“Having a Mexican head coach makes a huge difference,” midfielder Edson Alvarez said after Jimmy Lozano became the interim coach. 

After their second win in the tournament against Haiti, Mexico qualified for the playoffs of the Gold Cup. The loss to Qatar did not just interrupt their progress in the tournament. The loss shattered the illusion that the Lambor-Jimmy fixed the previous disappointments.

Lozano’s tenure isn’t going to transform a national team that did not make it past the World Cup group stage for the first time since 1978 into an Olympic Bronze medal winner in less than a week. 

Lozano’s Eurocentric coaching style isn’t going to transform a national team that has not won a game against Team USA since 2019 into Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. 

Lozano needs to turn Mexico’s loss against Qatar into a lesson learned that will help solidify his place as the permanent head coach during the World Cup cycle. Here are three ways their loss against Qatar could demonstrate Lozano’s strength as head coach.

Why Mexico’s Loss to Qatar Was Necessary

Demonstrate The Flaws

In their last five games, Mexico has conceded five goals against Haiti, Qatar, and the US. Granted, 60% of the goals came against the US but their defensive mistakes lead to bad results. 

During Qatar’s goal, Hazem Shehata snuck behind Julian Araujo, who’s playing time has been limited after his transfer to Barcelona. 

Cocca’s defensively-driven coaching philosophy, as he demonstrated with Atlas championship season, couldn’t help Mexico during his time as coach. His style of coaching caused three goals against the US that led to his dismissal. 

The defensive flaws are a great place for Lozano to turn this National team around. The core defensive group is young and he previously worked with Vazquez in the Olympic team. 

With enough time, Lozano can turn this team into a defensive juggernaut. Julian Araujo’s move to Europe will improve his game as soon as he starts to play more. Edson Alvarez’s time with Ajax seems to be ending, but the interest from teams in the top leagues of Europe seem to be promising for his development. The defensive line behind Lozano will be a major turning point for the National team. 

Earn The Media’s Trust

“The Mexican team hits [rock] bottom [after rock] bottom…you have to rebuild it from scratch,” David Faitelson tweeted after the embarrassing loss to Qatar. One of the most prominent reporters of Mexico has been the biggest critic of the National team. 

After Lozano took over the team, Faitelson settled the hype, “Typical of us, Mexicans: In 3 minutes, we forgot Thursday’s [loss to the US] and the cheerleaders are already talking about a ‘new era.'”

Lozano is capable of turning the narrative into the savior complex the media and fans deserve by winning the Gold Cup. The competition isn’t the same as a World Cup, but a victory over B-teams of the US and Canada could give Mexico the reassurance that it needs in Lozano to continue as head coach.

Inspire A Leader

Andes Guardado recently announced his retirement from the National team. Mexico’s veteran leadership falls on Memo Ochoa, who turns 38 on July 13th making this Gold Cup his last major tournament as the starting goalie. With the exit of one of the leaders in the team, Lozano is in charge of appointing a leader in the team. 

Having a player on the field that can directly translate Lozano’s vision on the field could be vital to the progress of the team. Can you imagine Coach Boone without the leadership of Julias Cambell and Gerry Bertier on the field in Remember the Titans?

The team would not have survived camp.

Without a player to help direct the team on the field, Lozano’s vision will collapse. Every coach needs a player to rely on to rally the team on the field. Mexico’s lineage of captains is filled with stars like Guardado, Ochoa, Herrera, and Oswaldo Sanchez. The current generation does not have anyone of that caliber to assist Lozano on the field. 

“Jimmy knows them well. They know Jimmy well. And we know that this generation of Mexican soccer players is a disaster,” Faitelson tweeted after their loss to Qatar. Words like these should be taken seriously. Lozano needs to print this tweet and post it in the locker room. This Mexican generation of players needs to develop a captain that will help them play with a chip on their shoulder. The sports world could get behind an underdog story. 

Lozano could inspire the next captain that can help him lead this team into the 5th game of the World Cup hosted by Mexico. 

Main Image: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sport

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2023 College Football Transfer Portal: Players to Watch

Travis Hunter

Travis Hunter has high expectations coming into the 2023 campaign as he was ranked the number one player in the transfer portal by ON3. Playing both sides of the ball last season, Hunter recorded two interceptions and four touchdowns for the Jackson State Tigers.

In the offseason, he transferred to Colorado, following head coach Deion Sanders who coached Hunter at Jackson State in 2022. This was a no-brainer for Hunter who has said in the past that he models his game after Sanders which is evident in his ball-hawking abilities on both ends of the field.

Hunter and Sanders will look to revitalize the Colorado football program, which finished just 1-11 in 2022.

Sam Hartman

After a storied career at Wake Forest, Sam Hartman decided to take his talents to South Bend for his final collegiate season.

This is a huge addition for the Fighting Irish quarterback room which lost Drew Pyne (Arizona State) and Tyler Buchner (Alabama) to the Transfer Portal earlier this offseason. In 45 games for Wake Forest, Hartman threw for over 13,000 yards and 110 touchdowns and was a two-time member of the All-ACC team. He is joining a Notre Dame squad that is loaded with talent on the offensive side of the ball with an elite line and experienced weapons including Jayden Thomas, Audric Estime, and Tobias Merriweather.

Hartman and company will be tasked with leading the Fighting Irish to their first National Championship appearance since 2012.

Fentrell Cypress II

Cornerback Fentrell Cypress joins Florida State after a four-year career at Virginia. He led the ACC with 14 pass breakups and was named to the Second Team All-ACC team for his efforts.

Cypress’s abilities extend beyond pass coverage, as he also showcased his strong tackling skills, accumulating a career-high 39 tackles in just nine games including eight in the season opener against Richmond. His presence in the secondary will bolster Florida State’s defense and provide a reliable cornerback option alongside Greedy Vance who had three picks and five pass deflections in 2022.

Adonai Mitchell

Arch Manning isn’t the only notable name joining the Texas Longhorns this year. Two time National Champion Adonai Mitchell is joining the team after two storied seasons with the Georgia Bulldogs.

