Tag: success

Dwayne Haskins’ progression in rookie season could trend into Year 2 leap

Haskins’ stats in 2019 weren’t great, but breaking down the progress he made as the season went along shows that he could be set for a leap.

Many people are looking at the start of the 2020 NFL season to see if Washington Redskins quarterback Dwayne Haskins can take the necessary steps to become a franchise-caliber player in Washington. Some think he can, noting the hard work that they’ve seen posted to social media this offseason. Others think he will continue to struggle, noting the long and arduous rookie campaign that we all sat through.

For those who think he can’t improve, however, it’s important to note the progress that Haskins made throughout the 2019 season. Though his year-end stats may have been nothing special, they were bogged down by the abysmal start that he got off to in the first few games. If you were to break it down into sections, it becomes clear that Haskins progressed nicely in his first year in the league.

Of course, all of the pieces matter, and you can’t pick and choose which stats you want to count from which games, but it’s clear that Haskins did start to find a groove near the end of the 2019 season, and the game started to slow down a bit for him. If that trend continues, then it’s fair to believe that he could make a leap in year two.

[vertical-gallery id=36000]

Opinion: Eli Manning’s complicated legacy as Giants quarterback is worthy of Hall of Fame

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The moment was symbolic and emotional, the perfect glimpse into a future that has finally become the present for Eli Manning. The legendary New York Giants quarterback had just finished what many believed would be the final …

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The moment was symbolic and emotional, the perfect glimpse into a future that has finally become the present for Eli Manning.

The legendary New York Giants quarterback had just finished what many believed would be the final post-game news conference of his career back in December, he had picked up his bag while walking off the podium and quickly exited the interview room.

Reporters and cameras scrambling in his wake, Manning hustled through a crowded MetLife Stadium hallway when he was met unexpectedly by three oncoming rushers.

The best part is what happened next: a player whose job for 16 years was to avoid such a situation did not even try to dodge them.

No. 10 took the sack, shared by his three daughters: Ava Frances, 8, Lucy Thomas, 6, and Caroline Olivia, 5. Abby, his wife, held their 10-month old son Charlie Elisha, watched from a few yards away, smiling.

That was the point where it seemed like retirement started to feel right for Eli Manning.

That day he took the final snap of a decorated career and not only left the stadium with a victory, but his family by his side – the ultimate snap shot of a football life well lived, perhaps foreshadowing even greater things to come.

Forty days later, the 39-year-old Manning will officially announce that he is retiring from the game at a news conference Friday morning.

His legacy is complicated, and the debate over his Pro Football Hall of Fame candidacy will surely continue because, well, that’s what we do with everything nowadays.

He is seventh all-time in passing yards and passing touchdowns. He has seven seasons of more than 4,000 yards passing and three with more than 30 touchdown passes.

His streak of durability is incredible with 210 consecutive starts, second all-time to Brett Favre when it ended in 2017, and he never missed a game due to injury.

He bested Tom Brady and Bill Belichick on the biggest stage in sports not once but twice, winning the Most Valuable Player award in Super Bowl XLII and then again in Super Bowl XLVI four years later.

There were those incredible highs and shake-your-head lows – Manning led the league in interceptions three times – and his career regular season record of 117-117 speaks to the mediocrity that has defined Giants football for much of the past decade.

But years from now, when Brady and Belichick are being lauded for the greatest run for a quarterback and coach combination in NFL history, just remember the part Manning has played in those legacies. That, in and of itself, is worthy of a Hall of Fame bust in Canton, Ohio.

How beloved is Manning by many Giants fans?

When you call him the greatest quarterback in the 95-year history of the franchise, somehow that is perceived as a slight because, in their eyes, he is so much more.

And in some ways, they are right.

“For 16 seasons, Eli Manning defined what it is to be a New York Giant both on and off the field,” co-owner and team president John Mara said, adding: “He represented our franchise as a consummate professional with dignity and accountability. It meant something to Eli to be the Giants quarterback, and it meant even more to us.”

The amazing part of Manning’s longevity with the Giants, and perhaps the most frustrating part, is that he was largely a myth for teammates in recent years.

