RS2I - Forum

The San Francisco 49ers will have three representatives at the 2019 Pro Bowl http://www.49ersfanshop.com/Nick-Bosa-Jersey , and now it appears two of them will be starting. Kyle Juszczyk was voted the starting fullback, while George Kittle was voted in as a reserve. However, Kittle is likely to move into the starting lineup with Tuesday’s report that Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz is withdrawing from the game.Ertz was voted the starter, but given the Eagles brief playoff run, it’s not surprising he is withdrawing. He appeared to play the entire game in Sunday’s Divisional Round loss to the New Orleans Saints, but it’s no surprise he is banged up after 18 weeks of football. He might not need any sort of clean-up surgeries, but he at least wants to let his body heal early in the offseason.Kittle had a monster breakout season in 2018 Nick Bosa Color Rush Jersey , leading the NFL in yards after the catch and setting franchise single season records for receptions and receiving yards by a tight end. Ertz set the NFL single-season tight end receptions record, but Kittle is the more versatile of the two due to his run-blocking skills. It was no surprise Ertz got voted in over Kittle, but it is entirely fair for Kittle to now get the starting nod.Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner is the 49ers third representative, replacing Fletcher Cox who will skip the game due to injury. Akiem Hicks likely will replace Cox in the starting lineup, but if the Los Angeles Rams get to the Super Bowl, Buckner would potentially move into the starting lineup in his place. The San Francisco 49ers wrapped up the 2018 season and they have begun their work to prepare for 2019 free agency and the NFL draft. The coaches and scouts will be in Mobile, Alabama for the Senior Bowl Nick Bosa 49ers Jersey , but there is plenty more to be done as they get ready to build on a disappointing 2018 campaign. We’ll be breaking down plenty of what that means, but in the meantime, we wanted to take a look back at the season that was for the 49ers.Jimmy Garoppolo’s injury sent things south, but there is plenty still to assess. We are going to take a look at every notable addition and provide a forum for grading how that signing, trade, or draft pick worked out.Weston RichburgHow acquired: Signed five-year, $47.5 million contractIt was a rough season for the 49ers most expensive free agent addition. The center is a critical position https://www.49ersfanshop.com/Steve-Young-Jersey , but it has proven to be especially so for Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Alex Mack got the Cleveland Browns offense going in 2014, and then was huge in his second season with the Atlanta Falcons in 2016. I don’t know if any fans thought Richburg could be Mack in this offense, but the 49ers clearly thought he could be the guy they needed in the middle of their offensive line.Instead, he struggled to get much of anything going, and a knee injury in Week 4 hampered him the rest if the season. Pro Football Focus ranked him 32nd among centers in both pass blocking and run blocking. He gave up the third most pressures on the season, ranked 35th in PFF’s pass blocking efficiency stat, and was seventh in penalties committed.Heading into the final game of the season Y.A. Tittle Jersey , head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked what the team has gotten from Richburg this season.Someone brought up his poor ratings in PFF’s assessments. His answer was about what you might expect.I wouldn’t expect Shanahan to dog his center, but it struck me as a rough year for the most part. We’ll be doing some more film analysis on it, so maybe we’ll be surprised. But there seems plenty of room for improvement in year two. Will we see that with a full year and another offseason in the system, or will this end up being a big financial bust? Richburg isn’t going anywhere for 2019, but he’s got some work to do to avoid being a roster casualty beyond that.

Remember when it was called the NFC Beast? Now Daeshon Hall Jersey , it’s a pussy cat.Washington leads the division at 2-2, followed by Dallas and Philadelphia at 2-3, New York at 1-4. The Giants host the Eagles — the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles, who have looked anything but title worthy so far — on Thursday night.Eagles coach Doug Pederson has cited “self-inflicted wounds” as a major reason for injury-riddled Philly’s struggles. His offensive coordinator, Mike Groh, concurs.“We obviously don’t condone those kinds of mistakes,” Groh says. “The guys that are responsible for that Trai Turner Color Rush Jersey , we’ve talked to those guys. Those things can’t happen. I mean, they just can’t happen. That’s simple football. We’ve got to get out of the huddle, we’ve got to get lined up, and we’ve got to know where we’re supposed to be and what our assignment is. We’ve got to do a better job collectively of teaching that, and then when we get out there, everybody has to know what to do and where to line up. Those things have to be eliminated.”The Giants eliminated a lot of those things at Carolina last Sunday and made an impressive comeback, only to fall on Graham Gano’s 63-yard field goal with 1 second remaining.“These guys love to play the game Taylor Moton Jersey , it’s their livelihood, but they certainly play it with great emotion and great passion and they just keep playing,” coach Pat Shurmur says.“As we get better — I think we played better last week — we need to find 63 more yards somewhere to get the win. But we played better and we’ve got to continue on that path. Then eventually it will crack.”Philadelphia, ranked 15th in the AP Pro32, is a 3-point favorite over the No. 28 Giants. The short week probably is more damaging to the Eagles.GIANTS, 22-20KNOCKOUT POOL: Thanks, New England. Very tough choice this week Wes Horton Color Rush Jersey , will gamble on TEXANS.No. 6 Carolina (pick-em) at No. 18 WashingtonGetting Panthers at a bargain price.BEST BET: PANTHERS, 26-20No. 12 Pittsburgh (plus 2 1-2) at No. 5 CincinnatiReally like what Bengals are doing, but pick them here? Sorry.UPSET SPECIAL: STEELERS, 21-20No. 1 Los Angeles Rams (minus 7) at No. 25 DenverNFL’s most talented roster keeps unbeaten season going.RAMS, 30-20No. 2 Kansas City (plus 3) at No. 4 New EnglandExpect a load of points, and a victory for …PATRIOTS, 37-31No. 11 Los Angeles Chargers (minus 1) at No. 16 ClevelandChargers remember that 2016 loss to Browns Stephen Curry Jersey , who went 1-15 that season.CHARGERS, 22-17No. 19 Seattle (minus 2 1-2) vs. No. 31 Oakland at LondonIs Jon Gruden wondering about going back to ESPN booth?SEAHAWKS, 25-20No. 8 Chicago (minus 3) at No. 17 MiamiBears favored on road? Dolphins should have won last week, will this week.DOLPHINS, 19-17No. 29 Indianapolis (plus 2) at No. 24 New York JetsIf only Colts were healthier, this would be upset special.JETS, 30-26No. 22 Tampa Bay (plus 3 1-2) at No. 27 AtlantaInjuries have ruined Atlanta’s season already.BUCCANEERS Shaq Thompson Color Rush Jersey , 31-29No. 26 Buffalo (plus 7) at No. 21 HoustonBills are gutsy, Texans are gutsy and more talented.TEXANS, 21-10No. 10 Baltimore (minus 2 1-2) at No. 13 TennesseeTitans are gutsy, Ravens are more talented. But …TITANS, 20-16No. 7 Jacksonville (minus 3) at No. 23 DallasIs anyone more inconsistent than Jacksonville? Well, maybe Dallas is.JAGUARS, 19-17No. 30 Arizona (plus 10 1-2) at No. 9 MinnesotaSo the Cardinals got a win. Big deal.VIKINGS Kawann Short Jersey , 30-16No. 32 San Francisco (plus 10) at No. 14 Green Bay, Monday nightPackers make too many mistakes to be so heavily favored.PACKERS, 27-20 CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) There has been another coaching shake-up with the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers have parted ways with special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, said a person familiar with the situation. The team has promoted Chase Blackburn to take McGaughey’s place after his contract was not renewed. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Friday on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the news. The Charlotte Observer was first to report the news. McGaughey is the second coordinator to leave since the end of the season. Carolina abruptly fired offensive coordinator Mike Shula two days after the season and replaced him with Norv Turner despite a season in which they finished 11-5 and made the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons. Quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey was also fired. Blackburn has served as the team’s assistant special teams coordinator under McGaughey for the past two seasons. The 34-year-old Blackburn played nine seasons in the NFL, finishing his career with the Panthers in 2014. McGaughey could draw interest from the New York Giants, where former Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman is now in charge. The Cleveland Browns are also looking for a special teams coordinator. The Panthers are coming off a successful season on special teams. They returned a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown this season Vernon Butler Color Rush Jersey , kicker Graham Gano is headed to the Pro Bowl as an alternate after missing just one field goal during the regular season and punter Michael Palardy ranked fifth in the league with a net average of 42.4 yards. Carolina’s kickoff coverage unit only had to cover 12 kickoffs all season because Gano led the league in touchbacks. —

