The Marlins overtook the Mets on the scoreboard and in the standings Saturday.

And for the second game in a row David Long Jersey , Miami beat New York with a rookie pitcher making his first major league start.

Brian Anderson hit a two-run homer off Jacob deGrom and the Marlins climbed out of last place in the NL East by rallying past the reeling Mets, 5-2.

”We’re not in last place? Awesome,” said J.T. Riddle, whose scratch RBI single put Miami ahead to stay.

The Mets (32-48) lost for the 10th time in 11 games and fell into last place for the first time this year. They finished 5-21 this month for the worst June in franchise history, and they’ve plummeted from 10 games over .500 to 15 under at an earlier date than any team in major league history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

”It was not the goal when we came in,” deGrom said. ”This is the complete opposite. Nobody’s happy with that.”

Meanwhile, the rebuilding Marlins (34-50) went 14-14 in June, their best month this season.

They seem to get better as they get younger. Pablo Lopez (1-0) allowed two runs in six innings in his major league debut less than 24 hours after Sandy Alcantara won his first big league start Friday. Both are 22.

The last time two pitchers on the same National League team earned wins in their first career starts in consecutive days was in 1967 when Gary Nolan and Mel Queen did so for the Reds, according to Stats LLC.

DeGrom took a 2-0 lead into the sixth, but Anderson’s fifth homer tied it. Riddle beat out a dribbler to the first baseman for a two-out RBI hit that put Miami ahead.

”I thought that swinging bunt was foul,” deGrom said. ”I should have gone over there and got it.”

Another fielding lapse cost the Mets in the seventh. J.T. Realmuto hit a two-run double after an error by shortstop Amed Rosario prolonged the inning.

Drew Steckenrider pitched a perfect eighth, and Kyle Barraclough earned his eighth save with a 1-2-3 ninth. Steckenrider has thrown 15 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings http://www.losangelesramsteamonline.com/bobby-evans-jersey , and Barraclough has thrown 20 2/3 – two more reasons the Marlins are on the rise.

”We’re gaining some type of identity as to what kind of games we need to play to win,” manager Don Mattingly said. ”We’re not going to outslug anybody. We’re going to have to pitch and play defense and scratch for runs.”

The Mets’ runs came on solo homers against Lopez. Jose Bautista hit his fifth of the year, his third with the Mets. Todd Frazier added his ninth.

DeGrom (5-4), who departed after six innings trailing 3-2, fell to 1-4 in his past five starts despite allowing only 15 runs. His ERA, lowest in the majors coming into the game, rose to 1.84.

”I am definitely frustrated,” he said. ”I’m tired of losing.”

ROOKIE PITCHERS

Lopez was the 17th rookie and 12th rookie pitcher used by Marlins, both most in the majors.

”As soon as I stepped out of the dugout, I just kept looking up in the stands, and they were so big, all the way up to the sky,” the Venezuelan right-hander said. ”This is where I wanted to be. I just needed to calm myself down.”

Four pitchers have made their first major league start against New York this year Greg Gaines Jersey , and they’ve combined to go 3-0 with an ERA of 1.57. But at the moment, the Mets are having trouble beating anybody.

”It’s difficult right now,” first-year manager Mickey Callaway said. ”I know the players are feeling it. I know the fans are feeling.”

EFFORT ISSUE?

Mets pinch-hitter Jose Reyes appeared not to run out a grounder to short in the seventh.

”It looked like that to us, too,” Callaway said. ”I went to talk to Rey-Rey, and he said he felt something out of the box and he was scared he was going to pull something. He kind of pulled up halfway. I thought that maybe he was frustrated, but he felt something coming out of the box.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: RHP Noah Syndergaard (finger) and LHP Jason Vargas (calf) are expected to start against each other in a simulated game next week at Single-A Port St. Lucie.

UP NEXT

Mets LHP Steven Matz (3-5, 3.69), who has thrown 13 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings at Marlins Park, is scheduled to start the series finale Sunday against RHP Dan Straily (3-3, 4.82).

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Dylan Covey has come a long way since his major league debut last year.

All the way to an increasingly interesting prospect for the rebuilding Chicago White Sox.

Covey carried a shutout into the eighth inning, continuing his impressive June and helping the White Sox beat Trevor Bauer and the Cleveland Indians 3-2 on Wednesday night.

”He kept grinding,” manager Rick Renteria said. ”He kept pitching Christian Wilkins Jersey , getting after it and did a really nice job.”

Covey (3-1) allowed 10 hits – all singles – and walked none. The 26-year-old right-hander improved to 3-0 with a 1.53 ERA in five starts since he was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte last month.

The White Sox got Covey from Oakland in the 2016 Rule 5 draft. He went 0-7 with a 7.71 ERA in 18 games, 12 starts, last season, but he has looked like a different pitcher since returning to the majors.

”I’m just super comfortable, with my mechanics, with my pitches,” he said. ”I’m throwing offspeed for strikes, I’m throwing my curveball for strikes. It’s just all about comfort for me right now.”

Covey got a warm ovation from the crowd of 19,390 when he departed after the first two batters reached in the eighth. Edwin Encarnacion hit a one-out RBI single and Yonder Alonso doubled home another run before Jace Fry struck out Melky Cabrera and Jason Kipnis, preserving Chicago’s 3-2 lead.

Joakim Soria allowed two more hits in the ninth before finishing for his 10th save in 12 chances. Michael Brantley bounced into a game-ending double play with runners on first and second.

”We couldn’t string enough hits together,” Indians manager Terry Francona said.

Cleveland wasted another impressive start for Bauer in its second straight loss after a stretch of five wins in six games. Brantley had three hits, but the AL Central leaders went 2 for 13 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on base.

Bauer (5-5) struck out 12 in 7 2/3 innings while becoming the third pitcher in franchise history to record at least 10 Ks in four consecutive starts, joining teammate Corey Kluber and Hall of Famer Bob Feller.

”Missing a lot of bats http://www.miamidolphinsteamonline.com/michael-deiter-jersey , limited contact, keeping the ball in the yard, not walking many people. It was a great outing,” Bauer said.

Bauer matched Covey zero for zero until the White Sox scratched across two in the fifth. Tim Anderson walked, stole second and went to third on a throwing error by catcher Roberto Perez before Charlie Tilson tripled into the corner in right . Tilson then scampered home on Trayce Thompson’s perfectly placed suicide squeeze.

Kevan Smith added an RBI single in the sixth as Chicago won for the third time in four games.

HELPING OUT

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu helped Covey by turning a pair of slick double plays. He also doubled and scored on Smith’s single.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Indians: LHP Andrew Miller (left knee inflammation) threw another bullpen session and could start facing hitters during Cleveland’s upcoming nine-game homestand. … Francona said the plan is to activate OF Brandon Guyer (strained neck) on Thursday. … C Roberto Perez returned to the lineup for the first time since he was hit by a pitch on the right wrist against Detroit on Sunday. … OF Bradley Zimmer, who was sent down to Triple-A Columbus on June 5, hurt his right shoulder in a drill Monday. He is expected to rest for five days.

White Sox: RHP Nate Jones was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a muscle strain in his forearm. The veteran reliever had an MRI, and Renteria said the injury is ”very mild.” RHP Juan Minaya was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte to take Jones’ place on the roster. … OF Avisail Garcia (strained right hamstring) went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts in his second rehab game with Charlotte.

