regular season – Page 4 – Syndication Server

Crimson Tide erase 17 point deficit to beat Auburn on senior night

Crimson Tide clinch the SEC with 90-85 victory over in-state rivals

The Alabama Crimson Tide are the 2022-2023 SEC regular season champions for the second time in three years under head coach Nate Oats as they defeated the Auburn Tigers 90-85 on Wednesday night.

The Tide trailed for the majority of the game and by as much as 17 at one point, but they were able to climb back to force overtime and escape with a win. Jahvon Quinerly was the star of the night as he scored 24 crucial points off the bench to give Alabama a huge boost on senior night. Winning the game and clinching the conference is obviously massive, but climbing back from such a deficit against your bitter rivals speaks volumes of this Crimson Tide. No better time to be hot than March.

Despite already locking up the conference, Alabama has one more remaining game against Texas A&M on Saturday before the SEC Tournament starts next week. The win today locked up the No. 1 seed in the tournament and they will benefit from a few bye rounds.

Comeback Complete 🐘#RollTide | #BlueCollarBasketball pic.twitter.com/iNy15YWldm

— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) March 2, 2023

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Wild stat shows Alabama’s regular season dominance over the past decade

For the first time since 2011, Alabama will play a regular season games without the hope of being national champions

From national title success to Heisman Trophy winners to first-round draft picks the list of accomplishments the Alabama Crimson Tide program has achieved under head coach Nick Saban is truly remarkable.

Since 2008, every team that has won the national championship has been Alabama or beaten Alabama to get there, with the exception of Florida State in 2013. Alabama’s dominance over the past decade is something we will never see replicated.

The Tide have been nearly impossible to beat in SEC play during this time, but this year they have already suffered two SEC losses to No. 5 Tennessee and No. 7 LSU. These two losses have resulted in the end of the Tide’s national championship aspirations.

For the first time since the 2011 season (164 games), Alabama will likely be playing a regular season game without the hopes of winning the national championship. Even if they can’t win a ring, it is important to win ten games this year and win a New Years’ Six bowl game to head into 2023 on a good note.

We also need to appreciate Bryce Young and Will Anderson for the few remaining games we will have with them.

Saturday will be Alabama's 164th game since the start of the 2011 season. It will be the first time the Tide are playing a regular season game without having a chance to win the national title…

— Chris Fallica (@chrisfallica) November 7, 2022

Alabama has lost 2 games this season. Both of them on points scored with 0:00 on the clock.

Let's maybe tone down the "this is the end of an era" talk.

— Michael Seale (@MPSeale) November 7, 2022

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Final score predictions for Week 1: Jaguars vs. Commanders

The final score of the Jaguars’ season opener against the Commanders will be ____

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ regular season is set to kick off at 1 p.m. ET against the Washington Commanders. After rough seasons in 2020 and 2021, the Jaguars are hoping to start 2022 on a positive note with a road victory in Week 1.

Jacksonville has maintained a mostly clean bill of health through training camp and four preseason games, and with new talent across the board on both sides of the ball, the team appears well-positioned to turn heads in 2022.

Here are our predictions for the Jaguars’ matchup in Washington:

Doug Pederson on Jaguars LB Devin Lloyd: ‘You love his athleticism’

Doug Pederson raved about rookie linebacker Devin Lloyd, who is set to start in his first NFL game Sunday.

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson told reporters Friday all about what makes rookie linebacker Devin Lloyd a special prospect for the up-and-coming Jaguars.

“You love his athleticism; you love his height,” Pederson said. “He’s long, and it’s hard to throw balls over him in practice, and he’s been able to bat some things down and do some really good things in practice. He just has to continue to do that within the scheme, just understanding his role. I think he’s in a good place mentally just watching him out there and talking to him a little bit, and physically, he’s doing good and in a good spot.”

Though first-overall pick Travon Walker is likely to get more attention as a Defensive Rookie of the Year contender, Lloyd is another first round pick set to play a significant role in year one.

It will still take a team effort for the Jaguars to improve their abysmal 3-14 record from last season, but much of the turnaround relies on the contributions from younger players like Lloyd and Walker.

Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence explains camaraderie with Travon Walker as first-overall picks

As fellow first-overall selections, Lawrence and Walker are working together closely to meet and exceed the #Jaguars’ expectations in 2022

Bearing the burden of being a rebuilding franchise’s first-overall selection in the draft is a taxing ordeal, but the Jacksonville Jaguars two top picks are looking to break the mold in 2022. After the team took quarterback Trevor Lawrence last year, they turned to the defense back in April to add stand out linebacker Travon Walker with their initial choice in this year’s selection process.

Lawrence spoke about the growing camaraderie between himself and Walker on Wednesday, telling reporters that the rookie’s approach to meeting the lofty expectations placed on him seems to come naturally to him.

