tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39421421043595732402024-03-20T21:30:56.245-04:00Suite SportsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2731125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-24501575648120973012020-11-18T10:23:00.000-05:002020-11-18T21:06:55.650-05:00My Dad and Sports<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8NeVMxR6tF2SadvoAbqDjgCDgXn3j8DbvxmskpjnZaFMI8JClaNbHO6SHw76nj3Q1aJRVNYeiwyx8A2ksW9M9_9QcP6wwL-isk_B8PLrg9OhXWoaGf-b2mlfbu4oyYkCbukWZJw6Ui4/s1600/1005687_10102558886932008_1822848828_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="539" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8NeVMxR6tF2SadvoAbqDjgCDgXn3j8DbvxmskpjnZaFMI8JClaNbHO6SHw76nj3Q1aJRVNYeiwyx8A2ksW9M9_9QcP6wwL-isk_B8PLrg9OhXWoaGf-b2mlfbu4oyYkCbukWZJw6Ui4/s400/1005687_10102558886932008_1822848828_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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<i>By Joe Parello (<a href="https://twitter.com/HerewegoJoe" target="_blank">@HerewegoJoe</a>)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Ed. Note- This story was originally published in September 20th, 2019, but Joe has republished it so that it appears at the top of the website.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
My dad passed away Thursday night.<br />
<br />
We all grieve in different ways, and I think did all the usual things, but honestly, after a few hours, I just wanted to zone out and watch a bad football game.<br />
<br />
Luckily, the Jags and Titans obliged me, but the game also reminded of all the sports memories I had with my father.<br />
<br />
I remembered walking two miles from our parking spot to Super Bowl XXIX in Miami, and making him buy me an Arepa from a guy in a cart along the way. I remembered walking across a bridge in Pittsburgh with him when I was in 3rd grade, after we watched the Steelers win the AFC Championship, singing with a bunch of drunk dudes that the Steelers were finally going back to the Super Bowl.<br />
<br />
I also remembered that I had this site, and that writing, though not my profession anymore, has always been cathartic. So, here we go...<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">My Dad was the Best/Worst Sports Fan</span></b><br />
<br />
Maybe it's because he grew up poor in the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh, but my dad never really mentioned his youth sports heroes, and never took pro sports particularly seriously.<br />
<br />
He was 19 when Bill Mazeroski homered in the bottom of the 9th to win the Pirates the World Series against the Yankees, but he never even mentioned to me if he watched or listened to the game, though he did have memories of my grandmother screaming when Bruno Sammartino was in trouble against some evil, non-Italian, wrestler.<br />
<br />
Still, he would always talk fondly about the 1970s Steelers teams from his 30s, most notably his favorite players, Mel Blount and Donnie Shell, the latter of which he still couldn't believe wasn't in the Hall of Fame.<br />
<br />
He also thought the Steelers should have permanently benched Terry Bradshaw for Joe Gilliam, so he definitely had some Hot Sports Takes™ in his day.<br />
<br />
My dad is the reason I root for the Steelers. I was born in Pittsburgh, but we moved to South Florida when I was still a baby. I remember the Steel City as a tough, gritty, smoggy place, where we would go to visit my grandparents, and my dad would occasionally take me to see the Steelers or the Pirates play in the old Three Rivers Stadium, or the Penguins skate in the old Civic Center.<br />
<br />
The city made me think of my parents as kids, and the toughness they had to have as the son and daughter of immigrants to make it in this country the way they did. I always liked that identity, though it was never really mine, so I pasted it onto Pittsburgh's pro sports teams.<br />
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I think my dad was mad at himself for inadvertently making me such a die-hard, because he would always tell me not to care so much, but it was too late. I had seen my teams win and felt too much of a rush (I still remember the Penguins winning the Cup when I was in kindergarten), and I had seen them lose and taken it way too hard (the 1994 AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl XXX broke me in 2nd and 3rd grade, respectively).<br />
<br />
When I was in middle school, I remember my dad basically saying, "don't you think we should root for the Dolphins now?" I was shocked, but I think it was actually his way of saying, "stop taking this all so seriously, you psycho."<br />
<br />
It took me a few years... Well, many years, but eventually I did.<br />
<br />
I became a positive (some would say "fair weather") fan, and my dad was right, it's much better. We cheered for the Steelers and the Penguins when they were winning, and watched, but didn't obsess over them when they were losing. Heck, when the Heat snagged LeBron, we cheered for them too. We were Floridians, after all, and that seemed like fun.<br />
<br />
Actually, the last game I watched live with my dad was Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals (pictured above). What an epic way to go out. The old man flew me down to Miami because one of his friends had given us amazing seats on the baseline for the biggest game in the world.<br />
<br />
With LeBron, D-Wade, Chris Bosh, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli all running around, I specifically remember that the one guy my dad noticed, oddly enough, was Chris Andersen.<br />
<br />
"Look at that tattooed guy. He just shoves that other dude every time he comes down the floor."<br />
<br />
"Yeah dad, that's Bird Man. He's a nut."<br />
<br />
"You were our Bird Man when I coached you in basketball. Every team needs a Bird Man to protect the guys who can actually play."<br />
<br />
He wasn't wrong, but more on that later.<br />
<br />
Anyways, the last game I actually got to watch with my dad is one I barely remember.<br />
<br />
My beloved Steelers were fighting for their playoff lives against the Saints last December, and we were down in Florida for the holidays. We went out to dinner with my parents, and the game was on the restaurant's bar TV in the background. I watched it from afar, and I remember the Steelers lost, but I couldn't tell you the score. However, I can remember that my dad ordered way too many appetizers for the table, and that I had an awesome meal with my parents, my sister, her husband and my wife.<br />
<br />
I'm pretty sure that's the way my dad wanted me to balance sports with life, and I'm glad I finally got there. It sure took long enough.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">My Dad was the Best/Worst Youth Sports Coach</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTENtEdW8ncvZlygZQYCk4Sk-g0HC7mxXQppPp9AuBN0YhRpH9sdJZ48fK24RDNzWC4SnILqP1xRs_DflTUVYM50IPLxabTvZ0E8lT8fUZS1TBrlFmJ9kV7JU6FqlELZcvdDDrrU62Yrw/s1600/EE6qaCTWsAInjsr.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="1600" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTENtEdW8ncvZlygZQYCk4Sk-g0HC7mxXQppPp9AuBN0YhRpH9sdJZ48fK24RDNzWC4SnILqP1xRs_DflTUVYM50IPLxabTvZ0E8lT8fUZS1TBrlFmJ9kV7JU6FqlELZcvdDDrrU62Yrw/s400/EE6qaCTWsAInjsr.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
There are no two ways about it, win percentage-wise, my dad was an awful coach. The man drew up eight plays, max, per season when he coached my youth flag football teams, and he just rolled the ball out when I played basketball and hoped somebody could score (my childhood friend Warren was basically Allen Iverson on those teams, while I was more of a Dennis Rodman, grabbing rebounds and generally bullying people, then getting out of the way on offense).<br />
<br />
Our average record was probably something like 3-7 in football and 5-15 in basketball each year.<br />
<br />
But my dad taught me so much about inclusion, compassion and dealing with adversity in those years. Before every season, the local YMCA league we played in would have a "combine" of sorts, where kids would run, catch, pass, shoot, etc. for all the coaches. Then, those coaches (usually kids' dads) would pick four or five kids they wanted on their son's team.<br />
<br />
My dad always picked the kids nobody wanted.<br />
<br />
Not only did he pick them, in football, he would literally design plays for them. If a kid dreamed of playing quarterback, we had a special play just for him to play quarterback, and my dad would ask him which throws he thought he could make, who he wanted to throw to, and what he wanted the snap count to be. I remember being in the car on the way to a game, with my dad telling me that we had to make this play work, because it would make this kid's night.<br />
<br />
Being the competitive little jerk I was, I hated this. I wanted to win, dammit, and he was out here designing plays specifically for our least athletic player.<br />
<br />
I'm not going to lie, those plays rarely ever worked, and they mostly frustrated other kids on the team. But I'll be damned if, the two or three times we got a completion or gained positive yards on one of those plays, the entire team didn't erupt and rally around a kid we had previously viewed as a liability.<br />
<br />
I'd like to think these plays taught me valuable lessons about teamwork and togetherness but, really, they taught me not to be a judgmental, condescending asshole.<br />
<br />
Honestly, it's the best thing he ever taught me.<br />
<br />
A close second was probably how to deal with losing. Every time I would complain to him that our teams always lost, he would tell me, "a win is a win, but a loss is a lesson." Being a smart ass, I would usually respond with, "we should be really smart by now, because we always lose," and he would hit me back with something like, "well, how many times do you have to get the same lesson before you learn?"<br />
<br />
The old man was right. We're all going to lose, we're all going to fail, but if you can't learn something from it, then you're just wasting your time. I wasted a lot of mine as a kid and young adult before I really saw the wisdom in this. Learn from your losses to create future wins, or it's gonna be a long season.<br />
<br />
<br />
I could go on forever with classic quotes from my dad, or goofy stories, like when he trained my little sister and me every day after school to win our elementary school's Punt, Pass and Kick competition (I won my grade, Jackie finished 3rd in hers... Good job, dad), but I'll leave it at that. The man was obviously far more than a sports figure to me, but every time I watch a game, I can't help but think that he would definitely tell this team to run the flea flicker, or that basketball player to throw up a half court hook shot.<br />
<br />
I love you dad, I'll miss you forever, and I'm excited to teach my daughter just a few of the lessons you taught me.Joe Parellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356509998054357391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-9603965733482909092020-05-06T09:09:00.000-04:002020-05-06T09:12:49.778-04:00We Need Sports Things to Talk About, So Let's Gamble on Football (if there is football)
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5N_1_ftFNsybQdYZ5NfX1Bd9AC-s6BV272FXPngeeIZAPk142qSmYatZDJVaYHxIdH8MUNF1Zl8vn7bKI8Kla-y-7EySZ2CznWdE1TPPEXfNz9Vp7EJa7eMDDgGAT4gwRKuXHTB5nqOY/s1600/Dak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5N_1_ftFNsybQdYZ5NfX1Bd9AC-s6BV272FXPngeeIZAPk142qSmYatZDJVaYHxIdH8MUNF1Zl8vn7bKI8Kla-y-7EySZ2CznWdE1TPPEXfNz9Vp7EJa7eMDDgGAT4gwRKuXHTB5nqOY/s400/Dak.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the middle of a contract dispute with the Cowboys, surely nobody would bet on Dak Prescott to win the MVP, would they?</td></tr>
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<i>By Joe Parello (<a href="https://twitter.com/HerewegoJoe" target="_blank">@HerewegoJoe</a>)</i><br />
<br />
While there are certainly more important things happening now than a lack of sports, crawling along in a sports-less desert has made many fans thirsty for ANYTHING to argue about.<br />
<br />
Look no further than ESPN's documentary series "The Last Dance," chronicling Michael Jordan's final season (and really, entire career) with the Chicago Bulls. A documentary like this would normally be very popular anyway, but it has absolutely taken over the sports social media world, and drawn millions of viewers each week.<br />
<br />
Similarly, the WNBA and NFL Draft both had their best years, in terms of viewership, in their history, and several notable players have mainstream news made waves by changing squads during NFL free agency (maybe you've heard of that Brady guy?).<br />
<br />
The dust has not totally settled, but with the draft complete, and the NFL seemingly intent on playing games without interruption, now seems like a perfect time to start some more debates and look at a few NFL futures bets.<br />
<br />
Odds for the Super Bowl, MVP and division winners have been updated, and you can find all that information <a href="https://www.sportsbettingdime.com/nfl/" target="_blank">here</a>, along with other NFL related news. There will be more updates up until NFL starts so take the current odds with a grain of salt. For the sake of this blog, I'm going to take a look at my favorite, and least favorite picks to win divisions, and the MVP.<br />
<br />
So, which bets are my Stone Cold Locks of The Quarantine? Find out below.<br />
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<b>Best Divisional Bet: Miami +900 to win the AFC East</b><br />
<br />
I mean, I don't know if I can really talk myself into saying the Dolphins actually will win the division, but you're giving me +900 in a wide-open division, where the other quarterbacks are <strike>Tom Brady</strike> Jarrett Stidham, Josh Allen and Sam Darnold.<br />
<br />
Yes, I know the Dolphins are moving forward with either a rookie Tua Tagovailoa, or Ryan Fitzpatrick. But, Tua is one of the most talented and polished rookies to come out in the last decade, and, in spurts, Fitzpatrick has <a href="https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/ryan-fitzpatrick-getting-better-with-age" target="_blank">lived up to the name Fitzmagic</a>, including last year in Foxboro, where he essentially ended the Brady-Belichick era by knocking off the Patriots, and forcing them to play on Wildcard Weekend.<br />
<br />
Basically, Miami's quarterback situation isn't a slam dunk, but is it that much worse than the other three teams in this division? Is Brian Flores, who won in spite of a tank-ready roster last season, anything less than the second best coach in a division that features Adam Gase and Sean McDermott?<br />
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Again, I don't know, but at +900, and with the Pats (+120) and Bills (+130) both giving much lesser returns, I would happily take this bet and roll the dice.<br />
<br />
<b>Worst Divisional Bet: Indianapolis +135 to win the AFC South</b><br />
<br />
Ok, riddle me this: How is reigning AFC South champion, and AFC conference finalist Tennessee at +165, while a Colts team that went 7-9, losing five of their last six, going for +135? Is it because they added Phil Rivers in free agency? Probably, as Jacoby Brissett was a serviceable, but less than explosive quarterback for Indy last season.<br />
<br />
Still, am I really willing to bet that a 38-year old Phillip Rivers, coming off a 20 interception season where his team won just five games, is the answer? I'm gonna say no, and I can't see why anyone wouldn't take the better odds and bet on the reigning division champ, with more continuity, a better defense, and more exciting young weapons.<br />
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<b>Best MVP Bet: Dak Prescott +1200</b><br />
<br />
Look, the top three guys are clearly Patrick Mahomes (+380), reigning MVP Lamar Jackson (+600) and Russell Wilson (also +600), in some order. My problem with those three are- Mahomes, while the obvious favorite, gives you very little return on investment, and took a big step back, numbers-wise, from his first season starting to his second, for a variety of reasons.<br />
<br />
While I love Lamar, you have to think defenses will have a better feel for him, both as a runner and a passer, in his second season starting for the Ravens. As for Wilson, I think he is annoyingly properly valued by Vegas, while continuing to be underrated by the average fan.<br />
<br />
I want to be clear, I don't think any of those guys are bad bets, they're actually all pegged about right. But, I love Prescott's value at +1200. Here's a guy who will either be playing a new deal and happy, or playing on the franchise tag and looking to prove something, and his stud running back is coming off back-to-back years where he carried the ball over 300 times.<br />
<br />
That likely means less touches for Ezekiel Elliot on the ground, and even more free reign to air it out for Prescott. Considering he nearly threw for 5,000 yards and 30 touchdowns last season, Dak's floor seems to be low, and with an even larger load of Dallas' offense to shoulder this season, his ceiling might just be as high as those three aforementioned favorites.<br />
<br />
Again, this pick is about value, and with twice the return of the second-tier favorites, with about the same ceiling, Dak is my guy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Worst MVP Bet: Drew Brees +1600</b><br />
<br />
Nothing against Purdue legend Drew Brees (Boiler Up!!), but he just isn't a realistic MVP candidate at this point in his career, as he transitions to more of a game manager role. Don't believe me? The Saints were one of only four teams to run the ball over 400 times last year, and ranked 20th in the league in pass attempts. Now, if Drew is healthy, I would expect those numbers to change a bit, but the fact is, New Orleans is going to win by running the ball, and when they do throw, by getting it to All-Pro receiver Michael Thomas.<br />
<br />
In fact, if any player in the Saints' passing game is poised to make an MVP run, it would be Thomas, who led the league in receptions and receiving yards last season, both by sizable margins. Just by the way his team is structured, and with so many other promising candidates getting better returns, Drew is, unfortunately, my least favorite MVP bet.Joe Parellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356509998054357391noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-12570200436787824062020-04-24T07:23:00.000-04:002020-04-25T09:59:23.999-04:00If MIAA Stars Entered the NFL Draft: 2020 Edition<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHxRbF1KMI8W2svYoYYiGe-l6o25DO1Jo3Ra6mhkYdUF9_aLgmMITUo4QX34UQyP6Z57k6_XAtD3520XIxc4n3FZRVK8bwb7WGEIWRVHsBACY0TcR4HCXChb8yg9q-HCm1WkoxSwVny4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2020-04-23+at+8.33.50+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="921" data-original-width="1600" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHxRbF1KMI8W2svYoYYiGe-l6o25DO1Jo3Ra6mhkYdUF9_aLgmMITUo4QX34UQyP6Z57k6_XAtD3520XIxc4n3FZRVK8bwb7WGEIWRVHsBACY0TcR4HCXChb8yg9q-HCm1WkoxSwVny4/s400/Screen+Shot+2020-04-23+at+8.33.50+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two-time defending Division 1 state champion St. John's Prep is well represented in our MIAA/NFL Mock Draft.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">By Matt Feld (@<a href="https://twitter.com/mattyfeld612" target="_blank">Mattyfeld612</a>)</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">With the NFL Draft officially up and running, SuiteSports is back with its annual MIAA/NFL Draft.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">If you need to get caught up, you can find our </span><a href="http://www.suitesports.com/2017/04/if-miaa-stars-entered-nfl-draft.html" style="color: #6095ca; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">2017 MIAA/NFL Draft here</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">, our </span><a href="http://www.suitesports.com/2018/04/if-miaa-stars-entered-nfl-draft-2018.html" style="color: #6095ca; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">2018 edition here</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">, and lastly our <a href="http://www.suitesports.com/2019/04/if-miaa-stars-entered-nfl-draft-2019.html" target="_blank">2019 draft here</a>.</span></span><br />
<br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">A reminder of the rules for players being taken in our MIAA/NFL Draft:</span><br />
<br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">1. The player must be a senior. I know college juniors (and redshirt sophomores) can be taken in the real NFL Draft, but that's not how our draft works.</span><br />
<br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">2. The player can be headed to prep school next year. Since we don't include ISL or other Prep School players in our draft, guys who are finishing up their MIAA careers and graduating from an MIAA school get the chance to be drafted.</span><br />
<br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">3. We're keeping our mock draft to two rounds this year, although we did throw in a simulated trade for the first time. Otherwise, the order is listed as it was heading into the first night of the NFL Draft.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">4. We are not pretending our 2017, 2018, and 2019 MIAA/NFL Drafts actually happened. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">5. Any complaints? We're all ears. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">Anyways, without further ado, here is our 2020 MIAA/NFL Draft.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Round One</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">1. Cincinnati Bengals: Will Prouty, ATH, Duxbury</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">The Cincinnati Bengals are in need of a restart and Will Prouty is the one to get it underway. His athleticism, big play-making abilities, and personality will bring new life to an NFL city badly in need of rejuvenation. Duxbury has a history of number one overall picks in our draft, with Bobby Maimaron grabbing the top spot back in 2017, so Prouty is a safe bet to lift the Bengals to contention. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" /></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">2. Washington Redskins: Ozzy Trapilo, OL, BC High</b></div>
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<b><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" /></b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">The Washington Redskins appeared to go all-in on rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins late last season, meaning that at least for now they see him as the future of the franchise. In order to help him excel, the Redskins need to shore up the offensive line and the six-foot-eight, 275-pound Trapilo should be first step in the right direction.</span></span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">3. </b><b style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Detroit Lions: Josh Atwood, DL, Natick</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">The Lions have made additions to their defense this offseason, most notably adding cornerback Desmond Trufant and linebacker Jamie Collins. Still, they need big time help on the defensive line and Atwood is the best option. The reigning Bay State Conference MVP piled up 59 tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss, and one blocked punt his senior season, making him an instant attraction for teams at the top of the draft. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">4. New York Giants: Jay Brunelle, WR, St. John's (Shrewsbury)</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">The Giants have so many needs, you could go with a variety of options here. Daniel Jones, however, is desperately in search of weapons, and there is no one better to choose in this year's class than St. John's of Shrewsbury's Jay Brunelle. Brunelle's size, physicality, and big play-making ability should instantly make him Jones' favorite target in the Big Apple. </span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">5. Miami Dolphins: Matt Crowley, QB, St. John's Prep</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">Enough of Fitzmagic. Decades after Dan Marino retired the Dolphins are still searching for the quarterback that can return them to league-wide prominence. That takes a winner and Crowley has been just that as the two-time Super Bowl champion provides the Dolphins with instant credibility. </span></span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">6. Los Angeles Chargers: Colin Schofield, QB, St. John's (Shrewsbury) </b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">After saying so-long to Philip Rivers and missing out on Tom Brady in free agency, the Chargers are desperately in need of a quarterback to jumpstart the franchise. Colin Schofield is just the one to do that, as the dual-threat quarterback should help the Chargers fill-up their new stadium with his athleticism, arm strength, and well-known track record of success making him a draw. </span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">7. Carolina Panthers: Vinnie Holmes, LB, Mansfield </span></span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">The Panthers have needs all over the place on the defensive side of the ball so this pick feels like a no-brainer. Holmes has the experience of leading a premier unit to a championship, and his leadership skills should allow him to be the centerpiece of the next great Panther defense.</span></span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">8. Arizona Cardinals: Matt Duchemin, DB, St. John's Prep</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">With Patrick Peterson set to enter a contract year, and he and Robert Alford both set to be in their 30s, the Cardinals need someone who can they rely on in the secondary should both be at the end of their tenure. Duchemin provides that, as the former Prep ballhawk possesses agility, speed, and quality hands.</span></span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (From JAX): Ethan Mottinger, OL, North Attleboro </b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">After landing Tom Brady in free agency, the Buccaneers are sure to put a premium on protecting the 42-year old future hall of famer. They trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars to move up in the draft and snag Mottinger. He is a solid place to start with the former Red Rocketeer widely considered one of the top linemen in the Bay State throughout his career. </span></span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">10. Cleveland Browns: Eamonn Dennis, WR, St. John's (Shrewsbury)</b><br />
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Another sure-fire offensive threat is heading Baker Mayfield's way. After sputtering along in 2019, the Browns are in search of more consistency out of their offense, and Dennis' ability to burn secondaries with ease should help lead to that.<br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">11. New York Jets: Declan Moriarty, OL, Barnstable</b></div>
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<b><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" /></b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">The Jets can ill-afford to mess around with Sam Darnold's young career much longer. With Tom Brady officially out of the picture this is their chance to compete in the AFC East, but the only way they'll be able to do that is by protecting Darnold. Moriarty will help them do that right out of the gate in 2020.</span></span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">12. Las Vegas Raiders: Cole Finney, TE, Hingham</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">Derek Carr and the Raiders offense are in desperate need of a number-one option and, while Finney enters the draft as a tight-end, he has all the requisite tools to become a go-to-guy. At six-foot-six, Finney can go up and get the ball with the best of them while also possessing enough speed to breakaway from opposing defenders once he breaks a tackle. </span></span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">13. San Francisco 49ers (From IND): Mason Davis, DL, St. John's Prep</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">The 49ers lost defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, and Buckner's likely replacement, 2018 seventh-round pick Jullian Taylor, suffered an ACL tear in December. Enter Davis, who was a consistent, reliable, steady presence on the St. John's Prep line for its two Super Bowl wins.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" /></span><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">14. Jacksonville Jaguars (from TB): Kyle Fitzgerald, DB, Canton</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">The Jaguars traded with the Buccaneers out of the No. 9 overall slot and as a result end up at No. 14. They are trying to rebuild what was once a dominant defense and that includes finding a replacement for Jalen Ramsey. Fitzgerald has all the tools necessary to become the new number-one corner in Jacksonville. </span></span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">15. Denver Broncos: Isaac Boston, WR, Springfield Central</b><br />
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One season after Courtland Sutton asserted himself as a Pro-Bowler, the Broncos are looking for a complement that can help them stretch the field. Boston should do the trick as his quickness and athleticism will offer a new dynamic to the Broncos offense. <br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">16. Atlanta Falcons: Nick Donatio, DB, Central Catholic</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">Since making the Super Bowl in 2018 (something about 28-3), the Falcons have been on a downward spiral missing the playoffs the last two seasons. That makes this draft crucial and cornerback is a glaring weakness. Donatio will not be a sure-fire replacement for Desmond Trufant right away, but his MVP award coming out of the tough Merrimack Valley Conference shows he has the potential to get there in the near future.</span></span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">17. Dallas Cowboys: Camden Brezinski, DL, Old Rochester</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">The Cowboys need to shore up the pass rush so Brezinski is the smart pick here. The South Coast Conference's MVP is coming off a season in which he totaled 58 tackles, 12 tackles for losses, 10 sacks, seven forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">18. Miami Dolphins (From PIT): Alec Ambrosia, OL, Shepherd Hill</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">The Dolphins took their quarterback of the future with the No. 3 overall pick, so now its time for them to give him some protection. Ambrosia provides that, as the Dudley native brings versatility at the guard and center positions. </span></span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">19. Las Vegas Raiders (From CHI): Shane Aylward, ATH, Tewksbury</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">With Aylward still on the board, the Raiders should be tempted to jump for the do-it-all playmaker from Tewksbury. The MVC Small's Most Valuable Player can be a key piece in the Raiders secondary for years to come while also providing them with a weapon on special teams. </span></span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">20. Jacksonville Jaguars (From LAR): Chris Cusolito, RB, Melrose </b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">The Jaguars need to prepare for life after Leonard Fournette and Cusolito's breakout senior campaign gives all the reason to believe he is the guy. Cusolito's speed, lower body strength, and abilities as a pass-catcher out of the backfield will make him a key asset to the Jaguars future offense.</span></span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">21. Philadelphia Eagles: Shahid Barros, WR, New Bedford </b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">Wide receiver is a position of need for the Eagles and it just so happens that a game-changer like Barrios is still on the board. Barrios' ability to get easy separation and his breakaway speed make him a steal for the Eagles at 21.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">22. Minnesota Vikings (From BUF)</b><b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">: Mahari Miller, DB, Springfield Central</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">No Mackensie Alexander, no Trae Wayns, and no Xavier Rhodes? No problem. Enter Springfield Central's Mahari Miller, whose speed, instincts, and toughness will give the Vikings an instant difference-maker in the secondary.</span></span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">23. New England Patriots: Jack Nally, WR, Franklin</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">As a new era of Patriots football begins, Jarrett Stidham is going to need all the help he can get in the early going. He already has Julian Edelman, but a player like Nally can provide Stidham with multiple options in the passing game. Nally has been one of the top route-runners in the Bay State the past two years, making him a must-get at 23.</span></span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">24. New Orleans Saints: Joseph Rivers, LB, Bishop Fenwick</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">Talk about steals! The Saints are in desperate of an athletic linebacker that can cover well, help stop the run, and provide leadership. Rivers will bring all of that and then some, coming off a season in which he had 99 tackles, three sacks, and guided Fenwick to a spot in the Div. 6 Super Bowl. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">25. Minnesota Vikings: Zachary Goodwin, OL, Catholic Memorial</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">The Vikings have committed to Kirk Cousins for the foreseeable future, so now its all about making sure he has time in the pocket to get the ball to his playmakers. Luckily for them, Goodwin is still available at No. 25 after being the glue of Catholic Memorial's offensive line the past two seasons. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">26. Miami Dolphins (From HOU): Will Klein, ATH, Abington </b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">A versatile back who can catch the ball out of the backfield and score in multiple phases of the game from anywhere on the field? Say no more at No. 26, as the Dolphins are able to provide their new franchise quarterback Matt Crowley with an elite offensive threat in Klein. </span></span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">27. Seattle Seahawks: Joe Llanos, RB, Revere</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">The Seahawks have a need at running back and there is no one better to fill it than Llanos. The Revere star raised his draft stock more than any player this past fall, rushing for 2,020 yards and 30 total scores, allowing the Seahawks to feel confident they are getting a reliable option out of the backfield. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">28. Baltimore Ravens: Brendan Tighe, ATH, Lowell</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">Baltimore is sure to take the best player available, and that looks like Brendan Tighe at pick No. 28. Tighe provides flexibility to the Ravens offense with his talents as a ball-carrier and in the passing game. The Ravens could also transition Tighe to defense should they so choose as the former MVC Offensive Player of the Year has experience at free safety. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">29. Tennessee Titans: Cooper Smith, OL, St. John's Prep</b><br />
