Month: September 2020

Dolphins check in 30th in Football Outsiders Power Rankings for 2020

Dolphins check in 30th in Football Outsiders Power Rankings for 2020

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The forecast for the Miami Dolphins’ 2020 season is, unsurprisingly, not forgiving. The Dolphins were a team that many models predicted would finish as the worst team in football last season after tearing down their roster — only to see Miami get hot in the back half of their schedule and finish the season with 5 total wins and owning the 5th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Now, entering the 2020 season, the forecasts are back and once again looking quite unkind to the Dolphins. No, Miami isn’t projected to be the worst team in football this time around by Football Outsiders, but the prediction isn’t much better.

Football Outsider’s DVOA rankings are out and the Miami Dolphins are projected to be the third worst team in football (and the worst in the AFC).

The Dolphins are better, according to Football Outsiders, than the Washington Football Team and the Carolina Panthers — but no one else. Not even the rival New York Jets or the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the latter is undertaking a teardown of epic proportions very similar to the one Miami endured last season. But not even Miami’s rapid refill of talent and promising finish are enough to build enough momentum to bring Miami out of the bottom tier of teams.

“The Dolphins surprised a lot of people by amassing five wins in the “Tank for Tua” season, but now that they actually have Tua Tagovailoa, it’s unknown when the rookie quarterback will start. The offense is very much under construction, especially the offensive line, and though the defense is built to perform more impressively than some might believe, FO still has the Dolphins with a 2020 DVOA of -15.0%, and just 6.4 Average Wins — which would indeed be an improvement over 2019.” – Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire

The Dolphins’ forecast of 6.4 wins is still an improvement over their 2020 total, but look for the Dolphins’ coaching to serve as a big boost to Miami hopefully finishing the season a little closer to .500 than what Football Outsiders’ forecast calls for in South Florida.

How college football stadiums will look in 2020

How will Georgia’s Stanford Stadium and Oklahoma State’s Boone Pickens Stadium look in 2020.

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The 2020 college football season is officially underway. It kicked off with Central Arkansas defeating Austin Peay 24-17. Much of the season is still up in the air, but for now the SEC, Big 12, and ACC are moving forward with their plans.

Some college football stadiums, including the Georgia Bulldogs are planning to allow access to a limited amount of fans. Teams are allowing around 20-30% of regular attendance in order to have better social distancing. Additionally, masks are required at most of these venues. Some stadiums are going without fans entirely.

Here’s how the reduced capacity will look at Oklahoma State’s stadium (Boone Pickens Stadium) in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Boone Pickens Stadium is normally home to 55,509 fans. During these times it will look a little bit different.

Georgia Bulldogs fans should expect the University of Georgia to do a similar set up at Sanford Stadium. Some fans may finally get to have a seatback! Georgia is set to host four home games this season including marquee games against Auburn and Tennessee.

How much of an effect will home-field advantage have this year? With reduced noise, it shouldn’t be as substantial, but the opposing teams still will have to travel and enter an unfamiliar environment that may have artificial noise.

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Jedrick Wills: ‘I think I have made a lot of progress’ in move to left tackle

Jedrick Wills: ‘I think I have made a lot of progress’ in his move to left tackle

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Jedrick Wills is the starting left tackle for the Cleveland Browns. Not that there was ever any doubt from the moment he was drafted in the first round, No. 10 overall, back in April’s draft, but Kevin Stefanski ended any question over the weekend.

How does Wills feel like he’s doing in making the transition from right tackle at SEC powerhouse Alabama to left tackle of the Cleveland Browns? The transition isn’t easy, but Wills feels like he’s doing well.

“I think I have made a lot of progress,” Wills said in his Zoom session with the media. “I’m moving along very quickly and just trying to get better.”

Even so, it’s still a challenge. Wills knows the step up in competition can be maddening. He’s got a realistic view of life in the NFL and that it won’t be a perfect ride.

“(I) come from a place in college where I just dominated everybody I went against,” Wills said Sunday. “It was easy and it was a walk in the park, and now you are going against these guys who are Pro Bowlers and some of the best pass rushers in the league. It gets frustrating at times, but you just have to learn from your losses.”

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“He just fits everything about us, our …

“He just fits everything about us, our fabric and who we are,” Spoelstra said. “These are extreme circumstances, they’re not easy for anybody. And you need a level of discipline, of structure, and camaraderie. Jimmy, despite what, probably, the narrative is out there, he’s a very likable guy in the locker room, and I think that helps in a setting like this.”

Greg Monroe: 2020… man. Idk even know …

Greg Monroe: 2020… man. Idk even know where to begin on this one. We lost another great man today. A great coach but even better humanitarian. I dont know anyone who loved the game of basketball more. And as much as you loved the game you loved people more. You sat in McDonough every time a ball bounced on the court willing to share your knowledge to anyone walking through there, not just hoyas. This one hurts fr. Every conversation was priceless and was always deeper than the surface and that was by design because you knew what we were up against as we were growing into men. I thank you for all of your wisdom and guidance. RIH “Don’t let the sum total of your existence be 8-10 pounds of air” a statement that has always stuck with me and you for sure lived by that. Love you Big John

This week in Steelers history: CB Joe Haden came to Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed cornerback Joe Haden hours after he was cut by the Cleveland Browns in 2017.