Those who won with Eli were long gone, replaced by younger ones who watched him win on TV, but did not win with him.

The respect was always there, but there’s a different bond for the Giants of the Super Bowls of 2007 and 2011 and the players who have come through since.

You stay for 16 years, you’re a part of multiple generations.

Manning was present for the best and worst the Giants have been.

Hall of Famer Harry Carson suffered a similar fate with the Giants in the late 1970s, His career was almost a complete reversal of what Manning lived through: unfathomable losing early followed by greatness late that culminated in Super Bowl XXI in 1986 and the first of four Vince Lombardi trophies for the franchise.

Manning played a significant role in bringing home two of those for Big Blue.

Manning will forever be linked with Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers and Philip Rivers of the Chargers – three iconic quarterbacks drafted in the Class of 2004. All three can make their Hall of Fame case, even though Rivers is without the two Super Bowl rings Manning and Roethlisberger have won in their respective tenures.

Considering what has transpired in their respective markets, neither Roethlisberger nor Rivers would have survived New York and had the success here Manning did.

The trio ended up where they were supposed to end up.

Manning was destined for the Big Apple, and he made sure of that, his desires to not play in San Diego having helped orchestrate a draft day trade that brought the No. 1 overall pick from Ole Miss to the Giants.

“It’s easy to say the championships, and I think those are special memories,” Manning said when asked of what he is most proud during his career. “I think just the work every day, came in committed to getting better and finding ways to win games and to improve myself and improve my teammates. I’m proud of the friendships and being a good teammate to all the guys that came in here. Trying to help out anybody who needed help and work. I think the commitment was there and sometimes you got the result, sometimes you didn’t. I think I always gave myself, this team and this organization everything I had.”

Which is why Manning’s legacy as a giant among Giants will last forever.

 

Seattle’s window of opportunity may close with Russell Wilson’s prime

The Seattle Seahawks’ championship window may close if QB Russell Wilson’s prime is wasted. They must continue to build around him.

The Seattle Seahawks may be in a precarious situation regarding their championship window. Their precious franchise quarterback Russell Wilson is 31 years old and will turn 32 on the back end of next season. There is no telling how long Wilson can keep up his consistently stellar play, and time may be running out.

Following Seattle’s loss to the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round of the playoffs, the team headed into the offseason with several questions. Perhaps most notably, there are those who are concerned about whether or not Pete Carroll can elevate a team back to championship status once again.

The constant slow starts throughout Carroll’s tenure have often held the Seahawks back, even before the Super Bowl appearances. His stubborn philosophy of bringing the running game to the forefront even when it is not necessary has occasionally induced some groans although he always manages to keep the Seahawks competitive.

Carroll’s flaws have been well documented, but there may be an additional concern of exactly how many prime years Wilson has left. Particularly over the past three years, the team has relied extensively on their signal-caller to carry them to victory, but they may encounter more situations where he cannot do so in the near future.

Of course, we have recently seen quarterbacks have success into their mid-to-late 30s. Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers spring to mind. However, the future is fragile in the NFL and Wilson’s prime could end up being wasted completely if the right decisions are not made to accommodate him. There is no telling if Wilson will maintain solid production into his later years like the aforementioned quarterbacks.

If there was ever a time for the Seahawks to win, it is now. However, the Seahawks must continue to build around Wilson not just so they can try to keep their window of opportunity open for the near future, but to prepare for when Wilson has passed his prime.

[lawrence-related id=55077]

Bobby Wagner: Seahawks’ success fueled by locker room chemistry

The Seattle Seahawks’ success in 2019 has been fueled by the culture and chemistry in the team’s locker room according to LB Bobby Wagner.

The Seattle Seahawks are 10-3 and in second place in the NFC West coming off a brutal loss Sunday night against the Los Angeles Rams. However, they are still hot on the heels of the 49ers for the division lead with three games left to play, culminating in a showdown with San Francisco in Week 17.

Almost nobody expected the Seahawks to start 10-3 in 2019. There are multiple factors that have contributed significantly to the team’s success this season, including the culture in the locker room.