<br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">If the Titans showed one thing this past postseason, it's that their offensive line is the heart and soul of their success. Picking Smith allows them to shore that dominant unit up even more as the former St. John's Prep standout has experience at guard and center.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><br /></span></span>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">30. Green Bay Packers: Luke Botsford, WR, Milton</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><br /></b>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">The Packers are getting tired of coming up just short as Aaron Rodgers gets older and older. Botsford will give Rodgers what quarterbacks of his stature are always looking for - another option to throw to in the passing game. Look for Botsford to also make a handful of appearances on special teams.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">31. San Francisco 49ers: Tim Landolfi, ATH, Duxbury</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">Skill may not be an ultimate position of need for the 49ers, but when a player like Landolfi is still on the board you have no choice but to select him. With Landolfi the 49ers can expect quality production out of the backfield, and are getting a player who has plenty of experience in big games. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">32. Kansas City Chiefs: Jack Nagy, OL, Amherst-Pelham</b><br />
<br style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px;" />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">The Chiefs have the luxury of having the final pick of the first round, and they use it to try and keep Patrick Mahomes protected for years to come. A 6-foot-3, 290-pound lineman, Nagy will provide the Chiefs with </span></span><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;">stability through his size and athleticism. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><b style="font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Round Two</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.850000381469727px;"><b style="font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></span></span><b style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">33. Cincinnati Bengals: Duncan Moreland, WR, Beverly</b><br />
<b style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">The Bengals used the first overall pick to draft the quarterback of the future, so its time to find him a future Pro Bowl receiver.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>34. Indianapolis Colts: Dom Cavanagh, QB, Ashland</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">The Colts did not have a first round pick in this year's draft, so there is a lot riding on their first of two second-round selections. General Manager Chris Ballard has said the Colts will not draft a quarterback unless it's the right fit. Cavanagh certainly seems to be just the one that can learn under the veteran Rivers and transition to the starting job in a few years.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>35. Detroit Lions: Andrew Landry, QB, Newton North</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">Quarterback is not a pressing need for the Lions, but they do need to start slowly thinking about life after Matthew Stafford. Landry has the size, arm strength, and presence in the pocket to be the next guy in Detroit.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>36. New York Giants: James Kernen, OL, Plymouth South</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">Daniel Jones has a new favorite wide receiver in Brunelle, so now it's about giving him some time to throw. Kernen should help do that after coming off a big year for Plymouth South.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>37. Los Angeles Chargers: Mark Kassis, LB, Central Catholic</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">After finding their quarterback of the future, the Chargers shore up the defense by adding the hard-hitting Kassis.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>38. Carolina Panthers: Jack Connolly, DL, Canton</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">The Panthers continue fortifying their defense through the draft and, with the 6-foot-3, 290 pound Connolly still on the board, this pick is a no brainer.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>39. Miami Dolphins: Ian Coffey, DB, Hamilton-Wenham</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">Coffey spent a large majority of his career at quarterback but still spent his fair share of time in the secondary. His athleticism and instincts should allow him to make the full-time transition rather flawlessly.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>40. Houston Texans (From ARI): Kelvin Davila, DB, Andover</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">The Texans are badly in need of help in the secondary. Davila seems like the smart play here.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>41. Cleveland Browns: Richard Canova, LB, Danvers</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">Canova has plenty of experience anchoring a top-tier defense. That will be welcomed in Cleveland.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>42. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jacob Nadeau, LB, Wachusett</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">Jacksonville added a number-one corner in the first round, and now turns its attention toward the front seven. The 6-foot, 215 pound linebacker provides physicality, and is quality in coverage.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>43. Chicago Bears: Barrett Pratt, QB, Catholic Memorial</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">The Bears can delude themselves into thinking Mitch Trubisky is the future all they want, but they should be preparing that he just may not be the guy. Pratt's two Super Bowl appearances are alluring to see if he can push the starter.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>44. Indianapolis Colts: Sean Waters, WR, Silver Lake</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">Its time for the Colts to find T.Y. Hilton some relief. Waters can come in, give Rivers a badly-needed second option, and provide the offense with some flexibility.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>45. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Nick Pucillo, LB, Acton-Boxboro</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">Hard to pass up on a talent like this when he is still on the board. The Defensive Player of the Year in the Dual County League, Pucillo will immediately take the Buccaneers front seven to the next level.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>46. Denver Broncos: Nick Siegelman, RB, Plymouth South</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">Siegelman amplified his draft stock with one of the best seasons in program history this fall, and that pays off here as he gets selected with the Broncos' second pick.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>47. Atlanta Falcons: Dante Vazquez, RB, Rockland</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">Falcon fans will immediately fall in love with Vazquez, as the Maurice-Jones Drew comparisons are sure to pour in right out the gate. Vazquez is as physical, tough, and as difficult to bring down as any back in this draft.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>48. New York Jets: Ryan Halliday, RB, King Philip</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">Le'Veon Bell has been totally unpredictable as it pertains to his ability to stay on the field over the last couple of seasons. Halliday will not wow anyone in New York with his speed, but he becomes the third straight back taken due to his reliability and consistency. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>49. Pittsburgh Steelers: </b></span></span><b style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">John Malloy, OL, Everett</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">The Steelers badly need help up front, and with Malloy still available at No. 49 overall, he is the right selection.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>50. Chicago Bears: Russ Canova, LB, Danvers</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">After his twin was taken earlier in the draft, it's Russ' time to celebrate also, as the Bears pick up a solid addition to their linebacking corps.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>51. Dallas Cowboys: Michael DeBolt, ATH, Mansfield</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">DeBolt was largely a kicker in high school, but his talents go well beyond that. After seeing the New Orleans Saints get creative with Taysom Hill's skill set, Jerry Jones jumps at the chance to grab a similar player that can change the game in multiple ways.</span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">52. Los Angeles Rams: Dante Bolden, LB, Springfield Central</b><br />
<b style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">There is no team in the league more in need of cheap, young talent than the Los Angeles Rams. Enter Bolden, whose high-motor, physicality, and ability to get down hill in a hurry will make a star for years to come.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>53. Philadelphia Eagles: Matt Maiona, QB, Wellesley</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Carson Wentz is no sure fire bet to stay healthy, so the Eagles have to be prepared. Maiona is a solid choice as his athleticism, arm strength, and accuracy should give him a chance to succeed at the pro level. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>54. Buffalo Bills: Ahmik Watterson, RB, Brockton</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">The Bills need a back behind Devin Singletary and it just so happens that premium talent like Watterson is right there for the taking at No. 54. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>55. Baltimore Ravens (From ATL): Jalyn Aponte, RB, Natick</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">It's a running back-heavy second round, and it was only a matter of time before Aponte heard his name called. Aponte rushed for over 2,200 yards in his career and 30 touchdowns, making him an enticing pick for anyone in the top two rounds.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>56. Miami Dolphins (From NO): Josh Brunelle, EDGE, Doherty</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">The Dolphins are going to love the fact that Brunelle fell into their laps. At 6-foot-6 225 pounds, Brunelle can line up on the edge, cover the slot, or serve as a spy. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>57. Los Angeles Rams (From HOU): Christian Gemelli, ATH, Concord-Carlisle</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">Gemelli was mainly a quarterback in high school, but his time at safety, and as the team's kicker and punter show he is someone could be of value in a variety of ways on the field. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>58. Minnesota Vikings: Qualeem Charles, DL, Attleboro</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">Charles has his sights set on his basketball career, but if the Vikings called at No. 58 I am sure they could do some convincing. Despite being 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds, Charles is incredibly quick, making him an appealing get as a potential inside rusher.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>59. Seattle Seahawks: Caleb Fauria, TE, Bishop Feehan</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">Fauria likely would have gone higher if not for an injury-riddled end to the season. At 6-foot-5, 210-pounds, Fauria can throw a block in the run-game, while his premier hands make him a prime new option for Russell Wilson when the Seahawks open it up.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>60. Baltimore Ravens: Lucas Ragusa, LB, Canton</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">The Ravens need help at linebacker and with Ragusa still available here, it's an easy call.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>61. Tennessee Titans: Clayton Marengi, QB, Lynnfield</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">Ryan Tannehill and the Titans may have agreed upon on a monster contract extension this offseason, but Tennessee is still in major need of a quality back up quarterback. Marengi can come in, push Tannehill, and be more than serviceable should he be called upon.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>62. Green Bay Packers: Matt Arvanitis, QB, Holliston</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">While Rodgers still has a few good years left, the Packers need to start thinking about the next chapter. Aravinits may not have the notoriety of our top quarterbacks taken off the board, but he has a proven track record of success as evidenced by his Tri-Valley League Offensive Player of The Year Award this past fall.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>63. Kansas City (From: SF): Brendan Cassamajor, RB, BC High</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">The Chiefs are known for their passing attack, but Cassamajor provides them with the chance to shore up the running game. A big, powerful back, the Chiefs can use Cassamajor to take the load off Mahomes and the rest of the offense.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>64. Seattle Seahawks (From: KC): Matthew LaVoie, OLB, West Brdigewater</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">With the last pick in the draft, the Seahawks snag LaVoie, a quick and athletic outside linebacker who can provide instant support for the perennial NFC contenders. </span></span><br />
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Matt Feldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02872699577357839749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-87012525297072596042020-04-22T20:23:00.001-04:002020-04-22T20:30:42.291-04:00Senior Athletes Forced To Look Ahead<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>State championship celebrations will not come this spring.</i></div>
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<i>By Matt Feld (<a href="https://twitter.com/mattyfeld612" target="_blank">@Mattyfeld612</a>)</i><br />
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Just over two months ago, March 16th was still a day spring athletes had circled on their calendars. Now April 21st is one they will forever try and erase from their memories.<br />
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On Tuesday afternoon, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced that schools - both public and private - would remain closed through the end of the school year as the state continues to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. While the MIAA has yet to formally release a statement, school closures present an end to the spring sports season before it even begins.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>The consequences will be far reaching and they will go beyond results on the scoreboard. For underclassmen it is a lost chance to pursue a passion. Whether it be baseball, softball, lacrosse, track, tennis, or rugby, hundreds of freshman and sophomores saw athletics as a way to further enhance their high school experience. Now it will be crucial for coaches and athletic administrators to stay in constant touch with these kids who signed up for a spring sport to help them stay motivated and involved when schools reopen in the fall.<br />
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From a college standpoint, juniors will feel the brunt of the blow. This is the biggest opportunity for those players to be seen, recognized, and receive interest from college coaches. Now everyone is left wondering if colleges will leave more spots open for the class of 2021 in hopes of getting a late glimpse of them when this time comes around next year or if they choose to fill them with athletes in the NCAA transfer portal.<br />
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Of course the hardest hit are the seniors.<br />
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This, for many, was their final chance to play sports competitively. Due to the amount of offers and graphics displayed throughout social media it can become easy to forget that a large majority of high schoolers never go on to play at the next level. Even for those that do, their senior year may be the final chance to compete for a league or state championship.<br />
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For seniors, however, their spring season represents more than just one last chance at a state championship. It signifies their chance to show they can be program leaders after idolizing captains that came before them. It gives them the opportunity to play with their childhood friends one final time and in front of their classmates that have come akin to next door neighbors. When graduation comes around, spring sports are their final attachment to the school.<br />
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Spring seasons are bus rides, team meals, cookouts, and celebrations after wins on warm days.<br />
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Spring sports invite complaining during practice when its 27 degrees in late March and plenty of smiles when an evening game provide the greatest atmosphere. They allow for game-winning goal celebrations, walk-off hits, photo finishes at the end of the meet, and jubilation at the end of a match. For a lucky select few they earn the right to have a mosh-pit on the mound or a pile-on at midfield.<br />
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This spring none of that will take place due to events that transpired outside of anyone's control. The end of school prematurely impacts all facets of high school life and not just athletics. There will be no proms, senior weeks, or graduations...once in a lifetime events that this group will never experience. When seniors left schools in the middle of March they never thought it would be the last time they walked the halls with the same kids they have attended school with for four, six, or maybe even 14 years.<br />
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Except if there is any generation of students prepared to handle this situation its this one. They were born in the shadows of September 11th, traveled through elementary and middle school as their families felt the plight of the Great Recession, and now find themselves exiting high school as the United States faces one of its biggest challenges of the last 100 years.<br />
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While they may not get the chance to be leaders of their athletic teams this spring, they will be the ones who pioneer the next great wave of ideas and innovation across Massachusetts, the United States, and around the world. Through the support of coaches, teachers, administrators, and the investment of elected officials this group of students will transition to college with the chance to start a new chapter.<br />
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They may not be leaders in baseball or softball, or spark a pregame huddle in lacrosse, but they will be the next big thinkers in engineering, education, government, and science. When people look back on history years down the road, this will be the group of students who helped the United States exit the pandemic stronger than when it entered.<br />
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The influence that students have on an athletic department are felt every time they put on the uniform, but their lasting legacy is created by what they do when they are away from the field.<br />
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That will never be more true than with this group who will make sure that the feelings of April 21st serve as motivation for a successful future.Matt Feldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02872699577357839749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-11043275353880443812020-04-03T21:16:00.003-04:002020-04-03T21:27:00.647-04:00Matt Feld: 10 MIAA Athletes Who Have Stood Out Amongst The Rest<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIgLalZJ4G7zXjJeBXevrCao5amw27SHARQ09WfOr0FjIHg52OPSdWkl7vuFdNtjcNuI_hYqx174gDix9NiFOTF9dX5XEJM_r5oJk7Q31TBcAfbuLDNSeRr0xesO247Keg3zGs7vRLYkO/s1600/Bowen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIgLalZJ4G7zXjJeBXevrCao5amw27SHARQ09WfOr0FjIHg52OPSdWkl7vuFdNtjcNuI_hYqx174gDix9NiFOTF9dX5XEJM_r5oJk7Q31TBcAfbuLDNSeRr0xesO247Keg3zGs7vRLYkO/s1600/Bowen.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>BC High's Will Bowen is one of the better pure athletes to come through the MIAA in recent years. A star on the football and lacrosse fields, Bowen is currently in his sophomore year at UNC.</i></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">By Matt Feld (<a href="https://twitter.com/mattyfeld612" target="_blank">@MattyFeld612</a>)</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Throughout my tenure as a high school sports writer - first with ESPN Boston, then as a member of SuiteSports and now still with the Boston Herald - I have had the honor of covering some of the top players to come through Massachusetts across all sports.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've covered Division 1 athletes, McDonald's All-American nominees, Gatorade Player of the Year Award winners, hundreds of state champions, and potential future professional athletes. There's nothing more humbling as a sports writer than turning on ESPN or FOX and seeing a player you covered back in high school facing off against some of the top college programs in the country.</span></div>
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<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the more unique aspects of high school sports, particularly here in Massachusetts, is that the players who rise to the top may not always be the most talented. The stories that grab your heart strings or make you fall in love with the game do not necessarily involve players headed for future stardom, but those who are stars right there in the moment. They may never be the top player to come out of Massachusetts, but they may just be the top player to come out of their school.</span></div>
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<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">High school athletes become unique in their own way. What draws coverage towards them may be talent, an innate ability to fill out the stat sheet, or sheer dominance. There are other reasons, however, why an athlete may see a community rally around them. Whether it be their competitiveness, candor, personality, or leadership, high school sports in Massachusetts allows players to rise to town-fame when they otherwise may be forgotten.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Over the last half decade I have had the chance to cover players who fit both these descriptions. Some players who stood out from the moment they stepped on a field as a freshman, and others who blossomed as seniors. </span></div>
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<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are 10 MIAA Athletes over the course of the last five years I have had the pleasure of covering who stood out amongst the rest.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Will Bowen, Football & Lacrosse, BC High</span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Throughout my time as a high school sports writer, there may be no better pure </span>athlete<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I've had the chance of covering than Bowen. A 2018 graduate from BC High, Bowen became well known early on due to his talents on the lacrosse field. Bowen's six-foot-three, 220-pound frame combined with his innate lacrosse abilities made him an instant dream for college coaches early in his career resulting in him committing to the University of North Carolina as a freshman.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bowen's prowess on the lacrosse field helped BC High reach a trio of Div. 1 State Titles, including taking home the crown in 2018.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was on the football field where Bowen showed his true athletic prowess. After years of being mostly a defensive oriented player, Bowen transitioned to quarterback his senior season and did not skip a beat. Using his athleticism, physicality, and speed Bowen helped BC High finish with a 10-1 overall record and a Catholic Conference crown.</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Veronica Burton, Basketball, Newton South</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></b>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you're looking for one of the more top girls basketball players over the last half decade look no further than Newton South's Veronica Burton.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A two-time Boston Herald Dream Teamer, Burton won four consecutive DCL MVPs. In her junior season, she averaged 20 points per game to go with 10 rebounds and 5.7 assists to lift the Lions to the Div. 1 South Semifinals. After that stellar junior campaign, Burton managed to do one better scoring 22 points per game while hauling in eight rebounds on average as a </span>senior<span style="font-family: inherit;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Her efforts earned her a McDonald's All-American nomination and a scholarship at Northwestern University. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Ian Seymour, </i></span><i>Baseball</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>, St. John's Shrewsbury</i></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Every time Seymour stepped on the field, you knew something special was set to happen. A true two-way player, Seymour had the ability to break the heart of opponents by himself with both his arm and his bat. On the mound, Seymour was as dominant as they came especially during his senior season. Coming from the left side he picked apart opposing hitters with a crisp fastball, a late breaking breaking ball, and a devastating changeup.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">He proved to be nearly un-hittable in every role he served, finishing games that he started with ease while also coming out of the bullpen to lock down key saves. During St. John's Shrewsbury's run to the Division 1A Super Eight crown, Seymour allowed just 11 hits over the course of two starts while </span>surrounding,<span style="font-family: inherit;"> a combined two runs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">At the plate, Seymour was equally as dangerous using a sweet left handed stroke to routinely find the gaps. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A junior at Virginia Tech, Seymour is one of the more widely regarded southpaws in the country.</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Aidan Sullivan, Basketball and Football, Scituate</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sullivan was never one of the more coveted recruits in Massachusetts, but throughout his high school career he displayed why he was one of the more respected athletes in the area.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A two-sport athlete who starred on the football field as Scituate's quarterback and in the winter as its point-guard, Sullivan elevated the Sailors to the top of the pack across both seasons. The quintessential public school athlete who a town rallies behind, Sullivan's prowess from under center catapulted Scituate to its first Super Bowl in school history in 2018. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">His efforts helped earn him SuiteSports' 2018 MIAA High School Football Player of the Year Award. Sullivan just finished up his freshman year playing basketball at Suffolk University. </span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ethan Wright, Basketball, Newton North</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Over the years, there have been an abundance of players who have left their MIAA or local high schools to pursue greener pastures on the prep circuit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wright never chose that path. Throughout his career at Newton North that spanned 2015 through 2018, Wright was one of the top players in Massachusetts combining pinpoint shooting, length, and eye-popping athleticism to be at the top of his class. Always carrying a mellow-demeanor, the Tigers six-foot-three shooting guard would wow those in his attendance with his ability to seemingly effortlessly throw down one handed dunks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He finished his career with nearly 1,850 career points and his play helped the Tigers reach the tournament all four years including a trip to the Div. 1 South Final. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wright finished up his sophomore season at Princeton in March. </span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mike Vasil, Baseball, BC High</span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is no who has captured the high school baseball landscape over the last half decade like Vasil did during his BC High tenure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Over the course of four varsity seasons, Vasil left his imprint both at BC High and throughout the region dominating nearly every time he took the mound. Vasil, who was in line to be a potential first round selection in the 2018 MLB Amateur Draft before electing to honor his commitment to the University of Virginia, finished his career with a 22-4 record and a 1.04 ERA.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Vasil impressed with his unrelenting competitiveness on the mound combined with his classy persona in dealing with fans, young kids, and media members off of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Matt Hanna, Basketball, Catholic Memorial</span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Whenever Hanna took the floor, you always knew you were going to get two things - pinpoint shooting, and competitiveness through the roof.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hanna became one of the classic, 'love em if you have em, hate em if you don't,' type players. He fired his team and fans up with big time shots and plays while making opponents frustrated with his antics that stemmed from his competitive nature. In his junior year as the team's point guard, Hanna helped guide Catholic Memorial to its first Div. 1 State Championship in program history including scoring eight straight points in the fourth quarter of the Knights State-Semifinal win over Cambridge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Over his three year varsity career, the Knights won three South Sectional Titles, went 69-7 and never lost a home game. </span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Scott Creedon, Baseball, Braintree</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Creedon became an instant sensation in Massachusetts High School baseball circles during his final two seasons as a member of the Wamps.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Over the course of the 2015 and 2016 seasons, Creedon proved to be nothing short of a workhorse taking the ball whenever called upon and delivering each time he stepped on the mound. The classic 'rubber arm,' Creedon threw deep into games regardless of pitch count and appeared to get better as the game progressed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">During Braintree's run to a second consecutive Division 1A 'Super Eight' title in 2016, Creedon went 3-0 tossing a complete game in each start including in Game 2 of the final vs. St. John's Prep. For his senior season, Creedon went 8-1 with 68 strikeouts over 69 innings pitched. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Over his three years as a varsity starter for Bill O'Connell's program, Creedon went 24-4 with a career ERA of 1.98.</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Brycen Goodine, Basketball, Bishop Stang</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I only covered Goodine for one season - one of just two he </span>spent<span style="font-family: inherit;"> at Bishop Stang - but it was within that year you could tell he was headed for stardom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A player who captured the eyes and ears of everyone in Massachusetts, Goodine spearheaded the Spartans to their only state title in school history as a sophomore. In that sophomore campaign he averaged 18.5 points a night, reaching 20 points or more in 12 games during the regular season. Over Stang's run to the state championship he averaged 21.1 points per game and drilled 15 three-pointers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Following his sophomore season, Goodine transferred to St. Andrews where he eventually earned a scholarship to Syracuse University. Goodine entered the transfer portal following the conclusion of his freshman year in March and chose Providence College as his next home.</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Matt Sokol, Football, Catholic Memorial</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the more interesting aspects of high school sports is that not every premiere athlete you come across is on the field for every snap, court for every shot, or diamond for each pitch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Being a kicker in high school football is hardly a luxurious position. They rarely get any ink, social media attention, or lore from fans despite being one of the more crucial </span>components<span style="font-family: inherit;"> of a team's fortunes on a weekly basis. Over the course of his two-year starting career, however, Sokol was an integral member of Catholic Memorial's success. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A Merrimack commit, Sokol finished his career 50-of-51 on PATs with a career long of 42 yards. </span>Matt Feldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02872699577357839749noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-43057518151708632022020-03-14T17:48:00.002-04:002020-03-14T18:00:36.036-04:00The MIAA State Championship Weekend That Wasn't
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7mP0qG8sfo9bmJ1VWfR-iOpxYLfQOJZe1X_yt0QSFIi98hoW6SORjOkzXlOLVmFzRvXt9kVkpUOJuyqoS3jt8LTccpX-n7gcE661Gb7BHwpBQ6g7EFjVXf_RXDH39q78G0b8uqsEvhYq/s1600/DSC_0582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7mP0qG8sfo9bmJ1VWfR-iOpxYLfQOJZe1X_yt0QSFIi98hoW6SORjOkzXlOLVmFzRvXt9kVkpUOJuyqoS3jt8LTccpX-n7gcE661Gb7BHwpBQ6g7EFjVXf_RXDH39q78G0b8uqsEvhYq/s320/DSC_0582.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Many teams are left wondering whether they could have had the same experience Maynard did back in 2017 (Photo Courtesy: Joe Parello/<a href="https://twitter.com/HerewegoJoe" target="_blank">@HereWeGoJoe</a>)</i></td></tr>
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<i>By Matt Feld (<a href="https://twitter.com/mattyfeld612" target="_blank">@Mattyfeld612)</a></i><br />
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For hundreds of high school athletes across the state, this upcoming weekend was supposed to be one to remember. Instead, Thursday night turned into one to forget.<br />
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On Thursday afternoon, the MIAA Board of Directors unanimously voted to cancel the MIAA Boys and Girls basketball and hockey state championships that were slated to be played over the course of Saturday and Sunday in an effort to help combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic here in Massachusetts. As a result, the remaining teams in both sports were declared 'co-champions.'<br />
