Tag: 2020 season

Donovan Stiner graduates after missing just one game in four years

Coming off a career-best season in tackles (though he didn’t manage an interception), safety Donovan Stiner hopes to land on an NFL roster.

Name: Donovan Stiner

Number: 13

Position: Safety

Class: Senior

Height: 6’2″

Weight: 210 pounds

Hometown: Houston

High School: Bellaire

Twitter: @dstiner3

2020 statistics:

TOT SOLO AST SACK PD
62 33 29 0 1

Overview:

Stiner may have been a three-star recruit coming out of high school, but the safety prospect out of Houston wasted no time finding the field with the Gators. In his first season in 2017, he played in all 11 games, mostly at special teams and as a reserve defensive back. In the process, he totaled nine tackles.

Heading into his sophomore year in 2018, he was ready to become one of the Gators’ top safeties. He played in all 13 games that season and started 12 of them, finishing with 49 tackles, two picks and the only sack of his collegiate career. He saw his role diminish slightly as a junior in 2019, and though he appeared in every game once again, he started just six of them. His tackle total dropped to 30, though he did manage to set a career-high in interceptions with four.

Stiner reclaimed his starting role for most of his senior season in 2020, starting 10 of the 11 games he appeared in. He finished with a career-high in tackles, though he didn’t record an interception for the first time since his freshman year. Overall, Florida’s secondary struggled, and at times, so did Stiner.

Still, he was a relatively consistent starter for three years with the Gators, and replacing him will be one of the biggest questions facing UF’s defense next season.

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Running back Nay’Quan Wright looks to build off impressive freshman season

Running back Nay’Quan Wright showed signs of potential both running the ball and as a receiver out of the backfield as a freshman in 2020.

Name: Nay’Quan Wright

Number: 6

Position: Running Back

Class: Redshirt Freshman

Height: 5’9″

Weight: 195 pounds

Hometown: Miami Gardens, Fla.

High School: Miami Carol City

Twitter: @B0SSMAN_5

2020 statistics:

ATT YDS AVG TD LNG REC YDS AVG TD LNG FUM LST
54 213 3.9 2 26 19 219 11.5 0 50 0 0

Overview:

Coming out of Miami, Wright was a four-star recruit and the No. 16 running back in the 2019 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite. He committed to coach Dan Mullen and the Gators in Nov. 2018, and he signed his National Letter of Intent the next month.

Wright entered a pretty deep running back room as a true freshman in 2019, and he saw very limited action as he eventually took a redshirt. He appeared in three games, taking 12 carries for 24 yards and making one four-yard reception.

As a redshirt freshman in 2020, Wright was once again a part of a loaded position group, but he managed to see the field a lot more. He played in nine games and finished third on the team in rushing with 54 carries for 213 yards and two touchdowns. He was also a factor in the receiving game, reeling in 19 catches for 219 yards.

With everyone returning at running back, Wright will likely see a similar role in 2021. But he demonstrated some skill, especially in the receiving game out of the backfield, and he should play a key part in UF’s offense next season.

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Linebacker Ventrell Miller returns for fifth season looking to lead UF defense

Ventrell Miller led the team in tackles as a redshirt junior, and he returns as one of UF’s most experienced defensive players.

Name: Ventrell Miller

Number: 52

Position: Linebacker

Class: Redshirt Junior

Height: 6’1″

Weight: 230 pounds

Hometown: Lakeland, Fla.

High School: Kathleen

Twitter: @ventrell_miller

2020 statistics:

TOT SOLO AST SACK FF FR YDS PD
86 52 34 3.5 0 1 0 3

Overview:

A three-star recruit coming out of Kathleen High School, Miller originally committed to and signed with former coach Jim McElwain in 2017, becoming a part of the Lakeland-to-Gainesville pipeline.

He had to wait until his second season on campus to see the field, though, as he spent the entire 2017 season suspended for his role in the credit card fraud incident. He finally rejoined the team in 2018, and he appeared in all 13 games playing on special teams and as a reserve linebacker, finishing with 15 tackles, a sack and a pick.

