Fans clamor for Russell Wilson’s return to starting duties, NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky states that WR is the fix for the offense, not QB.
The offense stepped through a proverbial time machine against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. Gone were the spectacular performances the unit showcased in Weeks 3 and 4, replaced by the anemic, low-scoring offensive game plan from Weeks 1 and 2.
Speaking on ESPN’s Get Up, NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky seemed to hit the nail right on the head: Pittsburgh has a big problem—an offensive problem. However, Orlovsky believes benching Justin Fields is the wrong decision to make.
The fix that Orlovsky speaks of is a rather simple one, but it’s being made complicated by Mike Tomlin. Rookie WR Roman Wilson has practiced in full the past two weeks but continues to be designated inactive when game time rolls around. Tomlin, in response to Wilson’s inactive designation, stated “It’s difficult to get on a moving train,” but it’s clearly a loyalty issue.
If an NFL analyst noticed it, maybe Tomlin has too. Van Jefferson is not the number two guy in this offense, and Calvin Austin hasn’t proven it either. It’s time to get Roman Wilson a helmet.
T.J. Watt will have to wait until Week 5 against the Cowboys for a shot at history, after being shutdown by Braden Smith in Week 4.
There is no singular reason why the Pittsburgh Steelers lost their matchup against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4. All facets of the offense and defense had their struggles, including the great T.J. Watt, who was looking to become the second-fastest player to achieve 100 career sacks.
On 30 passing plays by the Colts, the Steelers managed to sack the quarterback a measly two times. Watt, unfortunately, wasn’t involved in either of the two.
Braden Smith, who was initially questionable to play in the contest versus Pittsburgh this week, made Watt a complete non-factor in the game, just as he did in 2022.
However, let’s not get it twisted, Steelers Nation. T.J. Watt is still one of the greatest defensive players in the NFL today and will look to bounce back to achieve history in Week 5. The entirety of Pittsburgh will shoulder the loss, and look to rebound against a tough matchup at home against the Dallas Cowboys next week.
Is it time to hit the panic button on the Steelers’ touchdown efficiency, or is it a product of game-script?
The Pittsburgh Steelers made headlines in Week 1 as the Steelers pulled off an unthinkable form of victory: 18 points scored with zero touchdowns to show for it. Week 2’s victory improved upon this concern, but barely, as the Pittsburgh Steelers scored only one touchdown in the first quarter. There is genuine concern for the Steelers’ lack of touchdown efficiency, but there is a possibility that this is an overreaction as well.
Regarding the concern about a lack of Pittsburgh touchdowns, one can simply see the statistics and shudder: two games, 31 points scored, 15.5 points per game, and Boswell’s leg accounting for 12.5 of those.
But how much of this is truly game script and necessity? The Steelers want to control the time of possession, which results in a boring, but controlled game. This has worked out for them thus far, holding the football for 35:36 against Atlanta’s 24:24, and again in Week 2 with a possession time of 32:19 against Denver’s 27:41.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will look to answer these offensive questions as they prepare for the toughest offense they have faced yet: the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3, who have scored over 20 points in their last two contests.
Some golfers are known to incorporate mindfulness, meditation and religious practices into their routine.
It’s no secret that travel takes a toll on the body. If you add a week of walking, four days of tournament play, practice rounds, driving range time and workouts for weeks on end, the mind and body will have to work overtime to recover.
For example, Jon Rahm forces himself to exercise after a long plane ride.
“If you have time and [access to] a gym or whatever it may be, get a little bit of exercise in,” Rahm said. “It doesn’t need to be crazy. It could be 30, 40 minutes of just some kind of stretching or whatever to get the blood
flowing a little bit more so your body can just naturally recover and get things moving.”
The physical demands of golf tournaments are extensive. This includes long days often jam-packed with physical activity. With the long weeks of back-to-back travel, some golfers simply can’t maintain a true routine of non-negotiables such as managing nutrition and lifting in the gym.