“I just think it shows how close of a group we are,” linebacker Bobby Wagner said last week. “When we go on the road, everybody’s connected, everybody’s together, and I think that’s what makes us a really good road team – the connection, the chemistry, especially on the defensive side because when the offense is up it’s so quiet. We’re able to communicate a lot better, we’re able to talk to one another a lot better. You can only talk to other people if you have a chemistry with them.”

Wagner said he and the other veterans got the younger players involved and mixed the position groups together to make them feel more connected – including while riding on the team bus.

“The one bus thing was just for everybody to be more connected,” Wagner explained. “Instead of separating the groups, having everybody come together, everybody preparing together, everybody coming out together, I feel like it speaks to that closeness. When you’re around the guys so much it makes you learn who you’re playing with and builds that comradery.”

Following their gut-wrenching primetime loss to the Rams, the Seahawks will seek to recover together against the Panthers in their final road game of the season.

[lawrence-related id=52403]

Mike Norvell gets No. 18 to American Athletic title game by staying true to gambling nature

The biggest play of the most important game of this historic Memphis football season was about Mike Norvell staying true to Mike Norvell. Because after he went for it when he could have padded the lead and failed, he went for it again. He dialed up …

The biggest play of the most important game of this historic Memphis football season was about Mike Norvell staying true to Mike Norvell.

Because after he went for it when he could have padded the lead and failed, he went for it again. He dialed up a trick play that was equal parts aggressive and successful. That was everything Norvell has proven to be during his four years as the Memphis head coach.

Tailback Patrick Taylor took the hand-off from quarterback Brady White, then Taylor flipped the ball to wide receiver Kedarian Jones, who then tossed the ball back to White.

Streaking down the field was wide receiver Damonte Coxie, who out-leaped a Cincinnati defender for a 46-yard touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter that pushed the Tigers' lead back to double digits.

Never mind the stakes of the situation. Never mind what conventional wisdom would have suggested. 

This was the defining blow in the Tigers' 34-24 win over Cincinnati on Friday at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, even though this roller coaster of a game was far from over.

There was still a Memphis fumble recovery overturned by replay, a 51-yard third-and-15 conversion by Cincinnati the very next play, and a touchdown to draw the Bearcats within a field goal again. There was still an interception by White and another defensive stand by a Memphis defense that was gouged at times in the first half. 

BOLD PREDICTIONS: Our experts forecast unexpected results for Week 14 

STAFF PICKS: Predictions for all the Top 25 during rivalry weekend

RIVALRY DRAMA: Five games in Week 14 that will impact the playoff race

But all of it happened because of that one play, because Norvell stayed aggressive when other coaches might not have.

It's why Memphis is now in the midst of the first 11-win season in program history. It's why the Tigers will play in their third-straight American Athletic Conference championship game and they'll get to host it next Saturday at the Liberty Bowl against this very same Cincinnati team.

It's why, ultimately, this program is just one more win away from playing in the biggest bowl game this city has ever seen. 

But that bowl game, that one last win, it won't validate Norvell. That's already done. Friday was just more confirmation.

All you had to do was listen to the thunderous "Let's go Tigers" chant that broke out with less than four minutes to go, right before Antonio Gibson iced this game with one last touchdown run.

So as Memphis went through a muted postgame celebration, it seemed like ages ago these two teams traded questionable coaching decisions in the third quarter with the Tigers nursing a 20-17 lead.

First, Norvell called timeout facing third-and-1 from the Cincinnati 15-yard-line, watched tailback Patrick Taylor Jr. lose a yard and elected to go for it on fourth-and-2 instead of settling for a short field goal. 

White's bootleg pass was incomplete and momentum was firmly with Cincinnati all of a sudden.

But Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell, facing fourth-and-1 from the Memphis 17-yard line, responded to Norvell's aggressiveness by leaving his offense on the field rather than attempt a game-tying field goal. The Memphis defense responded, stuffing Cincinnati during a second half that was dominating as the first half was worrisome. 