UP NEXT

Indians right-hander Mike Clevinger and White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon start the series finale Thursday afternoon. Clevinger (4-2, 3.31 ERA) pitched 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball in a 7-3 victory over Chicago on May 29. Rodon (0-1, 3.60 ERA) is making his second start after missing the beginning of the season while he worked his way back from shoulder surgery last September.

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Jay Cohen can be reached at

TORONTO — Jose Bautista will return to the scene of some of his biggest moments in baseball Tuesday night when the New York Mets visit the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Mets and Blue Jays will play a two-game interleague series at the Rogers Centre http://www.seahawksfootballauthentics.com/marquise-blair-jersey-authentic , where Bautista starred for the better part of nine years.

The Mets will start right-hander Zack Wheeler (2-6, 4.47 ERA) against Blue Jays right-hander Marco Estrada (4-7, 4.53) in the series opener.

While the Blue Jays (39-45) were losing 3-2 in 10 innings on Monday afternoon to the Detroit Tigers at the Rogers Centre, the Mets (33-48) had the day off. It gave Bautista a chance to renew acquaintances in Toronto.

“I have some stuff scheduled, to meet up with people who were part of my life when I was there and visit some of the usual spots,” Bautista told reporters in Miami, where the Mets played last weekend. “It’s definitely a place that I hold dear and close to my heart. It’s going to be a fun time.”

Bautista twice led the American League in home runs with the Blue Jays, hitting 54 in 2010 and 43 in 2011. His most famous home run came in 2015 at the Rogers Centre, a three-run blast with an iconic bat flip that won the American League Division Series in the fifth and deciding game against the Texas Rangers.

He played 1,235 regular-season games for the Blue Jays from 2008 to 2017 D.K. Metcalf Jersey , hitting 288 homers (second only to Carlos Delgado’s 336) with 776 RBIs (third on the team’s career list).

Bautista also had an influence on his teammates.

“He was a huge help in my development,” Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar said. “There was a time in my first full year when I went from left to center and I was making some plays and I kind of earned his respect and he metaphorically gave me the keys (to the outfield) and told me to go get anything I could. And my voice became the voice in the outfield. That was pretty special to me.”

When the Blue Jays did not pick up the option on his contract for this season, he became a free agent. He did not have a team until the Atlanta Braves signed him on April 18. After a minor-league stint, he struggled with the Braves for 12 games and was released May 20. The Mets signed him May 22.

In 36 games with the Mets, the 37-year-old is batting .250/.418/476 with three homers and 13 RBIs. In his past 14 games, he is hitting .300/.462/.650 with three homers and 10 RBIs.

“I’m not surprised by what he’s doing,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. “He probably just needed some at-bats to get going and now we’re seeing the byproduct of him being ready. I’ve always known he’s a really good hitter. He keeps himself in really good shape. He’s probably in the best shape of anybody on our team and is (the oldest player on the team). Great approach, great patience, still has bat speed.”

“Not having a spring training, wanting to swing the bat and some other things might’ve played into me not (reaching base) as much in Atlanta http://www.seahawksfootballauthentics.com/cody-barton-jersey-authentic ,” Bautista said.

Bautista always has been a versatile player. He played mostly right field with the Blue Jays but also manned third base and occasionally first base. He has played 12 games in left field for the Mets, 10 in right field, two at third base and one at second base.

This will be the second series between the teams. They split two games on May 15-16 at Citi Field.

Wheeler was the losing pitcher on May 16, a 12-1 Blue Jays victory, in his only career outing against Toronto. He allowed six runs, seven hits and three walks and struck out seven in four innings.

Estrada is 0-2 with a 7.27 ERA in seven career games (two starts) against the Mets. He struggled earlier in the season but is 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA in his past five starts.

There have been some pretty exciting NFL Drafts in the past five years with a lot of star power. In the first 11 picks alone in 2011, we have seen nine of them reach the Pro Bowl, including superstars like Cam Newton, Von Miller, A.J. Green Gary Jennings Jr. Jersey , Patrick Peterson, Julio Jones, Tyron Smith and J.J. Watt.The next year, everyone was looking forward to the quarterback battle at the top between Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. A third contender would emerge later in the draft in the form of Russell Wilson, while there were also stars like Luke Kuechly, Fletcher Cox and Harrison Smith all taken in the first round. Even 2014 has already produced megastars like Odell Beckham, Jr. and Khalil Mack.But what about the 2013 NFL Draft? Some have called it the worst of all-time, but people aren’t really seeing the full picture. Yes, an offensive tackle out of Central Michigan that hasn’t been very effective was the first pick in the draft. Yes, EJ Manuel was the only quarterback taken in the first round. That doesn’t mean it was the “worst” draft http://www.seahawksfootballauthentics.com/phil-haynes-jersey-authentic , though.There was plenty of talent to be found throughout the seven rounds and the undrafted free agent board, but people just give the draft a bad reputation because of the quarterback class, which probably was the worst of all-time. If teams had a chance to draft 2013 all over again, how would they do it? Here is the complete first round re-draft from 2013, starting with a Pro Bowl receiver moving up the board.

