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2018 Post-Draft Rookie Rankings
Updated: May 11th 2018
I'm feeling a bit bittersweet today. After months of research, statistical analysis and film watching this will be my last post about the 2018 rookie class. You'll be in capable hands with the rest of our RSO writing crew but I can't help but feel sad about losing "my guys." I'm looking at you Anthony Miller and Rashaad Penny. I had been a casual college football writer for years, and a fan for much longer, but the 2018 class was the first that I went truly deep on. Alas, I will probably feel the same about the 2019 class this time next year. Speaking of the 2019 class, expect to see content rolling out starting in June. I have compiled a watch list of 150 players from the FBS to Division III. I will release conference previews in the Summer, along with a way-too-early mock draft. I will also unveil a Madden-like grading system I devised as a way to quantitatively compare players across levels and positions. Before all of that though, let's take one last look at my 2018 rookie rankings. These were updated after the NFL Draft and I have also included a write-up about some noteworthy players. Enjoy!
#3 – Nick Chubb, RB, Browns
I have vacillated on Chubb's ranking more than anybody else at the top of my rankings. Earlier in the year I had Chubb and Derrius Guice alternating as my RB2/RB3. Immediately after the draft I bumped Chubb down to RB4 (1.04), behind Ronald Jones, due to concerns about playing on a poor Browns team that has a crowded backfield. The more I thought about it though, I decided I'd rather have Chubb because I think he's a better player and will earn ample opportunity early enough in his career to warrant the 1.03 pick.
#5 – Rashaad Penny, RB, Seahawks
It was hard not to have Penny rocket up my rankings after he went 27th overall to the Seahawks. It felt like a confirmation of everything I saw and loved during the 2017 season. I tempered my excitement though for two reasons. First, Penny's struggles as a pass protector are well known and I fear this could limit his touches to start his career. Second, the Seahawks have a weak offensive line (ranked 27th by PFF after 2017) that will test even Penny's elite evasion. I was also building some return game work into Penny's valuation but now that he's a first round draft pick I doubt there's any chance he gets to return kicks.
#6 – Calvin Ridley, WR, Falcons
#7 – DJ Moore, WR, Panthers
I'm sticking to my guns here. I have had Ridley as my WR1 throughout the season and I still don't feel he has done anything to change that for me. Moore certainly impressed at the combine more so than Ridley but it's not like Ridley looked like Orlando Brown out there. Moore was a victim of a poor passing game at Maryland, but you could say the same about Ridley who was rarely featured. Moore will get a lot of early targets as the lead receiver in Carolina but I'd rather have Ridley's fit in Atlanta with a top passing offense. Julio Jones will dictate coverage which should leave Ridley and his superb separation and route running skills wide open.
#20 – Bradley Chubb, DE, Broncos
#21 – Josh Rosen, QB, Cardinals
Chubb and Rosen come in as the first of their position in my rankings. IDP and QBs are always tough to rank because they are so heavily dependent on league settings and scoring. In general, for a typical RSO IDP league, I think that taking your first IDP near the second turn is a good bet; same with quarterbacks in a 1QB league. If you're in a league featuring high IDP scoring or in a Superflex or 2QB league, you'll need to push these guys higher by about a round. Similarly to Ridley, Chubb joins a unit where he won't be the focus and can prosper. I'd be buying shares of the Broncos in team defense leagues, boy are they going to rack up the sacks. Rosen was the fourth quarterback taken in the NFL Draft but I think he should be the first off the board in your fantasy draft because he has the best combination of short-term opportunity and supporting cast in my opinion. Darnold and Allen may see the field just as soon but they won't be throwing to Larry Fitzgerald, David Johnson and Christian Kirk. Mayfield is the wildcard if he beats out Tyrod Taylor, who the Browns spent a 3rd round pick on in a trade, because the Browns skill position players look intriguing if they all stay healthy and out of trouble.
#39 – Lorenzo Carter, OLB, Giants
I have a man crush on Lorenzo Carter. He's a quick and lanky edge rusher who also showed the ability to drop into coverage late in the season. He'll probably start as a situational pass rusher but the Giants will soon find that they found a gem in Carter. If you're playing in an IDP league you can probably get Carter later than 39th overall but I wouldn't chance it. Take him in the third round, stash him on your bench and be the envy of your league this time next year.
#45 – Ito Smith, RB, Falcons
Like Carter, Smith is a sneaky late round pick to stash on your bench. He'll be lucky to find 50 touches in 2018 behind Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman but once Coleman leaves in free agency, Smith will fall into a fruitful timeshare. Smith ran for 1,100+ yards each of the last three years while catching 40+ passes. Smith is strong and thick with powerful leg drive. I rated him as a B+ blocker in his class so despite his short stature he isn't a liability in pass protection. Smith will be the type of back who earns 75% of his fantasy production in the last two minutes of each half. He'll come on the field for his mix of receiving and protection and stay on the field while the team runs the hurry-up.
#48 – Equanimeous St. Brown, WR, Packers
#49 – J'mon Moore, WR, Packers
I'm not very high on either of these Packer receivers but one of them is going to emerge, it's just a matter of which one does. There were rumors that St. Brown fell in the draft because of his "diva" personality which shouldn't really come as a surprise to anybody who has done any research about his family. That pedigree and promise is what garnered St. Brown buzz the last two years – it certainly wasn't his on-the-field production. Moore is shorter, lighter and slower but put up two solid seasons at Mizzou in 2016 and 2017 (60+ receptions, 1,000+ yards, 8+ TDs). I wouldn't recommend drafting either player, you're better off waiting to see which one hits and then scramble to the waiver wire, but if I had to pick I would go with St. Brown for his superior physical attributes.
#50 – Mason Rudolph, QB, Steelers
I like Rudolph as a speculative third round pick in Superflex and 2QB leagues. While Ben Roethlisberger has been squawking about the Rudolph pick, let's not forget that just a year ago he was considering retirement. I don't think it's a mistake that the Steelers brass decided to draft James Washington and then pair him with his college quarterback. There's also a chance that Rudolph gets playing time in the short-term due to an injury to Big Ben. Ben has only played a full 16 game season three times in his 14 year career. If you happen to get two games out of Rudolph in 2018 when your own starter is hurt or on bye you'll already be ahead of the game value-wise.
#64 – Josh Sweat, DE, Eagles
Josh Sweat is another IDP sleeper of mine. Sweat may not get much opportunity early in his career but he had first round talent and physicals but was available later due to his injury history. The stories about his knee injury are pretty gnarly so I would not recommend spending much draft capital on him but if you're in a deep IDP league and looking for a long shot, he's your guy.
#80 – Richie James, WR, 49ers
So you're saying there's a chance? The 49ers offense is an enigma at the moment. As a Jimmy G owner, I'm excited for what he showed late last year but I am concerned about who he'll be targeting this year. Pierre Garcon will be back from injury but he's old. Marquise Goodwin is back too but he's nothing more than a complementary player in my opinion. The door is open for somebody to emerge and Richie James has as much of a chance as anybody else on the roster. James had two uber productive seasons to start his career: 107-1,334-8 and 105-1,625-12. He lost most of 2017 to injury but is healthy now and reports are that he played well at the team's first mini camp. You'd have to be in a pretty deep league to consider drafting James but once you get past WR15 it's a crap shoot anyway.
Film: 2019 NFL Draft Database by @CalhounLambeau, youtube.com (but be wary of highlight only reels)
Podcasts: ESPN's First Draft, Strong as Steele with Phil Steele, The Audible by Football Guys (specifically episodes w/ Matt Waldman), UTH Dynasty, Draft Dudes
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2018 NFL Mock Draft: Part II, Picks 17-32
If you have not already read Part IV of my mock draft, please start there so you can start at the bottom and follow through to the beginning. Part IV includes detailed notes about my methodology and process. You can then move on to Part III and then finally to Part I once it is posted. An important note to remind readers is that this mock draft was compiled on March 30-31 so please keep the timing in mind as you read in case there are trades or free agent signings in the interim.