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The unprecedented nature of such a decision because of unthinkable circumstances led to dismay, anger, and understandable frustration from athletes across the state who were preparing for one last game. Athletes who had been preparing for days, weeks, months, and years to have the chance to bring a championship back to their communities were left wondering what could have been.<br />
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On Thursday night, a video circulated on twitter of Arlington hockey coach Anthony Messuri notifying his team that they would not receive the chance to compete against Pope Francis for the Division 1A Super Eight title. It was heartbreaking, depressing, and surreal. The shock felt radiated through the screen. Student-athletes on the brink of making school history will never be afforded the chance to have their moment.<br />
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Messuri's son, Anthony, took to twitter to try and explain his emotions in light of such a lost opportunity.<br />
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"I am truly heartbroken knowing I will never have the the satisfaction of my final high school hockey game," Messuri said. "(High school) hockey was to me what college hockey or the NHL is to many other young boys or girls playing the sport."<br />
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Those across the high school basketball community expressed similar displeasure. Lynn English was set to take on Springfield Central in the Div. 1 Boys Basketball State Final in hopes of proving for the second straight season they are without question the top team in the Bay State.<br />
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"Let us play just one more game please, we gotta finish," Bulldogs' star point guard Jarnel Guzman wrote on twitter. "This is what both teams have worked for all year. We can't go out like that. There can only be one winner."<br />
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There are track athletes who qualified for nationals that are not able to compete, and a state cheerleading competition scheduled for Sunday that will not take place.<br />
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Throughout the state there are people who know about high school sports far more than me. They know the history, have seen hundreds of more games, and have built stronger relationships with coaches and administrators. They will forget more with regards to the ins-and-outs of this business than I will ever learn.<br />
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But I can confidently say that this is a situation that no one has ever experienced. There's no guide for this, no playbook, or no rule book to read from that helps alleviate the sentiment that overwhelmed athletes and coaches in recent days. Nothing can be done to make sure the games are played this weekend. Nothing to do to make the participating programs feel better.<br />
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The only consolation in the absence of championship games themselves is that they allow a better appreciation for what they symbolize. For everyone involved its devastating. The chance to compete for one final time, in an effort to bring home a trophy, only comes around for so many once in a career.<br />
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Its even more crushing for those who this weekend was supposed to be climax of their athletic careers. This is no disrespect for the Division 1 scholarship players, or those who have already found a home for collegiate athletics. They have worked equally hard, pouring in unthinkable hours of time and dispensing countless amounts of energy to reach this point. But those players will have a second career. Due to their ability - on top of their effort - those boys and girls will have a chance to compete for something greater whether it be a collegiate conference title or a national championship.<br />
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For everyone else, however, this was their last dance. Their final chance to etch their name in program lore. Whenever a writer like myself is assigned a game or a human interest story its exciting. Knowing you have the chance to shed light on a particular player's experience or a program's recent excellence is exhilarating and something I will never take for granted.<br />
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Its even more rewarding, however, when you receive that opportunity to cover a player from a program that does not often get statewide recognition. There is a thrill, adrenaline rush, in talking to that coach who is unable to contain him or herself through their answers because they feel as though their program is finally receiving the attention and respect they have worked so hard to achieve. Its in those moments, through those stories, that I discover why I enjoy doing what I've had the chance to do for the past six years now. Cover high school sports.<br />
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This weekend was intended to create more of those stores, more of those moments. Unfortunately, they will never come. Multiple schools were going for their first championship in hockey and more in basketball. They will be labeled as "co-champions" and rightly celebrated and honored for their season, but that feeling of elation once the final buzzer sounds is lost for the time being.<br />
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On Thursday night I had the chance to cover the final two games of the winter season. They were originally dubbed state semi-final games set to be played without fans in hopes of quelling the spread of the virus. It seemed like the proper, reasonable course of action. Perhaps the games this weekend would follow similar protocol giving kids the chance to compete for a state championship while narrowing down the risks for all involved.<br />
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Except then it was announced late Wednesday night that Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert had tested positive for Coronavirus leading to the postponement of the NBA regular season, beginning a snowball of events that left only one appropriate course of action.<br />
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That left the two games Thursday night between Div. 4 Girls participants Maynard and Munson and Div. 3 Boys counterparts Sutton and Sabis as de-facto state championship games. It was eerie with such a high profile game being played in front of a seemingly desolate Worcester State University gym. Just six days earlier, in the same arena, St. John's Shrewsbury had squeaked past Franklin in front of a sold out crowd comprised of a pair of fervent fan sections. Yet the enthusiasm between the four teams competing never waned. This was their time to compete for a championship, and they were taking full advantage.<br />
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Following the conclusion of the two games, won by Maynard and Sutton, I was talking to a former high school football player who had the chance to compete for a pair of state championships during his career. He said he thought the whole situation was, "f--cking stupid" and that if he was in the shoes of players who have had the opportunity stripped from them, he would show the same sort of frustration and anger on social media.<br />
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Its easy to strike back at such a reaction and deem it as ill-informed or irrational. But once you take a step back, you realize that for most of these players its more than just cancelling a sports game. Whether a freshman who may never get back again or a senior who has been waiting for their moment to be the leader of a title team, this is their passion. Its been a catalyst for motivation. A sense of purpose. All the effort seems to have led to no reward.<br />
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The actions are necessary, but that does not alleviate the frustration. The feelings displayed over the last 48 hours were supposed to be used towards success on the court and rink these two days. They were supposed to be used to fill columns of newspapers and windows of text.<br />
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Hopefully one day in the near future, people will look back on these measures and think to themselves that they were all an overreaction. That's when we'll know they were a success.Matt Feldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02872699577357839749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-30356904124678210262019-12-31T16:26:00.001-05:002019-12-31T16:35:47.721-05:00Top 10 MIAA Games Of The Decade
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 11.880000114440918px;">Catholic Memorial senior Jarrett Martin's 45-yard Hail Mary reception to lift the Knights past BC High back in 2017 is one of the more memorable MIAA moments of the decade (</i><i style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 11.880000114440918px;">Photo from <a href="https://twitter.com/CatholicMem" style="color: #6095ca; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Catholic Memorial</a>, and taken by Marcus Miller).</i></div>
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<i>By Matt Feld (<a href="https://twitter.com/mattyfeld612" target="_blank">@Mattyfeld612)</a></i><br />
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Throughout the 2010s, there were hundreds of MIAA High School sporting events filled with excitement, energy, and intensity. Thousands of fans were treated to record-setting performances, game-winning goals, and eyebrow raising finishes.<br />
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Over the course of the last 10 years I have been fortunate to witness, report on, and enjoy a number of these games. While there are plenty that come to mind when it comes to thinking back on the top showdowns that I had the pleasure of taking in, these 10 classics standout amongst the rest.<br />
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With 2020 right around the corner, here are my top 10 MIAA high school sporting events I had the opportunity to witness.<br />
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<b>10. MIAA Football: Central Catholic 49, Andover 41 (2015)</b><br />
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In a wild back and forth Division 1 North Semifinal it was Central Catholic who got the final laugh on the scoreboard, but it was Andover's quarterback that turned in the most memorable performance.<br />
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Golden Warriors senior EJ Perry finished the night with an in-state record 634 passing yards while throwing four touchdown passes. Perry also added two more scores on the ground.<br />
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<b>9. MIAA Boys Basketball: Franklin 60, Springfield Central 54 (2017)</b><br />
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With under a minute to play, it looked like a lock that Springfield Central was headed to the 2017 MIAA Division 1 state title game. Then, Chris Edgehill and Franklin came to life.<br />
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Trailing 51-43 with 40 seconds left, Edgehill went on a one-man 8-0 run knocking down a pair of treys and hitting two at the charity stripe to tie the game at 51. After Edgehill's game-tying three, Springfield Central quickly got the ball up the court and Jashidi Pressley hit a runner in the lane at the buzzer that appeared to give the Golden Eagles the buzzer beating victory. Players, coaches, and fans began to storm the court, but after the officials got together it was determined Pressley did not get the shot off in time sending the game to overtime.<br />
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In the extra session, Jalen Samuels and Conor Peterson poured in key baskets to send Franklin to the Division 1 State Final.<br />
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<b>8. MIAA Baseball: St. John's Prep 1, Newton North 0 (2015)</b><br />
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For most of his senior season, Justin Foley seemed untouchable. On this Wednesday afternoon he was truly un-hittable.<br />
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In the opening round of the 2015 Division 1A Super Eight Tournament, Foley tossed a no-hitter limiting Newton North to just three walks while allowing only one hard hit ball. Most impressive was that Foley did it while nursing a 1-0 lead.<br />
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The game - which lasted just one hour and 31 minutes - featured no errors with the lone running coming on an RBI double by Teddy McNamara.<br />
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Foley finished the season with a perfect 11-0 record.<br />
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<b>7. MIAA Football: Everett 12, St. John's Prep 7 (2015)</b><br />
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While for years Everett has been known for its prowess within the MIAA High School Football circles, 2015 was shaping up to be an outlier.<br />
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After dropping a slew of regular season games including to Billerica and Malden, the Crimson Tide were slotted as the eighth and final seed in the Div. 1 North playoffs leaving them with a trip up to top seeded St. John's Prep. The Eagles throttled Everett during the twos regular season matchup, 35-13, but the postseason meeting told a different story.<br />
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Despite being without quarterback Jordan McAfee, Everett came away with a stunning 12-7 victory. Marvens Fedna was the star rushing 27 times for 118 yards and one touchdown in what John DiBiaso called the, "wish and a prayer offense."<br />
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6<b>. MIAA Boys Basketball: Brighton 55, Scituate 52 (2013)</b><br />
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With a trip to the Division 2 State Championship on the line, and only one quarter remaining, Malik James took over.<br />
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Brighton's standout guard scored 14 of his game-high 21 points over the final four minuets of play to lift the Bengals to a come-from behind, 55-52 win over Scituate in the Div. 2 Eastern Mass Final on the TD Garden floor.<br />
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James began the fourth quarter on the bench due to foul trouble allowing Scituate to build a 49-38 lead with just over four minutes remaining. That's when James returned to the court and took control. The junior pulled Brighton within 50-49 with 1:15 remaining before knocking down one at the charity stripe to even the game.<br />
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Moments later, with the game tied at 52 and 8.4 seconds left, James completed a three-point play in transition to send Brighton to the state championship.<br />
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<b>5. MIAA Boys Basketball: Braintree 66, BC High 62 (2013)</b><br />
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If you're looking for the biggest upset in any MIAA sport during the decade look no further.<br />
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Going into the 2013 MIAA Boys Basketball Tournament, BC High was seen was one of the favorites in Division 1 to take home a state championship. Finishing the season 17-3, and winners of their final eight games, the Eagles looked like a shoe-in to make the sectional final. Except unfortunately for BC High 14th-seeded Braintree had other ideas.<br />
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In front of a packed house on Morrissey Boulevard, the Wamps pulled off an absolute stunner in the opening round of the tournament prevailing 66-62.<br />
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Braintree senior captain Steve Murphy was the story of the evening scoring 26 points. With the game tied at 62 and less than 30 seconds remaining, Keyma Cannon hit the game winner drilling a shot off the glass as the shot clock expired.<br />
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<b>4. MIAA Boys Ice Hockey: BC High 2, Pope Francis 1 (4 OT, 2019)</b><br />
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There is very little doubt as to the best MIAA Ice Hockey game to take place this decade. One could make the case that this absolute classic is potentially the greatest MIAA Ice Hockey game ever (I'll let Jim Clark take that one).<br />
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In the 2019 MIAA Division 1A Super Eight Final, BC High and Pope Francis battled for a record setting 87 minutes and 22 seconds before freshman Declan Loughnane sent home the game winning goal to give the Eagles a second consecutive title at the TD Garden.<br />
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Perhaps most remarkable is that had the fourth overtime period finished with neither side scoring, the MIAA was prepared to declare co-champions after conferring with officials and administrators from both schools.<br />
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Pope Franics led 1-0 with under two minutes remaining in regulation, but Joseph Kramer tied the score with a power play goal that sent the game to overtime.<br />
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<b>3. MIAA Football: Catholic Memorial 21, BC High 20 (2017)</b><br />
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Where to begin this one.<br />
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After trailing top-seeded BC High 20-0 late in the second quarter of the 2017 MIAA Div. 1 South Semifinal, Catholic Memorial came storming back getting within a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter. The Knights got the ball back down 20-14 with two minutes remaining. Then, all mayhem broke loose.<br />
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Knights senior quarterback Nick Goffredo completed a fourth down pass to Jarrett Martin to keep the game alive. Three plays later, with the Knights now on the Eagles 37-yard line and less than 10 second reaming, Goffredo appeared to get jostled down in the backfield resulting in a sack to end the game.<br />
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The referees, however, ruled that Goffredo got rid of the ball before his knee was down resulting in an incomplete pass and giving one final chance to CM. The Knights took full advantage with Goffredo rolling left and hitting Martin in the end zone for a last second Hail Mary to tie the game at 20-20.<br />
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With no time remaining, the Knights lined up to kick the game winning PAT. The initial PAT went wide left, but BC High was ruled offsides. Will Fay converted the retry sending the Knights into celebration on their rival's home field.<br />
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<b>2. MIAA Baseball: Braintree 5, Belmont 4 (10i, 2017)</b><br />
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As this 2017 MIAA Division 1A Super Eight elimination game turned to the bottom of the ninth, Braintree's stranglehold on the tournament was on life support.<br />
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The two-time defending champions trailed Belmont 4-1 in the bottom of the ninth with two down and a pair aboard. The Wamps, who had developed a reputation for being relentless even when trailing by seemingly insurmountable deficits, came back to life.<br />
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Jackson Duffy, Braintree's sophomore star, drilled a two-out, game-tying, three-run home run into the left field bullpen to send the game to extra innings. One frame later, Brennan Quigley sent the Wamps home happy knocking a walk-off single back through the box that scored Alex Kennedy and kept Braintree's hopes of a three-peat alive.<br />
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<b>1. MIAA Boys Basketball: Catholic Memorial 96, Mansfield 90 (3OT, 2014)</b><br />
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I've had the opportunity to witness a ton of exciting high school sporting events over the last decade, but this easily takes the cake.<br />
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In front of packed house at UMass Boston that saw 3,000 people on the edge of their seat from start to finish and hundreds more pressed up against the locked glass doors, Catholic Memorial and Mansfield battled for 44 minutes in hopes of earning a berth in the 2014 MIAA Division 1 South Final.<br />
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The game, which featured a combined 12 future college basketball players, went three overtimes. Mansfield one thousand point scorer Ryan Boulter tied the game with two seconds to go with a corner trey before Aahmahne Santos' half court heave rattled in and out to send the game to overtime.<br />
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Knights sophomore Brandon Twitty had a standout performance pouring in 22 points, including coming up with a clutch steal and score to tie the game with 30 seconds to play in the second overtime.<br />
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Guilien Smith was the difference maker, scoring nine of his game-high 33 points in the third overtime.<br />
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Catholic Memorial coach Denis Tobin said afterwards, "That's the best high school game I've ever been associated with."Matt Feldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02872699577357839749noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-27135954451185265422019-11-11T20:07:00.001-05:002020-02-20T12:53:18.839-05:00One Last Chance: Owen McGowan and Barrett Pratt Use Lasting Memory to Help Fuel Catholic Memorial's Super Bowl Run
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Former Canton Pop Warner teammates Owen McGowan (kicker) and Barrett Pratt (#7, pictured) now are at the center of Catholic Memorial's Super Bowl Charge.</span></td></tr>
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<i>By Matt Feld (<a href="https://twitter.com/mattyfeld612" target="_blank">@Mattyfeld612</a>)</i><br />
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In 2011, on a cold Thanksgiving morning on Baker Street, host Catholic Memorial went pound for pound with rival BC High. With a Super Bowl berth on the line and over 10,000 fans in attendance, the two sides refused to give an inch into the latter stages of the second half. Before it was all said and done the scoreboard told what had become a familiar story as the Eagles outlasted the Knights, 13-0, en route to the schools second title in four years. A Knights core that consisted of four Division 1 senior captains was unable to bring home Catholic Memorial's first crown in 35 years.<br />
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Weeks earlier, on a grass field in Sharon, Canton's Pop Warner football team was rushing onto the field for a last second field goal try. A conversion needed for a tie and a chance at an overtime win hung in the balance. Snap perfect, hold steady, kick through the uprights. For the fourth and fifth grades involved, it was the thrill of a lifetime. Except the holder and the kicker on that very day are now not only two close friends, but the staples of a Catholic Memorial team hoping to finish the job that the 2011 team was unable to complete. </div>
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"It's pretty awesome looking back on that now," Owen McGowan, the Knights' star linebacker and the one-time clutch, Canton Pop Warner kicker. "At that level everyone goes for it. No one kicks. We kicked and then won the game in overtime. That really started the friendship over football for Barrett (Pratt) and I."</div>
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The holder on that day, Barrett Pratt, now commandeers the Catholic Memorial offense as its two-year starting quarterback. Pratt has emerged as a steady senior leader on a team buoyed by young talent. </div>
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"Owen's always been there every step of the way for me as we've pushed each other. It's always been about pushing each other and all of our teammates to the max," Pratt said.</div>
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As soon as the two began playing Pop Warner together they were inseparable. McGowan may have been the kicker on that fall afternoon but his upper body strength made him a force to bring down out of the backfield beginning in his elementary days while his innate ability to get downhill provide him with a bulldog-like mentality in forcing opponents to the ground. </div>
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Pratt, meanwhile, took a loving to the quarterback position from a young age with the allure of needing all 11 guys on the field to be successful the catalyst, and his love having the game run through his hands the motivation.</div>
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Under the mentoring of their two fathers, James and Bryan, standing on the sidelines as the team's head coaches, they quickly developed a relationship over football.</div>
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"Owen and Barrett have always been great teammates and friends," said Kelly McGowan, Owen's mother. "Even in elementary school they looked out for one another and celebrated each other's success."</div>
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Except while the two immediately connected over football, quickly developing a habit of regularly watching college football together on Saturday's mornings after games, a fork in the road came when it began time to choose where to spend middle and then high school.</div>
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For the younger McGowan the choice was rather straightforward. When Owen was gearing up to enter seventh grade, his older brother Jack was embarking on a junior campaign where he quickly formed into a star linebacker for the Knights. As Owen was slowly beginning to mature into a high school star in waiting as an eighth grader, Jack won Catholic Conference MVP and gave a verbal commitment to Harvard. Most importantly for Owen, Jack's initial presence at CM allowed him to spend valuable around the upperclassmen, develop social maturity, and learn what it was like to be at the forefront of a successful varsity program.</div>
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"Once I first got there, I was always around the older guys because Jack was there. He was good to have as someone just to look up to and lead the way" McGowan said. </div>
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Pratt, meanwhile, saw an older brother in David who ventured across the city to Dorchester in order to attend BC High, but Barrett had minimal interest in following similar footsteps. His mother, Carol, wanted him to get a private school education. Barrett desired a a place where community was prominent. It took minimal time to realize that Catholic Memorial fit the mold.</div>
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"Coming into CM, I made new friends," Pratt said. "I knew a kid in eighth grade, Aidan Gallery. We made a friend group. When Owen came in he just kinda gelled. He hung around with us - the older kids. He was already very good friends with me, so it was an easy transition." </div>
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Fresh off four years on the Canton Gridiron and enrolled in a new journey in West Roxbury, the two took to doing what they could to positively impact the CM culture. Pratt began his high school career a member of the freshman team, but it just so happened to be that McGowan's physical and mental nature made him so attractive to the coaching staff that he was asked to participate as well despite being only in eighth grade. Then, when Pratt was elevated to the varsity team as a sophomore filling in the role as the team's backup quarterback, McGowan traveled along with him quickly earning an opportunity as an option for the varsity team at linebacker. </div>
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The two watched in November of 2017 as senior quarterback Nick Goffredo completed a last second Hail Mary to Jarrett Martin to complete a stunning, 21-20 victory over then unbeaten BC High under the stewardship of interim head coach Brent Williams. </div>
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One week later, the Knights fell to Xaverian in the sectional final, but a transition was underway with McGowan and Pratt ready to grab the mantle as the pillars of a program set to reach new heights. It just so happened that joining them in their mission come the fall of 2018 would be legendary coach John DiBiaso.</div>
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"Being in the program for years, it's been our goal to change the culture at Catholic Memorial," McGowan said. "Coach (DiBiaso) has obviously been the most important in that. He's always so great to us. For a while CM was kind of the team that everyone beats up on in the league. Whether it be St. John's Prep or Xaverian they've always had our number. Changing that idea has been our goal." </div>
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As the two embarked on their first full season as two of the team's centerpieces, the change in dynamics were clear to everyone who laid eyes on the Knights. Surrounded by playmakers Darrius LeClair, Hunter Tully, Zach Mitchell, and of course McGowan, Pratt asserted himself as a quarterback dependent on precision and physicality. Never overly flashy by piling up eye-popping statistics or showcasing jaw-dropping arm strength, Pratt became one of the more valuable quarterbacks in the state through his dependability, consistency, and seemingly transcendent leadership qualities that allowed the Knights offense to expand its originally believed ability. </div>
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McGowan for his part took off as one of the top underclassmen in the Bay State torturing opponents in all three phrases. </div>
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The twos emergence, combined with a premiere new head coach in DiBiaso and a bevy of surrounding talent, allowed CM to rocket to the top of the Div. 1 South Field. In the Div. 1 South Final, McGowan scored the opening touchdown and was the fulcrum of a standout defensive performance that sent the Knights to a Super Bowl berth.</div>
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"It put a lot of things in perspective for us. A lot of us consider some powerhouse but we haven't been able to climb that mountain yet," McGowan said. "That Super Bowl loss reminded us how important every potential extra rep in practice is. That one more you decide to stick around and do could be what wins you a Super Bowl."</div>
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The two used the loss, and their tight-knit personalities, to buoy the rest of their gifted returning class. </div>
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A far more vocal leader, than his older brother, Owen used his leadership characteristics to routinely push players in the weight room, extract willingness from his teammates to go out to the field for extra reps, and constantly worked to instill confidence in his teammates. He captured state-wide attention through his commitment to Boston College over the summer. In an effort to improve his quarterback's footwork and awareness, the junior would often spend hours catching passes for Pratt during the offseason surfing the towns of Canton, Needham, and Framingham for an open field. </div>
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Pratt, meanwhile, has used the lessons taught to him by Goffredo and previous quarterback Matt Marcantano to be the glue that sticks all the Knights invaluable pieces together. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4vnUfNOH0v2QlkMBbC0P74MUiBKMq9zAY1ilVialhVO3XzPU1ZAWbZQPmnLk6NJc8bF-sscuHkxx8nMqwBuoYbPCLaKeJWAo6ry_ANDZMfcZwjCgaduYf4UF3ADlNTx2-qn-JRWx_lhD/s1600/AavSFbMb.jpg-small.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4vnUfNOH0v2QlkMBbC0P74MUiBKMq9zAY1ilVialhVO3XzPU1ZAWbZQPmnLk6NJc8bF-sscuHkxx8nMqwBuoYbPCLaKeJWAo6ry_ANDZMfcZwjCgaduYf4UF3ADlNTx2-qn-JRWx_lhD/s320/AavSFbMb.jpg-small.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Barrett Pratt (Pictured, #14) prepares himself from the snap alongside Owen McGowan (Pictured, #42)</span></td></tr>
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<div>
While all too often the chance to fulfill a championship dream with a childhood friend is reserved for those residing at public school, McGowan and Pratt realize this fall represents one last chance to achieve that aspiration while wearing the Red and Silver.</div>
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"This year, before the season, I think was the first time to hit me that this was going to be it of us playing together," Pratt said. "We've been playing since we were seven, eight years old. This is the last time we'll ever play together. We're going to make it count."</div>
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The results so far speak for themselves. Catholic Memorial heads into the Div. 1 South Final a spotless 9-0 with all but one of its wins coming by double figures. Surrounding McGowan and Pratt are superstar athletes in juniors Zach Mitchell, Darrius LeClair, and Jamal Griffin as well as defensive standouts Will Stockwell and Quincy Eutsay. </div>
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Except while the options are certainly aplenty, there are no shortage of times where the former standout holder for Canton Pop Warner just throws it up and hopes his oldest friend is there waiting.</div>
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"We have that chemistry where if (Pratt) doesn't know the read, or who's open, then he'll just throw to me, trusting that I am open," McGowan said. "He knows that I'll be there for him." </div>
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Just over eight years ago McGowan and Pratt had what felt like to them a Super Bowl win. A simple field goal was everything. That memory is still prevalent. Now, with their final month of playing alongside each other upon them, they are hoping to make a new lasting memory. One not made in the on a grass field in Sharon, but on the storied grounds of Gillette Stadium. </div>
Matt Feldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02872699577357839749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-91634130594923100442019-04-24T06:01:00.002-04:002019-04-24T06:02:02.915-04:00If MIAA Stars Entered the NFL Draft: 2019 Edition<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwY1_59K6P_ALntL9j8BEc0dhFCot_XrCm17CPA1yvoBPqLOd-uFlP59No8e9QKEw8_ROFMnCMBGRzsEMLNdO1fxu5UXJDDNGjgvoHiJz1U-gCdfgt2QqR3fxCA7Th5eXiBwOFIUqJE0/s1600/Mike+Sainristil+SB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwY1_59K6P_ALntL9j8BEc0dhFCot_XrCm17CPA1yvoBPqLOd-uFlP59No8e9QKEw8_ROFMnCMBGRzsEMLNdO1fxu5UXJDDNGjgvoHiJz1U-gCdfgt2QqR3fxCA7Th5eXiBwOFIUqJE0/s400/Mike+Sainristil+SB.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everett's Mike Sainristil has all the tools to be the top pick in our mock draft.</td></tr>
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<i>By Joe Parello (<a href="https://twitter.com/HerewegoJoe" target="_blank">@HerewegoJoe</a>)</i><br />
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We may have (mostly) shut down operations here at SuiteSports, but dammit, I'm not gonna end this school year without putting out our fun, but mostly pointless blog about where the best players in the MIAA would be selected, were they available in this week's NFL Draft.<br />
