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The New Orleans Saints are coming off of an awful offensive showing in a listless 13-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys last Thursday. It was their worst offensive production since the Sean Payton/Drew Brees era began in 2006 Cheap Larry Warford Youth Jersey , finishing with just 178 total yards. The Saints still possess one of the league's most balanced and productive offenses, ranking in the top ten in all major categories and averaging nearly 35 points per game. Thursday's game was the first time New Orleans had been held under 30 points in five games, and only the second time they had scored less than 24 points all season. They now face a Tampa Bay team that has been hit hard by injuries defensively, has allowed nearly 30 points per game and almost 400 yards an outing. The Buccaneers defeated the Saints in New Orleans on opening day, but the Saints still scored 40 points and passed for well over 400 yards. Let's take a look at how well the New Orleans offense matches up against a battered Tampa defense in this rematch. SAINTS PASS OFFENSE VS. BUCCANEERS PASS DEFENSE Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty ImagesThe Saints offensive struggles against Dallas started up front, with an offensive line that had dominated opponents all season. Quarterback Drew Brees was sacked twice, took multiple hits, and was under constant pressure. Left tackle Jermon Bushrod and center Max Unger struggled in particular, but the entire line will be looking for a bounceback performance. They have still allowed their quarterback to be sacked only 12 times on the year, and often gives him a clean pocket to operate. Brees is still completing his passes at an almost 76% clip, well on pace to surpass his own single season completion percentage record of 72% set last year. Despite a game ending interception last week, Brees has still thrown 30 touchdown passes against just 3 interceptions for a passing attack that averages 272 yards per outing. The team's top receiver, and one of the best wideouts in the NFL, is Michael Thomas, who has 91 catches for 1,120 yards and 8 touchdowns. Thomas is a physical target who makes a nearly impossible catch look routine, and is a focal point of the Saints attack. When Thomas is contained, as he was last week due to constant muggings from Dallas' Byron Jones, the Saints other receivers have not stepped up consistently. The team's second leading receiver is running back Alvin Kamara Womens Terron Armstead 2019 Jersey , who has 65 receptions for 555 yards, but the dropoff in production after that is concerning. Tight end Benjamin Watson has the third most receptions on the team with 28, but has just two catches in the last four games. Rookies Tre'Quan Smith (22 catches, 371 yards, 4 touchdowns) and Keith Kirkwood (7-113, 2) have each had some bright moments, but have been inconsistent. Kirkwood and backup tight end Dan Arnold were the only two wideouts or tight ends other than Thomas to even have a reception against the Cowboys. New Orleans did sign productive veteran Brandon Marshall last month, but he has yet to be activated for a game. Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty ImagesTampa Bay has one of the worst pass defenses in the league. They've surrendered over 274 yards per game and a league second-worst 28 touchdown passes. They have the talent up front to pressure quarterbacks though, and have 33 sacks, along with 77 quarterback hits on the year. Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul leads the Bucs with 11.5 takedowns, but can pressure well with ends Vinny Curry, William Gholston, and Carl Nassib, along with getting good interior rush from tackles Gerald McCoy and Vita Vea. The units behind these talented linemen have been handcuffed by injuries, poor play, and bad game plans however, leading to the dismissal of coordinator Mike Smith before the midseason mark. The Buccaneers expected to come into the season with one of the most athletic linebacking units in the league, but have been without Kwon Alexander and Kendell Beckwith, who are on injured reserve. Lavonte David is still one of the better linebackers in the league Cheap Terron Armstead Youth Jersey , but the unit has been somewhat disappointing. The Buccaneers secondary has been plagued by injury and poor play as well. Cornerback Vernon Hargreaves and safety Chris Conte have been on injured reserve since early in the the year, M.J. Stewart has missed the last five games, and cornerbacks Brent Grimes and Carlton Davis are questionable this week after missing the last game with leg injuries. Tampa Bay has just 7 interceptions this season, with 4 coming in last week's victory over Carolina. Safety Andrew Adams had three of those picks, and the Bucs have a talented safety tandem in Justin Evans and Jordan Whitehead to go along with solid corner Ryan Smith. Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports~ Matchup to Watch: Saints offensive line vs. Buccaneers defensive line ~The Saints offensive line has bullied opponents most of the season, usually taking complete control of games early and setting the tone for the offense. Brees' two sacks suffered against Dallas were from the edge, but he was under constant duress up the middle. Michael Thomas looks to have a big advantage against a beat up Bucs secondary, and opportunities should be there for the other receiving weapons. The offensive line must give Brees a clean pocket to work through his reads, something they've struggled with against the Bucs in the past. Left tackle Terron Armstead is expected to miss another game with injury, so Bushrod will look to rebound, and right tackle Ryan Ramczyk injured his arm late in the Dallas loss. They will look to contain Tampa's talented edge rushers, but the Saints need improvement from their interior. Unger and guards Andrus Peat and Larry Warford must win their battles with McCoy and the big Bucs tackles to not only allow Brees a clear pocket to work, but also open holes for the team's talented running backs. SAINTS RUN OFFENSE VS. BUCCANEERS RUN DEFENSE Kim Klement-USA TODAY SportsFor the first time since week two,the Saints were held to under 100 yards rushing last week, finishing with just 65 on the ground against Dallas. They have still averaged 127 yards per game rushing, and their 19 scores on the ground are first in the league. Alvin Kamara leads the way with 742 yards rushing yards and 11 scores, and Mark Ingram has added 467 yards and 4 touchdowns. The two have averaged 4.7 per carry, and can threaten a defense both outside and between the tackles. Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY SportsTampa Bay has allowed five yards per carry and 121 rushing yards per game, ranking in the bottom third of the league. They've allowed six consecutive opponents to rush for well over 100 yards Womens Thomas Morstead 2019 Jersey , and have given up over 145 on the ground in the last three games. Tackles McCoy,Vea, and Beau Allen are big bodied defenders in middle, and linebackers David, Adarius Taylor, and Kevin Minter flow to the ball carrier well. The Bucs defense struggles to keep edge containment though, and their tackles have not been consistently winning the inside battles, often allowing runners to break into the open field. Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports~ Matchup to Watch: Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram vs. Buccaneers LB's ~The Buccaneers have had no answer for Kamara, one of the most versatile players in the NFL. He has averaged 140 yards from scrimmage in three games against Tampa Bay, while scoring 7 touchdowns. Ingram is the team's power runner, but has the athleticism to make plays in the open field. Lavonte David is Tampa Bay's leading tackler, and is an incredibly athletic defender. Adarius Thomas, Kevin Minter, and Devante Bond have replaced the injured Alexander and Beckwith, but have struggled to keep up with athletic backs. In five games against versatile backs such as the Panthers Christian McCaffrey, Giants' Saquon Barkley, Bears' Tarik Cohen, and Bengals' Joe Mixon, the Bucs have allowed an average of 156 yards from scrimmage and 10 total touchdowns. WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty ImagesNew Orleans suffered a surprising loss at home to Tampa in week one New Orleans Saints Cameron Meredith Jersey , but the offense still put up 40 points, as Brees completed 82% of his passes for 439 yards and three touchdowns. Thomas caught 16 of those throws for 180 yards and a score, while Kamara added 9 receptions for 112 yards and another touchdown. The Saints passing attack has been much more productive at home than on the road. Brees has thrown for over 300 yards four times at home, but only once on the road, during a week three win at Atlanta. He has thrown for 20 of his 30 touchdowns at home, while averaging 320 yards passing per game. On the road, Brees has still competed 73% of his passes, but has only averaged 223 yards and thrown for 10 scores. The New Orleans offense is most successful when they've been able to establish a running game early, but particularly so on the road. The Buccaneers defense has shown some improvement since Mark Duffner replaced Smith as defensive coordinator in October. Tampa Bay has allowed less than 20 points in three of the last four games, and has forced six turnovers in the last two contests. The offenses they faced were far less explosive than New Orleans, however, who has the capability to beat opponents in a variety of ways. The Saints may look to test the Bucs corners early with play action passes. We should see another heavy dose of both Kamara and Ingram, both in the running game and through the air, and the Saints will certainly expect to return to the powerful balancethat has made them so successful this season. Will the Saints be able to wait all the way to pick #62?"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections InterviewsNew Orleans Saints SatireWho Dat HistoryCanal Street Chronicles TutorialPOLL: Where (not who) will be the first Saints’ pick in the 2019 NFL Draft?New,25commentsWill the Saints be able to wait all the way to pick #62?CDTShareTweetShareSharePOLL: Where (not who) will be the first Saints’ pick in the 2019 NFL Draft?Jerome Miron-USA TODAY SportsThe 2019 NFL Draft is almost upon us. If you’re a fan of the New Orleans Saints, you know that General Manager Mickey Loomis is big fan of draft day trades, but to say that he is apprehensive of trading down, might be the biggest understatement of 2019.The Saints have not traded down in the NFL draft since 2007 when they traded with the Detroit Lions to move down eight spots from 58th to 66th in exchange for an additional fifth round pick.On the other hand, the Saints love trading up. Since the 2007 trade with the Lions Womens Cameron Meredith 2019 Jersey , Loomis and the Saints have traded for a draft pick (either trading up or trading future picks for a current year’s selection) 13 times. Of recent note, the Saints traded up in the 2017 NFL Draft to select Alvin Kamara in the second round and traded up in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft to select Marcus Davenport.The trade for Davenport has left the Saints without a first round pick in 2019. Coupled with a strong finish in the 2018 season, and the Saints’ first draft pick is pick #62 in the second round.So with this information, we turn to your, Who Dat Nation, to predict where the Saints will actually make their first selection of the 2019 NFL Draft? Do you think, despite a roster that is essentially complete, the Saints will be patient enough to wait all the way to pick #62? Or do you think they trade up, as seems to be their m.o., for an earlier pick? If so, how far up do they climb? Or, in what would amount to one of the biggest surprises of the Sean Payton Era, will Mickey Loomis trade down in an attempt to acquire additional picks?Vote in the poll. Explain in the comments. Send me presents.