He is perhaps best known for his go-ahead touchdown in the 2021 National Championship game against Alabama. He is joining a Longhorns receiving corps that features Jordan Whittington and Xavier Worthy who combined for over 1,400 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022. Mitchell will look to bring his winning attitude and DNA to a Texas team that hasn’t won a Bowl Game since 2020.

Dont’e Thornton

Fresh off an impressive 11-2 campaign, the Tennessee Volunteers added more firepower to their offense in 2023. Dont’e Thornton joins the receiving room as a transfer from Oregon.

The 6’5 receiver showed off his speed and athleticism last season, averaging 21.5 yards per reception for 366 yards. Joe Milton figures to take the reins at quarterback this season after an impressive stint taking over for the injured Hendon Hooker. After Hooker went down with a Torn ACL, Milton stepped in and threw for 10 touchdowns and no interceptions and took the team to the Orange Bowl where they defeated Clemson.

Thornton will be a key weapon for the Volunteers and will look to give the team their third consecutive winning season for the first time since 2016.

As the 2023 College Football season approaches, all eyes will be on these five transfers as they look to make a significant impact on their new teams.

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Pain. This is the second straight week of going 2-3 on picks for Steakspeare’s Spreads. Week one came down to TWO goal-line fumbles by the Broncos. Week two fails on a backdoor cover by a clearly injured Justin Herbert throwing a meaningless touchdown on fourth and goal. The AFC West is killing me. The world seems to be out to get ya boy… BUT I’M NOT GIVING UP YET! We have five more lines, which is five more opportunities for winners. We aren’t far off from winning weeks. We WILL catch a break and we WILL start cashing checks! Four road favorites make up the majority of picks this week. Week 3 of Steakspeare’s Spreads starts now…

Steakspeare’s Spreads Week 3 (4-6 all-time)

Baltimore Ravens (-3) @ New England Patriots

Perhaps this is a trap game. The New England Patriots are a home underdog, which hasn’t happened often under Bill Belichick, but you can’t deny the ability of the Baltimore Ravens. After losing a wild game against the feisty Dolphins, look for the team to get back to its winning ways against what could almost be considered a rivalry. The Patriots haven’t looked like the New England teams of old and the Ravens and a contract-year Lamar Jackson are putting up points in droves.

New England seems to let even the lower-tier teams of the NFL stick around longer than they should. Look for them to continue this trend and for Baltimore to handily cover. Three points aren’t enough to show what Baltimore will do to this team. Look for this line to be bet up to the five range by Sunday.

Buffalo Bills (-5.5) @ Miami Dolphins

The Buffalo Bills are far and away the best team in the NFL through two weeks. This week will be more of a test for Miami than it will be for them. The Miami Dolphins are not a joke team however they’ll now be facing the best defense they’ve seen so far on top of arguably the best offense in the NFL. Josh Allen is also the NFL’s best quarterback facing another quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa that we haven’t yet decided collectively whether he’s “the guy”.

No matter what side of the coin you’re on, you have to be leaning toward Buffalo, so now let’s analyze the 5.5 points. Buffalo hasn’t had a game yet where they won by less than 21 points. So let’s say Miami plays them the best and cuts off two touchdowns from the average winning margin. That’s still seven points. I’m riding Buffalo in this week’s Steakspeare’s Spreads and until the wheels fall off, no spread seems too high for this team. If you’re a true gambler, you may wait because this line may dip before kickoff and you COULD get a better spread for Buffalo (less than 5.5).

Kansas City Chiefs (-6.5) @ Indianapolis Colts

This is more of an indictment on the Indianapolis Colts. If you have trouble with the Jags and Texans, there’s no way you’re beating September Kansas City Chiefs. Kansas City is 11-2 in the month of September with Patrick Mahomes and the average win margin of those 11 is 11.6 points. 6.5 seems like a lot until you see some of the scores KC has had in games including last week (had it not been for a darn backdoor cover it would have been 10 points… still bitter).

The Colts still don’t know when their best defender Shaquille Leonard will be back, their only credible receiver Michael Pittman’s health is a question, and Matt Ryan seems to be an aging quarterback trying to find past glory. Kansas City seems to have not missed a beat even without speedster Tyreek Hill who is now a Dolphin. Mahomes stated in his presser:

“So, I’m sorry to all you fantasy football guys, but it’s going to come from everywhere so you’re going to have to kind of choose the right guy every week.”

Fantasy skepticism aside, he means they can beat you with a myriad of players and schemes. KC wins convincingly here and covers.

Cincinnati Bengals (-4.5) @ New York Jets

The Cincinnati Bengals haven’t looked good, especially after the poor performance in this article from last week (an incorrectly predicted -7.5 point cover), so many may ask, why pick them again? The New York Jets are bad and the Bengals aren’t Cleveland. There will be some people incorrectly choosing the Jets here, as they somehow captured a win in the crazy end-of-game scenario against the Browns.

Pair this with a Bengals team that has been embarrassed in consecutive weeks, one being a national TV game against the Cowboys backup quarterback Cooper Rush, and you have an opportunity for a reset game. The Jets are going to be overconfident and the Bengals will be motivated. There will be only one “Broadway Joe” in New York this week and it won’t be Namath! The Bengals right the ship and cover handily against a team that could still be starting a backup quarterback. The weapons at the Bengals disposal vs the unproven defense of the Jets should secure this game early.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-2.5) vs Green Bay Packers

This is the last game for Steakspeare’s Spreads in Week 3. Take the teams out of this one and look at this number. Tom Brady -2.5 at home? That’s almost insulting to the GOAT. Now keep in mind that receiver Chris Godwin is hurt and receiver Mike Evans is now suspended, but the Green Bay Packers don’t really have anyone that makes us go “wow” anymore since losing Davante. It will be a true battle between two of the best quarterbacks of the last 12 years with minimal weapons for each man.