Another Memphis rout seemed in the offing when this regular-season finale began. Defensive back Chris Claybrooks took the opening kickoff 94 yards to the house, and Memphis made the AAC’s best defense look like every other defense it has faced in recent weeks and quickly built a 17-3 lead.

But Cincinnati proved to be up to the challenge, which should not have been, in retrospect, much of a surprise considering the Bearcats had just one loss — to Ohio State — coming into this game. There’s a reason Fickell and Norvell are both always listed on those coaching hot boards whenever a Power Five conference job opens up. 

So there was Cincinnati during a second quarter in which it methodically took apart the Tigers’ defense and got back into the game. Bearcats redshirt freshman Ben Bryant, making his first career start, completed 11 of 12 passes, dissecting the Memphis secondary during two touchdowns that took a combined 26 plays, gained a combined 165 yards and ate up 11:30 of game clock before halftime. 

By halftime, a very clear message had been sent. Getting back to the AAC championship game was not going to be easy.

Two teams playing in back-to-back weeks with a league title hanging in the balance has happened three times before, including each of the past two seasons.

In 2012, Stanford beat UCLA by 18 in their regular-season finale but needed a fourth-quarter comeback to win the Pac-12 championship game. 

In 2017, Boise State and Fresno State played twice in a row. Fresno State won the regular-season finale and Boise State came back the next week and won the Mountain West Conference championship game.

Last year, meanwhile, Middle Tennessee State and UAB went through this and it's the only time both games were played in the same location (Murfreesboro). In this instance, MTSU won the regular-season finale and UAB turned around and won the Conference USA championship game. 

Which is all just to point out that Friday's seesaw affair might not be an indication of what's to come next Saturday. 

But Norvell will still be Norvell, so you have to like the Tigers' chances. 

 

 

Chiefs hope to add to Andy Reid’s amazing record of post-bye week success

Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid is one of the most dominant head coaches in the NFL with extra time to prepare for an opponent.

The only thing that looks better on Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid than a Hawaiian shirt is extra time to prepare for an opponent.

In Reid’s 21-year career as an NFL head coach, he’s 17-3 coming out of the bye week during the regular season. Two of those losses have come when he has been the coach of the Chiefs, with the most recent loss coming in 2017 to the New York Giants. They lost that game in frustrating fashion with an overtime field goal.

In 2018, Kansas City faced the Oakland Raiders coming off a Week 12 bye, just as they will in 2019. That season they traveled to the Raiders in Oakland and they won the game 40-33. This time the Raiders will be tasked with facing the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

In 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018, the Chiefs have come away victorious with extra time to prepare for their opponent. In 2019, with the team hoping to return to the AFC championship and then the Super Bowl, they’ll need to continue their dominance following the bye week.

For the Raiders, the upcoming Week 13 game could be the difference between winning the AFC West, being a wild-card team, or even missing the playoffs altogether. You know they’ll be ready to put up their best shot against a hated rival like Kansas City.

Another cool part about Reid’s post-bye record is that it extends to the playoffs. Reid has only had a bye week in the playoffs a total five times in his 21-year NFL career. During each of those five years, he’s gone undefeated coming off of a first-round bye week.

The Chiefs really hurt their chances at a first-round bye week by dropping a winnable game to the Tennesse Titans in Week 10. There’s still a chance that they could get the first-round bye, but in addition to winning down the stretch themselves, they’ll need some teams like the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots to lose some games along the way to the playoffs.

NASCAR Betting: Ford EcoBoost 400 betting tips

The Monster Energy Cup Series wraps up the 2019 season at Homestead-Miami Speedway Sunday for the Ford EcoBoost 400 at 3 p.m. ET, and we’ll crown a series champion after the sun goes down. The four drivers eligible for the championship are …

The Monster Energy Cup Series wraps up the 2019 season at Homestead-Miami Speedway Sunday for the Ford EcoBoost 400 at 3 p.m. ET, and we’ll crown a series champion after the sun goes down.

The four drivers eligible for the championship are Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick against the Joe Gibbs Racing trio of Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. Harvick won the series title in 2014, Busch won in 2015 and MTJ won in 2017. Only Hamlin has yet to nail down a championship, but he comes in hotter than anyone.

