Tag: Sam Howell

The ridiculously early 2022 NFL mock draft

I know. I know. For many of you, the last thing you want to read right now, in May of 2021, is a mock draft for the 2022 cycle. But at the same time, the “early mock drafts” are a great way to start building out watch lists for your own summer …

I know.

I know.

For many of you, the last thing you want to read right now, in May of 2021, is a mock draft for the 2022 cycle. But at the same time, the “early mock drafts” are a great way to start building out watch lists for your own summer scouting. Let’s face it: Log onto Twitter right now and you will already see debates over who QB1 might be, who might be the next “QB riser,” and what players could emerge as first-rounders next fall.

Of course, the accuracy in these early mock drafts is almost comical. For example, I waited until August last season to put out my first “early mock draft,” and that version was anything but accurate. I was able to place 13 players in the first round correctly, which means there were 19 names listed in the first round that fell out of that slot, including some — Dylan Moses, Marvin Wilson — that were not even drafted.

So, there is a lot of football to be played. A lot of things can change between now and next April. Some of these players might live up to the expectations, and some might not. Some players might even return to school. There is a lot of projection and development at work here, and development is not linear. Some of these players might not take the step forward that is anticipated.

And that is okay too.

For now, here is one chucklehead’s attempt at an early mock draft. Draft order was determined by the latest Super Bowl odds at BetMGM. If you disagree with a team’s draft slot, take it up with Vegas…

Philadelphia Eagles focus on offense in early 2022 NFL mock drafts

Philadelphia Eagles focus on offense in early 2022 NFL mock drafts

The 2021 NFL draft is over and as teams start to prepare for the 2021 regular season, the path towards next April’s draft in Las Vegas has already begun.

The Eagles retooled in the trenches this year and with Howie Roseman focusing on offense, draft experts believe Philadelphia will look towards offense next spring.

4 college prospects Texans need to consider as 2022 NFL draft first-round pick

The Houston Texans need to consider these four college prospects as they gear up for the 2022 NFL draft.

The 2021 NFL draft may have concluded, but given the poor outlook for the Houston Texans’ regular season, it is still draft season.

Director of college scouting James Liipfert and his team turn their attention to the 2022 NFL draft. This is the first draft in the Nick Caserio era where the Texans will have a first and second-round pick to work with as the general manager seeks to complete the rebuild.

The draft will be the most optimistic for Houston sports fans as they can finally turn the page on the Deshaun Watson era — that is, if the Texans haven’t saddled up Davis Mills as their signal caller of the future.

Taking an early look at the top 15 QB prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft class

Taking an early look at the top 15 QB prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft class

The Eagles will now embark on a long-term rebuild with a new head coach in Nick Sirianni and a fresh start at quarterback with Jalen Hurts.

The Eagles used a 2020 second-round pick on Hurts and since the four games in 2020 weren’t a true gauge of his talents at quarterback, he’ll get the entire 2021 season to prove he’s the guy.

With the Eagles passing on a quarterback, Philadelphia has started the process of building around Hurts and he’ll every opportunity to become the signal-caller of the future.

If Hurts isn’t the answer during 2021, the 2022 NFL Draft class offers some interesting prospects, but none with the resume of Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, or Trey Lance.

Below we give an early look at 15 of the top quarterbacks who could be options for the Eagles and their two possible three first-round picks depending on the Colts 2021 season.

The obscenely early 2022 NFL draft watch list: Offense

Sure the 2021 NFL draft just ended, but it is never too soon to think of the next one. Here are some players to watch on offense next year.

Generally speaking football fans fall into one of two camps.

The first group gets done watching the NFL draft and moves on to other sports, such as basketball and baseball. They will start tuning back into their favorite football teams come training camp.

The second group gets done watching the NFL draft and immediately…thinks about the next one.

If you find yourself in that second camp, then this is your starting spot. The 2021 NFL draft just ended but here is a watch list for the next draft, just a year away. Here is the obscenely early 2022 NFL draft watch list on offense.

Texas A&M Wins Orange Bowl Over North Carolina 41-27: Reaction, Analysis, 5 Thoughts

Texas A&M wins the Capital One Orange Bowl over North Carolina 41-27. Five thoughts and analysis of the game, and what it all means.

Texas A&M wins the Capital One Orange Bowl over North Carolina 41-27. Five thoughts and analysis of the game, and what it all means.

[jwplayer cFHw17DH]

Texas A&M wins the Capital One Orange Bowl

Final Score: Texas A&M 41, North Carolina 27
CFN Prediction: Texas A&M 34, North Carolina 20
Line: Texas A&M -10, o/u: 65.5

5. It’ll go down in history as a misleading Orange Bowl – and ACC bowl season

It was a much, much closer game than the 41-27 final score, but stats are stats.

Including the College Football Playoff games, the Orange Bowl continues to be a bit of a dog – at least in the final score.

This game makes it ten of the last 13 decided by double-digits, and going way back, it’s been 18 of the last 25.

It’ll also go down as a misleading bowl season for the ACC.

 

Yeah, it was 0-6 – you are what your record is – but two of the losses came in the College Football Playoff, Wake Forest was an underdog to Wisconsin, NC State was a slight dog to Kentucky, Miami was an underdog to Oklahoma State – and lost QB D’Eriq King to a knee injury just as the team got rolling – and there was this loss.

