Tag: matchup

Steelers matchups to watch: Week 2 (DEN) – Alex Highsmith vs. Garett Bolles

Alex Highsmith could have a huge game against the Broncos.

One matchup that has the ability to completely shift the Steelers’ Week 2 game in their favor would be Alex Highsmith versus the Broncos’ left tackle, Garett Bolles.  Highsmith is one of the most underrated edge rushers in the game, no thanks to the inclusion of T.J. Watt opposite of him, but consistently puts up great pass-rush numbers.  Bolles also has an elite player on the opposite side of him in McGlinchey, but how does he hold his own on the offensive line?

Unlike his fellow right tackle, left tackle Garett Bolles struggled mightily in his Week 1 seasonal debut.  He wasn’t effective at opening up lanes in the run game, and he certainly didn’t do Bo Nix any favors by keeping the pressure off him.  On 37 passing snaps, Bolles allowed a whopping five pressures.

Highsmith, who is excellent in run defense and passrush, will look to key in on his opposition’s weaknesses.  The Seahawks will not be necessarily known for having an elite passrush this season, but were still able to take advantage of Bolles.  Highsmith going up against Garett Bolles this Sunday will look more like a bull in a china shop than an equal matchup.

There are few positional matchups that the Pittsburgh Steelers can lean heavily on to disrupt the football game this week, however, the Broncos’ right tackle is one of those advantageous positions.  The Pittsburgh Steelers will look to add another win to their 1-0 start and fans will want to key in on matchups like this one, at 4:25 pm EST, September 15th.

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How will the Saints cover Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb?

How could Marshon Lattimore’s availability affect the Saints’ game plan for Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb on Sunday?

The New Orleans Saints have the tall task of stopping Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb on Sunday. Lamb had the most catches, second most yards and third most touchdowns last season.

The Saints ran Cover 1 on 33% of their defensive snaps in Week 1. If they run that much man coverage against the Cowboys, who will be responsible for covering Lamb?

Paulson Adebo and Alontae Taylor are playing, but will they be joined by Marshon Lattimore or Kool-Aid McKinstry? Lattimore’s health will ultimately make that decision. The answer to that question does affect the strategy.

If Lattimore plays, you likely trust Lattimore, Adebo and Taylor to line up in front of Lamb. The question becomes do you want Lattimore to slide inside to cover Lamb in the slot or let Taylor take on the challenge?

Lattimore has rarely done that through his career, but this is the type of matchup where exceptions could be made. Expect a heavy dosage of Lamb inside, regardless, as over half of his snaps and production came when lined up in the slot.

If Lattimore misses the game, things change. The Cowboys may align Lamb out wide to attack a rookie corner making his first career start. To avoid this, the Saints should consider allowing Adebo to shadow Lamb on the outside then Taylor can cover him on the inside.

Doesn’t matter which of the four corners it is, stopping CeeDee Lamb will be one of the hardest things the Saints have to do on Sunday.

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Taliese Fuaga has a marquee rookie showdown on the schedule in 2024

Rookies Taliese Fuaga and Edge Jared Verse will match up in Week 13. He’s the only first-round edge rusher Fuaga will face this year:

New Orleans Saints first round pick Taliese Fuaga already has a marquee matchup on the schedule in his rookie season. Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler picked the best rookie versus rookie matchups in 2024, and Fuaga’s Week 13 tilt against Los Angeles Rams defensive end Jared Verse made the cut. Here’s why Fowler has this game circled on his calendar:

Make sure you have your volume turned up while watching this Week 13 showdown between the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints. Thanks to Rams edge-rusher Jared Verse and Saints offensive lineman Taliese Fuaga, pads will crack early and often.

While Verse needs to continue refining the nuances of his edge-rushing game, his fundamental strength and ability to win the leverage battle gives him a floor for success. Considering he’ll have 2023 standout rookie Byron Young to take attention off of him, Verse should face a fair share of isolated opportunities against Fuaga in this matchup.

Although Fuaga lived at right tackle at Oregon State, a bump over to the left side to replace 2022 first-rounder Trevor Penning. looks like the immediate plan in New Orleans. Fuaga is a massive man who can distort the line of scrimmage in the run game, but Verse will test his ability to kick-slide and quickly anchor in pass protection.

Fuaga made his name in college from his matchups with Laiatu Latu, in his junior year and at the Senior Bowl. Latu was the first edge rusher picked in the NFL draft. Standout performances against a player like that tend to boost your draft stock. Hopefully, Fuaga has settled in at left tackle before Week 13 but winning the matchup versus Verse would be a nice badge to add as a rookie.

Like Latu, Verse was one of the three edge rushers in the discussion to be the first player off the board at the position. They have completely different styles, however. Latu is the more versatile pass rusher who likes to use his length and hand fight. Verse is most effective going right at you with a bull rush. Fuaga’s strength should allow him to handle power rushers, but this will test that ability.

