose a game at home this season. So how can the Revs get a point? It’s the fact that LAFC has five home wins, yet four draws. LAFC is definitely a better team than the Revs, but those four draws are glaring.

Zero Point Outcomes

Photo by Keith Nordstrom

Atlanta United: Do I need to explain? The Revs lost 7-0 to Atlanta last year, and Atlanta is currently atop the East and Supporter shield. Not to mention the Revs couldn’t even beat Atlanta at home and could only muster a draw.

NYCFC: NYCFC are right behind Atlanta in the shield and are having a great season. At home, NYC is undefeated and have only had one draw which came at the hands of Atlanta. The Revs chances in New York don’t look good. But after all, this is MLS. And as we all know, anything can happen.

 

The Revs will look to end their three game losing streak when they play Orlando on August 4th. With the new signing of Cristhian Machado and possibly more to come, the Revs look will look to get back to their winning ways.

mccourty

Patriots Training Camp Preview: Safeties

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There are many new faces on the Patriots compared to last year. The Pats acquired four guys from trade, fifteen from free agency, and nine from the NFL Draft. They also lost nine players from trade and free agency and had three players retire.

In this new series, I will be looking at every player from each position leading up to training camp. For this installment I will talk about the safeties. The Pats have kept their main group of safeties in tact while adding two via free agency.

Devin McCourty #32 (2010-Present):

Devin McCourty is the leader of the Patriots defense. He is now heading into his ninth year in the NFL and for the Patriots. McCourty started his career in New England as a cornerback. In his rookie season he had 73 tackles, 17 PBUs, and 7 INT. The next season saw McCourty start in all 16 games, all the while earning a pro-bowl nod and second team All-Pro honors. McCourty spent his next two seasons at cornerback where he had 159 tackles, 25 PBUs, and 7 INT. He was selected as a second team All-Pro in 2012.

McCourty changed his position to free safety in the 2013 offseason due to the departure of Patrick Chung. He spent his next six seasons at his new position, playing and starting in 77 games. In those games, McCourty had 393 tackles, 35 PBUs, and 6 INT. This span included 2 selections to the second team All-Pro team, and one selection to the Pro-Bowl. He had also performed in the playoffs, and in the 19 games he had played he had 84 tackles and 2 INT.

With McCourty being the leader of the defense over his career, the Pats had a big decision to make. It was either resign Darelle Revis or keep Devin McCourty. They went with McCourty; he signed a five-year 47.5 million dollar contract that offseason. With him being the vocal leader for the Patriots, I don’t see anyway of getting cut.

Duron Harmon #21 (2013-Present):

Duron Harmon is now entering his sixth season in the NFL and for New England. He is a former third-round pick out of Rutgers University and has played in almost every game in his career. Over his five-year career, Harmon has missed one game and played in 79 games. Harmon has racked up a total of 114 tackles, 20 PBUs, and 11 INTs thus far. He also has 13 tackles and 3 INTs in his 13 playoff games. Harmon was a key part in the 2014 Super Bowl team. He helped cap off the comeback against Baltimore with a game-sealing INT.

Harmon got himself into trouble this offseason by getting arrested for trying to smuggle marijauna into Costa Rica. That being said, Harmon has been the ball-hawking safety the Patriots needed all these years. With guys like Chung and McCourty excelling at open-field tackling, Harmon brings something different. He has come up in the clutch so many times and has evolved into a defensive leader alongside McCourty. Harmon is more than likely going to make the roster this upcoming season.

Patrick Chung #23 (2009-2012, 2014-Present):

Patrick Chung is now in his tenth year in the NFL and ninth for New England. Chung was the 34th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. His first four years in the NFL were successful. He played in 50 games, amassing 231 tackles, 19 PBUs, and 7 INT. Chung became a free agent in the 2013 offseason and signed a three-year deal with the Eagles. Chung’s time in Philly was uneventful; he had 63 tackles and 3 PBUs, and later was released by the team. Chung came back to New England after his release and played in 63 games. He had 345 tackles, 28 PBUs, and 3 INT.

https://twitter.com/CaseyBake16/status/929926707561336832

Chung has split time at strong safety, nickel corner, and linebacker in his recent years in New England. He is a very versatile defensive player and superb at open-field tackling. Overall, Chung is a key-piece in the Pats secondary and he has a very good chance of making the team.

