2019 NFL Draft Report Cards: NFC South Edition

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Mandatory Minicamp has just concluded, and school is over for me. So today, I’ll be resuming my NFL Draft Report Card series with the NFC South. Teams in the NFC South either thrived in this draft or struggled mightily. Which teams do I think benefitted the most? Keep reading to see my Draft Report Card for each team, including a grade for each pick as well as my final grades. As I post more articles, I will also include links to the rest of my draft grades.

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NFL Draft Report Cards 2019

NFC East

NFC North

NFC South

NFC West

AFC East

AFC North

AFC South

AFC West

Carolina Panthers

Overall Grade: B+

Draft Report Card:

Analysis:

Overall, this was a pretty solid draft for Carolina. They found a high upside WR in Round 7 to replace Devin Funchess. They filled their needs at tackle and edge early. They even took a QB in case Cam Newton fails to stay healthy. Will Grier is a big upgrade for Carolina at backup QB as opposed to Taylor Heinicke or Kyle Allen.

The Panthers did have a lot of needs going in, and with just 7 picks, it was hard to fill them all. But they could’ve traded down at some point, and they could’ve taken a corner to play across from Donte Jackson as opposed to RB Jordan Scarlett. Christian McCaffrey is a long term solution for Carolina at RB1, and they are set if he gets hurt thanks to Cameron Artis-Payne. It’s somewhat smart to add depth there in case multiple injuries occur, but they needed a corner more, and McCaffrey has not been terribly injury prone. Despite a couple mistakes in the later rounds, this was a pretty good draft, and it would’ve been hard for Carolina to do much better.

New Orleans Saints

Overall Grade: B

Draft Report Card:

Analysis:

It was hard for the Saints to succeed with only 5 picks, 4 of which were on Day 3. But unlike Philadelphia, who was also limited to 5 picks, the Saints found a way to fill a few needs early on and make the most of their draft situation. They drafted Erik McCoy in Round 2 to fill their biggest need as he replaces the retired Max Unger at center. They also snagged a top safety, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson with their 2nd pick. They could have looked for a receiver later on, and some of their later picks were reaches, but the Saints got off to a strong start and should be able to look back and admire this draft class in a few years.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Overall Grade: C+

Analysis:

The Buccaneers had some really strong picks, and some questionable ones. The team will have flexibility on defense after drafting LB Devin White in Round 1 and edge rusher Anthony Nelson in the 4th. But beyond that, the Bucs struggled in this draft. They didn’t really fill many of their needs. I would think they would draft a running back after the Year 1 struggles of Ronald Jones II, but maybe they need to give RoJo more of a chance before giving up on him, something other teams neglected to do for their rookie and second year busts.

The team also could’ve used more depth at WR beyond Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but they chose not to draft anyone until Round 6, when they reached for Scott Miller of Bowling Green. They did sign Breshad Perriman, but I don’t know if that will be enough. Expect to see a lot of 2 TE schemes with O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate on the roster. The team also reached for a kicker once again. This team didn’t have that many huge needs, so I would’ve thought they would fill more of those as opposed to drafting three unnecessary defensive backs and reaching for some other players.

Atlanta Falcons

Overall Grade: C

Draft Report Card:

Analysis:

The Falcons really needed some depth at linebacker with Vic Beasley playing defensive end, but they didn’t end up drafting one. Who will be lining up on either side of Deion Jones come Week 1? I can’t name anyone definitively right now. They did get o-line help, but both o-linemen they drafted in Round 1 may have been found available in Round 2, or at least someone almost as good as them. The team did draft some secondary depth and a couple RBs to backup for Devonta Freeman, but those picks were also reaches. All of their picks were either a reach or an unnecessary pick. I would’ve expected a couple spot on selections.

That’s all for this portion of my NFL Draft Report Cards. In my next post, I’ll be reviewing the NFC West’s draft classes. Which NFC West teams stood out the most in this year’s draft? Stay tuned for my next post to find out.

March Madness 2019: Previewing the Midwest Region

March 20, 2019March 20, 2019 Andrew Roberts March Madness, NCAAM Abilene Christian, Abilene Christian Wildcats, Aggies, Auburn, Auburn Tigers, Bill Self, Buckeyes, Corey Davis Jr., Cougars, Cyclones, Gaels, Georgia State, Georgia State Panthers, Heels, Houston, Houston Cougars, Huskies, Iona, Iona Gaels, Iowa State, Iowa State Cyclones, Jayhawks, John Calipari, Kansas, Kansas Jayhawks, Kentucky, Kentucky Wildcats, Luke Maye, March Madness, Midwest Region, NCAA Tournament, NCAAB, NCAAM, New Mexico State, New Mexico State Aggies, NM State, North Carolina, North Carolina Tar Heels, Northeastern, Northeastern Huskies, Ohio State, Ohio State Buckeyes, P.J. Washington, Panthers, Pirates, Seton Hall, Seton Hall Pirates, Tar Heels, Terriers, Tigers, Tyler Herro, UNC, UNC Tar Heels, Utah State, Utah State Aggies, Washington, Washington Huskies, Wildcats, Wofford, Wofford Terriers

Welcome to my 4th and final regional preview for March Madness. Today, I’ll be taking a look at the Midwest Region. WIll UNC go far, or will someone upset them along the way? What other big upsets could happen? Keep reading to find out what I think. You can also check out the rest of my regional previews at the links below:

March Madness 2019: Regional Previews

March Madness 2019: Previewing the East Region

March Madness 2019: Previewing the West Region

March Madness 2019: Previewing the South Region

March Madness 2019: Previewing the Midwest Region

I will be previewing the Sweet 16 next week as well!

Now let’s get started with the Midwest:

Round of 64 Preview

Columbus, OH: Games start Friday, March 22, 2019 at 6:50 PM EST on TNT

#8 Utah State vs. #9 Washington

Utah State may have won the MWC after San Diego State’s take down of Nevada, but I still think Washington is the better team here. The Huskies were a bright spot in an unusually weak Pac-12. Expect them to outplay the Aggies, who struggled to keep up with Nevada in a mid-major conference, especially early on. You could argue that the Huskies didn’t win enough games outside the Pac-12, but Utah State hasn’t won many more outside their conference.

The Pick: UPSET ALERT: Washington

#1 North Carolina vs. #16 Iona

The Tar Heels should be able to take care of Iona. The Gaels have found a way to pull some upsets after subpar seasons. But a 16-1 upset is not happening. North Carolina will not have it easy in this tournament like they did last season. But led by longtime Tar Heel leader Luke Maye, they should be able to snuff Iona’s torch before it’s too late.

The Pick: North Carolina

Salt Lake City, UT: Games start Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 1:30 PM EST on TNT

#5 Auburn vs. #12 New Mexico State

This should be a close one, and it was one of the hardest games for me to predict. New Mexico State has a long history of pulling upsets in this tourney, and they have reigned over the WAC for at least a few years. The Tigers might not quite be on the level of the SEC’s top teams in Kentucky, Tennessee, and LSU, though they managed to win the SEC tournament. However, I don’t think Auburn will have the same luck in this game.

The Pick: UPSET ALERT: New Mexico State

#4 Kansas vs. #13 Northeastern

The Jayhawks had some bad losses this year, including losses to Arizona State, Texas, and West Virginia. But I think Kansas should be able to take care of the Huskies. Northeastern struggled to keep up with Hofstra in a relatively weak Colonial conference. There’s no way they’ll be able to defeat the Big 12 champion, even though Kansas has been inconsistent within their conference.