Brady as a less than three-point home favorite is the reason for the bet. He’s looking to rebound after another headline-filled week at the weird end of his football career. Aaron Rodgers, who may be the ONLY QUARTERBACK to have more puzzling headlines, just doesn’t trust these young receivers enough to potentially hurt the completion stats so I’m going Tampa Bay Buccaneers to cover and win in what could be an entertaining game.

We are only two games back from .500 in Steakspeare’s Spreads so this week is crucial to keep pace. It feels like a winner, what do you think? Follow me on Twitter @Steakspeare and follow @LWOS for all your sports news, polls, and takes.

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The 5 most egregiously underrated Madden 23 players

5. RB James Conner 81 OVR (Cardinals)

James Connor isn’t exactly a superstar player, but the man has a nose for the endzone. In 15 games this past season for the Arizona Cardinals, he scored 18 total TDs including 15 on the ground. In an offense with some high-powered receivers and a dynamic QB, this is no small feat. Connor also accumulated over 1000 total yards receiving and rushing. So why is he almost in the 70s?

He may have benefited from the loss of Deandre Hopkins last year due to his suspension. Pair that with the addition of Hollywood Brown and coming into a season with newly paid QB Kyler Murray, this would be the season for regression, but not last year… Conner deserves a better rating in Madden 23 for the year he had.

4. CB Kenny Moore 87 OVR (Colts)

If you’re a fan of the Indianapolis Colts, you know that Kenny Moore is better than being the 15th best in the league. The team also recently signed a former defensive player of the year Stephon Gilmore who played in 8 total games and failed to have any eye-popping performances this past year. Madden rated him higher than Moore. So not only is he underrated in the game, but they’ve also said he’s the second best corner on his own team.

Gilmore has the accolades and the body of work to have some clout, but Moore is on the rise while Gilmore is on the decline. There’s no doubt that Moore is CB1 for the Colts. I think we are overrating Gilmore as much as we are underrating Moore here. What do you think Colts fans?

3. QB Jimmy Garoppolo 77 OVR (49ers)

The Madden 23 rating here isn’t what we should be concerned with, it’s those rated above Jimmy Garoppolo that make this one a head-scratcher. First, let’s review his body of work. Garoppolo has been to a Superbowl and last year was a game away from returning there. The 30-year-old has a career win percentage of 71. Bad QBs don’t win that much. He’s rated lower than Mac Jones, Ryan Tannehill, and Kirk Cousins. There’s an argument to be made that if Garoppolo had the receivers Cousins had throughout his career (Stefon Diggs, Justin Jefferson, and Adam Thielen) he could be a top-flight game manager.

He finally has a star receiver in Deebo Samuel and is coming off his second best career year with the San Francisco 49ers. Injury history is assuredly factored into this as well as the uncertainty of his job, but I don’t believe Jimmy G is a worse quarterback than those previously listed and that makes him one of the most underrated in the game.

2. MLB Jordyn Brooks 82 OVR (Seahawks)

This rating has to be due to the lack of knowledge people have about how good Jordyn Brooks really is. To start, he now has the opportunity to come out from beneath the shadow of former Seattle Seahawks legend Bobby Wagner, who is now a member of the Rams. Even playing the same position as Wagner on the same team, Brooks had more tackles and tackles for loss. He also tied him in sacks and defended passes.

There’s a reason Seattle was ok with Wagner leaving and that’s because they know that the 24-year-old middle linebacker can secure the role and fill the gigantic shoes. Wagner is rated a 91 OVR, ten higher than Brooks, who acquired better stats. Jordyn is a future X-factor in the game, which could be sooner than later.

1. WR Ja’marr Chase 87 OVR (Bengals)

Full disclosure, I am a Cincinnati native who is a diehard Bengals fan. Be that as it may, Ja’Marr Chase is currently the 20th-ranked receiver in the game. TWENTIETH. We can understand that placing a rookie into the upper echelon of talent in the NFL may be difficult to justify, but being at number 20 is flat-out insulting to the man. Here is a list of names of wide receivers rated higher than Chase. Brandin Cooks, AJ Brown, Tyler Lockett, and Terry Mclaurin. I am not arguing that these players listed aren’t talented, but Chase is better.

His rookie year numbers of 1455 yards and 13 TDs are higher than the CAREER HIGHS of the players I listed. This is no doubt the wrong rating for a receiver who could ascend to the number 1 spot at his current trajectory, but if Madden 23 keeps this rating consistent, it appears that Chase and Bengals fans alike will have to continue to prove the NFL wrong like the previous year. WHO DEY.

Ja'Marr Chase reponds to his Madden 23 rating. 😳 pic.twitter.com/s0MdScNuq5

— theScore (@theScore) July 18, 2022

To quote Nico and Vinz one hit wonder, “Am I wrong”? These seem like easy assertions of underrated players in this game. The good thing about Madden is its willingness to raise and drop ratings throughout the year. My money is on these five as the most likely to see their ratings rise. For the love of all that is good in this world though, fix Ja’marr Chase. Make sure to send all your hotly debated Tweets to my personal Twitter @Steakspeare or to @LWOS.

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This five-round (New York doesn’t pick in rounds six or seven as of yet) Jets mock draft makes the finishing touches on the offensive side of the ball for the Jets while also filling some holes on the defensive side. With this mock draft, the team completes their offseason with the best foot forward and can finally try to compete for the playoffs.

2022 New York Jets Mock Draft

Round 1, 4th Overall: Evan Neal, Tackle, Alabama

Some may ask why would the New York Jets take another offensive tackle with two starting-caliber tackles in George Fant and Mekhi Becton. Well, there are simply two reasons for this.

Evan Neal is arguably the best offensive lineman in his class. There’s even speculation that Neal could be the first overall pick since the Jacksonville Jaguars need to add better protection for their young quarterback, Trevor Lawrence. For starters, Neal offers versatility as he’s played both on the left and right sides of the offensive line with experience at guard as well. He moves very well for his daunting size. Neal was also the best-run blocker in the nation and has All-Pro upside.