Jordan Richards #37 (2015-Present):

Jordan Richards is entering his fourth-year in the NFL and for the Patriots. Richards was the 64th overall pick by New England in the 2015 NFL Draft. Richards’ first two years saw him appear in 25 games, in which he had 20 tackles and 2 PBUs. He found a bigger role last season, playing in all 16 games and piling up 22 tackles and 1 PBU. He started in Super Bowl 52 against Philadelphia due to the Malcolm Butler benching. Richards was awful in this game. He missed numerous tackles and let up big plays.

As a hybrid safety, Richards brings some value to the team. However, he did let up so many plays last year and missed so many tackles. A lot of Pats fans cannot wait to see him gone, but he may have a legitimate chance of making the team yet again.

Eddie Pleasant #26 (2018-Present):

Eddie Pleasant was signed by New England on July 24, 2018 as an unrestricted free agent. Pleasant is entering his seventh season in the NFL and first for New England. Pleasant spent his first six years in the NFL for the Houston Texans, playing in 78 games. During that time, Pleasant had 99 tackles, 17 PBUs, and 3 INT.

Pleasant will head into training camp competing with strong safeties like Chung, Richards, Ebner, and others. It will be tough for him to make the team, especially after getting signed so late into the offseason. The odds are stacked against him.

Damarius Travis #39 (2017-Present):

Damarius Travis is entering his second year in the NFL and for the Pats. Travis was picked up by New England in 2017 as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota. He had a good career for the Gophers, playing in 39 games and notching 189 tackles, 13 PBUs, and 4 INT. He went on to have a successful preseason for the Patriots last year, playing in all four games. Travis had 19 tackles, 1 FF, and 1 FF, which secured him a spot on the practice squad.

https://twitter.com/CaseyBake16/status/903402749877944320

Travis is a sleeper to make the team next year. Travis very well could make the roster, especially with the disappointment Richards has been.

Nate Ebner #43 (2012-Present):

Nate Ebner is entering his seventh year in New England. Ebner was picked up in 2012 by the Pats as an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State. He has proven to be one of the best special-teamers in the NFL since then. He has played in 82 games over the course of his career, mostly as a special-teamer. Ebner has lead the team in special teams tackles numerous times in his career. He was recognized as a second team All-Pro behind teammate Matthew Slater in 2016.

Ebner’s ability to be coachable and excel in his role as a special-teamer has caught the eye of Bill Belichick:

“His development has really been outstanding. I would probably put him in the, not the all-time top, but maybe in the top-five percent all time of players that I’ve coached, from where they were in college to how they grew in the NFL. [He] has adapted in a relatively short amount of time to the knowledge of our defense, to the understanding of opponents’ offenses, to instinctiveness and reading and recognition at a position that he plays right in the middle of the field, which is among the most difficult – inside linebacker and safety – where the number of things that can happen is the greatest.”

Ebner missed all of 2017 with a knee injury. But he will most likely make the team next year due to his special teams acumen.

A.J. Moore (Rookie):

A.J. Moore was picked up by New England as an undrafted free agent this offseason. Moore spent his college days at Ole Miss, playing in 39 games in four years. He totaled 132 tackles, 2 sacks, and 5 PBUs.

Moore is at a disadvantage because he is an undrafted rookie. His ability to cover receivers has never been that good, yet he is a solid tackler. With guys like Chung, Richards, Travis, and Pleasant all vying for roster spots, there is virtually no chance he makes the team.

 

The Pats will have a few tough decisions to make with this safety group. Guys like Richards, Ebner, and maybe even Chung could be gone by Week 1.