The Pick: Kansas

Tulsa, OK: Games start Friday, March 22, 2019 at 7:20 PM EST on TBS

#3 Houston vs. #14 Georgia State

The Cougars dominated the AAC this season. Their only losses? Cincinnati, UCF, and Temple. They were also undefeated outside the AAC. That gives me plenty of confidence for them in this tournament. I see them as the best mid-major team this season, and the Panthers should be a pretty easy opponent despite plenty of recent NCAA tournament experience.

The Pick: Houston

#6 Iowa State vs. #11 Ohio State

The Cyclones weren’t quite on the level of the Big 12’s top teams, but they did improve from their 2017-18 performance and will have a shot to make a run in the tourney this year. Ohio State may be inconsistent, but they have beat some elite teams like Iowa and Cincinnati. The Cyclones don’t have that kind of upside, and the Buckeyes will take advantage.

The Pick: UPSET ALERT: Ohio State

Jacksonville, FL: Games start Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 7:10 PM EST on CBS

#2 Kentucky vs. #15 Abilene Christian

Fun fact: this is the only Round of 64 game in which both teams have the same mascot. This is a battle of the Wildcats. Abilene Christian was able to thrive in the weak Southland conference. But they don’t have many quality victories, and Kentucky will be a very tough opponent. Expect Tyler Herro and P.J. Washington to lead Kentucky as they take care of business against ACU. But this won’t even be close to the end of Kentucky’s March Madness run.

The Pick: Kentucky

#7 Wofford vs. #10 Seton Hall

The Terriers came out on top in an unusually strong SoCon. UNC Greensboro, who came in second to them, nearly made it on an at-large bid. But Seton Hall managed to put up a respectable record in their mid-major conference despite placing behind Marquette and Villanova. The Pirates have pulled some interesting upsets in the past, and Wofford may have been consistent, but they lack quality wins outside the SoCon. Look for Seton Hall to take care of business here even though I think the committee overrated them.

The Pick: UPSET ALERT: Seton Hall

Round of 32 and Beyond

Here are my projected Round of 32 match-ups:

#1 North Carolina vs. #9 Washington

#4 Kansas vs. #12 New Mexico State

#3 Houston vs. #11 Ohio State

#2 Kentucky vs. #10 Seton Hall

UNC should be able to take care of Washington. The Tar Heels had a consistent track record this year, especially within the ACC. The Huskies cannot say the same. KU may struggle against New Mexico State, who will be fresh off upsetting Auburn. Kansas lost a lot this off-season, and they may be upset prone, so Bill Self and the Jayhawks won’t be enough to end New Mexico State’s run this year. Houston should win easily over an inconsistent Ohio State squad, and Kentucky will show Seton Hall who’s boss, especially since they will have momentum in their favor after dominating against Abilene Christian.

And the Projected Midwest Winner is…

#2 Kentucky

The Wildcats’ toughest game might be their Sweet 16 battle with Houston. Led by Corey Davis Jr., Houston has done very well in a competitive AAC conference, but Kentucky nearly won everything in an even stronger SEC conference that has 7 representatives in the NCAA Tournament. Despite the tough Regional Finals match-ups, Herro and Washington should lead John Calipari’s team back to the Final 4. UNC will look to stop Kentucky after putting an end to New Mexico State’s run, but even the NM State game will be a rocky ride for UNC, as NM State can really tear apart quality teams, even in games they don’t end up winning. Kentucky is the best equipped for the Final 4: they have easier match-ups, a top head coach, and a duo of leaders on the court. I even picked them to win the championship.

That’s all for this year’s March Madness regional previews. I’ll give you an update on my bracket and revise my predictions next week before the Sweet 16, so stay tuned.

2018 NFL Week 15 Picks & Previews: Locking Up a Playoff Spot

December 16, 2018December 16, 2018 Andrew Roberts NFL, Picks & Previews 49ers, Aaron Rodgers, Adam Thielen, Amari Cooper, Baltimore, Baltimore Ravens, Broncos, Browns, Cam Newton, Carolina, Carolina Panthers, CBS Sports, Chargers, Chiefs, Chris Ivory, Christian Kirk, Cleveland, Cleveland Browns, Cody Kessler, D'Onta Foreman, Dak Prescott, Denver, Denver Broncos, Derek Carr, Deshaun Watson, Drew Brees, Eagles, Eli Apple, Eli Manning, Ezekiel Elliott, Houston, Houston Texans, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jags, Jaguars, James Conner, Jared Cook, Jared Goff, Jason La Canfora, Jeff Driskel, Jets, Joe Mixon, Josh Allen, Josh Johnson, Josh Rosen, Kansas City, Kansas City Chiefs, Kareem Hunt, KC, KC Chiefs, Khalil Mack, LA, LA Chargers, LA Rams, Lamar Jackson, Landon Collins, LeSean McCoy, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Marcus Mariota, Mark Sanchez, Matt Breida, Matt Ryan, Michael Thomas, Mitch Trubisky, New England, New England Patriots, New Orleans, New Orleans Saints, New York, New York Jets, NFL, NFL Week 15 Picks, Nick Mullens, NY, NY Jets, Panthers, Patriots, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Eagles, Philip Rivers, Philly, Picks, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Steelers, Rams, Ravens, Russell Wilson, Saints, Sam Darnold, Sammy Watkins, San Fran, San Francisco, San Francisco 49ers, Seahawks, Seattle, Seattle Seahawks, Steelers, Stefon Diggs, Texans, Tom Brady, Tyler Lockett

Welcome to my Week 15 NFL Picks and Previews. Last week was a rough week, as I went 6-10, putting my overall record at 115-92-2 (117-93-2 including TNF and Saturday). I am still only ahead of 1 expert (Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports). This week, many teams have a chance to lock up playoff spots, but will all of the current contenders keep rolling this week, or will some fall behind as other teams rise? The Patriots take on the Steelers, and the Saints play the Panthers in Carolina, so there’s bound to be a couple teams knocked out of contention. Pittsburgh, who’s already just 7-5-1, faces not only New England but also the Saints on their remaining schedule. This could open the door for the Ravens and Browns in the AFC North. Keep reading to find out what I think, and feel free to comment with your thoughts.

Lock of the Week

The Redskins won’t be able to do much offensively with Mark Sanchez and Josh Johnson as their QBs. The Jags may have struggled this season, but their defense is still easily top 10 in the NFL. This will open the door for young QB Cody Kessler and the Jaguars to put up a strong offensive game in a blowout win. The Redskins defense will lack motivation considering how badly the offense is doing, allowing Kessler to toss multiple TD and the Jacksonville run game to dominate.

Upset of the Week

Seattle has been strong at home this season with a 5-2 record. But on the road, they are a measly 3-3. We’ve seen what Niners QB Nick Mullens is capable of. Against an inexperienced Seahawks defense, I could see Mullens having a big game and leading San Francisco to pull off an upset. The Niners run game will struggle though, since RB Matt Breida is not 100%. Seattle should have a decent game offensively, but they won’t be able to compete with Mullens’ dominance, and QB Russell Wilson will struggle to connect with any WR who isn’t named Tyler Lockett. Mullens will prove that although he’s not the future of the Niners, he is a capable QB who can handle the weaker defenses in the league with ease.

