Who makes it into the starting lineup between Nebraska and Minnesota?

After months and months of waiting, we are finally back to Nebraska football, as kickoff is this Thursday against the Golden Gophers of Minnesota.

After months and months of waiting, we are finally back to Nebraska football, as kickoff is this Thursday against the Golden Gophers of Minnesota. Matt Rhule has done a lot this offseason in setting up this team for success, but given the current roster, who would make a combined lineup between the two schools?

Based on Pro Football Focus’s grading system, we put together a starting lineup for offense and defense to see who would make the cut. Since it is opening weekend, we will use their final grade from the 2022 season.

Find the entire results of our deep dive below.

Boston Celtics ranked fourth-best starting five in NBA in recent analysis

While certainly not bad, this feels low to us.

According to a recent analysis by Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey, the Boston Celtics have the fourth-best starting five in the NBA, behind (in order) the Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks.

“It should come as little surprise that the team with the league’s best record and net rating has a dominant starting five,” he notes. “In fact, it has a few.”

“Deciding which one to go with might take a bit of mind-reading. Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla would probably be fine with most of the potential options, but we’ll go with the defense and versatility of  Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Al Horford.”

“Robert Williams III was the fifth starter for much of last year, but this smaller lineup with Derrick White brings even more switchability and playmaking,” he suggests.

With this lineup, per Bailey, “the Celtics are better equipped than just about any team to switch all over the floor and attack from any position on the other end.”

So why are they ranked just fourth? Check out the article in full to find out.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

[mm-video type=video id=01gse45wqmetaee3m0t4 playlist_id=01eqbzegwgnrje4tv2 player_id=01f1jxkahtwnvzepyp image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gse45wqmetaee3m0t4/01gse45wqmetaee3m0t4-5921914bea1572308afc8b509a2a7443.jpg]

Where does the Boston Celtics’ starting five stack up in the Eastern Conference?

The Boston Celtics still find themselves at the top of the projections in the East for expected regular season wins — but where do their starters rank after the Mitchell deal?

After new Utah Jazz CEO of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge dealt away star wing Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers, shaking up their starting lineup in the process.

And as momentous as that move was, did the Mitchell deal really change the projected order of the NBA’s Eastern Conference starting units? Though they lost veteran swingman Danilo Gallinari for the season with a torn left ACL, the Boston Celtics still find themselves at the top of the projections in the East for expected regular season wins — but where do their starters rank after the Mitchell deal?

An assessment by Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz claims the Celtics remain the best starting unit in the conference.

 

What will the Boston Celtics starting lineup look like in the 2022-23 NBA season?

Their primary starting unit from the 2021-22 season was among the most dangerous in the league, but they also ran out of gas late in the 2022 NBA Playoffs.

What will the Boston Celtics starting lineup look like in the 2022-23 NBA season?

Now that the whole Brooklyn Nets-Kevin Durant kerfuffle is over — at least in the short term — the Celtics will turn their attention entirely to preparing for the season ahead. While their primary starting unit from the 2021-22 season was among the most dangerous in the league on both ends of the floor, they also ran out of gas late in the 2022 NBA playoffs.

The team added two veterans, veteran forward Danilo Gallinari and floor general Malcolm Brogdon, to help others get more rest during the regular season. Will any of this change how Boston approaches which players are on the court each night for the opening tip?

Esteemed NBA journalist Steve Bulpett and editor Sean Deveney of Heavy got together in a recent video for Heavy Sports to talk all things Celtics next season, and the future of the starting lineup was an issue they spent some time on.

Take a look at the video embedded above to hear what the duo thinks might happen when it comes to Boston’s starting five in 2022-23.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

[mm-video type=video id=01gaq827n256tffkbm55 playlist_id=01eqbzegwgnrje4tv2 player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gaq827n256tffkbm55/01gaq827n256tffkbm55-5ff480cc56e15d34e7d1eee8a7131dad.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=107269,107267,107475,107446,107385,107170]

[listicle id=107261]

[listicle id=107298]

[listicle id=107283]

[listicle id=107274]

Projecting the Saints’ starting defense for the 2022 season

Projecting the New Orleans Saints’ starting defense for the 2022 season, via @DillySanders:

We have likely seen the last of any major shakeups to the New Orleans Saints roster for the 2022 season. As the Saints begin their quest for a Super Bowl championship this year, the defense will be the heart of the journey. With uncertainties on the offensive side of the ball, having the defensive coordinator move up to the head coach and then most of the defensive staff sticking around, the defense should be just fine switching over from year to year. That’s the hope at least.