#32 – Eagles – Orlando Brown, T, Oklahoma
If Orlando Brown didn't attend the combine he would have been drafted higher. Instead, he did participate and promptly became the butt of many jokes on #DraftTwitter. The reason for the hate was just how unathletic Brown looked. He ran a 5.85 40 yard dash, had a 19.5″ vertical jump, a 82″ broad jump and 14 bench reps – all worst at the position. On the field though, Brown has been lauded with accolades throughout his career. He was a 2017 consensus All-American and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy. In 2015 and 2016, he was named to various awards lists as well. The Eagles have added to the defense in the offseason, trading for DE Michael Bennett and CB Daryl Worley, so I think it makes sense to go offense here, specifically the line. Starting tackles, Jason Peters and Lane Johnson are good but are not always available. Peters is 36 and has a long injury history, meanwhile Johnson has already been suspended twice for PEDs in his short career. Nobody should have been surprised that Brown is not an elite athlete, just watch some tape, but the hate has gone too far. He's 6'8″ and 345lbs and you can't teach size. The fact that he's played 40 career games and is not an injury risk is just further reason to take him here and benefit from the discount his awful combine created.
#31 – Patriots – Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
The Patriots love to go defense with their first pick and have done so every year, except 2011, since 2006. In that range, there were two high profile LBs taken, Jamie Collins and Jerod Mayo, so we know the Patriots aren't averse to drafting the position high. Vander Esch was uber productive in the Mountain West this season (141 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 INTs, 4 forced fumbles) but really only has one year of experience as a starter because of a redshirt and a season mostly lost to injury. If Vander Esch returned to school in 2018 and put up similar numbers, I would expect him to jump into the first half of the first round. Instead, he'll sneak in here and unsurprisingly, the Patriots will find value with a late first round pick.
#30 – Vikings – Connor Williams, T, Texas
In most years, Connor Williams probably wouldn't warrant being the third tackle off the board but this is not the strongest class (similar to last year where only two were taken in the first round). In 2016, Williams was a consensus All-American, improving on a freshman season that earned him freshman All-American honors. In 2017, however, he only played in five games due to injury. At the combine, Williams measured in as one of the smallest tackles so it's possible that teams may try to move him inside. Regardless of whether he deserves to be a first rounder, I think the Vikings will feel the need to add to their offensive line to help protect their new franchise quarterback, Kirk Cousins. Centers Frank Ragnow or James Daniels are probably the best lineman on the board at this point but the Vikings are already set at the position with Pat Elflein. Chalk this one up to team need rather than BPA.
#29 – Jaguars – Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
Evans is a versatile linebacker who started his career as a pass rusher and has since transitioned inside. He played very well down the stretch when the Tide needed him to be the primary inside backer due to injuries to Shaun Dion Hamilton and others. Over his last six games, Evans had 8+ tackles in five of them. Adding Evans to a starting linebacking corps of Telvin Smith and Myles Jack is almost unfair to the rest of the AFC South. Evans has a lot of potential and I think he would fit right in with the ethos of the Jaguars defense.
#28 – Steelers – Mike Hughes, CB, UCF
Per Spotrac.com, the Steelers have yet to resign four DBs from 2017's squad. They did bring in safety Morgan Burnett from the Packers but they still need more depth. Mike Hughes is an interesting prospect. He started his career at UNC but was suspended after an alleged assault at a frat party. After leaving UNC, he became a JUCO All-American and ended up at UCF where he shined in 2017 as a junior with 49 tackles and 4 INTs. Hughes also contributes on special teams where he ranked top five in both kick return and punt return average. In addition to his one interception return touchdown, he also returned two kicks and one punt for scores. The Steelers ranked near the bottom of the league in both kick and punt return average in 2017. So, even if Hughes is unable to unseat Joe Haden or Artie Burns as a starting corner, he could add value as a nickel and a return man. The Steelers tend to use their starting receivers as returners, but it might behoove them to protect both Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster and let somebody else handle the kicks.
#27 – Saints – Mike Gesicki, TE, Penn State
I really struggled with the Saints pick here at #27. I considered local edge rusher Arden Key from LSU but decided he wasn't worth the pick. I also considered Mason Rudolph, the next best quarterback on my board, as the heir apparent for the aging Drew Brees. Gesicki was my other choice but part of me didn't want to put two tight ends back-to-back. Once my mind flashed to Jimmy Graham back in the day with Brees and the Saints, I was sold. Gesicki is an incredible athlete and labeling him as a tight end might be a misnomer because he's not a good blocker and will serve primarily as a receiver. Gesicki's 2017 output at Penn State, 57 receptions for 563 yards and 9 TDs, is better than all three of the Saints' 2017 tight ends combined. The Saints did re-sign TE Benjamin Watson for a second stint which also made me hesitate with this pick. Watson missed all of 2016 with an achilles injury but rebounded with a 61-522-4 line in 2017 as a 36 year old with Baltimore. Watson is not going to factor into the team's plans past this season (neither will Coby Fleener whose dead cap number drops next offseason), so it's not crazy to think that they target another weapon for Brees.
#26 – Falcons – Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State
Dallas Goedert is now my top ranked TE in the class. At various times over the last year, I have had Mike Gesicki and Hayden Hurst in that spot but I've become enamored enough with Goedert to push him up. His usage in college reminded me of Travis Kelce with the Chiefs. The team made a concerted effort to get the ball in his hands in creative ways to showcase his plus athleticism. At worst, he's an average blocker when compared to the other top prospects at the position. That means he should be able to see playing time early in his career. I like the idea of adding him to the Falcons' 8th ranked passing offense. I doubt the team is ready to give up on 2016 draft choice Austin Hooper, but combining Goedert with Hooper could shore up the only weakness of this offense.
#25 – Titans – Sam Hubbard, EDGE, Ohio State
Hubbard is my highest rated edge rusher left on the board. His stat line of 42-13.5-7 is not amazing but that's mostly a factor of playing on Ohio State's dominant defensive line where he shared snaps with a number of future pros. Hubbard played as a 4-3 end so it remains to be seen how he would fit with the Titans and new coach Mike Vrabel. Like Matt Patricia, I expect Vrabel to adopt more of a multiple scheme rather than locking into a 3-4 or a 4-3, even though DC Dean Pees prefers a 3-4. The Titans have spent heavily on former Patriot players Dion Lewis and Malcolm Butler, perhaps no surprise given Vrabel's history in New England. The relationship between Bill Belichick and Ohio State's Urban Meyer and Greg Schiano is well known. Since Vrabel has already shown a desire to create Patriots South with his free agent signings, I'll bet that he continues that in the draft and targets a player who will be vouched for by two trusted coaches.
#24 – Panthers – Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa
The Panthers traded starter Daryl Worley to the Eagles for WR Torrey Smith so they currently have a need at the position. Jackson led the nation in 2017 with 8 INTs, including five combined against top Big Ten foes Ohio State and Wisconsin. He has tremendous ball skills (he also had 18 pass break ups). Jackson is a converted receiver, hence the ball skills. Jackson played better in run support in 2017 as a full-time starter, totaling 48 tackles. The Panthers passing defense finished in the bottom half in yards per attempt, yards per game, interceptions and average rating so adding somebody like Jackson is a no-brainer.