Who is going to win the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway?

For a full-set of today’s sports betting odds, access them at USA TODAY Sports.

Harvick enters Sunday’s race with a win, 10 top-5 finishes and 16 top-10 showings across 18 career races at Homestead with a 6.6 Average-Finish Position (AFP) with 373 laps led and zero DNFs.

NASCAR’s Loop Data shows Harvick with a 124.6 Driver Rating across the past five starts at HMS while posting a 2.6 AFP. He also leads all drivers running 99.6 percent of his laps inside the Top 15.

Busch ranks fourth in Driver Rating (111.1) across the past five starts at Homestead, leading 106 laps while posting a 10.4 AFP. He has also run 87.4 percent of his laps inside the Top 15. He has had mixed results over the years at this track, posting a win with four top-5 finishes and seven top-10 results, but he has two DNFs and a 17.4 AFP in 14 career starts.

Looking to place a bet on this race or other motorsports? Get some action in the NASCAR race through BetMGM. Sign up and bet at BetMGM now!

As far as Hamlin is concerned, he has two career victories at Homestead-Miami Speedway while posting an impressive 10.6 AFP in 14 career starts. He has led 254 laps, too. Across the past five starts he has a 102.6 Driver Rating while running 92.6 percent of his laps inside the Top 15. He is just as good a bet as any to win and claim his first championship. MTJ has a 98.2 Driver Rating, and he has a 13.6 AFP across the past five stops at Homestead while running 83.3 percent of his laps inside the Top 15.

Homestead-Miami Speedway long-shot bets

If you’re looking for a non-title contender to come and ruin the party, look to Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott. He has finishes of fifth, seventh and 11th in three career starts at Homestead. While he is certainly not returning big odds, and probably could have been in the hunt for a title if not for a wreck in Phoenix last week, he might have something to prove.

Ganassi Racing’s Kyle Larson is also a non-contender looking to capture checkers. He has six career starts at HMS, turning in three top-5s and three top-10s with an AFP of 8.5 while racking up 325 laps led. He has never won at Homestead, but he has a runner-up finish under his belt.

Now that you know which drivers you should consider to bet in the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, head to BetMGM and place your wagers today.

Follow @ JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

MORE:

The NFL played Colin Kaepernick — and everyone else

SNL had Myles Garrett attack Rudy Giuliani in cold open

The LSU football team is getting credit for helping the Louisiana governor win reelection

How to Watch Cowboys vs. Lions, NFL Week 11 Live Stream, Schedule, TV Channel, Start Time

Mason Rudolph reaches decision on whether to press charges against Myles Garrett

Chris Carson is a double-edged sword for the Seahawks this season

Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson has been a double-edged sword for the team this season with high production but multiple fumbles.

Chris Carson has been a bit of a double-edged sword for the Seattle Seahawks this season. The third-year running back out of Oklahoma State has rushed for 853 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games in 2019, while chipping in 189 receiving yards for two additional scores.

However, he already has a career-high six fumbles on the season doubling his previous career-high in 2018. This could become a real concern moving forward despite Seattle’s 8-2 record.

The Seahawks may be a high-ranking team in the NFC right now, but they have had to fight for almost every one of their victories. Carson has contributed greatly to the team’s success and is their best running back by a country mile, but his ball security issues are still noticeable.

Coach Pete Carroll repeatedly preaches protecting the football, something the Seahawks were not able to do in their narrow overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday. Carson had a fumble himself, but he also provided 101 total yards and a touchdown in the matchup.

Carson’s issues began early, when he fumbled in each of the first three games of the season. After that, Carson did not fumble in his next five outings. He then proceeded to fumble twice against Tampa Bay in a contest Seattle escaped by the skin of its teeth with a win.

Carson has been one of the most important players on the Seahawks’ roster and is crucial to their offensive success. His positive contributions far outweigh the negative, but he must continue to work on his ball security to help his team win even more, especially with the tough schedule the Seahawks have over the final six weeks of the regular season.

[lawrence-related id=50976]