LAKE FOREST Akiem Hicks Color Rush Jersey , Ill. (AP) — Tom Brady has five Super Bowl championships, three NFL MVP awards and more victories than any quarterback in a career spanning nearly two decades.One thing he doesn’t have: a loss to the Bears. Not that he wants one.Brady looks to remain unbeaten against them when the New England Patriots visit Chicago on Sunday.The Bears are 0-4 and one of five teams never to beat him, along with Atlanta (5-0), Dallas (4-0), Minnesota (4-0) and Tampa Bay (4-0). And he isn’t slowing down at 41 years old.“I admire his competitiveness and just following his journey and what he’s had to overcome to be able to get where he’s at,” Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky said. “It’s very admirable and doing it this long this well over a long period of time is pretty incredible.”Brady already had more victories than any quarterback when the Patriots (4-2) beat the Kansas City Chiefs 43-40 last week. That made him the first with 200 regular-season wins.Brady came through , passing for 340 yards and a touchdown while running for another score. He also helped set up Stephen Gostkowski’s 28-yard winning field goal, and the Patriots amassed season highs in points and yards (500).The Bears (3-2) lost 31-28 in overtime at Miami after winning three in a row. They remained in sole possession of the NFC North lead, though star pass rusher Khalil Mack injured his right ankle.Trubisky threw for 316 yards, three TDs and an interception last week. He has 670 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception over the past two games.“I think he’s done a good job of getting ball to the players that are open or in space and letting them be playmakers,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “He has a lot of them. That’s the quarterback’s job is to deliver the ball to the playmakers and let them go. I think he’s done a good job of that. He’s a tough kid, which I respect. That’s what we would ask our quarterbacks to do, to make plays to help our team win, to get the ball to the players that are open and in space. It’s not about stats.”Here are some things to know as New England goes for its fourth straight win and Chicago tries to avoid its first losing streak:MACK HURTINGMack’s ankle would be a big concern no matter who the Bears were playing. The fact that they’re facing Brady and the Patriots only adds to it.Mack stayed in against Miami after being injured early in the game. But the two-time All-Pro’s streak of at least one sack and one forced fumble in each of the first four games ended.With Mack less than 100 percent, the defense wasn’t the same.Chicago never sacked Brock Osweiler. The Bears got run over by Frank Gore for 101 yards. And defenders missed tackles on Albert Wilson , turning two shorter passes into long touchdowns.HOME AND AWAYNew England is 0-2 away from home Bobby Massie Jersey , while the Bears are 2-0 at Soldier Field.With a loss, the Patriots would match their worst road start since 1995. Chicago hasn’t been 3-0 at home since winning its first four at Soldier Field in 2012.ROOKIE WATCHThe neck injury to Rex Burkhead in Week 3 and his subsequent injured reserve designation created a hole at running back for the Patriots. Rookie Sony Michel has stepped up to fill the gap nicely.After not scoring a rushing touchdown over the first three weeks of the season, the Patriots have seven over the last three. Michel has four of them, including two 100-yard rushing games.Michel’s production has helped bolster an offense that has scored 30 or more points in three straight games. The Patriots averaged just 19 points per game in their first three, losing twice. Michel missed all four preseason games with a knee issue and said he’s gotten more comfortable each week.PICKING IT OFFNew England’s defense has an interception in all six games in 2018. It is the first time the team has had six consecutive games with a pick since 2013, when it did it in eight straight.The team record for most games to start the season with at least one interception is 11 in 1985. The Patriots intercepted Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes twice in their 43-40 victory last week.YARDWORKChicago’s Tarik Cohen eyes his third straight game with at least 100 yards from scrimmage.He caught seven passes for 90 yards and ran for 31 against Miami coming off a career performance two weeks earlier vs. Tampa Bay. The second-year pro set personal highs in yards receiving (121) and yards from scrimmage (174) against the Buccaneers. In an X’s and O’s breakdown, we take a look at what makes Ridley such a good route runner." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteWindy City GridironWindy City Gridiron - Being who you thought we were since 2005!Log In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsBearsOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Latest NewsThe Bears DenNotesXs and OsSuperfansFiled under:Xs and OsFrom The Desk Of...NFL DraftArt of the route: Riley Ridley brings route-running expertise to Bears’ offenseNew,22commentsIn an X’s and O’s breakdown, we take a look at what makes Ridley such a good route runner.CDTShareTweetShareShareArt of the route: Riley Ridley brings route-running expertise to Bears’ offenseNew Bears wide receiver Riley Ridley is one of the best route runners in the 2019 class.Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY SportsThe Bears made it a point of emphasis to add talent at wide receiver in 2018. Gone were Kendall Wright, Dontrelle Inman, Cameron Meredith and Markus Wheaton. In their places came Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel and Anthony Miller. Josh Bellamy started in just two games—as opposed to seven in 2018—and Javon Wims was brought on as depth. The Bears signed free agent Cordarrelle Patterson in free agency this March, giving them more talent to an already-talented unit.That made it surprising when they drafted a wide receiver in the fourth round last week.While the position wasn’t one of their biggest needs on the roster, value won over positional need when the Bears took Georgia’s Riley Ridley with the No. 126 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Seen as a consensus Day 2 selection, Ridley’s availability late in the fourth round was a shock to many, with Chicago’s front office among them. Though the Bears have a stacked group of receivers that also includes veteran Marvin Hall and undrafted free agent Emanuel Hall as competition for a roster spot, Ridley stands out as a potential starter for a team who will need help from players on cheap https://www.thebearsfanshop.com/Adrian-Amos-Jersey , rookie contracts as they extend some of their core pieces. One of the most impressive aspects of his skill set is his route-running ability. The former Bulldog shares that similarity with his brother, 2018 first-round pick Calvin Ridley of the Atlanta Falcons. In this article, we will be taking a look at what exactly makes the rookie’s route running so impressive.The first play is a simple hitch route. The cornerback is lined up roughly five yards off of Ridley, giving him some cushion to work with. Knowing he has a lot of room to work with before he has to make a cut, he bursts off of the line of scrimmage with impressive acceleration. The defensive back’s movement to the outside indicates that he think Ridley is headed towards the back end of the end zone on a fade or a lobbed corner route. Fooling the defender, Ridley stems the route well and gets leverage on his man. He is able to drop his hips and stop on a dime, wasting essentially no steps in making a quick move.Ridley does a very good job of understanding the importance of winning leverage as a route runner. On this play, his defender is aligned over his outside foot, which gives him the leverage to cut inside. Using a single move to release from press-man coverage, he plants his outside foot and diverts his route inside to create separation. While the broadcast angle makes it tougher to see the full extent of the route, he is able to accelerate well out of his breaks and make the catch.Ridley’s ability to make sharp cuts and still maintain his momentum is among the best in this year’s receiver class. Going against soft-press coverage on this play, he has leverage on the outside on this play. With his short strides off the snap, though, he is able to close the space in between him and his man, and in doing so, he evens up with defender and creates leverage to go in either direction. After closing the space, he treats the release like a press release Jordan Howard Color Rush Jersey , utilizing a single move cut on the slant. His acceleration after the cut allows him to break free and create a wider window for his quarterback.When given a cushion in coverage, Ridley will make cornerbacks pay more often than not. He bursts off the snap on this play, significantly narrowing the space between him and his man, but still allowing enough room for him to take advantage of the cornerback’s leverage. While he has outside leverage, he flips his hips to the inside with the expectation that Ridley will cut inside for a drag or in route. Still with some space to work with, Ridley cuts outside for a corner route with his defender’s hips committed to covering an in-breaking route. He makes a sharp cut and a hard plant with his inside foot, maintaining momentum at the same time. Even with the late release from his quarterback cutting down the window his receiver created for him, Ridley is able to snag the ball in a contested situation. As an added bonus, he shows that body control to adjust to the ball and stay in bounds to score a touchdown.Ridley best projects as a Z receiver in the NFL, where his abilities to work as a route runner in space will be best suited. This would make him the primary backup to Taylor Gabriel this season. However, he has shown that he can win against press, so he could potentially see some snaps as an X receiver, too. What the Bears plan on doing with their fourth-round pick in his rookie season is still undetermined. Rest assured, though, that Ridley has potential to be one of the biggest steals in this year’s draft.