A list of rookies Womens Donnie Lewis 2019 Jersey , undrafted free agents, and first-year players on the Browns’ roster at rookie minicamp."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Daily Dawg ChowRufio’s Playbook28 players from Browns’ roster at rookie minicamp New,3commentsA list of rookies, undrafted free agents, and first-year players on the Browns’ roster at rookie minicamp. EDTShareTweetShareShare28 players from Browns’ roster at rookie minicamp Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY SportsA little bit ago, we wrote about the 30 players who are participating in rookie minicamp on a tryout basis. Now Cleveland Browns Donnie Lewis Jersey , it’s time to look at the 28 players at rookie minicamp who are currently on the Cleveland Browns’ roster. These 28 players consist of the team’s 7 draft picks, 15 undrafted free agents, and 6 players who are not rookies.The Browns’ 7 draft picks don’t have to worry about much during this rookie minicamp, but the other 21 players below have to make sure they have a sharp camp -- otherwise, one of those 30 tryout players could end up taking their roster spot.2019 NFL Draft Class NamePosHt.Wt.Exp.CollegeNamePosHt.Wt.Exp.CollegeUndrafted Free Agents (Signed) NamePosHt.Wt.Exp.CollegeNamePosHt.Wt.Exp.CollegeFirst-Year Players Participating in Camp NamePosHt.Wt.Exp.CollegeNamePosHt.Wt.Exp.College Team cracks the Top 10 after the opening week of free agency."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Daily Dawg ChowRufio’s PlaybookBrowns ascending in NFL.com’s Power RankingsNew,63commentsTeam cracks the Top 10 after the opening week of free agency.EDTShareTweetShareShareBrowns ascending in NFL.com’s Power RankingsScott R. Galvin-USA TODAY SportsIt was fairly easy to find the Cleveland Browns in the various NFL power rankings from 2016 though the midway point of the 2018 season.Under former head coach Hue Jackson Youth Joe Schobert Jersey , the Browns were routinely at or near the bottom of the rankings on a weekly basis. But times have changed since general manager John Dorsey told Jackson that his services were no longer needed. Remove the worst head coach in NFL history, add in a few more talented players, and suddenly Browns fans have to actually look closely to see where the team sits. Such is the case with Elliot Harrison at NFL.com, whose rankings after the first week of free agency show the Browns in ascension:For those keeping score at home, the Browns are in front of AFC North Division rivals the Baltimore Ravens (No. 15), Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 18) and Cincinnati Bengals (No. 29) - hello playoffs! - and are behind just four teams in the AFC - the New England Patriots (No. 1) Cheap Joel Bitonio Youth Jersey , Los Angeles Chargers (No. 4), Indianapolis Colts (No. 5) and Kansas City Chiefs (No. 6).

Maybe Panthers coach Ron Rivera should allow his special teams to run out of the tunnel more often for pre-game introductions.Graham Gano connected on all four field goal attempts Josh LeRibeus Jersey 2019 , including a career-long 63-yarder with 1 second remaining, and Carolina recovered a muffed punt in the end zone for a touchdown to beat the New York Giants 33-31 in a wild game Sunday."Piece of cake," Rivera joked after Gano's winning field goal, which tied for the second longest in NFL history.Gano's winning kick came after the Giants erased an 11-point fourth quarter deficit. Eli Manning hooked up with Saquon Barkley on a 15-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline — the rookie made a long dive into the end zone — to put the Giants in front 31-30 with 1:08 remaining.Gano's previous career long was 59 yards. He's now made 35 in a row at home dating back to 2016.He said running out of the smoky tunnel before the game for the first time in his career was "pretty special" and made him feel like Cam Newton. But the winning kick was even better.After he converted the kick he said his main goal was seeking safety from the rest of his teammates running after him."I just tried to hit a good ball and the rest was craziness and madness," Gano said. "I'm so excited for our guys."It's the second year in a row the Giants (1-4) have been beaten by a monster field goal at the end. In the third game last season, Jake Elliott of the Eagles kicked a 61-yarder for a 27-24 win.Newton threw for 237 yards and had two touchdowns and two interceptions and helped get the Panthers (3-1) into field goal range with a 20-yard completion to D.J. Moore and a 9-yarder to Christian McCaffrey on the final drive.Newton called it a "subpar" game on his part, but was thrilled Gano helped bail him out."A wise man told me once that a great quarterback is only as good as his kicker," Newton said. "Graham put the whole team on his back today. ... well Tre'Quan Smith Jersey White , on his toe today."Manning finished 22 of 36 for 326 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, both by Panthers 37-year-old safety Mike Adams.Odell Beckham Jr., had a big game as a receiver and passer. Beckham had eight catches for 131 yards and a touchdown and also threw a 57-yarder to Barkley for New York's first touchdown."I'm proud of everything we showed today," said Beckham. "We just came up short."Beckham had one big mistake in the first half that cost his team.Instead of fielding Michael Palardy's punt at his 5, Beckham went to block a Carolina player. The ball hit off his leg and two other Giants had a chance to recover the loose ball before eight-year veteran special teams player Colin Jones recovered in the end zone for his first career score and a 14-3 Carolina lead.BECKHAM'S COMMENTSBeckham said he addressed his Giants teammates before the game about comments he made about Manning and the offense this past week. He said things had built up inside of him for several weeks and that his comments "came out the wrong way."SAMUEL'S RETURNThe Panthers got another weapon back on the field and he made an immediate impact. Curtis Samuel, a second-round pick in 2017, turned a wide receiver screen into a 25-yard touchdown in the first quarter in his first game since undergoing a minor heart procedure. The speedster, 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds Womens Alvin Kamara Jersey , showed some toughness by breaking three tackles to get into the end zone.NATIONAL ANTHEMPanthers safety Eric Reid knelt during the national anthem in protest of racial and social injustice. None of Reid's new Carolina teammates joined him or stood near him at midfield. He is the first Panthers player ever to kneel during the national anthem.INJURIESGiants: Right tackle Chad Wheeler left in the fourth quarter with a hand injury and did not return.Panthers: Wide receiver Devin Funchess was evaluated for a concussion in the fourth quarter following a helmet-to-helmet hit by Giants defensive back Michael Thomas, but returned to the game. ... Center Ryan Kalil was shaken up late in the fourth quarter and did not return as Tyler Larsen finished the game.UP NEXTGiants: Host Eagles on Thursday night.Panthers: Visit Redskins next Sunday.Saints vs. Rams: Preseason open thread The New Orleans Saints wrap up the 2018 preseason with tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.We’ll see some guys playing to make the final roster out there tonight, so even though the game might not mean much, it’ll mean a lot to the players fighting to make the team.The main concern coming out of this game is the health of the players involved.Next week, the games count, so let’s get out of this one in one piece.Game time:Thursday, August 30th - 5:00pm PST / 7:00pm CST / 8:00pm ESTLocation: Mercedes-Benz Superdome - New Orleans, LouisianaWeather Forecast:Perfect conditions under the DomeTV Broadcasts:NFL Network (National Re-broadcast) Saturday Michael Thomas Saints Jersey , September 1st - 11:00pm CST KCBS CBS Los Angeles (Live)Featuring: Andrew Siciliano and Nate BurlesonWVUE FOX 8 New Orleans (Live)Featuring: Joel Meyers, Sean Kelley, and Jon StinchcombRaycom Media - Television affiliates found hereDIRECTV NFL Sunday Ticket:Preseason games not included in the packageRadio:WWL 870AM/105.3FM New Orleans-Featuring: Zach Streif, Deuce McAllister, and Kristian GaricNew Orleans Saints radio network affiliates can be found hereLos Angeles Rams radio network affiliates can be found hereOnline Streaming: NFL GAMEPASS (Subscription Required)iOS/Android Streaming: NFL App Odds: Saints -6; Over/Under 34Opponent Blog:Turf Show TimesHere’s to the Saints ending the preseason with a healthy and stacked roster!

Day 2 of the 2019 NFL Draft kicks off at 7 PM ET. The Colts enter the day with four total picks Cheap E.J. Speed Youth Jersey , three coming in the second round. There has been heavy chatter about pick 34, which some speculate..."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Colts StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Colts NewsYahoo Colts Team PageYahoo Colts ReportYahoo Colts Depth ChartYahoo Colts TransactionsYahoo Colts PhotosShop About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Game Threads209 NFL Draft Day 2 Open ThreadNew,679commentsEDTShareTweetShareShare209 NFL Draft Day 2 Open ThreadJerome Miron-USA TODAY SportsDay 2 of the 2019 NFL Draft kicks off at 7 PM ET. The Colts enter the day with four total picks, three coming in the second round. There has been heavy chatter about pick 34, which some speculate as the possible target for quarterback Drew Lock. General Manager Chris Ballard hinted yesterday that the team is willing to consider moving back again White J'Marcus Webb Jersey , if the right offer comes his way.How long will Colts fans have to wait to add the teams newest member? The Colts were willing to trade down and draft players in bulk, so it stands to reason they’d handle their contracts the same way.The Colts announced the signing of five draft picks, which is half their draft class.The players signed Friday include linebacker Ben Banogu (second round), tackle Jackson Barton (seventh), defensive end Gerri Green (sixth) J'Marcus Webb Jersey 2019 , center Javon Patterson (seventh), and linebacker E.J. Speed (fifth).Banogu played defensive end at TCU, but the Colts envision him as a versatile player who will likely start out as a strongside linebacker.They also announced the addition of nine undrafted rookies: Wide receiver Ashton Dulin, wide receiver Penny Hart, kicker Clayton Hatfield White Chester Rogers Jersey , tight end Hale Hentges, defensive end Jegs Jegede, cornerback Jamal Peters, cornerback Chris Rayford, defensive tackle Johnny Robinson and defensive tackle Jordan Thompson.