The Other Games

TNF (Posted to Twitter Thursday Night; Actual Score: 29-28 Chargers)	Look for QB Philip Rivers and his receivers to lead the Chargers past the weak Kansas City defense in a close, overtime game. The Chiefs should also look very strong on offense, but they won’t be up to full speed without RB Kareem Hunt and WR Sammy Watkins. This and the defensive struggles will cost the Chiefs late in the game.
Saturday, 4:30 PM EST (Posted to Twitter Saturday; Actual Score: 29-22 Texans)	Expect QB Sam Darnold and the Jets to put up a relatively strong game, even against the tough Houston defense. But QB Deshaun Watson and the Texans will get by as the Jets are still held under 20. The return of RB Dont’a Foreman will boost the Texans’ offensive performance in the road victory.
Saturday, 8:20 PM EST (Posted to Twitter Saturday; Actual Score: 17-16 Browns)	Look for the Broncos to win at home in a low scoring game. The Browns will struggle against a tough Broncos defense in Denver despite a stronger offensive season. The strong defense as well as a big game from the Broncos RBs will lead the Broncos in their victory.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Led by the WR duo of Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, expect the Vikings to secure a victory at home after losing 2 in a row. The Vikes defense will help their case as well, but the Dolphins will make this closer than you think.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Look for QB Josh Allen to lead the Bills to a home victory, taking advantage of his running abilities with RB LeSean McCoy out and RB Chris Ivory banged-up. The Lions will look better offensively than they have been lately, but the Bills defense will prevent Detroit from providing a serious challenge.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	QB Lamar Jackson will prove himself as Baltimore’s starting QB here, leading the Ravens to victory at home. The Ravens D will also have a strong game, holding Tampa under 15. The Bucs offense will lack the energy it usually has in the loss, making the Ravens D’s job easier.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Look for QB Jeff Driskel and his offense to outperform their expectations against the young Oakland defense. Cincy’s run game will help, as Joe Mixon has 100+ yards rushing. But Driskel will still throw multiple TDs in the victory. Meanwhile, Oakland will be held to just 1 TD, as QB Derek Carr has a hard time relying on his WRs, instead relying on TE Jared Cook.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	QB Marcus Mariota should be able to find his receivers despite lacking WR depth, as the Giants defense struggles to contain Mariota’s receivers without S Landon Collins (injured) and CB Eli Apple (traded). The Giants will fall short as the defense struggles and QB Eli Manning throws throws more picks than he throws TDs.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	The Colts offense should be alright against the young Dallas D. However, QB Dak Prescott and the Cowboys will continue to dominate against the weak Colts defense. Strong games by WR Amari Cooper and RB Ezekiel Elliott will lead them to victory.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Look for DE Khalil Mack and the Bears defense to dominate against a Packers team that lacks talent outside of QB Aaron Rodgers. This will allow QB Mitch Trubisky and the Bears to thrive, winning easily with the help of a strong game by their RB duo.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Look for QB Matt Ryan and his receivers to dominate against the struggling Arizona defense. The Cardinals will also put up an underwhelming performance on offense, as QB Josh Rosen struggles to find his receivers without WR Christian Kirk, even against the weak Falcons D. The Cardinals will fall short after Atlanta’s much better offensive game.
Sunday, 4:25 PM EST Check back closer to kickoff for a video preview!	The Pats will get by in Pittsburgh, but QB Tom Brady will still struggle to connect with his receivers on the road. The Steelers offense will struggle as well and their run game won’t be able to do much of anything without RB James Conner.
Sunday, 8:20 PM EST	QB Jared Goff and the Rams will look good against the depleted Eagles defense, even if they aren’t at their best. But it’s LA’s defense that will lead the Rams to victory. The Rams defense will shut down a Philly offense that can be explosive at times.
Monday, 8:15 PM EST	The Saints should be able to get by on the road, even against Carolina. New Orleans will not be at full strength in their third straight road game, especially after losing their momentum in an all out embarrassing loss to Dallas. The Panthers defense will hold them back, but QB Drew Brees and WR Michael Thomas will lead the Saints to victory. QB Cam Newton and his offense will make it close in primetime, but it will not be enough.

That’s all for this week. Stay tuned for more posts soon.

2018 NFL Week 13 Picks & Previews: Lots of Crucial Divisional Matchups Occur

December 2, 2018December 2, 2018 Andrew Roberts NFL, Picks & Previews, Uncategorized A.J. Green, Aaron Donald, Aaron Rodgers, Alex Collins, Andrew Luck, Andy Dalton, Aqib Talib, Baker Mayfield, Ben Roethlisberger, Blake Bortles, Buccaneers, Cam Newton, Carolina, Carolina Panthers, Carson Wentz, Case Keenum, Chargers, Chase Daniel, Cody Kessler, Colt McCoy, Cowboys, Dak Prescott, Dallas, Dallas Cowboys, Danny Amendola, Derek Carr, Deshaun Watson, Detroit, Detroit Lions, Drew Brees, Eagles, Eli Manning, Golden Tate, Jameis Winston, Jeff Heuerman, Jordy Nelson, Josh Allen, Josh McCown, Josh Rosen, Kareem Hunt, Kerryon Johnson, LA, LA Chargers, LA Rams, Lamar Jackson, Lions, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Marcus Peters, Marvin Jones, Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford, Melvin Gordon, Michael Thomas, Mike McCarthy, New Orleans, New Orleans Saints, NFL, NFL Picks, NFL Week 13 Picks, Nick Mullens, Panthers, Patrick Mahomes II, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Eagles, Philip Rivers, Philly, Picks, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Steelers, Rams, Redskins, Ryan Tannehill, Saints, Steelers, Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tom Brady, Washington, Washington Redskins

Welcome to my NFL Week 13 picks and previews. Last week, I went 11-4, putting my overall record at 96-78-2 (96-79-2 including Week 13 TNF). I am still ahead of 1 CBS Sports expert. This week, a lot of divisional matchups occur, with many of them having playoff implications. The Eagles and Redskins play for 2nd place in the NFC East, and the loser may be knocked out of contention. The Colts visit Jacksonville hoping to increase their chances at a wild card spot. Who will win these divisional games? Keep reading to find out what I think, and feel free to comment with your thoughts.

Lock of the Week

Look for dominance from the Rams defense in the first shutout of the NFL season. The revamped duo of Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters won’t give up anything to Detroit’s depleted WR corps, and DT Aaron Donald and company will shut down QB Matthew Stafford and the run game. The Rams will not need more than a couple touchdowns for a Rams clinic victory thanks to the strong defense. Meanwhile, The Lions will begin to miss RB Kerryon Johnson and WRs Golden Tate and Marvin Jones in a shutout loss.

Upset of the Week

The Panthers are coming off two frustrating last-minute losses, and the Buccaneers are coming off a much-needed victory. Look for QB Jameis Winston to ride the momentum and put up his best performance yet against Carolina. The Bucs D will still give up plenty to QB Cam Newton and his versatile offensive core. But a 3 or 4 TD game from Winston should be enough for the Buccaneers to pull the upset.