#23 – Rams – Lorenzo Carter, EDGE, Georgia
(Editor's note: The Rams traded this pick to the Patriots as part of the Brandin Cooks deal. Cowper is upset because it likely means that whatever chance his beloved Lorenzo Carter had as a first rounder are dashed. Cowper doubts whether the Pats will hold the pick but if they do, they may be hoping to grab a falling LT) This pick is my biggest reach of the first round but I love Lorenzo Carter. I introduced my readers to Carter in Week 4 when I said that he could ultimately end up with a first round grade. He put up good numbers this year: 62 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries. He put up even better combine numbers, running a 4.50 and broad jumping 130″ at 6'6″ and 250lbs. That was the fastest time and longest jump for anybody 6'5″ and 240lbs or bigger. I was pleasantly surprised to see Carter used in coverage at times down the stretch in 2017 so I don't think he is limited just to situational pass rushing. In time, I think he can be an every down linebacker who has exceptional length and speed.
#22 – Bills – James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State
The Bills have spent heavily on the WR position recently. They traded for Kelvin Benjamin and used a second round pick on Zay Jones in 2017. Going back a bit further, they used a first rounder on Sammy Watkins in 2014 and a second rounder on Robert Woods in 2013 – neither of which is still with the team. The recent disturbing video of Zay Jones has me thinking that the Bills will need to invest another high pick on a wide receiver. Having two first rounders makes it a bit easier to do so. If they do, I think they should grab Washington instead of Courtland Sutton. Sutton is a big bodied receiver who would be too similar to Benjamin. Washington is basically a running back playing out wide. He has good speed, excellent acceleration and is a former high school track star. He lacks the size and strength to fight for contested balls but his quickness means he rarely has to if the quarterback can hit him in stride. Once he has the ball in his hands, he has good vision in the open field and often breaks big plays (he averages over 20 yards per reception for his career).
#21 – Bengals – Kolton Miller, T, UCLA
The Bengals offensive line unit is largely a group of no-name guys. Unless you're a masochistic Bengals fan, you probably wouldn't recognize any of the names on their depth chart, maybe aside from Cordy Glenn who was just acquired in a trade. The Bengals allowed 40 sacks in 2017, ranking them in the bottom half; their running backs averaged just 3.6 yards per carry, ranking them third worst. Adding Miller instantly upgrades the unit. The NFL.com scouting report on Miller describes him as an "average athlete." He rejected that notion at the combine where he finished third or better among tackles in the 40 yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, 3-cone and shuttle. Oh, and did I mention that he came in at 6'9″ and is the tallest prospect in the class?
#20 – Lions – Harold Landry, EDGE, Boston College
New Lions head coach Matt Patricia will not run a set 3-4 or 4-3 scheme, instead he will adjust based on the matchup as he did in New England. Because of this, he will need edge rushers who can get to the quarterback regardless of their alignment. Landry fits the bill. He played as a 4-3 end at BC but he has the speed and quickness to rush from a stand-up position in a 3-4 (at the combine he had the fastest shuttle and second fastest 3-cone among DE/EDGE). In true Patriot fashion, the Lions would be getting a discount on Landry because he would have been taken higher if he came out last year after a 16.5 sack junior season. Instead, he missed time in 2017 with an ankle injury and when he was on the field he was less effective.
#19 – Cowboys – Will Hernandez, G, UTEP
The Cowboys offensive line has been a strength of the team after they spent first round picks on linemen in 2011, 2013 and 2014. The Cowboys also took a chance on La'el Collins who was a first round talent but went undrafted due to off the field concerns. Collins and 2014 first rounder Zack Martin are a formidable duo of guards but I still want the Cowboys, my favorite team, to add to the offensive line. Hernandez is the best lineman on the board at this pick so I would take him even though the team has two young starting guards. Since that 2014 pick of Martin, the Cowboys have only used two draft picks on offensive lineman (a 3rd and a 7th in 2015) so it's time to reinvest in the position. Similar to how the Travis Frederick pick in 2013 disappointed Cowboys fans, myself included, this pick is not sexy but it would go a long way to keeping Dak Prescott and Zeke Elliott healthy.
#18 – Seahawks – Marcus Davenport, EDGE, UTSA
This is the third time I picked Davenport in this mock draft. I second guessed the first two and replaced him with a different player. When I got down here to the Seahawks I felt it was a perfect pick even with Harold Landry still on the board. The Seahawks defense is in flux and two big name defensive linemen, Michael Bennett and Sheldon Richardson, won't be there in 2018. That opens the door for a prospect like Davenport to come in and be part of the new look Legion of Boom. Davenport is a raw prospect but is very athletic for his size. When compared to other DE/EDGE prospects at the combine, he excelled at the 40 yard dash and the broad jump while putting up respectable numbers in the vertical and bench press. Davenport had a 55-17.5-8.5 line this season as a stand-up rusher. What convinced me that the Seahawks would pounce on somebody like Davenport was researching their "Leo" position. As I learned, Pete Carroll plays a modified 4-3 that features one defensive end "standing up or with his hand in the ground, and [his] sole focus is to be the primary pass rusher and wreak havoc in the backfield." That sure sounds like Davenport to me when you watch his highlights. I don't think he will be an every down player in the NFL early in his career but he will flash enough to get noticed.
#17 – Chargers – Isaiah Wynn, G/T, Georgia
Wynn is a versatile offensive lineman whose future in the NFL is likely at guard but he could see action at tackle or center as well. He bounced between LT and LG at Georgia but is too small to start as a LT in the NFL on a regular basis. I believe he would be a good target for the Chargers because of his versatility. Both of the Chargers' projected starting tackles, Russell Okung and Joe Barksdale, are 30 years old. Okung has been placed on the IR twice in his career while Barksdale missed multiple games last year with a foot injury. New C/G Mike Pouncey has a history of hip injuries and played a full season last year for the first time since 2012. When you Google "Mike Pouncey injury," one of the results trumpets the fact that the hip injury is not career-threatening. Well, that's encouraging. Last year's second round pick, G Forrest Lamp, missed his entire rookie season after an ACL tear. What I'm driving at is that the Chargers will very likely need to juggle their offensive line this year and having somebody like Wynn who could fill a number of roles would be tremendous. Both tackles also have smaller dead cap numbers for 2019, so maybe the Chargers can groom him, despite his smaller size, to be the team's starting RT for 2019 and beyond.
Draft info and mocks: draftcountdown.com, nfldraftscout.com, walterfootball.com, mattwaldmanrsp.com, draftek.com, ndtscouting.com
Posted in Featured, Scouting & Personnel | Tagged connor williams, dallas goedert, fantasy football, featured, harold landry, isaiah wynn, james washington, joshua jackson, kolton miller, leighton vander esch, lorenzo carter, marcus davenport, mike gesicki, mike hughes, mock draft, nfl draft, orlando brown, rashaan evans, sam hubbard, will hernandez | Leave a reply
The Watch List: Bowl Game Previews, Part III
Updated: December 21st 2017
Welcome to The Watch List, a resource to help RSO owners identify the storylines, players and matchups from the college game that deserve your attention. To view my weekly picks, follow me on Twitter @robertfcowper. During the college bowl season, The Watch List will continue to update you on who is fantasy relevant and worth your draft capital next year. Note: times listed are Eastern.
