Tag: Melvin Gordon

Multiple Wisconsin Badgers make ESPN’s all-playoff era team

Who was your favorite Badger of the CFP era (since 2014)?

Nearly 10 years have passed since the first edition of the College Football Playoff, won by a surging Ohio State team led by running back Ezekiel Elliott and quarterback Cardale Jones.

Wisconsin did not make the CFP in its first decade. The Badgers came close several times, most notably falling 40 yards short of a Big Ten Championship over Ohio State and Playoff birth in 2017.

Now the format is expanding to 12 teams. It will get more challenging for schools like Wisconsin to win the entire thing, but more tickets are available for them to make the dance.

Related: Pre-spring bold predictions for the 2024 Big Ten football season

ESPN recently looked back upon the first decade of the CFP and put together an all-Playoff era team. Several Wisconsin Badgers were included:

  • RB Jonathan Taylor
  • RB Melvin Gordon (honorable mention)
  • C Tyler Biadasz (honorable mention)
  • OL Beau Benzschawel (honorable mention)
  • OLB T.J. Watt (honorable mention)

Unsurprisingly, Wisconsin got a few running backs, a few offensive linemen and an outside linebacker included. Those position groups also correlate to what the program has sent to the NFL, and the general strengths of the team under former head coach Paul Chryst.

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10 takeaways from the Ravens 2023 season

We’re looking at ten takeaways from the Baltimore Ravens 2023 NFL season

The Ravens have concluded their 2023 season, and the focus now shifts to what’s shaping up to be a franchise-altering offseason for general manager Eric DeCosta.

Baltimore is 20th in the NFL in cap space, with $5 million available, and there will be critical decisions regarding several vital contributors and two All-Pros. And they’re spending about $120+ million plus on the offensive side of the football.

With the NFL Combine set to begin, we’re looking at ten takeaways from the Ravens 13-4 regular season.

Predicting the fates of Ravens free agents in 2024

We’re predicting whether Baltimore Ravens free agents should stay or go ahead of the NFL’s new league year

Baltimore faces an offseason of change after Mike Macdonald bolted for the Seahawks job. Anthony Weaver landed the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator job, and 29 players are set to be free agents, headlined by Patrick Queen and Justin Madubuike.

The Ravens are 20th in the NFL in cap space, with $5,138,828 available, and there will be critical decisions regarding several vital contributors and two All-Pros.

With an urgent offseason underway, we’re looking at who should stay or go via Over The Cap.

Ranking which former Wisconsin Badgers should appear on the cover of EA College Football 25

Which Wisconsin Badgers, former or current, would you want to see on an EA Sports College Football cover?

If you missed it Friday, EA Sports gave college football fans the news they’ve been waiting for: EA College Football 25 is on the way.

There will be a full reveal in May, but the release date will be this summer. Chris Vannini of The Athletic wrote “the official release date has not been announced, but it will likely be July.”

Related: Which Big Ten football team has the toughest conference schedule in 2024?

Speaking as a longtime fan of the sport and former player of the NCAA video game series, this is incredible news.

Yes, there was a period of turmoil with litigation surrounding amateurism and name, image and likeness. But with it now being essentially a free market, it’s great news that the video game is returning.

Now for the important part of this article: Which current or former Wisconsin Badgers would’ve made the best cover athletes?

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The rules: They must have played for the Badgers after 2014, the last time the game was released. Any Wisconsin Badger from 2014 to the present day.

Here are the top candidates:

How different will the Ravens’ defense look under new DC Zach Orr?

We’re looking at five ways the Baltimore Ravens defense will look different under new defensive coordinator Zach Orr

The Ravens quickly replaced Mike Macdonald as defensive coordinator, promoting inside linebackers coach Zachary Orr.

Orr, who played for the Ravens from 2014-2016, is a fast-rising star in the coaching ranks.

The 31-year-old Orr has been on the Ravens staff since 2017, save for one season with the Jaguars and Urban Meyer in 2021.