By this game, both players should be starting to get more comfortable at the next level. Verse will be the only first-round edge rusher Fuaga faces as a rookie. Circle Dec. 1 on your calendar for this marquee showdown between two highly-drafted rookies.

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Saints vs. Buccaneers isn’t the same without Mike Evans vs. Marshon Lattimore

The Saints versus Buccaneers rivalry isn’t the same without Mike Evans versus Marshon Lattimore:

When the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers face off this Sunday, Marshon Lattimore and Mike Evans won’t be lining up against each other. There’s a lot on the line, yet Lattimore’s absence leaves a key part of this matchup missing. The debate on whether there’s a rivalry between these teams has subsided over the years, but there was never a debate about the players. Lattimore versus Evans is a rivalry and a major source of trash talk between fan bases.

More than just trash talk the multiple fights have led to this being must watch TV nationally. Since Lattimore entered the league in 2017, there have been 14 games between Tampa and New Orleans. Lattimore has missed two of those games and surprisingly Evans’ numbers still aren’t great. Evans averages 64 receiving yards and 4 catches when Lattimore misses the game.

It’ll be on Paulson Adebo and Isaac Yiadom to ensure that trend continues.
Tampa will use Evans to stretch the field, and Baker Mayfield will undoubtedly target him vertically. Lattimore versus Evans is always a treat to watch for the play on the field and the extracurricular activity. Keep your eyes on Evans despite Lattimore’s absence, possibly because of it. If he has a good day, the Buccaneers more than likely will too.

The Saints and Buccaneers face off in Week 17, but we won’t see Lattimore vs. Evans. It just doesn’t feel right.

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Rebuilt Saints defensive line must dominate the Titans offensive line

The Titans roll out a completely new offensive line, while the Saints remodeled their defensive line. Winning this battle will be crucial | @southexclusives

If the New Orleans Saints defense can win the battle against the Tennessee Titans offensive line, their chances of victory go up in a big way on Sunday. Saying the key to victory is stopping Derrick Henry is too simple. Who doesn’t go into a game aiming to stop the opposing team’s best player? It’s about keeping Henry to minimal gains on first and second down, so he becomes a non-factor on third down. He may even leave the field.

Any third down where a Derrick Henry run is on the table is a win for the Titans. This is done by winning at the line of scrimmage. The Titans have a completely new offensive line. The only returning starter from last year’s unit is changing positions. What makes this battle interesting is the Saints have three new starters on the defensive line. Week 1 will be a huge test for a defense that regressed against the run in 2022.

Winning this battle also impacts the passing game. The Saints defensive linemen struggled to generate pressure last year. If you can get the Titans in third and long, then you need to put pressure on Ryan Tannehill. Khalen Saunders and Bryan Bresee have looked like skilled pass rushers from the interior this preseason. The Saints defense must look to penetrate the line of scrimmage on run and pass plays to disrupt the Titans offense.

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Titans expected to sign DeAndre Hopkins, setting up Week 1 matchup vs. Marshon Lattimore

The Titans are expected to sign All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins, putting him on track for another Week 1 matchup against shutdown Saints corner Marshon Lattimore:

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This is going to be a big-time bout to ring in the 2023 season: The Tennessee Titans are closing in on a deal with former All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, meaning he’ll be on top of their depth chart for the New Orleans Saints’ home opener.

And that puts Hopkins on a collision course with Marshon Lattimore. It’s a pairing we’ve seen before, when Hopkins led the Houston Titans against Lattimore’s defense in New Orleans back in 2019. How did things play out last time?

In that Week 1 matchup, Pro Football Focus charting found that Hopkins was targeted seven times with Lattimore in coverage. He caught four passes for 51 yards, converting a pair of first downs and scoring a touchdown, though he also dropped a pass. Hopkins’ longest catch against Lattimore in that game gained 38 yards. That scoring catch proved crucial in a game won on a last-second Wil Lutz field goal from 58 yards out.

Things are different now. The Titans don’t have a quarterback who can reach the heights Deshaun Watson climbed with Houston five years ago, and both players are older and more experienced than when they last met. Last season, the Saints and Cardinals met in Week 7, which is when Hopkins returned from a six-week suspension, but Lattimore was unavailable while recovering from an injury. Both players should be running at full steam going into the new season. Tennessee’s offense doesn’t lack for firepower with running backs Derrick Henry (who has never played against New Orleans) and Tyjae Spears, the hometown favorite who will be playing in front of a friendly crowd.

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Matchup numbers: How the offense and defense matchup for LSU-Auburn

One final look at LSU and Auburn matchups.

With the game set to kick-off just hours from now, one final look at the matchup of the two Tigers. A look at how the offense and defense matchup when each team has the ball.