Tom Brady versus Patrick Mahomes. Drew Brees against Jared Goff.Two high-profile rematches with the Super Bowl on the line.The NFL’s highest-scoring offenses face off in the conference championships next Sunday. Brady leads the New England Patriots into Kansas City to take on Mahomes and the Chiefs Cheap Tommylee Lewis Youth Jersey , and Brees and the New Orleans Saints host Goff and the Los Angeles Rams.“We’ll see how it goes,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “Well-coached, they have a lot of explosive players. We had a tremendous game with them here earlier. That was a long time ago. We’ll see where we are now, see where they are.”New England hosted Kansas City way back on Oct. 14, and Brady passed for 340 yards and a touchdown in a 43-40 victory that was the Chiefs’ first loss of the season.Mahomes’ 75-yard touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill tied it with 3:03 left, but Brady drove the Patriots to Stephen Gostkowski’s 28-yard field goal as time expired.The AFC championship game is Brady’s first trip to Kansas City since he threw two interceptions and was sacked twice in an ugly 41-14 loss on “Monday Night Football” on Sept. 29, 2014.“It’ll be a tough game,” Brady said. “They’re well-coached. They’ve got a good offense. … It’s going to be a lot of fun to go back there and play in a championship game and try to advance.”New Orleans (14-3) and Los Angeles (14-3) played their own wild shootout on Nov. 4. Wil Lutz’s 54-yard field goal got the lead for the Saints with 6:23 left, and Brees found Michael Thomas for a clinching 72-yard touchdown in a 45-35 victory.“When we come out there New Orleans Saints Tyeler Davison Jersey , we feel like no one can stop us,” Thomas said of his connection with Brees. “I just feel like we keep building every week. We have a thing, and it’s hard for the other team to stop.”The Saints averaged 31.5 points this season on their way to the NFC South title, ranking third in the NFL behind the Chiefs (35.3 points per game) and Rams (32.9) and ahead of the Patriots (27.3).It’s the first time in the Super Bowl era that the NFL’s top four scoring offenses all reached the conference championships.But New Orleans’ defense played a crucial role in its 20-14 win over Philadelphia in the divisional round on Sunday. Marshon Lattimore had two interceptions, including one on the Eagles‘ final drive, and the Saints erased an early 14-0 deficit.“We were real calm and poised and we knew we were going to get things done,” Brees said.Los Angeles advanced by powering its way to a 30-22 win against Dallas on Saturday. C.J. Anderson had 123 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and Todd Gurley rushed for 115 more yards and another TD.“Our sense of focus and the sense of urgency have gone up tremendously,” guard Rodger Saffold said.New England (12-5) also showed off its rushing attack in a 41-28 win against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Sony Michel rushed for 129 yards and three TDs.The Patriots scored on their first four possessions on their way to a 35-7 halftime lead.“The ability to execute early and get things going sets a lot of things up Cheap Tyeler Davison Youth Jersey ,” wide receiver Julian Edelman said. “It shows that we had a good week of practice, executed well in practice and it carried over and went into the game.”Kansas City (13-4) is headed for its first AFC title game in 25 years after rolling to a 31-13 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday. Mahomes, who is one of the favorites for the NFL MVP award, passed for 278 yards and rushed for a score in his playoff debut.“This is what we work for,” Chiefs linebacker Dee Ford said. “We just want to keep this thing rolling. Enjoy it now but keep it rolling.” Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley is adamant that he’s going to be a quarterback in the NFL, and he does not want to change positions. Perhaps hearing a Super Bowl-winning coach compare him to a Super Bowl MVP could make him reconsider.Saints coach Sean Payton told Peter King for that McSorley reminds him of Julian Edelman, a three-year starting quarterback at Kent State who became a seventh-round pick of the Patriots in 2009 and is now the reigning Super Bowl MVP.“When I looked at him, my first thought was, ‘I wonder if he can be Edelman?’ I wondered if he could be a versatile kind of guy New Orleans Saints Kaden Elliss Jersey ,” Payton said.Dozens of college quarterbacks have moved to other positions in the NFL. Some, like Edelman, have had long and successful careers. Others, like former first-round draft pick Matt Jones, became huge disappointments. But it certainly can be done, and it won’t be surprising if McSorley does it, even if right now he wants teams to think of him as a quarterback.

Earlier Cheap Abdurrahman Ya-Sin Youth Jersey , Stampede Blue unveiled 6 Top Free Agents for the Indianapolis Colts to consider.Now it’s time to highlight "7 Sleeper Free Agents" that may pique general manager Chris Ballard’s interest..."Earlier, Stampede Blue unveiled 6 Top Free Agents for the Indianapolis Colts to consider.Now it’s time to highlight “7 Sleeper Free Agents” that may pique general manager Chris Ballard’s interest in the upcoming free agency period.7. Darius Philon, DT, Los Angeles ChargersPhoto by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty ImagesOriginally a 2015 6th round pick out of Arkansas, Darius Philon emerged as a solid starter for the Chargers last season, recording 33 tackles, 4.0 sacks, and a forced fumble in 16 games (13 starts). The 6’1”, 300 pound defensive lineman flashed impressive interior pass rush push in his first season as a regular starter for the Bolts defense and could be a potential diamond in the rough for any suitor in free agency:Per Pro Football Focus (subscription), Philon was their 72nd best rated interior defensive lineman with a +67.8 grade overall, but that may not paint the entire picture of his effectiveness. For perspective, here’s one of Philon’s sacks from last season:Stilly only 25 years old, there seems like there could be a bit of “Denico Autry” to Philon’s game, as a young defensive lineman who simply hasn’t quite come into his own fully yet and might just need a new change of scenery to get there. 6. Bashaud Breeland, CB, Green Bay PackersPhoto by Dylan Buell/Getty ImagesThe 2014 4th round pick of the Washington Redskins saw last year’s free agency derailed because of a lingering foot injury—but still had interest among NFL suitors, including the Colts. Once fully healed, Bashaud Breeland signed with the Green Bay Packers in late September of last year and eventually recorded 20 tackles, 4 passes defensed, and 2 interceptions (1 for a touchdown) in 7 games (5 starts). Breeland isn’t the best player at his position in free agency, as fellow cornerbacks like Ronald Darby, Bradley Roby, and even the Colts very own Pierre Desir are all arguably better, but unlike his free agent peers, he could come at a significant discount. For a Colts front office that appears willing to let Desir “test his market”, Breeland may not be a bad consolation price without having to spend $10M+ annually on a new starting cornerback. Still only 27 years old and with his foot injury fully behind him, Breeland could be poised to be a nice bounceback candidate at cornerback. 5. Deone Bucannon, LB, Arizona CardinalsPhoto by Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesHaving been selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the 1st round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Deonne Bucannon saw immediate success in the desert as a PFWA All-Rookie Team member before falling out of favor the past few seasons—and subsequently, onto the trade block. He’s coming off a season for the Cardinals in which he had 38 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble in 13 games (6 starts). At one point, at an undersized 6’1”, 211 pounds, Bucannon looked like the modern prototype at linebacker with his ability to help cover spread offenses and make plays all over the field—as a defender who oftentimes, looks more safety than linebacker. However, with a new coaching regime, Bucannon was eventually phased out in Arizona. The former first rounder still has a lot of natural ability and could be similar to other first round reclamation projects that Ballard has taken a chance on—including former Colt Barkevious Mingo and current Pro Bowl tight end Eric Ebron. The only question is Indianapolis Colts E.J. Speed Jersey , can Bucannon regain his earlier career form or is he closer now to the player that struggled in coverage and in run defense when trying to play/learn a new defensive scheme over the past few seasons? As Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce showed in the playoffs, the Colts could use another linebacker/safety hybrid who can hold up in coverage over the middle of the field.While some fans are rightfully high on 2nd-year linebacker Matthew Adams, there could still be a starting spot up for grabs next to Darius Leonard and Anthony Walker going forward.4. Shaquil Barrett, DE, Denver BroncosPhoto by Jonathan Bachman/Getty ImagesSigned as an undrafted free agent out of Colorado in 2014, Shaquil Barrett has emerged as an effective situational pass rusher during his tenure in Denver—bringing a lift off the Broncos bench. The 6’2”, 250 pound defensive end is fresh off a season where he recorded 28 tackles, 3.0 sacks, and a pass defensed in 13 games. He was playing in the Broncos pass rushing rotation behind the likes of Von Miller and first rounder Bradley Chubb last season. Per Pro Football Focus (subscription), he was their 22nd best rated edge defender with a +75.9 grade—including a +72.5 pass rushing grade. Having had only 38 team sacks last season—which was only the 19th most in the league, the Colts could certainly use more pass rushing help. Barrett is only 26 years old, and while he won’t be confused as an “alpha dog” pass rusher anytime soon, he’s the type of young pass rusher who could contribute 7-10 sacks per season for the foreseeable future in a more regular role—and no one should be surprised. 3. Adrian Phillips, S, Los Angeles ChargersPhoto by Rob Carr/Getty ImagesSigned as an undrafted free agent out of Texas in 2014, Adrian Phillips has quickly gone from special teams standout to 2018 Pro Bowler. The 5’11”, 210 pound hybrid safety recorded 94 tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception in 16 games (7 starts) for the Chargers defense last season. He’s a bit similar to Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl safety Micah Hyde, who got his start on special teams, but is a “Swiss Army Knife” at safety who can do a lot of things well. With Clayton Geathers as a free agent, the Colts could be in the market for safety help, and the team could look to add a hybrid type regardless—as Travis Kelce tore their secondary apart in the playoffs as mentioned. Asking Phillips to be a “Kelce stopper” would be simply unfair, but with his versatility and highly regarded locker room presence, he could be a nice addition to the backend of the Colts secondary and special teams. 