Getting to his weaknesses, Neal needs to refine his technique in pass protection with enhanced foot movement. There are also concerns about his massive frame at 6’7″ and 351 pounds entering the NFL, just like former Jets first-round pick Mekhi Becton.

Getting to why the Jets would draft yet another offensive tackle, there are ongoing concerns about Becton’s weight. Becton went down with a knee injury after being rolled up on in the Week 1 matchup versus the Carolina Panthers. The recovery time was only supposed to be about four to six weeks. However, he did not play a snap for the Jets for the rest of the season. Could his weight have complicated the rehabilitation process? Becton also missed time in 2020 due to injuries so it would be a smart idea to have a good insurance policy in case Becton goes down again with an injury.

Another reason why the Jets could take Evan Neal is that Fant turns 30 in July and will be an impending free agent in 2023. Although, Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network reported that the team wants to set up a contract extension. Fant had an adequate first season with the Jets in 2020 but really took off in 2021. In just 15 games, the veteran offensive lineman only allowed eight pressures and just one sack. Fant, primarily known as a good run-blocker, excelled in pass protection this past season. Even if Fant is extended, you can move Neal inside to play right guard.

Round 1, 10th Overall: Garrett Wilson, Wide Receiver, Ohio State

Some say doubling up on offense in the first round for the New York Jets mock draft is quite sketchy considering the number of holes on the defensive side of the football.

Outside of Davante Adams, there is no real game-changing receiver on the free-agent market. Jamison Crowder is likely not coming back and Braxton Berrios is not talented enough offensively to be the team’s third-string wide receiver. The Jets could trade for one but realistically they wouldn’t need to pick a wide receiver in the first round if that was the case.

The Jets fill their need of an X receiver by drafting Ohio State product Garrett Wilson. Wilson’s speed creates excellent separation and makes defenders miss on a consistent basis. Like Elijah Moore, Wilson can play in the slot or on the outside. He’s also good with yards after the catch, something the Jets have truly lacked since Quincy Enunwa last played with the team.

At the next level, Wilson’s route-running will have to get better as he constantly struggled against physical cornerbacks with his passable speed.

2021 Statistics: 11 games, 70 receptions, 1,058 yards, 12 touchdowns, four rushes, 76 yards, one touchdown

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Round 2, 35th Overall: Jaquan Brisker, Safety, Penn State

With this pick, the New York Jets fill their void at safety with Penn State product Jaquan Brisker. Marcus Maye is unlikely to return in a Jets uniform due to tensions with the front office as he’ll probably be looking for a long-term contract elsewhere where he can get more money. Ashtyn Davis is also not starting safety material, so ideally the Jets would sign one safety in free agency and then draft one.

First, Brisker is a physical specimen who could play deep and line up in the box to blitz. When he’s in the box, he has good burst and bend to take on opposing linemen. Brisker can also play in man and zone coverage. He’s also a very-hard hitting tackler and has good range to track the ball from sideline to sideline.

There were times that Brisker would not be set would get burned with speed when he wasn’t set. His hips would tend to stiffen up and would be put on his heels.

2021 Statistics: 12 games, 63 tackles, six tackles for loss, two interceptions, five pass defenses

Round 2, 38th Overall: Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State

The Jets find their much-needed edge rusher opposite Carl Lawson with the 38th pick in Jermaine Johnson. The decision-makers line up the value and the player after both Kayvon Thibodeaux and Aidan Hutchinson were taken with the first two selections of the draft.

For starters, Jermaine Johnson is well-balanced in defending both the run and rushing the passer. Johnson has good vision seeing blocks develop and can control offensive linemen with his long frame and arms. He also has enough energy to slip through gaps and get into the backfield to make tackles for loss. As an edge presence, Johnson wins because of his strong motor and length.

Johnson’s power as an edge-rusher also tends to be unpredictable, both as a positive and negative. He also will have to face bigger linemen in the NFL so there is a worry he might get swallowed up off the edge.

Jermaine Johnson is not a truly astounding player but he’s another guy who will free up his teammates off of the edge for easy sacks.

2021 Statistics: 12 games, 70 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, 12 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovered

Round 3, 69th Overall: Chad Muma, Linebacker, Wyoming

Fans and analysts alike have fallen in love with Chad Muma as a prospect and his stock has only risen because of his performance in the Senior Bowl. Like the safety position, the Jets best option to fill the rest of the starting linebacker spots would be signing one in free agency and drafting one.

Muma offers a little bit of everything as a linebacker. To start, he has great speed and his athleticism allows him to take great angles at attacking the football and ball-carriers. Muma is fantastic at reading blocks and eluding blockers in space. He’s also a consistently great tackler as he led all of college football in tackles with 142.

Although he seems hard-hitting, Muma can be hot-and-cold with his point of attack physicality. There are times when he is caught flat-footed, especially when he’s covering big tight ends.

With the right coaching, Muma can play all three linebacker spots. He won’t be at his most natural spot at MIKE since C.J. Mosley is set to return. This guy has the tools to be a Pro-Bowler one day if he lives up to his potential.

2021 Statistics: 13 games, 142 tackles (led the nation), eight tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three interceptions, two defensive touchdowns, one fumble recovery

Round 4, 108th Overall: Jeremy Ruckert, Tight End, Ohio State

With this selection, the New York Jets mock draft goes with Long Island-born Jeremy Ruckert to fill the tight end position. Ideally, Ruckert could be a team’s second-string tight end but having him as a team’s lead tight end is not half bad. He also grew up a Jets fan and it feels like his dad is campaigning for his favorite team to draft him.

Although Jeremy Ruckert wasn’t Ohio State’s best receiving option, he put up solid numbers. In 2021, he recorded 26 receptions for 309 yards and three touchdowns.

Ruckert is a willing blocker who has good strength and pop versus edge defenders coming in from in-line positions. He’s a monster versus smaller defenders but his enthusiasm could distract him and lose his technique. He tends to go for the home run block and whiffs completely. Ruckert has good hands and catching range. With his standard athleticism, he can make catches in space or in traffic.

The main thing for Ruckert to fix in his game is the overall consistency in his blocking and needs to play more within himself.