We hand out grades for each position on defense given Detroit’s current roster."On Monday Miles Killebrew Jersey White , I went through the Detroit Lions’ roster that has a lot of promise, but unproven talent on offense. With a new offensive coordinator in town, all that potential could boom or bust depending just how quickly everyone is able to get on board. Now let’s turn our attention to the defense, which has gone through drastic changes in the past two years. Change doesn’t always mean improvement, however, so let’s go through each position and give our grades for each.Note: Because so many players will be playing multiple positions, I’ve narrowed down things into three simple categories: defensive line, linebackers and defensive backs. Again, I’m not including undrafted free agent signings, as those remain unofficial.Defensive lineStarters: Trey Flowers, A’Shawn Robinson, Damon Harrison Sr., Devon KennardBackups: Da’Shawn Hand, Romeo Okwara Womens Jalen Reeves-Maybin Jersey , Austin Bryant (R), Mitchell Loewen, Eric Lee, Jonathan Wynn, PJ Johnson (R), John AtkinsStarter grade: A-Depth grade: A-I’ve already heard a lot of people say this defense doesn’t have enough playmakers, and I don’t think I could disagree more. The Lions’ starting front four has two household names in Snacks Harrison and Trey Flowers. While A’Shawn Robinson and Devon Kennard (who I’m considering part of the defensive line as an EDGE defender) are both a step down in terms of play-making ability, they’re both perfect fits for this defense and have each shown signs of being very efficient. Add in that Robinson is on a contract year, and you may continue to see his play improve in 2019.The depth is just as impressive. Da’Shawn Hand’s playing time in 2019 may look indistinguishable from a starter, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him earn a starting role by the end of the season. Okwara was an efficient player that the Lions made a priority to re-sign. Fourth-round rookie Austin Bryant brings potential and production from his long career with Clemson, and PJ Johnson could potentially slip into the final 53-man roster as a “Snacks” protege. LinebackersStarters: Jarrad Davis, Christian JonesBackups: Jahlani Tavai (R), Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Steve Longa Theo Riddick Jersey White , Garret Dooley, Tre WilliamsStarter grade: C-Depth grade: CWhile linebackers aren’t considered all that important in this defense, the Lions’ situation is still a little precarious. It essentially all rides on the hopes of second-round rookie Jahlani Tavai. Davis and Jones have been, at best, adequate, and, at worst, a liability. Davis did seem to get his footing in Patricia’s defense towards the end of last season, especially when they used him in more of a pass rushing role. Jones has pretty much been an average player since coming to Detroit.Tavai may eventually give Davis the freedom to roam around and do what he does best, but he’s a big gamble, especially in his rookie year. His tape is all over the place, and you never know how much of an impact Tavai can make right away, especially in an undefined role. If the gamble pays off, the Lions could be in great shape here Womens Damon Harrison Jersey , but there’s plenty of reason for caution right now.SecondaryStarters: Darius Slay, Rashaan Melvin, Justin Coleman, Quandre Diggs, Tracy WalkerDepth: Amani Oruwariye (R), Mike Ford, Jamal Agnew, Tavon Wilson, Will Harris (R), Andrew Adams, Charles Washington, Miles Killebrew, Teez Tabor, David Jones Womens Sam Martin Jersey , Dee Virgin, Marcus Cooper, Andre ChachereStarter grade: B+Depth: AWith the addition of Justin Coleman and a larger potential role for Tracy Walker, there’s little doubt in my mind that the Lions’ secondary has improved from last year. The big question remains at that second outside corner spot. Melvin is coming off a troubling year with the Raiders, but looked legit in his previous seasons with the Colts. Melvin is no lock to be the team’s Week 1 starter, however, as the Lions grabbed Amani Oruwariye in the fifth round. Depending on his training camp performance, the rookie from Penn State could compete for that spot.Depth-wise, the Lions have an embarrassment of riches. The aforementioned Oruwariye has starter potential, while Jamal Agnew brings plenty of special teams value. Additionally, the Lions re-signed Tavon Wilson to provide the room with experience and leadership. Andrew Adams is a nice under-the-radar signing with starter potential, and the Lions added third-round pick Will Harris to keep the unit young. With so many options coming off the bench — each versatile enough to line up in multiple roles — the Lions have several solid backups at every secondary position. This will almost certainly allow the team to move on from players whose development has stalled (Tabor, Killebrew) unless they show tremendous improvement this offseason.Overall defense grade: A-It’s not hard to see just how much this defense has transformed in the vision of Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia. Detroit now has a bunch of versatile options at nearly every position and, perhaps more importantly http://www.lionslockerroom.com/authentic-teez-tabor-jersey , the corresponding depth to go with it. By the season’s end, you are going to be so sick of the term “multiples” that it will probably trigger a Pavlovian gag reflex every time Patricia says it in a press conference. From an outsider’s perspective, I can see how some would scan this defensive roster and not be blown away. There are a bunch of underappreciated players on this roster (Snacks, Diggs, Slay), and the depth is really where the unit shines. This roster has top-10 potential and if the stars align, we could be talking even better than that. The Tennessee Titans take on the Dallas Cowboys in a primetime showdown Monday Night in a game where the loser faces long odds to make the playoffs. Both teams enter tonight’s game at 3-4, but it’s worth noting that the Cowboys are 3-0 at home and 0-4 on the road. The Cowboys are sitting in third place in the NFC East right now, but a win could put them in a tie with the Philadelphia Eagles for second place in a relatively tight division. The Titans on the other hand are in second place, but are far behind the 6-3 Houston Texans for the division lead. Like many Jason Garrett-led teams, people still don’t really know what to make of the Cowboys and whether they’re any good or not. The Titans are in a similar position as first-year head coach Mike Vrabel has held his own with a team marred by injuries to their best players. Unbeknownst to many, it should be noted that thus far these are the best two defensive teams in the league. That’ll be something to watch tonight. Who will prevail tonight? Can Amari Cooper put on a show against a stiff Titans secondary? Can the Titans’ front seven shut down Ezekiel Elliot? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Doug Baldwin injury update: Seahawks WR returning to practice Barkevious Mingo Jersey , could play vs. Cardinals The Seattle Seahawks offense has been without star wide receiver Doug Baldwin for all but a handful of plays this regular season, but we could see #89 back on the field as early as this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.Head coach Pete Carroll confirmed on Wednesday that Baldwin would be back in practice, two weeks removed from a partial MCL tear in Seattle’s opening day loss against the Denver Broncos.“He’s gonna practice today,” Carroll said (via Seahawks Wire). “It’s a great step, jump for him to make. He’s in the walkthrough today, he’ll practice for the first time in a few weeks. He looks really good and light on his feet and he’s very confident that he can have a chance to play this week. So we’ll see how that goes.”Baldwin came into the regular season banged up, having dealt with soreness in his left knee that caused him to miss all of preseason, and he even admitted he won’t be 100% throughout the year as a result. He is the most important non-Russell Wilson player on the Seahawks offense, so his returning presence is very much welcome, whether it’s this week or the following week against the Los Angeles Rams.Without Baldwin, Tyler Lockett is the only Seahawks WR with at least 10 catches, as he has 12 on 17 targets, with 3 of those turned into touchdowns. Brandon Marshall is Seattle’s second-leading WR at 9 catches for 120 yards and a touchdown, but he only has a 50% catch rate, multiple drops, and a touchdown-nullifying offensive pass interference call. Jaron Brown runs third with 6 catches for 68 yards and a touchdown on 9 targets. Neither Keenan Reynolds nor David Moore has officially been targeted, although Moore did draw defensive pass interference against the Chicago Bears, but that’s listed as “No Play.” The Seattle Seahawks won’t get a chance to hand their division rival their first loss of the 2018 season, after the L.A. Rams dropped the game of the season last week, a 45-35 instant classic in New Orleans. Instead, the Seahawks uphill climb will be finding a win in the most unlikely of spots, against the league’s most complete team. The Rams are steamrolling opposing defenses in 2018 and did so in Seattle in Week 5, despite the Seahawks keeping a close scoreline. In this week’s column, we’re skipping the primers on offense and defense, as Seattle faced the same team just over a month ago. You can find a full primer on Sean McVay’s stunning offense and Wade Phillips’ time-tested defense here.Numbers that Matter6.5: One of the simple innovations McVay has brought to the forefront of modern NFL offenses is the use of tight splits. Los Angeles’ receivers—most commonly Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods—line up in-tight near the line of scrimmage. This small pre-snap adjustment forces secondary players to come near the box and into traffic post-snap, allowing the Rams’ receivers to get free releases. McVay manufactures separation for his wide receivers by simply adjusting their alignment.In 2018, L.A. ranks fourth in the NFL in yards after catch, averaging 6.5 yards per reception. Unsurprisingly, Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers lead the league in this category—McVay and Shanahan share offensive principles. Kupp enjoyed an outstanding first half against Justin Coleman in the Seahawks and Rams’ first matchup Sweezy Jersey , as the slot receiver caught six passes for 90 yards and a touchdown before departing the game with an injury. Los Angeles’ receiving corps is back to full strength for the rematch, and Coleman and Seattle’s secondary need to be better prepared and avoid getting into trailing positions with the ball in the air. 190: In Week 5, the Seahawks, to the surprise of some, exchanged blows with the Rams for the better part of four quarters. A big part of their offense was Chris Carson and the rushing attack, which totaled a season-high 190 yards against a talented L.A. defense. The 190 yards given up on the ground by the Rams in Week 5 was the most they’ve allowed all season, and nearly 100 more than their season average of 94.8 (excluding Week 5). Though Carson’s status for Sunday is unknown—and likely won’t be known until game day—Seattle will again lean on their rushing attack to keep pace with one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses. Mike Davis, who turned 22 touches into 107 yards in an increased role last week, will likely be turned to if Carson can’t go. The Seahawks rushing attack has hit its stride mid-season; as a team, they’ve topped 150 yards on the ground in five consecutive games. 15.3: A big part of the success of a L.A. offense that ranks 2nd in Football Outsiders’ DVOA and 1st in total offense is their ability to sustain drives. The Rams have run the 5th most plays this season, they convert third downs and finish drives—they are a brutal proposition for any defense. One of the more incredible numbers relating to L.A. in 2018 is their three-and-out percentage: 15.3% of their drives have ended after just a single set of downs. The gap between the Rams and second (the Falcons at 21.4%) is nearly identical to the gap between second and 10th (the Giants at 27.6%) in three-and-out percentage. In 2018, Seattle’s defense has struggled with forcing three-and-outs. The Seahawks are forcing them on 25.9% of drives they face, the 5th worst figure in the NFL. Bend don’t break is a pillar of Pete Carroll’s defense, and against McVay and L.A., there is little choice. Whether you like it or not, your defense is going to bend. But if Seattle’s defense can hold up enough to force a handful of field goals, they can remain in the game into the 4th quarter, just like in the first matchup this season. Matchups to WatchTyler Lockett, David Moore versus Marcus Peters: In Week 5, Moore and Lockett ruthlessly took turns roasting Peters. Lockett beat him for a 39-yard touchdown before Moore beat him for a 31-yard score. Though Lockett and Moore have both been pleasantly surprising in 2018, neither of their performances in Week 5 were unique. Peters has been getting toasted by opposing wide receivers on a weekly basis. Forced into a press-corner role in Aqib Talib’s absence, Peters has suffered tremendously. Quarterbacks are completing 60.5% of their passes when targeting Peters, and he has allowed 463 yards and six touchdowns. Peters has had a habit of allowing explosive plays in 2018, and Sunday will see him matched up against two receivers who have a penchant for producing big plays. Two-thirds of Lockett’s production in Week 5 came out of the slot, but when the Seahawks got him matched up against Peters, they took advantage. Moore was the one primarily drawing Peters and enjoyed his breakout game, pulling in two touchdowns. Both will get the chance to go against Peters on Sunday, and as has been the case throughout Peters’ 2018, there’s a chance for a big play anytime he’s involved.Frank Clark versus Andrew Whitworth: The first time these two teams met in 2018 Duane Brown Jersey , Clark was battling an illness and was hospitalized multiple times leading up to the contest... and it had no impact on his performance at all. Clark wreaked havoc all game, collecting an interception, a strip sack...... and a particularly epic tackle for loss.Whitworth, one of the NFL’s most consistent left tackles, has been beaten by Clark regularly since joining the Rams prior to the 2017 season. Their first matchup, in Week 6 of 2017, saw Clark beat Whitworth for a fourth quarter strip-sack. Their second matchup, in Week 15, had another Clark strip-sack. Clark’s first step and ability to dip goes directly against Whitworth’s strengths, and it’s proved to be a problem every time they face one another. In such an uneven team matchup, Seattle really needs any and every advantage they can find. If the first three meetings between Clark and Whitworth are any indication, that will include a possession-changing play by Clark. Opponent to KnowDante Fowler Jr, EDGE: If you could point out one flaw in what was a complete L.A. roster as the trade deadline approached, it would be at EDGE. Despite the dominant play of Aaron Donald and the always solid Ndamukong Suh, the Rams were missing the element of pressure from the outside. They had gotten just two sacks from Samson Ebukam, who was being counted on to take a step forward. So, Los Angeles did what any franchise in a Super Bowl window should do: They were aggressive in filling a need.The Rams flipped a third- and fifth-round pick in exchange for Fowler, the former 3rd overall selection. Fowler made his L.A. debut in Week 9 against the Saints, but was effectively shut down by the perennially underrated Terron Armstead. Though Fowler is by no means a game-changing talent, playing outside of Suh and Donald will lead to sacks. If interior pressure forces Wilson outside the pocket on Sunday, as it has in nearly every previous matchup between these two teams, Fowler will have every opportunity to clean up and start his production on the Rams with ease. Los Angeles will walk to an NFC West championship and home field advantage in 2018. From a divisional standpoint, little is at stake in this matchup. However, at 4-4, the Seahawks need to find a win where they’re the underdog somewhere down the stretch, as they get into a brutal part of their schedule. Though it’s unlikely it comes in Week 10, if Seattle can keep it close again, they could sneak out of a huge game against the Rams with an even bigger victory.