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If you need to get caught up, you can find our <a href="http://www.suitesports.com/2017/04/if-miaa-stars-entered-nfl-draft.html" target="_blank">2017 MIAA/NFL Draft here</a>, and our <a href="http://www.suitesports.com/2018/04/if-miaa-stars-entered-nfl-draft-2018.html" target="_blank">2018 edition here</a>.<br />
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A reminder of the rules for players being taken in our MIAA/NFL Draft:<br />
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1. The player must be a senior. I know college juniors (and redshirt sophomores) can be taken in the real NFL Draft, but that's not how our draft works.<br />
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2. The player can be headed to prep school next year. Since we don't include ISL or other Prep School players in our draft, guys who are finishing up their MIAA careers and graduating from an MIAA school get the chance to be drafted.<br />
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3. We've expanded our mock draft to two rounds this year (!), and we're using the current draft order. There will be no trades simulated, though I did give that some thought.<br />
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4. We are not pretending our 2017 and 2018 MIAA/NFL Drafts actually happened. Seriously, everything would be way too complex if we did that, and it would create an MIAA/NFL cinematic universe that I don't feel like keeping track of. I'm not even ready for the new Avengers movie yet.<br />
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5. Any complaints? Yell at me on Twitter at my handle, <a href="https://twitter.com/herewegojoe" target="_blank">@HerewegoJoe</a>, and tell me why I'm the worst fictional GM ever. Heck, you can even make your own MIAA/NFL mock draft and send me a screen shot.<br />
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Anyways, without further ado, here is our 2019 MIAA/NFL Draft.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Round One</span></b><br />
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<b>1. Arizona Cardinals: Mike Sainristil, ATH, Everett</b><br />
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The Cardinals flirt with the idea of drafting a QB here at No. 1, but ultimately, Sainristil is a generational play maker, and too good to pass up. Arizona would be wise to get the ball in his hands, any way they can, early in his career. If nothing else, he would certainly help the aging Larry Fitzgerald see less coverage.<br />
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<b>2. San Francisco 49ers: Cooper DeVeau, DB, Xaverian </b><br />
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The 49ers allowed the second-most passing TDs in football last year (and forced the fewest INTs), so a ball-hawking safety like DeVeau is just what the doctor ordered. Add in his abilities as a kick returner, and his skill as a cover guy near the goal line, and you have a no-brainer for San Fran.<br />
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<b>3. New York Jets: Scott Elliott, OL, Holliston</b><br />
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The Jets feel like they finally have a franchise quarterback, so it would probably be a pretty good idea to protect him. Elliot has been one of the best offensive tackles in the state the past few seasons, and has the look of a sure-fire starter for Gang Green.<br />
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<b>4. Oakland Raiders: Lucas Folan, DL, Catholic Memorial</b><br />
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Oakland made waves trading for Antonio Brown, but if the Raiders really want to turn things around, they'll need to step things up on the defensive side of the ball. Enter Folan, a one-man wrecking crew for CM last year, who will add instant punch to the Oakland pass rush, and help Xaverian alum Maurice Hurst shore up the run defense.<br />
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<b>5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Xavier Gonsalves, DL, Mashpee</b><br />
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A run on play making defensive linemen continues, as Tampa Bay grabs the physical and athletic Gonsalves. Look for Gonsalves to live in opposing backfields for the Bucs, and begin a defensive rebuild that has been a long time coming.<br />
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<b>6. New York Giants: Aidan Sullivan, QB, Scituate</b><br />
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The Giants finally pull the trigger and draft a successor to Eli Manning, and Sullivan has all the tools to be a star in the modern league. With a quick release, great accuracy, and athleticism to boot, New York has to feel like it's drafting another franchise QB.<br />
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<b>7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jake McElroy, QB, North Andover</b><br />
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Speaking of franchise QBs, that's what the Jaguars should be getting in McElroy, who turned heads across the state during NA's historic state championship run. Another athletic signal caller, McElroy is also a renowned leader with a big arm.<br />
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<b>8. Detroit Lions: Elijah Ayers, DB, Springfield Central</b><br />
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Detroit's pass defense actually wasn't terrible last season, but the chance to grab a versatile DB like Ayers is too good to pass up for the Lions. The long, athletic hybrid can play both as an off corner, or a free safety, and was an interception machine for SC last year, something the Lions have to be excited about.<br />
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<b>9. Buffalo Bills: Mike Ciaffoni, OL, Lincoln-Sudbury</b><br />
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Another team with a young quarterback, and that means you need to keep him upright. Ciaffoni is an athletic offensive tackle who should do just that, plus he packs some punch as a run blocker as well.<br />
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<b>10. Denver Broncos: Cal Kenney, DL, Lincoln-Sudbury</b><br />
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A mini-run on L-S lineman rounds out the Top-10, as Kenney's abilities as a run stuffer make him the ideal pick for a Denver defense that features elite outside rushers, but lacks bite in the middle.<br />
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<b>11. Cincinnati Bengals: Matt Smith, TE, Needham</b><br />
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The Bengals have quietly put together a nice collection of skill players, and Smith could push them over the top. An athletic tight end who can stretch the field vertically, Smith might be the final piece to make the Cincinnati offense purr again.<br />
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<b>12. Green Bay Packers: Spencer Cassell, TE, Hingham</b><br />
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Another team that could use a weapon at tight end, and luckily, the MIAA has another elite tight end prospect to offer. Cassell was one of the state's most complete tight ends last year, equally capable of throwing a devastating block, or catching a deep ball to ignite the Harbormen offense. If Aaron Rodgers wants to get back to the playoffs, having a weapon like Cassell sure wouldn't hurt.<br />
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<b>13. Miami Dolphins: Nick Gordon, QB, Franklin</b><br />
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Can the Dolphins finally find a successor to Dan Marino's legacy? They think so with this pick, as the athletic lefty from Franklin will have fans in South Florida thinking of another great 80s/90s QB: Steve Young. Gordon's game is similar on the ground, but there's nothing dink and dunk about his game throwing the football, as the Hockomock star has no issue slinging it down the field.<br />
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<b>14. Atlanta Falcons: Ryan Clemente, DL, North Attleboro</b><br />
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The Falcons couldn't do much of anything defensively last year, and they'll look for some reinforcements up front in the form of the versatile Clemente. With quick feet and devastating hands, Clemente is capable of holding up inside, and sliding out to rush the passer as a defensive end. No doubt the Dirty Birds could use his help to climb back to defensive respectability. <br />
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<b>15. Washington Redskins: Myles Bradley, WR, Springfield Central</b><br />
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Washington has a bunch of "pretty good" skill players, but need a consistent play maker like Bradley. With a combination of speed, vision, toughness and hands, the Golden Eagle standout should contend for immediate playing time in DC.<br />
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<b>16. Carolina Panthers: Lucas Ferraro, OL, Xaverian</b><br />
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Carolina has a dynamic backfield with QB Cam Newton and RB Christian McCaffrey, and now it's time to give those guys some more room to work. Enter Ferraro, a brutal drive blocker with a mean streak, who always finishes his blocks. A smart player and hard worker, the Xaverian star could fit in anywhere the Panthers need him along their offensive line.<br />
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<b>17. New York Giants (from CLE): Gabe Desouza, WR, North Andover</b><br />
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With Odell Beckham Jr. gone to Cleveland, and a new franchise QB already selected earlier in the draft, the Giants continue their rebuild with another special offensive talent. Desouza did just about everything for the D2 champions, but it was his abilities in the open field, both as a receiver and kick returner, that will make him must see when he gets to The Meadowlands.<br />
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<b>18. Minnesota Vikings: James Taylor, DL, St. John's Prep</b><br />
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It's a passing league, but it's amazing what a physical run stuffer can still do for a defense. Taylor might be the best in the state in that regard, and Minnesota's struggling defense could use him as a centerpiece of a rebuild up front.<br />
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<b>19. Tennessee Titans: Chris Yeboah, DL, Doherty</b><br />
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On the flip side, you would be hard pressed to find a quicker defensive tackle than Yeboah, who racked up 15 sacks as an interior rusher, and lived in opposing backfields. With the athleticism to line up across the front, and the strength to hold up against anyone, the former Highlander star will be a welcome addition to Mike Vrabel's defense.<br />
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<b>20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jack Webster, LB, King Philip</b><br />
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Pittsburgh still hasn't recovered from the loss of Ryan Shazier a few years back, but the Steelers luck out and find an instinctive linebacker with the kind of versatility needed to play ILB in the Burgh. A tackling machine who can cover backs and tight ends, as well as rush the passer, Webster is a steal for the Steelers at No. 20.<br />
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<b>21. Seattle Seahawks: Khari Johnson, DB, Catholic Memorial</b><br />
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The Legion of Boom is long gone, so Seattle has to turn its attention to a suddenly mortal secondary. No worries though, as they find one of the most purely talented corners in the draft, and use Johnson to rebuild a championship defense around.<br />
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<b>22. Baltimore Ravens: Mike Masse, LB, Xaverian</b><br />
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Like their division rivals two spots earlier, Baltimore can't believe its luck that a game-changing linebacker is still on the board. The Ravens opt for Masse, an old-school MLB who relishes contact, but can also track the ball from sideline-to-sideline. The Xaverian star's toughness should help him fit right in inside the Baltimore locker room.<br />
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<b>23. Houston Texans: Hunter Salmon, OL, Catholic Memorial</b><br />
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The Texans have their franchise QB in DeShaun Watson, but after he was sacked a league-high 62 times, it's time to look for a franchise left tackle. Salmon fits the bill, and should provide an instant upgrade on the blindside, and help Houston's potent ground game keep rolling.<br />
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<b>24. Oakland Raiders (from CHI): Devaun Ford, ATH, Mashpee</b><br />
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Talk about steals! If not for injury, Ford would likely have gone much higher, but the Raiders are giddy to turn the versatile running back loose in their offense, which now features Antonio Brown.<br />
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<b>25. Philadelphia Eagles: Christos Argyropolous, RB, Stoneham</b><br />
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The Eagle offense is at its best when it has a physical back to hammer defenses, and that's just what Philly is getting in Argyropolous. The Stoneham product could be a fantasy sleeper as a touchdown vulture in his rookie season.<br />
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<b>26. Indianapolis Colts: Wes Rockett, WR, St. John's Prep</b><br />
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The Colts played some great football down the stretch last year, but badly need another play maker at receiver to complement T.Y. Hilton and TE Eric Ebron. Rockett is that dude, with the size, speed and body control to win at the top of the route.<br />
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<b>27. Oakland Raiders (from DAL): Tajon Vassar, ATH, Doherty</b><br />
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Another versatile back who can split out to catch the ball and score from anywhere on the field? Yep, the Raiders will have another, as they stockpile weapons to be used in Jon Gruden's offense. Like Ford a few picks earlier, Vassar's versatility and big-play ability make him too good to pass up, and suddenly gives Oakland three home run hitters on offense.<br />
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<b>28. Los Angeles Chargers: Daniel May, WR, Scituate</b><br />
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One of the state's best route runners, and a play maker when his QB extended the play as well, May was just always making things happen. He joins an offense that already has a lot going for it, but May will add a deep threat to the Chargers that any team could use.<br />
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<b>29. Kansas City Chiefs: Billy Silvia, RB, Braintree</b><br />
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The Chiefs have run the ball well with a variety of backs, but Silvia's combination of strength and breakaway speed will give KC an entirely new dimension. Imagine spreading yourself thin in an attempt to stop Patrick Mahomes and that passing game, only to have Silvia run your Nickel corner over.<br />
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<b>30. Green Bay Packers (from NO): Liam Daly, OL, St. John's (Shrewsbury)</b><br />
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Green Bay would also like to protect its franchise QB, and Daly is the best interior lineman left on the board. The Packers won't have to worry about quick pressure up the middle anymore, and who knows, maybe GB will actually run the ball next year.<br />
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<b>31. Los Angeles Rams: Darren Watson, DB, North Andover</b><br />
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A big hitter and play maker at corner, Watson will help the Rams get younger and more athletic in the secondary. While the Rams have plenty of star power on defense, Julian Edelman is still catching passes against them, so Watson's speed, toughness and instincts will certainly be welcomed in LA.<br />
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<b>32. New England Patriots: Timmy Lawton, TE, Maynard</b><br />
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A tight end who can blow people off the ball in the run game, make big plays downfield in the passing game, and wears No. 87? Yes, the Patriots could use one of those.<br />
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A small-school stud, Lawton has all the tools to fill Gronk's massive shoes, and should feel right at home as the Patriots look to run the ball a bit more with their solid stable of backs.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Round 2</span></b><br />
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<b>33. Arizona: Kevin Dewing, OL, St. John's Prep</b><br />
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The Cards add a versatile weapon in Round 1, and move to upgrade their line in Round 2 with this Prep product.<br />
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<b>34. Indianapolis (from NYJ): Quinn Murphy, OL/DL, Duxbury</b><br />
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Murphy was equally stout as a blocker and a defender, and the Colts could use both. They'll figure out where to put him when he gets to Indy.<br />
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<b>35. Oakland: Mike McCutcheon, LB, Duxbury</b><br />
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Another Dragon comes off the board, as the Raiders address the second level of their defense with the speedy McCutcheon after a productive first round.<br />
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<b>36. San Francisco: Baley Collier, WR, Westfield</b><br />
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The Niners hand Jimmy G. Another lethal weapon in Collier, whose speed and big-play ability after the catch should complement tight end George Kittle perfectly.<br />
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<b>37. N.Y. Giants: Keshaun Dancy, DB, Springfield Central</b><br />
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The Giants addressed their offense in Round One, and now move to seriously upgrade their secondary with one of the best players in Western Mass.<br />
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<b>38. Jacksonville: Matt Doyle, OL, Braintree</b><br />
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The Jags snag their new franchise QB in Round One, and now they draft they guy they hope will protect him in Doyle. The physical Wamp should be ready to play from day one.<br />
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<b>39. Tampa Bay: Mitch Beaudoin, ATH, Littleton</b><br />
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A bulldozer of a running back/fullback (Tampa Bay loves those), and dominant LB to boot, Beaudoin could address several needs for the Bucs in coach Bruce Arians' first season.<br />
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<b>40. Buffalo: Mike Roche, DL, North Andover</b><br />
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The Bills need help everywhere, but getting a play maker up front for their defense is a top priority in Round Two for Buffalo.<br />
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<b>41. Denver: Sam Bolinsky, QB, Nashoba</b><br />
<br />
Joe Flacco is the plan for the immediate future, but John Elway can't pass on a big, athletic, strong-armed QB who wears No. 7. Bolinsky should learn for a year or two on then sideline, then usher in a new era for the Broncos.<br />
<br />
<b>42. Cincinnati: Lou Vigeant, LB, Marlboro</b><br />
<br />
One of the more underrated backers (and RBs) in the state, Vigeant comes off the board to a team that badly needs some new blood on defense, and should benefit from his toughness.<br />
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<b>43. Detroit: Trace Trant, LB, Tewksbury</b><br />
<br />
A versatile backer who can play sideline-to-sideline, and rush the passer, Trant ticks off all the boxes for Matt Patricia and his staff.<br />
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<b>44. Green Bay: Joe Howshan, DB, Central Catholic</b><br />
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The Packers find a gem in Howshan, a rangy safety who can also bring the lumber.<br />
<br />
<b>45. Atlanta: Justin Jameson, RB, Oakmont</b><br />
<br />
The Falcons are at their best when their backfield is deep, talented, and athletic. Enter Jameson, one of the state's best kept secrets until recently.<br />
<br />
<b>46. Washington: James Dillon, ATH, Lincoln-Sudbury </b><br />
<br />
Washington again upgrades its skill talent, with Dillon, a hard-nosed, but also explosive back from L-S. And if they need him on defense, Dillon can slide over and play LB as well.<br />
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<b>47. Carolina: Gilbert Kabamba, DL, Everett</b><br />
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A dominant defensive end for a perennial power, Kabamba's physicality and pass rush skill should help Carolina quickly upgrade its defense.<br />
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<b>48. Miami: Niko Murray, RB, Oxford</b><br />
<br />
The Dolphins have Kenyan Drake still on the roster, and other needs, but Murray is flat-out the best player left on the board. The prolific Oxford back could come in and give Miami one of the league's best 1-2 RB punches right away, which should take pressure off its, uh, questionable quarterback situation.<br />
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<b>49. Cleveland: Mason Cadorette, DL, Dighton-Reheboth</b><br />
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The Browns finally get a pick, and they snag Cadorette, a D-Linemen who spent all of 2018 living in opposing backfields, while carrying his team on an improbable run to Gillette.<br />
<br />
<b>50. Minnesota: DJ Jelin, OL, Concord-Carlisle</b><br />
<br />
The Vikings love their skill talent, and already addressed their defense, so they upgrade their offensive line with Jelin, an athletic guard whose pulling ability will make their offense more diverse.<br />
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<b>51. Tennessee: Shea Gallo-Kolegue, WR, St. John's (Shrewsbury)</b><br />
<br />
St. John's seems to churn out stud receivers on an annual basis, and Gallo-Kolegue is no exception. Look for Tennessee to utilize him in the slot to create mismatches.<br />
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<b>52. Pittsburgh: John Roberts, QB, Duxbury</b><br />
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Ben Roethlisberger ain't gonna play forever, and the Steelers can't resist the chance to grab Roberts, a true dual-threat quarterback who can dissect you with his brain and arm, or simply create terror on the ground with his legs.<br />
<br />
<b>53. Philadelphia (from BAL): Charles Payson, LB, Doherty</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Philly's biggest need is at linebacker, where they find one of the draft's most intriguing prospects in Payson. The Doherty star is all of 260+ lbs, and stuffs the run as well as you might expect, but also runs well laterally, and has great instincts against the short to intermediate passing game.<br />
<br />
<b>54. Houston (from SEA): John Freeman, OL, BC High</b><br />
<br />
The Texans continue to build an elite and young offensive line with Freeman. Look for him to serve as a book end to former Catholic Conference rival Hunter Salmon on the other side.<br />
<br />
<b>55. Houston: Chase Buono, DB, Lynn Classical</b><br />
<br />
Content with their offensive line, the Texans address their secondary with the Lynn Classical safety. His range and willingness to come up to defend the run should put him in line for some early playing time.<br />
<br />
<b>56. New England (from CHI): Will Driscoll, WR, Franklin</b><br />
<br />
The Pats are always on the lookout for a big-play receiver, and that's just what they get in Driscoll. A true game changer for the Panthers, Driscoll's ability to sneak behind a defense should tie together the Patriot passing game.<br />
<br />
<b>57. Philadelphia: Brooks Jones, OL, Wayland</b><br />
<br />
An athletic left tackle who can protect the QB (something Philly badly needs), and get to the second level in the run game, Jones is an under the radar star out of Wayland.<br />
<br />
<b>58. Dallas: Matt Johnson, TE, Nashoba</b><br />
<br />
Look for the physical Nashoba product to push Jason Witten out of another job this season.<br />
<br />
<b>59. Indianapolis: Segun Okunlola, DL, Brockton</b><br />
<br />
The beastly Boxer lineman may be the steal of the second round, and will give Indy an instant injection of physicality and athleticism up front.<br />
<br />
<b>60. L.A. Chargers: Matt Petercuskie, QB, Barnstable</b><br />
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A smart and athletic QB, with the accuracy to make all the throws, even on the run, Petercuskie has the tools to be Phillip Rivers' eventual successor.<br />
<br />
<b>61. Kansas City: Anthony Caggianelli, LB, Central Catholic</b><br />
<br />
The Chiefs upgrade their defense with a speedy, play making linebacker from CC.<br />
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<b>62. New Orleans: Jeff Ciccio, TE, Bridgewater-Raynham</b><br />
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A special athlete who can get open down the seam, win at the top of the corner route, and just out-jump defenders in the red zone, Ciccio is a great addition for the Saints and QB Drew Brees.<br />
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<b>63. Kansas City (from L.A. Rams): Wilson Frederic, DL, Everett</b><br />
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The Chiefs again look to upgrade their defense, and grab the best player left on the board in Frederic.<br />
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<b>64. New England: Finn Murray, QB/DB, Acton-Boxboro</b><br />
<br />
Look, Tom Brady can't play forever... Can he? Well, even if he does, the versatile A-B product can help out the Patriots secondary while he waits for TB12 to maybe, someday, perhaps, hang it up.Joe Parellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356509998054357391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-29527168778098995622019-02-01T10:30:00.002-05:002019-02-01T12:52:01.978-05:00Super Bowl LIII Preview: A Rematch, Young vs. Old, Two Lucky Teams and Gambling!
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<i>By Jeremy Conlin (<a href="https://twitter.com/jeremy_conlin/" target="_blank">@jeremy_conlin</a>) and Joe Parello (<a href="https://twitter.com/HerewegoJoe" target="_blank">@HerewegoJoe</a>)</i><br />
<br />
It's Super Bowl week, and we have some thoughts...<br />
<br />
I.<br />
<br />
This year's Super Bowl will be 17 years to the day since the Patriots at Rams first met in the Super Bowl - the first Brady/Belichick championship, when the Patriots put themselves on the map with what was, and still is, the biggest upset in the history of the Super Bowl.<br />
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This game can't quite be considered a rematch, given that the only holdovers from that game are Brady, Belichick, and New England offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia. That's not exactly surprising, considering back in 2002, the No. 1 movie in the US Box Office was a movie starring a man that hasn't been the governor of California for eight years. It's been a while.<br />
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Furthermore, one of the teams has moved cities after spending the overwhelming majority of the last decade and a half as one of the cellar dwellers of its conference, while the other team went from the plucky underdog that happened to almost accidentally win a Super Bowl, to a team that everyone south and west of 42N73W openly despises. Like I said, it's been a while.<br />
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All that being said, it is the Rams against the Patriots, and you're going to see about 76 hours of coverage about the fact that these two franchises played against each other 17 years ago. At the very least, this game could serve as a bookend to the start of this Patriots' dynasty. Yes, Tom Brady said in an interview that there's zero chance that this will be his last game, but can't you imagine a scenario where the Patriots win this game 40-17 and Tom Brady rides off into the sunset? At the very least, it's possible.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>II.<br />
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The Patriots are old. Not just in a they've-been-around-forever way, either. It's not up to the minute data, but based on the 53-man rosters from Week 1, the Patriots were the 3rd-oldest team in the league (only the Falcons and Raiders were older).<br />
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The Rams are young. And not just in a new-kids-on-the-block-just-had-the-first-pick-a-few-years-ago way, either. Based on those same 53-man rosters, the Rams were the 4th-youngest team in the league (behind Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Dallas).<br />
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In more ways than one, it's Old vs. Young. Brady is the oldest quarterback in the league. Goff is one of the youngest. Bill Belichick is one of the oldest coaches in the league. Sean McVay is the youngest.<br />
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Historically speaking, there haven't been many Super Bowls between a decidedly "old" team and a decidedly "young" team. Generally speaking, a gap of at least a year (by average age) is more than noteworthy, and a gap of two full years is almost unheard of (it would likely be the actual factual youngest team versus the oldest team of that season). If you're looking for a point of reference over the last few decades, there are a few on each side. The markedly younger team won in 2013 (Seattle), 2010 (Green Bay), 2007 (New York), while the markedly older team won in 2009 (New Orleans) and 2000 (Baltimore). For the most part, however, teams have usually been pretty close in age.<br />
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If you're looking at experience rather than age, the gap is even wider. New England obviously has a ridiculous amount of postseason (and Super Bowl) experience. This is New England's fourth trip to the Super Bowl in the last five years and they've played in now eight consecutive AFC Championship games. If you're looking for members of the Rams with extensive postseason experience, you have C.J. Anderson and Aqib Talib, who played on Super Bowl teams in Denver, Brandin Cooks played with New England last year, Sam Shields played in one Super Bowl with Green Bay, and, well, that's just about it.<br />
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Again, though, there are a fistfull of examples of postseason experience either mattering or not mattering at all. Even two weeks ago, the wildly more experienced Patriots beat the Chiefs while the wildly less experienced Rams beat the Saints. Last year, the inexperienced Eagles beat the very experienced Patriots, and in 2015, the very experienced Broncos beat the much less experienced Panthers.<br />
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All of this to say, age and experience probably won't matter all that much and this whole section was kind of a waste of time.<br />
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III.<br />
<br />
The elephant in the room here is that both of these teams were the beneficiaries of a lot of luck two weekends ago. A few breaks of the game or a few calls by the officials could have resulted in a Chiefs-Saints Super Bowl. The Rams, most obviously, were kept alive thanks to perhaps the most inexplicable no-call in NFL history and hung on to win in overtime. The Patriots, meanwhile, had a few very close calls go their way, and of course won the coin toss in overtime, leading to a growing conversation about whether or not both teams should have the right to possess the ball.<br />
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It would be Seussical to try to predict one team to be luckier than the other and end up on top because of it. The reason to bring it up is New England's history in the Super Bowl. We mentioned it in this space last year, but we'll update it now - the margin of victories in New England's Super Bowl appearances are 8, 6, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, and 3. The Patriots haven't had one of those 49ers-Broncos or Cowboys-Bills style blowouts. And based on their team this year, I wouldn't expect one here - against other good teams they grind out small edges and hope and pray that their experience and poise actually matters. And it usually does.<br />
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IV.<br />
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Two weekends ago, the Patriots showed a willingness to run the ball, over and over again, even when they weren't really picking up substantial portions of yardage, just for the purpose of bleeding clock and limiting the number of possessions that the Chiefs would get. They only averaged 3.7 yards per carry for the game, but that wasn't the point - the game ended with the Patriots having held the ball for almost 44 minutes, compared to just under 21 for Kansas City.<br />
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All things considered, Kansas City's run defense held up reasonably well. During the season, the Chiefs allowed 5.0 yards per carry (31st in the league), so in terms of raw yardage, they did better than expected. Where New England had a lot of success, though, was converting 3rd downs on the ground, even at yardage where you'd usually expect them to pass. The Patriots were 5-for-7 converting third downs on the ground (not including a draw play on a 3rd-and-17 that obviously doesn't seem relevant), keeping drives alive, grinding out extra snaps, milking the clock, and ended up winning the game in large part because of it.<br />
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We wouldn't be surprised to see a similar strategy out of the Patriots here. The Rams don't have quite as explosive an offense as the Chiefs do, but the Patriots should still be incentivized to keep them off the field. The good news for the Patriots is that the Rams were the only team in the league with a worse rushing average against than Kansas City was. If the Patriots were able to control the pace and the clock against Kansas City, we'd probably expect them to be able to do the same against Los Angeles. Aaron Donald is always tough to block, so expect the Patriots to double team him on every inside run. Outside of Donald, though, there isn't much to worry about.<br />
<br />
The one strategy that might be viable for Los Angeles is to excessively crowd the box, not unlike what Kansas City started to do in the second half of the AFC Championship game to a decent amount of success. The Patriots lack a true downfield threat, so crowding the line of scrimmage and forcing the Patriots' receivers to win one-on-one matchups at the top of the route might be something worth trying. If Julian Edelman or Chris Hogan can shake free for a few big plays early, things could get dicey, but from our perspective it seems like the choices are to either gamble that New England can't create enough separation to make a big difference in the passing game, or risk death by 1000 cuts on the ground.<br />