Three years ago this week, the Cleveland Browns officially informed their cornerback Joe Haden that his services were no longer needed.

After months of aggressive yet unsuccessful attempts to line up a trade suitor, the Browns decided to cut ties with their former first-rounder and two-time Pro Bowler.

Haden was team-less for less than a day when Cleveland released him in August 2017. The print on the NFL transaction sheet was still fresh.

Just hours after the Browns announced Haden was released, the Steelers revealed news of their own.

The Steelers were able to move quickly because Haden was not subject to waivers and, therefore, free to sign with another team the same day he was released.

Haden told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that he had offers from other teams (reportedly New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs and the Dallas Cowboys), but he wanted to be a Steeler.

Haden knew Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh knew Haden. After all, the Steelers had faced the veteran cover man 11 times since 2010.

Haden became the face of a Steelers secondary that would soon be dismantled and re-built around him. Not only was Haden there to guide a young Mike Hilton and Cam Sutton, but he was there when Steven Nelson and Minkah Fitzpatrick came on the scene. The secondary had all the pieces it needed, and it showed in 2019.

The Steelers Pro Bowler posted on Twitter this week, “I knew I had a lot of ball left in me!” And he’s right. In three seasons and 42 games with Pittsburgh, Haden has 148 tackles, five QB hits, 36 passes defended and eight interceptions. He is part of a defensive unit shot up 12 spots to fifth-ranked from 17th in 2018.

Now heading into his 11th season, Haden has five more years of experience than Nelson and has been in the NFL longer than Hilton, Cam Sutton, and Fitzpatrick combined.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and their fans are grateful that, as Haden said, he still has a lot of “ball” left in him.

Currently, Haden has two seasons remaining on the extension he inked in 2019.

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NBA Draft Rewind: Warriors select Michigan State’s Draymond Green in 2012 second round

In the 2012 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors selected future All-Star Draymond Green out of Michigan State in the second round.

As the second round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs begins in the Orlando Bubble, the Golden State Warriors have turned their attention to the draft. For the first time since 2002, the Warriors will be on the clock in the top-five selections on draft day.

Following the NBA Draft Lottery, Bob Myers and Steve Kerr can put together a strategy for Golden State’s plans when they’re on the clock in October.

Before they make their pick, Warriors Wire is rewinding through Golden State’s draft history to highlight some of the most memorable selections — trades, surprises, busts, sleepers and everything in between.

While Golden State’s No. 2 overall selection will get a majority of the attention in 2020, the Warriors are slated to have a pair of picks in the second round. In 2012, Golden State found a gem in the second round.

June 28, 2012

Six picks after Kentucky’s Anthony Davis went No. 1 overall to the New Orleans Hornets; the Golden State Warriors selected Harrison Barnes out of North Carolina at No. 7. Before the second round began, the Warriors picked Vanderbilt’s Festus Ezeli with the final move of the first round.

To add to an impressive draft haul in his first season as Golden State’s general manager, Myers picked Draymond Green out of Michigan State with the fifth pick of the second round.

In his rookie year with the Warriors, Green appeared in 79 games, averaging 3.3 rebounds, 2.9 points, 0.7 steals and 0.5 assists per contest.

Watch highlights from Green’s debut season via YouTube:

Following his rookie campaign in the Bay Area, the former Spartan blossomed into a three-time All-Star. Prior to 2020, Green was named to the All-NBA team twice and the All-Defensive team five times. After leading the league in steals in 2016-17, Green was named Defensive Player of the Year. Alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, Green played an instrumental piece in Golden State’s run to three NBA championships.

With a high pick, Andrew Wiggins and a healthy edition of the Splash Brothers, Green will be in the middle of Golden State’s climb back to the top of the Western Conference in 2021.

Along with Green, Ezeli, Barnes and Davis, the 2012 NBA Draft class included Bradley Beal, Damian Lillard, Andre Drummond, and Khris Middleton.

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Twitter: Reaction from Steelers, Browns fans when Joe Haden was signed 3 years ago

Steelers, Browns fans took to Twitter to debate how great Haden was and wasn’t, respectively.

As with all transactions, when the Steelers officially signed Joe Haden on August 30, 2017, the team shared the news across social media.

I searched for the specific tweet and, once it was found, scrolled to re-read the comments from Steelers fans and Browns fans — this time, three years later.

And, somehow, they’re funnier now than in 2017.

Here are some of Steelers Wire’s favorite Twitter reactions to the Joe Haden signing:

This tweet is the truth — word-for-word what many “Stiller” fans said. Now all that’s needed is for the Super Bowl part to fall into place.

Tom Brady leaving the AFC removed one obstacle and created another. Pittsburgh versus Tampa Bay in Tampa Bay for the Super Bowl? That would make this tweet even better than it is right now.

Mason had one correct.

 

One of these two comments turned out to be accurate.

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Bulls talking to several assistants

The Chicago Bulls were granted permission to speak with several assistants for the franchise’s head coaching job and interviews with candidates are well underway, sources told ESPN. No permission was necessary for former Brooklyn Nets coach Kenny Atkinson to interview, but new executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley are talking to several assistant coaches still involved in the playoffs, including Milwaukee’s Darvin Ham, Denver’s Wes Unseld Jr. and Miami’s Dan Craig, sources said.