Todd McShay went through all 32 teams and pointed out their best value pick. His selection for the Titans was first round pick Jeffery Simmons. It was probably a pretty easy pick for McShay with..."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Tennessee Titans PodcastTodd McShay calls Jeffery Simmons the Titans best 2019 NFL Draft value pickNew Jack Conklin Jersey ,35commentsCDTShareTweetShareShareTodd McShay calls Jeffery Simmons the Titans best 2019 NFL Draft value pickDouglas DeFelice-USA TODAY SportsTodd McShay went through all 32 teams and pointed out their best value pick. His selection for the Titans was first round pick Jeffery Simmons. It was probably a pretty easy pick for McShay with Simmons having top 5 talent and falling all the way to #19.Of course it isn’t THAT easy. There are a lot of other factors in play with Simmons including the assault while in high school and the torn ACL this winter. On the assault, I thought the introductory press conference the Titans did with Simmons that also included Amy Adams Strunk, Jon Robinson and Mike Vrabel gave pretty good insight into Simmons the person. You can listen to some of my thoughts on that on the latest Locked on Titans here.Here were McShay’s thoughts on the Simmons pick: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have lost their three-time Pro Bowl tight end at least for a big chunk of the season.Quarterback Marcus Mariota is being evaluated after hurting his throwing arm, and two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Taylor Lewan is in the concussion protocol.And that’s just the latest injuries for the Titans.Now Tennessee has to see who’s healthy enough for the home opener Sunday against AFC South rival Houston (0-1) and adapt accordingly.“What we’re going to do every week is try to figure out what gives us the best chance to win, personnel wise, who we have available, maybe who we’re playing obviously,” rookie coach Mike Vrabel said Monday.“We’ll be flexible enough to use any personnel that we think will help us win. I don’t think we can commit to anything right now.”The Titans already are down starting right tackle Jack Conklin, who was inactive against Miami as he recovers from a torn left ACL repaired in January.On defense, starting linebacker Derrick Morgan played only 14 snaps in the Titans’ 27-20 loss in Miami as the Titans work the veteran back in after a preseason injury.Tennessee’s top two draft picks also are linebackers, and Rashaan Evans and Harold Landry both missed the opener with injuries.Add to that the Titans are recovering from the league’s longest game since the NFL/AFL merger in 1970 because of two lightning delays that made the matchup in Miami last 7 hours, 8 minutes from the opening kickoff to the final second ticked off.Morgan said it wasn’t easy warming up, cooling down again and again Delanie Walker Jersey , but thinks the Titans learned some mental toughness from the day that wouldn’t end.“Hopefully it never happens again and we never have to play football for eight hours straight,” Morgan said.Mariota is being evaluated after he lost sensation in his right hand after the game from his injured right elbow. He was intercepted twice — both after taking a hit from Dolphins defensive lineman William Hayes following a handoff. Vrabel said they’re hopeful of getting a good report back on Mariota’s arm needing everybody that’s healthy and available.Blaine Gabbert, signed this offseason, replaced Mariota and threw for 117 yards with an interception. The Titans do have rookie Logan Woodside on the practice squad, but will wait for a report on Mariota before deciding whether to add another quarterback.Vrabel did say he told defensive coordinator Dean Pees to take note of how officials are handling quarterbacks carrying out a fake on a run-pass option.“If that’s legal, then we have to do it the same exact way,” Vrabel said.Lewan was resting Monday. Asked about Dolphins lineman Andre Branch’s hit, Vrabel said it probably wasn’t dirty even if the coach thinks his left tackle “absolutely” was targeted.The Titans put tight end Delanie Walker on injured reserve Monday and the tight end will have surgery on his right ankle in the next few days. Walker came into the season with the most catches in the NFL by a tight end between 2013 and 2017. He also has been Mariota’s favorite target, leading the team in receptions in two of the past three years.Vrabel said the Titans will evaluate Walker’s potential to return this season after surgery. Jonnu Smith, a third-round pick out of Florida International in 2017, has 19 receptions and will be the first expected to fill in for Walker. Smith had talked to Walker and said the veteran was in good spirits.“It is some big shoes to fill,” Smith said.