The Other Games

TNF (Posted to Twitter Thursday Night; Actual Score: 13-10 Cowboys)	QB Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense will be slowed down significantly by the improving New Orleans defense. Meanwhile, QB Drew Brees and WR Michael Thomas will lead the Saints to victory despite the Dallas defense’s shut down of the Saints RB duo.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Look for Miami to hold on for a home victory against a young Bills defense that is not great but can be pesky at times. QB Ryan Tannehill will lead the Dolphins here, even without WR Danny Amendola. QB Josh Allen and his offense will perform better than they usually do, but expect them to just fall short in Miami against a mediocre, but not putrid Dolphins defense.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Look for the Atlanta defense to step it up against rookie QB Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, especially with RB Alex Collins on IR. QB Matt Ryan won’t have an amazing game against this strong Baltimore D, but it will be enough thanks to the improving Falcons defense.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	The Broncos will ride the momentum to a third straight win as the defense dominates against a banged-up Cincinnati pass offense that will miss QB Andy Dalton, especially since WR A.J. Green is not 100%. The Broncos will be alright offensively without TE Jeff Heuerman, as QB Case Keenum finally begins to rely on his receivers more in the Denver victory.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Expect QB Deshaun Watson to put up another strong game against the inexperienced Browns defense. Meanwhile, the Texans D will do a respectable job in shutting down QB Baker Mayfield and this young Browns offensive core. The Texans will win triumphantly as they play strong football all around.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Expect the Jaguars to win by a surprisingly large margin as they host the Colts. They came close in Indy, so I expect a win in Jacksonville. QB Cody Kessler will also help the Jags improve as he outperforms QB Blake Bortles. QB Andrew Luck and his receivers will struggle to handle the Jags strong D, but they’ll still manage to score a couple TDs.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	QB Eli Manning will have to dig into New York’s WR depth here to even score a TD against this improving Chicago defense. The Giants’ experienced defense will limit the QB Chase Daniel-led Bears offense, but Daniel will still throw multiple TDs in the victory.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	The Packers should manage to win at home here, but as they nearly blow it, the “fire Mike McCarthy” campaign will just get louder. QB Aaron Rodgers will rely on his younger receivers as they just barely get by the Cardinals. QB Josh Rosen will find his receivers more easily against a struggling Green Bay secondary, but it won’t quite be enough.
Sunday, 4:05 PM EST	QB Josh McCown should struggle regressively as his receivers are out done by a Titans secondary that is no more than average. This will highlight the Jets’ flaws as the Titans win by multiple TD. A strong all-around offensive game as well as a clutch defensive performance will help Tennessee in the home win.
Sunday, 4:05 PM EST	The Chiefs won’t be at full strength after the release of RB Kareem Hunt. But QB Patrick Mahomes II will still lead the Chiefs to victory though, with 3 TD and 0 INT. The Raiders will come close though as QB Derek Carr relies on his younger receivers (since WR Jordy Nelson is struggling).
Sunday, 4:25 PM EST	Neither offense will be up to full speed here as both defenses thrive. But QB Tom Brady will lead the Pats to get by at home as he uses his WR depth, something New England has at full health. The Vikings will make this close, led by QB Kirk Cousins and his receivers.
Sunday, 4:25 PM EST	The Seahawks will be able to get by here, but the 49ers will come close to an upset and play the better all around game, as young QB Nick Mullens throws multiple TD against the young Seattle D. The Seahawks, however, will find a way to win thanks to veteran QB Russell Wilson.
Sunday, 8:20 PM EST	The Steelers offense will look good here, as QB Ben Roethlisberger tosses multiple TD. But even without RB Melvin Gordon, QB Philip Rivers and his deep WR corps will be too much for the Pittsburgh D to handle as they outperform the Steelers significantly. The Chargers will be able to handle Pittsburgh’s offense a little easier, helping their case in a road primetime victory, handing the Steelers their second straight loss.
Sunday, 8:15 PM EST	Expect the Eagles to win in a shootout thanks to the strong game by QB Carson Wentz and his receivers. QB Colt McCoy will outperform his expectations though, tossing multiple TD and making this close. But the Eagles will still get past McCoy’s Redskins as their run game thrives in addition to the pass offense.

That’s all for today’s picks. Stay tuned for more posts soon, including Part 3 of my MLB free agent predictions.

2018 NFL Week 12 Picks & Previews: Contenders Arise

November 25, 2018 Andrew Roberts NFL, Picks & Previews A.J. Green, Aaron Rodgers, Andrew Luck, Andy Dalton, Blake Bortles, Cam Newton, Carolina, Carolina Panthers, Carson Wentz, Colts, David Johnson, DeMaryius Thomas, Deshaun Watson, Dolphins, Eli Manning, Green Bay, Green Bay Packers, Houston, Houston Texans, Indianapolis, Indianapolis Colts, Indy, Jameis Winston, Jets, Jimmy Garoppolo, Jimmy Graham, Josh Allen, Josh McCown, Josh Rosen, Kirk Cousins, Lamar Jackson, Le'Veon Bell, Miami, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota, Minnesota Vikings, New England, New England Patriots, New York, New York Jets, Nick Mullens, NY, NY Jets, Packers, Panthers, Patriots, Pats, Philip Rivers, Russell Wilson, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Tannehill, Seahawks, Seattle, Seattle Seahawks, T.Y. Hilton, Tennessee, Tennessee Titans, Texans, Titans, Tom Brady, Vikes, Vikings

Welcome to my Week 12 NFL Picks and Previews. On Thanksgiving Day, I went 3-0, putting my overall record at 88-74-2. However, I am still only ahead of 1 expert from CBS Sports, and none from ESPN. This week, I think we will see the biggest contenders besides the Rams and Chiefs (who both take a bye after last week’s shootout) will rise to the top with victories this week. Meanwhile, teams that had snuck into the playoff picture despite an underwhelming season will fall. With the playoffs approaching, this week it will begin to become clear who’s really here to stay.

Lock of the Week

Look for the Panthers to shut down Seattle’s run game here. This will put a lot on QB Russell Wilson and his receivers, and I don’t think they’ll put up enough for Seattle to make this close in Carolina. They will fail to step it up in the place of the run game. Meanwhile, QB Cam Newton and his receivers will be all over the Seahawks’ young secondary as Carolina dominates in a blowout victory.

Upset of the Week

The return of QB Ryan Tannehill will give the Dolphins offense a big boost. Expect Tannehill to throw multiple TDs and shock the Colts in Indy. The Colts will make it close thanks to dominance by the combo of QB Andrew Luck and WR T.Y. Hilton. But the Colts will fall short against Miami’s revamped offense, and the weak defensive game will not help matters.