2021 Statistics: 11 games, 26 receptions, 309 yards, three touchdowns

Round 4, 114th Overall: Marcus Jones, Corner, Houston

With this selection, the New York Jets go with their first depth pick in cornerback Marcus Jones. The team already has two starting caliber cornerbacks in Bryce Hall and Michael Carter II and will probably look to add a veteran cornerback in free agency. One thing that this new regime did well last season was finding gems in the mid to late rounds (ex: Carter II, Brandin Echols, Jason Pinnock).

Marcus Jones is an experienced cornerback as he spent his collegiate career with both Troy and Houston. Although he’s undersized, he can both man the slot and outside cornerback spots. When taking on blocks, Jones has the physicality to beat his opponents. Jones also has shown great awareness and has good eyes to see what’s in front of him. He’s also a fundamentally good tackler who rarely misses tackles.

On the downside, Jones plays hesitant on the outside and doesn’t trust his eyes allowing for easy completions. He also doesn’t have the size to take on bigger receivers downfield, creating the advantage for the opposition.

With the way this Jets coaching staff has gotten the most out of mid to late round talents, it wouldn’t surprise me if Marcus Jones comes in and serves as a pivotal depth piece for this squad.

2021 Statistics: 13 games, 47 tackles, one tackle for loss, five interceptions, 13 pass defenses, one forced fumble

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Round 5, 145th Overall: Jerome Ford, Running Back, Cincinnati

The New York Jets get their bone-bruising running back in Jerome Ford with this selection. The team currently has a crowded backfield with Michael Carter, Ty Johnson, Austin Walter, and La’Mical Perine. In one of my past articles, I was focused on fixing the defense both via free agency and draft. I used Perine as one of my cap cuts. His role simply declined dramatically as he was more of a fit for Adam Gase‘s offense rather than Mike LaFleur‘s wide zone scheme. The Jets can also opt to cut Ty Johnson and sign a veteran along with drafting Ford.

Jerome Ford has an excellent combination of speed, size and power, and explosion to run off of the outside to run outside the tackles. He logged a jaw-dropping 6.1 yards per carry in his final season at Cincinnati in 2021. Ford also possesses good vision with lightning-quick feet. With his vision, he also displays good patience to see blocks develop and find the open hole, working well for halfback screens.

On the downside, Ford is a solid receiver coming out of the backfield but he’s not a natural catcher of the football. He’s also not a great run or pass blocker as he displays poor technique. Sometimes, Ford is also too hesitant at the line of scrimmage and doesn’t hit the hole immediately.

Jerome Ford ideally can serve as Michael Carter’s 1B at the next level. He will have to improve his blocking at the next level if he wants to be considered a three-down back. Ideally, the Jets don’t need another three-down running back.

2021 Statistics: 13 games, 215 rush attempts, 1319 rushing yards, 6.1 yards per carry, 19 rushing touchdowns, 21 receptions, 220 yards, 10.5 yards per reception, one receiving touchdown

Round 5, 162nd Overall: Cole Strange, Guard, Chattanooga

Another player’s stock who rose during the Senior Bowl, Cole Strange’s nasty edge as a blocker is intriguing for coaching staffs who want fighters on their line. Strange was primarily a left guard in Chattanooga’s run-heavy scheme.

Strange is a fit for the Jets offensive system as he excels both in gap and zone schemes. In run-blocking, his best and most noticeable trait is his quickness. He has good hand placement and good strength to sustain the block. On combo blocks, Strange has good timing and can get to the second level as quick as possible.

As a pass blocker, Strange showcases good quicknesses, pad level placement, with quality lateral agility to slide with the edge rusher. He can anchor well against power rushers with his good core strength. He also showcases good awareness as he knows how to recognize the blitz and can pick up the most dangerous defenders.

At the next level, Strange will have to clean up his footwork and be more disciplined against evasive rushers who can set up their moves with stutters to not open his shoulders prematurely. He also is often late repositioning his hands and feet on blocks, which allows defenders to draw holding penalties on Strange.

Strange is not your typical developmental fifth or sixth-round pick. He can actually one day be an average starting-caliber lineman or be really good depth.

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You could say that Harris is coming into his own. This week, against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football, Harris will rise into superstardom. This game is set up to give Harris the spotlight. The Seahawks are awful against the run.

And Harris is not only going to run all over them, he might just run away with Offensive Rookie of the Year too. 

Najee Harris is poised to Explode on Sunday Night Football

The Seahawks are so bad on defense that at this rate, giving up over 400 yards per game if they keep it up, they will be the worst defense in NFL history. They are not so good against the run either. This week, against the Steelers in Primetime, should be no different. In fact, it might be the worst game of the season for the Seahawks rushing defense when it’s all said and done.

Because the Seahawks’ defense is awful. Just take a look at these numbers.

The Seahawks Run Defense is Horrible

Well, the average Rushing Yards allowed by the Seattle Seahawks defense is 145. The Seahawks allow 165 (on average) rushing yards at home, and in away games, 132. That’s good for 2nd worst defense against the run. Overall, they are the 2nd worst defense in the league, behind the Kansas City Chiefs.

They allow on average 4.5 yards yards per run while allowing on average 4.8 at home and 4.3 away. The Seahawks are on the road this week against the Steelers.

The Seahawks have played the Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, and Los Angles Rams. The first four teams all run the ball pretty well, but the 49ers have been without their top 2-3 running backs. The Vikings also were without Dalvin Cook and still were torched on the ground.

Let’s see how awful the ‘Hawks have been against the run. Starting by yards allowed to running backs. Jonathan Taylor: 17 rushing attempts for 56 yards. He also caught the ball 6 times for 60 yards. Derrick Henry: 35 RA (Rushing Attempts) for 185 yards. He also had 6 receptions for 55 yards. Now the Titans were in overtime, but he ran only 5 times for 25 yards in the extra period.