When LSU has the ball

John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

LSU Offense vs Auburn Defense

Per Game  LSU SEC Rank Auburn SEC Rank
Total Yards 377.5 12th 284.3 4th
Scoring Offense 34.5 9th 15.5 4th
Passing 297.5 5th 185.0 8th
Rushing 80.0 13th 99.3 4th
Third Down Conversion % 38.2 11th 34.6 8th
Red Zone TD% 80 2nd 70.0 12th

It has been a struggle for the LSU offense in terms of total yards and running the football. They are just ahead of Mississippi State in yards per game, they are last in yards per attempt. They need to convert on third down to keep the Auburn offense on the sideline. They are one of the best when they get into the red zone, but the offense needs to sustain drives to give them opportunities.

For Auburn, it is all about slowing down the LSU passing attack with Max Johnson and Kayshon Boutte. Their defense will face a formidable passing game for the first time this season. While they allow a high red zone touchdown percentage, teams haven’t scored a lot against them. The numbers are a bit skewed with games against Akron and Alabama State. This will be a massive test for Bryan Harsin’s defense.

When Auburn has the ball

John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Auburn Offense vs LSU Defense

Per Game  Auburn SEC Rank LSU SEC Rank
Total Yards 484.3 3rd 345.5 11th
Scoring Offense 44.0 3rd 22.8 11th
Passing 227.3 9th 237.5 12th
Rushing 257 4th 108.0 5th
Third Down Conversion % 38.2 11th 46.97 13th
Red Zone TD % 64.3 9th 66.7 10th

When Auburn’s offense takes the field, it will be strength vs strength when it comes to the run game. Auburn is 4th in the conference in rushing yards and LSU’s defense is top five in the SEC with just over 108 yards per game. If Auburn can’t run the football effectively, it could cause problems for their offense. They haven’t shown to be a big-time offense when it comes to throwing the football.

For the LSU defense, can they force bad decisions by the Auburn quarterbacks? This season they are +3 in turnover differential. They took the ball away twice to help lead the team to the win against Mississippi State. The defense must slow down the Auburn duo of Tank Bigsby and Jarquez Hunter to force Bo Nix or TJ Finley to throw the ball and give their DBs a shot to take the ball away.

Key Players for the Oklahoma Sooners defense vs. Nebraska

A look at the three players on the Oklahoma defense that are key players against Nebraska.

Oklahoma will wrap up its nonconference schedule with their toughest opponent thus far in Nebraska. The game is symbolic as an old rivalry is renewed on the 50th anniversary of the ‘Game of the Century.

On the field, OU will face a noticeable step up in competition as opposed to their games against Tulane and Western Carolina University. Defensively, they will have to contend with one of the best running quarterbacks in the nation in Adrian Martinez.

Martinez, a veteran quarterback has seen a lot of football over the years and will hardly be scared of the moment. However, his relatively young offensive line will line up across from one of the best front sevens in the country. Pressure is something Martinez is very familiar with. We wrote about that here.

Oklahoma will be without some key players on the back end of their defense. Woodi Washington and Billy Bowman are not expected to play. Look for Latrell McCutchin and Jeremiah Criddell to fill in for them in their spots. Here are candidates for the defensive players to watch as Oklahoma tries to bottle up Nebraska and head into Big 12 play undefeated:

Up Next: A Monster in the Middle ready to be unleashed.

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Wisconsin basketball’s updated game-by-game win probabilities for the remainder of the season

A lot has changed since last week, including the Badgers getting blown out at Michigan, winning at Rutgers and Michigan losing to Minnesota

With another week of the Wisconsin Badgers’ Big Ten season in the books, we’re back with another look at their updated game-by-game-win probabilities for the remainder of the season.

A lot has changed since the last run-through one week ago, including the Badgers getting blown out at Michigan, winning on the road at Rutgers and Michigan then losing to Minnesota.

With all the shakeup, Greg Gard’s team currently sits No. 3 in the conference with a 5-2 record, just .5 games behind No. 2 Iowa and 1 game behind No. 1 Michigan.

But, as is the case with every team in the conference this season, the road ahead for the Badgers has a chance to be a really rocky one.

Related: What Rutgers HC Steve Pikiell said about Wisconsin after the game

ESPN.com lists win probabilities for each of those remaining games on their Big Ten schedule. Although these odds will change as the season progresses, it’s interesting to see where the team stands at this point compared to conference foes.

Here is the updated ESPN game-by-game win probabilities and the team’s predicted record for the remainder of the season:

How to watch, wager, and stream Week 16’s Saints vs. Vikings game

The New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings will kick off Week 16 of the NFL regular season with a prime-time matchup on Christmas Day.

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The New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings are poised for a huge matchup in Week 16 on Christmas Day, which could secure the NFC South with a Saints victory. Here’s everything you need to know so you can tune in:

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