2. Chris Conley, WR, Kansas City ChiefsPhoto by Kevork Djansezian/Getty ImagesThe former 2015 3rd round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs could never quite get fully going under head coach Andy Reid, but is blessed with impressive physical tools at 6’3”, 205 pounds—having run a blistering fast 4.35 forty time and posted a vertical jump of 45.0 inches at the NFL Combine 5 years ago. In 2018, Conley had 32 receptions for 334 receiving yards (10.4 ypr avg.) and 5 touchdown receptions in 16 games (13 starts). Of course, Chris Ballard should be all too familiar with Conley, as he previously served as the Kansas City Chiefs Director of Football Operations in 2015 when he was drafted. For the record, I can’t see Ballard committing big years and dollars to Conley, but if he gets into a 1-year, Ryan Grant “prove it” territory on a new deal, he’d make a lot of sense for the Colts as a potential athletic flyer. Only 26 years old, Conley has the type of big body and deep speed that would theoretically be a perfect complement to star wide receiver T.Y. Hilton—that is, if he can finally fulfill his unreached potential. The young wideout has to improve his overall consistency. 1. Ronald Darby, CB Womens E.J. Speed 2019 Jersey , Philadelphia Eagles James Lang-USA TODAY SportsOkay, one could easily make the case that Ronald Darby doesn’t belong on this list at all as arguably the best cornerback option in this year’s free agent market.However, he’s coming off a torn ACL, isn’t a household name, and if nothing else, this provides me a perfectly good excuse to write about him. As a former 2015 2nd round pick of the Buffalo Bills, the 5’11”, 193 pound cornerback has quietly emerged as one of the better young cornerbacks in football—when healthy. He recorded 43 tackles, 12 passes defensed, and an interception last season in 9 starts before a season-ending torn ACL derailed yet another productive season. Per Pro Football Focus, Darby was their 39th best rated cornerback before the injury with a +70.6 grade overall. The advanced grades web site notes that since entering the league, Darby has forced 50 incompletions, which ranks 12th among all cornerbacks with at least 100 targets over that span. The Philadelphia Eagles want him back, and it’s being speculated that the 25 year old cornerback could command at least $12M annually on his next deal. As mentioned, the Colts have their own financial decisions to make regarding fellow free agent cornerback Pierre Desir. However, Darby is arguably the better talent, and the Colts might make the more prudent decision of investing in the slightly younger cornerback, Darby—if push comes to shove on a lucrative multi-year deal. The Indianapolis Colts lost 31-13 to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, ending their miraculous season. The Colts performed admirably down the stretch, winning 10 of their last 12 games after starting the year 1-5. The offense and defense clicked in the back half of the schedule despite an overall lack of marketable names on either side. This demonstrates truly remarkable work by Frank Reich and the coaching staff, despite the disappointing loss. Prior to the season, I wrote a piece where I highlighted which players I thought would fit into certain superlatives. I also revisited these rankings halfway through the year and made predictions for the rest of the year. Some of these predictions I hit the nail on the head. Others..... not so much.In the third and final installment of the season, I will look back at my previous picks along with making additional picks for this offseason/reviewing this season. Breakout PlayerPostseason selection: Pierre Desir(Previous selections: Quincy Wilson, Braden Smith)There were so many players who could have filled this spot but nobody broke out more than Pierre Desir late in the season. Desir entered this season as a journeyman cornerback on his fourth team in six professional years. He slowly started earning more and more playing time as the year progressed and was the team’s top man-to-man corner by year’s end.Desir only totaled 81 tackles, 15 pass deflections, and 1 interception in his four years playing prior to 2018. This season however, he totaled 79 tackles, 8 pass deflections, 1 interception, and two forced fumbles. On top of that, Desir lined up in man-to-man coverage against top receivers such as DeAndre Hopkins and Amari Cooper towards the end of the year. He held Hopkins to just 9 catches for 73 yards in two matchups and Cooper to just 4 catches for 32 yards in one.Comeback PlayerPostseason selection: Tyquan Lewis(Previous selections: Andrew Luck, Anthony Castonzo)Obviously the biggest comeback player this season was Andrew Luck but Lewis stepped up big after missing the first nine games due to a toe injury. The second round selection was a great boost to the pass rush as he was highly productive from his first start. He also added a lot of talent to the run defense and helped the defense preserve their perfect regular season of not allowing a 100 yard rusher.Lewis finished his rookie campaign with 13 total tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, 8 quarterback hits, and 2 sacks. Promising start for the rookie in only seven games.He was a vital piece down the stretch in helping the Colts get to the playoffs. With clutch pressures and sacks late in games, along with being a steady run defender, Lewis bounced back well from his foot injury and looks to be a vital piece going forward. The only question mark will be if he can stay healthy in the future.Rising StarPostseason selection: Kenny Moore II(Previous selections: Jabaal Sheard, Darius Leonard)This may be a shocking selection for some— not for those who know me— but Kenny Moore II is a stud. Much of the fanbase was confused when Moore made the opening day roster as not many people singled out his play in the preseason. Moore quickly shut up all the doubters with a near pick 6 on the first play of the 2018 season against the Bengals. From then on, he has been simply amazing playing almost every cornerback role along the way.Moore finished the year with 77 tackles Indianapolis Colts E.J. Speed Jersey , 4 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 11 pass deflections, and 1 forced fumble. He also put together an impressive playoff stat line of 18 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks, 1 interception, and 3 pass deflections. The do-it-all player of the Colts’ defense, Moore got better each and every week. He lined up at outside corner, slot corner, and even as a linebacker in some sets. He was the best run defender in the secondary all season long and became one of the team’s most effective pass rushers late in the year. The sky is the limit for him going forward.Remember Me PlayerPostseason selection: Nyheim Hines(Previous selections: Clayton Geathers, Jack Doyle)Hines was incredible to start the year for the Colts and put together an insanely good rookie season. Serving as the team’s scat back and number two ball carrier behind Marlon Mack, Hines was effective whenever he touched the ball this season. His ability to pass protect improved a lot as the season went on and he became a trusted option for Luck on crucial downs. For the year, Hines rushed 85 times for 314 yards and 2 touchdowns with 3.7 yards per carry. As a receiver out of the backfield, he finished with 63 receptions for 425 yards and 2 touchdowns while averaging 6.7 yards per catch.The reason he comes in as the Remember Me player is because he seemed to fade down the stretch as the Colts got closer and closer to the playoffs. He only had 3 total touches for 24 yards in the entire playoffs for the Colts. I still believe he has a major role in this offense going forward as a pass catching running back. Keep an eye on this guy for next year.Needs To Bounce BackPostseason selection: Kemoko Turay(Previous selections: Ryan Kelly, TY Hilton)Turay seemed to be a breakout player earlier in the season as his pass rushing prowess and skillset were on full display against the Eagles, Redskins, and Bills. He showed off a variety of pass rushing moves and athletic ability that led many— including myself— to believe that he has star potential. After Lewis returned from his injury though, Turay seemingly faded away, receiving less and less snaps each week.For his rookie campaign, Turay finished with 15 tackles, 13 QB hits, 4 sacks, and a forced fumble in 4 games started. He also finished as the rookie with the highest pressure rate in the 2018 draft class according to Pro Football Focus. Turay’s fade into a depth player came quickly and a bit out of nowhere. The coaches explanation for the move was just that players such as Lewis and Al-Quadin Muhammad were simply outplaying him down the stretch. Whatever the reason though, he has to turn it around in 2019 and become the player that we all know he is capable of becoming.Darkhorse PlayerPostseason selection: Dontrelle Inman(Previous selections: Jordan Wilkins, Kemoko Turay)Is there a better story this season than Inman for the Colts? With the Colts needing depth and reliable hands in the receiving core, they signed Inman in mid-October after a disastrous loss to the New York Jets. He was able to stabilize a weak group of receivers and become the team’s number two wide out and main target on third downs.Inman finished the year with 28 catches for 304 yards and 3 touchdowns while averaging 10.9 yards per catch in nine regular season games with the team. In the two playoff games, Inman caught 8 passes on 8 targets for 108 yards and a touchdown.Inman was exactly what the Colts needed when he came in after the Jets’ game. He brought consistency and dependability to a receiving core that desperately needed it. His connection with Luck cannot be understated as he was one of the most important players on the team down the stretch. He was not only a darkhorse player for the rest of the 2018 season but he is also a darkhorse candidate for a strong 2019 if he returns to the team.Under the Radar PlayerPostseason selection: Matthew Adams (Previous selections: Nate Hairston, Kenny Moore II)Adams was yet another Chris Ballard selection who emerged this season and still remains a bit under the radar. The 7th round rookie started the year fairly slow, not logging a single defensive snap in the first four weeks of the season. As the season progressed though, he began seeing more playing time before taking over the SAM linebacker spot midway through the year. Since taking over that spot, Adams has made a bunch of big plays for the team in his “starting” role.For the year, Adams finished with 33 tackles, 5 tackles for a loss, 2 QB hits, and a fumble recovery. Great rookie year for a player that wasn’t expected to even be drafted.Adams has been really good at SAM backer since taking the role over halfway through the year and it still amazes me that people aren’t giving him more recognition. He is an excellent run defender and has the athleticism to improve in the passing game. He may not be a starter— SAM backers play roughly 35-40% of the snaps in a Tampa 2— but he is a reliable young player who is only getting better each game.