The Other Games

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Expect the Jets young, but underrated defense to limit the abilities of QB Tom Brady and his offense. But the Patriots should find a way to score in New York. Meanwhile, Jets QB Josh McCown will struggle regressively against an improved New England defense. This will lead to a Patriots blowout victory.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	The Jaguars D will get back on task in Buffalo, holding QB Josh Allen and the Bills to just 1 TD. Meanwhile, QB Blake Bortles will improve against a mediocre Bills defense, throwing 2+ TD. This will lead to a Jaguars road win in a surprisingly easy game.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	QB Lamar Jackson will thrive again here, utilizing Baltimore’s strong run game and tossing multiple TD. The Ravens will struggle to win the turnover battle against an Oakland D that has forced a surprising number of turnovers. But the Ravens will come out on top after a very strong offensive game and another clutch defensive performance. Expect the Ravens to hold the new-look Raiders offense under 20 in the victory.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Look for QB Andy Dalton and his receivers to find a way here without WR A.J. Green. The Browns offense will look alright, but I don’t see it being enough against the stingy Bengals D. This will allow Cincy to prevail despite an underwhelming offensive game.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Expect a big game from QB Carson Wentz as he throws 3 TD against a washed-up Giants D. Giants QB Eli Manning should continue his multi-TD game streak here and look better than usual. But it won’t be enough against the high-powered Philly offense. The Eagles’ hopes of winning the division will be restored in this divisional victory.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Look for the Bucs to catch a break at home against the Jimmy Garoppolo-less Niners. The Tampa Bay run game could look surprisingly strong against San Francisco’s young defense. If not, QB Jameis Winston will perform better than QB Ryan Fitzpatrick did. It won’t be perfection, but it would be enough for the Bucs victory. QB Nick Mullens and his receivers will make this close against a struggling Bucs D, but it won’t be enough against the strong Buccaneers offense.
Sunday, 4:05 PM EST	Look for a surprisingly low scoring game here despite a battle of two strong offenses. Both defenses will thrive in the red zone, as only 4 total TDs are scored in 10+ opportunities. QB Josh Rosen and RB David Johnson will lead a strong Arizona offense, but expect them to fall short against QB Philip Rivers and the high-powered Chargers offense.
Sunday, 4:25 PM EST	The Denver offense may struggle after the Demaryius Thomas trade. But the Broncos defense will make up for it, silencing Pittsburgh’s typically dominant offense by holding them TD-less in Denver. The Steelers will continue to miss RB Le’Veon Bell after a tough loss in Denver.
Sunday, 8:20 PM EST	Against a strong Vikes secondary, QB Aaron Rodgers will struggle to find his receivers, especially with TE Jimmy Graham injured. Expect a Vikings victory thanks to the strong defense as well as a strong, multi-TD game by QB Kirk Cousins. This will cause the Packers to begin worrying that their wrath in the NFC North is over.
Monday, 8:15 PM EST	Expect QB Deshaun Watson to utilize his newfound WR duo in a home victory. The young Tennessee defense will do a good job imitating Houston’s shut down D, but they won’t quite get up to Houston’s level. The Texans will come out victorious in primetime as they play complimentary football.

That’s all for my picks this week. Stay tuned for more posts soon, including Part 2 of my MLB free agency predictions.

2018 NFL Week 10 Picks & Previews: Contenders Arise in Unsurprising Outcomes

November 11, 2018 Andrew Roberts Uncategorized 49ers, A.J. Green, Aaron Rodgers, Alex Smith, Ben Roethlisberger, Blake Bortles, Brandon Marshall, Brock Osweiler, Cam Newton, Cameron Meredith, Carlos Hyde, Carolina, Carolina Panthers, Carson Wentz, Charles Clay, Colts, Cowboys, Dak Prescott, Dallas, Dallas Cowboys, Dante Fowler, Dante Fowler Jr., David Johnson, Derek Anderson, Detroit, Detroit Lions, Dez Bryant, Dolphins, Drew Brees, Eagles, Eli Manning, Eric Ebron, Ezekiel Elliott, Giants, Golden Tate, Green Bay, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis, Indianapolis Colts, Indy, Jack Doyle, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jags, Jaguars, Jared Goff, Josh Allen, Josh McCown, Josh Rosen, Le'Veon Bell, Leonard Fournette, Lions, Marcus Mariota, Matt Barkley, Matt Ryan, Miami, Miami Dolphins, Mitch Trubisky, Nathan Peterman, New England, New England Patriots, New York, New York Giants, NFL, NFL Week 10 Picks, Nick Mullens, Niners, NY, NY Giants, Pack, Packers, Panthers, Pat Mahomes, Pat Mahomes II, Patrick Mahomes, Patrick Mahomes II, Patriots, Pats, Paul Richardson, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Eagles, Philip Rivers, Philly, Picks, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Steelers, Redskins, Rob Gronkowski, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Sacksonville, Sam Darnold, San Fran, San Francisco, San Francisco 49ers, Saquon Barkley, Steelers, T. J. Yeldon, Ted Ginn Jr., Tennessee, Tennessee Titans, Titans, Washington, Washington Redskins

Welcome to my Week 10 NFL picks and previews. Last week I went 8-5, putting my overall record at 76-56-2 (76-57-2 including TNF Week 10). I’m still ahead of 2 ESPN experts and a CBS Sports expert. Don’t expect too many upsets this week. I see this as a week where contenders will begin to rise after underwhelming starts. This week will mark the beginning of the end of the surprise runs by teams like the Lions, Redskins, and Dolphins. Meanwhile, expected contenders that have been struggling so far like the Eagles, Jaguars, and Packers will begin to rise. There will be a couple upsets, but who will pull them? Comment with your thoughts below, and keep reading to see my upset picks.

Lock of the Week (SNF)

Look for QB Carson Wentz to start off the 2nd half of the season strong with a 3+ TD game. The Eagles don’t have that difficult of a schedule remaining, which could provide an opportunity for Wentz to make a run for MVP with a big 2nd half. Dallas should look alright on offense here, but Philly’s front seven will limit RB Ezekiel Elliott and overwhelm QB Dak Prescott. Philly will come out on top thanks to Wentz’s big game, as he connects with 7+ different receivers.

Upset of the Week

Look for the TE duo of Jack Doyle and Eric Ebron to help the Colts offensively. Jacksonville’s D will improve from the last couple of weeks, but I don’t see them holding Indy TD-less. The Jaguars offensive rebound will make up for it. With RB Leonard Fournette healthy, this run game will thrive. They suddenly have a lot of depth between Fournette, Carlos Hyde, and T.J. Yeldon. Look for QB Blake Bortles to improve as well. He should have minimal issues against a rebuilding Colts defense that’s regarded as one of the NFL’s worst. Indy will give up 30+ points in a loss here.