An undrafted player from North Texas, Orr was forced to retire because of a neck/spine condition. During his final season in 2016, Orr had his best year, finishing with 133 tackles, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries.

The Ravens introduced Orr to the media on Tuesday, and with the former NFL linebacker firmly entrenched, we’re looking at the multiple ways this defense will look different.

Studs and duds from the Ravens 2023 season

We’re looking at studs and duds from the Baltimore Ravens 2023 NFL regular season

The Baltimore Ravens have concluded their 2023 season, and the focus now shifts to what’s shaping up to be a franchise-altering offseason for general manager Eric DeCosta.

Where things currently stand, Baltimore expected to have roughly $7,328,828 in cap space, via OverTheCap, which is the 20th most in the NFL.

That number could grow if the team opts to part ways with some expensive contracts (perhaps Ronnie Stanley and/or Marlon Humphrey.

With the offseason underway, we’re looking at studs and duds from the 2023 regular season.

2024 NFL Free Agency: 7 Ravens that will flourish on other teams

We’re looking at seven Baltimore Ravens 2024 NFL Free agents that’ll flourish on another team

General manager Eric DeCosta, Ozzie Newsome’s successor, has grown increasingly aggressive in handing out contracts, and he’s now built a Super Bowl hopeful for 2023 and beyond.

The Ravens are 20th in the NFL in cap space, with $7.3 million available, and there will be critical decisions regarding several vital contributors and two All-Pros. And they’re spending about $120+ million plus on the offensive side of the football.

PFF recently did an early ranking of the top 50 free agents for 2024, and John Harbaugh’s squad had four players make the list.

The overall positional spending will change in the coming years after Lamar Jackson signed a massive five-year, $260 million contract extension, making him among the three highest-paid players on average in NFL history.

With the NFL offseason fast approaching, we’re looking at seven players that’ll flourish on another roster.

These 29 Ravens players are slated to be free agents in March

We’re taking an early look at 29 Baltimore Ravens who are slated to be 2024 NFL free agents in March

After last Sunday’s 17-10 loss to Kansas City in the AFC Championship, Baltimore faces an offseason of change after Mike Macdonald bolted for the Seahawks job, Anthony Weaver landed the Dolphins defensive coordinator job, and 29 players are set to be free agents, headlined by Patrick Queen and Justin Madubuike.

The Ravens are 20th in the NFL in cap space, with $7.3 million available, and there will be critical decisions regarding several vital contributors and two All-Pros.

With an urgent offseason set to begin, we’re looking at the 29 players testing some form of free agency via Over The Cap.

The Baltimore Ravens release a Wisconsin legend entering AFC Divisional Round

The Baltimore Ravens release a Wisconsin legend entering AFC Divisional Round

Wisconsin legend running back Melvin Gordon was released by the Baltimore Ravens yesterday in advance of the team’s AFC Divisional matchup with the Houston Texans.

The nine-year NFL veteran joined the Ravens during the summer and spent much of the season on the practice squad. In limited game action, he rushed for 81 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries.

In a corresponding move, the Ravens signed veteran running back Dalvin Cook. He is expected to make his debut on Saturday with the team dealing with injuries at the position.

Gordon’s release leaves only Chiefs LB Leo Chenal, Bills G David Edwards, Ravens G Kevin Zeitler and Texans G Michael Deiter and RB Dare Ogunbowale as former Badgers alive in the NFL Playoffs.

Fantasy football sleepers to play in Week 18

Taking a look at some sleepers to play in Week 18.

While the majority of fantasy football leagues have concluded, there are still some leagues that partake in a Week 18 championship, and we’re still here to help those who need it.

And, even though the vast majority of fantasy managers are no longer competing, we can use these sleepers for prop betting and DFS plays.

We will be using The Huddle’s weekly PPR projections and rankings as a reference to find some potential boom games this week.