Miller’s role increased considerably as a redshirt sophomore in 2019. He appeared in 12 games and started 11 of them, eventually finishing second on the team in tackles with 55. He also had three sacks.

He entered his redshirt junior season in 2020 expected to be one of the leaders on defense, and though the unit as a whole struggled considerably, he had a solid season. He played in 11 of Florida’s 12 games, and he started 10 of them.

Miller led the team in tackles last season with 88 in addition to notching 3.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss (all career-highs). Though he certainly could have been selected in the 2021 NFL draft, he decided to return for a fifth season in Gainesville, where he should be one of the best players on defense.

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Running back Malik Davis hopes to close out Florida career on a positive note

Davis hasn’t been able to match the production from his freshman season, but he’ll hope that in Year 5 he can reach his full potential.

Name: Malik Davis

Number: 20

Position: Running Back

Class: Redshirt Junior

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 205 pounds

Hometown: Tampa, Fla.

High School: Jesuit

Twitter: @Campaign_Lik

2020 statistics:

ATT YDS AVG TD LNG REC YDS AVG TD LNG FUM LST
66 310 4.7 0 39 31 377 12.2 0 39 0 0

Overview:

A three-star recruit out of Tampa, Davis wasn’t expected to contribute much as a true freshman when he signed with former Gators coach Jim McElwain. But during his first year on campus on 2017, he was one of the lone bright spots in an anemic Florida offense. He played in seven games (and started two) before an injury ended his season, but he still managed to finish second on the team in rushing with 526 yards and two touchdowns on 79 carries.

He was expected to be a major part of the offense in 2018, but just three games into the season, he suffered another injury that ended his campaign, as he finished with just 61 yards on 13 carries. He took a medical redshirt for the season.

Davis returned healthy for the 2019 season, but he saw his role on the team diminish considerably. Florida didn’t run the ball much, and Davis found himself third on the depth chart behind Lamical Perine and Dameon Pierce. Despite appearing in 12 games, he only had 86 yards on 34 carries with a touchdown.

He slightly returned to form in 2020, though UF’s run game as a whole struggled once again. Davis played in all 12 games and started two of them, finishing with 310 yards on 66 carries, the most since his freshman season. He didn’t manage a touchdown, though.

Davis returns for his final season of eligibility as a redshirt senior in 2021, and though he’ll likely be playing behind Pierce (and will have to compete with former five-stars Lorenzo Lingard and Demarkcus Bowman, as well as Nay’Quan Wright for backup reps), he’ll try to maximize the potential he’s shown in flashes throughout his career.

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Dameon Pierce returns for senior year to lead Florida’s running back group

Pierce returns to Gainesville for his final season looking to lead a running back group that has been a bit of an afterthought.

Name: Dameon Pierce

Number: 27

Position: Running Back

Class: Junior

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 215 pounds

Hometown: Bainbridge, Ga.

High School: Bainbridge

Twitter: @IRep229

2020 statistics:

ATT YDS AVG TD LNG REC YDS AVG TD LNG FUM LST
106 503 4.7 4 38 17 156 9.2 1 35 0 0

Overview:

One of Florida’s most reliable running backs throughout his collegiate career, Pierce joined the Gators as a four-star recruit from Georgia in the 2018 recruiting class. He saw action right away as a true freshman, playing in all 13 games as a backup running back and special teams player. He finished with 69 carries for 424 yards and two touchdowns (in addition to a touchdown through the air).

As a sophomore in 2019, he was Florida’s No. 2 back behind senior Lamical Perine, but he saw his production dip a bit as he appeared in 12 games. He only had 54 carries on the season for 305 yards and a touchdown as UF’s entire run game struggled that season.

Entering his junior year in 2020, Pierce figured in as the Gators’ top back. He started 10 of Florida’s 12 games and appeared in all of them. The run game was a bit of an afterthought as quarterback Kyle Trask led a record-breaking passing offense, but Pierce finished as the leader among Gators backs with 503 yards and four touchdowns (plus another receiving touchdown).

Pierce elected to return to Florida for his senior season, and with Emory Jones taking over as starter, the run game will likely be a much bigger factor this season. And if the rushing attack takes a step forward, Pierce will be the biggest beneficiary in a talented backfield that has underproduced recently.