Aside from Ali Marpet and Ryan Jensen http://www.buccaneerslockerroom.com/authentic-alex-cappa-jersey , both of whom are under contract for the near future, the rest of the offensive line could potentially be filled with new faces. Versatility and experience aren’t always easy to come by in an offensive line prospect but those who have it tend to have an upper hand early on. Ali Marpet is a great example of this as his versatility has been on full display since entering the league. For Michael Deiter, an offensive lineman for Wisconsin, versatility and experience across multiple positions may be a key aspect to him getting drafted. Deiter spent the prior week at the Senior Bowl where he weighted in at 304 lbs after slimming down a bit and measured out at 6’5” with 32-1/4” arms. Let’s take a further look at the former Badger. Deiter’s College CareerMichael Deiter had quite the career at Wisconsin, leaving college holding the school record for most starts with 54 in a row. Deiter capped off his final collegiate season by earning the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year award while playing guard this past season. In 2017 Deiter made the transition to left tackle where he replaced Ryan Ramcyzk who was a 2017 draft selection. A year earlier against Iowa Deiter showed off his versatility playing tackle, guard and center in the game. He has playing experience at all three spots with extensive work at left tackle in 2017 and this past season at guard. His body of work earned him an invite to the Senior Bowl where he was posted as the starting left guard. ProsExperienced player that will most likely land at guard in the NFL. Shined at pulling and moving in space while at Wisconsin. Shows the ability to anchor in and drive lineman off the ball. Works inside the opponents body and maintains hand positioning well. Absolutely bullies defenders when he gets to the second level. Plays with good intensity and a desire to finish (see play clip below). True athlete at the position and shows the knowledge to pass of blockers and help out when necessary. ConsStruggled a bit at left tackle. Deep drop backs were an issue when Deiter was asked to work backwards with the pocket. Does not have the desired length to play tackle, further pushing his NFL position to lock in at guard. Length issues cause him to be second into contact with defenders at times. Why do the Buccaneers need Michael Deiter?Simply put, this team lacks talent along the offensive line and Deiter is not only talented enough to step in and play guard, he’s experienced enough to work in a unit where communication and trust are key. Deiter’s athleticism are what today’s offenses look for and the Buccaneers would be wise to invest in a player with Deiter’s collegiate career come day 2 of the draft. Last but certainly not least... the man can catch a pass and run too. YAC anybody? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are counting on Devin White to help them become relevant again.The powerful and speedy LSU linebacker was the fifth pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night, joining a porous defense making the transition to a 3-4 scheme after allowing the second-most points in the NFL last season.Coach Bruce Arians and general manager Jason Licht selected the 6-foot, 237-pound White over edge pass rusher Josh Allen and tackle Ed Oliver and plan use him, along with veteran Lavonte David Womens Jameis Winston Jersey , at inside linebacker in the system being installed by defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.“Coach Todd told me getting you will be like getting a new shiny, pretty car and I’m going to use you and I’m going to drive you to the fullest,” White said. “I’m ready for it. I’ve been put in this situation for a reason. I’m ready to show everybody that I’m the guy for the middle of that defense.”The Bucs are coming off a 5-11 finish that cost former coach Dirk Koetter his job and haven’t made the playoffs since 2007— the second-longest drought in the league.White was the first linebacker selected Thursday night and the first Tampa Bay has taken in the first round since Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks was the 28th pick in 1995.Improving the pass rush is a priority, which would have been one reason to opt for Allen, who had 17 sacks at Kentucky last season.Licht said White, who converted to linebacker after being recruited to LSU as a running back, is an ideal fit for the Bucs, who lost another former LSU linebacker, Kwon Alexander, to the San Francisco 49ers in free agency this offseason.“We talked about these guys over and over. We watched every play they’ve ever played in college. and we felt very comfortable that we made the right decision,” Licht said. “Devin’s a linebacker, but he’s also an attacking player Jordan Whitehead Jersey White , he’s a pressure-type linebacker. He can get to the quarterback as well.”The GM also raved about White’s leadership qualities and versatility.“You have linebackers that cover and don’t play the run that great. You have guys who can play the run who can’t cover that great,” Licht said. “He can do both exceptionally well, in addition to blitzing, which is an art itself.”Licht is also banking on White having an immediate impact on a unit that finished 24th in total defense and allowed 29 points per game last season.At best, Tampa Bay’s success in the draft has been spotty under Licht, who’s in his sixth year with the team.Mike Evans (first-round, No. 6 overall in 2014) has developed into one of the NFL’s top receivers, Jameis Winston (No. 1 overall, 2015) still has a chance to prove he’s the team’s long-term solution at quarterback and tight end O.J. Howard (20th, 2017) is coming off a productive — albeit injured-shortened — first two seasons in an offense that ranked among the league’s best in 2018.But the defense has continued to struggle under Licht’s watch, with Vernon Hargreaves III (cornerback, 11th overall 2016) Carlton Davis Jersey White , Noah Spence (edge rusher, second round 2016) and M.J. Stewart and Carlton Davis (cornerbacks, second round 2018) among the young players who’ve yet to contribute significantly.And that’s not to mention, Roberto Aguayo, the kicker the Bucs traded up to select in the second round three years ago. He was a major disappointment as a rookie and was released after just one season.The selection of White comes a year after Tampa Bay invested heavily in free agency to revamp the defensive line, bolstered the pass rush by trading for Jason Pierre-Paul and drafted defensive tackle Vita Vea in the first round, No. 12 overall.Arians and Licht still faces a decision on the future of six-time Pro Bowl tackle Gerald McCoy, who’s due to earn $13 million in 2019.The 10th-year pro did not participate in this week’s voluntary mini-camp and unless he’s traded, released or agrees to a significant pay cut, his hefty salary will make it difficult to free enough money to sign the club’s draft picks.