The Other Games

TNF (Posted to Twitter Thursday Night; Actual Score: 52-21 Steelers)	Carolina should struggle to contain QB Ben Roethlisberger and his receivers. But they will shut down a Le’Veon Bell-less Steelers run game. At this point, Bell will likely miss the whole season. The Panthers should also be strong on offense again, as QB Cam Newton and his receivers lead Carolina to victory up against a mediocre Steelers defense.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	With TE Rob Gronkowski out, the Pats offense will not be up to full speed. But expect a New England win anyway, as the Pats step it up on D against the young Titans offensive core. QB Marcus Mariota will struggle to find open men as the Patriots defense keeps him and his receivers pressured. The lack of WR depth will hurt the Titans in a loss.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	The Bills are down to their fourth string QB with Nathan Peterman struggling regressively and Derek Anderson and Josh Allen hurt. However, the Jets are also without their starter, Sam Darnold. Look for QB Josh McCown to succeed in filling in for Darnold, leading the Jets to a high scoring victory. The defense will slip a little against QB Matt Barkley and the Bills, but Buffalo will not be able to put up enough points with Allen and TE Charles Clay injured.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	The Saints find themselves with a lack of WR depth with Dez Bryant, Cameron Meredith, and Ted Ginn Jr. all on IR now. That being said, New Orleans will not be at their best offensively. But the Bengals shouldn’t look much better without WR A.J. Green. QB Drew Brees and his receivers should edge out a victory despite an underwhelming performance.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Look for QB Matt Ryan and his receivers to put up another big game in Cleveland. The Browns will try to keep up, but their young core won’t quite do it. The Falcons D will continue to struggle and give up a good number of points to the Browns, but the offensive dominance will be enough for Atlanta.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	This will not be easy for Kansas City. QB Josh Rosen, RB David Johnson, and the Arizona offense should have a day against a banged-up Chiefs D. However, QB Patrick Mahomes II should keep up the good work and this offense should be enough for the Chiefs to keep rolling at home despite defensive struggles that may cost them when it matters. I’m honestly surprised they didn’t seek defensive help at the deadline.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	QB Ryan Fitzpatrick should be able to take advantage of his deep core of receivers to lead Tampa to victory here. Also expect the Bucs D to surprise many with as they get in the way of QB Alex Smith and the Redskins offense. Smith will struggle to find his receivers with the Bucs pressuring him and WR Paul Richardson sidelined with an injury. The Buccaneers will play complimentary football and win triumphantly here.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Detroit’s offense will continue to miss WR Golden Tate as they struggle in Chicago. Look for another big game by the Bears defense here. QB Mitch Trubisky and the Chicago offense won’t be on their best either, but the shut down defense should be enough for the Bears to hold on for a victory.
Sunday, 4:05 PM EST	The Chargers D should look better than usual against a deep but struggling Oakland offense. Meanwhile, QB Philip Rivers and his receivers will put up another big game as Rivers throws multiple TD. The combination of these two things will cause the Raiders to fall short again at home.
Sunday, 4:25 PM EST (OT)	Look for another overtime thriller out of QB Aaron Rodgers and his receivers. Expect the Packers D to nearly cost them the game as they struggle more than they should against a Brock Osweiler-led Miami offense, but look for Rodgers to come up clutch and save the Packers once again.
Sunday, 4:25 PM EST	The dominance of the LA defense should continue with DE Dante Fowler Jr. on board. Expect them to hold Seattle TD-less here. The Rams offense won’t be at their best here, but QB Jared Goff and his WR trio will help lead the Rams to victory, supplemented by the shut-down D. The Seahawks will continue to miss WR Brandon Marshall as the Rams keep Seattle’s other receivers well-covered for majority of the game.
Monday, 8:15 PM EST	Expect the struggles of QB Eli Manning to continue as he throws just 1 TD and multiple picks. RB Saquon Barkley will keep this close with a big game despite Manning’s struggles. But the Giants will fall short as the defense limits, but cannot stop QB Nick Mullens and the young 49ers offensive core.

That’s all for this week. Stay tuned for my NFL midseason report later today, and stay tuned for my MLB off-season coverage throughout the rest of November.

2018 NFL Week 5 Pick’Em & Previews: Upsets Await in Week Full of Intriguing Match-Ups

October 7, 2018October 7, 2018 Andrew Roberts NFL, Patriots, Picks & Previews, Uncategorized Aaron Rodgers, Andrew Luck, Andy Dalton, Austin Ekeler, Baker Mayfield, Bengals, Carolina, Carolina Panthers, Carson Wentz, Chiefs, Christian McCaffrey, Cincinnati, Cincinnati Bengals, Cincy, Colts, Corey Davis, Cowboys, Dak Prescott, Dallas, Dallas Cowboys, Dalvin Cook, David Johnson, Derek Carr, Devonta Freeman, Dolphins, Eagles, Ezekiel Elliott, Geronimo Allison, Giants, Greg Olsen, Houston, Houston Texans, Indianapolis, Indianapolis Colts, Indy, J.J Watt, Jack Doyle, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jadeveon Clowney, Jags, Jaguars, Jared Goff, Jimmy Garoppolo, Joe Flacco, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, Kansas City, Kansas City Chiefs, KC, KC Chiefs, Kenny Stills, Le'Veon Bell, Lock of the Week, Marcus Mariota, Mark Ingram, Marlon Mack, Matt Ryan, Melvin Gordon, Miami, Miami Dolphins, Mike Gesicki, Minnesota, Minnesota Vikings, New England, New England Patriots, New York, New York Giants, NFC Championship, NFL, NFL Week 5 Picks, NY, NY Giants, Panthers, Patriots, Pats, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Eagles, Philip Rivers, Philly, Pick'Em, Picks, Randall Cobb, Russell Wilson, Sacksonville, Sam Darnold, T.Y. Hilton, Texans, Thursday Night Football, TNF, Tom Brady, Tyler Eifert, Upset of the Week, Vikes, Vikings, Vontaze Burfict

Welcome to my Week 5 NFL picks and previews. Last week I went 10-5, placing my overall record at 37-24-2 (38-24-2 including Week 5 TNF). I’m ahead of 9 of ESPN’s 10 experts and 3 of CBS Sports’ 8 experts.

There are a lot of intriguing match-ups this week. The Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals, two of the league’s biggest surprises thus far take each other on. The Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles meet in an NFC Championship rematch. The Kansas City Chiefs’ powerful offense may have met their match in the Jags defense. Who will win in these close match-ups? Whoever wins, I would expect a lot of surprises. Keep reading to find out who I have winning this week.

Lock of the Week (TNF: Posted to Twitter Thursday Night; Actual Score: 38-24 Patriots)

The Colts will be without RB Marlon Mack, TE Jack Doyle, and most importantly, star WR T.Y. Hilton. With the offense banged-up, expect QB Andrew Luck to struggle in finding open receivers. Don’t expect a big game from the Colts running backs either. Meanwhile, I think the Colts defense (which is also banged-up) will fail to contain QB Tom Brady and his receivers. I could see the Pats blowing out and possibly even shutting out the injury-riddled Colts.

Upset of the Week

Coming out of the bye, the Panthers will still be without their top receiving target in TE Greg Olsen. I think they will start to miss him this week as the Giants secondary keeps Carolina’s remaining receivers well covered. Meanwhile, I don’t expect a huge game out of RB Christian McCaffrey against an above average Giants defensive front. The Giants will pull the upset thanks to a strong passing game and improved defense.