“We’ve had some conversations, not necessarily about that, I think there’s just in general, life stuff,” Lawrence explained when asked if he is mentoring Walker as a fellow first-overall caliber prospect. “We’ll talk every once in a while, and I think the way he carries himself is going to serve him well. Just not a guy that has a big spotlight on him, because he doesn’t attract any attention, and I think that’s something that I respect a lot about him. I think he’s going to be just fine. We got a bunch of people around him to help him, if I did talk to him it would be, ‘You’re not doing it on your own; we’re all in this with you,’ and I think that’s the message for the whole team anyways.

“I don’t think he feels too much pressure right now. Obviously, as the year goes on, there’s going to be ups and downs, and that’s just the way the NFL is. It’s the same way during games, the ebbs and flows, you just got to stick to it, and that’s a big thing. Our message to the team is just that games aren’t always going to go your way, but you just got to find a way to finish and good teams do that. So, the same thing in a season. I think Travon is going to learn that as it goes, but the way he carries himself, he’s going to be fine. I don’t worry about him at all.”

Though Walker is certainly capable of being a cornerstone of the Jaguars’ defense in the future his rookie year learning curve will be steep. With the help of other players on the roster who have been in his position, even if they play at a different spot on the field, and the veteran leadership that Jacksonville has in place, Walker should be able to play a key role in the defense despite any factors that could mitigate his success.

Doug Pederson details his process of mentoring rookies ahead of matchup vs. Commanders

Pederson knows that the #Jaguars’ first and second-year starters will make or break his hopes of contention this season.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will rely on one of the NFL’s youngest rosters in 2022 to turn their franchise’s fortunes around. With a mix of elite first and second year players looking to make an impact on both sides of the ball, and in the first year under a new coaching staff, it will be a challenge for the team to prepare for each game the same way a more seasoned roster would.

Head coach Doug Pederson has been tasked with getting the green-horn members of Jacksonville’s squad ready for the new season, and he told reporters on Wednesday how difficult it can be to keep everyone on the same page.

Speaking from the wealth of knowledge he gained as a player in the 1990’s, Pederson explained the range of emotions a young player feels, and how he looks to help mitigate any weaknesses that the inexperienced Jaguars might have.

“It’s hard,” Pederson said. “You can talk to them and kind of express your experiences there. Of course, these guys have been through their own opening days, but these are a little bit different at this level. They will handle it. The vets on the team can also sort of share their experiences, cast a light, but it’s how we handle our emotions, too, early in the football game. You don’t want to expend a lot of energy early, make sure you can control that and can play for 60 minutes.”

Between Trevor Lawrence and Travon Walker, both sides of the ball will rely on the contributions of players who are still coming into their own. Though Jacksonville has a fair number of veterans on their roster, and a coaching staff chock-full of former players, nothing can get a team back in form like full-speed regular season snaps.

Pederson’s response to any adversity brought on by his team’s inexperience in Week 1 will be a barometer for his chances of success in Duval County long term, and perhaps the Jaguars’ viability as an AFC South contender this season.

Jaguars guard Brandon Scherff praises head coach Doug Pederson: ‘He’s a heck of a leader’

Scherff seemed confident in the #Jaguars’ leadership in his Monday press conference.

Just days removed from the start of the 2022 regular season, the Jacksonville Jaguars have spent this week lavishing each other with praise for their hard work put in during training camp and the preseason. The adulation has now extended past the players, with head coach Doug Pederson getting a rave review from offensive guard Brandon Scherff in the team’s Monday press conference.

Asked for his evaluation of Pederson’s first months at the helm of the Jaguars’ organization, Scherff told the media that he has complete faith in his coach, and praised his ability to steer the ship through Jacksonville’s rebuild.

“He’s a great head coach,” Scherff said. “He’s played in the league, so he knows what players go through, so whether you need a taper or a practice down, he’s going to put you in shells, but it’s all fundamentals then, and speed. He knows how to take care of a player. He leads by example, and we all love him as a head coach. He’s a heck of a leader for us.”

Leadership will be a key theme in the Jaguars’ 2022 campaign and should be a defining factor for the team’s hopes of becoming competitive moving forward. They’ll need a coach who has experience revitalizing a franchise from the ground up, and Pederson certainly fits the bill to that end after delivering a Super Bowl championship to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017.

He was a primary reason that the Eagles were able to go from a 7-9 record in 2016 to a Super Bowl win in 2017 with Carson Wentz and Nick Foles under center. Though the Jaguars’ rebuild is set to be a more arduous undertaking, Scherff’s comments on Monday should reassure fans about the direction their team is headed, and serve as a barometer for Jacksonville’s faith in the new regime to deliver on their promise of leading the Jaguars to contention in the very near future.

Doug Pederson ‘impressed’ with Trevor Lawrence’s leadership ability

Pederson had some serious praise for the #Jaguars’ second-year quarterback at his press conference on Monday.

