Month: December 2023

Nets’ Mikal Bridges on loss to Hornets: ‘just a bad defensive game’

Brooklyn Nets guard Mikal Bridges acknowledged that Thursday’s 129-128 loss to the Charlotte Hornets was “just a bad defensive game for us.”

NEW YORK — While the Brooklyn Nets are around the middle-of-the-pack in the NBA in terms of defensive rating, they had been playing better defense during its three-game winning streak. However, Thursday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets was possibly the worst defensive performance by the Nets this season.

“Yeah, just a bad defensive game for us,” Brooklyn guard Mikal Bridges said after putting up 22 points on 9-of-22 shooting from the field in Thursday’s 129-128 loss to the Hornets. During the Nets previous three games, the team held its opponents to an average of 103 points per game which seemed like an indication that the group was coming along defensively. Thursday flipped that on its head.

“Just gave them confidence and light,” Bridges said. Hornets guard Terry Rozier had a masterpiece of a game as he dropped 37 points (13-of-25 shooting from the field, 7-of-9 from deep) and 13 assists as a testament of just how much confidence a Charlotte team missing LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller had.

Not only did Rozier have a great game, but Gordon Hayward and Miles Bridges combined for 45 points on 17-of-29 shooting from the field and 5-of-8 from three-point land. “They just kept it going and getting confidence,” Bridges continued.

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Standing on business? Here’s what DK Metcalf sign language TD celebration meant

Here’s the origin of DK Metcalf’s sign language message and its meaning.

DK Metcalf learning sign language in order to taunt opponents without fear of being fined by the NFL is just one of the best stories of 2023.

And on Thursday night, we saw the Seattle Seahawks receiver deliver his latest message: “Standing on business,” as the Prime Video broadcast noted and others on social media confirmed.

So … what does that mean? Kaylee Hartung summed it up best, “That’s slang for taking care of your responsibilities.”

As far as I could tell, signing “standing on business” in American Sign Language was a something of a meme on TikTok a couple of weeks ago thanks to a video that got over a million likes on the app, so perhaps this was Metcalf’s nod to that?

@chaadcrb

Replying to @itsjus.niyaa always standing 💯 #americansignlanguage #signlanguage #foryou #trending #viral #fyp #foryoupage

♬ original sound – King Chaddy 👑

There you have it.

When they last met: Commanders and Dolphins

A lot has changed in the last four years. The last time these teams met, they were battling to see who picked higher in the 2020 NFL draft.

“When they last met” is an ongoing series during the NFL season, recalling the preceding game between Washington and the next opponent on the Commanders’ schedule.

Washington 17, Miami 16 – Week 6, October 13, 2019

The last time these two teams met, Washington was still the “Redskins,” Jay Gruden had just been fired following an 0-5 start, Bill Callahan was the interim coach, Brian Flores coached Miami and Case Keenum and Josh Rosen were the two starting quarterbacks.

Both teams entered the Week 6 contest winless. Yes, winless. So it was only fitting that the normally tying touchdown was scored with only six seconds remaining when Ryan Fitzpatrick (of Miami) connected with DeVante Parker from 11 yards. Miami went for the win and a two-point conversion attempt. However, Fitzpatrick’s bubble screen left to Kenyan Drake was dropped, allowing the Redskins to escape with a 17-16 win.

Both teams were on the bottom floor of the NFL in 2019. Washington would end up 3-13, selecting second in the next draft, Ron Rivera’s first. Miami finished 5-11 and drafted fifth in 2020.

Washington took Chase Young, who was advertised as “a generational talent.” Yet by 2023, all Washington could get for Young was a late 3rd round 2024 draft choice. Miami, on the other hand, drafted Tua Tagovailoa and is enjoying their fourth consecutive season with a winning record. Washington has not had a season with a winning record since Kirk Cousins was quarterback in the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

Back to the 2019 game, Washington had led 7-3 at the half and 17-3 after three quarters but had to survive the Dolphins scoring two final-quarter touchdowns.