The defending Super Bowl champions are back in the playoff race.The Eagles Youth Terron Armstead Jersey , who were left for dead a couple weeks ago, now have a very clear path to the playoff: Win out and they win the NFC East. Of course, that won’t be easy: Their four remaining games are at Dallas, at L.A. Rams, home against the Texans and at Washington. But they at least have a chance, and would probably make the playoffs if they even win three of their last four.Here’s how the playoff picture looks through Week 13:1. Rams (11-1): They have an easy schedule the rest of the way and a good chance of finishing ahead of the Saints in the standings.2. Saints (10-2): Still the favorites to earn a bye week, but now they have an uphill climb to home-field advantage.3. Bears (8-4): The inside track to the No. 3 seed Terron Armstead Jersey Stitched , but the loss to the Giants hurt.4. Cowboys (7-5): All alone in first place in the NFC East.5. Seahawks (7-5): The Seahawks are looking like a likely playoff team, in a season some saw as a rebuilding year.6. Vikings (6-5-1): At Seattle on Monday night is a huge one in the wild card race.7. Panthers (6-6): Carolina is in a tailspin, but the Panthers still own the head-to-head tiebreaker over Philadelphia.8. Eagles (6-6): Sunday’s game in Dallas is enormous: Win and they’re the favorites in the NFC East, lose and they’re almost certainly not making the playoffs.9. Washington (6-6): They once had a big lead in the NFC East, now they’re in third place and have Mark Sanchez at quarterback.10. Buccaneers (5-7): Jameis Winston is finally playing well, but is it too late to save Dirk Koetter’s job?11. Packers (4-7-1): Another loss cost Mike McCarthy his job.12. Falcons (4-8): This season has been a major disappointment.13. Giants (4-8): Playing better, but still stuck in last place in the NFC East.14. Lions (4-8): Matt Patricia has already lost more games this year than Jim Caldwell lost in either of the last two years.15. Cardinals (3-9): Showed some progress by winning in Green Bay.16. 49ers (2-10): The worst team in the NFC. With the Saints clinching home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs after 15 games Youth Thomas Morstead Jersey , the 16th game of the season became a day of rest for Drew Brees, and a day for backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to state his case that some team should sign him as its starting quarterback in 2019.It did not go well.Bridgewater completed 14 of 22 passes for just 118 yards, with one touchdown and one interception, in a 33-14 loss to the Panthers. It’s hard to imagine any NFL team looking at that game and thinking Bridgewater is the quarterback they want starting for them next season.It also didn’t help that the other fill-in quarterback on the field, Carolina’s Kyle Allen, looked a lot better than Bridgewater. Although it’s not really fair to compare quarterbacks head-to-head, as they’re not on the field against each other Thomas Morstead Jersey Stitched , it’s hard not to notice that the lowly regarded Allen looked like a much better player than Bridgewater, the former Vikings first-round pick who hadn’t started a game since he suffered a devastating knee injury just before the start of the 2016 season.Bridgewater made it through the game healthy, which is the best thing that can be said for him. Perhaps some team will sign Bridgewater when he becomes a free agent in three months with the hope that he’ll shake off the rust and become a franchise quarterback. But the results on Sunday were not promising.

Our next prospect interview is with Colorado safety Evan Worthington. Worthington is a talented athlete who excelled at CU the last two seasons.Career Stats: 128 total tackles Pat McAfee Jersey 2019 , 10 tackles for a..."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Colts StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Colts NewsYahoo Colts Team PageYahoo Colts ReportYahoo Colts Depth ChartYahoo Colts TransactionsYahoo Colts PhotosShop About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕NFL GeneralColts AnalysisInterviewsProspect Interviews: Colorado safety Evan WorthingtonESTShareTweetShareShareProspect Interviews: Colorado safety Evan WorthingtonRon Chenoy-USA TODAY SportsOur next prospect interview is with Colorado safety Evan Worthington. Worthington is a talented athlete who excelled at CU the last two seasons.Career Stats: 128 total tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, 10 pass deflections, 4 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble in his final two years.Worthington interviewed exclusively with Stampede Blue to talk about his team suspension in 2016, his development on and off the field since that suspension, and how he will translate to the NFL.Zach Hicks: I know you grew up in the state of Colorado but how did you end up at Colorado University?Evan Worthington: I just got an offer from them my junior year. So, Coach Mac (Mike MacIntyre) would always be at my school and he’d help me with my classes because my grades weren’t so good back then. Most schools that came to look at me told me that my transcripts were bad so they wouldn’t offer me. Coach Mac, though, would help me and made sure I had the right classes so I could be on track to graduate and have the right GPA to get into CU. After all that, I just felt that it was the right place for me.ZH: After you were enrolled at Colorado, you were suspended from the team in 2016 for violating team rules. We won’t go into the details of the suspension but how hard was it to be away from football for a year?EW: It was real tough, especially when it hit me. It was during spring ball before the season even started so it really hit me hard because the season was already far away and I knew I couldn’t play in it. After that I just finished the semester of school with no football and then I went back home to Aurora and just started working.ZH: The suspension, in a way, kind of changed you for the better. You returned in 2017 and made All-PAC 12 teams in both your junior and senior seasons along with being very active in community service. Do you feel as though the suspension helped turn things around for you?EW: It definitely helped me. I learned not to take every day for granted. Before the suspension I was just... I lost the love for football. I even wanted to leave CU at a point. It was all frustrating for me. I forgot why I was even there and then once I lost it all, I realized how important football was for me. It really changed my life and I need to take full advantage of it.ZH: Why were you so active in community service at Colorado?EW: I just have a lot of people to give back to. It is just something we do at Colorado. They have places for us to go, they set us up with different activities and it is just something that we are encouraged to do.ZH: That’s awesome man! Speaking of Colorado though, shifting our focus back to football, they have become a bit of a DBU in recent years with guys like Chidobe Awuzie, Ahkello Witherspoon, and Isaiah Oliver in recent years. What is in the water at Colorado to produce so many quality DBs?EW: Coach Mac was always in the defensive back room with us and he was a great coach with us for that. He would tell us everything from different techniques and how to play different routes and all that. We all bought into it. Just learning a lot from him really helped us a lot because he would spend most of his time with us. It would be tough at times but he definitely pushed us the most to be better.ZH: You were invited to participate at the Shrine Game this year. How was that whole experience for you?EW: It was a great experience for me, getting to talk to all the scouts about my story and all that. I got to explain to them how everything happened and then being able to play with the good players all around the country. I ended up getting hurt the third day of practice, it was a right ankle sprain that wasn’t too serious — just bad enough to shut it down — so I didn’t ruin my training before the combine.ZH: Speaking of the combine, you were invited this year after overcoming so much adversity in your football career. What did it mean to you to get that invite?EW: It was such an important moment for me because I was just wondering if I would get it. Just seeing that I got it White Peyton Manning Jersey , it just gave me a great opportunity to take advantage of. I’m going to really show scouts my athletic ability and everything else I can do. Show some scouts that I’m actually fast because some people don’t believe that I’m fast so overall it is just a great opportunity for me. ** For context, Worthington ran a career best 11.03 second 100 meter dash in high school and was a two time All-Centennial performer in track. So yes, he’s fast.ZH: Going to your tape, you have experience in single-high, slot corner, and even as a dime linebacker. What position do you feel most comfortable though?EW: It doesn’t really matter to me. I like all of those spots, just anywhere on the football field, but I like single-high the most because I feel I’m most comfortable there. ZH: What technique do you prefer to reach your landmarks as a safety? Like, do you prefer sprinting to a spot or backpedaling?EW: It depends on the quarterback we were facing. For the faster guys, I’d like to play flat footed to make sure they aren’t doing a QB read or anything. For the more passing QBs, I’d like to sprint back and get to my landmark that way.ZH: What do you believe to be your best trait going into the NFL?EW: My versatility, I feel like I could play any position on a defense besides D-line (laughs). ZH: Who in the NFL do you compare your game/ model your game after most?EW: I wanna be like Kam Chancellor and how he was. I like Derwin James even though he was only a rookie. He’s a really good football player and I feel like I measure the same as him. Maybe like a Jamal Adams as well.ZH: Last question for you. Why should my team draft Evan Worthington in this draft?EW: I’m a reliable guy who proved it by turning myself around when I came back to Colorado. I’m a versatile athlete who can play anywhere on the field, whenever someone goes down, I could fill in at their spot. Wherever I am needed on the field, I could produce very well. I can make a ton of plays and I’m only getting better. The NFL Draft kicks off Thursday night, which means the Indianapolis Colts will soon be on the clock, and the league’s version of "Christmas Morning" is nearly upon us. Armed with the 26th, 34th,..."5. Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Temple The 6’0”, 190 pound senior cornerback had 47 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 12 passes defensed Peyton Manning Jersey 2019 , and 2 interceptions in 12 games for the Temple Owls—earning First-Team All-AAC honors. Not to mention, he has an epic football name. Ya-Sin ran a 4.51 forty time at the NFL Combine to go along with an impressive 39.5 inch vertical. He’s still a bit raw at the position, but he has the sculpted size, athleticism, and length (32” arms) to eventually become an impact starting press cornerback. It also helps that he plays with nice physicality in coverage and is a willing defender in run support—demonstrating his competitiveness at cornerback. That being said, his technique and footwork could use some refinement, and he doesn’t have great long speed—making him potentially scheme dependent. Having already selected another Owls’ cornerback, Nate Hairston, could Ballard go back to the nest one more time—only this time for a defensive back with more upside? Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports4. Deandre Baker, CB, GeorgiaAt 5’11, 193 pounds, the senior cornerback recorded 40 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, 9 passes defensed, and 2 interceptions in 12 games for the Bulldogs. Baker earned AP First-Team All-American and 1st-Team All-SEC honors, and he also was the recipient of the Jim Thorpe Award—which is awarded annually to the top defensive back in college football. He ran a 4.52 forty time at the NFL Combine. Baker is highly regarded for his press coverage, as well as his competitiveness, toughness, and consistency. He shows impressive ball skills and good anticipation on routes. However, given his lack of size and 2nd gear of speed, he might be best suited as a zone cornerback at the next level—which might be music to Matt Eberflus’ ears. He’ll have to get stronger at the pro ranks, but having someone like Malik Hooker backing him up could help his long-term success too. Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images3. Julian Love White Johnny Unitas Jersey , CB, Notre DameThe 5’11”, 193 pound junior cornerback for the Fighting Irish had 63 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, 3 fumble recoveries (1 for a touchdown), 16 passes defensed, and an interception in 13 games—earning AP First-Team All-American honors. He ran a 4.54 forty time at the NFL combine with a vertical jump of 36.0 inches. Love is exceptional as a coverage corner, possessing excellent instincts, ball skills, and a high football I.Q. He is technically sound in coverage and has great anticipation on routes, as indicated by his 16 passes defensed in 2018. That being said, like Baker, he lacks great deep speed and might be best suited as a zone cornerback with safety help over the top. He also will need to get stronger and improve his overall physicality at the next level.Ballard ‘struck gold’ with Love’s former teammate Quenton Nelson in last year’s draft, for an ideal zone cornerback fit in Matt Eberflus’ scheme, could he do it again? John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports2. Greedy Williams, CB, LSUAt 6’2”, 185 pounds, Williams has the prototypical size that general managers covet at cornerback, as well as the production with 33 tackles, 9 passes defensed, and 2 interceptions in 11 games. Because of his exceptional play, he earned AP 2nd-Team All-American and 1st-Team All-SEC honors as a sophomore.Williams ran a blistering fast 4.37 forty time at the NFL Combine. The former Tigers cornerback uses excellent length to both slow down wide receivers at the line of scrimmage and disrupt receptions at the point of attack. In addition to his excellent speed Johnny Unitas Jersey 2019 , he looks fluid covering routes and shows impressive agility in his change-of-direction ability. However, where he can get into problems, is that bigger, more physical wide receivers can beat his jam quickly, and he can struggle in coverage when playing from behind on routes. His help in run support and overall toughness could improve as well. Like the Colts very own Pierre Desir, Williams has the length and athleticism that have proven to work well in Eberflus’ system. It’s just a matter of whether he can play tough enough in run support for a defensive scheme that requires its cornerbacks to tackle. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports1. Byron Murphy, CB, WashingtonAt 5’11”, 190 pounds, the Huskies sophomore standout recorded 58 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, 13 passes defensed, and four interceptions (1 for a touchdown) in 14 games—earning AP 2nd-Team All-American and 1st-Team All-Pac 12 honors respectively. During the NFL Combine, Murphy ran a 4.55 forty time and had a vertical jump of 36.5 inches.Murphy is a very instinctive cornerback with a high football IQ, who has excellent ball skills.He’s willing to mix it up in run support and close down hard on a receiver in space—showing excellent toughness and fight.While he’s not a great athlete and lacks deep speed, he makes up for it with the other exceptional areas of his overall game. He seems like an ideal fit in Matt Eberflus’ ‘Cover 2’ defensive scheme with his instinctive and ball-hawking play (yet a need to have some safety help behind him). However, like Williams before him, it’s a fair question of whether cornerback is that great of a need in Round 1, where he’ll likely be selected.

Bad memories came flooding back to Saints coach Sean Payton after a fifth straight regular season opener ended in defeat.It wasn't just that the Saints lost Cheap A.J. Klein Youth Jersey , but how it happened.An anemic pass rush and blown coverages helped an opposing quarterback look as spectacular as any point in his career as the Saints fell behind big. Prolific Saints QB Drew Brees orchestrated a frenetic rally to make it interesting, but ran out of time in a 48-40 loss."That's the type of game we've played in years past as a .500 team," Payton said, alluding to three straight 7-9 seasons from 2014-16 before the Saints returned to the playoffs with 11 wins in 2017. "We had way too many mistakes."Ryan Fitzpatrick, a 35-year-old journeyman in his 14th season — and who was signed in 2017 as a backup to 2015 first overall draft pick Jameis Winston — finished with a career-best 417 yards. It was only the second time he'd surpassed 400 yards in his career. Two of his four touchdowns went for 50 or more yards. He had eight completions of 20 or more yards. He also ran for a short touchdown and scrambled 12 yards on third-and-11 for a game-sealing first down with about two minutes left.Afterward, Bucs coach Dirk Koetter gloated that "Fitzmagic" is "alive and well." Receiver Mike Evans, who caught seven passes for 147 yards, said he hoped some fantasy football players had Fitzpatrick in their lineup.Suddenly, the Buccaneers are brimming with confidence and optimism that would not have been expected for a team that won five games in 2017 and entered Sunday as more than a touchdown underdog."It's fun to be out there thinking you're going to score on every possession White Alvin Kamara Jersey ," Fitzpatrick said. "This is a different year. This is a different team."There have been four seasons since 2012 during which a quarterback going against the Saints was a recipe for a fantasy football bonanza. If that's the case again, New Orleans, which came within a play of advancing to last season's NFC title game, will struggle to realize the promise with which the current campaign began.Here are some of the prominent story lines coming out of the Bucs' upset of the Saints:SEASONED QBsConsider the convergence of these two occurrences: 88 combined points broke a record for an NFL regular season opener that had stood since 1947 (Eagles 45, Redskins 42) and both starting quarterbacks were 35 or older.Brees is 39 and the two QBs' combined years of NFL experience was 30 coming in.Like fine wine?While Fitzpatrick had a career day, Brees was near vintage, finishing with 439 yards and three TDs without an interception."Playing quarterback in this league is tough and it is a week-to-week proposition, with the highs and lows," Fitzpatrick said. "But that experience factor does go a long way out there."COSTLY WINTampa Bay's schedule doesn't get any easier. The Bucs host defending champion Philadelphia on Sunday. So they'll be hoping receiver DeSean Jackson recovers quickly from the concussion-like symptoms that knocked him out of the game against New Orleans in the fourth quarter. They'd also like to see cornerback Vernon Hargraves return quickly from a shoulder injury — never mind the fact cornerback Brent Grimes didn't play because of a sore groin.Jackson caught five passes for 146 yards Alvin Kamara Jersey 2019 , including touchdowns of 58 and 36 yards. His injury came as he was tackled along the sideline after a 35-yard catch.Hargreaves forced Saints running back Mike Gillislee's fumble, which safety Justin Evans returned for a 34-yard TD.YOUTH MOVEMENTSigns continue to point up for young Saints' offensive stars Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas.Kamara picked up right where he left off last season, gashing opposing defenses as a receiver while finding ways into the end zone from the red zone as a runner. Kamara caught nine passes for 112 yards and a TD and also rushed for two TDs and a 2-point conversion.Thomas caught a Saints franchise single-game record 16 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown. But his performance was marred by a fumble across midfield that stalled a promising drive in the third quarter.EVANS' EMINENCEEvans left the Superdome with no small measure of vindication. During his visit to the Superdome last season, he was so seemingly frustrated by Marshon Lattimore's blanket coverage that he decked Lattimore after the whistle, drawing a one-game suspension. His lasting memory from his most recent visit will be gliding into the end zone to complete a 50-yard touchdown reception while Lattimore sat on the ground after losing his footing."I like my odds again anybody — not just him," Evans said. ATLANTA (AP) — Faced with a blitz of officiating questions and queries about the effectiveness of the Rooney Rule, Colin Kaepernick’s football unemployment, and the cancellation of a news conference for a Super Bowl halftime show that has drawn hefty criticism, Roger Goodell scrambled.The NFL commissioner did provide some nuggets of news on Wednesday. He noted establishing a quarterbacks summit at Morehouse College in June to help get more minority coaches into the pipeline of higher-level assistant coaching jobs that are quicker pathways to head coaching opportunities. Otherwise New Orleans Saints Malcom Brown Jersey , Goodell generally ducked the rush at his annual State of the NFL appearance as effectively as Russell Wilson.Naturally, Goodell was peppered with questions, some bordering on demands, to upgrade the officiating 10 days after a non-call late in the NFC championship game pretty much cost the Saints a spot in the Super Bowl.While agreeing that game officials missed the helmet-to-helmet hit and pass interference penalty by Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman — league officiating chief Al Riveron called Saints coach Sean Payton after the game and admitted the blown call — Goodell said the league will re-examine the officiating process.He didn’t rule out adding such plays to the video review system, and he definitely didn’t endorse such a move.