It’s time for us to look at each matchup and give one reason why the San Francisco 49ers can succeed at each of their opponents and one reason why they cannot." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesNiners Nation homepageHorizontal - WhiteNiners Nationa San Francisco 49ers communityFollow Niners Nation online:Follow Niners Nation on TwitterFollow Niners Nation on FacebookFollow Niners Nation on InstagramLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchNiners Nation main menuFanpostsFanshotsSectionsLibrary49ersOddsShopAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections 49ers Salary CapLevi’s Stadium Events49ers Transactions49ers Injury News49ers Press Conferences & Conference CallsOne reason why the 49ers will beat the Bengals (and one reason why they won’t) New Tarvarius Moore Jersey ,16commentsIt’s time for us to look at each matchup and give one reason why the San Francisco 49ers can succeed at each of their opponents and one reason why they cannot. PDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:One reason why the 49ers will beat the Bengals (and one reason why they won’t) TwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailSan Francisco 49ers training camp is just around the corner! It’s time for us to look at each opponent and provide a reason for and against the 49ers beating them. We’ve included a poll for the community to vote on whether they expect a win or a loss and will see what kind of prediction this provides at the end.Week 1 @ Tampa Bay BuccaneersThe 49ers follow up their opener with another away game against the Cincinnati Bengals. You can read our opponent preview to see what the Bengals have been up to. On paper, it’s hard to see a situation where the 49ers lose this game. If the team has improved like we all hope it has, games like this should be won handily. This is the team that had one of, if not the worst defenses in 2018. The worst defense against Kyle Shanahan? Oh man. Reason for: Bengals secondaryThere are a ton of great stats to bring up here. The Bengals atrocious run game where one guy (Joe Mixon) got 1,168 of the team’s 1,682 total yards and the back-half-ranked pass blocking (24th on PFF) come to mind first. I’m going with the pass defense. In 2018 it was ranked dead last, allowing 4414 receiving yards to opponents. And what did the Bengals do in the offseason to counter this? Drafted a cornerback in the seventh round and signed B.W. Webb. That’s not going to fix everything with a defense that bad.Paging Jimmy Garoppolo. The 49ers have to be loving their chances with the pass game on this one. While they can run the ball to oblivion as well against the 29th-ranked rushing defense, the air can be the most fun. If the Bengals decide to clamp down on the 49ers run game, there’s no stopping Dante Pettis, Deebo Samuel, and others from ripping them apart. Reason against: Bengals offensive lineTrying to find a reason that the Bengals win this game outside of subjects like “The 49ers blowing leads again” and “Season trainwreck by Week 2”is an exercise in frustration Kentavius Street Jersey , but I’m going to pin this on the offensive line. The line allowed 37 sacks and 71 hits. Not anything incredible, but satisfactory. They lost their rookie draft pick offensive tackle Jonah Williams to a torn labrum, which carries problems of its own, but doesn’t shatter the entire line. So why the line? Well, remember that thing I said about the line needing time to gel and get consistent? It’s Week 2, I think this is one of those games where the consistency shows itself. The Bengals haven’t done much in the run game and won’t do much by Week 2 against the likes of Arik Armstead and other good run defenders, so they’ll turn to the air. If they can hold the 49ers off pass rushers off, the secondary could have a rough day with passes getting completed. This is dependent on Andy Dalton actually completing passes and their wide receivers getting open, something easier said than done. And really, I’m grasping at straws here. I don’t see how the Bengals win this game. If the 49ers have improved like what all indications have shown, this is a team they should beat. But I’ve been wrong before. Good morning folks C.J. Beathard Jersey , and happy Monday to you. The 49ers host Monday Night Football tonight against the lowly New York Giants in a game that carries significant implications for the 2019 draft. As of publication of this article, there has been no news of moving the game due to smoke concerns, and I doubt any changes are made due to the proximity to game time.These two teams have combined for 3 wins entering into the week 10 matchup, and one of the squads will be starting it's third string QB. The 49ers, ravaged by injuries seasonlong, will also be without Jaquiski Tartt and Reuben Foster on defense, and short safety valve WR Pierre Garcon. In a game underscored by draft positioning as it's primary source of intrigue, it's not too wild to consider Nick Mullens' ability to handle an abbreviated WR corps as one of the more important storylines.Following tonight's game, the 49ers will enjoy a bye week, during which time, we can only hope that our injured list finds itself shorter.Week 10 keys to victory | Inman Joshua Garnett Jersey , Mercury | Biderman, Sac BeeMarcell Harris' long road to recovery | Chan, NBC Sports Bay AreaNext men up | Madson, NinerswireInjury updates | Madson, NinerswireNick Mullens will be without safety valve Pierre Garcon | Madson, Ninerswire Options to replace Raheem Mostert | Chan, NBC Sports Bay Area

adidas Ozweego Tech Release Info - JustFreshKicks The adidas Originals Ozweego has been a fan-favorite since the updated version finally landed earlier this year. Now Cheap Replica Sneakers , adidas is doubling down on the modern take with a change in materials. Check out the Ozweego Tech, coming soon. The adidas Ozweego was first introduced into the Three Stripes catalog back in the 1990s as a long-distance running sneaker. Since then, the look has been reworked time and time again, most notably by longtime adidas partner Raf Simons. However, the Originals division took matters into their own hands this year, remodeling the vintage runner into a more modern, lifestyle appropriate look, and it’s been a hit so far. Now, adidas is back to the drawing board for a new version of the modern-day Ozweego, swapping out mesh base layers and leather overlays for a single-material neoprene upper.The revamped iteration of the modern adidas Ozweego delivers an interesting new take on the silhouette. Arriving in two tonal colorways Cheap Replica Sneakers From China , Clear Brown and Clear Granite, the single-material upper’s layering are achieved through stitching to create the Ozweego’s usual system of overlays and support. Due to the nature of the material, the shoes have a soft sheen to them, appearing somewhat metallic on feet, and will likely fit a little snugger than before.ADIDAS OZWEEGO TECH RELEASE INFORMATIONadidas’ new neoprene version of the Ozweego, subtitled Tech, is scheduled to release later this month on August 26th, 2019. The switch-up of materials will see a slight hike in price, rising from $110 to $140, and will be available from both adidas and select retailers. Check out the official images below for a better look replica Yeezys , and stay tuned to JustFreshKicks for more adidas release news.Nike Adds The Latest Zoom Freak 1 Onto Their "Graffiti" Lineup - JustFreshKicks While the recent Nike Kyrie 5 debuted in similar fashion, the Nike Zoom Freak 1 takes on a less subtle approach. Unlike its counterpart, this iteration boasts a more vibrant design. Although the Nike Zoom Freak 1 is relatively fresh, the Swoosh brand wasted no time. Featuring a street-style look, the pair parallels the artistic form onto the sleek design of the shoe. Much like its Kyrie 5 counterpart, the latest Zoom Freak 1 is also a GS exclusive. While both silhouettes are intended for performance on the court, the shoes can be worn as a casual wear.In addition to the graffiti lettering on its signature reversed Swoosh, the style can also be found throughout the tongue. One of the most interesting and unique characteristics is the embroidered “freak” stitched onto the heel. The model has an overarching grey color with hints of white to accentuate the tone-downed model. Rarely do GS sizes get this much attention to detail and is definitely one of the go-to sneaker on and off the court.NIKE ZOOM AIR FREAK “GRAFFITI” RELEASE INFORMATIONThe latest iteration is set to drop this upcoming October 1 with a price tag of $100. Expected to release through Nike.com and select retailers, the pair will coincide with the Kyrie pair as well.