North Carolina played a whole lot better than 41-27.

The ACC was the dog in five of the six games, but after a wildly fun year getting two teams into the playoff, it was a rough finish.

NEXT: North Carolina gave it a phenomenal run

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

Notre Dame at North Carolina: Third-Quarter Analysis

Notre Dame still has North Carolina breathing down its neck. However, it’s been able to put a little distance between the teams.

Notre Dame still has North Carolina breathing down its neck. However, it’s been able to put a little distance between the teams. It might have taken a little time, but that it happened at all is an accomplishment. The question is whether the Irish’s 24-17 after three quarters will mean anything.

The Irish’s defense kept the high-powered Tar Heels offense in check on the first drive of the second half, but Ben Kiernan punted the ball 62 yards all the way down to the Notre Dame 3-yard line. Ian Book used his passing abilities and also got a little luck with North Carolina defensive penalties, including an offsides call on fourth-and-1 to lead his offense on a time-consuming possession. Eventually, the Irish got into the red zone and then took the lead on a 13-yard touchdown run from Ben Skowronek. Yes, that’s a 97-yard scoring drive we’re talking about.

As crazy as it sounds, Notre Dame shut down North Carolina’s offense again. On the first play of the Tar Heels’ second drive, Justin Ademilola sacked Sam Howell. Though Javonte Williams got some yards back on a 7-yard run, Howell’s subsequent pass to him was incomplete. Can the defense keep this going for 15 more minutes?

The defense will need to keep making plays if the offense can’t support it. Book found Javon McKinley for a 53-yard reception to get into the red zone.  The drive stalled, and Doerer shanked a field-goal attempt from 32 yards, the same distance he hit from to end the first half. Luckily, the defense responded by not allowing the Tar Heels past their own 42.

Watch it: Notre Dame star Kyle Hamilton ejected for targeting

Star Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton has been ejected for the rest of the North Carolina game for targeting. Watch the play right now.

Notre Dame’s best player in the secondary and one of the best safeties in all of college football is Kyle Hamilton, who earned pre-season All-American honors by various outlets.

Despite not yet having an interception in 2020 his impact has been huge in Notre Dame entering Friday’s game at North Carolina 8-0.

Hamilton made a few huge plays early to stop North Carolina drives and keep the Tar Heels from putting even more points up early.

However, on a third and 20 late in the second quarter, Hamilton came crashing down to make a stop, but couldn’t slow himself up enough to avoid a targeting call that got him ejected.  Watch it below.

North Carolina would go on to kick a field goal to take a 17-14 lead that possession.

Notre Dame would respond quickly getting downfield and getting a 32-yard field goal from Jonathan Doerer to tie things up at 17 before halftime.

Watch it: Notre Dame star Kyle Hamilton ejected for targeting

Star Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton has been ejected for the rest of the North Carolina game for targeting. Watch the play right now.

Notre Dame’s best player in the secondary and one of the best safeties in all of college football is Kyle Hamilton, who earned pre-season All-American honors by various outlets.

Despite not yet having an interception in 2020 his impact has been huge in Notre Dame entering Friday’s game at North Carolina 8-0.

Hamilton made a few huge plays early to stop North Carolina drives and keep the Tar Heels from putting even more points up early.

However, on a third and 20 late in the second quarter, Hamilton came crashing down to make a stop, but couldn’t slow himself up enough to avoid a targeting call that got him ejected.  Watch it below.

North Carolina would go on to kick a field goal to take a 17-14 lead that possession.

Notre Dame would respond quickly getting downfield and getting a 32-yard field goal from Jonathan Doerer to tie things up at 17 before halftime.

Notre Dame at North Carolina: Second-Quarter Analysis

Perhaps Notre Dame and North Carolina needed some time to take it easy.

Perhaps Notre Dame and North Carolina needed some time to take it easy. Unlike in the first quarter, offense was hard to come by in the second. This time, we saw the defenses shine. Consequently, this game is tied at 17 at halftime.

The frame became a battle of whether Jay Bramblett or Ben Kiernan could punt the ball further. It really doesn’t matter who won that because it didn’t make a difference on the scoreboard. That this even was the story for most of the quarter shows how great the defenses were. We’ll find out in the second half if rumors of an offensive shootout were greatly exaggerated.

Sam Howell barely avoided giving up a safety when Isaiah Foskey sacked him at the North Carolina 1-yard line. That drive ended in a punt. Later, it was Marist Liufau’s turn to wrap up Howell deep in Tar Heels territory. This time, Howell recovered and picked up the first down on the drive, which was followed by a series of passes to set up a 42-yard field goal for Grayson Atkins.

The biggest play of that sequence is a third and 20 that Notre Dame bailed out North Carolina on when Kyle Hamilton’s targeting penalty both extended the Tar Heels drive and got the pre-season All-American ejected for the rest of the afternoon.

Related:  Watch the play that got Kyle Hamilton ejected against North Carolina

With over a minute left in the quarter, Ian Book completed three consecutive passes to get into North Carolina territory and also got some help from a pass interference call. He took one unsuccessful shot at the end zone, and the clock dictated there only was enough time for Jonathan Doerer to tie the game with a field goal. He did just that from 32 yards out.