“We will look again at instant replay,” said Goodell, who added that league executives recognize the frustration of Saints fans. “There have been a variety of proposals over the last — frankly 15 to 20 years — of should replay be expanded? It does not cover judgment calls. This was a judgment call.“The other complication is that it was a no-call. And our coaches and clubs have been very resistant and there has not been support to date about having a replay official or somebody in New York throw a flag when there is no flag (thrown). They have not voted for that in the past. It doesn’t mean that we won’t. It’s something that we’re going to put to the competition committee to see if there’s an answer to that, but the reality is that’s been at least an opposition philosophically for many clubs.”Goodell completely ruled out any use of commissioner’s powers to change the call or resume the game; a lawsuit was filed in New Orleans seeking that. He also stressed that he and the competition committee will examine a potential expansion of replay to include helmet-to-helmet hits.“We have worked very hard to bring technology in to try to make sure we can do whatever possible to address those issues,” Goodell said. “But technology is not going to solve all of these issues. The game is not officiated by robots New Orleans Saints Benjamin Watson Jersey , it’s not going to be. But we have to continue to go down that path.”The path to top coaching positions has been a rocky one for minorities. In a report Wednesday, the AP pointed out that on 2018 coaching staffs, only four minorities held the stepping-stone jobs of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, just 7.1 percent of 56 jobs. That lack of minority coaches in the pipeline helped contribute to the NFL’s sharpest-ever one-year drop in minority head coaches, from eight to three, with Brian Flores soon to become the fourth when he moves from the Patriots to the Dolphins.Many advocates of diversity in the league have questioned the current effectiveness of the Rooney Rule, in which teams are required to interview at least one minority candidate for any head coach or general manager vacancy.Goodell defended the rule, which has been used in other industries, emphasizing it has opened opportunities that didn’t exist previously.“We don’t look at the success or failure of the Rooney Rule in one-year increments Womens Benjamin Watson 2019 Jersey ,” Goodell said. “We’ve had the Rooney Rule around for nearly 20 years. It has had an extraordinary impact on the NFL. Over 20 clubs have hired minority (head) coaches in that period of time.“We want to figure out how we can create a deeper pool of coaches so that they have that opportunity when the coaching opportunities arise.”— On Kaepernick, who some claim has been blackballed by the league for sparking social injustice and police brutality demonstrations during the national anthem, Goodell said:“I think if a team decides that Colin Kaepernick or any other player can help their team win, that’s what they’ll do. They want to win and they make those decisions individually in the best interest of their club. Our clubs are the ones that make decisions on players they want to have on their roster. They make that decision individually in the best interests of their team.”— On the cancellation of the halftime news conference following widespread condemnation of the choice of Maroon 5 and several artists refusing to participate as a sign of support for Kaepernick:“We’re extremely pleased with the diversity, quality and the excitement surrounding our entertainers. This is the biggest stage in the world, and I know people want to be part of that.“Just to be clear, as I mentioned we have close to 200 million fans. “We know there are segments that are going to have different reactions to different things that go on in our league. Ultimately I think people respect and admire the things we do and want to be part of it.”— On where owner Mark Davis will have the Raiders play in 2019 after the city of Oakland filed a lawsuit against the team that is headed to Las Vegas in 2020:“I think the hope of Mark is to continue to be in the Bay Area with the Raiders’ fans.”

Things are spiraling in Denver. At least the Broncos won't have to worry about the cold and the snow when they journey to Arizona for a Thursday night game.The Broncos have dropped four straight after opening with two wins. Their defense is dead last against the run and 27th overall.With the Cardinals going with rookie quarterback Josh Rosen White Nyheim Hines Jersey , the temptation will be to keep the ball on the ground as much as possible in this prime-time, uh, thriller."Oh yeah, anytime you're losing, everybody's fighting for their lives and fighting for their job every week at every position, it doesn't matter," says veteran cornerback Chris Harris Jr."You just want to continue to ball, continue to do your job. There's always finger-pointing and you don't want to have that. We don't want to have that at all. We want to just stay together and keep working."We know everybody's fighting for their lives. That's the NFL, though. If you don't have that in your mind every week, that you've got to go out here and play great, and if you don't your job can be on the line, then you haven't woken up to the NFL."Arizona (1-5) wasn't awake for much of the early season and was the last team to win a game. Surprisingly for such a record, the Cardinals have 11 takeaways. Not surprisingly Indianapolis Colts Justin Houston Jersey , they have 10 giveaways.No. 26 Denver is a 2陆-point choice at No. 31 Arizona.UPSET SPECIAL: CARDINALS, 19-16KNOCKOUT POOL: The Texans made us sweat — what else do you do in Houston nowadays? But they came through. Now we look to the CHARGERS to do the same.No. 29 New York Giants (plus 5 1-2) at No. 23 Atlanta, Monday night.Falcons can score, Giants can't.BEST BET: FALCONS, 33-16No. 2 New England (minus 3 1-2) at No. 13 (tie) ChicagoNotice how Patriots' opponents always seem to be injury-ravaged?PATRIOTS, 24-20No. 4 New Orleans (plus 2 1-2) at No. 6 BaltimoreBig-time offense faces big-time defense in classic matchup.SAINTS, 23-18No. 8 Cincinnati (plus 6) at No. 3 Kansas CityBoth sides come off late-game losses that are potentially damaging for long term.CHIEFS, 33-31No. 12 Carolina (plus 4 1-2) at No. 10 PhiladelphiaDid Eagles turn around things in win over Giants on Oct. 11?EAGLES, 30-27No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers (minus 6陆) vs. No. 20 Tennessee at LondonShould be a better match at Wembley than last week's rout.CHARGERS, 23-14No. 1 Los Angeles Rams (minus 10) at No. 28 San FranciscoSomeone will stop the Rams' run to 16-0. Won't be Niners.RAMS, 36-15No. 19 Dallas (plus 1 1-2) at No. 16 WashingtonSchizophrenic NFC East members; Redskins pretty good at home.REDSKINS, 19-16No. 24 Cleveland (plus 3) at No. 25 Tampa BayTwo more unidentifiable teams.BUCCANEERS, 24-23No. 7 Minnesota (minus 3) at No. 21 New York JetsThird game of Jets' homestand Womens Justin Houston 2019 Jersey , first tough opponent.VIKINGS, 32-27No. 27 Buffalo (plus 7 1-2) at No. 30 IndianapolisAndrew Luck tips scales to Indy in matchup of very flawed clubs.COLTS, 23-9No. 18 Houston (plus 4 1-2) at No. 17 JacksonvilleTexans have won three straight with grit. Jags struggling in every way. But ...JAGUARS, 20-19No. 22 Detroit (OFF) at No. 13 (tie) MiamiRested Lions are better no matter who QBs Dolphins.LIONS, 27-172018 RECORD:Last Week: Against spread (7-8). Straight up (1-5)Season Totals: Against spread (40-48-3). Straight up: (58-33-2)Best Bet: 2-4 against spread, 5-1 straight upUpset special: 4-2 against spread, 3-2-1 straight upIndianapolis Colts by the Numbers: Week 1 Defensive Stats On the heels of the offensive metrics, I present the defensive stats from Week 1 in the NFL.These are the same measures used for the offense, but viewed from the defensive perspective. So, Pts is points against and yards are yards given up. You get the idea. TEAM TOTALSThere is not much good news here. The rankings are by points per drive against, where the Colts finished 28th. This includes defensive and special teams scores so excluding the fumble return would likely bump the defense up a few spots.I’ll work to remove those scores as well as not counting drives that end in QB kneels.We travel next to the #2 defense by Pts/Drv against.Let’s hope that was a function of Sam Bradford. The Colts offense had a very good 72.7% DSR, but the defense gave up an even higher 73.1% to the Bengals making them the 25th least effective unit by that measure. Both 3rd down conversion rate (50%) and all down conversion rate (32%) were far worse than average (30th and 27th place respectively), so that’s not good.Really the only bright spot was the 2 turnovers: a Kenny Moore interception and a Darius Leonard fumble recovery. PASSINGRanked by ANY/A against Nyheim Hines Jersey 2019 , the Colts passing D comes in 23rd in Week 1.A Passing Down Conversion Rate (PDC) of 36.7% means the Bengals had no trouble movingthe ball down the field through the air. Giving up a 75% completion rate (ranked 29th) usually means a lot of short passes, but Dalton’s impressive YPA of 8.7 shows that wasn’t the case here. That’s just an ugly combination. There really is no good story here except for the interception . . . which was awesome.RUSHING100 yards and 5 first downs is not exactly running on us all day but the high EPA/c shows the Bengals were very efficient against our run defense. (edit: there was an error in my data on EPA/c, which I have fixed . . . we’re still bad). SUMMARYWell, there you go: sort of a bad news, bad news kind of thing. Although the defense showed some signs of life, it’s not going to show in the stats until they deliver consistency.As I said in my previous article, this will be an evolving format throughout the season, so let me know what you like, what you don’t like or what you want to see.