Washington’s Adrian Peterson rushed for 118 yards on 23 carries, Terry McLaurin collected 100 receiving yards on four receptions (including two touchdowns), and Keenum completed 13 passes for 166 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Rosen had started for the Dolphins, but his two first-half interceptions and his being sacked five times led to Fitzpatrick playing the second half. “Fitzmagic” completed 12 of his 18 attempts for 132 yards, including the last-minute touchdown.

Quinton Dunbar and Shaun Dion Hamilton each had one interception, while Jonathan Allen had two quarterback sacks. Landon Collins, Matt Ioannidis and Treyvon Hester registered one quarterback sack each.

 

Husker volleyball dominate Big Ten Conference honors

The Nebraska volleyball team dominated the postseason honors for the Big Ten Conference.

The Nebraska volleyball team dominated the postseason honors for the Big Ten Conference. The Huskers would see seven team members win awards, including head coach John Cook, who was named the Big Ten Volleyball Coach of the Year.

The Huskers would win four of the five individual awards. Junior libero Lexi Rodriguez won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for the second time. Bergen Reilly was named Setter of the Year and is the first freshman to win Setter of the Year, and Harper Murray was awarded Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

Those three players and Merritt Beason were named All-Big Ten First Team. Beason and Rodriguez were unanimous selections. It’s the first time the Huskers have had four first-team selections since it joined the Big Ten in 2011. Bekka Allick and Andi Jackson were also named second-team All-Big Ten.

Tyreek Hill did a classy thing for the punished photographer whose phone Dolphins WR used for TD celebration

A classy gesture from Tyreek Hill.

Tyreek Hill is making it up to Kevin Fitzgibbons, the photographer who told the world his credentials were pulled after the Miami Dolphins receiver took his phone and used it to film a touchdown flip celebration.

Hill told reporters this week that he was going to cover the salary of the man known as “KFitz,” that he would make sure he’d take care of him. Hill said he did what he could with the NFL, but there wasn’t anything he could do after the league’s decision to revoke the credentials.

Hill and Fitzgibbons had worked together a bunch before the TD celebration, and as the receiver said, “that’s my guy.”

Good on Hill for this.

Ben Johnson believes Jameson Williams is ‘getting better every week’

Williams has seen his snap counts and route options expand recently

It started out slowly for Jameson Williams in Detroit this season. After coming off his 4-game suspension to start the year, Williams barely made a blip on the stat sheet in the first few weeks back.

Sure enough, Williams is getting more acclimated into the Lions offense. His hard work is paying off. Williams has played over 40 snaps in each of the last two games after not topping 34 in any of his five prior games. He’s hauled in two passes in both games, good for 44 yards against Chicago and 51 on Thanksgiving versus Green Bay.

Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is happy to see the second-year speedster earning more reps. Johnson is seeing Williams’ hard work behind the scenes really start to pay dividends.

“He’s getting better every week,” Johnson said on Thursday of Williams. “You see it and because of that, the way he’s practicing, the way he’s preparing and the way he’s playing, because of that, his reps are going up. And so, he continues to get out there and the ball’s going to just start gravitating to him just a little bit more than it already has.

But he’s doing a really nice job and he just needs to continue to put in the work like he’s doing right now and good things will happen.”

Williams has been used more frequently on shorter routes, moving beyond the deep shots that were so problematic for Jamo and QB Jared Goff to connect on earlier in the season. Williams also played in the slot on over 25 percent of the snaps against Green Bay, a wrinkle that helps the young wideout get cleaner releases off the line.

 

Minnesota’s starting quarterback is entering the transfer portal

Minnesota’s starting quarterback is entering the transfer portal

The week gets rougher for Wisconsin’s border rival Minnesota, as its starting quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis announced recently he would be entering the transfer portal.

Kaliakmanis started for a year and a half in Minneapolis, taking over for an injured Tanner Morgan in 2022. He finished his Minnesota career with a 9-9 record as the starter, a completion percentage of 53.3, 2784 total yards, 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Given the general mediocrity of the offense and the four-game losing streak to end the 2023 season after a 5-3 start, maybe Gophers fans aren’t crushed to see the news today. After all, losing large quantities of production off of poor units isn’t always the worst thing for the future.

But what it does mean is P.J. Fleck has some big moves to make entering 2024.

Fleck’s mantra and attitude don’t work nearly as well when the team is missing bowl games (but yet still somehow making one because they’re good at academics).