Former NFL player Spencer Paysinger is drawing on his high school days living between two worlds for his first major Hollywood project.Paysinger grew up in economically depressed South Los Angeles Womens Jameis Winston Jersey , but he attended Beverly Hills High School, where he captained the football team in the wealthy enclave. The culture shock he experienced is the basis for "All American," debuting Oct. 10 on the CW."I definitely had a gang influence with friends and family growing up in South Central, and people might think that Beverly Hills definitely shielded me from some problems. But in actuality, it only opened up a whole new can of worms," Paysinger told a TV critics' meeting on Monday."Just dealing with kids with affluence, kids with drug problems and having their parents not be there for weeks on end because they're vacationing or they're doing big business. Just dealing with that contrast was probably the biggest thing that I had to go through."Paysinger commuted daily to high school as part of a program that brought students from other areas to Beverly Hills, where he had two uncles and an aunt who coached and taught there.Spencer eventually attended the University of Oregon and won a Super Bowl title with the New York Giants, one of four NFL teams he played for before achieving his goal of retiring from the league no later than age 30.The series shoots in some of Paysinger's old haunts in South L.A., like a local park and the barbershop he has patronized since he was a kid."South Central's been portrayed so many different ways in the media for however long," Paysinger said. "But with this show, I definitely want to implant that family aspect of the community."Producers hired a consulting firm that designs all of the football plays in the show, and consulting producer Paysinger wants to make sure the action is authentic."I don't want friends, I don't want family texting, emailing me saying, 'That's not it. They couldn't have converted on that,' " he said.Paysinger isn't the only one with pro sports ties involved in the show. One of the writers is Jon Alston, who played five years in the NFL, and retired Major League Soccer player Robbie Rogers is a producer.The New Helmet Rule: A Perfect Clusterf*** Of Chaos I mean, really?When NFL owners approved the new helmet rule back in May, there’s no doubt in my mind it was after a few bourbons that would’ve cost me a paycheck to afford. How in the hell did they think this was a good idea?Player safety is important. The players don’t care if they get hurt or develop long-term health issues, so it’s important - and almost imperative - to protect them from themselves. I get that. But damn, this is a bit ridiculous, right?The criticism across the league has been sharp and widespread. If it didn’t hurt so bad it would almost be funny. Almost.ESPN’s Louis Riddick discussed the confusion concerning the new rule for the first two minutes of this video. It’s comforting to see intelligent analysts such as Riddick speaking some sense. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan took a pretty direct approach himself. We’ve been through rule change experiments during the preseason before Jordan Whitehead Jersey White , that is nothing new. But the degree of absurdity that has been witnessed thus far has caused legitimate concern and rightfully so. The question is: how did no one see this coming? It’s impossible to ban the helmet from football. As the rule currently states, using any part of the helmet during a hit— whether incidental or not — results in a 15-yard penalty. Every single collision of is a product of momentum and to ask a player to adjust like that - to slow down - is not only extremely difficult, but dangerous. Common sense should prevail in this situation. When you hit someone with your shoulder, your head naturally follows in that direction. It’s not that hard to understand.There are more problems than player safety and one of those is the fact that we don’t really know what the refs are out there calling right now. One call looks different than another, yet all of the results are the same. Penalties are subjective enough anyway, especially where there is a ton of gray area and right now there’s more gray than the Country Kitchen Buffet.“I think there’s definitely truth to it – it’s not clear,” Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter said in reference to how ambiguity of the new rule. “The players in general – it’s not crystal clear. We’ve watched the videos. The league has sent videos the last two weeks dealing exclusively with the use of the helmet. But it’s still football and when they send videos out and they’re showing them in slow motion, that’s different than playing football. So I think there’s just going to be an adjustment period. This is a significant change. We’ll just have to see how it goes.”Coupling a major shift in procedure with indirect instruction is bound for disaster no matter how good one’s intentions may be.And let’s go ahead and slide down the slippery slope of game-changing calls, unfair and/or unnecessary ejections, and whatever else can change the course of a game due to inconsistent calls.On a quick side note — if you thought this helmet rule was scary enough, what about the call last weekend on Vikings’ linebacker Antwione Williams? The new rule officially states that, “a defensive player must not unnecessarily or violently throw him down or land on top of him with all or most of the defender’s weight.”I swear to all of the holy figures in this universe, if this call makes it into the regular season, I will be using the warranty on TV. The wall mount just “broke” and the TV somehow has a fist-sized hole in it.Um, sure. Go ahead and ask a 6-foot-3, 247-pound linebacker like Williams to shift more than 50% of his body weight in mid-air while falling to the ground and trying to take a 225-pound (at minimum) quarterback down with him.That’s not much to ask at all, right?So where does the NFL go from here? Fortunately for everyone there will be a meeting on Wednesday of this week and the word is that there will be plea after plea to help change - or at the least, adjust the rule. It’s doubtful that the league will just forego the whole thing, but any type of change would almost be welcomed at this point.Could they implement a review procedure for questionable calls? Why not limit the rule to just the crown of the helmet? Why not get rid of incidental contact? This video by Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn does a good job showing the intent of ball carriers and what should be called - therefore making it much easier to discern between incidental and intentional contact. Your browser does not support HTML5 video.According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, this “significant change” is in year one of a three-year adjustment period in which the league will update the rules as time marches on, which just adds to the chaos. What may be deemed illegal this year, could be the opposite 2019.Despite the negativity it’s important to remember that this is the first time that anything like this rule has been attempted. This is not the norm for a game that has been around for over a hundred years. The frenzy - to an extent - is to be expected.But the hope is that something productive - and some sort of change - comes out of Wednesday’s meeting. In a perfect world, the NFL would just come out and say “gotcha!”. But you know what they say about wishing in one hand and performing another duty in the other.My money is on the other hand.