The New Orleans Saints travel north again this week Bobby Hebert Jersey 2019 , again to take on a division leader. This time, it's to face the NFC North leading Minnesota Vikings. The Saints (5-1) have won five straight games, while the Vikings (4-2-1) have won three straight. This is the third time in a little over a year that New Orleans has played the Vikings, all in Minnesota, and the third different Viking quarterback that they will face in that time. The Saints defense has risen to 18th in the league in total yardage after early struggles, but still has concerning breakdowns against the pass. They oppose a Minnesota offense that averages 380 yards and 25 points per game. One that torched the Saints pass defense in two games a year ago. Let's have a look at how the rematch shapes up for a Saints defense playing with confidence. SAINTS PASS DEFENSE vs. VIKINGS PASS OFFENSE Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsMuch of the discussion all week of course is about about the final play of the divisional playoff game between the two teams. As most know, with ten seconds to go in that playoff game after New Orleans had completed a comeback that had it looking like they were about to pull off the upset, then-Minnesota quarterback Case Keenum completed the improbable 61-yd. touchdown strike to Stefon Diggs to pull out the victory. New Orleans has had their struggles against the pass this season, currently sitting 28th in the league rankings and giving up 294 yards per game through the air. On Tuesday, the Saints completed a trade with the New York Giants for cornerback Eli Apple, the 10th overall pick of the 2016 draft. While it looks doubtful that Apple will make his New Orleans debut this week, it's clear that the team felt the need to upgrade their coverage. The secondary has done a better job at limiting big plays over the last month, but coverage and communication breakdowns were still evident last week against Baltimore. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore and safety Marcus Williams are again playing good football after a slow start to the season, and Vonn Bell has proven to be a solid compliment at the other safety spot. Opposing teams have targeted Ken Crawley and P.J. Williams heavily though, often with success. Cameron Jordan continues to be a pass rushing force, commanding double and sometimes triple teams. He has 5 of the team's 13 sacks, and is the emotional leader of the defense. Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and ends Marcus Davenport and Alex Okafor have combined for five sacks and have pressured the quarterback well at times, but need to show more consistency to help the secondary. The Saints linebackers have contained opposing backs and tight ends well in their coverage responsibilities, and each have been used as effective blitzers. Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty ImagesMinnesota's pass offense ranks 7th in the league Josh LeRibeus Jersey Stitched , and averages 293 yards per game. The Vikings made one of the league's most talked about offseason moves when they signed former Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins to a record breaking free agent deal. Cousins has been a bit up and down so far, completing 70% of his throws, throwing for 14 touchdowns and 3 interceptions, and eclipsing the 400-yd. mark twice this season. The Saints defense is familiar with Cousins, facing him twice while with Washington. Cousins riddled the New Orleans coverage in those contests, averaging 323 yards while throwing seven touchdowns and no interceptions. He has even better receivers to work with in Minnesota that he had in Washington. Adam Thielen is one of the NFL's most productive and underrated wideouts. Thielen has had over 100 yards receiving and at least six receptions in every game this year, and has caught 67 passes for 822 yards and five scores. Stefon Diggs would be the top receiver on many teams, and has added 48 catches for 468 yards and three touchdowns. Tight end Kyle Rudolph is an excellent mid-range target, and has 28 receptions for 282 yards and two scores, and three of wideout Aldrick Robinson's four receptions have gone for touchdowns. Laquon Treadwell, the 23rd overall pick of the 2016 draft, is well on pace for his best season with 22 catches for 191 yards. Minnesota uses their running backs little in the passing game, often using them as extra protection against the pass rush, but can be dangerous in the open field out of the backfield. Cousins, who has a reputation of holding the ball as long as possible, has been sacked 19 times this year, and the Vikings offensive line is considered a team weakness. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports~ Matchup to Watch: Saints secondary vs. Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs ~Stefon Diggs is a name that will haunt Saints fans for the rest of eternity, but it is Thielen and his outstanding route running that often breaks a defense. Thielen had 15 catches for 231 yards in the two games between these teams last year, including 157 yards in the 2017 season opener. Diggs added 13 receptions for 230 yards and 3 touchdowns against New Orleans Youth Malcom Brown Jersey , including the playoff heartbreaker. Marshon Lattimore, who played sparingly in the '17 opener, will likely draw Thielen in many one on one match ups, but the entire Saints secondary must find a way to limit both Viking stars. SAINTS RUN DEFENSE vs. VIKINGS RUN OFFENSE Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY SportsNew Orleans continues to play outstanding run defense. They have allowed only 72 rushing yards per game, and opposing rushers are averaging just 3.1 yards per carry, both best in the NFL. Undrafted rookie defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth may miss his second straight game with an ankle injury, but Rankins, Tyeler Davison, and David Onyemata continue to stonewall blockers inside. The New Orleans defensive ends play the run as well as any edge unit in the league, and the entire defense flows to the run aggressively. Saints linebackers Demario Davis and A.J. Klein are every down players who have been playmakers against the running game this entire season. Davis (49 tackles) and Klein (31) are the defense's top tacklers, and often snuff out plays before they ever get going. Manti Te'o returned to the lineup last week after missing two games with injury, and gives the New Orleans defense another solid defender against the run. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsLatavius Murray (330 yards, 4.8 average, 3 touchdowns) is the Vikings leading rusher for a 27th ranked rushing attack that averages only 87 yards per game. Dalvin Cook, last year's promising rookie, has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury after missing most of last season with injury. He has carried the ball 36 times for just 98 yards, but the Saints defense knows what Cook is capable of when healthy. Cook rolled over the New Orleans defense for 127 yards on 22 carries in last year's season opener. Murray can capably produce in the running game, however, and Minnesota will look to establish the run on early downs to open up their explosive passing attack. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports~ Matchup to Watch: Cam Jordan/Marcus Davenport/Sheldon Rankins vs. Vikings offensive line Jordan Malcom Brown Jersey Stitched , Rankins, and the rookie Davenport have been the playmakers on a Saints defensive line that has played very well for the most part this season. They'll be going up against a Minnesota offensive line that is not only inconsistent, but banged up as well. Left tackle Riley Reiff has missed the last two games with a foot injury, and guard Tom Compton exited last week with a knee injury. Both players are questionable for this week, and would be replaced by unproven players on a struggling line. New Orleans has the potential to dominate this match up, and must do so to stop the run and force Minnesota into third and long situations. They must also be able to get to Cousins early in the pass rush and either get him on the ground or force a rushed throw into coverage. WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsThe Vikings converted an eye-popping 61% of their 3rd down opportunities against the Saints in their two games a year ago. Minnesota is converting at a 38% rate on 3rd downs so far this year, while the New Orleans defense is 42% on 3rd downs. The key to beating a Kirk Cousins offense is heavy pressure from the front line. He reads the blitz well, and receivers Thielen, Diggs, and Rudolph make excellent adjustments to get open quickly. New Orleans looks to have the advantage against the run, but must be able to convert pressure into hits and sacks on Cousins while holding up in coverage. The biggest battle of the game will be in the secondary, where the Saints have just two interceptions this year and continue to have breakdowns in key moments, looking particularly vulnerable at the end of games. Fans will always remember that Marcus Williams missed the tackle on Diggs to allow the divisional playoff loss. What they forget is how well Williams had played during the game, including an acrobatic interception that keyed the Saints comeback. While Williams doesn't necessarily view this as a chance for "redemption", all eyes will be on him and the rest of the New Orleans secondary in this battle of NFC contenders. Be vigilant, be angry. But don’t be stupid."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections InterviewsNew Orleans Saints SatireWho Dat HistoryCanal Street Chronicles TutorialSaints fans, it’s time to move onNew,266commentsBe vigilant, be angry. But don’t be stupid.CSTShareTweetShareShareSaints fans Youth Eli Apple Jersey , it’s time to move onChuck Cook-USA TODAY SportsGood morning, Who Dat Nation. It’s Wednesday. Affectionately known as hump day. The first hump day following the Saints’ NFC Championship loss to the Rams, courtesy of the most ridiculous blown call in the history of the NFL. And I’m still just as angry, sad, and confused as the rest of you. I can still hear the plastic crunch sound of Nickell Robey-Coleman hitting Tommylee Lewis too early and too high. It plays over and over in my head. I will never forget it. But I’m here to urge Saints fans everywhere to get over that hump today. It’s time to let go of certain delusions. Like the delusion that Roger Goodell is going to use his authority and allow a replay of the Saints vs. Rams NFC Championship game, either from the beginning of the game or from the point of the missed call. Mike Florio proposed that as a possibility late Sunday night by referencing Rule 17. He mentions Rule 17, Section 2, Article 1, which says: “The Commissioner has the sole authority to investigate and take appropriate disciplinary and/or corrective measures if any club action, non-participant interference, or calamity occurs in an NFL game which the Commissioner deems so extraordinarily unfair or outside the accepted tactics encountered in professional football that such action has a major effect on the result of the game.”He also mentions Rule 17, Section 2, Article 3, which says: “The Commissioner’s powers under this Section 2 include . . . the reversal of a game’s result or the rescheduling of a game, either from the beginning or from the point at which the extraordinary act occurred.”At first glance, this looks very promising. And, of course, the media and social media were all over it. But notice that Florio omitted any reference to Article 2, the one right between Article 1 and Article 3. What does Article 2 say? It says: “The authority and measures provided for in this entire Section 2 do not constitute a protest machinery for NFL clubs to avail themselves of in the event a dispute arises over the result of a game...The Commissioner will not apply authority in cases of complaints by clubs concerning judgmental errors or routine errors of omission by game officials. Games involving such complaints will continue to stand as completed.”In other words Eli Apple Jersey Stitched , a bad call by the officiating crew, no matter how egregious, is not considered an extraordinary act and does not qualify for any type of intervention from the commissioner provided under Rule 17 Section 2. Period. End of story. The game is over. The results are final. Never mind the fact that the logistics of doing so would be ridiculous and near impossible. I like the work Mike Florio has done over the years. That might be an unpopular opinion. But the truth is, Florio did a disservice to Saints fans everywhere by giving them false hope when he published that article and omitted Section 2 either knowingly or by mistake. Now that we’ve cleared up the Rule 17 myth, I would also like to discuss how ridiculous all of these conspiracy theories are. I think I’ve heard them all over the last few days: the NFL wants the Rams in the Super Bowl to build up their fan base, the NFL wants the Rams in the Super Bowl because they’re in a bigger market, the officials were from Los Angeles, Goodell still has it out for the Saints, yada yada yada. Some of you sound crazier than a drunk vagrant on Bourbon Street.It’s amazing that so many people find it easier to believe there is some elaborate scheme involving multiple layers of collusion extending all the way from the NFL’s highest offices down to the officiating crew instead of the more logical and most-likely conclusion: that referees are human and the referees in the NFC Championship blew it. They just suck, that’s all. Unfortunately, the referee standing at the goal line closest to the now-infamous play had a crappy angle. From his viewpoint, he thought the ball was closer than it was; he thought it was a bang-bang play. He immediately waived it off as incomplete. The second referee behind the play - who looked like he might throw the flag - didn’t have the guts to go against his partner’s initial decision despite possibly believing it was a penalty, and also waived it off. That’s all there is to it. Plain old human error. Saints fans, you have every right to be angry about the officiating, to demand future rules changes so this never happens again, to make so much noise that the NFL is forced to listen. But it’s time to move on from the frivolity: from the silly lawsuits, the unfounded conspiracy theories, the false hopes of a re-match.