The Other Games

Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	These teams might be the two biggest pleasant surprises of the season so far. This week, we’ll likely see which is here to contend, and which is pretending. I think the Bengals will look like legitimate contenders in this game. The defense will see improvement with LB Vontaze Burfict back from his suspension. Meanwhile, QB Andy Dalton will find plenty of open men, even without TE Tyler Eifert. However, Miami will make it close as WR Kenny Stills and rookie TE Mike Gesicki step it up.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Look for QB Josh Allen to lead Buffalo’s offense to a close game against an inconsistent Titans D. Allen has done well in these last couple games. However, I think the Titans will run away with the victory as the offense finds a way, led by the duo of QB Marcus Mariota and WR Corey Davis.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	The Broncos defense has been among the NFL’s best for a long time, and the Jets young defense is emerging as well. Look for both defenses to thrive in a low scoring game. The Denver secondary will do an especially good job at containing QB Sam Darnold and his receivers. I don’t expect the Broncos to look amazing on offense, but they should edge out a victory in New York.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	I think Pittsburgh will look alright on offense despite missing RB Le’Veon Bell. But the Falcons WR trio will be too much for the Steelers secondary. The Steelers have never been more than mediocre on defense, and it will cost them here. Expect Atlanta’s RB duo to thrive with RB Devonta Freeman back and QB Matt Ryan to find open receivers for TDs.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	Look for Cleveland’s defense to step it up, leading Cleveland to a home victory. QB Baker Mayfield and the Browns offense shouldn’t do especially well against a strong Ravens secondary. But, look for the Browns’ underrated, young defense to cause QB Joe Flacco and the Ravens receivers to struggle. That will be enough for the Browns to pull out a win.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	I understand the Chiefs are undefeated and their offense looks unstoppable. But they haven’t seen a defense like Jacksonville’s. I also think the Jaguars will take advantage of the all offense, no defense Chiefs and put together a strong offensive game of their own. The Chiefs have a very tough schedule ahead, and this could be the start of a stretch that bring the Chiefs from unbeatable to a borderline playoff contender. The Jags seem like the team to finally put an end to Kansas City’s offensive dominance and undefeated season.
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST	A lot of people see this as a lock in Green Bay’s favor, but this will not be easy. We’ve seen what Detroit’s offense is capable of at its best, and Green Bay will be without WRs Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison. QB Aaron Rodgers is not at full health either. Look for the Lions offense to get out to an early lead. But I think QB Aaron Rodgers will have another clutch game, and Rodgers alonMelg with the rising young talent surrounding him will lead the team to a comeback victory.
Sunday, 4:05 PM EST	Look for RBs Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler to make an impact against the Mack-less Raiders run defense. I also expect QB Philip Rivers and his receivers to have a successful game. I think this Chargers offense can be all-around dominant against Oakland’s subpar defense. QB Derek Carr will make this close when he tosses 3 TD of his own, but it won’t be enough in this offensive shootout.
Sunday, 4:25 PM EST	These teams have two of the best defenses in the NFC, so don’t expect too much scoring. The Vikings passing game will be somewhat successful in Philly, but you can’t count on the run game with RB Dalvin Cook battling a hamstring injury. I think QB Carson Wentz will manage to find a way at home, even going up against the lights out Vikes defense.
Sunday, 4:25 PM EST	QB Josh Rosen led the Cardinals to their closest game thus far last week, and I truly think they can win this one over the Jimmy Garoppolo-less 49ers. But I’m not calling a blowout for an 0-4 team. I think the 49ers versatile offense will find a way to keep this close. However, led by RB David Johnson, look for Arizona to edge out a victory.
Sunday, 4:25 PM EST	Expect QB Jared Goff and his offense to dominate in Seattle. I think they can easily handle this rebuilding Seahawks defense. Meanwhile, Seattle’s offense will struggle against a Rams D that has emerged as one of the NFC’s best. I think QB Russell WIlson and the Seahawks run game will be especially overwhelmed by the Rams powerful front seven, and the shut down defense will secure an LA victory.
Sunday, 8:20 PM EST	I think QB Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense will continue to struggle here, especially since they are facing one of the league’s top defenses. Even star RB Ezekiel Elliott could struggle going up against J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, and the dominant Texans defensive front. Houston will secure the victory after a decent offensive performance.
Monday, 8:15 PM EST	I think the Saints will get it done in primetime, boosted by the return of RB Mark Ingram from his four game suspension. Look for the Redskins to make it close against a mediocre Saints D, but I don’t think Washington will be able to finish the job in New Orleans.

That’s all for today’s picks and previews. Feel free to comment with your thoughts on any of the games.

Gonk Knocks S1 E6: Gearing up for Gameday

September 6, 2018 Andrew Roberts High School, Uncategorized Algonquin, Algonquin Regional High School, Algonquin Tomahawks, ARHS, Bartlett, Bartlett Indians, Brendan Hermanspan, Chris Pacios, Clinton, Clinton Gaels, Clinton High School, Gaels, Gonk Knocks, Indians, Mark Allen, Marlboro, Marlboro Panthers, Marlborough, Marlborough Panthers, Mountaineers, Panthers, Polar Bears, Rams, Shepherd Hill, Shepherd Hill Rams, T-Hawks, Taylor Allen, Tomahawks, Wachusett, Wachusett Mountaineers, WNPB, Worcester North, Worcester North Polar Bears

Below is Episode 6 along with some upcoming key dates, links to previous episodes, and my voiceover recap of the day. You can find all Gonk Knocks coverage here.

Full Episode:

Full Interviews from Episode:

Upcoming Key Dates for the Tomahawks Football Team

Friday, 9/7 @ 7 p.m.: Regular Season Game #1 at Home vs. Worcester North
Friday, 9/14 @ 7 p.m: Regular Season Game #2 at Marlborough
Friday, 9/21 @ 7 p.m.: Regular Season Game #3 at Home vs. Wachusett
Friday, 9/21: Homecoming
Saturday, 9/29 @ 7 p.m.: Regular Season Game #4 at Shepherd Hill

Gonk Knocks: Training Camp with the Algonquin Tomahawks

The Algonquin football team had just arrived at Clinton High School, and they were warming up and stretching before taking on the Clinton Gaels and Bartlett Indians in their first scrimmage of the season.

The team broke up into Positional groups for a little while before the scrimmage. At first, they had QBs and WRs in one area, linemen in one area, and RBs in another.

The QBs and WRs played catch, the RBs handed off the ball to each other, and the linemen practiced blocking against each other.

I got the chance to interview Head Coach Taylor Allen before the game.

After prompting from Coach Allen, the captains delivered the pregame speech to the team.

And with that, the scrimmage was on. I cannot show any game footage, but I can tell you that we saw a lot of good run plays by all three teams. For Algonquin, the run game looked sharp for the second consecutive day, and both tight ends continued to shine, making this tight end decision more and more difficult.

Defensively, Algonquin was a little overwhelmed by the opposing running backs at first. But they caught on as they went along and had success stuffing the run as the scrimmage progressed.

Check out some postgame interviews and a live report from after the game. I interviewed TE Chris Pacios, QB Brendan Hermanspan, defensive coordinator Mark Allen, and head coach Taylor Allen.

More Gonk Knocks coming soon!

Gonk Knocks S1 E5 – The Real Deal

August 27, 2018August 27, 2018 Andrew Roberts High School, Uncategorized Algonquin, Algonquin Regional High School, Algonquin Tomahawks, ARHS, Bartlett, Bartlett Indians, Brendan Hermanspan, Burke Dion, Burn the Boats, Chris Pacios, Chris Santana, Clinton, Clinton Gaels, Clinton High School, Coach's Update #1 (After Day 4), Derek Blanchard, Franklin, Franklin Panthers, Gaels, Gonk Knocks, Indians, Jack Branson, John Fontecchio, Logan Picard, Panthers, Pedro Ribeiro, Polar Bears, Raising the Bar, Rio Ferguson, Ryan Carmody, Sam Crain, Step it Up, T-Hawks, Taylor Allen, The Real Deal, Thiago Filadelfo, Tomahawks, Tyrone Notice, Webster, Will Ji, Will Paglia, Worcester, Worcester North, Worcester North Polar Bears

Below is Episode 5 along with some upcoming key dates, links to previous episodes, and my voiceover recap of the day. You can find all Gonk Knocks coverage here.

Full Episode:

Full Interviews from Episode:

Upcoming Key Dates for the Tomahawks Football Team

Monday, 8/27 @ 4 p.m.: Varsity Football Preseason Practice #8
Tuesday, 8/28 @ 3 p.m.: Varsity Football Preseason Practice #9
Wednesday, 8/29 @ 7:20 a.m.: Players Return to School
Friday, 8/31 @ 6 p.m.: Scrimmage #2 @Franklin High School vs. Franklin
Friday, 9/7 @ 7 p.m.: Regular Season Game #1 at Home vs. Worcester North

Gonk Knocks: Training Camp with the Algonquin Tomahawks

More Gonk Knocks coming soon!