Alexander Mattison: 26 RA for 112. He also caught the ball 6 times for 59 yards. Trey Sermon: 19 RA for 89. Jacques Patrick hauled in 4 catches for 41 yards (in the game against the 49ers). Darrell Henderson: 17 RA for 82 and 1 reception for 17. Sony Michelle: 11 RA for 37.

The Seahawks have also given up five touchdowns to RB’s, but three of those came in week 2 to Derrick Henry. So the ‘Hawks have been able to keep running backs out of the Red Zone. The last two touchdowns came last week, one apiece to Henderson and Michelle.

They gave up 113 yards on 30 attempts to the Colts (who had Time of Possession won 35-24 roughly) and 143 yards on 29 attempts to the 49ers (who had a TOP 31-39). The TOP is concerning because that means that not only is the Seahawks defense not good, it cant get off the field.

Suffice to say, not good. It’s interesting to note that the Hawks have allowed 33 receptions to running backs for 314 yards. That’s an average of 9.5 Yards Per Reception, which is almost a first down every time the running back has caught the ball. And none of the RB’s the Seahawks have played aside from Nyheim Hines are known as pass-catching backs.

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Najee Harris is the perfect back to expose the ‘Hawks defensive problems

Najee Harris has averaged 3.9 yards per carry this year. He has done so on 78 attempts, which is 8th best in the league. However, over the last two games, Harris has steadily improved, coinciding with his offensive line gelling.

Against the Green Bay Packers, Harris ran 15 times for 62 yards and a YPC (yards per carry) of 4.1. The following week against the Denver Broncos, Harris touched the rock 23 times for 122 yards and a YPC of 5.3, the best game of his young career. Over the last two weeks, Harris has run the ball 38 times for 184 yards and an average of 4.8 YPC.

Against the second-worst defense in the league, expect Harris to exceed the 4.3 YPC mark allowed by the Seahawks defense. He should be consistently hitting his 4.8 YPC from the last two weeks, and he could very well rush for more than that.

The Steelers challenged their offensive line and running backs last week, and they are going to do so again this week, this time asking the line to prove they can do it more than once. And while the Seahawks are going to have their hands full trying to stop Najee Harris on the ground, they also have to stop him through the air as well.

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Najee Harris is a Monster Catching Passes

Najee Harris is quite possibly the best receiving back in the NFL, seriously. Look at this stat line. 28 receptions for 198 yards, and an average of 7.8 yards per catch. He leads the NFL in targets for running backs and has the most receiving yards out of all the running backs in the NFL.

The Seahawks have allowed 33 receptions to running backs for 314 yards, an average of 9.5 YPR (yards per reception). The best receiving back the Seahawks have played against has been Nyheim Hines.

Harris is going to be a real pain to cover and defend through the air for an already banged-up Seahawks secondary and linebacking unit. Harris is set up to have his biggest game of the year so far, and it might be the best game he has this year, at least statistically.

I don’t know how the Seahawks are going to defend Harris. Sticking Jamal Adams on Harris is not going to work, if anything that’s a real mismatch in Pittsburgh’s favor.

Najee Harris is going to tear up the Seahawks Sunday night. He is the perfect running back to exploit the weakness of the Seahawks’ defense and there probably won’t be a thing the Seahawks can do to stop him.

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In the NFC, you have the reigning champs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Green Bay Packers, and the Los Angles Rams. The rest of the conference has more potential and unknown than it does a lock on divisional and playoff positioning. You may have just read that and thought that I am listing off the NFC division winners before I even get into the article and you might as well click away. However, just because those three teams are considered the top three in the NFC, does not mean that they will win their divisions.

The NFL is full of surprises, and that will be apparent in these predictions. Heck, the New York Giants nearly won their division last year and they were definitely nowhere near the best team in their division. Being good on paper does not translate to wins or division titles in the NFL. It means exactly what it sounds like; a paper fantasy. But that paper hits the fan as soon as the season begins and the rest is an unknown. That’s why the NFL is so much fun. Anyone can win, any time, any day, any year.

NFC Division Winners Predictions

NFC East Division Winner: Washington Football Team

This may surprise some, instead of picking the Dallas Cowboys to win. While the Cowboys are absolutely loaded on the offensive side of the ball, the defense is, well, an unknown, and that’s putting it nicely. The WFT has a top-five defense, and a top-two pass rush in the NFL, and it was probably number one until the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Melvin Ingram last week. They added Jamin Davis to their linebacker’s in the draft, the only position that they clearly lacked talent. The offense is led by Terry McLaurin who has been reunited with college teammate Curtis Samuel this offseason.

The Washington Football Team also added Dyami Brown in the draft. Antonio Gibson is an up-and-coming running back and has top-12 potential. The offensive line is solid. The only question is Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback. But, with a very solid receiving core, and great defense to help him out, the Football Team has everything that it needs to win the division. The Cowboys and Philidelphia Eagles have too many questions on defense and quarterback, respectively, for me to put them over the Football Team. The Giants need Daniel Jones to figure it out to win the division, and I’m not a believer. (Speaking of questions, can they pick a name, please?)

NFC West Division Winner: Arizona Cardinals

Now this will come as a surprise. And if I had to bet my savings on this prediction, I wouldn’t be comfortable. Still, out of all NFC division winners, the Arizona Cardinals are my surprise pick. They have almost too much talent on offense, what with DeAndre Hopkins, Rondale Moore, James Conner, Chase Edmonds, Christian Kirk, A.J. Green, and others. Their defense has J.J. Watt, Chandler Jones, Haason Reddick, Budda Baker, Isaiah Simmons entering his second year, and rookie Zaven Collins. They can rush the passer, and have the potential for one of the best ILB pairings in the NFL.

The West is tough, the Rams are going to be hard to beat. So are the Seattle Seahawks, and the San Francisco 49ers. But because the NFC division with the most competition is the West, it gives the Cardinals a chance to sneak in an extra win here or there. It won’t take much else to do it. And it’s not like the Ram’s new quarterback, Matthew Stafford, has proven beyond a doubt that he knows how to win. He is a bit of an unknown too.