Golfers have to adapt to various time changes, societal norms, diets and cultures in different states and countries. For example, a United States-based golfer will likely often fly to Europe, which can present as much as a nine-hour time difference. Let’s say that particular country does not prioritize breakfast or it’s harder to get their hands on common U.S. essentials, their body only has a couple of days to adapt to these changes.
Jon Rahm plays his shot on the first hole fairway during the first round of The Genesis Invitational golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Professional golfers employ numerous strategies to recover physically and mentally while on the road.
They may engage in specific exercises or work with a trainer to ensure they maintain strength and flexibility. Adequate sleep, hydration and rest are all a huge priority to ensure physical and mental cognition.
Yes, they get to travel to some amazing destinations, but many spend the majority of their time in their room to recharge before and after their rounds.
And some golfers at various levels even have part-time jobs to pay for golf tournaments and expenses. It is a constant grind on and off the course for them.
To address mental and emotional recovery, some golfers are known to incorporate mindfulness, meditation and religious practices into their routine to manage stress and stay focused.
Golfers may also seek the support of sports psychologists or engage in activities that help them relax and unwind.
Additionally, collegiate golfers are managing just as much as the professional level, but their life includes college classes on the road.
Playing a round of golf is at least four hours of mental and physical strain plus the warm-up and post-round practice. Many collegiate tournaments have 36-hole days, equating to nine-plus hours of golf in a day. Having to complete essays, math and other tasks is nearly impossible on the day of a tournament.
Golf has many layers that go into the preparation and performance of the sport, but managing it properly can be the ticket to success for many.
#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes explained his struggles in the second half of Week 17: “I lost my mechanics in that second half.”
If you look at the box score following the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 17 win over the Denver Broncos, you might think that Patrick Mahomes had a great performance. Watching the game, you’ll have known that he looked off at times, distinctly at the start of the second half.
The Chiefs deferred the opening kickoff and got the ball to start the second half. Mahomes began with six consecutive incomplete passes over three offensive possessions. It was the most consecutive incomplete passes he’d thrown in a single game all season long. He was missing some routine throws and struggled with timing on the deep ball.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Mahomes provided an explanation for what went wrong in the second half.
“I feel like my feet got bad there in the second half and then I missed the deep throws whenever they were there,” Mahomes explained. “And so, when you’re playing a defense like this, whenever they give you opportunities you have to execute on them and I didn’t today. I took what was there and did a lot of good things as far as moving the chains that first half and the second half I just missed a lot of throws which I have to hit.”
There was some question about whether Mahomes was dealing with some sort of injury after he came up limping, but he says that didn’t affect him at all. He struggled to get his feet into the right spot in the pocket and found himself throwing off his back foot or not being able to reset his feet while he was on the move.
“No, I don’t know if it impacted it at all,” Mahomes said. “It’s just my mechanics. I lost my mechanics in that second half, and I was trying to find a way to get back into them. I think you saw even in some of the completions – at least I felt like my feet weren’t in the right spot. I was kind of throwing off my back foot and I think that whenever I get in that mode is whenever I can struggle so I have to be better at kind of correcting that stuff in game.”
“Yeah, I mean it’s hard,” Mahomes said. “When you’re out there live (and) people are flying around you but I just have to be better at stepping up in the pocket, finding that soft spot in the pocket and then making the throw. I think even the last one to Marquez (Valdes-Scantling) on the sideline, that’s a throw I’ve thrown a million times and leaving it short. I told him to get to the sticks and to go out right there at the sticks and then I was the one that threw it short of the sticks so just have to be better. I have to be better about hitting those throws whenever they present themselves.”
At the end of the day, it might be a good thing that these issues popped up late in the season. It’ll give Mahomes an opportunity to work on getting back to the basics with his mechanics and footwork ahead of the playoffs.
Stafford’s excellent play in the first two quarters of games has been overshadowed by second half struggles.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford has played a key role in the Los Angeles Rams’ success since joining the team last season, and has shown to be particularly adept at getting his squad in a position to win early in their games. After completing seven of his seven attempts against the 49ers on the Rams’ first drive, he managed to put together what would have been a stellar performance had it not been for a late interception.