Today was the Real Deal as for this practice on August 23rd, the team put on full pads for the first time. The players participated in their first full contact drills. Over the next two days, practice will be like a “dress rehearsal” for their first scrimmage on Saturday, August 25th in Clinton.

Maintaining health is still a top priority and full contact makes it more challenging.

Coaches had players in some head to head match-ups that was as physical as real game action.

Like the last several practices, the team broke into defensive positional groups for drills in each of the first two full pad practices. The defensive lineman and linebackers worked on blocking, faced off in head-to-head physical match-ups, and simulated blitzing. They did this by attaching a football to a hockey stick and pretending it was the quarterback. One of the coaches would move the hockey stick and the players would chase it.

The defensive backs practiced man coverage and tackling. In their first day in full pads, the defensive backs flourished, especially captain Sam Crain, and junior Will Ji. With a new defensive scheme this year, can some of the early success with the CBs be related to DB Coach Tyrone Notice’s unique drills?

The defense overall was strong on both Thursday and Friday. DE and senior captain Chris Santana was one player who shined on defense.

Chris Santana and the other three captains are embracing their roles as leaders on the team and it shows. Another emerging leader on the team is junior and starting center Ryan Carmody. His energy remains high and he continues to help and encourage his teammates. He even taught another center on the team how to improve their snap.

On the field, RB Thiago Filadelfo had an amazing day Friday. Thiago, a Junior, is really fast and his running style complements the rest of talented running back unit. At the start of the day Thiago had a very physical matchup against Sophomore Pedro Ribeiro. Thiago had a lot of great running plays throughout the day. But Thiago wasn’t the only running back with a strong day.

There are several running backs fighting for playing time on Friday nights, and the entire Algonquin RB corps shined throughout the day Friday.

While the running backs dominated in 11 on 11, the wide receivers went into some positional drills.

The competition with tight ends Derek Blanchard and Chris Pacios and is heating up and it shows as both have worked hard and are improving every day. I captured some really good TE action, first with Derek at TE and then with Chris at TE.

The first two days in pads was a success for the team and it was great to see some very competitive 11 on 11 drills as they prepared for their scrimmage on Saturday. The coach opted not to hold the conditioning test in either of the first two full pad practices, but the team did some extra conditioning. On Friday, they alternated between push-ups and running.

Check out my interviews from throughout practice the last two days. I interviewed Head Coach Taylor Allen, defensive backs coach Tyrone Notice, senior captain and WR/DB Sam Crain, senior captain and DE Chris Santana, senior WR/DB Logan Picard, Junior G John Fontecchio, and Sophomore LB/FB Rio Ferguson. (Interviews are in the 2nd video).

The team takes on the Clinton Gaels and Bartlett Indians in their scrimmage at Clinton High School tomorrow, August 25. Stay tuned for the next episode of Gonk Knocks where I report on the scimmage.

Gonk Knocks S1 E4 – Step it Up

August 24, 2018August 24, 2018 Andrew Roberts High School, Uncategorized Algonquin, Algonquin Regional High School, Algonquin Tomahawks, ARHS, Bartlett, Bartlett Indians, Bill Griffin, Brendan Hermanspan, Burke Dion, Burn the Boats, Chris Pacios, Clinton, Clinton Gaels, Clinton High School, Cole Brooks, Derek Blanchard, Franklin, Franklin Panthers, Gaels, Gonk Knocks, Indians, Joey Griffin, Mark Allen, Panthers, Polar Bears, T-Hawls, Taylor Allen, Tomahawks, Worcester North, Worcester North Polar Bears

Below is Episode 4 along with some upcoming key dates, links to previous episodes, and my voiceover recap of the day. You can find all Gonk Knocks coverage here.

Full Episode:

Full Interviews from Episode:

Upcoming Key Dates for the Tomahawks Football Team

Friday, 8/24 @ 4 p.m.: Varsity Football Preseason Practice #7
Saturday, 8/25 @ 10 a.m.: Scrimmage #1 @Clinton High School vs. Clinton & Bartlett
Monday, 8/27 @ 4 p.m.: Varsity Football Preseason Practice #8
Tuesday, 8/28 @ 3 p.m.: Varsity Football Preseason Practice #9
Wednesday, 8/29 @ 7:20 a.m.: Players Return to School
Friday, 8/31 @ 6 p.m.: Scrimmage #2 @Franklin High School vs. Franklin
Friday, 9/7 @ 7 p.m.: Regular Season Game #1 at Home vs. Worcester North

Gonk Knocks: Training Camp with the Algonquin Tomahawks

More Gonk Knocks coming soon!

After four increasingly challenging practices, on Wednesday August 22nd, the Tomahawks had their 5th preseason practice which was their second straight practice in “uppers” which is shoulder pads and helmets with shorts and practice jerseys. After a lot of hard work so far, some players were feeling a bit sore. But the team appeared in good shape after 4 practices.

Performance-wise, today was arguably Algonquin’s best practice so far . The team has worked hard to stay healthy. The coaches worked with the players on physical conditioning and had everyone perform stretches and and various warmups at the start of practice.

With the upper pads on, the players had physical contact and it is expected to intensify in full pads tomorrow through Saturday when they have a scrimmage at Clinton High School at 10 AM when family and friends are welcome to come watch. After warmups and head to head physical match-ups, the team broke up into defensive positional groups: d-linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs.

Each group ran their own unique drills. The defensive backs were simulating interceptions. The coaches intentionally threw the ball to them and they would catch it and run it back. The defensive lineman were practicing their blocking through various methods. I was especially intrigued by the linebacker drills. The linebackers practiced strip sacks and tackles.

A couple of the team captains, Burke Dion and Brendan Hermanspan were absent on the field for part of practice but they cheered on their teammates throughout practice when they were on the sidelines. They were also having fun hanging out with offensive coordinator Bill Griffin’s 7-year old son, Joey, who was watching practice from the sidelines with his dad.

Meanwhile, the team wrapped up defensive positional drills and began some 11 on 11 Drills. The team did pull some receivers and QBs aside for some positional drills of their own for a little while as well. While the receivers and QBs worked, the rest of the offense did too by conducting some running plays.

Throughout the day, tight ends Chris Pacios, a sophomore and Derek Blanchard, a junior were playing well. Both were getting good feedback which sparked an added boost of motivation and energy at the very competitive position. This should be a real close battle for the starting tight end job but with both playing so well the team may use dual tight end formations.

Coach Allen decided to have the team to skip conditioning tests for the day. However, they still did one extra conditioning drill. This extra conditioning was far from easy. The team puts on full pads tomorrow as they continue to step it up each day, and they are hyped.

Check out the the full interviews from the day as some were partially used throughout today’s episode. I had the chance to interview head coach Taylor Allen, defensive coordinator Mark Allen, Sophomore tight end Chris Pacios, and Sophomore Tackle Cole Brooks.

This coach started this year aiming to lead this team to new heights and from what I have seen so far, the team, culture, and program are definitely on a continuing upswing as you can see it and hear it from the players and coaches. It’s been great to watch up close because you can feel the energy and passion the players are bringing every day. Stay tuned for more Gonk Knocks including post game interviews after the scrimmage on Saturday at 10AM at Clinton High School.

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