Independence Bowl, Florida State (6-6) vs. Southern Miss (8-4), 1:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Florida State: 78th scoring offense, 92nd passing offense, 84th rushing offense; 34th scoring defense, 35th passing defense, 33rd rushing defense
Southern Miss: 48th scoring offense, 47th passing offense, 40th rushing offense; 40th scoring defense, 24th passing defense, 28th rushing defense
"Buzz, your girlfriend, woof." That's how I'm feeling about this one. Florida State just barely managed bowl eligibility after a late season makeup game against UL-Monroe. They lost pro prospect QB Deondre Francois in the season opener and struggled with freshman James Blackman under center since. They also lost head coach Jimbo Fisher who, mistakenly in my opinion, abandoned Tallahassee for College Station. FSU will be playing the Independence Bowl without another potential pro: safety Derwin James. James has decided to skip the bowl in order to preserve his NFL Draft stock; expect James to be in consideration for a Top 10 pick in April although he was surpassed by Alabama's Minkah Fitzpatrick as the top defensive back prospect. If you're looking for a reason to tune in to watch the Seminoles, check out freshman RB Cam Akers, WR Auden Tate and CB Tavarus McFadden. McFadden will likely come out but his stock has definitely been dented by the team's subpar season. McFadden himself disappointed too going from 8 INTs in 2016 to zero in 2017. He's not great in run support (just 27 tackles this season) so he needs to remind scouts that he has ball skills. Akers has been streaky this season but I would attribute that more to poor quarterback play than anything else. He finished the season with a strong game against UL-Monroe (117 yards, 2 TDs) to give him a solid 931-7 line for the year; interestingly, he has not had a reception in the last three games. Tate has just 60 receptions, 873 yards and 13 TDs in his career (35-464-7 this season) but is still an NFL Draft prospect because of his size (6'5″ and 225lbs) and ability to make contested catches.
Southern Mississippi is led by JUCO transfer QB Kwadra Griggs. He has 15 TDs to just 2 INTs plus 2 rushing TDs. Griggs started the year sharing the starting role and suffered a hand injury but since a dismal game against Tennessee he has played well (722 yards, 7 TDs, 0 INT). I'm a big fan of South Miss RB Ito Smith. He's undersized at 5'9″ 195lbs but he's durable (50 career games). He's a true three down back because he is a good receiver (36 for 370 and 2 scores this season) and a good pass blocker (94.6% pass blocking efficiency per Pro Football Focus). Back in Week 8, I predicted that Smith might be the 2018 version of Kareem Hunt and Tarik Cohen for fantasy owners: an underappreciated prospect whose pass catching skill ensures he gets on the field early in his career.
Despite my love of Smith, FSU just has the better athletes. Prediction: Florida State
New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Iowa (7-5) vs. Boston College (7-5), 5:15 p.m. (ESPN)
Iowa: 68th scoring offense, 89th passing offense, 94th rushing offense; 20th scoring defense, 50th passing defense, 38th rushing defense
Boston College: 82nd scoring offense, 115th passing offense, 24th rushing offense; 36th scoring defense, 31st passing defense, 102nd rushing defense
No team influenced the College Football Playoff picture more than Iowa did with their blowout of #5 Ohio State. If it weren't for that loss, the Buckeyes could be playing for a national championship. The Hawkeyes are led by three guys who will be playing on Sundays next year: CB Joshua Jackson, LB Josey Jewell and RB Akrum Wadley. Jackson offers solid run support (47 tackles), has good instincts when the ball is in the air (7 INTs, 18 passes defended) and is incredibly clutch. In the two biggest games Iowa played this season, against Ohio State and Wisconsin, Jackson combined for 6 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass defended, 5 INTs and 2 return touchdowns. One of those interceptions against Ohio State was an OBJ-esque one-hander; another was a hard fought battle with the receiver where he had the strength to rip the ball from the receiver's hands. Those two games established him as a Top 10 CB heading into the 2018 draft. Josey Jewell enjoyed an equally impressive season that buoyed his draft stock. Jewell has 120+ tackles in three straight seasons and is the conference's #2 career tackler since 2005 (when www.sports-reference.com/cfb started tracking the record). Jewell also set career highs for tackles for loss, sacks and passes defended on his way to being named the 2017 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Jewell trusts his instincts and play recognition which allows him to be the first to the hole or the ball carrier on most plays. RB Akrum Wadley leads the offense. He went over 1,000 yards again this season (1,021) but his yards per carry did decrease from 6.4 to 4.4. He's also a factor in the passing game with 62 receptions, 644 yards and 6 TDs over the last two years. In my 2018 fantasy draft positional rankings I had Wadley at RB9 and would expect him to stay in the RB8-12 range when I update in the offseason.
Boston College's best weapon is freshman RB AJ Dillon, other than that the cupboard is pretty bare on offense. Starting QB Anthony Brown is out for the rest of the season (and wasn't particularly effective anyway). Career backup QB Darius Wade had his best game of his career in the season finale against Syracuse: 16-20, 248 yards and 1 TD. Because of Brown's ineffectiveness, the Eagles don't have a WR of note (the leading receiver was Kobay White with 32-396-4). Dillon has gained 1,432 yards (#2 in the ACC) on 268 attempts (#1 in the ACC). Oddly, he doesn't have a single reception; he had the most carries of any FBS back without a single catch. Dillon has a rare combination of size (6'0″ and 240lbs) and speed (4.55 range coming out of high school) that compares to Leonard Fournette's combine measureables. Dillon has a way to go before we're considering him for the NFL Draft but I'm optimistic. Unfortunately, DE Harold Landry likely will not play in this one. Landry will be a first round pick in the Spring but his stock has decreased due injury and decreased production.
Despite them having the same record, I don't have a doubt about this one: Iowa is the better team. Prediction: Iowa
Foster Farms Bowl, Purdue (6-6) vs. Arizona (7-5), 8 p.m. (FOX)
Purdue: 97th scoring offense, 55th passing offense, 83rd rushing offense; 18th scoring defense, 85th passing defense, 30th rushing defense
Arizona: 6th scoring offense, 110th passing offense, 3rd rushing offense; 110th scoring defense, 122nd passing defense, 89th rushing defense
In late October, it would have been tough to predict these two teams matching up in the Foster Farms Bowl. Arizona was 4-1 in the conference (6-2 overall) and looking like a serious contender for the division. Purdue meanwhile was 3-5 and coming off their third straight loss. The fortunes for both teams changed though from that point forward. Arizona lost three of their last four while Purdue won three of four. So, here we are.
Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm was one of the many coaches in the running for Tennessee's opening. Brohm stayed put and used the courting as a bargaining chip to get a better contract. Brohm has used a two-quarterback rotation throughout the season featuring David Blough (1,103 yards, 65% completion percentage, 9 TDs, 4 INTs) and Elijah Sindelar (1,730 yards, 55.6% completion percentage, 14 TDs, 6 INTs). Blough suffered a serious knee injury against Illinois on November 4 and will not factor in here. In the three games without Blough, Sindelar has thrown the ball a ton: 126 attempts. In those three games he has 7 TDs and just 1 INT. Sindelar's best game came against #25 Iowa when he went 22-37 for 229 yards and 3 TDs. Hindsight is always 20/20 but maybe if Brohm stuck with Sindelar all season they could have been better than 6-6. The Boilermakers have a quartet of backs with 250+ yards each, the leader of which is junior Markell Jones (480 yards, 1 TD, 11 receptions). On defense, Purdue is led by LB Markus Bailey. Bailey is a redshirt sophomore and likely doesn't have enough hype to come out in 2018 but if he continues to improve we'll see him drafted in 2019 or 2020. This season Bailey has an impressive stat line of: 78 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 1 INT, 2 passes defended, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery.
Arizona has two players that I wanted to highlight: QB Khalil Tate and CB Lorenzo Burns. Burns is a redshirt freshman so he's not draft eligible but his stats caught my eye. He has 75 total tackles which is a lot for a corner. He also has 5 INTs which led the PAC-12. Tate took over the starting role in October and led the team to four straight victories. He's not the best passer but he's efficient enough to keep the offense on the field until he can make a big play with his legs. Tate threw for more than 200 yards just once this season and averages about 150 yards per game. Amazingly, he actually has more yards rushing (1,353) than passing (1,289) on the year. He has 9 passing TDs and 12 rushing TDs. Tate's biggest game of the year came against Colorado when he racked up 327 yards rushing and 4 TDs. Something that is worth noting: Tate only has 60 total rushing yards over the last two regular season games. I did not watch him in either contest so I cannot say whether it was due to scheme or maybe he has a minor injury.