The NFLPA Collegiate Bowl kicks off today at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena http://www.49erslockerroom.com/authentic-dante-pettis-jersey , California. Like the Shrine Game, the NFLPA Bowl is an annual All-Star game by invitation that consists of players mostly in division one (FBS) as well as the FCS division. This bowl game offers draft-eligible prospects an opportunity to work with NFL coaches and scouts and showcase their talents as they prepare for the core stages of the NFL Draft process. Coaching the American Squad will be Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano. Coaching the National squad will be former NFL head coach Mike Tice. This All Star Bowl Game offers scouts, evaluators, and the fans an opportunity to catch some of the NFL Draft prospects in action.For this game Greg, Alex, and Josh have provided two prospects a piece to keep a close eye on. These prospects are playing at positions of need for the San Francisco 49ers.Game InfoNFLPA Collegiate Bowl GameKickoff: 2:00 p.m. (PT)T.V. Viewing: FS1Location: Rose Bowl - Pasadena, CaliforniaRoster: National and American team rostersAmerican Coach: Chuck PaganoNational Coach: Mike Tice Greg ValerioJamell Garcia-Williams, Edge, No. 99 - UABHeight: 6072 | Weight: 249 | 40 time: 4.902018 Stats: 9.5 sacks, 43 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 4 pass deflections, and 1 fumble recoveryJamell Garcia-Williams is the type of prospect you find at the end of the draft where impressive measurables and athleticism could turn into a diamond in the rough. At nearly 6-foot-8-inches Garcia-Williams is an imposing opponent on the field with vines for limbs and a well built edge defender that is very athletic and nimble (great balance) for a man his size with good speed and great foot quickness. Although he is still developing his game (one year collegiate starter), Garcia-Williams comes from NFL bloodlines (father played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and older brother currently plays for the Denver Broncos) and displays a high football IQ that marries well with his athleticism and size. Garcia-Williams shows quick burst off the line, uses hands very well and is a penetrating disruptive force in the backfield with great speed off the edge, good conversion from speed to power, and takes full advantage of his length and body control hitting with explosion (nice closing speed). A nose for the football, Garcia-Williams displays a good ability to play front-side blocks at the point of attack with solid functional strength (will need to further develop) and the quickness and fluidity to disengage (takes advantage of his length but needs more consistency). Moreover, he shows a good ability to defend against back-side blocks maneuvering through the trash with impressive quickness and closing speed. An intelligent prospect that has shown the capacity to improve throughout the season, Garcia-Williams’ arrow will continue to rise, and with further coaching improving his technique and his NFL ready size, length, and athleticism, the ceiling will inevitably be high for the young prospect.Hjalte Froholdt http://www.49erslockerroom.com/authentic-kwon-alexander-jersey , OG/C, No. 51 - ArkansasHeight: 6044 | Weight: 306 | 40 time: 5.26Hjalte Froholdt was introduced to football his sophomore year of high school as a foreign exchange student from Svendborg, Denmark. It was love at first sight, as Froholdt embraced the sport and natural talent kicked in. Making the transition from defensive line to the offensive side of the ball during his sophomore year at Arkansas, Froholdt is still relatively new to the position, and despite arriving a bit late to the party, he has shown the capacity to improve and his willingness to learn and continue to grow is a testament to his hard work and flourishing leadership skills. Froholdt displays a great combination of size, strength, toughness, football instincts, improving awareness, and athleticism. An intelligent anchor on the offensive line, Froholdt showcases great foot agility moving laterally after the snap, active and strong hands (needs more pop), good strength to drive defenders sealing them away from the action and opening holes finishing blocks (inconsistent) displaying excellent movement reaching the second level. Moreover, Froholdt showcases solid quickness, sound athletic ability and somewhat efficient technique (flashes of terrific technique), anchors the pocket extremely well setting a quality base for the quarterback to climb, and nice balance when anchoring in pass protection. Functional strength and the ability to play with more physicality is needed at the next level. Shows the versatility to play guard and center.Alex EisenE.J. Ejiya, LB, No. 22 (American Team) - North TexasHeight: 6’3” | Weight: 231 | Projected 40: 4.692018 Stats: 121 Tackles, 25.5 tackles for a loss, 9 sacks, 1 forced fumbleE.J. Ejiya has had a successful and productive senior season. A high-volume tackler who wraps his opponents quickly to the ground. Has good size for his position Nick Bosa Jersey White , and the measurebales that scouts and evaluators seek at the pro level. Has demonstrated his abilities to defend against the run, and has the range to defend in pass coverage. Plays with the speed and aggressive style of a linebacker/safety hybrid. These types of prospects are being sought more and more by scouts and evaluators in the pass-happy NFL. Against a Power 5 and SEC opponent in Arkansas, Ejiya led all tacklers with twelve on the afternoon and was the highest graded linebacker in the nation in Week 3 (85.5 – Pro Football Focus). His primary position at North Texas has been at the WILL linebacker in their 3-3-5 system. His sideline to sideline speed are amongst his best traits and his ability to make plays over the top of the line of scrimmage offer him numerous opportunities to make a positive impact. Described as being very coachable with the will to learn more. Ejiya’s arrow is pointing up.Nico Evans, RB, No. 22 - WyomingHeight: 5’9” | Weight: 211 | Projected 40: 4.482018 Stats: 1,325 yards, 8 touchdowns, 66 yards receiving, 1 touchdown.Nico Evans is a bruising running back for the Wyoming Cowboys. Evans does an efficient job of running between the tackles on many of his carriers. Evans has demonstrated his ability to be patient, while following his blockers and running through open holes and gaps along the line of scrimmage. The senior has had some big games this season for the Cowboys including a 187-yard performance and 58-yard score. Evans can be shifty on the field as he looks to evade oncoming opponents on the defense. Evans will take care of the football, and has strong, reliable hands. Evans is not a major receiving threat but has demonstrated his ability to catch the football when called upon. Evans is not getting a whole lot of national media attention playing at Wyoming, however he could be a good value pick on day three of the NFL draft to add more competition and roster depth. Pro Football Focus released their QB Annual last week, and you know what that means. It’s time to scour the pages of the 341-page tome for golden nuggets of information that tell us more about Nick Mullens than any crowd-noise track ever could. Before you dig in to the takeaways, I highly recommend reading Steve Palazzolo and Sam Monson’s fantastic primer detailing the mechanics PFF’s grading system as it pertains to quarterbacks. It’s one of the most clear explanations of what goes into grading and it defines terms used throughout the recap. Nick Mullens plays it safer than Alex SmithPart of the value of the QB Annual is the statistical rigor they apply to quarterback analytics. Through their evaluation we learn that certain statistics are fairly stable year to year, meaning they are more likely to predict future performance. However, others serve a more descriptive purpose. They merely describe what happened in a given game, or year, but aren’t likely to remain consistent year to year. A quarterback’s percentage of negatively graded throws is one of those predictive metrics. Sorry Mitchell Trubisky fans, but if your quarterback has a penchant for making poor throws that behavior isn’t likely to change dramatically from year to year. Nick Mullens ranked 11th in negative play rate out of thirty-five qualifying quarterbacks. If you look specifically at turnover-worthy plays, the plays to which PFF assigns the worst grades, Mullens ranks 15th. Mullens avoids turnover worthy plays at roughly the same rate as Nick Foles, Marcus Mariota, and Baker Mayfield. Turnover worthy plays result in turnovers about 50% of the time Laken Tomlinson Jersey , so being in the “safe” category is a plus for Mullens. Mullens isn’t attempting, or executing, many difficult throwsAvoiding negative plays is only part of the recipe for successful quarterbacking. A good quarterback also executes on difficult NFL throws. Generally speaking, those are throws that have excellent ball location and timing. They are also thrown farther down field, typically into a tight window.The first problem for Mullens is that he doesn’t really make many downfield throws. On first and second read throws, which make up the vast majority of NFL throws for a quarterback, Mullens’ average depth of target was 9.15 yards. That’s 1.65 yards below NFL average for that subset of throws. Mullens also ranked dead last in big time throw percentage.Mullens ball location also left something to be desired in 2018. On intermediate throws, the money throws in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, Mullens accuracy was 8.5 percentage points below NFL average. When it came to throwing into tight windows Mullens didn’t fare much better. When a defender was in within a step of the receiver, Mullens’ accuracy rate was over 21 percentage points below average. But if Mullens was relatively inaccurate, how did he amass those gaudy yardage totals? Some of it was game script, but a large piece of that was Kyle Shanahan’s scheme. 52 percent of Mullens throws were to open receivers, a relatively easy throw for an NFL quarterback. And even with those open looks, only two quarterbacks had more catchable inaccurate passes than Mullens — meaning his receivers often helped mask some of Mullens’ inaccuracies. Mullens struggles outside of structureMullens played his best football within the cozy structure of Kyle Shanahan’s offense. The second-year quarterback ranked 15th in the NFL in PFF grade from a clean pocket, which is a couple spots better than Matt Ryan. Mullens also succeeded when throwing the ball quickly. Mullens’ 102.3 quarterback rating on throws made in 2.5 seconds or less compares favorably to Kirk Cousins. But when things started to fall apart, so did Mullens. On throws that extended past 2.6 seconds Mullens’ passer rating drops to 76.5. But perhaps more telling, his expected points added (EPA) per play plummets to-.11. That’s right — Mullens effectively takes points off the board when he takes longer than 2.6 seconds to throw the ball. And if Mullens is forced to scramble due to pressure things get even worse. He only completes one of every five passes, a rate well below average. And his expected points “added” plummets to -.48. The NFL average EPA on scramble drill plays is .03.Nick Mullens is by no means ready to take over the starting role for an NFL team. Sub-optimal accuracy and an inability to execute difficult throws limits his effectiveness. If anything, the key takeaway from his chapter should be “Kyle Shanahan is amazing.” But Mullens has proven that, at times, he can be a moderately effective shepherd for Shanahan’s offense, and he’s good at avoiding disaster. This is exactly why he’s earned a spot competing for the backup role in 2019.