NFC South Division Winner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The easiest pick on here, there is not much explaining to do. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are so far ahead of everyone else in their division. The only team that could offer some competition is the New Orleans Saints. However, the Saints don’t even know for sure who their starter is at quarterback, and Michael Thomas won’t be on the field for nearly two months to begin the season.  Is there even anything else to say? The NFC division with the least amount of competition is the South, and the Bucc’s will win the division easily.

NFC North Division Winner: Green Bay Packers

Coming in at second place for “easiest NFC division to win” is the NFC North. Once it was announced that Aaron Rodgers would be returning to play one last season with the Packers, the division was theirs. The Chicago Bears will make it closer than last year, with a new (and better) quarterback and a still good defense.

The Minnesota Vikings will not be an easy egg to crack, they beat the Packers last year and can do it again in 2021. The Detriot Lions won’t offer any real competition, so the Packers will only have to focus on the Bears and Vikings. And until Rodgers leaves, those two teams don’t have any real hope of winning the division. Unlike the West, the division is not so tough that they can sneak in an extra win and come away with the division title. The NFC North is the Packer’s division to lose, and they won’t.

All in all, nothing crazy here with the NFC division winner predictions. Aside from the Cardinals pick, pretty much everything else should not come as a surprise. Well, maybe the Football Team pick. But not all these picks will come true; Rodgers could get hurt, Daniel Jones could have the best season of his life. Maybe the impossible will happen and Tom Brady will fall off a cliff. Who knows what will happen. It’s the NFL, and anything can happen on Sunday.

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During this time is when players, coaches, executives, and owners alike take time off. Most go on vacation with their families before starting the NFL season and reporting to training camp. This time of the year is when all the predictions come out, from who will the Super Bowl to the rookies of the year. 

And there’s a reason for it: nothing else is happening, so you might as well speculate. I thought I would join in on the fun and predict the AFC division winners. For the most part, the division winners seem to be pretty clear.

2021 AFC Division Winners Predictions

The AFC has two clear top dogs; the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs. After that, it becomes much harder to predict AFC division winners.

The Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts will fight it out over the AFC South with the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars leagues behind those two teams.

In the AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Cleveland Browns will all fight to win the AFC North crown. That division is especially close and more competitive than any other AFC division. So, who will come out on top? Let’s start with the easy ones.

AFC East Division Winner: Buffalo Bills

The Bills were able to accomplish in 2020 a goal that had been in the making for 20 years: win the division. Yes, the lack of Tom Brady in the division clearly helped, but the Bills took the steps forward that they needed to. Josh Allen looks like a top-seven quarterback in the NFL and has arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL on his team. Throw in a great head coach, and a good secondary, the Bills have everything that they need.

The Bills will win the division with little fight from the New England Patriots, who will be too busy rebuilding to put up much of a fight. The Miami Dolphins will offer more competition, though that will rely on the growth of Tua Tagovailoa. And the Jets, while trying to put together a strong front seven, are about two years away from competing for the division. They just do not have enough talent to put up a fight for an AFC division title.

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AFC West Division Winner: Kansas City Chiefs

Aside from the AFC East, this seems to be the easiest prediction on this list. The AFC Divisions are all full of competitive coaches and teams, but no one knows how to win his division better than Andy Reid. Ried has led his team to win the AFC West each of the past five years.

And the only thing that might upset my prediction for AFC division winners might be the Las Vegas Raiders. You might have expected me to point out the Los Angles Chargers. However, the Chargers have not had the success against the Chiefs last year the way the Raiders did. The Raiders beat the Chiefs once and nearly did it twice. For whatever reason, they seemed to be the only team that was able to give the Chiefs trouble last year, at least, in the AFC.

And…well, there’s no need to mention the Denver Broncos. Unless, of course, Aaron Rodgers is traded to the Broncos, in which case I’ll need to update these predictions.

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AFC South Division Winner: Tennessee Titans

You may or may not have seen this coming. While I did infer that the Colts would put up a fight against the Titans, I don’t believe that the Colts can wrest the division away from the Titans. They just have too much firepower, and their quarterback situation is much more secure compared to the Colts. The Titans’ biggest question is their defense, and while they added to their pass rush and cornerbacks in the draft and free agency, it might not be enough.

The rest of the AFC South is pretty weak, the Jaguars won’t offer anything other than some occasional “wow” plays from Trevor Lawrence. The Texans might as well forfeit all the games they play this season, I would be surprised if they won more than two games in 2021. The Colts are the Titans’ toughest opponent inside the division. And with questions at quarterback with Carson Wentz, I’ll take the Titans to win it.

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AFC North Division Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers

This one comes as a surprise. Throughout all of the off-season, critics have claimed the Steelers will place 3rd, or even worse, fourth in their division. They are quick to point out the receivers that the Baltimore Ravens have brought in, or the secondary players the Browns have acquired. However, they ignore two things.

One, that the Browns pass rush, especially on the interior, is still lacking. After the losses of Sheldon Richardson and Olivier Vernon, the Browns have done little to replace the two. Thus, the interior of their defensive line is still weak. The Ravens pass rush is similar, except it lacks the star talent of a player like Myles Garrett. Instead, they will return players that had a combined 5.5 sacks in 2020.

The second point is that, like Ried, Mike Tomlin knows how to win the AFC North. He has won it seven times in the last fourteen years and won it last year. Aside from a newly made offensive line, the Steelers return almost every starter from 2020. They added a new running back in Najee Harris and replaced their offensive coordinator.

Paired with a great defense, I think the Steelers will edge out the competition in the AFC North. They swept the Ravens last year, would have swept the Browns if they kept their starters in during week 17, (and almost won that game regardless), and split with the Cincinnati Bengals. I don’t think enough has changed for the Steelers to not repeat as AFC North champions.

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What’s Next For The Falcons After Trading Julio Jones

The Falcons’ New Leaders

The Falcons made changes this offseason by hiring new head coach Arthur Smith and new general manager Terry Fontenot. Many people thought that the Falcons were going to move on from quarterback Matt Ryan this offseason, but he is very much in their plans moving forward. 