<br />
V.<br />
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Now, let's talk gambling!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Jeremy's Bets:</span></b><br />
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You can wager on whether either team will score in the first 5-7.5 minutes of the game, in 30 minute increments, with increasingly beneficial odds. A "No" on 5 minutes you have to lay -165, then -140, -115, +120, +135, and +185. I like all of these bets. I would imagine that whoever ends up with the ball first will try to grind out a long drive - I wouldn't expect to see a quick score.<br />
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Similarly, I wouldn't expect any long scores. The Over/Under on the longest score of the game is 49.5 yards, and I love the under. As it turns out, so does everyone else - you have to lay -155 to put down a bet.<br />
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The total number of punts is listed at 7.5, and I again like the under. For reference, the Patriots and Chiefs combined for seven punts two weeks ago, the Rams and Saints combined for eight. The Patriots and Eagles combined for, well, one punt in last year's Super Bowl. 7.5 seems a bit low for me, and the public seems to agree, you'll have to lay -140 here.<br />
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If you expect Aaron Donald to go nuts, you might want to bet on over 5.5 sacks for the game (and you'll get nice odds to do it - +210). Donald might be able to come up with two or three on his own, and the Patriots all year have been able to manufacture a pass rush when they need it - they sacked Patrick Mahomes four times in the AFC Championship and got Phil Rivers twice the week before. Jared Goff has only been dropped once this postseason and the Rams have one of the best offensive lines in football, but a Belichick specialty over the years has been to get pressure on the quarterback regardless of the talent on either side of the line of scrimmage.<br />
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If you think the Patriots will stick to the script and the game will be close, you can bet on the game to be decided by exactly three points (either way, doesn't matter who wins), you'll get a +375 return on your investment if it is. Exactly six points is +900, exactly seven points is +700. No's on each of those bets will cost you -500, -2000, and -1200 respectively, so while they're obviously safer bets, I'm not sure I like the value there.<br />
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Similarly, given the Patriots proclivity for late dramatics, you can bet +190 for there to be a lead change in the fourth quarter.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Joe's Bets</span></b><br />
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Prop bets are fun, aren't they? If you want to have a little fun at your Super Bowl party, I came across <a href="https://www.sportsbettingdime.com/nfl/printable-super-bowl-party-prop-sheet/" target="_blank">these printable Super Bowl prop sheets</a>, both for the casual and hardcore fan. Since I fancy myself a bit of a football guy (a dude, if you will), I've taken a crack at the "hardcore fan" prop bet sheet. Here we go...<br />
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<b>Total Time for the National Anthem- O/U 107.5 seconds (OVER)</b><br />
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Come on, you always take the over on these. Who wouldn't want to milk that song as long as they can?<br />
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<b>Outcome of the Coin Toss- Heads or Tails (TAILS)</b><br />
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Tails never fails, or so we used to say on PS2.<br />
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<b>1st Play from Scrimmage- Run, Completed Pass, Sack/Incompletion (RUN)</b><br />
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Since I'm banking on New England looking to exploit the Rams' shoddy rush defense, and on LA looking to re-establish Todd Gurley and get C.J. Anderson some more touches, it seems like a solid bet that the first play with be a handoff. Why fight it?<br />
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<b>First Team to Score- New England of Lose Angeles (NE)</b><br />
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Welp, I've got the Pats in a route, so...<br />
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<b>First Score of the Game- TD, FG, Safety (TD)</b><br />
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I see the Pats marching methodically down the field and punching it in, much like they did against the Chiefs two weeks back. If you give Belichick and Brady this much time to game plan, they're gonna have somethin' for ya.<br />
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VI.<br />
<br />
The Rams play a lot of man-to-man coverage, and the Patriots historically have struggled against man-to-man coverage, especially this iteration of the Patriots that's all tight ends and slot receivers with somewhat of a dearth of talent on the outside. The Chiefs played a lot of man-to-man against New England, but it's not like Tom Brady had much trouble finding open receivers. That said, Los Angeles has a more talented back seven than Kansas City does - Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters, and especially Nickell Robey-Coleman had impressive seasons as individuals, and seem to match up well against New England's offense. Robey-Coleman was their most effective corner, and he often lines up in the slot, opposite New England's best receiver in Julian Edelman. Against New Orleans, the Rams shut down the passing game outside of check-downs to Alvin Kamara.<br />
<br />
That there is part of the rub. Tom Brady has made a career of checking down to his running backs rather than forcing the ball downfield. The downside for the Patriots is that Kamara's performance is more fluke than trend - the Rams were one of the best teams at defending the pass against opposing running backs (4th-best in the league per DVOA).<br />
<br />
The Rams have had a suspect pass defense at times, but a lot of that has been their secondary getting burned deep - they ranked 22nd in DVOA against the deep pass, but 6th-best against the short pass. That seems to favor Los Angeles - the Patriots just don't have a true deep threat anymore without Josh Gordon in the lineup.<br />
<br />
There are windows for the Patriots to exploit. Tom Brady loves throwing over the middle, and that's a huge area of weakness for the Rams - they ranked just 28th in the league on throws to the middle of the field. On the flip side, defenses looking to disrupt Brady have done so by generating pressure up the middle, right in Brady's face. The Giants did it twice by lining up Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck at defensive tackle. The Jets upset the Patriots in 2010 thanks to Shaun Ellis wreaking havoc in the middle of the field on a three-man rush while New York dropped eight defenders into coverage. Terrance Knighton dominated the New England interior line in the 2013 AFC Championship game, and Grady Jarrett almost won the Super Bowl beating the Patriots up the middle in 2016. It's been a recipe for success over and over again, so if Aaron Donald shows up in a big way, the Patriots aerial attack might need to make some adjustments.<br />
<br />
VII.<br />
<br />
The Rams have been hot and cold throwing the ball all year, especially since receiver Cooper Kupp went down with an injury, but LA has plenty of weapons. It will come down to Jared Goff who, in a microcosm of his entire season, perhaps, was ice cold for nearly half of the NFC Championship game in New Orleans, before leading an epic comeback in the Dome.<br />
<br />
With no Kupp, and Gurley limited as a weapon out of the backfield, the Rams will largely rely on Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods, who have both been phenomenal this season, but leaning heavily on two receivers could play into New England's hands. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore has been every bit an All-Pro for the Pats, and J.C. Jackson, undrafted out of Maryland, has emerged as a reliable starter on the opposite end down the stretch.<br />
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It will be interesting to see how the Patriots play this, but look for Jackson to get help against one of the Rams' top-two receivers, while Gilmore attempts to smother the other by himself.<br />
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The other question will be how LA's line holds up against New England's pass rush. Trey Flowers has had a nice year, but the Patriots have seen some success blitzing this postseason, with Kyle Van Noy collecting a pair of playoff sacks rushing from his linebacker spot. If New England can get away with rushing four, it's hard to see Goff finding much room to throw.<br />
<br />
VIII.<br />
<br />
Neither of these teams are great at defending the run, and both are pretty darn good at running it, but there will still be questions when the Rams keep it on the ground. The biggest one, of course, is the health of star running back Todd Gurley. The Rams held Gurley out at the end of the regular season, and he just hasn't looked like himself since. Luckily, backup C.J. Anderson has been a revelation, rumbling his way to three straight 100-yards games, before being held in check in New Orleans.<br />
<br />
The Rams, like the Pats, have a stout offensive line, and they've also been very lucky in terms of health. LA's line has also helped its running backs lead the league in yards rushing this year, and yards gained before contact. So, if the Rams hope to pull off the upset, pounding the rock might not be a bad idea.<br />
<br />
IX.<br />
<br />
As Jeremy mentioned above, this game is old vs young, and experienced vs inexperienced. For that reason, I've got to go with the Patriots, and I honestly don't see it being all that close. New England has gotten back to running the football, and they've got three really good backs that can wear out a mediocre Rams' rush defense, and keep the LA pass rushers from pinning their ears back to go get Brady.<br />
<br />
On the other side of the ball, the Patriots are just cohesive enough to hold it together, and I still don't trust the Rams to play a complete game, nor am I sure Todd Gurley is fully healthy, even now. I like the Pats to jump on top early, keep running the ball, and force Jared Goff to play from behind again.<br />
<br />
<b>New England 38, Los Angeles 24</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>-JP</b><br />
<br />
X.<br />
<br />
In Bill Belichick's career in New England, he's 16-1 in the playoffs against a new opponent (i.e. a team New England did not face in the regular season). They're 13-9 in rematches. The Patriots did not play the Rams this season. Worth mentioning.<br />
<br />
Who you like in this game comes down to how you choose to evaluate the playoffs in general. Do you back the team that was better all season, or do you back the team that's playing better right now? If you're looking at the full season, the Rams are clearly better. They lost fewer games, and their losses weren't to teams like the Dolphins and Jaguars and Lions, they were to the Saints and Bears and Eagles, they had a better offense, a better defense, and better special teams. There isn't a metric in the world that credibly says that the Patriots have been better than the Rams since September 1st.<br />
<br />
But the more you weight the sample size towards recent performance, it starts to favor the Patriots. Right now, they're the hot team. Their defense has shown steady improvement over the last two months, to the point that they were legitimately great in their two playoff wins.<br />
<br />
If you're backing the Patriots, you're nervous about two things in particular, both of which are outlined above. First, Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh versus the interior of the New England offensive line. Tom Brady is historically great against pressure coming off the edge - he'll just step up into the pocket and rifle a throw downfield to a slot receiver on a crossing route. Tom Brady is historically pedestrian against pressure up the middle. He doesn't escape the pocket well. The second thing you're nervous about is the Los Angeles offensive line. They demolished teams on the ground this year, setting an all-time record in Football Outsiders' key stat for offensive line play (Adjusted Line Yards). With New England having a suspect run defense, the Patriots' strategy of bleeding clock and keeping the other offense off the field could be turned on them here.<br />
<br />
If you're backing the Rams, however, you're nervous about more than just that. You're nervous about Tom Brady having yet another Tom Brady-esque game in the Super Bowl. You're nervous about the Patriots having a handful of very specific strengths that match up with a handful of your own very specific weaknesses. You're probably worried about Jared Goff. How good is he actually? And how will he play against Bill Belichick? You're worried about Todd Gurley's no-show in the NFC Championship game. You're worried about your best receiver having played for the Patriots last year, so you'd probably assume they have a decent idea of how to cover him.<br />
<br />
All in all, the game is extremely, extremely close on paper, but the matchups seem to favor New England. As has been the case so many times over the last two decades, two teams that look this similar on paper usually end up playing a pretty close game. And in a pretty close game, it's important to keep in mind that one team has Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, and the other team doesn't. For almost 20 years, I've been trying to figure out how many points that's worth in a given game. I'm not sure how many it is exactly, but for now, I'll trust that it's enough for the Patriots to come out on top.<br />
<br />
<b>New England 34, Los Angeles 31</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>-JC</b>Jeremy Conlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999218325324667964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-25601498298369457832019-01-19T00:16:00.002-05:002019-01-19T00:16:55.640-05:00NFL Conference Championship Primer (With Picks): Top Seeds Advance<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patrick Mahomes has enjoyed a magical first year starting for Kansas City, but come on. He isn't gonna beat Tom Freakin' Brady in the AFC Championship Game, is he?... Is he?</td></tr>
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<i>By Jeremy Conlin (<a href="https://twitter.com/jeremy_conlin" target="_blank">@jeremy_conlin</a>) and Joe Parello (<a href="https://twitter.com/HerewegoJoe" target="_blank">@HerewegoJoe</a>)</i><br />
<br />
Well, last weekend went according to script.<br />
<br />
All four home teams won. Three of them covered. Two of them covered comfortably.<br />
<br />
Joe went 4-0 straight up, 3-1 against the spread (picking the Colts to cover against Kansas City). Jeremy went 3-1 straight up (missing that same KC-Indy game), 2-2 against the spread (also missing on New Orleans), bringing our records for this postseason to 5-3 (5-3) for Jeremy and 5-3 (7-1) for Joe.<br />
<br />
[It remains incredibly perplexing that Joe went 1-3 straight up in the Wild Card round but somehow went 4-0 against the spread.]<br />
<br />
These four teams advancing to this round seems appropriate. It really seems like these four teams were just better than everyone else this year, kind of like that year where all four No. 1 seeds advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament (the Derrick Rose on Memphis, Tyler Hansbrough on North Carolina, Kevin Love on UCLA, Mario Chalmers & Co. on Kansas year). I suppose you can make an argument that Chicago and the Chargers were in that conversation as well, but based on how those teams played in the playoffs, probably not.<br />
<br />
Both of the games this weekend are rematches. In the AFC, this week's road team won the first matchup, but they won it at home. In the NFC, this week's home team won the first tilt, and they're at home here again (in large part because of that win). Both games represent the old vs. the new(ish).<br />
<br />
The Saints and Patriots represent The Old Guard of their respective conferences - coaches that have been with the organization for over a decade; former Super Bowl champions; future Hall of Fame quarterbacks that attended college in a different century. The Chiefs and Rams are the new. Young, vibrant quarterbacks with upside to potentially match or exceed the ability of their older counterparts; teams that haven't reached the Super Bowl in decades; teams itching to make a name for themselves.<br />
<br />
Let's not waste any more time.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans (3:05 p.m. Sunday, FOX)</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Opening Line:</b> Saints by 3.5<br />
<b>Current Line:</b> Saints by 3<br />
<br />
<b>By The Numbers: </b><br />
<br />
<b>Los Angeles:</b><br />
<i>Record: 13-3 Overall, 6-2 Road; 7-7-2 Against the Spread, 4-4 Road</i><br />
<i>Average Score: 32.9 (2nd) - 24.0 (20th)</i><br />
<i>Average Scoring Margin: +8.9 (3rd); 10.9 "Expected" Wins</i><br />
<i>DVOA: +24.6% Offense (1st), +0.8% Defense (18th), -0.2% Special Teams (17th); +23.7% Overall (2nd)</i><br />
<br />
<b>New Orleans: </b><br />
<i>Record: 13-3 Overall, 6-2 Home; 10-6 Against the Spread, 4-4 Home</i><br />
<i>Average Score: 31.5 (3rd) - 22.1 (14th)</i><br />
<i>Average Scoring Margin: +9.4 (1st); 11.2 "Expected" Wins</i><br />
<i>DVOA: +15.9% Offense (4th), -3.1% Defense (11th), +1.7% Special Teams (9th); +20.7% Overall (4th)</i><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<b>Player(s) to Watch: Aaron Donald</b><br />
<br />
This season, Aaron Donald was a one-man wrecking crew on the interior for the Rams. He finished first in the solar system in just about every relevant category for defensive linemen - sacks, pressures, quarterback hits, tackles for loss - everything.<br />
<br />
Here's the problem - for all of the talent that Los Angeles has on defense surrounding him, Donald is just about the only thing that went right for the Rams' front seven this year. Ndamukong Suh finished with just 4.5 sacks, 4 tackles for loss, and is showing all 31 of his years (in his defense he did pick up 19 QB hits, top-30 in the league). They traded for Dante Fowler halfway through the season - he managed just two sacks and five quarterback hits in eight games.<br />
<br />
As a team, the Rams finished just 19th in adjusted sack rate, and 29th in yards per rush allowed to running backs (dead last overall). Their defense was propped up by their propensity to force turnovers - 30 overall. There's another problem there, though - the Rams were incredibly lucky recovering fumbles. The Rams defense forced 14 fumbles, and recovered 12 of them. That's just not a sustainable number - a defense will recover roughly half of the fumbles they force over a long enough sample.<br />
<br />
All of this is to say that Donald needs to have a monster game in order for the Rams to get stops. Drew Brees doesn't exactly throw a lot of interceptions, and they can't count on having a high-80s percent chance of recovering a fumble (if they even force one). If Donald is anything short of a tour-de-force in this game, it suddenly turns into a matchup where the first team to 40 probably wins.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<br />
<b>Hidden Points: The Bag of Tricks in the Kitchen Sink</b><br />
<br />
To be honest, there isn't really much in this matchup that isn't already on the table. We pretty much know what both of these teams are. Elite offenses with passable defenses. Both teams stayed remarkably healthy all year. Both teams have a clear strength that matches up favorably with a clear weakness for the other team (New Orleans rush offense vs. Los Angeles rush defense; deep corps of LA receivers vs. a New Orleans' secondary that struggles on the outside). As the two best teams in the conference, we've seen and heard and read and discussed just about everything there is to know about these two teams.<br />
<br />
So, this game might come down to which team pulls a new gadget out of their bag of tricks. Will either of these teams fake a punt, or surprise an onside kick, or unexpectedly switch up a defensive philosophy (playing zone when they've played man-to-man all season, etc.)? When everything is on the board, the game comes down to simply which team executes better and/or presents a wrinkle that isn't already on the board.<br />
<br />
Both Sean Payton and Sean McVay are innovative coaches who in the past have pulled out a gadget in a big moment. If either one of them tries it this weekend, and their team pulls it off, it could be the difference in the game.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<br />
<b>The State of the Rams</b><br />
<br />
A game the Rams led 20-3 at halftime against Dallas last week somehow came down to the wire, but LA flexed its muscles and showed why it was a trendy Super Bowl pick coming into the season. The Rams bludgeoned Dallas on the ground, amassing 273 yards rushing, with journeyman C.J. Anderson leading the way with 123 and two scores, and All-Pro Todd Gurley turning in a solid 115-yard, one touchdown performance in his first game back from injury.<br />
<br />
The LA defense also bottled up Dallas' vaunted ground game, holding Zeke Elliot to just 47 yards on 20 carries.<br />
<br />
Basically, the Rams beat the Cowboys at their own game.<br />
<br />
Now, with Jared Goff protecting the ball, the physical Ram front stuffing the run, and a pair of beastly backs leading the charge, LA is playing championship football, but will it be enough in the Dome?<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<br />
<b>The State of the Saints</b><br />
<br />
After falling in a 14-point hole early, the Saints bounced back against the upset-minded Eagles and completely dominated the game's final three quarters. That said, it was still close, and even NO's close to 38 minutes of possession time couldn't put the Eagles away until the very end.<br />
<br />
Still, it's hard to look past how well New Orleans' defense played, pitching a shutout for three quarters, and how balanced and unpredictable the Saints' offense was. Last week seems to be little more than a team coming off a bye against a hot opponent, but could the slow start be cause for concern against the explosive Rams?<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Picks:</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Saints 24, Rams 20</b><br />
<br />
If I were a betting man, I would bet on the Saints, and I'd bet on the under (the total currently sits between 56 and 57, depending on where you look). I expect this game to actually be relatively low-scoring, simply because both teams are such proficient rushing offenses, and I'd imagine we'll see some long, 10-12 play, 7-8 minute drives.<br />
<br />
When these two teams met at the beginning of November, the Saints jumped out to an early lead, which forced Los Angeles into an air-it-out offense, rendering Todd Gurley a relative non-factor. That's the way to beat the Rams. When they get their ground game going, they're just too balanced and efficient for anyone short of an elite defense to stop them. The best way to slow down the Rams' offense is to keep them off the field and get out ahead of them.<br />
<br />
Granted, that's also the best way to slow down New Orleans' offense as well. Unfortunately for the Rams, the Saints have one of the league's best run defenses - it seems unlikely to me that the Rams will be able to get their ground game going early, which also makes it seem unlikely to me that the Rams will be the ones to jump out to an early lead.<br />
<br />
With offenses this good and defenses that aren't quite as good, the upper hand goes to one unknown (the team that happens to end up with the ball last) and one known (the team that can salt away a late lead with their running game). The Saints just fit that bill better than the Rams do.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<br />
<b>Saints 31, Rams 26</b><br />
<br />
Well, I've been saying Saints vs Patriots all year, so I may as well stick to my guns (spoiler for my AFC pick). While LA's performance last week gives me pause, and showed that the Rams also have a pair of capable backs, I have to go with the experienced team that won earlier this year.<br />
<br />
Drew Brees has the best running game of his career, a true No. 1 receiver, and a solid defense. Those things haven't come together very often for him, and I think he cashes in on it for his second trip to Super Sunday.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>New England at Kansas City (6:40 p.m. Sunday, CBS)</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Opening Line:</b> Chiefs by 3<br />
<b>Current Line:</b> Chiefs by 3<br />
<br />
<b>By The Numbers:</b><br />
<br />
<b>New England: </b><br />
<i>Record: 11-5 Overall, 3-5 Road; 9-7 Against the Spread, 3-5 Road </i><br />
<i>Average Score: 27.3 (4th) - 20.3 (7th)</i><br />
<i>Average Scoring Margin: +6.9 (5th); 10.7 "Expected" Wins</i><br />
<i>DVOA: +14.5% Offense (5th), +0.4% Defense (16th), +0.1% Special Teams (16th); +14.2% Overall (7th)</i><br />
<br />
<b>Kansas City: </b><i><br />
<i>Record: 12-4 Overall, 7-1 Home; 9-6-1 Against the Spread, 4-4 Home</i><br />
<i>Average Score: 35.3 (1st) - 26.3 (24th)</i><br />
<i>Average Scoring Margin: +9.0 (2nd); 10.7 "Expected" Wins</i><br />
<i>DVOA: +34.2% Offense (1st), +6.8% Defense (26th), +5.6% Special Teams (2nd); +33.0% Overall (1st)</i></i><br />
<br />
<b>Player(s) to Watch: Tyreek Hill, Stephon Gilmore</b><br />
<br />
The first time these two teams met, the game was decided by who had the ball last. There was one punt in the game - every other possession was a score or a turnover. Defense was optional. Of Kansas City's 446 yards of total offense, 327 of them were gained by just two players - Tyreek Hill and Kareem Hunt. Obviously, Hunt is no longer in the picture, but Hill continues to be a dynamic player.<br />
<br />
Gilmore was one of the best cornerbacks in football this season. Whether or not he'll end up opposite Hill is another question. A common defensive strategy for the Patriots over the last handful of years has been to line up their best cover cornerback (Darrelle Revis, Malcolm Butler, now Gilmore) actually opposite the opponent's No. 2 receiver, then putting their secondary cornerback on the other team's best receiving threat, and then rotating their safeties over the top. That way your best corner has an advantageous matchup against a lesser receiver, and the opponent's best receiver is seeing double-coverage all afternoon.<br />
<br />
Here, though, Kansas City's secondary receivers aren't quite as threatening. Travis Kelce is certainly dangerous, but I doubt the Patriots would put Gilmore on Kelce unless he's lined up wide. I would expect Gilmore to mirror Hill, trying to prevent Hill from having the kind of game he did back in October.<br />
<br />
This matchup is purely strength versus strength, so whichever player ends up with the upper hand will be going a long way towards winning the game for their team.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<br />
<b>Hidden Points: Long Drives vs. Long Plays</b><br />
<br />
One thing to keep in mind from the first meeting between these two teams was how they went about scoring their touchdowns. Each team had a short, excuse-me touchdown drive following a turnover (1 play, 4 yards for the Patriots; 3 plays, 3 yards for the Chiefs). Outside of that, however, look at the scoring drives for the Patriots:<br />
<br />
8 plays, 45 yards, Field Goal<br />
10 plays, 75 yards, Touchdown<br />
7 plays, 75 yards, Touchdown<br />
12 plays, 65 yards, Field Goal<br />
12 plays, 54 yards, Field Goal<br />
7 plays, 75 yards, Touchdown<br />
5 plays, 47 yards, Field Goal<br />
7 plays, 65 yards, Field Goal<br />
<br />
And then for the Chiefs:<br />
<br />
8 plays, 35 yards, Field Goal<br />
5 plays, 31 yards, Field Goal<br />
11 plays, 69 yards, Field Goal<br />
3 plays, 75 yards, Touchdown<br />
9 plays, 51 yards, Field Goal<br />
4 plays, 29 yards, Touchdown<br />
1 play, 75 yards, Touchdown<br />
<br />
The Patriots averaged between eight and nine plays per scoring drive, while the Chiefs averaged between five and six. The Patriots were grinding out long drives, while the Chiefs needed two different touchdown plays of 60+ yards to keep up. Yes, Kansas City's offense generated a ton of big plays this season, but two long touchdowns like that aren't exactly something you can count on every game. <br />
<br />
The Patriots really had no trouble marching up and down the field against the Kansas City defense - they didn't punt all game; they converted 31 first downs and held the ball for 36 minutes of game clock. They lost a fumble, they had a turnover on downs, and other than that every single possession was a long scoring drive.<br />
<br />
If you're looking for a harbinger, something that happened last time that might repeat this time, I certainly have a lot more faith in a team being able to grind out more long touchdown drives rather than a team being able to pull a few long touchdowns out of their hat.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<br />
<b>The State of the Patriots</b><br />
<br />
It's January, so the Patriots are probably still playing football. Yeah, this is New England's eighth consecutive AFC Championship Game appearance, which is just patently absurd, seeing as only three other AFC teams (Pittsburgh, Denver and Oakland) have made more than eight conference title game appearances in their entire history. The Brady/Belichick duo is making its 13th appearance on championship Sunday, so experience will be decidedly on one sideline.<br />
<br />
Also working in New England's favor could be the weather, because the Patriots are not especially equipped to win a high-flying shootout against the Chiefs (what with Josh Gordon being gone and Rob Gronkowski aging exponentially), but they would seem to very well-stocked to win a slugfest. The Patriots gave us a preview of what that might look like last week, when they turned Sony Michel loose, to the tune of 24 carries for 129 yards and three scores.<br />
<br />
That opened things up for a very sharp Brady and, though his weapons might seem limited, Julian Edelman is still every bit the big-game player he's always been, and James White continues to be the most underrated pass catching back I've ever seen.<br />
<br />
After a blowout win last week, are Brady and Co. ready to make another Super Bowl run? Probably.<br />
<br />
<b>The State of the Chiefs</b><br />
<br />
Tough to find many flaws with the way the Chiefs played at home against a hot opponent last week, icing the Colts in a 31-13 win. But, there could be cause for concern. In the wintery conditions, star quarterback Patrick Mahomes looked human, throwing for zero touchdowns and under 300 yards for the first time all season. All that on 41 attempt through the air, and the young All-Pro took four sacks, while throwing some flat-out ducks.<br />
<br />
Of course, Mahomes still didn't turn the ball over, managed several long drives, and running back Damien Williams was fantastic. Plus, the Chief defense played one of its best games, stifling a previously hot Colts offense. Was this the product of bad weather causing both offenses to be out of sync? Maybe, but does that bode well for the Chiefs as they welcome a better opponent in potentially worse conditions? If KC learned from last week, it could be an advantage, especially if Mahomes is sharper in his second ever playoff start.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Picks: </b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Patriots 31, Chiefs 28</b><br />
<br />
I know the Patriots are 3-5 on the road this year.<br />
<br />
I know the Patriots don't have the best track record winning on the road in the playoffs.<br />
<br />
I know I picked against the Chiefs last week and they made me look stupid.<br />
<br />
I'm fully aware I'm making this pick with my heart and not my head.<br />
<br />
I don't care.<br />
<br />
I think there are signs that point to the Patriots being able to sneak out of Kansas City with a win. Bad weather this weekend certainly favors the team that doesn't rely on big plays to score. The New England rushing offense has developed into a legitimate weapon over the last few months. The Chiefs have a porous defense, especially against the run. Bill Belichick has an astounding record against rookie quarterbacks. The Patriots won the matchup earlier this year. Andy Reid is the coach of the Chiefs.<br />
<br />
Sure, there are signs that point to the Chiefs also. The Chiefs are at home and the Patriots were dismal on the road. The Kansas City offense hasn't really missed a beat without Kareem Hunt. The Patriots don't have a great option for covering Travis Kelce. The Chiefs' defense stepped up big time against the Colts last week. Tom Brady hasn't really looked quite like Tom Brady pretty much all season.<br />
<br />
But, like I said.<br />
<br />
I don't care.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<br />
<b>Patriots 24, Chiefs 20</b><br />
<br />
I know I said earlier that I kinda had to make this pick to keep my old Super Bowl prediction, but I honestly feel like this is how the game plays out. New England went old-school on the Chargers last week, suffocating the Bolts' offense, and beating their defense up with a healthy dosage of Sony Michel and Co. on the ground.<br />
<br />
Since the forecast calls for the 8th season of <i>Game of Thrones </i>in Kansas City Sunday, I'll go with the team that has shown it can win by running the ball and playing defense against a good opponent.<br />
<br />
-JPJeremy Conlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999218325324667964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-66456820095196144092019-01-11T21:15:00.000-05:002019-01-12T22:54:33.856-05:00NFL Divisional Weekend Primer (With Picks): The Favorites Arrive
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-ohlgjcEWSUvi_BnpC2ncubCzTJZsRo6q3oBYrW86dHOC7Bq_rBb-hd6KejhfYpIr8o85CGHWBp_9HruZyfFs0FOfTLEbeqZKmB_dahC0QHPJqMqtObxWbGjWrMUbayIgcq47Za0Suw/s1600/Philip-Rivers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="612" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-ohlgjcEWSUvi_BnpC2ncubCzTJZsRo6q3oBYrW86dHOC7Bq_rBb-hd6KejhfYpIr8o85CGHWBp_9HruZyfFs0FOfTLEbeqZKmB_dahC0QHPJqMqtObxWbGjWrMUbayIgcq47Za0Suw/s400/Philip-Rivers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this the year Philip Rivers and the Chargers finally break through to the Super Bowl? And, so, like, are all the people in San Diego rooting for them?</td></tr>
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<i>By Jeremy Conlin (<a href="https://twitter.com/jeremy_conlin" target="_blank">@jeremy_conlin</a>) and Joe Parello (<a href="https://twitter.com/HerewegoJoe" target="_blank">@HerewegoJoe</a>)</i><br />
<br />
In the divisional weekend, we saw a surprise three road teams win, and almost saw a road sweep. In fact, all four road teams covered the spread (the Cowboys closed favored by two and a half). Four especially close games benefited those of us who bet on underdogs, which was both of us. Joe went just 1-3 straight up (correctly picking Indianapolis), but somehow ended up 4-0 against the spread. Jeremy was 2-2 straight up (hitting both AFC games, missing both NFC games), and went 3-1 against the spread (only Chicago let him down).<br />