The Panthers drafted Christian McCaffrey in the first round of the 2017 draft because he can help an offense in a lot of ways and he’s spent this season showing off that versatility.McCaffrey ran for 101 yards on Sunday to reach 1 https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com … lyn-Jersey ,080 rushing yards for the season and he also caught 12 passes. That leaves McCaffrey with 106 catches on the year and that breaks Matt Forte’s record for the most receptions by a running back in a single season.McCaffrey also broke Steve Smith’s franchise record for catches by any player and got some family bragging rights. His father Ed once had 101 catches in a season, but https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com … ayo-Jersey , as McCaffrey pointed out after the game, the old man still has his son beat when it comes to winning Super Bowl rings.Head coach Ron Rivera suggested the team wouldn’t push for McCaffrey to break any of those records next year as he said they’d look for ways to lighten the load of a player who has rarely come off the field in 2018. Safety Mike Adams isn’t the only veteran defensive back who won’t be back with the Panthers in 2019.Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported that the Panthers are releasing cornerback Captain Munnerlyn. PFT has confirmed the move.Munnerlyn signed a four-year deal through 2020 when he returned to the Panthers in 2017 that called for a $2.9 million salary and $5 million cap hit in 2019. The Panthers will realize $2 million in cap savings if they make Munnerlyn a pre-June 1 cut and $3.5 million if they go the post-June 1 route.Munnerlyn was a Panthers seventh-round pick in 2009 and moved to the Vikings as a free agent in 2014 before landing back in Carolina. He appeared in all 16 games last season https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com … ess-Jersey , usually playing as a nickel corner, and recorded 47 tackles https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com … son-Jersey , two sacks and an interception.Giants General Manager Dave Gettleman had the same job with the Panthers when Munnerlyn returned to the team and the Giants could use some help at corner this offseason, so that could be a possible landing spot for Munnerlyn once he’s officially free to move on to another team.

The 49ers asked defensive end Nick Bosa about his controversial Twitter statements before they drafted him Arik Armstead Jersey , but they say his tweets didn’t affect the decision to take him second overall.Team President Al Guido told Bloomberg that Bosa was asked about his praise for Donald Trump and scorn for Colin Kaepernick on Twitter, but the team didn’t consider the issue in deciding to draft Bosa.“Not at all,” Guido said, via the . “It doesn’t mean we didn’t do background on the kid, doesn’t mean we didn’t bring it up and ask him the question, but look — if we’re going to get in a world where we’re not drafting Republicans or not drafting Democrats. . . . The way that I think about it is, ‘he’s a young kid, he had a perspective.’ That perspective is fine, some of other stuff he did I think was a little insensitive and needs to learn from.”Guido said Bosa had good answers to those questions and the 49ers aren’t concerned.“Honestly Frank Gore Color Rush Jersey , I spent no time worrying about it, I know John Lynch spent no time worrying about it, we worry about the kid himself, not necessarily his political leanings,” Guido said.Bosa said before the draft that he would stop tweeting about politics because he might get drafted in San Francisco, a liberal city. That’s fine if it’s his choice, but it’s not a choice he has to make. He’s entitled to express his opinions, and the 49ers were happy to draft him even knowing that some fans in the Bay Area may not care for those opinions. Alliance of American Football co-founder Bill Polian said Thursday that the startup league had talked to Colin Kaepernick. Now, comes word from Barry Wilner of the Associated Press that the former 49ers quarterback asked for $20 million to consider playing.Kaepernick’s representatives did not immediately answer a message from the AP. Kaepernick would have provided a boost to the league https://www.49ersfanshop.com/Bradley-Pinion-Jersey , but his contract demand doesn’t fit with the financial structure of the league. All players get the same three-year, non-guaranteed contracts worth $250,000. Kaepernick is holding out hope of a return to the NFL, which has 16 quarterbacks making an average of at least $20 million per season, according to overthecap.com. He has not played since 2016 and has a collusion grievance against the NFL.The AAF also talked to Tebow, who declined in order to continue playing baseball in the New York Mets organization.

MONTREAL (AP) — Evan Bush made six saves Bobby Wood Jersey , including one from the penalty spot, and the Montreal Impact rallied to beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 on Wednesday night.Maximiliano Urruti scored and Montreal (11-14-4) got an own goal from Vancouver as it snapped a four-game winless skid in MLS and moved into seventh in the Eastern Conference.Yordy Reyna scored and missed a penalty for the last-place Whitecaps (6-14-9), who were all but eliminated from playoff contention. Maxime Crepeau made eight saves against his old club.Article continues below ...Both Vancouver and Montreal have five games remaining in the regular season.Bush stopped Reyna on a penalty that ended up being re-kicked after Bush and Tosaint Ricketts were guilty of encroachment. Reyna re-took the penalty and Bush shut the door a second time.The Impact then scored twice in a two-minute span.Urruti’s play in the wide areas led to the first goal in the 35th minute. The Argentine striker stripped Derick Cornelius of the ball down the sideline and fired a low cross into the box that went off Henry and in.Urruti gave Montreal the 2-1 lead in the 37th on one of his game-high seven shots. A cross from Bacary Sagna narrowly missed Orji Okwonkwo before falling to Urruti, who chested the ball down and volleyed it into the far corner of the net from the edge of the 6-yard box. Maurizio Sarri has decided to go down a dangerous road by using a post-match news conference to criticize the attitude and character of his Chelsea players.Memories were suddenly revived of a TV interview that Jose Mourinho gave after a game in December 2015, accusing the Chelsea team of “betraying” him. Mourinho was fired a few days later.Indeed, when the dust finally settles on the result that prompted Sarri’s outburst — the 2-0 loss at Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday — the Italian might do well to look at his own failings instead of heaping the blame on his underperforming players.He is the one playing the world’s best defensive midfielder, N’Golo Kante, out of position.He is the one deploying one of the world’s most lethal wide forwards https://www.thetopsoccer.com/usa/paul-arriola-jersey , Eden Hazard, as a center striker often playing with his back to goal.He is the one not willing to adapt when he sees midfield playmaker Jorginho — the on-field personification of the so-called “Sarri-ball” approach — getting increasingly over-run.And he is the one fielding a defensive system seemingly not suited to the players. In Sarri’s four-man backline is David Luiz, a center back better as a sweeper, and Marcos Alonso, a left back much more effective as an attacking wing back.At a time when Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and now Manchester United are playing exciting and attacking football, Chelsea is playing a ponderous Zack Steffen Jersey , predictable and easy-to-defend style reminiscent of United under Louis van Gaal. Chelsea has scored just eight goals in its last nine games.Worryingly for Chelsea and its fans, Sarri doesn’t seem willing to change.It was after a comprehensive loss to Arsenal in September 2016 that Antonio Conte ripped up Chelsea’s lineup and formation, with a switch from 4-3-3 to 3-5-2 sparking a 13-match winning run in the Premier League that took the London club to the title.Sarri is wedded to a 4-3-3 formation with Jorginho at the base of the midfield, directing the play and the tempo. There’s no chance of Kante reverting back to his best position and the midfield often appears rigid, with Jorginho not yet attuned to the often frenetic pace of English soccer after his offseason move from Napoli.Where a change is likely to come is up front with Gonzalo Higuain reportedly close to joining from AC Milan, which would see the Argentina striker link up again with Sarri after they were together at Napoli. That would mean Hazard moving back out wide, where he is more dangerous, and running at defenders.Still Cheap Soccer Jerseys , Sarri is gambling on a striker in the 31-year-old Higuain who, like Jorginho, has never previously played in England and has hardly been in great form. He has scored eight times in 22 appearances this season.It seems a short-term fix for Chelsea’s biggest problem, coming at a time when 18-year-old prodigy Callum Hudson-Odoi might be on his way to Bayern Munich because of a lack of game time.Time will tell if Sarri’s stinging rebuke of his players has his desired effect. He’ll hope the first signs come on Thursday in the second leg of Chelsea’s English League Cup semifinal against Tottenham, which leads 1-0.World-class and international players like Hazard, Kante, Cesar Azpilicueta and Willian might not like their professionalism being questioned, though. Their reaction will be telling.SALAH UNDER FIREAway from his prolific scoring exploits Cheap AC Milan Soccer Shirts , there’s another side to Mohamed Salah’s game that is putting the Liverpool forward in the headlines.Salah went down in the area under a challenge from Crystal Palace defender Mamadou Sakho in Liverpool’s 4-3 win on Saturday. The penalty appeal was waved away and Palace players weren’t happy. The incident sparked a reaction on social media and among pundits.Among them was former England striker Alan Shearer, who said Salah’s action was “pretty embarrassing really.”The Egypt international has won — and subsequently converted — three penalties in recent weeks following fouls by Newcastle’s Paul Dummett, Arsenal’s Sokratis and Brighton’s Pascal Gross. Each player made contact with Salah, though he did go down easily.Burnley manager Sean Dyche also described as “bizarre” the decision by the Football Association to not give Salah a retrospective ban for what Dyche perceived as a dive against Newcastle.