Matt Ryan Still In Atlanta

Matt Ryan has been one of the league’s better quarterbacks since he came into the NFL in 2008. Ryan had an MVP season in 2016 and helped lead the Falcons to an NFC Championship, but they would, unfortunately, lose to the Patriots in Super Bowl LI. Ryan is now 36 years old and the last few seasons haven’t gone the way Atlanta would’ve liked them to go. The Falcons went 4-12 in 2020 and it gave them the fourth pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. 

Who Can Take On The Julio Jones Role?

The Falcons took the tight end from Florida, Kyle Pitts, with the fourth pick in the draft. Pitts might be the best tight-end prospect to ever come out of college. Pitts can line up all over the field for the Falcons, and they can play him at tight end or wide receiver. Pitts will definitely be someone that can come in on day one and help out this Falcons team. 

The Falcons might have just traded one of the best wide receivers in the NFL away, but they have an upcoming star in Calvin Ridley. Ridley will be going into his fourth season next year, and he just came off of having 1,374 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns in 2020. Ridley will definitely be Matt Ryan’s security blanket this season, and Ridley could break out as a top 10 wide receiver in the NFL this year. 

The Falcons have some other players that can help Matt Ryan out this season. Russell Gage has been one of the better third wide receivers in the NFL, and he will be looking to upgrade his game this season. The tight end Hayden Hurst will also be an option for Matt Ryan. Even though the Falcons did draft Kyle Pitts. Hurst will definitely still be in the Falcons plans. The Falcons didn’t pick up Hurst’s fifth-year option so he will have something to prove this season.

The Falcons also signed running back Mike Davis who took over for an injured Christian McCaffrey in Carolina last season. Davis had a pretty decent season last year, and he is looking to bring that over to Atlanta. 

How Does The NFC South Look?

The Falcons play in a division that is going to be very hard to compete in. The NFC South could be one of the best divisions in the NFL this year. The defending Super Bowl champions the Tampa Buccaneers should be the favorite to win the division, and the NFC South division winner last year the New Orleans Saints will also be a team to watch out for this season. The Carolina Panthers added a quarterback in Sam Darnold that could finally get them back to competing in the very difficult NFC South.

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  What The Falcons should Focus On In 2021

The Falcons need to focus on the future this upcoming season. The most important thing for the Falcons is to make sure that Arthur Smith can be their head coach moving forward, and the team is improving along the way. I think the Falcons will win more than four games, and I think they will still finish last in the NFC South.

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Not Just Football vs. Soccer – Football Variations You Didn’t Know About

American football 

As iconic as Mickey Mouse or McDonald’s, American football is part of the cultural identity of the US. Played from the grassroots level in high school, through college, up to the top echelons of the NFL, football is the most popular sport in the country, with thousands attending (COVID notwithstanding) and millions more tuning in to cheer on their side or place bets on the action. The NFL is one of the most recognizable franchises on the planet. 

Rugby

The original sport with the word ‘football’ in the name, rugby is a game that requires absolute commitment, courage, skill, and stamina. It finds its traditional fan base across the British Isles and Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, as well as in parts of Europe (particularly France and Italy). Rugby’s reach has expanded due to the Rugby World Cup, and it now enjoys popularity in Asia, particularly Japan. 

European football (soccer)

While the most popular sport on earth is played worldwide with professional leagues in most countries, it’s the big leagues in Europe that attract most of the attention. The quality of soccer played in Europe is dazzling, and big clubs have become major franchises. Soccer is, along with American Football and Rugby, also one of the most, if not the most popular sports to place bets on, and you can find information and insight about all major leagues – EPL, Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 – and other resources online at the blogs dedicated exclusively to betting.

Australian (Aussie) Rules Football

Wildly popular in Australia, Aussie Rules is one of the football variations not for the faint-hearted. Played on an enormous round pitch the size of a cricket field, it is one of the most intensely physical contact sports of them all. Points are scored by kicking the oval ball between the middle goal posts (worth six points) or between a goal and behind post (worth one point). Fans are fiercely partisan, and bettors flock to the bookies to bet on the action.

Beach football

A sport that grew out of sandy kickabouts, beach football variations are now widely played. The difficulty in dribbling the ball on sand means that all manner of acrobatic volleys, overheads, and scissor kicks make the game a great spectacle for observers. There is even a FIFA Beach Football World Cup.

Futsal 

Similar to 5-a-side football, Futsal is played on a hard court, usually indoors. It differs in the shape of the goal, which is more of a box, allowing for scoring above waist height. The other main difference is that the ball is weighted and smaller than a regular ball. This lends itself to close control and dribbling skills, so it’s no surprise that the sport was developed in South America, and remains immensely popular there. 

Street football

A cousin of Futsal, street football is a combination of a regular game with added skills and tricks. Very popular with young people, and entertaining to watch, these football variations have also become internationally recognized and influential, among other things featuring on its own FIFA game by Electronic Arts. 

Swamp football

From the streets to the swamp! Played in boggy ground or full-on swamps, the game is fairly niche, although there are reportedly 300 teams worldwide. Swamp football was invented in Finland and is said to build endurance and stamina. This is because of course, football isn’t meant to be played in swamps. But the resulting carnage looks like a lot of good, unclean fun. 

Bubble football 

What’s bubble football I hear you ask? Well, it’s football, but where all the players are wearing huge inflatable bubbles – of course. This means full body checks, collisions, and plenty of rolling about. Great fun, good for team building or just having a laugh with your friends, some have taken it a bit further, and launched a Bubble Football World Cup, although this is as yet unsanctioned by FIFA. 

Walking football

For older folks, or those that are less mobile, walking football is a great way to get some cardiovascular exercise in, and more interesting than simply walking. It does what it says on the tin – two teams playing football but without running. This is true footballing spirit – it’s a game for everyone. 

Football – and footballs – comes in all shapes and sizes. Whether you’re a fan of traditional sports, or you prefer street skills or fun and ridiculous games, there is bound to be a variation out there to enjoy.

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