<br />
This season really saw the cream rise to the top, however, so we're probably in store for a few more lopsided games this weekend. Last week's biggest line was Chicago favored by six; both NFC games opened with higher lines, and both AFC lines are larger than any of the other lines from last weekend.<br />
<br />
As with last weekend, we'll dive into the numbers for each team, focus on a few key players and statistical trends, and picking each game by score, which will also serve as our picks against the spread. Let's get to it. <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Indianapolis at Kansas City (4:35 p.m. Saturday, NBC)</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Opening Line:</b> Chiefs by 4.5<br />
<b>Current Line:</b> Chiefs by 5.5<br />
<br />
<b>By The Numbers:</b><br />
<br />
<b>Indianapolis: </b><br />
<i>Record: 10-6 Overall, 4-4 Road; 8-7-1 Against the Spread, 5-3 Road</i><br />
<i>Average Score: 27.1 (5th) - 21.5 (10th)</i><br />
<i>Average Scoring Margin: +5.6 (8th); 10.1 "Expected" Wins</i><br />
<i>DVOA: +8.2% Offense (10th), -3.4% Defense (10th), +0.9% Special Teams (12th); +12.6% Overall (8th)</i><br />
<br />
<b>Kansas City: </b><br />
<i>Record: 12-4 Overall, 7-1 Home; 9-6-1 Against the Spread, 4-4 Home</i><br />
<i>Average Score: 35.3 (1st) - 26.3 (24th)</i><br />
<i>Average Scoring Margin: +9.0 (2nd); 10.7 "Expected" Wins</i><br />
<i>DVOA: +34.2% Offense (1st), +6.8% Defense (26th), +5.6% Special Teams (2nd); +33.0% Overall (1st)</i><br />
<br />
<b>Player(s) To Watch: Justin Houston, Chris Jones, Dee Ford</b><br />
<br />
Kansas City doesn't exactly have the best defense in football. They gave up north of 450 yards in six different games this year (losing three of them), and even gave up huge chunks of yards in games against Oakland, San Francisco, and Denver (teams not exactly known for explosive offenses).<br />
<br />
Most of their holes are on the ground. They finished 31st in the league in yards per carry against them, and finished dead last in rush defense DVOA. Their pass defense was slightly better - they gave up a ton of yards in the air (2nd most in the league), but that's in large part because they were often leading late in games, and teams were throwing to catch up. On a per-play basis, the Chiefs' pass defense was actually towards the middle of the pack.<br />
<br />
A big reason for that is their exceptional pass rush. They sacked opposing quarterbacks 52 times this season (tied for best in the league), led by Chris Jones (15.5 sacks), Dee Ford (13 sacks), and Justin Houston (9 sacks in 12 games).<br />
<br />
The flip side of this equation, as we talked about last week, is that Indianapolis had the best pass protection unit in all of football this year. If Indianapolis can keep Andrew Luck upright, they might actually have a path to victory. The Colts upset Houston last week by grinding out 200 yards on the ground and making a handful of big plays in the passing game. That gameplan can work against the Chiefs - that's how Seattle beat them in Week 16. The Chiefs will need Jones, Ford, and Houston to come up big and not let Andrew Luck find a rhythm. I'm not sure Kansas City has much hope of shutting down Indianapolis' ground game, so they'll need to find a way to disrupt the passing game, and these three guys are their best bet.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<br />
<b>Hidden Points: Third Downs</b><br />
<br />
When either team has the ball, third downs are a strong example of strength vs. weakness for the offense. Kansas City had the 2nd-best third down offense in the league this year (converting 47.2 percent), but just the 25th-bests third down defense (allowing 41.5 percent). Indianapolis is in a similar boat. They were the only third down offense better than Kansas City this year, at 48.6 percent, but allowed opponents to convert on 41.0 percent of their attempts (23rd in the league).<br />
<br />
So much of single-game analysis tends to hinge on which team wins the key matchup - strength vs. strength - like above with Kansas City's defensive front versus Indianapolis' offensive line. But what happens when both teams have the same strength where their opponent has a weakness? Both of these teams are elite on third down, and both struggle with third down defense. This game might come down to which offense can assert their advantage on third down and which defense can hold up just well enough to force a punt or two. This becomes especially true in the Red Zone, where again, both offenses have clear advantages over their counterpart.<br />
<br />
The Colts ranked 4th in the league converting Red Zone opportunities into touchdowns, and fourth overall in points per drive. Kansas City finished first in both of those categories. Defensively, the Colts had the 11th-best Red Zone defense, and finished 11th-best in points per drive, while Kansas City finished 31st in preventing teams from scoring once they got inside the 20 yard line, and allowed the 28th-most points per drive.<br />
<br />
Both of these offenses should find success in high-leverage moments, with the Colts even possibly holding a slight edge thanks to their Red Zone defense.<br />
<br />
<b>The State of the Colts</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Indianapolis stayed hot last week, starting quick and running away from the Texans in Houston. This week will bring a much larger challenge, as last week was a dream matchup against an underwhelming secondary and beaten up offense, and this week the Colts' defense will have to wrangle Pat Mahomes at Arrowhead.<br />
<br />
That said, Indy remains the hottest team in football, and the Colts' defensive speed, particularly at linebacker, could make things difficult for the Chiefs' play making offense.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<br />
<b>The State of the Chiefs</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The Chiefs clinched home field advantage by blowing out the Raiders in Week and 17, but limped to the finish before then, losing back-to-back games to the Seahawks and Chargers. This week's competition will be much closer to Seattle and LA than Oakland, and the Chiefs went just 2-4 against playoff teams this year.<br />
<br />
Can the Chiefs regain their mojo at home, and with a first-year starter at quarterback? KC certainly has the talent to go all the way, but the Chiefs will likely need to start quick against a hot Colts team.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Picks</span></b><br />
<br />
<b>Colts 35, Chiefs 31</b><br />
<br />
Back in 2014, these two teams met at Lucas Oil Stadium, and boy, it was a barn-burner. Kansas City jumped out to an early lead, holding a 38-10 lead early in the third quarter. Then, well, Andrew Luck happened. The Colts rattled off five second-half touchdowns while the Chiefs' offense slowed to a crawl, and the Colts won 45-44.<br />
<br />
I don't think this game will be quite as high-scoring. The Colts, at least, have an offense that would rather grind out long drives than score long touchdowns, but both teams are certainly capable of explosive plays. I think this game will likely be decided by which team's offense is better able to convert their opportunities - converting third downs into first downs, and converting Red Zone opportunities into touchdowns.<br />
<br />
It kind of flew under the radar, what with the Chiefs, Saints, and Rams having such dynamic seasons, but Andrew Luck was really, really good this season, finishing with the highest QB Rating and Total QBR of his career.<br />
<br />
Marlon Mack has also been a wildly underrated back this year. As mentioned last week, Mack finished as a top-5 runner according to Football Outsiders, above players with much higher acclaim, like Ezekiel Elliot, Melvin Gordon, even Saquon Barkley. If you look at his season and include last week's game against Houston, then prorate his numbers to a full season (he missed the first month of the year), you're looking at a running back that would have accounted for north of 1200 yards and 12 touchdowns.<br />
<br />
One last point - Andy Reid has won one playoff game in the last decade. They were 8.5 point favorites last year against Tennessee and lost at home. They were favorites in 2016 against Pittsburgh, and again, lost at home. They blew a four-touchdown lead in that aforementioned 2013 Wild Card game. The 2010 Eagles were favored over the Packers, and, you can probably see where this is going - they lost at home. In the interest of fairness - the Andy Reid Chiefs did go into Houston and take care of business in the 2015 Playoffs, 30-0. On the other hand, that was an 8-8 Texans team that was starting Brian Hoyer at quarterback, and the Chiefs lost the following weekend to New England.<br />
<br />
So, to reiterate - I'm wagering on Indianapolis having more success turning third downs into first downs, and turning plus field position into points, specifically, touchdowns. And I'm wagering against Andy Reid, because history tells you it's usually a good bet.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<br />
<b>Chiefs 35, Colts 31</b><br />
<br />
Yeah, I hear all that, and I originally thought I was gonna be taking the Colts as well, but I just think Pat Mahomes balls out in his first playoff game. I won't write your eyes off, it's just a hunch, but I see KC coming out on top in a close shootout, but I think Indy covers the spread.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Dallas at Los Angeles Rams (8:15 p.m. Saturday, FOX)</b></span><br />
<i> </i><br />
<b>Opening Line:</b> Rams by 7<br />
<b>Current Line:</b> Rams by 7<br />
<br />
<b>By The Numbers:</b><br />
<br />
<b>Dallas: </b><br />
<i>Record: 10-6 Overall, 3-5 Home; 9-6-1 Against the Spread, 4-4 Home</i><br />
<i>Average Score: 21.2 (22nd) - 20.3 (6th)</i><br />
<i>Average Scoring Margin: +0.9 (14th); 8.4 "Expected" Wins</i><br />
<i>DVOA: -6.5% Offense (24th), -3.5% Defense (9th), -2.1% Special Teams (23rd); -5.2% Overall (21st) </i><br />
<br />
<b>Los Angeles:</b><br />
<i>Record: 13-3 Overall, 7-1 Home; 7-7-2 Against the Spread, 3-3-2 Home</i><br />
<i>Average Score: 32.9 (2nd) - 24.0 (20th)</i><br />
<i>Average Scoring Margin: +8.9 (3rd); 10.9 "Expected" Wins</i><br />
<i>DVOA: +24.6% Offense (1st), +0.8% Defense (18th), -0.2% Special Teams (17th); +23.7% Overall (2nd)</i><br />
<br />
<b>Player(s) To Watch: Xavier Woods, Jeff Heath, Kavon Frazier</b><br />
<b>Hidden Points: Touches</b> <br />
<br />
We're throwing in a curveball here - we're covering our players to watch and our hidden points in one combined section. It'll make sense in a minute, I promise.<br />
<br />
Last week, we looked at Dallas' skill position players and posited that if Dallas just decided to force the ball to Ezekiel Elliot and Amari Cooper, they might be able to make a run in this postseason. Well, that kind of worked last weekend. Those two players combined for 37 touches and ended up accumulating 278 of Dallas' 380 total yards of offense. Conversely, Seattle's two best skill position players - Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett combined for just seven touches on 12 targets, gaining 152 yards. In a lot of ways, that was the difference in the game.<br />
<br />
Something to that effect could happen again this week - Dallas can choose to force the ball to their two stars that, for the most part, are just better than anyone else on the other side of the ball. Los Angeles might not have that luxury this week. Sure, they have Todd Gurley, the best all-around back in the league, and the type of player who can handle a big workload. But - he sat out the last two games with knee inflammation and the Rams might be hesitant to feed him the ball 30-35 times here. At receiver, the Rams have Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, and Josh Reynolds - three talented receivers, but nobody of the Antonio Brown, DeAndre Hopkins, Julio Jones, Larry Fitzgerald ilk where you can just target them 20 times in a game and expect them to make plays. They're obviously good players, but contextually good, not slam dunks regardless of the offense they play in or the players around them.<br />
<br />
That's where Woods and Heath and Frazier come in. Dallas has three above-average or better safeties that all see a decent amount of play. The Rams' offense puts a good deal of pressure on opposing safeties, with a lot of screens to Todd Gurley and deep crossing routes on playaction. The only way the Rams could pressure safeties more is by throwing to their tight ends (Gerald Everett and Tyler Higbee combined for just 57 catches and 612 yards). Regardless, Woods, Heath, and Frazier will have a big task ahead of them. If they can fly all over the place and pick up open receivers, and the Dallas front seven can slow down the run game the way they did against Seattle last week, then Dallas has a path to victory.<br />
<br />
The Dallas recipe is like baking the perfect chocolate cake - it looks simple on paper but way harder than it looks. They have to force the ball to Elliot and Cooper, sell out to stop Todd Gurley, and hope your deep secondary can parry the Rams deep receiving corps. I'm not sure how well I buy it, but it exists.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<br />
<b>The State of the Cowboys</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Dallas cooled off Seattle last week, and looked every bit the part of a defensive juggernaut. The Cowboys are looking like the Boys of the 90s, and are playing the same style, albeit it in a totally different era. Will it be enough to get past a higher-powered and more talented Rams team? That will likely depend on what Dallas gets out of quarterback Dad Prescott.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The State of the Rams</b><br />
<br />
With the second-highest scoring offense in football, LA will present a much larger and more diverse challenge for that Cowboy defense this week. Making the Rams even scarier is the fact that they continued to produce, even while star running back Todd Gurley was on the shelf. LA was able to rest him an extra two or three weeks than he actually needed, so expect Gurley to be fresh.<br />
<br />
The real question, as with Dallas, will be at the quarterback position, where Jared Goff has gone from fantastic to awful and back again this season. The Rams' defense is as talented a unit as there is, but has been prone to gaffes and big plays. There's no question LA is the more talented team, but in this matchup of contrasting styles, the Rams will need to shore up their rush defense and produce chunk plays on offense.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Picks</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Rams 31, Cowboys 13</b><br />
<br />
Here's what I didn't really talk about in my section above - the more Dallas decides to just force the ball to their horses, the easier they become to defend. Sure, they won last weekend using that recipe, but let's sprinkle in some context. Yes, Elliot and Cooper had good games, but it's not like the Dallas offense was humming all night. They finished with 380 yards of total offense - a respectable total, but only that. 380 yards per game for the full season would place a team just barely in the top 10 in the league. They averaged 5.5 yards per play, which would have placed 18th in the league this season. Receivers that were not Elliot or Cooper gained a total of just 88 yards on 11 touches (Rod Smith also had one rush for one yard, but we can ignore him here). It was far from a virtuosic performance from the Dallas offense.<br />
<br />
What's more - sure, Dallas won the game, but it's not like they won easily. It was a back-and-forth game that they ended up only putting away in the final minutes. And that was at home, against a reasonably flawed team. Dallas was an exceptional home team this year (7-1), but not a very good road team (3-5). Now they're going up against one of the best home teams in the league this year in the Rams.<br />
<br />
On top of that, I might just reject my own premise that Todd Gurley won't get 35 or 40 touches this weekend because he's coming off a knee injury. By just about all accounts, the Rams held Gurley out of the lineup because they had already locked up a first-round bye, their remaining games were Arizona and San Francisco, and the Saints would need to lose twice in order for the Rams to pass them for the No. 1 seed. There just wasn't much of anything to gain by keeping Gurley in the lineup, so why not give him three weeks off so that he's fresh for the playoffs and ready for, you guessed it, a game with 35 or 40 touches if necessary.<br />
<br />
I'm just not buying Dallas going on the road and playing like they did last week, which, again, wasn't even all that great. I've only seen Dallas play one game all season that makes me think they can hang with the Rams, and that was their win over the Saints back in Week 13. I'm betting against that happening again, especially on the road.<br />
<br />
-JC <br />
<br />
<b>Rams 28, Cowboys 20</b><br />
<br />
This game comes down to play calling for me. While Seattle chose to keep running the ball and slamming its collective head against the wall in Dallas last week, I think Sean McVay and the Rams will open things up and challenge the Cowboys vertically. There will be big plays there for LA, and though I like Dallas' ground game to keep them in it, I'm just not sure I trust them to score enough to beat a team this good away from home.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Los Angeles Chargers at New England (1:05 p.m. Sunday, CBS)</b></span><br />
<i> </i><br />
<br />
<b>Opening Line:</b> Patriots by 4.5<br />
<b>Current Line:</b> Patriots by 4<br />
<br />
<i></i>
<b>By The Numbers:</b><br />
<br />
<i></i>
<b>Los Angeles: </b><br />
<i>Record: 12-4 Overall, 7-1 Road; 9-7 Against the Spread, 7-1 Road<br />
Average Score: 26.8 (6th) - 20.6 (8th)<br />
Average Scoring Margin: +6.2 (7th); 10.4 "Expected" Wins<br />
DVOA: +20.8% Offense (3rd), -4.7% Defense (8th), -2.8% Special Teams (25th); +22.7% Overall (3rd)</i><br />
<br />
<b>New England: </b><br />
<i>Record: 11-5 Overall, 8-0 Home; 9-7 Against the Spread, 6-2 Home </i><br />
<i>Average Score: 27.3 (4th) - 20.3 (7th)</i><br />
<i>Average Scoring Margin: +6.9 (5th); 10.7 "Expected" Wins</i><br />
<i>DVOA: +14.5% Offense (5th), +0.4% Defense (16th), +0.1% Special Teams (16th); +14.2% Overall (7th)</i><br />
<br />
<b>Player(s) To Watch: Rob Gronkowski</b><br />
<br />
In context, by just about all metrics, Rob Gronkowski just finished the worst regular season of his career. He had the lowest yards per game since his rookie season, the lowest receptions per game since his rookie season, and his lowest touchdown total ever. He went from being near-universally regarded as the best tight end in football to maybe not even being in the top five (it doesn't help Gronkowski's case that Zach Ertz finished with 116 receptions, or that Travis Kelce and George Kittle each broke what had been Gronkowski's single-season record for receiving yards by a tight end).<br />
<br />
The good news for Patriots fans is that over the last few years, when Gronkowski has missed games here and there, he's been much, much better after a week off. That wasn't so much the case this year (it was just a down year all around, pretty much), but his two best games in 2017 (Week 6 against the Jets and Week 14 against the Steelers) both came following a week off for him. He followed that up with a productive Divisional Round playoff game (following a bye), and a fantastic performance in the Super Bowl (following a week off). The last three postseasons that he's been healthy for, in 2014, 2015, and 2017, he's been a big-time performer.<br />
<br />
Following Josh Gordon's dismissal/suspension/leave of absence/you-can't-fire-me-I-quit, the Patriots are back to where they were at the start of the season, where their offense sputtered due to a lack of talent outside the numbers. This has been an on-again/off-again theme for the Patriots during the Brady era. The years that the Patriots have flamed out earlier in the playoffs than most folks expected have coincided with years where the Patriots have a plethora of James Young, Julian Edelman-types who are phenomenal with choice routes in the flats and over the middle, but lack a reliable downfield target on the outside that can win at the top of the route and get open. Eventually, it seems like teams figure out how to flood the short and intermediate route paths with extra defenders and choke off what is normally the bread-and-butter for the Patriots. When Gronkowski is healthy, he can break that defense by running seam routes down the middle of the field and punishing defenses for loading up on the short stuff. When he's not healthy, the Patriots are very, very beatable. We'll see which Gronkowski shows up.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<br />
<b>Hidden Points: Pace</b><br />
<br />
These two teams play at wildly different paces.<br />
<br />
The Patriots famously play fast. This year, overall, they played at the 6th-fastest pace in the league, the fastest in the league in the first half of games, and third-fastest in the league so long as they were within one score or leading (they slow down when they're losing). The reason for this is rather intuitive - they have an all-world quarterback who can generally read the defense faster than the defense can read the offense, so you want to snap the ball as soon as possible. On top of that, the Patriots tend to be one of the most efficient offenses in the league. The better you are per play, it behooves you to snap the ball as many times as you can. The more plays you run, the more opportunities you have to establish your superiority over the defense.<br />
<br />
The Chargers play incredibly slow - dead last in the league in seconds per play. They play slow when they have the lead, and they play slow when they trail. Again, it's easy to connect the dots to see why that might be appealing for them. If you're ahead a lot, you want to play slow to milk the clock and get the game over with. <br />
<br />
The value of playing fast versus slow is an ongoing debate across sports. If you're an elite team, should you play fast to maximize the number of discreet events? Or should you play slow to bleed the clock and reduce the number of opportunities your opponents you have to catch up? In a sport like basketball, the debate certainly seems to be tilting towards playing fast - pace has been rising across the NBA over the last decade. In football, it also seems like teams are starting to play faster, but that doesn't mean good teams always play fast. The Chargers, Bears, and Saints were all among the bottom five teams this year in pace.<br />
<br />
How exactly pace factors into the matchup is a bit tougher to predict. Football isn't quite like basketball where one team can dictate the pace and force the other team to play faster or slower than they're accustomed to. In football, each offense just kind of plays at the pace they want to. Ultimately, though, the team that's better able to maintain a pace that is comfortable for them and manage the clock efficiently is more likely to be the team that ends up with the ball at the end of a close game. Knowing what we know about the Brady/Belichick Patriots and the Phil Rivers Chargers, I don't think it's too hard to tilt the scales one way.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<br />
<b>The State of the Chargers</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The Chargers held off a wild Ravens comeback in Baltimore last week, and have now won six of their last seven. Heck, LA is the only team in the AFC with 13 wins (for now), and the offense is back to full strength.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The State of the Patriots </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
New England once again found a way to secure a bye, even as naysayers claimed the sky was falling after a Week 15 loss in Pittsburgh. Since then, the Patriots have gutted out a win against Buffalo and blown out the Jets. Neither of those teams are world beaters, but New England has done just enough all year, on both sides of the ball. Weapons on offense might be an issue with Gronk beaten up and Josh Gordon out of the picture, but count out Touchdown Tom at your peril.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Picks</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Patriots 28, Chargers 20</b><br />
<br />
This year, the Patriots have not been as good as we've grown accustomed to over the last two decades. The last time they lost five games in a season was 2009. That being said, it's not like they're a bad team who doesn't deserve to have a first-round bye. For the most part, they took care of business when they had to, especially at home.<br />
<br />
That's kind of the key point here for me. The Patriots went 8-0 at home this year, winning those eight games by an average score of 33-16. They beat the Texans, Colts, and Chiefs at home this year. They beat the Jets by 35. They beat the Dolphins by 31. They beat the Vikings and Packers by 14 points each. They just cleaned teams up at home.<br />
<br />
I don't want to discount Los Angeles on the road, however - they were the league's best road team, now 8-1 on the season after their win at Baltimore last week, and they have some impressive wins in that collection - at Kansas City, at Pittsburgh, at Seattle.<br />
<br />
Going back to the Patriots, however - they haven't lost a home playoff game since the 2012 season. That's eight straight home wins in January. They haven't lost in the divisional round since the 2010 season. That's seven straight wins in this round of the playoffs. The Patriots are 27-10 in the playoffs under Belichick. That .730 win percentage is the equivalent of going 12-4 over 16 games, except all 16 of those are against playoff teams (they're not beating up on the Bills and Jets and Dolphins in this scenario). At home under Belichick, the Patriots are 19-3 in the postseason. I say it again - 19-3. In the Playoffs. It's a near-impossible run of dominance at home in the playoffs.<br />
<br />
Yes, the Patriots aren't quite as good as they've been in years passed. Yes, the Chargers are better than they've been in a while. But I'm not betting against the Patriots at home in the playoffs unless there's a really, really good reason for it. The Chargers being kind of underrated and the Patriots being kind of overrated isn't quite good enough for me.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<br />
<b>Patriots 27, Chargers 17</b><br />
<br />
All my picks are gut based this week, and I just can't see LA going into Foxboro, with potential snow in the forecast and temps in the 20s, and beating Tom Brady.<br />
<br />
I know, this New England team has flaws, but it's still Brady and Belichick at home, in January, against a warm weather team with a QB who hasn't even reached the conference title game since 2007.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<br />
<i></i>
<i></i>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Philadelphia at New Orleans (4:40 p.m. Sunday, FOX)</b></span><br />
<br />
<i></i>
<b>Opening Line:</b> Saints by 8<br />
<b>Current Line:</b> Saints by 8<br />
<br />
<b>By The Numbers: </b><br />
<br />
<i></i>
<b>Philadelphia: </b><br />
<i>Record: 9-7 Overall, 4-4 Road; 6-9-1 Against the Spread, 4-4 Road<br />
Average Score: 22.9 (18th) - 21.8 (12th)<br />
Average Scoring Margin: +1.2 (12th); 8.5 "Expected" Wins<br />
DVOA: -0.3% Offense (16th), 0.0% Defense (15th), +0.2% Special Teams (15th); 0.0% Overall (15th) </i><br />
<br />
<i></i>
<b>New Orleans: </b><br />
<i>Record: 13-3 Overall, 6-2 Home; 10-6 Against the Spread, 4-4 Home</i><br />
<i>Average Score: 31.5 (3rd) - 22.1 (14th)</i><br />
<i>Average Scoring Margin: +9.4 (1st); 11.2 "Expected" Wins</i><br />
<i>DVOA: +15.9% Offense (4th), -3.1% Defense (11th), +1.7% Special Teams (9th); +20.7% Overall (4th)</i><br />
<br />
<b>Player(s) To Watch: Zach Ertz, Vonn Bell</b><br />
<br />
The Eagles performed far better than my expectations last weekend, and I'm not quite sure how. The Bears outgained the Eagles by more than 50 yards. There were two turnovers in the game and the Eagles committed both of them. Ultimately, it came down to the Eagles going 7-14 on third/fourth down, while the Bears were 5-16.<br />
<br />
Ertz wasn't a huge factor in the game - just five catches (none of them particularly big) for 52 yards. But he remains the linchpin for Philadelphia's offense. In their Week 11 matchup, Ertz was a non-factor, one of the many reasons that the Saints won by 41 points.<br />
<br />
Ertz was covered by Vonn Bell for a decent portion of that game, and Bell played really well, and I'd expect that matchup to return here. The Eagles need Ertz to be a contributor, because like last week, I don't expect the Eagles to be able to move the ball on the ground at all. The Saints finished the season ranked second in opponents' yards per rush allowed, 3rd in rush defense DVOA, and 2nd in Adjusted Line Yards from Football Outsiders.<br />
<br />
The Eagles almost cost themselves the game last weekend by running too much - they ran the ball 23 times for a total of 42 yards. In the second half even, they ran the ball nine times for 15 yards, including three runs on their final drive when they needed a touchdown to win the game.<br />
<br />
We'll see if Philadelphia learned from their mistakes last week and runs less, or if they fall into the old trap of assuming that because they won, running that often must have been the right decision. If they do run less, Ertz, along with Alshon Jeffrey, Golden Tate, and Nelson Agholor will be the players who win or lose this game for Philadelphia. <br />
<br />
<b>Hidden Points: Past Results</b><br />
<br />
As mentioned above, these two teams met back in Week 11, and the Saints mopped the floor with the Eagles. So what has changed since then?<br />
<br />
Well, the Eagles have now won six of their last seven games (which seems relevant), including wins over the Rams and Texans. The Saints "stumbled" down the stretch, losing to the Cowboys (and a meaningless game in Week 17 that's not worth discussing) and sweating close games against Carolina and Pittsburgh. Over the first 10 games of the season (through the Week 11 game), the Saints averaged 37.8 points per game. Since then, they've averaged 22.4 points per game. They averaged 427 yards per game for the first 10 games, just 300 yards per game since. They committed just eight turnovers over their first 10 games, they've turned the ball over eight times in their last six.<br />
<br />
So, it's safe to say that the Saints have slowed down, and certainly not correct to assume that because they rolled over the Eagles once, they'll roll over them again. Philadelphia is better, New Orleans is worse.<br />
<br />
What can we take away from that meeting? Well, the Saints torched Philadelphia repeatedly with long pass plays downfield. That tends to happen when a defense is scraping the bottom of the barrel to fill their defensive backfield. For the season, Philadelphia did have a lot of trouble defending passes deep down the middle of the field, so that's something to keep an eye out here. I talked at length last week about how bad Philadelphia's secondary is, and just kind of conveniently ignored how good their pass rush can still be. If Philadelphia's front four play like they did last week, their bad secondary might not matter. Again.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<br />
<b>The State of the Eagles </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Philly is (maybe) riding another magical wave this season, with a revitalized defense, Nick Foles, and some unfortunate Chicago special teams pushing it into the divisional round. After winning a slugfest against the Bears, the Eagles will now likely turn their sights toward a shootout in New Orleans.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The State of the Saints </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
If you take a Week 17 loss to Carolina, in which the Saints rested their starters, out of the equation, this team has lost once since Week 1. That loss, to a great Dallas defense, with the passing game out of sync, seems unlikely to repeat itself. Now, with Drew Brees, Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram all healthy and well rested, the Saints seem poised for a Super Bowl run.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Picks</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Saints 34, Eagles 21</b><br />
<br />
I don't think the game will be a blowout like the aforementioned Week 11 matchup will be, but I do think the Saints roll rather easily. The last time a team opened the playoffs with two consecutive road wins was 2013, when the 49ers did it. They're the only team to do it since 2010. It just doesn't happen all that often.<br />
<br />
The Eagles have been escaping by the skin of their teeth for a solid two months now - their only comfortable win was Week 17 against the hapless Redskins - and eventually that luck has to run out. I guess you do have to respect Doug Pederson - he hasn't lost a playoff game yet as a head coach. He will lose a playoff game at some point, though. It's an inevitability.<br />
<br />
So why this week? Well, it seems simplistic and reductive and stupid, but the Saints are just better. They have a better offense, a better defense, a better quarterback, better running backs, a more experienced coaching staff, home field advantage, and pretty much everything else you'd want to mention. The Eagles have more depth at receiver. That's their advantage.<br />
<br />
Like I keep saying, Philadelphia's best path to victory involves them abandoning the running game early and throwing 50 times. They ran the ball too often last weekend, and needed to sweat out a missed last-second field goal from Chicago to escape. New Orleans is a far less forgiving team than Chicago. When you durdle around against the Bears, it's no big deal, because Chicago's offense isn't sprinting up and down the field and scoring every time they have the ball. I did mention above how New Orleans' offense has slowed down over the last month or so, but the Saints are going to put far more pressure on your defense than Chicago is. You can't hope to just hang around long enough to accidentally win the game on a missed field goal on the road against the Saints. It just doesn't happen. Their only home loss of meaning this season was back in Week 1 when Tampa Bay beat them 48-40. That's the way to beat New Orleans in New Orleans, and I just don't see Philadelphia being a team that can pull that off.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Saints 30, Eagles 24</b><br />
<br />
Philly is playing well enough to keep this within a score, but New Orleans' high-powered offense and underrated defense will be just too much in the Dome. Brees gets one step closer to his second Super Bowl in his most efficient season.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<i></i>Jeremy Conlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999218325324667964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-51735754543779385772019-01-04T14:04:00.002-05:002019-01-04T14:04:27.094-05:00Wild Card Weekend Primer (With Picks): Close Games Expected<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/2/1864/44008946724_9530d9e702_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="800" height="230" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/2/1864/44008946724_9530d9e702_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew Luck and Eric Ebron are primed to potentially pull an upset in the first game of the weekend.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><br /></i>
<i>By Jeremy Conlin (<a href="http://twitter.com/jeremy_conlin" target="_blank">@jeremy_conlin</a>) and Joe Parello (<a href="http://twitter.com/herewegojoe" target="_blank">@HerewegoJoe</a>)</i><br />