The Dallas Cowboys didn’t draft themselves a starting safety Allen Hurns Color Rush Jersey , but that doesn’t mean they can’t get on by pulling of a trade with the Oakland Raiders to acquire Karl Joseph."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Dallas Cowboys NewsDallas Cowboys GeneralHow the Amari Cooper trade could still land the Cowboys a former first-round safetyNew,196commentsThere is only one box left to check off this offseason and here’s how to do it.CDTShareTweetShareShareHow the Amari Cooper trade could still land the Cowboys a former first-round safetyIsaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY SportsIn a draft that seemed to line up perfectly for the Dallas Cowboys in terms of landing one of the top safeties available, the team opted to let them pass by in favor of high-upside defensive tackle Trysten Hill. You can’t fault the team for choosing talent over need, but the safeties available were pretty darn good. In fact, it came down to Hill or Virginia safety Juan Thornhill, but Rod Marinelli favored the under tackle from Central Florida.Hill is a nice add to the defense, but the team still lacks talent at the safety position. You can go up and down the roster and see some pretty nice depth at just about every position with the lone exception of safety. And with another draft in the books https://www.dallascowboysfanshop.com/Ma … ins-Jersey , what are the Cowboys to do?Enter the Oakland Raiders, the Cowboys favorite trading partner. In just a year’s time, the Cowboys have made three deals with the Raiders acquiring Amari Cooper, Jamize Olawale, and Jihad Ward. It just so happens that the Raiders have made some pretty nice upgrades to their safety position this offseason. First, they signed free agent Lamarcus Joyner to a four-year, $42 million deal. Then Chris Jones Jersey , they used one of their three first-round draft picks to grab strong safety stud Johnathan Abram. Combine those guys with 2016 first-round pick Karl Joseph and just like that the Raiders are crowded at safety.The new moves by Oakland could relegate Joseph to a reserve role. It’s been an interesting start to his career with the Raiders. Early struggles have made some believe he was a first-round bust. During the first half of last season, he was hardly being utilized. He logged only 55 snaps over five games in the first half and was even a healthy scratch at times. That’s not promising.Many thought he would be the next victim of the Jon Gruden fire sale and shipped off before the trade deadline. The second half of the season turned out to be completely different as Joseph came on strong.Joseph has been on the Cowboys radar for a while as he was one of their 2016 official pre-draft visitors. He’s far more valuable to the Cowboys in a starting role than on the bench in Oakland. Joseph still has one more year left on his rookie deal as well as a fifth-year option that could be exercised. This could buy the team a couple years to sort things out at safety while having a good strong safety for relatively cheap. It seems like a great deal for Dallas, but why would the Raiders be interested in doing this?Oakland entered the draft with several needs. They addressed a couple of their biggest needs at defensive end and running back by drafting Clelin Ferrell (4th overall) and Josh Jacobs (24th), but still have a couple glaring holes. Allow me to introduce exhibit A. Notice anything unsettling about this ESPN depth chart if you’re a Raiders fan?The Raiders drafted nine players this past weekend, but not a single one of them was an offensive linemen. That’s a problem.Oakland could mitigate this issue by trading for Cowboys offensive lineman La’el Collins. The Cowboys would love to retain Collins for the long haul, but the financial aspects likely mean this will be the last year he’s playing for Dallas. And with the team using a third-round pick to select Connor McGovern, the Cowboys now have an abundance of depth on the offensive line.A trade like this makes a lot of sense for both teams who are deep at one position Terrance Williams Color Rush Jersey , but are lacking in another. If Joseph or Collins aren’t expected to be a part of their current team’s future, then it would be a great opportunity to ship them off to help strengthen a weak spot on the team. All this was made possible by the team’s new draft acquisitions, including Abram who coincidentally was the pick the Raiders received from the Cowboys for Amari Cooper. Wouldn’t that be a nice little act of fate if the Cooper deal had this type of trickle down effect? It’s week 15 and we’re coming down to the wire. The Cowboys are in Indianapolis in hopes of clinching the NFC East today with a win against the Colts or losses by both the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins. Before we get to the action, let’s take a look and see who will be inactive for the Cowboys and Colts!Cowboys inactives There have been a few changes to this list for the 8-5 Dallas Cowboys. Zack Martin will be INACTIVE today for the first time in his football career. Martin has yet to miss a football game in high school, at Notre Dame, and as a Dallas Cowboy. Rookie Connor Williams will start in his place after taking over for him against the Eagles last Sunday. There was some optimism that Tavon Austin would be available to play today after practicing in limited fashion this week, but unfortunately https://www.dallascowboysfanshop.com/Brett-Maher-Jersey , he will be inactive again recovering from an injured groin. For a second-consecutive week, Taco Charlton will be a healthy scratch after fully recovering from a shoulder injury. The former first-round pick’s career has not started out all that great in Dallas, and losing his active roster spot to 2018 fourth-round pick Dorance Armstrong is salt in the wound for Taco. David Irving has still yet to see the practice field working back from a high-ankle sprain and dealing with personal/family issues off the field. Sean Lee and Randy Gregory will be ACTIVE today. Sean Lee has missed the last six weeks recovering from a hamstring injury, but will be active and available to play. Lee will likely see a reduced workload, but getting him back and in shape heading into January will be key for aCowboys playoff run. Gregory will be active today after missing a few practices last week dealing with a family issue. Colts Inactives For the Colts, the big name to keep an eye on was wide receiver T.Y. Hilton. It looks like he’s going to tough it out and give it a go. Veteran safety Mike Mitchell will be inactive today, along with rookie’s Daurice Fountain and Skai Moore. Starting right guard Jeff Heath Jersey , Mark Glowinski will be inactive today for the Colts. Glowinski has played extremely well this season, his absence will be a blow to a very improved offensive line.The Cowboys can lock up the division today with a win on the road, but they will have to do so with a make-shift offensive line. Can the Cowboys power through some unfortunate injuries to win the NFC East? Or will they leave it in the hands of their division rivals to hand it to them? We will find out here soon! Go Cowboys.