This game is a toss-up for me so I'll take the team featuring the best player on the field and that will be Khalil Tate. Prediction: Arizona
Texas Bowl, Texas (6-6) vs. Missouri (7-5), 9 p.m. (ESPN)
Texas: 61st scoring offense, 36th passing offense, 95th rushing offense; 31st scoring defense, 108th passing defense, 6th rushing defense
Missouri: 10th scoring offense, 14th passing offense, 35th rushing offense; 96th scoring defense, 110th passing defense, 61st rushing defense
The Texas Bowl features two former conference foes in Texas and Missouri. The teams last faced off in Big 12 play in 2011 before Mizzou left for the SEC; Texas leads the all-time series at 15-4 (not that it matters, these players were all in middle school, but it's just interesting to see teams matching up with so many prior meetings in a bowl game). Despite the teams having a combined 13-11 record, I found quite a few interesting storylines to research.
Texas started the season with sophomore QB Shane Buechele as the starter but they have gone back and forth between him and freshman Sam Ehlinger due to injury. Neither guy has been great: they combine for 3,153 yards, 16 TDs and 11 INTs. Based on the raw passing stats, Beuchele is the better play in the bowl game but Ehlinger offers a dimension as a rusher (364 yards, 2 TDs). Since the start of bowl practices, both quarterbacks have reportedly been getting first team work. My money would be on Ehlinger since he was the primary passer in the team's last two games (66 attempts to Buechele's nine). WR Colin Johnson will be the main target no matter who is under center. Johnson is huge (6'6″ 220lb) but just a sophomore so thankfully he'll have another season to improve before hearing the siren song of the NFL Draft. Johnson has 79 receptions, 1,050 yards and 5 TDs so far in his career – not amazing but encouraging given the struggles of the Texas offense the last two seasons. The Longhorn running game is a mess. Ehlinger is actually the team's leading rusher by both attempts and yards, although he's not very efficient as he averages just 3.5 yards per attempt. Chris Warren, a big and bruising back who was slowed by injuries early in his career but looked promising, changed positions mid-season and is now transferring. Freshman RB Daniel Young finished the season as the lead back with 58 rushes for 238 yards and 2 TDs over the last four games. Leading the defense is LB Malik Jefferson who is one of the nation's leading prospects at ILB. Jefferson has 110 tackles this season. Jefferson flashed in my eyes when playing against Sam Darnold and USC early in the season (he had 11 tackles and 2 tackles for loss). He had six double-digit tackle games on the season and added four sacks. Jefferson measures in at 6'3″ and 240lbs with a projected speed of 4.72 per NFLDraftScout.com. Similar size and speed comps include a number of key IDP players: Sean Lee, Kiko Alonso, Blake Martinez and Nick Vigil. Phil Steele's preview magazine listed him as the #1 ILB for 2018 while NFLDraftScout.com has him listed as their #2 ILB in Jefferson's 2019 class. Chances are that he comes out and that he is a Top 15 pick.
Missouri's season has been one of streaks. They started the season with a loss over FCS also-ran Missouri State then lost five straight then won six straight. Stories of the team's turnaround all point to head coach Barry Odom as the rock that keep the team on track despite the struggles. I don't know Odom from Adam but it seems that the players love and respect him so that's what matters. Throughout Missouri's winning streak, I continually wanted to spotlight QB Drew Lock but I never got the chance. Lock is a three year starter who has improved on his stats year over year. In 2017 he finished the regular season with 3,695 yards, 43 TDs and 12 INTs. His completion percentage could be better (just 58.2%) but there is enough potential there to consider him as a draft prospect. Lock is listed at 6'4″ and 225lb and will run in the 4.80-4.90 range at the combine should he declare. Unfortunately, there aren't many good comps in that size range, the best likely being AJ McCarron. McCarron did not produce like Lock has though. Lock led the SEC this year in attempts, yards and passing touchdowns (he also led the FBS in passing touchdowns). I'll do more research and film study on Lock in the offseason if he declares, for now he's definitely a player to watch. Lock's top target is WR J'Mon Moore. In three years with Lock throwing him the ball, Moore has totaled 151 receptions, 2,389 yards and 21 TDs. His production in 2016 and 2017 was nearly identical, essentially 60 receptions and 1,000 yards. Moore won't be a draftable WR fantasy rookie but could get late round NFL Draft consideration because of his height (6'3″).
I think Texas' defense will outperform their 108th ranking and that they'll slow Lock enough to keep the game close just not close enough. Prediction: Missouri
Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman, Virginia (6-6) vs. Navy (6-6), 1:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Virginia: 101st scoring offense, 42nd passing offense, 126th rushing offense; 67th scoring defense, 14th passing defense, 80th rushing defense
Navy: 49th scoring offense, 128th passing offense, 2nd rushing offense; 84th scoring defense, 86th passing defense, 58th rushing defense
Since I was using Sports-Reference.com's "Rivalry Finder" tool to look up the Texas/Missouri matchup I figured I might as well check out Virginia/Navy as well since that felt like a natural rivalry given the geography and military connections (it's no coincidence the Military Bowl picked either team when given the chance). Turns out that the teams have met 33 times in their history but not since 1994. For what it's worth, Navy leads the "rivalry" 23-10.
Navy is coming off a tough loss to Army on December 15 so there could be a bit of a "hangover" in this one. Even aside from the Army loss in the snow, the Midshipmen have been cold as of late, winning just one of the last seven. As most casual college football fans know, Navy, like the other service academies, runs a rush heavy triple-option offense. So, it's no surprise to see Navy with two 1,000+ yard rushers (and another at 500+). What might be surprising is just how often the quarterback keeps the ball, eschewing his two other options. Junior QB Zach Abey leads the team with 1,325 yards rushing and 14 TDs (plus 805 yards and 7 TDs passing). Abey missed time during the season with both a concussion and a shoulder injury. In his stead, sophomore QB/WR Malcolm Perry emerged as the primary playmaker. If you watched the Army vs Navy game, you'll no doubt remember Perry. Perry is not a threat to pass (just two attempts) but he is electric with the ball in his hands, so much so that when Abey was healthy Navy got Perry involved as a a receiver (13-303-2) and as a kick returner (24.5 yards per return). Even if Abey is fully healthy, expect to see more of Perry.
Bronco Mendenhall's Cavaliers improved significantly after a 2-10 campaign last season. It's the first time UVA has been bowl eligible since 2011 and just the second time in a decade. Leading the offense is senior QB Kurt Benkert. Honestly, I did not know Benkert's name to start the season but he had enough success this year (3,062 yards and 25 TDs) that he's been getting some buzz. I have not watched Benkert's film so the bowl will be a good introduction against Navy's mediocre pass defense. Benkert's favorite target is the versatile Olamide Zaccheaus. Zaccheaus has 80 receptions for 833 yards and 5 TDs while adding 182 rushing yards and a rushing score. Earlier in his career he also returned kicks and even threw a touchdown pass in 2015. He's the type of player that offensive coordinators love scheming for. On defense, UVA features two mid-round NFL Draft prospects in LB Micah Kiser (132 tackles, 5 sacks this season) and S Quin Blanding (120 tackles, 4 INTs this season). Both players are mutli-year starters who have nearly 900 career tackles between them. Kiser and Blanding will be key against the Navy rushing attack. In their November 11 matchup, Virginia held the Georgia Tech triple-option offense to just 220 yards. Just 220 yards you ask? It may sound like a lot but it's the fourth lowest total of the season for Tech, so Virginia's defense played well considering. In that game, Kiser had 18 tackles while Blanding had just three but added an interception.