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Cowboys top 5 defensive plays from 2020 (Yes, we found some)

Which were the five biggest defensive plays by EPA for the Cowboys in 2020?

The Dallas Cowboys defense was their downfall in 2020. Even when Dak Prescott was healthy and firing on all cylinders at quarterback, the defense continually let them down as their performance ranked among the worst in team history. The unit did seem to improve as the year wore on, and still managed some bright spots among a whole lot of bad.

Which were the five plays by the Dallas defense which generated the most negative EPA for opposing offenses? After highlighting the team’s five best offensive plays by EPA, and the offense’s five worst turnovers, these are the plays in which the Cowboys defense most contributed to winning. They might’ve been few and far between, but there were moments in which the defense stepped up and gave them a chance.

Honorable mentions:

EPA data via nflindex.com

4 most costly offensive turnovers from Cowboys 2020 season

The Cowboys had a rough of it in 2020, due in no small to their own offensive efforts time. Revisit Dallas’ five-worst turnovers from 2020.

The 2020 season was a wild ride for the Dallas Cowboys, featuring plenty of ups and downs to keep a bizarre and lost year at least somewhat interesting. One of the most frustrating things about last season’s team was how frequently their offensive feats were overshadowed by costly mistakes and memorable implosions. Dallas frequently found themselves trailing in games, putting themselves in tough positions, desperately needing to rally. Most of the time, they came up short, showing only glimpses of the team they could be in the process.

After looking back at the Cowboys’ five best offensive plays by EPA from last year, next is their five worst turnovers by EPA. These are the moments where the Dallas offense stumbled the most, turning the ball over at crucial times and doing their opponents big favors. These moments are painful, and may feel like new to those who might’ve blocked them out since the season ended.

EPA data via nflindex.com.

See where Bears’ 2020 rookie class ranked among rest of the NFL

One of the encouraging things to come out of the Bears’ disappointing 2020 season was the performance of several rookies.

One of the encouraging things to come out of the Chicago Bears’ disappointing 2020 season was the performance of several rookies, who have bright futures ahead of them. Which was made all the more impressive given they were without a first-round draft pick for the second straight year.

NFL.com ranked the rookie classes around the league, and the Bears landed at No. 17, which had to do with the performances of receiver Darnell Mooney, cornerback Jaylon Johnson, and tight end Cole Kmet.

Tight ends typically transition slowly to the NFL. So the experience Kmet gained in playing a full season — and starting nine games — shouldn’t be overlooked. Seven picks after Kmet, Pace nabbed a Day 1 starter in Johnson. The cornerback missed the final four games of the season (including the wild-card loss at New Orleans) with a shoulder injury, but before that, he gave Bears fans plenty to be excited about. The 6-foot, 195-pound CB had some struggles in zone coverage, but he was a physical force in man-to-man and tied for fifth in the NFL with 15 pass breakups, including a game-clincher in Detroit. Johnson and Kyle Fuller could be one of the better CB tandems in the NFL in 2021.

The best bang for the buck came at pick No. 173, where Chicago grabbed the fleet-footed Mooney. Despite being the 24th wide receiver off the board, Mooney racked up 61 catches for 631 yards and four touchdowns. A true deep threat who brings saucy route-running and aerial acrobatics, Mooney has the tools to beat the NFL’s best cover men. I mean, look at what he did to Jalen Ramsey. (Yes, the ball was overthrown. No, I don’t care.)

As NFL.com noted, the Bears’ biggest steal in the draft was Mooney, who they nabbed in the fifth round and played a huge part on offense. He impressed early during training camp and quickly became Chicago’s No. 2 wideout behind Allen Robinson, impressing with his speed, route running, and maturity.

Johnson was another underrated player that quickly developed into a starter for the Bears. While he certainly had his rookie moments, he was a physical defender that tied for the fifth-most pass breakups in 2020 — and that included missing the final three regular-season games. He was the seventh cornerback taken in the NFL Draft, and he outperformed those taken ahead of him.