Some players fared better than others Womens Darius Leonard Jersey , but whose road got the toughest following this offseason?"The Colts have added several pieces to their roster this offseason, both through the draft and in free agency. Since their roster from last season is set to return, I wanted to take a look at which players are most likely to be affected by the new faces in the organization. Some may lose playing time, others their jobs. One way or another, this offseason has pushed these guys to the roster bubble.Chester RogersPhoto by Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesRogers is a success story by most accounts. Signed as an UDFA in 2016, he has managed to make himself a factor on the offense and on special teams, as well. This offseason was not a good one for him. The Colts brought in Devin Funchess to play the big slot role and complement T.Y. Hilton, but they didn’t stop there. They drafted Parris Campbell in the second round, a player who almost exactly fits the role that Rogers has filled, except with far greater natural ability. This isn’t even factoring in the return from injury of Deon Cain or the signing of UDFA Penny Hart, a player many thought would be drafted, and who has the skills to be a quick player out of the slot and one who can also be an asset in the return game. I have been a bit up and down on Rogers in his time with the Colts. There are times when he is a pure fighter and I feel like he has earned his spot. Other times he seems out of his depth and unless other receivers are drawing heavy coverage, he is ineffective. His finish to 2018 was a strong one, and he will need to hit the ground running if he wants to stay a significant part of this offense, because the competition has been cranked up. Nyheim HinesPhoto by Michael Hickey/Getty ImagesFirst, don’t misunderstand Hines’ place on this list. I don’t think he is in any danger of losing a roster spot. Hines proved himself to be a valuable piece in Frank Reich’s offense in 2018, and I think he will continue to be utilized inside of it. However, like with Rogers Youth Matthias Farley Jersey , the addition of Parris Campbell creates some disruption for Hines in terms of the kinds of situations he may be used in. Frank Reich is very clever, and I’m sure he’ll get both these speedy guys involved in the offensive game plan, but where Hines was used heavily in the passing game and occasionally as a gadget player last year, he may see that role diminished by the involvement of Campbell, whom Frank Reich seems really enamored with. This doesn’t mean Hines can’t be a great impact player for the offense, but it does mean he probably needs to get solid production when he gets the opportunity to carry the ball.Nate HairstonPhoto by Otto Greule Jr/Getty ImagesNate Hairston is a player who had a very solid rookie season, but followed it up with a bit of a head scratcher. The emergence of Kenny Moore relegated Hairston to a backup, and when the starting group of Moore, Quincy Wilson, and Pierre Desir were healthy, he was on the sideline. The addition of Rock Ya-Sin and Marvell Tell are both bad news for Hairston, who was already struggling to see the field. In his rookie season he played his best ball at the nickel spot, and that’s where Tell will look to make a name for himself. Ya-Sin will likely be looking to displace a starter, and if he can, this will only further displace Hairston. This is a big offseason for Hairston, and he’ll need to come out hot at training camp and in the preseason if he wants to see the field in 2019.Zaire Franklin and Skai MoorePhoto by Otto Greule Jr/Getty ImagesThese two aren’t exactly shocking, as it is never exactly a surprise when a 7th round pick and an UDFA find themselves on the roster bubble. However, the injection of new talent at the linebacker position in this draft should be troubling to both these players. For Franklin Matthias Farley Jersey Stitched , the question is not about ability. He is an athletic player who has exactly the leadership and talent traits that the Colts look for. For whatever reason, 2018 saw him lose out on playing time, as the season went on, to Matthew Adams. The SAM linebacker position is one that requires versatility, because it is one that is only used about 30% of the time. That means special teams and pass rush ability are critical to the role. Skai Moore was the guy tasked with backing up Darius Leonard. While he did solid work when called upon, he lacks the speed and size that rookie Bobby Okereke will bring to the table. His instincts are solid, and he was a factor in special teams, but if he wants to see the field this year (or a roster spot at all), he’ll need to make a name for himself there.Eric EbronPhoto by Tim Warner/Getty ImagesThis is a weird one, I know. Ebron is in no danger of losing his spot. He was a deadly red zone weapon last season, and that is likely to continue. However, much of his red zone production came because there were no other viable red zone targets. T.Y. Hilton was playing with one leg (very well, but still), and Jack Doyle was on the sideline. Given the Colts’ other receiving weapons (or lack thereof), that left little choice but to find ways to get the ball into the hands of Ebron. The return of Jack Doyle to full health is likely to cut significantly into the opportunities Ebron gets this season. Add to that the addition of several viable receivers and a healthy T.Y. Hilton, and you get a greatly reduced role in the offense for Eric Ebron. None of this is bad for the Colts. In fact, reducing Ebron’s role makes him even harder to plan for on defense.I anticipate that while his production overall goes down, his efficiency may go up. However Youth Nate Hairston Jersey , when you’re entering a contract year, adding more mouths to feed is likely to put a dent in your asking price at the end of the season. What are your thoughts? Who do you think was most impacted by the Colts’ offseason?Stanley Jean-Baptiste was Ravens’ goon as joint practice with Colts sparked multiple fights The Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens conducted their second joint practice Saturday in Westfield in preparation for their preseason matchup Monday night. Naturally, we expected some shoving matches, or possibly even some punches to be thrown per the norm when it comes to these training camp exercises.Every single year it happens. It’s not really that big of a deal. One guy doesn’t like getting beat in a 1-on-1 rep, or another doesn’t appreciate what he deems to be a cheapshot in one form or another, and then the fists start flying. Again, we knew this was eventually going to become a thing. On the other hand, I wonder how typical it is for one player to be one team’s goon when things do get heated. Saturday during special team’s and even some head-to-head drills, Stanley Jean-Baptiste appeared to be THAT GUY for the Ravens.Little dust-ups had been occurring over the past two days of practices between the two squads, but nothing serious. Sometimes these situations fester after someone can’t handle their feelings getting hurt in front of their teammates. Jean-Baptiste, though, seemingly had no other purpose for being on the field Saturday than to initiate these altercations, or to act as the camp body tasked with being the enforcer for those who actually can stick to a roster in the NFL.I’ve helped you out a bit in case you didn’t recognize SJ-B right away. As you can see, the punt is away and then the fight begins. From all accounts, I believe this is between Antonio Morrison and Albert McClellan with the latter losing his helmet, mounting (maybe it is MMA Mr. Frank Reich..) and throwing a pretty powerful punch that appears to hit its mark.While it clearly appears to be McClellan, I can’t confirm the Colts’ player getting punched as his number was never visible on the video. Anyhow...Once McClellan throws the punch, several players from both teams react by filtering towards the two Nate Hairston Jersey Stitched , and for the most part attempt to pull the two apart. Multiple little side skurmishes are created in the process, but that’s pretty much par for the coarse anytime that scenario comes about.But, not for Jean-Baptiste.You can clearly see that SJ-B had only one reason to move towards the brawl — to throw as many punches as he could towards anyone with a Colts’ jersey. He had no intentions of breaking it up, just to fall in line with the goon mentality. Typically, the term is used in hockey, and there was actually a pretty average movie made about these type players. At any rate, this sort of falls in line with SJ-B’s career path. Here’s a visual via pro football reference highlighting his career stats.Stanley Jean-Baptiste career stats via pro football referencePretty impressive, I know.But, it didn’t even stop there for him. I mentioned that his sole purpose appeared to be to initiate fights today, right?A bit later in the practice SJ-B and rookie Daurice Fountain got into it as well. Why does this seem to be a pattern for SJ-B? Apparently he didn’t throw enough punches in the melee a little earlier, so, he turned a simple shoving match — which is as common in practice between teammates as it is in an actual game or anything else — into another 180-man scrum. Maybe this is the real problem with these joint practices. Jean-Baptiste is just athletic enough to get into camp with teams, but not actually good enough to contribute during the season. Thus, he’s got nothing to lose.This is similar to why some teams attempt to control as much about these joint practices as possible. They don’t want their starters to go up against the 90th man on the other team’s roster in head-to-head drills in order to avoid injury, and senseless fights that get way too out of hand.The occasional fight in these practices isn’t the problem, it’s the scrubs on the rosters that have nothing better to do than to throw more gasoline on the fire.