Second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence will have his work cut out for him this season as the Jacksonville Jaguars look to prove they’re a competitive threat in the AFC South. With a new coaching staff in place and a boat-load of talent to help him win games, Lawrence’s outlook for 2022 is significantly better than it was a year ago.

The Jaguars’ first-year head coach Doug Pederson seems to be taken with the young quarterback, and told the media on Monday about what he has seen from Lawrence through training camp and the preseason. When asked about the qualities that have made the signal-caller stand out, Pederson left no doubt as to where Lawrence’s strengths lie.

“I think what has impressed me the most is just the maturity level with him,” Pederson said. “How he’s survived a year as a rookie with everything surrounding him that took place and how he was able to handle that. I think now, stability around him with the team, with the coaching staff, but you see the maturity, you see the leadership in the locker room, you see what he’s been able to do even with the new additions to the offense and even to the team. That, to me, is kind of the one thing that stood out to me. You see the athleticism, you see the arm strength on tape, but when you get to know him and the kind of person he is. That part of it, his leadership, I think caught all our attention.”

The comments made on Monday are a good indication that Pederson is comfortable with the most important piece of the rebuild he has undertaken. Without a franchise quarterback, the Jaguars would be hamstrung in their effort to improve on their wasted 2020 and 2021 campaigns.

It’ll take a team effort to get the Jaguars back to a winning record this year, but with Lawrence’s steady hand in direction of the offense, Jacksonville’s future is bright for the first time in what feels like forever.

Brandon Scherff helping Jaguars prepare for Washington’s defensive front

With Scherff’s inside knowledge of the Commanders’ front seven, the Jaguars should have a degree of advantage in Week 1.

Just days away from their regular season kickoff, the Jacksonville Jaguars are gearing up for their Week 1 matchup against the Washington Commanders. Both teams are in the process of working their way back to contending form in the AFC South and NFC East respectively and will have every motivation to get their season off to a hot start in their first game of 2022.

Jacksonville added veteran guard Brandon Scherff, formerly of the Washington Football Team, to bolster their offensive line in free agency, and a year removed from playing in Washington, he knows the challenge posed by the Commanders’ front seven.

Asked about his former team in Monday’s team press conference, Scherff extrapolated on what Da’Ron Payne and Johnathan Allen will bring to the fight. Though the question asked was specifically in reference to the aforementioned stars up front, he made it clear that everyone on Washington’s defensive line will pose a threat to Jacksonville’s front five.

“They’re really strong,” Scherff told members of the media, “And you’ve got Daniel Wise in there, too. I practiced against him every day last year, and he’s a heck of a player, too, Jonathan is as good as they come. He’s strong, he’s physical. Daron Payne, I’d say he’s really, really strong, and he’s fast. He’s sneaky fast. He’s an underrated pass rusher. He’s a really good football player. John Allen is, like I said, his stats speak for themselves. Montez Sweat, I have never seen anybody that big run that fast. It’s going to be a heck of a challenge for us, because I know how they practice every day, and they practice really hard.”

It may prove to be an uphill battle for the Jaguars in Week 1, but with enough insight into Washington’s personnel and schemes from Scherff’s extensive knowledge of their operations, Jacksonville could have some degree of advantage heading into the matchup.

A win to kick off their season would have the Jaguars in a prime position to improve on their dismal 2020 and 2021 campaigns, and with the help of their inside man, they just might have what it takes to emerge victorious.

Foyesade Oluokun says Devin Lloyd has the potential to be ‘really special’

The #Jaguars’ linebackers hope to play a huge part in the team’s rebuild this season.

In his preseason debut against the Atlanta Falcons, Devin Lloyd made a great first impression in his first action as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars. His teammates seemed to recognize that they were witnessing something special, especially veteran linebacker Foyesade Oluokun, who commented on Lloyd’s performance at Monday’s press conference.

After fielding questions about the defense at large, Oluokun made sure to praise the rookie linebacker for his effort, noting the ease with which Lloyd has transitioned to the pace of the NFL.

“It’s good for him, for sure,” Oluokun said of Lloyd’s usage against Atlanta. “Now he gets to work off what he put on tape. He’s a great athlete, and I think he has potential to be really special. I was just happy to see him running around out there, get that confidence in and be able to make plays on the ball and keep building off that, so I’m excited for him.”

This season will be a test of Jacksonville’s mettle as they seek to prove they’re better than last year’s squad. Two failed seasons in a row have left the Jaguars with a reputation as the league’s doormat, but after loading up on talent in free agency and the draft, the team hopes it’s primed for something special in 2022.

The contributions of Lloyd and Oluokun will be critical factors in the success of the defense, and if the comments from Monday’s media availability are any indication, the players are on track to live up to their potential this season.

It will take a full team effort, though, and only in conjunction with the new coaching staff will the defense find itself as one of the NFL’s premier units. From top to bottom, the Jaguars have looked to revamp what their team looks like on both sides of the ball, but with a second-year quarterback in his first year of a new system, the onus is on the defense to make Jacksonville a competitor this season.