The team’s struggle to score points was a function of his second-half play, which left something to be desired. Stafford is still a high-level starter for Los Angeles, but will need to clean up some of the inefficiencies that have plagued him this year. Some might attribute his struggles in 2022 to a “Super Bowl hangover,” but it is unclear if last season’s accomplishments are playing any factor in his current situation.
Head coach Sean McVay would be wise to center his offensive attack around the running game, and find a way to shore up the patchwork offensive line that kept Stafford under duress in all four quarters. Though it may seem to be an easy conclusion to blame his issues in the passing game on the play of the linemen that protect him, Stafford has dealt with worse over the course of his career, and his inability to compensate is all the more concerning.
Next week, Los Angeles will be tasked with playing against the Dallas Cowboys who may have starting quarterback Dak Prescott back in the mix to lead their offense. Stafford will need to be prepared for a shootout against the likes of Prescott, receiver Ceedee Lamb, and superstar running back Ezekiel Elliott.
With a week of sound game planning and a strategy that plays to the Rams’ strengths and minimizes their weaknesses, Los Angeles should be able to achieve a more positive outcome than they did in Week 4.
After some optimism, there is always room for pessimism. Here are five reasons Texas will continue its struggles during the 2021 season:
Texas fans have been in this situation before. An offseason full of expectations, hype, and wishful thinking. Then, once the season begins, disappointment and downright embarrassment take place. Since the 2010 season, it has been a constant cycle.
Steve Sarkisian has taken over and will be hoping to change the narrative surrounding the program. It will be easier said than done, especially with how the Big 12 opponents are expected to fair this season.
After some optimism surrounding Sarkisian’s first season, there is always room for pessimism. Plenty of problems are still in front of Texas, even with the newfound hope. Here are five reasons Texas will continue its decade long struggles during the 2021 season:
Favored by 23.5 points, OSU was expected to take care of business against Tulsa. However, they continued the trend of the Big 12 struggling.
Week 1 of the college football season was not kind to the Big 12, with Iowa State, Kansas, and Kansas State all losing to non-Power Five opponents. Going into Week 2, Oklahoma State was the only conference team with a game scheduled against Tulsa.
Favored by 23.5 points at home, the Cowboys were expected to take care of business in a rather easy manner against the Golden Hurricanes. However, Mike Gundy’s squad continued the trend of Big 12 teams struggling early in the season.
To begin, redshirt sophomore Spencer Sanders exited from the game early in the first quarter with a high ankle injury. From there, transfer Ethan Bullock took over but mightily struggled, going eight of 13 with 41 yards and an interception.
Oklahoma State’s offensive line was a major liability as well, allowing six sacks. On the ground, the Cowboys averaged 3.0 yards per carry, seeing Tulsa players in the backfield all night.
Late in the third quarter, it all began to click offensively for Oklahoma State with third-string quarterback and true freshman Shane Illingworth. Star wide receiver Tylan Wallace finally got involved in the passing game, having four catches for 94 yards, all in the second half.
Step 1: Throw deep to Tylan Wallace Step 2: Profit
Defense is where Oklahoma State excelled on Saturday. The most eye-opening stat is Tulsa’s third-down conversion rate, which was 0%. The Golden Hurricanes were out of sorts all night with 15 penalties for a total of 120 yards.
Although they pulled away late in the second half with a 16-7 scoreline, Oklahoma State will have major questions before their Big 12 opener against West Virginia on Sept. 26.
First, is Sanders going to be able to start next week? Bullock did not provide much spark and having a true freshman in Illingworth make his first start would be risky.
Once the quarterback is figured out, offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn must figure out how to get running back Chuba Hubbard back to his normal self. Instead of declaring for the NFL Draft, Hubbard decided to stay in Stillwater for another season.
He ended with 93 yards and a touchdown but on 27 carries for 3.4 yards per carry. It broke his 11 game streak with at least 100 yards. He was not the same explosive player we have become accustomed to. Due in large part to the defensive effort by Tulsa.
Dubbed as a dark horse to win the Big 12 championship, Oklahoma State will have to answer questions before facing Texas on Oct. 31 and Oklahoma on Nov. 21.