Not the biggest contract Youth Wil Lutz Jersey , but the biggest decision."We’ve spent a lot of time already on the biggest looming contract decisions the New Orleans Saints are faced with this free agency. Only 4% of CSC voters believed the most important issue for the Saints is a decision at quarterback beyond Drew Brees. Regardless of what CSC believes, Bleacher Report believes the biggest contract decision for the Saints this free agency is what to do with Teddy Bridgwater:There is a lot to unpack there.The Saints could very well spread out Drew’s 2019 cap hit, but considering the financial cap freedom that’s in the not-so-distant future, it might be smarter just to ride this out. At the same time, the Saints window for winning is now.And then, of course, Bleacher Report just throws out a little nugget about Trevor Lawrence.LSU fans or otherwise Wil Lutz Jersey Stitched , Who Dat Nation is full of SEC fans, but I’m sure Saints would love it if the Clemson star QB ended up as the quarterback of the future in New Orleans. NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A New Orleans bakery is turning out thousands of cookies with a picture of a referee with a circle and slash mark across it in red icing.The owner of a locksmith shop has hung posters and signs taking aim at NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and some residents have hung posters of a referee wearing a blindfold.New Orleans Saints fans have found some pretty creative ways to express their displeasure over the infamous “no call” during last weekend’s Saints-Rams championship game. But their newest tactic may make the loudest statement – a Super Bowl boycott.“We’re angry,” said Lauren Haydel, a Saints fan and business owner who has started printing and selling T-shirts featuring a referee voodoo doll with pins sticking out of it from her Fleurty Girl retail stores.Haydel says she’ll be joining the boycott and not watching the big game on Super Bowl Sunday.“We’re not even going to go to a place with TVs on,” she said. “I don’t care to watch it.”Haydel said fans were looking forward to a Saints Super Bowl in Atlanta, and a boycott of the game is the best response the Who Dat Nation can give.“That’s how we’ll really stick it to them where it hurts Youth Michael Hoomanawanui Jersey ,” she said.Several bars in the city have said they won’t be showing the game in their establishments, and residents say they’re making other plans to avoid the game.Michelle Miller, owner of H Rault Locksmiths, says she’s attending a so-called “Boycott Bowl” party.“It’s a devastating loss, and we won’t get over it, but … we are used to getting disrespected by the National Football League Association,” she said Michael Hoomanawanui Jersey Stitched , making a reference to “Bounty Gate,” when the NFL suspended Saints coaches — including head coach Sean Payton for a year — after finding the Saints were rewarding players for hits on opponents with intent to injure.Miller incorporated her locksmith business while taking digs at the NFL.One sign reads: “We know keys, we know Brees … We know he’s the MVP,” a reference to Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Another sign reads like a want-ad for a “no call locksmith” with “For hire Roger Goodell’s blind boys locksmith.”“We all saw it,” Miller said. “We all saw the same thing, all of us except the blind referee.”Owners of Haydel’s Bakery took a sweeter approach, selling anti-referee cookies alongside their signature king cakes and pastries.“I don’t think there’s anything short of replaying the game that would make New Orleans Saints fans happy Youth Josh Hill Jersey ,” said David Haydel, one of the bakery owners. “We know that’s probably not going to happen, but at least they can take a bite out of the injustice.”Though lawsuits have been filed by Saints season ticket holders asking a Louisiana court to reverse the results or reschedule the game, experts give the move little chance of success.

Revisiting the 7 players I picked to watch this season and picking 7 more players to watch going forward."The Indianapolis Colts lost 31-13 to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round of the playoffs White Marvin Harrison Jersey , 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, 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 Marvin Harrison Jersey 2019 , 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 White Quenton Nelson Jersey , 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. In our first edition of this two part series, we’re asking the question that The Clash asked back in 1982鈥?and then we’re answering ourselves."The Colts enter this offseason with a ton of cap space available, a handful of draft picks, and an arrow pointing straight up for a franchise that bounced back from the crater left by Ryan Grigson remarkably quickly. They got solid production from their rookies and second year players. They also did well with the free agents they signed in terms of both production and culture in the locker room. Something really cool was happening with this team in 2018, and the Colts’ front office has some interesting decisions to make this offseason, because they won’t want to mess with any of the progress that has been made. There are several players who are due to hit free agency, and our goal in this exercise is to take a look at some of them and determine if the Colts should re-sign them or let them walk. Ryan GrantPhoto by Michael Hickey/Getty ImagesThis one is as easy a call as there is on this list. Ryan Grant had a few decent games early in the season, but after he hurt his ankle and missed a few games starting in week 7, he became a complete nonfactor. He never had more than 2 catches after that point and was never targeted more than 3 times. Dontrelle Inman stepped directly into his role and took it over pretty seamlessly in week 8 against Oakland. When you factor in that Grant is 28 and unlikely to be making a leap at this stage in his career, it is pretty easy to wish him well and send him on his way.Verdict: GoPierre DesirPhoto by Sam Greenwood/Getty ImagesPierre Desir made a strong case for his return over the back stretch of the 2018 season. He was an integral part of limiting arguably the best receiver in football, DeAndre Hopkins, to two very pedestrian games against the Colts. He also had the same kind of impact on Cowboys’ wide receiver Amari Cooper, who had been taking over games before the Colts shut Dallas down completely. Is Desir a long term answer at cornerback? No. He’ll turn 29 next season, and they will need players to step in and take over at some point. While there might be some cornerbacks hitting free agency who could provide a marginal talent increase, would it be worth it if they are a risk to the locker room’s cohesiveness? Given Ballard’s tendency to build from the draft, he will likely address the position there, but in the meantime, it makes sense to give Desir a reasonable deal and let him be a veteran presence in a very young defensive backs room.Verdict: StayAl WoodsPhoto by Bobby Ellis/Getty ImagesFor some reason I had it in my brain that Ryan Grigson had brought Woods in, and nearly gave him credit for a solid signing. Unfortunately for him, that was not the case. Chris Ballard signed Woods, and it proved to be a big signing for the defensive line in terms of limiting their impotence against the run. Woods is one of the oldest players on the roster not named Adam Vinatieri, and having him present on such a young defense almost certainly provided some value. His role this season was significantly limited, especially when compared with 2017 where he was on the field for the majority of defensive snaps. At 32 years old and with a draft class littered with talented interior defensive linemen and a room full of promising young players already, it just seems like Woods is an unlikely candidate to return. Verdict: GoMatthias FarleyPhoto by Brian Bahr/Getty ImagesYou could be forgiven if you had forgotten about Matthias Farley just a little bit. He went to IR after the game against the Patriots Quenton Nelson Jersey 2019 , and given the Colts’ run after that point, much of what happened before got lost in the shuffle. Farley is an interesting case in terms of re-signing. He is just 26 years old, and has a ton of heart as well as being a locker room leader. While he isn’t the most athletic guy in the safety room by a wide margin, he also has a bit of that “it” factor that has reared its head with greater consistency over the past two season. He is a player who gets the most out of his ability. To use a term Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com uses, he is a “fairway” guy. He doesn’t have the high ceiling of some guys, but he doesn’t have the low floor either. I would love to see Farley back in that safety room to back up Malik Hooker.Verdict: StayAdam VinatieriPhoto by Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesThis is one of the toughest calls out there. On the one hand, the guy is a complete legend. He holds the All-Time points record, and has been one of the most clutch kickers ever. On the other hand, the guy is 46 years old. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t doubt Vinny’s accuracy. He was as accurate this season as ever, and even knocked one in from 54 yards. However, I noticed something this year that I’m sure you did as well. He had some pretty ugly kicks at times, and I think they were due to a lingering injury. He injured his groin in the game against the Bills, and from that point on, there were several one-off kicks that just didn’t look right. Most went in, but seemed to clearly indicate a guy dealing with pain. That is normal for football players, but part of the reason there aren’t guys playing at 46 is because your body simply takes longer to heal than a 24 year old’s does. There is a very real concern that letting someone as prestigious as Vinatieri walk would come back to bite the Colts, and it could. However, Michael Badgley was the guy kicking backup to Vinatieri during training camp and preseason before landing with the Chargers and kicking 93.8% of his field goals and 96.4% of his extra points as well as hitting a 59-yarder. All those numbers best Vinny’s on the year, proving that not only are there guys out there who can be effective, but that the Colts have had them in their building. While it would be a truly tough call, and one that Vinatieri’s retirement might make irrelevant, I believe the right move for the Colts is to let him walk and sign someone to be the next generation place kicker for this team.Verdict: GoLet us know your thoughts in the comments, and check back for the second part of this series for some of the other major in-house free agents the Colts will need to make decisions on.