<br />
So, we dropped the ball a little bit.<br />
<br />
With all of the hectic traveling and revelry around the holidays, we forgot to actually write down our picks the last two weeks and publish them in this space. In lieu of that, we just texted each other our picks and used the honor system. Joe held a six-game lead entering Week 17 and the way our picks lined up, we didn't disagree on six games. So Joe technically clinched the season win in Week 16. This is his fifth win in six years. <br />
<br />
It was the worst showing in the six years of picking head to head for both players. Jeremy finished 115-132-9, and Joe finished 121-126-9. Cumulatively, for the six-year history, Joe holds a 20-game lead (760-722-56 to 740-742-56).<br />
<br />
Historically, however, Jeremy has taken home the postseason crown, winning all six years picking against the spread (Joe has won two years picking playoff games heads up). So we'll see if Joe can finally take down the postseason title.<br />
<br />
We're going a bit more in-depth for the playoff games, as we always do. In the "By the Numbers" section preceding each game, we'll list each teams DVOA ratings for the season. DVOA is a stat developed by Football Outsiders designed to measure each team on a per-play basis, adjusting for down, distance, time, and score. For example, gaining six yards on 3rd-and-5 is more valuable than gaining 11 yards on 3rd-and-12. Furthermore, it's easier to convert a 3rd-and-5 from your own 20 yard line when you're down by 28 points early in the fourth quarter than it is to convert that same 3rd-and-5 at the opponent's 10 yard line when you're down by four points with a minute remaining. DVOA adjusts for all of these things to some extent. DVOA is represented as a percentage better or worse than average, so good offenses will have positive scores and good defenses will have negative scores.<br />
<br />
Here we go. <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Indianapolis at Houston (4:35 p.m. Saturday, ESPN)</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Opening Line:</b> Texans by 2<br />
<b>Current Line:</b> Texans by 1<br />
<br />
<b>By The Numbers:</b><br />
<br />
<b>Indianapolis: </b><br />
<i>Record: 10-6 Overall, 4-4 Road; 8-7-1 Against the Spread, 5-3 Road</i><br />
<i>Average Score: 27.1 (5th) - 21.5 (10th)</i><br />
<i>Average Scoring Margin: +5.6 (8th); 10.1 "Expected" Wins</i><br />
<i>DVOA: +8.2% Offense (10th), -3.4% Defense (10th), +0.9% Special Teams (12th); +12.6% Overall (8th)</i><br />
<br />
<b>Houston: </b><br />
<i>Record: 11-5 Overall, 6-2 Home; 7-7-2 Against the Spread, 4-4 Home</i><br />
<i>Average Score: 25.1 (11th) - 19.8 (4th)</i><br />
<i>Average Scoring Margin: +5.4 (9th); 10.2 "Expected" Wins</i><br />
<i>DVOA: -3.6% Offense (21st), -7.1% Defense (7th), +3.5% Special Teams (5th); +7.1% Overall (11th) </i><br />
<br />
<b>Player(s) To Watch: Secondary Receivers</b><br />
<br />
Each team has an upper echelon wide receiver that receives the lion's share of the team's targets. DeAndre Hopkins had another spectacular season, finishing in the top five in the league in receptions, yards, and touchdowns, and 2nd in Football Outsiders' DYAR. Meanwhile, T.Y. Hilton didn't have quite as prolific a season as Hopkins did, but again was a steady, reliable deep threat, and finished in the top 10 in both of Football Outsiders' key stats (DVOA and DYAR).<br />
<br />
However, come playoff time, teams often make a more concerted effort to take away the other team's primary threat and make the secondary players win one-on-one matchups. For Indianapolis, it's Eric Ebron. For Houston, it's, well, Ryan Griffin and Keke Coutee?<br />
<br />
Ebron finally blossomed in Indianapolis after fizzling in Detroit. He put up a career high in receptions, yards, and more than doubled his career touchdown total. He was particularly deadly in the red zone, scoring 11 of his touchdowns inside 20 yards. Houston's defense struggled to cover tight ends this year, ranking 23rd by Football Outsiders, giving up big games to Rob Gronkowski, Denver's Jeff Heuerman, Jordan Reed, and Zach Ertz, and, it's worth mentioning - Ebron scored in both games against Houston this year.<br />
<br />
Houston, on the other hand, is in a little bit more trouble. Their receiving options after Hopkins are pretty miserable, and it's tough to imagine any of them putting together a huge game. The Demaryius Thomas injury really hurts them. He wasn't really playing up to his previous standards (not career lows, but the lowest totals since his breakout year in 2012), but he was still a supremely talented receiver who demanded attention from the defense. A defense doesn't need to scheme up a way to defend Ryan Griffin and Keke Coutee (or whoever else ends up lining up at wide receiver for the Texans). That doesn't really bode well for Houston. <br />
<br />
-JC <br />
<br />
<b>Hidden Points: Planned and Unplanned Runs</b><br />
<br />
You probably wouldn't think this at first, but Indianapolis had a better rushing offense than Houston did this year. The base-level stats don't even seem to support the idea - Indianapolis finished 20th in rushing yards and 22nd in yards per rush, Houston finished 8th in rushing yards and 19th in yards per rush. When you dig deeper though, you realize that Houston's numbers are propped up by how effective DeShaun Watson was as a runner, or more specifically, a scrambler. If you look solely at how each team's running backs performed, the Colts averaged 4.55 yards per rush (15th-best), while the Texans averaged just 4.01 yards per rush (27th in the league). Marlon Mack actually finished as the 8th-best runner in the league on a per-play basis according to Football Outsiders, while Lamar Miller finished just 28th.<br />
<br />
Most of Houston's success on the ground came when DeShaun Watson would take off running when receivers weren't open. He gained 550 yards on the ground this year, third-best among quarterbacks. The problem here is that you can't always count on those yards. Sure, you can expect Watson to pick up yards here and there, but if your plan is to ice away a lead late in the game, you can't exactly plan on Watson to pick up those yards with designed runs, because Houston's best rushing offense this year was not by design.<br />
<br />
Overall, one of the keys to this game is each team's offensive line. Indianapolis allowed the fewest sacks in the league this year (just 18), while Houston allowed the most sacks in the league (62). Indianapolis rated in the top handful of teams in the league at run blocking by both Football Outsiders and Pro Football Focus, Houston was in the bottom third of the league. Obviously, this game will also involve each team's defensive lines as well, but the fact of the matter is, Indianapolis has a much better offensive line than Houston does.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<br />
<b>The State of the Colts</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The Colts, uh, maybe, perhaps, the hottest team in football. I shutter to say that, because this team lost to the Dolphins a little over a month ago, but since then have rattled off four consecutive wins, and before that, had won five in a row. Yep, you need to do a lot of winning take make the playoffs after starting 1-5, and Indy has done so on the back of franchise QB Andrew Luck, who is finally playing the the guy we all thought he would be coming out of Stanford.<br />
<br />
Nearly 4,600 yards and 40 TDs look pretty good, but Luck hasn't been perfect. His 16 interceptions are tied for the second-most in the league behind Ben Roethlisberger, but he has also attempted the second-most passes.<br />
<br />
But you probably already knew about Luck. What you may not know is that Indy's defense has been on fire lately. Over the last 10 games, nobody has scored over 30 on the Colts, and Indy has held teams under 20 points in five of those games. Rookie linebacker Darius Leonard has done just about everything (except make the Pro Bowl, somehow) amassing over 160 total tackles, 7 sacks, 12 TFL and 2 INTs to lead the group.<br />
<br />
This team is surging, but the running game is still mediocre, and Luck has been prone to spells of turnovers. Indy will rely on a potent passing game to move the ball against Houston's shaky secondary (more on that in a bit), but will still need to maintain some form of balance and ball control.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The State of the Texans</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Speaking of streaks, Houston won the AFC South title on the back of nine straight wins from the end of September to the beginning of December, but have come back down to Earth a bit over the past month. Houston closed the season losing two of its final four, including a home loss to the Colts on December 9th, and had given up 21 points or more in three straight games, before shutting down the Jaguars in Week 17.<br />
<br />
For context, Houston has only allowed 21 or more points three times during its nine-game winning streak. Still, the Texans boast the league's fourth-best scoring defense, despite a back seven that has struggled shadowing opposing receivers. Houston has given up over 4,100 yards passing and 28 TDs through the air, and its 43 sacks rank right in the middle of the league.<br />
<br />
Add that to the fact that Houston has surrendered the most sacks in the league on quarterback DeShaun Watson, and that the injury to Demaryius Thomas creates a hole opposite Pro Bowler DeAndre Hopkins (Will Fuller is also still out), and this seems like a team primed to be upset.<br />
<br />
But not so fast. The Texans can still run the ball, behind a physical offensive line, with the one-two punch of Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue, and no defense stops the run better on a per carry basis that Houston's. Bill O'Brien's team will want to make this a rock fight, and out-tough the Colts, with the help of a surely energized home crowd.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Picks</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Colts 28, Texans 24</b><br />
<br />
I've been saying for most of the season that Houston isn't quite as good as they look on paper. During their nine-game winning streak, they let (seemingly) inferior teams like Denver and Buffalo and Washington hang around, and then down the stretch they lost two of their last four games.<br />
<br />
Both teams had impressive runs this season. Houston started 0-3, then rattled off nine straight wins. Indianapolis started 1-5, then won nine of their last 10 games. Both came against relatively mediocre opponents (it's not like they steamrolled over the Rams or Saints or Chiefs or Bears) - for the most part, these teams lost to the teams you'd expect them to lose to. Both teams lost to the Patriots, both teams lost to the Eagles on the road, and they split their season series against each other (each team winning on the road). Neither one is exactly a juggernaut, just the beneficiaries of a pretty easy schedule at the perfect point in the season. On paper, this is the closest matchup of the weekend (and the spread within the margin of error backs that up). <br />
<br />
If you're looking for a harbinger, you can look to the Week 14 tilt between the two teams in Houston. Neither team ran the ball well, but the Colts torched Houston in the air while sacking DeShaun Watson five times. The game was probably only as close as it is because of a timely interception by the Texans as Indianapolis was driving for a score that would put them up double-digits in the second quarter. The Colts certainly seemed like the better team that week, and I'm not sure much has changed since then.<br />
<br />
If I'm looking at two teams that seem mostly even on paper, I'm going to take the team that has Andrew Luck.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Colts 31, Texans 21</b><br />
<br />
I actually do think Houston is about as good as its record says, but I simultaneously don't think the Texans are built to win in the playoffs. They just don't do one thing REALLY well, and can't overwhelm you with any single aspect of their game. Houston's biggest strength (its run defense), may not even be a factor as Indy has gone pass happy over its 10-game stretch of brilliance, and Houston's secondary has fallen apart as the year has gone on.<br />
<br />
Indy's defense is also better than you think, and with Houston's protection struggles, I just don't trust them to put enough points on the board to keep pace.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Seattle at Dallas (8:15 p.m. Saturday, FOX)</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Opening Line: </b>Cowboys by 2<br />
<b>Current Line: </b>Cowboys by 2.5 <br />
<br />
<b>By The Numbers:</b><br />
<br />
<b>Seattle: </b><br />
<i>Record: 10-6 Overall, 4-4 Road; 9-5-2 Against the Spread, 4-3-1 Road</i><br />
<i>Average Score: 26.8 (6th) - 21.7 (11th)</i><br />
<i>Average Scoring Margin: +5.1 (10th); 9.9 "Expected" Wins</i><br />
<i>DVOA: +8.8% Offense (9th), -0.2% Defense (14th), -2.2% Special Teams (24th); +6.7% Overall (12th)</i><br />
<br />
<b>Dallas:</b> <br />
<i>Record: 10-6 Overall, 7-1 Home; 9-6-1 Against the Spread, 5-2-1 Home</i><br />
<i>Average Score: 21.2 (22nd) - 20.3 (6th)</i><br />
<i>Average Scoring Margin: +0.9 (14th); 8.4 "Expected" Wins</i><br />
<i>DVOA: -6.5% Offense (24th), -3.5% Defense (9th), -2.1% Special Teams (23rd); -5.2% Overall (21st) </i><br />
<br />
<b>Player(s) To Watch: Ezekiel Elliot, Amari Cooper</b><br />
<br />
Here's the good news for football fans - Seattle's strength (running the ball) matches up up nicely with Dallas' strength (stopping the run). Seattle's Plan B (playaction passes to their top two receivers) matches up nicely with another one of Dallas' strengths (shutting down opposing top receivers). When Seattle has the ball, interesting things should happen one way or the other. <br />
<br />
Here's the bad news for football fans - that's just about all that's going on. Dallas doesn't have a particularly exciting offense, and Seattle doesn't have a particularly exciting defense. There's just not much to write home about. Sure, Dallas has Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot and Amari Cooper (all household names so long as your household plays fantasy football), but that's it.<br />
<br />
At least, that's what it looks like on paper.<br />
<br />
Here's the rub - Dallas' offense was actually pretty decent on the snaps where the ball ended up in the hands of Elliot or Cooper. In the regular season, that's nowhere close to every possession. You can't hand the ball to Elliot 40 times and throw it to Cooper on the other 25 snaps. They'll (quite literally) break down over the course of the season. However, now that we're into the playoffs, there's a reasonable chance that the Cowboys could actually do that. In fact, it might be the only way for them to make a deep playoff run for them to just imagine they're playing 8-on-11 on offense and ignore the likes of Cole Beasley and Michael Gallup and Allen Hurns and Blake Jarwin. If Elliot and Cooper can put the offense on their back, Dallas has a puncher's chance. If the Seahawks successfully slow those guys down, though, it seems like Seattle has an easy win.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<br />
<b>Hidden Points: The Two Seattles</b><br />
<br />
Dallas, for the most part, was a pretty consistent team this year. Outside of their win over New Orleans, they don't really have any results that jump off the page. They (mostly) took care of business against the bad teams, and otherwise went around .500 against the teams of similar quality.<br />
<br />
Seattle, on the other hand had a much more up-and-down season. They beat up on bad teams like the Raiders and Lions. They went toe-to-toe with the Rams (twice) and just barely came up short. They held their own against the Chargers. They beat the Chiefs. They had convincing wins over Minnesota and Dallas. And then they lost to the 49ers and needed a last-second field goal to beat Arizona. It's especially confusing when you notice that those two duds sandwich their win over Kansas City over the last three weeks of the season. So which team are they?<br />
<br />
Sure, every 10-6 team usually ends up with a few head-scratching games, but the sequencing of Seattle's season is especially weird to me. They started 0-2. Then they won two straight. They lost to the Rams (but looked good in the process). They blew out the Raiders and Lions. They lost to the Rams and Chargers (but again, looked good). They rattle off four straight wins and I put a few simoleons on them at 22-1 to win the NFC. Then they lose to San Francisco as a road favorite. Then they beat Kansas City. Then they almost lose to Arizona. There just doesn't seem to be much consistency there. If the Seahawks that played against the Rams and Chiefs and Cowboys and Vikings show up, the Seahawks could win this game by 20. If the Seahawks that looked lost against the 49ers and Cardinals show up, the Cowboys (and their 7-1 home record) should win easily.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<br />
<b>The State of the Seahawks</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Another team playing its best football at the best time, Seattle has won six of its last seven, and has done so with two seemingly mediocre units. The Seahawk offense (18th total) and defense (16th total) have come alive, of late, and have both been incredibly efficient. On offense, it's been a league-leading ground game that has rushed for over 2,500 yards, plus Russell Wilson's astonishing 35-7 TD to INT ratio that have allowed Seattle to punch above its weight, while the defense has forced multiple turnovers in nine different games this season.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The State of the Cowboys</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Several big plays in big moments, pulled off by a talented offense and smothering defense have Dallas hosting a playoff game. Winners of 7 of their last 8, Dallas' best path to the Super Bowl seems to be recreating its physical win over New Orleans in late November, where the Cowboys bodied up the Saints' receivers, and slowed down the New Orleans rush attack, all while possessing the ball and avoiding mistakes.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Picks</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Seahawks 24, Cowboys 16</b><br />
<br />
I've been high on Seattle all season, and I don't especially feel like letting their end of the season dissuade me on them. I won't lie - Dallas' run over the second half of the season has been impressive, and Amari Cooper has been a huge pickup for them. All that being said, Seattle just seems like the better team top to bottom. They grind out long drives with their running game, and actually have serious big play potential in their passing game.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure how I didn't bring this up all season because it's been on my mind just about every week - Tyler Lockett has been absolutely bananas this season. He only had 57 catches on the season, but it seems like 74 of them were on 3rd down and 127 of those went for first downs. He was money. He scored ten touchdowns on the season, and seven of them were for 20 yards or more. As mentioned above, Football Outsiders uses both DVOA and DYAR to measure individual players. DVOA measures everyone on a per-play basis, and then DYAR adjusts for how many plays each player was involved in (i.e. is it better to be 20% better than league average on 50 carries or 15% better than league average on 150 carries?). Lockett ranked No. 1 in DVOA by an absurd margin (more than 25 percentage points higher than anyone else in the league). He was so far ahead in DVOA that he ended up in DYAR also despite being targeted less than half as many times as the guys after him (like Hopkins, Julio Jones, Mike Thomas, Adam Thielen, etc.). He had an absurdly high catch rate (81 percent, second best in the league of all players with at least 50 targets), but then also averaged almost 17 yards per reception (6th best in the league). Guys with catch rates that high don't average that many yards per catch, and vice-versa. It just doesn't happen. He might only be targeted four or five times in this game, but he'll come up with a few huge third down conversions, maybe a long touchdown, and the Seahawks will win.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<br />
<b>Seahawks 20, Cowboys 17</b><br />
<br />
Dang it, we should disagree at some point. Oh well. I too am high on Seattle, but I still think this Dallas team can play with anybody, as long as Zeke is running, and the defense isn't blowing coverages. I think this will be a fight to the finish, but I'll take Russ in a battle of underrated QBs.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Los Angeles Chargers at Baltimore (1:05 p.m. Sunday, CBS)</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Opening Line:</b> Ravens by 2.5<br />
<b>Current Line:</b> Ravens by 2.5<br />
<br />
<b>By The Numbers:</b><br />
<br />
<b>Los Angeles: </b><br />
Record: 12-4 Overall, 7-1 Road; 9-7 Against the Spread, 7-1 Road<br />
Average Score: 26.8 (6th) - 20.6 (8th)<br />
Average Scoring Margin: +6.2 (7th); 10.4 "Expected" Wins<br />
DVOA: +20.8% Offense (3rd), -4.7% Defense (8th), -2.8% Special Teams (25th); +22.7% Overall (3rd)<br />
<br />
<b>Baltimore: </b><br />
Record: 10-6 Overall, 6-2 Home; 8-8 Against the Spread, 3-5 Home<br />
Average Score: 24.3 (13th) - 17.9 (2nd)<br />
Average Scoring Margin: +6.4 (6th); 10.8 "Expected" Wins<br />
DVOA: +0.9% Offense (15th), -13.1% Defense (3rd), +2.9% Special Teams (6th); +17.0% Overall (6th)<br />
<br />
<b>Player(s) To Watch: Philip Rivers</b><br />
<br />
Rivers hasn't been in the playoffs since 2013. Somehow, it feels longer than that. I almost feel bad for him - the ongoing suckitude of the Chargers has almost nothing to do with Rivers; he put together a few spectacular seasons despite little to no help around him and what little help he did end up with usually finished the season on IR. This is really the first time in a decade that Rivers has had a full offense around him. Keenan Allen and Melvin Gordon don't quite have the ring of Julio Jones and Todd Gurley, but they aren't that far off.<br />
<br />
He's played nine playoff games in his career and had middling success - the Chargers are 4-5 in those nine games, and he's had a few duds individually (2006 and 2009 especially). On the other hand, he was fantastic in the 2013 playoffs, although, granted, he wasn't asked to do much in either game. The long and the short of it is that Rivers resume in the postseason is checkered. I'm usually not one to buy into the clutch-or-not argument - I tend to believe that players are who they are and that unusually good or poor performance different than that is usually the result of a small sample size or other pieces of context that people who make the clutch argument usually just hand-wave away.<br />
<br />
So what am I saying? I'm saying I don't especially buy into the ongoing narrative that the Chargers deserve to be the underdog because Rivers can't hack it in the playoffs. If the Chargers lose and Rivers doesn't play well, it probably has a lot to do with Baltimore being one of the league's top defenses and Melvin Gordon nursing a lingering ankle injury rather than Rivers "not having it."<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<br />
<b>Hidden Points: How Baltimore Can Score</b><br />
<br />
The Ravens have been on a nice run since inserting Lamar Jackson into the starting lineup. However, that run has been against Cincinnati, Oakland, Atlanta, Kansas City, Tampa Bay, these Chargers, and the Browns. Not exactly a murderer's row.<br />
<br />
Lamar Jackson, plain and simple, is not a very talented passer at this point, completing just 58 percent of his passes (among the worst in the league), averaging barely over seven yards per attempt (safely in the bottom half of the league), and taking sacks at a decent rate. Sure, he can make plays with his arm, but it's just not reliable at this point.<br />
<br />
As a runner, he's actually not substantially better. He's racking up yards, but not at an overwhelmingly high clip (4.7 yards per carry for a running quarterback is comparatively low). He's actually the last-ranked running quarterback per Football Outsiders. San Diego held him to just 39 yards on 13 carries when they played a few weeks ago. It wasn't the most impressive performance by the Baltimore offense. Baltimore scored on a long touchdown pass with a long run after the catch, and a 62-yard fumble return. Those were their two touchdowns. Outside of those two plays, the Ravens mustered nine points on 293 total yards of offense. If Baltimore wants to come out of this game with a win, they'll need to find more consistent ways to move the ball.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<br />
<b>The State of the Chargers</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The Chargers won 12 games, but since they play in the same division as the Chiefs, now face the unenviable task of likely following a Super Bowl path that would need to go through Baltimore, then New England and Kansas City, in some order. Not that LA doesn't have the talent to do it. The Chargers rank in the Top-10 in scoring offense (6th) and defense (8th), and have gotten a career year out of QB Phil Rivers.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The State of the Ravens</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Is Joe Flacco eli... Wait oa minute. Yep, no Flacco this year, as Baltimore's resurgence came under rookie QB Lamar Jackson, who turned the Ravens' identity back to running the football and playing great defense. Baltimore has done both, leading the league in rush attempts and total defense. It's been a winning formula for the Ravens, who enter this contest as winners of six of their last seven.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Picks</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Chargers 16, Ravens 13</b><br />
<br />
Both of these teams have excellent defenses, and both of these teams have offenses that can just outright disappear at times. A low scoring, grindy game where special teams weighs disproportionately heavy seems like it would favor Baltimore, but I still like Los Angeles here. I genuinely think the Chargers are one of the four best teams in the league, and only happen to be playing this weekend because they have the misfortune of playing in the same division as the Chiefs.<br />
<br />
An underrated storyline here is that the Chargers are the league's best road team this year, and have been an unusually good road team for several years now. It might have something to do with many of their home games feeling like road games (the Chargers don't exactly have a rabid fan base, and San Diego and now Los Angeles has historically been a destination for fans of the road team to travel to), but for whatever reason, the Chargers seem to find a lot of success on the road. All things considered, these teams are relatively evenly matched, which again, would seem to favor the home team, but I'm not sure that's necessarily an advantage in this instance.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<br />
<b>Ravens 17, Chargers 16</b><br />
<br />
Look, I don't want to see it, because I really like this Chargers team, but doesn't this just feel like a game they blow? Playing on the road, on the East Coast, against the league's best defense, and an offense that protects the football, and runs it down your throat? Yeah, that all checks out for me.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Philadelphia at Chicago (4:40 p.m. Sunday, NBC) </b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Opening Line:</b> Bears by 6<br />
<b>Current Line:</b> Bears by 6<br />
<br />
<b>By The Numbers:</b><br />
<br />
<b>Philadelphia: </b><br />
Record: 9-7 Overall, 4-4 Road; 6-9-1 Against the Spread, 4-4 Road<br />
Average Score: 22.9 (18th) - 21.8 (12th)<br />
Average Scoring Margin: +1.2 (12th); 8.5 "Expected" Wins<br />
DVOA: -0.3% Offense (16th), 0.0% Defense (15th), +0.2% Special Teams (15th); 0.0% Overall (15th) <br />
<br />
<b>Chicago: </b><br />
Record: 12-4 Overall, 7-1 Home; 12-4 Against the Spread, 7-1 Home <br />
Average Score: 26.3 (9th) - 17.7 (1st)<br />
Average Scoring Margin: +8.6 (4th); 11.5 "Expected" Wins<br />
DVOA: -3.4% Offense (20th), -25.6% Defense (1st), -3.2% Special Teams (26th); +19.0% Overall (5th)<br />
<br />
<b>Player(s) To Watch: Nelson Agholor, Alshon Jeffery</b><br />
<br />
The Eagles have one of the worst rushing offenses in the league, and the Bears have one of the best rushing offenses in the league. A surface-level understanding would indicate that this is a huge advantage for the Bears, but I'm not sure that I agree. If the Eagles have no real hope of establishing a footing in the ground game, there's a fair chance that they don't even try and decide their only hope of winning is just throwing the ball 50 times. If you're just going to get stuffed for two yards every time anyway, why even bother? It's a legitimate strategy that teams sometimes employ. The 2014 Patriots famously overcame a 14-point second half deficit against the Ravens and their top-ranked rush defense by just, well, not running the ball (they finished with 13 carries for 14 yards and 51 passes for 418 yards). The 2011 Saints tried a similar strategy against the 49ers in the NFC Playoffs and only lost the game in the final seconds. It's not outrageous to think that the Eagles might abandon the running game early and try to just air it out.<br />
<br />
If it comes to that, Agholor and Jeffery need to come up huge. Sure, Zach Ertz will be the primary option - especially in that type of gameplan - he's a short yardage safety blanket. But Agholor and Jeffery are the downfield options, and I'm not convinced that you can beat the Bears by just gaining five or six yards on every pass play. Eventually you need to make a big play downfield. Both of them were huge contributors in the postseason last year (particularly in the Super Bowl). If they are able to replicate those performances, Philadelphia can pull off an upset.<br />
<br />
-JC <br />
<br />
<b>Hidden Points: Exploiting Weaknesses</b><br />
<br />
By any and all accounts, the weakness of this Philadelphia team is at running back and defensive back. As I mentioned above, Philadelphia has some control as to how much one of those weaknesses is exposed. If they don't want to look bad running the ball, they can just not run the ball.<br />
<br />
The weakness that they don't have a lot of control over is their defensive backfield. They're onto their 17th string cornerbacks at this point. Pretty much any team that wants to attack them there can. Well, the good news for Philadelphia is that Chicago's passing offense isn't exactly the 2013 Broncos. Their best receiver is probably Tarik Cohen out of the backfield. They don't have a true No. 1 receiver that can dominate an overmatched secondary. Their wide receivers are mostly castoffs from other teams that found their way to Chicago. Mitch Trubisky has actually played really well considering that - it's not easy to put up efficient numbers when you're a young quarterback with suspect targets.<br />
<br />
A big part of this game will come down to how well Chicago takes advantage of Philadelphia's weaknesses. Make no mistake - Chicago is a drastically better team overall. The question is how well the two teams match up against each other. If Chicago can't capitalize, then the door is open for Philadelphia to play spoiler.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<br />
<b>The State of the Eagles</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Welcome back, Big D**k Nick! That's right, after vanquishing Brady and the Patriots in last year's Super Bowl, Nick Foles has once again come on for Philly and worked his magic, helping the Eagles win their last three games to make the playoffs. As Philly prepares to enter the tourney again, it will be a similar formula to last year: Create big plays in the passing game, opening up room for runs inside, and do just enough on defense.<br />
<br />
-JP<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The State of the Bears</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The league's top-ranked scoring defense also created 50 sacks and held opponents under 4 yards per carry. That's been Chicago's identity all year, as the Bears keep you behind the sticks, then unleash Pro Bowl pass rusher Khalil Mack on your QB to get off the field. Offensively, the Bears haven't been as decorated, but Jordan Howard is a bell cow back, with Tarik Cohen providing a nice change of pace (and option in the passing game).<br />
<br />
The real question for Chicago is, how far can the Bears go with second-year QB Mitch Trubisky? The kid hasn't thrown a pick in his last three outings, but before that, he threw five in two games.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>-JP</b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Picks</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Bears 31, Eagles 20</b><br />
<br />
I know in my two sections above, I kind of laid out a path for Philadelphia to pull an upset, but I'm not really buying what I'm selling. Don't get me wrong - this game is winnable for the Eagles. I just don't think they're going to be able to pull it off.<br />
<br />
A big portion of the outline above is Philadelphia throwing on nearly every down. That's a legitimate way for them to hide their weaknesses. The problem there is that another one of their weaknesses for this game specifically is the health of their offensive line. Jason Peters (left tackle), Isaac Seumalo (left guard), and Jason Kelce (center) are all nursing ongoing injuries or questionable to return from injuries that have kept them out of the lineup. I'm not sure if you were following that just now, but that's the entire left side of their offensive line. And they're going up against Khalil Mack, who is, well, only the best all-around defensive player in football. That seems kind of relevant. If we were talking about a team like the Patriots or Colts or Saints who have a stellar offensive line and an all-world quarterback, it might be a legitimate path to victory. Philadelphia's offensive line was only around average to begin with, and they're pretty banged up.<br />
<br />
The other part was that Chicago might not have the explosive type of passing offense to truly punish the lack of depth in Philadelphia's secondary. Well, we have some evidence of what Chicago can do in that kind of situation. Trubisky threw for 354 yards and six touchdowns against the Bucs back in Week 4. He threw for 355 yards and three touchdowns against the Lions in Week 10. We've certainly seen Chicago's passing game explode. It wouldn't be unprecedented.<br />
<br />
I'm not saying Khalil Mack is going to sack Nick Foles six times and Chicago will put up 500 yards of offense, but I think it's just way more likely that Chicago, the best teams in the league all season, will be able to take care of business against a team that barely snuck into the playoffs because the NFC inexplicably fell apart over the last month of the season.<br />
<br />
-JC<br />
<br />
<b>Bears 27, Eagles 24</b><br />
<br />
To me, this is about which defense generates a stop, and there's no question Chicago's defense is better. Now, can Nick Foles create some more magic and pull off another upset? Surely, but I trust that Chicago will play a relatively clean game, and the Bears' running game and a bit of Trib should be enough to get them through.<br />
<br />