This one may be a home game for Navy but I believe UVA has the better athletes all over the field. Prediction: Virginia
San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl, #16 Michigan State (9-3) vs. #18 Washington State (9-3), 9 p.m. (FS1)
Michigan State: 106th scoring offense, 77th passing offense, 67th rushing offense; 23rd scoring defense, 30th passing defense, 5th rushing defense
Washington State: 42nd scoring offense, 2nd passing offense, 129th rushing offense; 47th scoring defense, 9th passing defense, 41st rushing defense
It's not quite the "Grandaddy of them all" as Keith Jackson would say, but this Big Ten vs PAC-12 matchup is a good one. I'm a Michigan and Rutgers fan, a Big Ten apologist and huge Rose Bowl fan. My favorite pieces of memorabilia are a program and press pass from the 1998 Rose Bowl when Michigan won a share of the national championship; I found the pieces in a used bookstore in Ann Arbor, bought them immediately and had them framed. So, you can see I'm a sucker for a Big Ten vs PAC-12 matchup. I'll call this one Rose Bowl Lite.
Michigan State's mediocre offense is led by QB Brian Lewerke and RB LJ Scott. Lewerke is a redshirt sophomore who is starting for the first time this season. He has 2,580 yards, 17 TDs and 6 INTs plus 489 yards rushing and 5 rushing TDs. Lewerke finished mid-pack in the conference in most passing statistics so he's solid but he's not on the level of recent Spartan QBs like Conor Cook and Kirk Cousins. Scott started the year with some hype but he mostly disappointed. In my early 2018 rookie mock draft, I had Scott as my 2.05; I had him ahead of other backs like Sony Michel and Ronald Jones who are definitely ahead of him now. A running back of his size should see more TDs because of his utility near the goal line. In 2016 Scott had just 6 TDs and he duplicated that output in 2017. That's just not good enough. Scott did injure an ankle during the season but he was actually dressed and active for the Michigan game that he supposedly missed due to the injury. I didn't believe this when I first read it while doing my research but Scott was arrested in October for his seventh charge for driving without a valid license. That is staggering. I don't know Scott and don't want to cast aspersions but how can you be so irresponsible? Either get your driver's license right or stop driving. If Scott is convicted, which I doubt would happen but who knows, he could face jail time. Oh, I forgot to mention that despite being the primary ball carrier in each of his three years, Scott has failed to break 1,000 yards in a season. Between the poor production, a small injury concern and an alarming pattern of behavior, I am out on Scott if he does declare early. I would rather miss on him than draft him in my league and deal with dead cap if I have to cut him. On defense, Sparty's heart and soul is sophomore LB Joe Bachie. He has 94 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 3 INTs, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery on the season.
Cougar QB Luke Falk was my QB4 in early November when I did my early positional rankings for 2018 rookies. I will probably bump Falk down a bit (or more accurately, bump Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield up a bit) but that doesn't mean I am down on him. Depending on his landing spot after the NFL Draft, I would consider drafting Falk late in my superflex leagues as a stash. Falk is a three year starter at Washington State and has incredible career stats: 1,403 completions, 14,481 passing yards, 119 passing TDs, 39 INTs and a 68.3% completion percentage. Falk's stats did decrease a bit this year so that concerns me slightly but not enough to push him off my board. Falk's best attributes are his experience, size and accuracy – those traits will definitely get him drafted to be a backup behind an aging vet. Washington State doesn't bother running the ball too much (second worst rushing offense in the FBS at 71.1 yards per game) but that does not mean that RBs Jamal Morrow and James Williams are worthless. Both backs excel in the passing game with 898 combined receiving yards. The team's leading receiver is junior Tavares Martin (70-831-9) but Falk spreads the love around because five guys have 50+ receptions. One other prospect to keep an eye on, not that you could miss him, is G Cody O'Connell. O'Connell's nickname is "The Continent" and he deserves the title because he is listed at 6'9″ and 354lbs. It's odd to see such a big guard and that could be telling that he's not playing tackle. Per WalterFootball.com, one of my favorite draft resources, team sources think O'Connell will go undrafted. Reading that tempered my excitement but still how often do we get to see a 6'9″ player?
Maybe I'm blinded by my Big Ten fandom but I'm going with Sparty here. Michigan State has the better defense and is more likely to stop Washington State's offense than vice versa. Prediction: Michigan State
Posted in Featured, Scouting & Personnel | Tagged aj dillon, akrum wadley, anthony brown, auden tate, barry odom, brian lewerke, bronco mendenhall, cam akers, chris warren, cody o'connell, collin johnson, daniel young, darius wade, david blough, deondre francois, derwin james, drew lock, elijah sindelar, fantasy football, featured, harold landry, ito smith, j'mon moore, jamal morrow, james blackman, james williams, jeff brohm, jimbo fisher, joe bachie, josey jewell, joshua jackson, khalil tate, kobay white, kurt benkert, kwadra griggs, lj scott, lorenzo burns, luke falk, malcolm perry, malik jefferson, markell jones, markus bailey, micah kiser, minkah fitzpatrick, olamide zaccheaus, quin blanding, sam ehlinger, shane buechele, tavares martin, tavarus mcfadden, zach abey | Leave a reply
The Watch List: Week 13
Updated: November 22nd 2017
Welcome to The Watch List, a resource to help RSO owners identify the storylines, players and matchups from the college game that deserve your attention. To view my weekly picks, follow me on Twitter @robertfcowper. Check back throughout the season as The Watch List will continue to update you on who is fantasy relevant and worth your draft capital next year.
Note: the rankings referenced below refer to the Week 13 AP poll. CFP rankings were not yet available at the time of writing.
Heisman Update: Despite some new "character concerns" about Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield, he's still my Heisman favorite. Mayfield threw for 257 yards and 3 TDs against Kansas – solid but not standout. What did standout was Mayfield grabbing his crotch and cursing at Kansas players. The school has already announced that he will not start against West Virginia but whether that means he misses one play, one drive or one quarter we don't know. Chances are that however long the discipline lasts it won't impact his Heisman hopes. I've slightly wavered recently about who the #2 on the ballot should be between Saquon Barkley or Bryce Love. This week clinched it for me. Love went for 101 yards and a score against Cal but left early in the 4th quarter, still hampered by an ankle injury which has impacted him in multiple games. Meanwhile, Barkley racked up 224 total yards and scored three rushing touchdowns. I don't really see a clear-cut defensive player who might land on the ballot and earn a trip to New York for the ceremony. Preseason chalk favorites like Florida State S Derwin James or Alabama CB Minkah Fitzpatrick might get the nod but I would bet against them and take the field. Realistically, a dark horse defensive hopeful needs to come from a Power 5 school and have some big games in conference. I would look at North Carolina State DE Bradley Chubb as the top option. Chubb has 66 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. Most of his sacks (8.5) came in conference games (I'm including the game against Notre Dame since they are effectively ACC football members); he had three 2+ sack games against Florida State, Syracuse and Boston College. A darker-horse option might be Iowa CB Joshua Jackson. Jackson has 43 tackles, 7 INTs and 17 passes defended. The biggest reason Jackson could get a visit to NYC? His performance in two nationally televised games versus Top 10 teams (Ohio State and Wisconsin). In those two games, Jackson totaled 5 INTs and returned two for TDs against Wisconsin. As much as I'd love for my sleeper defensive Heisman pick, Ball State DE Anthony Winbush, to get a vote it's much more likely to go to a player from a Power 5 team who showed out when voters were watching.