Most of the defense is the same but there are some key changes from the last season. There are a couple of newbies and a couple of potential battles that need to take place. For now, here is the starting lineup for the 2022 Saints defense:

Atlanta Falcons post-draft starting lineup projections

Updated starting lineup projections for the Atlanta Falcons following the 2022 NFL draft.

The Atlanta Falcons have taken the painful but necessary first steps towards rebuilding their roster this offseason.

Former MVP quarterback Matt Ryan was traded to the Indianapolis Colts for a third-round pick, Foye Oluokun and Russell Gage signed elsewhere, and the team avoided making any dangerous long-term investments in free agency.

Since the conclusion of the 2022 NFL draft, we’ve re-evaluated our starting lineup projections for Atlanta’s offense, defense and special teams units.

PFF predicts Jacksonville’s 2021 starting lineup

Here’s the full projected starting Jaguars lineup from PFF.

The Jacksonville Jaguars enter the 2021 season with more anticipation than they have had the last decade. Though the team isn’t necessarily expected to compete for a playoff spot after a 1-15 2020 season, it should be much improved with a new starting quarterback in Trevor Lawrence and head coach in Urban Meyer.

After a busy offseason that saw a lot of positional upgrades, we now have a pretty good idea what Jacksonville’s starting 22 will look like next season. Pro Football Focus took a stab at projecting the team’s starting lineup, and their list shouldn’t be too surprising to Jaguars fans.

PFF has Lawrence winning the starting job Week 1, which many expect will be the case. At running back, it doesn’t attempt to distinguish between James Robinson and Travis Etienne’s roles, listing both as starters. Considering Etienne is more of a specialty player, expect Robinson to see the bulk of the carries.

At receiver, there’s the young duo of D.J Chark Jr. and Laviska Shenault Jr. alongside Marvin Jones Jr., a free agent addition this offseason. Joining them in the starting pass-catcher group is tight end James O’Shaughnessy, who should start for the Jags just as he did in 2019.

Offensive line features the most continuity from 2020, as Cam Robinson, Andrew Norwell, Brandon Linder, A.J. Cann and Jawaan Taylor retain their roles as starters from left to right.

On the defensive side, there aren’t many surprises either, aside from a few rookies breaking through. Josh Allen and K’Lavon Chaisson are the obvious starters at edge rusher, while free-agent signing Roy Robertson-Harris is expected to start at defensive end.

On the interior, Malcom Brown and Jay Tufele are listed as starters. Both were acquired this offseason, with the former joining via a trade with New Orleans and the latter being taken in the third round of the draft out of USC. Regardless of who starts, though, fans should expect a heavy rotation on the defensive line.

A notable absence among the defensive line is Taven Bryan, a former first-round pick and fourth-year player who has struggled to make an impact so far. The team declined his fifth-year option this season, and his future with the team remains a question mark.

Here’s PFF’s take on the situation.

Offseason acquisitions Robertson-Harris and Brown should have two of the three starting defensive line positions secured in Jacksonville’s 3-4 base defense. The other spot should be more of an open competition, one that the rookie Tufele has a legitimate chance to win.

The 2021 season is a last chance of sorts for Bryan — a first-round pick by the Jaguars back in 2018. He appeared to be trending up following a 75.5 overall grade in 2019 before taking a clear step back last season (59.0 PFF grade). The opportunity is there for Bryan to bounce back if he can earn a role early in the season.

Linebacker is another position that returns all its starters, as Myles Jack and Joe Schobert, both of whom are on sizable deals, are expected to be a strength of the unit.

In the secondary, PFF projects that C.J. Henderson will retain his starting outside cornerback slot alongside Shaquill Griffin, the biggest signing of the offseason. Second-round pick Tyson Campbell is expected to start at nickel as a rookie on Day 1.

The safety position features two new projected starters in Rayshawn Jenkins, a free-agent signing from the Los Angeles Chargers, and Andre Cisco, a rookie third-round pick out of Syracuse. Cisco is coming off knee surgery and his status for fall camp is a bit unclear. Regardless, he’s expected to compete for a starting job this fall.

More or less, this projection is what was expected, though it is interesting that PFF is willing to make the somewhat bold prediction that Cisco and Tufele will be Day 1 starters as rookies. Jacksonville will hope this group is enough to be much more competitive on the field in 2021.

How improved is the Dolphins’ starting lineup versus 2019?

How improved is the Dolphins’ starting lineup versus 2019?