Here’s your excuse to visit Waco and run around the Brazos river like it’s The Tree Of Life."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Texans StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Texans NewsYahoo Texans Team PageYahoo Texans ReportYahoo Texans Depth ChartYahoo Texans TransactionsYahoo Texans PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ndre Johnson To Be Inducted Into The Texas Sports Hall Of Fame This WeekendNew Womens Jay Prosch Jersey ,17commentsHere’s your excuse to visit Waco and run around the Brazos river like it’s The Tree Of Life. CDTShareTweetShareShareAndre Johnson To Be Inducted Into The Texas Sports Hall Of Fame This WeekendShanna Lockwood-USA TODAY SportsAndre Johnson is the Houston Texans first great player. Forever the perfect combination of strength, speed, route runnning, and hands. Spending the beginning of his career leading a terrible pass offense, finally finding a quarterback in Matt Schaub, who was injured, stuck behind a terrible defense, injured again Trevor Daniel Jersey White , and jumped off the moon, and then finished his career touring the AFC South after Bill O’Brien told him he couldn’t get 40 catches in this offense and replaced him with Nate Washington. Johnson has already been inducted into the Houston Texans ring of honor. Now he will be inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. He’ll be included in a class consisting of tennis player Maureen Connolly Brinker, NFL kicker Tony Franklin, basketball coach Nancy Lieberman, Loyd Phillips, Greg Swindell, and Jason Witten. Now I know it’s short notice, and tickets aren’t for sale anymore Sammie Coates Jersey , but if you don’t have plans this weekend you can drive up or down I-35 and sneak in the backdoor. Hopefully this won’t be the final resting place for Johnson career, and one day soon, he’ll be molded into bronze and left stoic in Canton. That will be the day. Until then, you’ll have to go to Waco and visit the Texas Sports Hall of Fame to commemorate Johnson’s career. In March 2016, quarterback Brock Osweiler found himself in the middle of a tug of war.The Broncos wanted to keep him as the starter, and the Texans wanted to give him their top job, sight unseen. In the end, Osweiler opted for a four-year Benardrick McKinney Jersey , $72 million deal in Houston over a three-year, $48 million offer from the team that drafted him.And then, after agreeing to terms with the Texans, he went to meet his new coach for the first time.The situation highlighted one of the bizarre quirks of the free-agency rules. For all the time spent interacting with potential draft picks, teams often commit millions to a veteran free agent without ever meeting with him. In some cases, they don’t even know him.Osweiler didn’t know Texans coach Bill O’Brien. O’Brien didn’t know Osweiler. O’Brien relied heavily on Osweiler’s performance during a Sunday night game against the Patriots.But watching a guy from afar is a far cry from working with him, interacting with him, seeing him at his best Ibraheim Campbell Jersey , living with him at his worst.It ultimately didn’t work, with the last straw coming when Osweiler and O’Brien had some sort of altercation during halftime of a Week 17 game against the Titans, when O’Brien told Osweiler (who had been benched for Tom Savage) that Osweiler would finish the game because Savage had a concussion. The Texans, despite owing Osweiler $16 million fully guaranteed in 2017, became determined to get rid of him.To do that, the Texans could have eaten the money, or they could have traded him. To trade him, they had to give up a second-round pick to the Browns Bradley Roby Jersey White , which essentially bought the selection for $16 million.Osweiler thereafter failed to make the 53-man roster of a team that would go 0-16, he returned to Denver as a bottom-of-the-depth-chart guy, and then he reunited with former Broncos assistant Adam Gase in Miami. Tonight, Osweiler starts for the injured Ryan Tannehill.And the guys in the Houston locker room who may have not been big Brock Osweiler fans will get a chance to get after him.These facts alone make tonight’s game far more intriguing than the fact that both teams currently are above .500 after seven weeks. Even though everyone involved has downplayed it, there are surely hard feelings. Which could become hard hits from a potent front seven in Houston.

The Clemson pass rusher’s fall stops here."From January to April http://www.lionslockerroom.com/authentic-a_shawn-robinson-jersey , there’s always a handful of prospects that seem to fall in mock drafts for no apparent reason. Some would argue that there’s more information out there and player slip into where they should’ve belonged all along. Others would argue it’s just groupthink among draft analysts.One example of that is Clemson edge defender Clelin Ferrell, who was once considered a likely pick for the Detroit Lions at eight. However, in our Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft, Ferrell has fallen all the way to 15. Well, the fall stops here. Acting Washington general manager SeeBeeRuss has selected Ferrell with the 15th overall pick. Here’s why:“Drafting for the Washington Redskins has proven to be a frustrating proposition. After a 7-9 2018 campaign, there are multiple positions that need to be addressed; none that are easily solved with one draft class or in free agency.QB of the future? The most promising prospects are already gone. WR? This draft is too deep to take one at 15. ILB, CB Teez Tabor Jersey White , and LG are also needs, but not at the top of the list. So, after a trip to the Hawk ‘n’ Dove to get the pulse of the fanbase (and a cold pint) I present to you Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson.This is by far the most boring player I have ever watched. All Ferrell does is show up game after game and play consistently well. Measuring in at 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, he sets the edge as a run stopper and has the quickness to rush QBs Jake Rudock Jersey , as his 11.5 sacks in 2018 set a career high. His tackles took a bit of a dip mainly due to opponents sliding help his way, however he still won the Ted Hendricks Award as college football’s best DE.This may not be the flashiest selection I could have made, but bolstering a frontend of a defense is one of the quickest ways a team can turn things around. Looking at his overall career at Clemson, as well as his NFL Combine showing, Ferrell should be a day one starter and a player to watch for years.”Catch up on all of the picks with our Community Mock Draft Tracker. DETROIT (AP) — Wally Triplett, the trailblazing running back who was one of the first African-Americans drafted by an NFL team, has died. He was 92.The Detroit Lions and Penn State announced Triplett’s death Thursday. Triplett was the third African-American selected in the 1949 draft Matt Prater Jersey White , but he was the first of those draftees to play in a regular-season game. He played in 24 games for the Lions and Chicago Cardinals.Triplett was also the first African-American to start for Penn State, and in 1948, he and teammate Dennie Hoggard became the first African-Americans to play in the Cotton Bowl .“This is a tremendous loss for not only our football program, but the Penn State community as a whole,” Penn State coach James Franklin said in a statement. “Wally was a trailblazer as the first African-American to be drafted and play in the NFL, and his influence continues to live on. He had a profound effect on me and the team when he visited in 2015 and shared valuable lessons from his life story and ability to overcome.”Triplett was inducted into the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame this year, and his appearance in that game is part of Penn State lore. According to the school Trey Flowers Jersey White , the team was asked to consider the possibility of leaving Triplett and Hoggard at home for the game in then-segregated Dallas. Teammates responded by saying: “We are Penn State, there will be no meetings” — a reference to a previous Penn State team that voted to cancel a game at segregated Miami.The story remains an important part of Penn State history, especially given the school’s well-known “We Are” moniker.Triplett was drafted by the Lions in the 19th round in 1949. He played in 18 games for Detroit from 1949-50. On Oct. 29, 1950, against the Los Angeles Rams, he had 294 yards on four kickoff returns, an NFL record that lasted until 1994.“As the first African-American to be drafted and to play in the National Football League http://www.lionslockerroom.com/authentic-levine-toilolo-jersey , Wally is one of the true trailblazers in American sports history. He resides among the great men who helped reshape the game as they faced the challenges of segregation and discrimination,” the Lions said in a statement. “His contributions date back to his days at Penn State as the Nittany Lions‘ first African-American starter and varsity letter winner, highlighted by his appearance in the first integrated Cotton Bowl. Wally’s legacy also reaches beyond breaking color barriers, having served in the United States Army during the Korean War.”George Taliaferro was the first black player drafted in the NFL when he went six rounds before Triplett in 1949. Taliaferro also died recently .