Playoff Picture: As of this writing on Monday evening, I do not expect the CFP committee to make any changes to the Top 4. I think Alabama, Clemson, Miami and Oklahoma will still be there but I would not be surprised if Clemson and Miami flip spots. Proponents of an 8- or 16-team playoff format should really pay attention to the schedule this week and next. 9 of the Top 10 in the current AP poll will play another Top 10 team over the next two weeks. That makes all of those games playoff play-in games essentially. If Auburn loses to Alabama – they're out. If Wisconsin loses to Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship – they're out. And so on. I'm not even sure that undefeated Alabama or Miami can get by with a loss and still stay in the Top 4. The biggest knock on both teams this season has been their strength of schedule and a loss, albeit against another Top 10 team, would bump them out. My current prediction is: Alabama (over Auburn and Georgia), Clemson (over Miami), Wisconsin (over Ohio State) and Oklahoma (over TCU). I think Wisconsin lands ahead of Oklahoma because Wisconsin's win over Ohio State should rate better than Oklahoma's against TCU.
Coaching Carousel: There's a phrase used in the NFL to describe the day after the season ends when most coaches are fired: Black Monday. The FBS is coming up on it's own "Black Sunday" in less than a week so I thought it was a good time to check in on the coaching carousel. Rather than spotlighting players this week, we are going to briefly examine a number of coaches who are under the microscope. You'll drive yourself crazy trying to follow the rumors but two useful pages I came across are here and here. Why should you care? Aside from the ridiculousness of the will-he-won't-he, the impending coaching changes will greatly impact the draft stock of certain players. Some key draft prospects could decide to declare early or stay for an extra season depending on what happens with their head coach; some players, typically underclassmen, could decide to transfer and sit out a season; coaching changes could also be a factor with graduate transfers where the player doesn't have to sit out and can pick their landing spot like an NFL free agent.
Coaches to Watch
Chip Kelly, ESPN "Analyst": Kelly is probably the sexiest name that's been bandied about because of his immense success at Oregon (his failures in the NFL notwithstanding). I have heard Kelly connected to both the Florida job and the UCLA job. I'd guess that Kelly would lean towards UCLA given his PAC-12 experience but that's just a gut call. Kelly belongs in the college game so I'll be happy to see him back. Wouldn't it be fun if he signs with UCLA and convinces Josh Rosen to come back for another season? Hmm. Is a return to Oregon completely out of the question? Double hmm.
Jon Gruden, ESPN Analyst: Gruden's name has come up with Florida and also Tennessee. One of the reasons I heard that he would consider Tennessee is that his wife was a cheerleader there. The real connection is that Gruden was a graduate assistant at Tennessee in 1986. Yeah, I'm still not buying it. I will continue to believe that Gruden stays in the booth until proven otherwise. He has passed up better jobs than either Florida or Tennessee in both college and the NFL. Also, don't forget that he's never been a head coach at the college level so why start now?
Scott Frost, UCF Coach: Frost is a Nebraska alum so the connect-the-dots analysis has him going there whenever the Huskers fire coach Mike Riley. Nebraska does play in the weaker Big Ten West but I don't see them unseating Wisconsin anytime soon even with Frost. In my opinion, his best shot at playing in New Year's Six bowls is by staying at UCF for another season or two. By then he might get a shot at a true A+ job. Frost to Oregon instead of Nebraska isn't that far off either, he worked there under Chip Kelly and Mark Helfrich from 2009-2015.
Willie Taggart, Oregon Coach: Speaking of Oregon, the SB Nation article I linked to above has multiple mentions of Willie Taggart being considered for other positions. Why? Taggart is just 6-5 so far in his first season with Oregon. I like his potential as he salvaged two programs in Western Kentucky and USF but it's a bit premature to jump to another premier job for Taggart. If he does move on (or maybe is fired, who knows) I'll bet rumors about Oregon will swirl faster than Florida and Tennessee. It's fun to imagine Chip Kelly returning to Eugene or an offensive mind like Scott Frost bringing some excitement back to the Ducks. If Oregon was guaranteed to get either Kelly or Frost, I think they would part ways with the underwhelming Taggart in a blink.
Jimbo Fisher, Florida State Coach: The Seminoles are having a bad season for sure but is it bad enough for Jimbo to jump ship? I don't think so. He'll have Deondre Francois back next year and has a great young running back in Cam Akers. He'll lose some NFL talent like WR Auden Tate and S Derwin James but the cupboard is perpetually full in Tallahassee. If Jimbo leaves for Texas A&M as was speculated last week, I think it would be a big mistake. I also heard that Auburn could be a possibility for Jimbo if that job opened up. I don't see that one either. Moving into a division with Nick Saban is a good way to get yourself fired in three years.
#22 USF at #15 UCF, Friday 3:30pm on ABC: The Friday after Thanksgiving usually gives us a few good college football games but this year is a pretty poor slate despite featuring #3 Miami and #12 TCU. The game with the biggest possibility to create bowl chaos is UCF's matchup against USF. If UCF wins, they likely guarantee themselves a spot in a New Year's Six bowl as I don't think Memphis would overtake them even with the head-to-head championship win (don't forget UCF already beat them 40-13 this season so the series would be tied at 1-1). If USF wins, they put themselves back in the AAC conversation.
#9 Ohio State at #24 Michigan, Saturday 12:00pm on FOX: Simply, "The Game." Michigan is adding injury to insult now that third string QB Brandon Peters is hurt along with recently banged up RBs Karan Higdon and Ty Isaac. John O'Korn will likely be under center and I have zero confidence in him as a Michigan fan. Ohio State's QB JT Barrett has struggled in November and needs to finish his career with three strong games to get NFL draft consideration. I was encouraged to see that RB Mike Weber was back in the fold the last two weeks (162-2 and 108-2). I was high on him to start the season but have tempered expectations after freshman JK Dobbins took over the lead role. It's good to see Weber dominate again, even if in a blowout. It goes without saying but this one means a lot this season as Ohio State must have it to stay in consideration for the playoff.
#1 Alabama at #6 Auburn, Saturday 3:30pm on CBS: Stop me if you've heard this before… the Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn will be the best matchup of the weekend. I did not realize just how high powered the Auburn offense was until I started to research. They have scored 40+ points in nine of twelve games and in four straight. They are led by RB Kerryon Johnson (1,172 yards, 16 TDs) but keep an eye on sophomore Kam Martin. Martin had 83 yards and a score last week against UL-Monroe and is getting more touches with Kamryn Pettway injured. QB Jarrett Stidham continues to be efficient (68.7% completion percentage) and careful with the ball (just 4 INTs). Alabama's rush-heavy offense is still paced by the familiar names of Damien Harris, Bo Scarborough, Najee Harris and QB Jalen Hurts but there is one other player who will factor in: sophomore Josh Jacobs. Jacobs has 50+ total yards in five of the last six games and is a factor in the passing game. In those five games, Jacobs has two receptions in each game and is averaging 15.9 yards per catch with two touchdowns. If you haven't watched much of the Alabama's defense this season, now is your chance against a good Auburn offense. CB/S Minkah Fitzpatrick says he's 100% healthy now and will be a Top 5 draft pick come April. S Ronnie Harrison is also looking at a first round draft grade. If you play in an IDP league, check these two out now so you can be ahead of your opponents.
#14 Washington State at #18 Washington, Saturday 8:00pm on FOX: If the Cougars can win The Apple Cup they will earn the PAC-12 North's championship berth against USC. Washington is out of contention; if Washington wins, it means that Stanford gets the spot (regardless of the outcome of their game against Notre Dame). I don't have a dog in the fight so I'm just hoping for a good game and some good performances from the NFL prospects on the field (i.e. Washington State QB Luke Falk and Washington WR Dante Pettis). The Stanford vs Notre Dame game may actually be a better game to watch but since Stanford cannot control their own destiny, this is the one to tune into at 8:00pm.