The hit HBO show “Game of Thrones” that racked up a record 32 Emmy nominations became such a cultural force that it even unintentionally spawned a slogan for one of the NFL’s most tradition-rich divisions.“Defend the North” was a familiar mantra for the mythical characters in the vicious drama. That might as well be the theme of this season for the Chicago Bears Marcus Cooper Jersey , who became NFC North champions last year for the first time since 2010 behind a ferocious defense led by All-Pro edge rusher Khalil Mack.The Bears were the league leader in turnovers forced and points allowed and ranked third in sacks and yards, the biggest reason they went 12-4 in coach Matt Nagy’s first season. Mack, acquired in the blockbuster trade with Oakland eight days before the 2018 opener, is back to headline the unit along with fellow Pro Bowl picks cornerback Kyle Fuller, defensive tackle Akiem Hicks and safety Eddie Jackson.The Bears have plenty of defensive company in this division, though.The Minnesota Vikings, who stumbled to an 8-7-1 record after reaching the NFC title game, kept their deep, experienced group intact for coach Mike Zimmer’s critical sixth year on the sideline. Hey, they even use a wintry, “Game of Thrones”-style pregame hype video in the build-up to kickoff at U.S. Bank Stadium.Sure, the Green Bay Packers are still quarterback Aaron Rodgers‘ team. Their biggest offseason move was to hire Matt LaFleur as their new coach, hoping to have found the NFL’s latest under-40 offensive mastermind. They used free agency to find three new starters on defense, however, including signing safety Adrian Amos away from the Bears. One source of optimism for a turnaround in Titletown from a 6-9-1 finish starts with the acumen of defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, who stayed on staff after the changeover from the fired Mike McCarthy.Don’t forget the Detroit Lions, either, despite their 6-10 record in 2018. They’ve begun their second year under coach Matt Patricia , the defensive coordinator for two Super Bowl-winning teams with New England, with a spruced-up front four. They picked up former Patriots defensive end Trey Flowers in free agency and ex-Packers defensive tackle Mike Daniels https://www.thebearsfanshop.com/Kyle-Fuller-Jersey , a 2017 Pro Bowl pick who became a salary cap casualty, right before training camp.With the Bears (third), Vikings (fourth) and Lions (10th), the NFC North sported three of the top 10 defenses in the league last season in terms of yards allowed. Here’s a closer look at the NFC North quartet in 2019:NEW BOSSThe Bears again ought to be difficult to advance against, with offensive disrupters well established at each of the three levels even if they can’t maintain their torrid takeaway pace of 2018 with 27 interceptions and nine fumbles recovered out of 19 fumbles forced. Chuck Pagano replaced Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator after Fangio took the step up to become Denver’s coach.“We understand what the expectations are. It’s really change the changeable, accept the unchangeable, right? And remove whatever’s not good,” Pagano said.Assuming more progress by quarterback Mitch Trubisky and running back Tarik Cohen in Nagy’s creative scheme, the position that could make or break Chicago’s chance of repeating as division champion for the first time since 2006 is kicker. For now, that person is Eddy Pineiro. He emerged from the drawn-out competition to replace Cody Parkey, who infamously missed a 43-yard field goal in the one-point loss at home to Philadelphia in the playoffs.ON THE REBOUND?The Vikings have failed to finish with a winning record twice in five years under Zimmer (7-9 in 2014 and 8-8 in 2016), and they followed both flops with a division title the next season. They’ll lean on Zimmer’s proud, seasoned defense to try to extend that trend, with all but one starter returning. This group has become so tight-knit that linebacker Anthony Barr couldn’t bring himself to leave in free agency, reneging on a verbal agreement with the New York Jets after a sleepless night in March.The offense under quarterback Kirk Cousins disappeared down the stretch last year. Zimmer’s first remedy was to hire former Denver and Houston coach Gary Kubiak as an offensive adviser. Cousins has a new center, Garrett Bradbury, and a dynamic tight end, Irv Smith Jr., thanks to the first two rounds of the draft. Ultimately, Cousins must produce more of those clutch performances in critical games that his NFL resume has so far lacked.“I’m pretty much a .500 quarterback in my career so far Bryce Callahan Color Rush Jersey , and I don’t think that’s where you want to be,” Cousins said. “That’s not why you’re brought in or why people are excited about you.”QUENCHING FOR THE QBRodgers has entered his 15th season and his 12th as the starter in a new system under LaFleur, who was the offensive coordinator for Tennessee last year. While the once-potent offense in Green Bay has not been nearly as dangerous in recent seasons, the onus falls just as hard on Pettine’s defense to help the Packers return to the playoffs after a rare two-year absence.They signed pass rushers Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith along with Amos in free agency, and they used first-round draft picks on outside linebacker Rashan Gary and safety Darnell Savage.“It’s just a different feel on that side of the ball,” Rodgers said. “I feel like there’s a little more juice.”TAKE IT AWAYThough the Lions lost seven of their last 10 games last season, the defense finished strong with a total of 27 points allowed over the final four games. Premier run stuffer Damon Harrison Sr. will have Daniels and Flowers on either side, a strengthened front that ought to help the Lions improve upon their second-worst-in-the-league total of 14 turnovers forced last year, and give quarterback Matthew Stafford more support.“It’s going to be scary to see what they can do. From a back-end standpoint, that’s exactly what you want,” said free safety Andrew Adams, one of several additions to the secondary. “We’re all licking our chops.”PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:Vikings, Bears, Packers, Lions BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — George Taliaferro, the star Indiana running back who in 1949 became the first black player drafted in the NFL when George Halas and the Chicago Bears took him in the 13th round, has died. He was 91.The university spoke with Taliaferro’s family about his death in Mason, Ohio, senior associate athletic director Jeremy Gray said Tuesday. Other details were not disclosed.Taliaferro was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981. In the NFL Josh Bellamy Jersey , he played seven positions and earned Pro Bowl honors in 1951-53.He was the leading rusher on Indiana’s 1945 Big Ten championship team that went 9-0-1, the only undefeated team in school history. During his four years in Bloomington he led the Hoosiers in rushing twice and passing once.It wasn’t an easy transition — the segregation in Bloomington was jarring — and Taliaferro told the Indianapolis Star he once called his father in Gary, Indiana, and suggested he might come home and work together in one of the U.S. Steel plants. His dad wouldn’t hear of it.“I lay awake all night trying to figure … out … why … he wouldn’t help me,” Taliaferro told the Star. “And it came to me: That for the first 18 years of my life, every day I left my father and mother’s house to go to school, they told me two things: ‘We love you; you must be educated.’ It came to me that the other reason for my being at Indiana University … on the campus at Bloomington … Indiana — was to be educated.”Indiana said university President Herman Wells once intervened with a local restaurant to make sure he and Taliaferro would be able to eat there. When the manager balked, Wells said he would make the restaurant off limits to the student body and the manager relented.The Bears selected Taliaferro with the 129th overall pick — a potential dream come true for the Gary native who grew up following the Bears. The problem was that Taliaferro had signed a week before the draft with the Los Angeles Dons of the rival All America Football Conference, which had welcomed black players since its debut in 1946.Taliaferro told the Dayton Daily News last year he thought about returning his $4,000 signing bonus to the Dons in hopes it would clear the way for an NFL career, but then spoke with his mother.“She said, ‘What did you promise your father?'” Taliaferro told the Dayton Daily News. “I knew right away. I had to be a man of my word, so I never even bothered getting back to George Halas and the Bears.”Taliaferro rushed for 472 yards and five touchdowns and passed for another 790 yards and four scores in his rookie season with the Dons in 1949. The AAFC merged with the NFL the following season and Taliaferro ended up with the New York Yanks for the 1950 season. Taliaferro rushed for 411 yards and four touchdowns and caught another 21 passes for 299 yards and five scores for the Yanks, leading the team in touchdowns and helping them to a 7-5 record.Taliaferro spent five more years in the NFL. He totaled 2,266 rushing yards, 1,300 receiving yards, 1,633 passing yards and accounted for 37 touchdowns while playing for franchises in New York, Dallas https://www.thebearsfanshop.com/Anthony-Miller-Jersey , Baltimore and Philadelphia. He lined up at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, punter, kick returner, punt returner and defensive back.Taliaferro later earned a master’s degree at Howard University, taught at Maryland and served as dean of students at Morgan State. At Indiana, he also spent two decades serving his alma mater in a number of capacities, including as a special assistant to the president, IUPUI chancellor and dean of School of Social Work. He was also active in helping the Children’s Organ Transplant Association.Flags on the Bloomington campus were lowered to half-staff through this weekend’s homecoming game against Iowa. Taliaferro’s No. 44 will replace the traditional logo on Indiana players’ helmets for the game and there will be a moment of silence before kickoff.“He was a mentor to me, and, like all great mentors, was often one who was appropriately challenging me,” athletic director Fred Glass said. “Simply put, he was a great man and will be greatly missed.”Indiana said Taliaferro is survived by his wife of 67 years, Viola, and two daughters.Funeral arrangements were pending.