What a difference a year makes. The Miami Dolphins are now just two days away from the one-year anniversary of the team’s opening game of the 2019 season — a 59-10 defeat at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens. That Ravens game kickstarted so much of the angst and criticism against the Dolphins for their ambitious rebuilding efforts, but now that the team is on the other side of that painful year there’s little doubt Miami had a vision in mind.

You don’t need to look any further than just how much better this team’s starting lineup projects to be in 2020 versus that opening game against the Ravens. Let’s take a look at who returns as a starter and how much better off Miami is in each phase of the game.

Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Offensive Skill Players

Here is the starting skill group versus the Baltimore Ravens on September 8, 2019:

QB: Ryan Fitzpatrick
RB: Kalen Ballage/Kenyan Drake
WR: DeVante Parker
WR: Preston Williams
WR: Albert Wilson
TE: Durham Smythe/Mike Gesicki

And the Dolphins’ projected starting skill group for Week 1 of 2020 versus the Patriots:

QB: Ryan Fitzpatrick
RB: Jordan Howard/Matt Breida

WR: DeVante Parker
WR: Preston Williams
WR: Jakeem Grant
TE: Mike Gesicki

This group is pretty much chalk. Newly acquired WR Lynn Bowden Jr. and fellow rookie Malcolm Perry loom as depth pieces early on this season but the Dolphins generally speaking did the least work on the skill group (aside, of course) of adding QB Tua Tagovailoa with a top-5 pick and addressing the running game. Miami’s backfield has more depth than it did a year ago and more persistent production than what Drake could produce.

Updated Miami Dolphins starting lineup forecast for Week 1

Updated Miami Dolphins starting lineup forecast for Week 1

What will the Miami Dolphins’ starting lineup look like when the team takes the field in Week 1 to face off against the New England Patriots? We’re still a few weeks away from finding out — but at the very least we have a week’s worth of practice reports to base our impressions on and attempt to thread the needle.

Based on all the action coming out of Davie, here is our best forecast for what the starting lineup will look like in Week 1 against the Patriots.

Offense

QB – Ryan Fitzpatrick
RB – Jordan Howard
WR – DeVante Parker
WR – Preston Williams
WR – Jakeem Grant
TE – Mike Gesicki
LT – Austin Jackson (R)
LG – Ereck Flowers
C – Ted Karras
RG – Solomon Kindley (R)
RT – Jesse Davis

Notes: QBs Tua Tagovailoa and Josh Rosen have had their moments — but neither appears overly poised to unseat Fitzpatrick, who is currently taking a leave from the team to tend to a personal matter. 2020 rookie OT Robert Hunt hasn’t been bad according to reports, but Solomon Kindley has made a big impression early on and the Dolphins may end up being apprehensive about starting two rookies side by side to open the season. Fellow rookie Austin Jackson has been reported to have his moments and the offense doesn’t appear to be “too big” for him — he’s held his own well and has much more upside than you’ll find with his challenger, Julien Davenport.

What an all-Wisconsin Badger NFL offensive starting lineup would look like

The rosters of all 32 NFL teams are starting to round into form as we await the return of football to our day-to-day lives. There aren’t…

The rosters of all 32 NFL teams are starting to round into form as we await the return of football to our day-to-day lives.

There aren’t many college programs out there than can boast having 36 players on NFL rosters at this point in the offseason like Wisconsin can, and in 2019 the program ranked No. 12 in the list of the colleges most represented on 2019 NFL rosters.

But Badger fans know that many of the former Badgers in the NFL today are along the offensive line, at running back or at linebacker.

Well, believe it or not, the school currently has representation at every position excluding punter and kicker.

Today we decided to put the best names together and create an all-Wisconsin Badger NFL offensive starting lineup. Here is the result.

(Tune in tomorrow for the defensive edition)

 

Quarterback: Russell Wilson

NFL: NFC Divisional Round-Seattle Seahawks At Green Bay Packers
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) drops back to pass against the Green Bay Packers in the third quarter of a NFC Divisional Round playoff football game at Lambeau Field. Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Talk about a layup. Not only is Wilson the only former Badger at the position in the NFL but he is a Super Bowl champion, six time Pro Bowler and no-doubt future Hall of Famer.

Though he was only in Madison for one season, the Ohio native led the Badgers to a Big Ten championship, a Rose Bowl appearance and arguably the school’s best season in the last decade.

He now is on a Seattle Seahawk team that has made the playoffs seven of his eight years as the starter and by all accounts should have won back-to-back Super Bowls in 2013 and 2014.

Up next are Wilson’s backfield running mates.