Posted in Featured, Scouting & Personnel | Tagged anthony winbush, auden tate, baker mayfield, bo scarborough, bradley chubb, brandon peters, bryce love, cam akers, Chip Kelly, damien harris, dante pettis, deondre francois, derwin james, fantasy football, featured, jalen hurts, jarrett stidham, jimbo fisher, jk dobbins, jon gruden, joshua jackson, joshua jacobs, jt barrett, kam martin, kamryn pettway, karan higdon, karryon johnson, luke falk, mike weber, minkah fitzpatrick, najee harris, ronnie anderson, saquon barkley, scott frost, ty isaac, willie taggart | Leave a reply


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What are the best foods to choose while being a diabetic? High carb or low carb foods? Any foods that lower sugar? Want to know what sugar content your foods have? Find them in the following paragraphs.
It is very important to know the amount and the content of the food you are eating whether you are a diabetic or not.
There is an folk saying: "A sane mind stays in a sane and healthy body". So, it's better to prevent rather than to cure.
Let's start with some basics. For your information, carbohydrates are the fuel-providers for your body cells (in the form of glucose).
The major part of carbohydrates comes from food you eat; the other part is produced by your body itself (during the process of gluconeogenesis).
Controlling the proper intake of foods with a special concentration on the amount of carbohydrates consumed, will help you beat your diabetes.
Simple carbohydrates are considered those sugars found in refined white sugar, sucrose, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, dextrose, white flour, enriched flours, and so on found in ice cream, cakes, cookies, sweets, desserts, candy bars.
All these sugars can promote diabetes through a rapid raise of sugar blood level.
Complex carbohydrates on the other part, are considered starches found in entire grains, vegetables, beans, nuts, and very healthy for your body.
They are slowly digestible and provider of a constant energy to your body, and the raise of sugar blood level is very slow, avoiding spikes.
There is a list of foods that will guide you on their load in carbohydrates and fiber you should get daily.
With regards to the sweeteners, if you are used to sweeten your drinks, and cannot quit their sweet taste, check out what stevia can do for you.
There are some foods that lower sugar due to their anti-diabetic components. Garlic, onion, bitter melon (gourd), raw mushrooms, all these are recommended to improve glycemic control.
Other diabetes foods rich in fiber such as low glycemic index fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains, are encouraged to take daily, because their fiber can delay the absorption of sugars in the bowels causing slow raise in the blood sugar level.
The intake of some high carbohydrate index foods is avoided because they promote diabetes with rapid sugar blood level raise.
If you have your food guide pyramid , and also a grocery list, it would be easier to make your choice.
Next, it is also important to care about what you eat, when you eat, how often through a regular diabetes diet plan. Moreover, getting to know the food exchange can help you achieve your aim.
I would like to distinguish a particular food among foods that lower sugar: bitter melon. It is highly recommended to beat particularly type 1 diabetes due to bitter gourd's protein similar to the bovine insulin leading to lower blood glucose levels.
Cinnamon is another among specific foods that control diabetes. Cinnamon can mimic body insulin in its job in the receptors and glucose changes.
if you add jus a half teaspoon of cinnamon into your juices, coffee or to any toast or other dish per day, you would be able to control your diabetes well.
In case your blood sugar remain high, there exist other solutions, including certain diabetic supplements. However, you must be careful in choosing the right one that works for you.
You should get knowledge about the supplement you're using in order for you not to get additional problems.
Sugar-Sweetened Drinks Lead to Type 2 Diabetes!
Diabetes Diet and Foods Questions Problems ? Get Help Here.
This is the place where you can ask a question about any aspect of Diabetes Diet and Foods.
Glucose reaction to Scrambled Eggs/salt-cured bacon?


This 1984 K10 4x4 is a great example of how Chevrolet pickups earned their reputation for rugged service and great looks. With a large sum invested into it, this truck is in excellent condition mechanically with many new parts including the driveshaft, rebuilt chain drive and gears in transfer case, a refurbished front end, replaced clutch and shifter rebuilt with a Hurst kit. It has new heads, valves and springs, Upon replacing the heads, an examination determined the rest of the engine block was in good shape so it was left alone. An engine dress up kit was added to the 350 V8 and new electronic components. There is a new power steering box and pump. The interior features brand new TMI seats and mounts a mahogany steering wheel and flat black new carpet. It has LED taillights and headlights and a rock crawler style rear bumper manufactured by Chassis Unlimited in Portland Oregon with LED backup lights mounted and wired. Up front is a Royalty Core Texas Star on the grille in flat black and stainless. New manifolds and stainless exhaust with MagnaFlow mufflers and side exit. New tailgate skin with integrated license plate holder. New Rhino roll bar with LED driving lights for extreme night brightness. The body mounts have all been replaced and all work has been professionally completed. One lucky bidder will be happy to know this four wheel drive truck is a sure sale as it is being offered at NO RESERVE!


Could someone who attended the conference summarize the info presented during research sessions? Any news about clinical trials, existing ones (Prosensa, MDEX) and upcoming (Summit's Utrophin upregulation, Byglican)?
A summary would be so hard, since there was so much info! Things are moving ahead, with of course, safety at the top of this list. We had 2 hours of pharma presentations on Saturday, with positive news. I believe some presentations will be available on the site later in the month.
Any news about clinical trials other than what we already know: Prosensa's proof of principle completed, systemic delivery started May '08; MDEX proof of principle started Dec '07; Summit's utrophin upregulation scheduled to start '09.
What about MDEX/AVI systemic delivery for exon 51 (any news about their proof of principle?), Byglican, Losartan etc.???
I think we will all have specific things that we remember specifically; for me it is byglican will be in trial around the 2010-2011 timeframe with Summet's Utrophin within 18 mths. There is also Debio-025 from Cincinatti in conjunction with a Swiss lab that will be in the 2010 time frame as well. it was agreed by all that the answer is closer, but it will still be a cocktail...albeit a good one!
I was under the impression that Summit's trial will start next year. 18 months is not what they told me 2 months ago. Also, last year Justin Fallon said that Byglican will be in trials in 18 months, that is why I expected that trial to start next year also. Did he say 2010-2011 now?
It looks like Summit is planning a 2009 clinical trail.
NOVATO, CA, and OXFORD, UK, July 22, 2008 – BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq and SWX: BMRN) and Summit Corporation plc (AIM: SUMM) announced today that they have entered into an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement for Summit's novel preclinical candidate SMT C1100 and all follow-on molecules, which are being developed to treat the fatal genetic disorder Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
the good thing about utrophin upregulation, since we already have this in our system, is that the initial trial in humans can be done with healthy subjects.
We hope to have slides up in the coming weeks, I will also be working on gettting podcasts of some of the sessions as well.
Podcasts would be great. Please try and get podcasts out here.
Did I dream reading somewhere that the slides are up from the conference? I can't seem to find them on here anywhere.


An extraordinary investigation of the collective memory of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, stories of violent injustice recounted by witnesses and participants on both sides.
Palestinian testimonies collected after the second Intifada revealed a harsh daily life reality that, for Israelis, had always belonged to the "others" - the Palestinians, and hence, were denied.
A few years later, trespassing what would be taboo until then, Israeli officers who served during the Intifada told their memories. Memories of violence, of suffering, of humiliation.
The stories from both sides match. On the backdrop of local empty landscapes, an Israeli officer remembers... a Palestinian civilian remembers as well. A journey into the collective memory of Palestine and Israel takes place.