Minnesota has now had one 10-win season under Fleck (11 wins in 2019), and seemed to step backwards in 2023 after consecutive 9-4 seasons in 2021 and 2022. Now with an opening at quarterback, it’s a significant offseason for Fleck and his staff.

 

UPDATE: Minnesota third-string QB Drew Viotto has also entered the portal. That’s two of the program’s top three quarterbacks.

Former Wisconsin HC passed over for two head coach openings

Report: Former Wisconsin HC being considered for several job openings

Former Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst did not spend much time away from college football after the Badgers fired him last October.

He quickly took an analyst job with Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns, where he has spent this season aiding what is currently an 11-1 football team with a chance to go to the College Football Playoff.

There were questions, somehow, about whether Chryst still had the desire to be a head coach and lead a program in today’s climate. After all, part of his departure from Wisconsin was reportedly due to him and AD Chris McIntosh not seeing eye-to-eye on how to operate in the current age of college football.

Well, a recent report made it seem like Chryst was ready to put his hat in the ring for a few open jobs. Portland, Oregon sportswriter Kerry Eggers reported last weekend that Oregon State is considering Chryst, and that he’d be interviewing there on Monday. He also added that Chryst is being considered for the Indiana opening after it fired longtime HC Tom Allen.

Then, in the last week, Oregon State elevated defensive coordinator Trent Bray to head coach, while Indiana hired former James Madison head coach Curt Cignetti. Neither went through and hired Chryst, and it’s unknown how much consideration each program gave him.

Nevertheless, we’re starting to see Chryst’s name in the ongoing coach carousel. So the long-time Badger coach could be finding a new home sooner rather than later.

Al Michaels summed up all Cowboys – Seahawks penalties with 1 funny line

Al Michaels summed it all up with one line.

There were a total of 19 (!) penalties called in Thursday night’s Dallas Cowboys win over the Seattle Seahawks in what was one of the more thrilling weekday primetime games we’ve seen this season.

But over 250 yards in penalties? That’s A LOT. Kind of sloppy when you think about it. And midway through the third quarter, Al Michaels had to say something about it on the air with Prime Video.

“We’re gonna take the rest of the night off and let Clete Blakeman call the game,” he remarked.

Boom, roasted! And that was just in the third quarter! Here’s the line from Michaels and some reaction:

This is why Sean Payton is such a big Adam Trautman fan

Adam Trautman is not a flashy tight end, but he does what’s asked of him well. “We’re glad we have him,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said.

Adam Trautman is not a flashy tight end.

The 26-year-old veteran turned heads with an impressive touchdown catch last week, but he is not typically heavily involved in the passing game. Trautman has 16 receptions for 125 yards and two scores so far this year, modest production through 11 games.

Since the start of preseason, though, Trautman has been listed as the team’s starting tight end. That was a surprise depth chart development at the time, but it wasn’t surprising to those familiar with Sean Payton’s history.

Back in 2020, Payton traded all four of the New Orleans Saints’ remaining draft picks to move up in the third round to draft Trautman out of Dayton. Then, after joining the Broncos this offseason, Payton traded another draft pick to the Saints to acquire Trautman again. Payton has traded five total picks in two trades to land the tight end.

So what does he like so much about Trautman?

“I would say you know exactly what you’re getting,” Payton said earlier this week. “In other words, there are certain things he does well. I think he has a good feel in zone coverage. I think he’s a good blocker. I think he’s smart. We felt with [Greg] Dulcich, and we felt with [Chris] Manhertz that there was a role for each one of these players, and certainly, with Adam. [I] drafted him out of Dayton. We kind of knew exactly what we were getting, and there’s something to be said for that.

“Sometimes when you’re game planning and putting together a plan, what can be frustrating is if you don’t know what you’re getting week-to-week from a player. I was pleased. His pitch count was higher yesterday and not as high a few weeks back. The catch he made was important. He’s a smart player. We’re glad we have him. I’m glad we didn’t have to give up the back end of our draft to get him.”

Trautman has totaled 76 receptions for 766 yards and six touchdowns through four seasons in the NFL. It’s not flashy production, but Trautman consistently does the role asked of him well, and Payton values that.

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