It’s no secret that tight ends take a little longer to develop in the NFL, which was certainly the case for Chicago’s top draft selection. While Kmet didn’t have a flashy rookie season, he flashed some potential as an in-line blocker and receiving tight end.

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Here’s where Bears QBs Mitchell Trubisky, Nick Foles ranked in 2020

It’s not a surprise that both Bears quarterbacks Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles ranked outside of the top 30 last season.

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NFL.com ranked each of the 59 quarterbacks that started a game in 2020, and it’s not a surprise that both Chicago Bears quarterbacks Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles ranked outside of the top 30.

Trubisky was the highest-ranked Bears quarterback on this list, which isn’t saying much. Especially considering he landed at No. 31 on the list.

Is it weird that I’m kind of high on Trubisky coming off a season in which he temporarily lost his job to Nick Foles? Yes, it is — but even taking into account the playoff loss that served as the umpteenth reminder of Trubisky’s limitations, the relatively strong close to his regular season heading into free agency provided glimpses of a potential future as an extreme post-hype sleeper capable of competent play in the right situation, either as a season-saving backup or placeholding starter with upside. 

While Trubisky was benched back in Week 3, his return in Week 12 kickstarted a dormant Bears offense that found success against some bad defenses down the stretch. Chicago posted 30-plus points in four straight games, which was quite the accomplishment given the offense struggled to score any points when Foles was under center.

But Trubisky certainly had some help in the form of better offensive line play, a run game and the offensive coaches accepting his input down the stretch. Still, Trubisky reverted to some of his familiar bad habits, including those boneheaded mistakes late in games. At this point, it feels like it’s best for Trubisky and the Bears to part ways.

Foles, on the other hand, ranked 40th among 59 different starting quarterbacks, where names like John Wolford, Mike Glennon and Jeff Driskel were the ones below him.

Once billed as the savior, Foles nearly destroyed the Bears’ playoff hopes after replacing Mitchell Trubisky in the starting lineup. He went 2-5 in seven starts and turned the ball over at least once in all but one of those games.

The Bears traded for Foles last offseason banking on the hope that he could lead Matt Nagy’s offense in a way that Trubisky couldn’t. Ultimately, neither Trubisky nor Foles could operate that offense.

Foles did have an impressive game coming off the bench in place of Trubisky in Week 3, but outside of that he was a disappointment in his seven starts with a 2-5 record.

But the Foles’ signing proved to be another quarterback mistake by general manager Ryan Pace, who shelled out a fourth-round pick and $21 million guaranteed for Foles.

While Foles is the only quarterback under contract for the Bears in 2021, he’s certainly not the answer. So barring a trade, Chicago is stuck with him.

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See where Bears landed in USA Today’s final power rankings

Don’t let the postseason berth fool you, no one has much confidence in this Bears team following this season.

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We’re over a month removed from the end of what was another disappointing season for the Chicago Bears. Despite making the playoffs for the second time in three years, it was another mediocre campaign that ended with a swift postseason elimination.

Don’t let the postseason berth fool you, no one has much confidence in this Bears team following this season.

USA Today’s Nate Davis released his final power rankings for the 2020 season, and the Bears landed at 20th on the list. Which isn’t really a surprise given their overall disappointing season.

After a valiant charge to postseason, they’re back to Square One times two – still looking for an answer at quarterback while hoping for a smooth break-in for rookie DC Sean Desai.

The Bears finished 8-8 for the second straight season and snuck their way into the playoffs. Which was a disappointment considering they had a 5-1 start which soon turned ugly with a six-game losing streak. Bears brass will point to the team’s response to that six-game losing streak — a 3-1 finish to the season. But there’s no mistaking it was another blown opportunity for this team.

While it would be nice to put the 2020 season behind us and look forward to change in 2021, it’s hard to do that when the Bears organization remains content with mediocrity.

The Bears made the decision to retain general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy for another season, believing they can turn things around in 2021. But we’ve seen this story before. We just lived it in 2020.

It’s hard to have much faith in the Bears finding their footing when the people that have been the problem — George McCaskey, Ted Phillips, Pace and Nagy — remain in control.

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