-JPJeremy Conlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999218325324667964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-37767128578998518482018-12-14T21:20:00.000-05:002018-12-14T21:21:38.920-05:00NFL Week 15 Primer (With Picks): Showdown of Your Heroes<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelXQIahyNcH_CKhd5N3KGk7miTlrCezCeLjy9-Q7TqYIo0SHQ9VsZwc-87t3KDqji79BU08LiIUiHQAaIHiYdM-WKbozAOLtzJQiDy1K8BDh27jmMWSr7wzxy69_8ChBkvk8-L7Qa7cw/s1600/DrakeGronk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="920" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelXQIahyNcH_CKhd5N3KGk7miTlrCezCeLjy9-Q7TqYIo0SHQ9VsZwc-87t3KDqji79BU08LiIUiHQAaIHiYdM-WKbozAOLtzJQiDy1K8BDh27jmMWSr7wzxy69_8ChBkvk8-L7Qa7cw/s400/DrakeGronk.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the craziest play of the season, the Dolphins are looking to prove they can string some wins together, while the Patriots are looking to bounce back against a desperate Pittsburgh team.</td></tr>
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<i>By Jeremy Conlin (<a href="https://twitter.com/jeremy_conlin" target="_blank">@jeremy_conlin</a>) and Joe Parello (<a href="https://twitter.com/herewegojoe" target="_blank">@HerewegoJoe</a>)</i><br />
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Jeremy's Patriots and Joe's Steelers square off this week, and while <a href="https://twitter.com/HerewegoJoe/status/1073625532565282816" target="_blank">we've made plans to meet up and watch the game</a>, we're not exactly feeling that great about our respective hometown teams after this past weekend.<br />
<br />
Both teams need the win. The Patriots need a win to be a single game behind Kansas City and the Chargers, putting them in a position to potentially steal the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC on tiebreakers. That seems especially important for them this year, considering they're 6-0 at home and 3-4 on the road, with those losses coming against the Lions, Jaguars, Titans, and Dolphins. The Steelers need a win to simply stop the bleeding - they've lost three straight and suddenly hold only a half-game lead over the Ravens in the AFC North, and a half-game lead over teams like the Colts, Titans, and Dolphins for what would end up being the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoff bracket. That all doesn't even include the Broncos and Browns, who are still somehow very much alive.<br />
<br />
Jeremy picked up some ground last week, going 9-7 overall and 4-2 on disagreements (and is like, actually kinda mad about not pulling the trigger on Miami and San Francisco and Indianapolis like he wanted to). Joe dipped back below .500 on the year, but still holds a six game lead. He also took the Thursday game this week - Jeremy didn't have faith in the Chargers with the injuries that they're piling up, but they were able to pull it out anyway.<br />
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Now for the rest of the Week 15 picks (including two Saturday games!)<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Here Are The Picks We Agree On (Home Teams In CAPS)</b></span><br />
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<b>Houston (-7) over NEW YORK JETS</b><br />
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<b>JC:</b> The Jets looked kind of okay last week, and the Texans finally had their nine-game winning streak snapped, but this should be a relatively easy one for the Texans. There's a decent chance that the AFC is headed for a four-way tie at 12-4 (which somehow the Patriots would end up winning, most likely), so let's at least root for that over the next few weeks.<br />
<br />
<b>JP:</b> Ok, Houston laid the stinker it was due last week, and the Jets won a game, but come on.<br />
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<b>Cleveland (+2.5) over DENVER</b><br />
<br />
<b>JC: </b>The Browns are still alive for the playoffs entering Week 15. This team went 4-44 over the last three years. Now there's a non-zero chance that they make the playoffs. Football Outsiders has it pegged at 0.5 percent, but it's still a chance. I'm riding it out for as long as I can.<br />
<br />
<b>JP: </b>Scrappy Browns against talented but inconsistent Broncos... Gimme the points.<br />
<br />
<b>Oakland (+3) over CINCINNATI</b><br />
<br />
<b>JC:</b> Oakland has won twice in the last month and were competitive against the Chiefs in a third game. They're actually finding somewhat of a rhythm. The Bengals have lost five in a row, seven of their last eight, and haven't really looked good in any of those games. If both teams suck, I'll take the one that's trending up (barely) and getting the points.<br />
<br />
<b>JP:</b> Cincy has mailed it in and Oakland is sly scrappy of late. Again, gimme the points.<br />
<br />
<b>BALTIMORE (-7.5) over Tampa Bay</b><br />
<br />
<b>JC:</b> The Bucs had a nice thing going, winning two in a row and held a double-digit lead over probably the league's best team at halftime, but then gave up 25 straight points in the second half. So much for positive momentum. The Ravens squandered a game that they should have won and would have gone a long way towards locking up a playoff spot, but it's pretty clear that their gameplan of ground-pounding and defense is a good one. That should be enough to take care of the Bucs and their 25th-ranked rush defense.<br />
<br />
<b>JP: </b>Baltimore is Lamar's team now, and this team is kinda scary when it's running the ball and not turning it over. At home, with the division very much in play, I'll roll with the Ravens.<br />
<br />
<b>Detroit (+2) over BUFFALO</b><br />
<br />
<b>JC:</b> Detroit's defense has actually impressed me the last few weeks, beating up on Arizona and Carolina and Chicago and holding the Rams in check for most of their game. Meanwhile, the Buffalo has (gulp) the league's (gulp) No. 1 yardage defense. That is not a typo. Again - they lose games because they turn the ball over at an alarming rate. So if this is going to be an ugly rock-fight, I'll take the team that turns the ball over less.<br />
<br />
<b>JP:</b> Freakin' Buffalo, man, you tricked me into betting on you and giving points last week.<br />
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<b>CHICAGO (-6) over Green Bay</b><br />
<br />
<b>JC:</b> Green Bay picked up a win in their first game under Joe Philbin, but now they're just a team that's coached by, well, Joe Philbin. That doesn't inspire much confidence for me. The Bears continue to be the league's best overall defense, and the Packers just don't have the offensive punch that they've had in years past.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>JP:</b> Here's a game I'm super nervous about. Aaron Rodgers has been playing really well, despite the Packers' record, and if he gets any semblance of protection, he can put Green Bay on his back. But, I think the Bears get after him again and wrap up five or six sacks.<br />
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<b>Washington (+7.5) over JACKSONVILLE</b><br />
<br />
<b>JC: </b>Did you see Josh Jackson put together a few nice possessions for Washington's offense last week? And did you see what Tennessee did to Jacksonville's defense last week? I'm sorry, but the Jaguars shouldn't be favored by more than a touchdown against anyone. I'm selling.<br />
<br />
<b>JP:</b> Yeah, Washington is basically an NFL Europe team on offense right now (you remember NFL Europe, right?), but ain't no way I'm giving this many points with the way Jacksonville is playing.<br />
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<b>Arizona (+9.5) over ATLANTA</b><br />
<br />
<b>JC:</b> Uh, the Falcons have lost five straight and failed to cover in all five games, and they're giving almost ten points? I get it, the Cardinals are really bad, but, like, what exactly do the Falcons do well? They have no ground game to speak of and a patchwork defense. Meanwhile, Arizona's defense is occasionally mediocre and the Falcons haven't scored more than 20 points since early November. If this is a low-scoring affair, do we really expect Atlanta to cover a 10-point spread?<br />
<br />
<b>JP:</b> What is with these bad teams getting huge lines? I get that they're playing even worse teams, but man, it's hard to have faith in the Falcons and Jaguars.<br />
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<b>Seattle (-3.5) over SAN FRANCISCO</b><br />
<br />
<b>JC:</b> Four straight wins for the Seahawks. 8-3 in their last 11 games. Losses to the Rams (twice) and Chargers, and that's it. This team is a buzzsaw, and they're still only 16-1 to win the NFC. Someone is going to get very rich betting on the Seahawks over the next month.<br />
<br />
<b>JP:</b> I would bet Seattle if this line was six points higher.<br />
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<b>New England (-2.5) over PITTSBURGH</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>JC:</b> I was very prepared to bet against New England here, considering how terrible they've been on the road this year and how inconsistent they are on both sides of the ball, but giving less than a field goal against a team that's lost three straight games and can't get out of their own way seems like a fair price.<br />
<br />
<b>JP: </b>Ugh.<br />
<br />
I have to say, I love living in Massachusetts. It's a great place. I plan on raising kids here and participating in the annual New England traditions of complaining about the weather, taxes and roads, but never leaving because this place is so darn quaint and the schools are great. That's all gonna be fun until I retire to Vegas.<br />
<br />
But, the one thing I hate about living here is that, every year, for an entire week, I have to be reminded about how Tom Brady owns the Steelers. And dammit, he does. Brady has made me miserable so many times. I love watching him play, but sometimes I want to see his perfect face broken down like the avocados he uses to make his ice cream.<br />
<br />
But that never happens against the Steelers, and this line should be three points higher. This will hand the Steelers their fourth straight loss, and push them (improbably) below Baltimore in the division, all with a game AT NEW ORLEANS looming next week.<br />
<br />
I hate everything about this game. But yeah, gonna be fun watching it in a bar in Boston.<br />
<br />
<b>New Orleans (-6.5) over CAROLINA</b><br />
<br />
<b>JC:</b> This makes five straight losses for the Panthers, three of which coming against the Lions, Bucs, and Browns - three teams that they just shouldn't lose to. The Saints have actually looked less than impressive on offense the last three weeks, even (they only mustered 312 yards against Atlanta on Thanksgiving night), but I'm just not buying Carolina as the team to knock New Orleans off the perch.<br />
<br />
JP: Man, maybe the Panthers just stink.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Here Are The Picks We Disagree On (Home Teams Still In CAPS)</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>JC: KANSAS CITY (-3.5) over Los Angeles Chargers</b><br />
<br />
I have to hand it to the Chargers - they knew that I had picked Kansas City to cover, so they went for two with four seconds left knowing that no matter what happened, they'd cover the spread and screw me over. If they went to overtime, there's a chance for the Chiefs to win by six on a touchdown. They wanted to avoid that at all costs.<br />
<br />
<b>JP: Los Angeles Chargers (+3.5) over KANSAS CITY</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I'm gonna call this team San Diego until the day I die, and I don't care that Stephen A. Smith doesn't know any of their active players. Anyways, go San Diego... Superchargers!<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>JC: MINNESOTA (-7.5) over Miami</b><br />
<br />
I'm not quite sure I'm going to get over the way the Patriots-Dolphins game ended last Sunday. The Dolphins on the season are 7-1 in games decided by one possession and 0-5 in all other games. They've been outscored by 55 points on the season. Yet they inexplicably keep winning games. Hopefully a big Minnesota win makes me feel better.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>JP: Miami (+7.5) over MINNESOTA</b><br />
<br />
Teams haven' exactly fared well after beating the Patriots this year, but man did Minnesota look out of sorts last week, especially on offense. If nothing else, this feels like a close one.<br />
<br />
<b>JC: INDIANAPOLIS (-3) over Dallas</b><br />
<br />
I'll take this one just because it makes the AFC Wild Card picture substantially more interesting and opens the door in the NFC East also. I don't think this is the correct pick but it's certainly the more interesting one.<br />
<br />
<b>JP: Dallas (+3) over INDIANAPOLIS</b><br />
<br />
Oh, well if you've already said my part for me...<br />
<br />
<b>JC: NEW YORK GIANTS (-2) over Tennessee</b><br />
<br />
I'm all-in on the Browns and Giants making the playoffs this year. Do you hear me? All in. ALL IN. It's happening.<br />
<br />
<b>JP: Tennessee (+2) over NEW YORK GIANTS</b><br />
<br />
I've been on the "New York is gonna ruin some seasons" bandwagon lately, mostly because of the Giants' absurd collection of skill talent. Well, with OBJ on the bench for another week, and Tennessee fighting for its playoff life (and getting points), I have to jump off, at least for one week.<br />
<br />
<b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />JC: LOS ANGELES RAMS (-11) over Philadelphia</b><br />
<br />
I really don't like this line, mostly because the Rams haven't been beating up on teams. They took care of business against the Lions and 49ers but against everyone else they've been barely skating by. If Carson Wentz was playing and this line was a few points trimmer, I would absolutely bet on the Eagles here.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>JP: Philadelphia (+11) over LOS ANGELES RAMS</b><br />
<br />
Never bet against Big D**k Nick!<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b>Jeremy's Record:</b></i><br />
<i>Last Week: 9-7</i><br />
<i>Season: 93-108-7</i><br />
<i>Last Week's Disagreements: 4-2</i><br />
<i>Season's Disagreements: 33-39-1</i><br />
<br />
<i><b>Joe's Record:</b></i><br />
<i>Last Week: 7-9</i><br />
<i>Season: 99-100-7</i><br />
<i>Last Week's Disagreements: 2-4</i><br />
<i>Season's Disagreements: 39-33-1</i>Jeremy Conlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999218325324667964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-6539215223081603272018-12-07T09:36:00.000-05:002019-03-16T21:41:31.034-04:00My Season in Review, and Some Final Thoughts From My Time at SuiteSports <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: black;">By Matt Feld (<a href="https://twitter.com/mattyfeld612"><span style="color: blue;">@Mattyfeld612</span></a>)</span></i><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></i><span style="color: black;">The MIAA High School Football season ended in style last weekend,
with Friday night and Saturday serving as a celebration for the 16 teams who
had earned the right to take the field at Gillette Stadium.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was a fall filled with extraordinary storylines. John DiBiaso
took over as Catholic Memorial's head coach and immediately led the Knights to
their first super Bowl appearance in 40 years. Despite losing stars all over
the field, King Philip managed to return to Gillette for a third consecutive
season only for John Dubzinksi's buzz-saw of a North Andover team to finish off
a perfect season.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Scituate's senior captains Aidan Sullivan, Daniel May, Josh
McKeever, and Josh Comeau completed their rise to the top in Division 5, as the
Sailors grabbed their first Super Bowl in program history, while Cohasset
stunned most when it halted Mashpee's quest for a four-peat. Paul Sobolewski's
efforts to put Pope John back on the map showed that they are paying dividends, as the Tigers reached the Division 8 Super Bowl mere years after not having a
program to speak of.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">The final days of the football season, however, also signaled the
end of SuiteSports' coverage of high school sports on a consistent basis, and my
time with the blog. I will let my lead editor Joe Parello divulge more information
on that matter in the coming days, and I'll continue to write for the <i>Boston
Herald's</i> High School Sports section.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As I begin to explore other opportunities in sports, this seemed
like a golden chance to open up and reflect on my time on the high school beat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are those who have been around the high school scene for a
far greater amount of time than I have. As Dan Shaughnessy told me when I
started out at <i>The Herald</i>, Danny Ventura is the “dean of high school sports”
and there is no truer fact than that. Danny has been an incredible mentor for me
both personally and as a writer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Brendan Hall was the first person to give me a chance back in
March of 2015 during the Eastern Mass. basketball finals at the TD Garden. My
pathway through college and up until now would certainly look different were it
not for him trusting me to fill in for a sick employee at ESPNBoston.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even in just my five years on the beat, however, I have recognized
the importance in making sure high school athletes receive the coverage they
deserve. A healthy diet of reporting on high school sports is crucial, and I
hope that those out there with the resources can fill whatever void may be left
behind.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For a little over two years, steered by Joe, we at SuiteSports did
what we could to cover the gap left behind by the departure of ESPNBoston's
High Schools page. Due to our limited monetary and physical resources, we
unfortunately were not able to get to every event, cover every sport, and
discover every athlete we may have hoped to. Despite that, we pounded out every
preview, game recap, human interest story, and any other form of content that
we could provide, because recognizing student-athletes for their
accomplishments is our ultimate goal and responsibility. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Through my time at ESPNBoston, the Boston Herald, and now with
SuiteSports I have had the unique experience of covering some of the premiere
athletes this state has seen in the last half decade. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since just 2014, I've reported on numerous major collegiate
prospects including Danny Dalton, Tyler Nelson, Kellan Grady, Mike Vasil, Billy
Seidl, Ethan Wright, and Mike Sainristil. I've been to the infamous HoopHall
Classic for all three outlets to watch some of the top amateur basketball
players in the country such as Shareef O'Neal, Bruce Brown, and Nick Racocevic
take the floor. I’ve covered baseball, hockey, and football games at Fenway
Park, and spent countless hours patrolling the sidelines at Gillette
Stadium.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To be entrusted to cover some of the best athletes not only in the
state, but in some cases the region or country, at a time when they are just
starting to develop, is an incredible honor. I look forward to the days ahead
where I am able to watch on TV or look across social media platforms and see an
athlete perform at the highest level after reporting on them when they were
just bursting onto the scene.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yet, I have always found the greatest source of value and
jubilation in this job stems from being able to shine a spotlight on the
players that are enjoying their only athletic moments in the sun.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Those that may continue on to compete in college, but never
receive the same time of athletic attention that they can attain when playing
for a Super Bowl, league title, or sectional championship.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For many, their time in high school is their one chance to be a
town hero or celebrity. It’s their moment to bask in the glory that being
an amateur athlete brings. It may be their only time to hear their name chanted
by thousands, see their name as the headline of a story, or be the main photo
on the front cover of a newspaper. I believe there's a responsibility that
falls upon the local media to help those players squeeze every ounce out of
that experience.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">High school sports is invigorating, enthralling, electric, and
special because it is, in its truest, the most authentic form of competition
that exists. Players strap on the pads on a Friday night, take the diamond on a
Monday afternoon, or prepare to go up and down the ice or court to experience
the adrenaline rush of competing for their friends, teammates, and community.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They do it with the hope of an athletic scholarship, but knowing
the only guarantee is having the chance to compete on behalf of their school.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately with that come a number of warning signs as it
pertains to the direction high school sports is trending. The old adage players
play and coaches coach is constantly under siege as folks take to social media
to callout others and refuse self-responsibility. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Entitlement has encapsulated the area. For 99-percent of parents
and fans, their main desire is make sure their kids and his/her teammates have
the best high school sports experience that they can endure. Those role models,
however, have become overshadowed by a select few who are now the face of
interactions between adults and coaches.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These individuals believe that they have been ingrained with the
skills necessary to teach blocking techniques, a zone defense, how to hit, and
who to pitch better than the coaches they've entrusted their kids with. Has
anyone ever considered how little sense this makes? Perhaps most absurdly above
all else, they think they know the rulebook better than the referees trained to
officiate the game.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I've sat in the press box, on the sidelines, and in the crowd as
adults have screamed at Super Bowl winning coaches, "It's unbalanced
formation! Make an adjustment!" or yelled out at injured kids “stop
faking!” as if their wail will somehow not be construed as utterly
embarrassing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The attitude and actions of these select few have been nothing
short of detrimental. It’s led to the dismissal of one of the top high school
baseball coaches this state has seen, and caused a plethora of others to step
aside. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fearing that their kids are not getting the exposure they are
entitled to from both the coaching staff and the media, many have decided to
remove their kids from an MIAA school and place them at a local prep school.
No, I am not referring to the star athlete who has proven he would benefit from
greater competition, or the kid who would certainly benefit from an extra year
of high school athletics before entering college. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am talking about the countless players who have been convinced
by AAU teams, fans, and other adults that the grass is always greener someplace
else. They leave their friends, coaches, and community because they believe
it’s the golden ticket to stardom. More often than not, they end up right where
they would have been and without the once-in-a-lifetime experience of coming
out to a home crowd.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you’re good enough, they will find you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Every time a high school sports season concludes, I ask myself
whether I did everything I could to make it about the players. They are the
stars of the show that always appear in primetime and provide countless
material. From game-winning plays, motivation stemmed from a personal tragedy,
or just enjoying a few months to remember they are the ones who provide the
content. At the end of the day, the athletes are the one's who orchestrate the
script and we just put it into words.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Going forward, I hope that other outlets that have started up in
recent months such as MassVarsity succeed in tandem with the Boston Globe,
Boston Herald, MassLive, and the Worcester Telegram & Gazette to generate
as much coverage for high school sports in this state as possible. I encourage
people to support their local town newspaper, as they are the source of so many
valuable, often untold stories that help paint part of the picture. Together,
when at their best, they all fit together to makeup the beauty that is high
school sports.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amateur athletes are here to have the time of their lives, and a
healthy media presence only amplifies it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have been fortunate enough to work for three terrific editors in
Brendan, Joe and Danny, who have given me the privilege to cover the very best
that Massachusetts high school sports has to offer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the long run, I do not know what's to come for me, but I know I am
far better off due to the world-class parents, fans, coaches, colleagues, and
most importantly players that I have met and covered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you to everyone over the years who has taken the time to
read, follow, comment on, and share our high school sports content here at
SuiteSports. Your feedback has only made me better at what I do, and for that I
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<!--EndFragment-->Matt Feldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02872699577357839749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-60559178225178221892018-12-07T00:00:00.000-05:002018-12-07T10:37:46.695-05:00NFL Week 14 Primer (With Picks): One Final Power Poll<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image">
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<meta name="twitter:title" content="NFL Week 14 Primer (With Picks): One Final Power Poll">
<meta name="twitter:description" content="Yet another power poll to go with our weekly picks.">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pVXYoRdSx2D_IKZFD-scBB8b7rqSzl-bNXq4hefwEHdD83sP7Nb8EkHIbNEKnSaQ3Op6cbW7-IExHgVi9dj4yy13OTj-DUrmKW1MLOBMF0wBq5k5ISaHv9Wj0_WbT18RMsmZ3Auo2oM/s1600/Gurley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="534" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pVXYoRdSx2D_IKZFD-scBB8b7rqSzl-bNXq4hefwEHdD83sP7Nb8EkHIbNEKnSaQ3Op6cbW7-IExHgVi9dj4yy13OTj-DUrmKW1MLOBMF0wBq5k5ISaHv9Wj0_WbT18RMsmZ3Auo2oM/s400/Gurley.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Todd Gurley doesn't care about covering the spread or your fantasy team, but he's got the Rams in pole position in the NFC.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>By Jeremy Conlin (<a href="http://twitter.com/jeremy_conlin" target="_blank">@jeremy_conlin</a>) and Joe Parello (<a href="http://twitter.com/herewegojoe" target="_blank">@HerewegoJoe</a>)</i><br />
<br />
As we enter the final quarter of the NFL season, with all teams having played 75 percent of their schedule, we unleash our final regular season power poll. We've included movement since the last power poll, which came in Week 9, and we'll break down all the ins and outs and the end.<br />
<br />
<i>Quite Simply Not Good At Anything</i><br />
<br />
32. Oakland Raiders (-1)<br />
31. San Francisco 49ers (-2)<br />
30. Arizona Cardinals (0)<br />
<br />
<i>The Nicest Truck Stop Port-o-John In All Of Rural Indiana</i><br />
<br />
29. Buffalo Bills (+3)<br />
<br />
<i>The Generically Bad Teams</i><br />
<br />
28. New York Jets (-7)<br />
27. Detroit Lions (-4)<br />
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0)<br />
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (-3) <br />
24. Cincinnati Bengals (-8)<br />
<br />
<i>The Good Bad Teams</i><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
23. Cleveland Browns (+1)<br />
22. Atlanta Falcons (-5)<br />
21. New York Giants (+7)<br />
<br />
<i>Still Alive, Barely</i><br />
<br />
20. Green Bay Packers (-5)<br />
19. Miami Dolphins (+8)<br />
18. Tennessee Titans (+6)<br />
<br />
<i>Walking Wounded</i><br />
<br />
17. Washington Redskins (-7)<br />
16. Philadelphia Eagles (-3)<br />
<br />
<i>Still Fighting</i><br />
<br />
15. Indianapolis Colts (+4)<br />
14. Carolina Panthers (-8)<br />
<br />
<i>Surging </i><br />
<br />
13. Denver Broncos (+7)<br />
12. Dallas Cowboys (+5)<br />
<br />
<i>The Fringe</i><br />
<br />
11. Minnesota Vikings (+3)<br />
10. Baltimore Ravens (-2)<br />
<br />
<i>The Bad Good Teams</i><br />
<br />
9. Seattle Seahawks (+3)<br />
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (-1)<br />
<br />
<i>Deserve To Be Taken Seriously</i><br />
<br />
7. Houston Texans (+4)<br />
6. Chicago Bears (+3)<br />
5. Los Angeles Chargers (-0)<br />
<br />
<i>The Contenders</i><br />
<br />
4. New England Patriots (0)<br />
3. Kansas City Chiefs (-1)<br />
<br />
<i>The Favorites</i><br />
<br />
2. New Orleans Saints (+1)<br />
1. Los Angeles Rams (0)<br />
<br />
Ranking The Contenders and The Favorites was actually pretty tough. In both instances, we went with the team currently ahead in the standings as the top billing, even though the team directly behind them holds the head-to-head tiebreaker. In the AFC, both the Chiefs and Patriots have lost in the month since our last power poll - the Chiefs lost to the Rams in the gong show to end all gong shows, while the Patriots lost to the Titans. It just doesn't seem right to have the Patriots above Kansas City at this point.<br />
<br />
(Worth noting, however, that New England's schedule is far easier than Kansas City's down the stretch - they play at Miami, at Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and the Jets, while the Chiefs play Baltimore, the Chargers, at Seattle, and Oakland. The Patriots seem more likely to win out than Kansas City is.)<br />
<br />
In the NFC, we saw the Saints beat the Rams in the last month, but the Saints losing last week ceded the No. 1 seed in the NFC to Los Angeles. With both teams looking like they're capable of winning 13+ games, it seems like the NFC will come down to which team gets home-field advantage in the playoffs, and right now the Rams have the inside track.<br />
<br />
The biggest gainers this time around were the Dolphins, although that might just have to do with us underrating them last time around. It looks like 9-7 will be good enough to get in, but between Miami, Baltimore, Indianapolis, and Tennessee, it will just come down to tiebreakers.<br />
<br />
Other than Miami, are big gainers are Denver and the Giants. Denver certainly seems alive in the AFC playoff picture - winning three straight games will do that. The Broncos also have a pretty cushy remaining schedule (at San Francisco, Cleveland, at Oakland, and the Chargers), and certainly seem to be pushing Baltimore for the AFC's final playoff spot. The Giants winning three of their last four games probably isn't helping them in the long run, especially if they now finish a strong 6-10 and convince themselves to bring back Eli Manning for another year. Regardless, it's good to see them finding some success on offense with how terrible their offensive line has looked.<br />
<br />
Week 14 got off on the right foot, with both of your correspondents zeroing in on Tennessee at home, and it comes off the heels of another positive week, including a true milestone. For the first time in longer than we're willing to admit, Joe peeked his head above .500 for the season with a 92-91-7 record following a 10-6 week. Let's keep that momentum going with the rest of the Week 14 picks.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Here Are The Picks We Agree On (Home Teams In CAPS)</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>TENNESSEE (-5.5) over Jacksonville</b><br />
<br />
Jeremy has Derrick Henry on his fantasy team. He also has Matt Breida on his fantasy team. Breida has been solid, if unspectacular, and has worked his way into Jeremy's flex spot for most of the season. Matt Breida is out this week. Did Jeremy start Derrick Henry? Of course not. In related news, Jeremy will miss his fantasy playoffs this year.<br />
<br />
<b>Baltimore (+5.5) over KANSAS CITY</b><br />
<br />
<b>JC:</b> Can we talk about how Baltimore has won three games in a row, and in all three have rushed for more yards than their opponent has gained in total offense? Or about how their average time of possession in those three games is north of 37 minutes per game? Batlmore's game plan is control the clock + defense + don't turn the ball over, and it's working. The Chiefs have the league's 31st-ranked defense per rush attempt, dead last in DVOA. If Baltimore can execute their gameplan, this could be a close game.<br />
<br />
<b>JP:</b> I don't know if Baltimore pulls this one out on the road, but I'm almost positive they can possess the ball for 45 minutes by running the read option against that KC defense.<br />
<br />
<b>Atlanta (+5) over GREEN BAY</b><br />
<br />
<b>JC:</b> I hate both of these teams, mostly for burning me so many times this year when I believed in them but shouldn't have. I don't trust either of these teams any further than I can punt them, so I'm just taking the points and walking away.<br />
<br />
<b>JP:</b> Yeah, it's disgusting these teams are so bad with these quarterbacks, but here we are. I'll take the points.<br />
<br />
<b>New England (-8) over MIAMI</b><br />
<br />
<b>JC:</b> The Patriots might be finding a groove at the right time. You're not going to believe this, but we've seen this before. It's November/December, other teams in the conference are stumbling, just barely, and here come the Patriots to put themselves back on top of the AFC. If you're a fan of any other team, this must really suck for you. Honestly, I feel bad. If you're looking for solace, just know that the @ Miami game has historically been weird for the Patriots. They lost there last year, almost costing them home field advantage in the playoffs, lost there as well in 2015, which *did* cost them home field advantage in the playoffs, and lost there to open the 2014 season as well. Oh, also, they lost there in 2013, and didn't cover the spread in 2012. So there's something to keep an eye on here.<br />
<br />
<b>JP:</b> Playing in Miami has been oddly difficult for Brady and the Pats, compared to everywhere else they've played, but this team is beginning its Super Bowl march. No more letdowns for New England this year.<br />
<br />
<b>New York Giants (-3.5) over WASHINGTON</b><br />
<br />
<b>JC:</b> I just spent 15 minutes on ESPN's NFL Playoff Machine trying to finagle a way for the Giants to win the NFC East, but it would involve the Giants winning out and every other NFC team finishing 7-9, because somehow the Giants have the worst tiebreakers in the history of professional football. I don't think it's happening. But I do think they win this game.<br />
<br />
<b>JP:</b> The Giants' offense continues its march to the middle of the first round...<br />
<br />
<b>Denver (-4) over SAN FRANCISCO</b><br />
<br />
<b>JC:</b> I'm not going to lie, I stared at this line for way too long. This kind of seems like exactly the kind of game that a Vance Joseph-coached, Case Keenum-quarterbacked team would inexplicably lose and cost themselves a playoff spot. All in all, Denver hasn't been THAT good over the last month - they've just forced some timely turnovers and controlled the clock. I'm not that impressed with them, but I just couldn't bring myself to back this 49ers team.<br />
<br />
<b>JP:</b> But, I mean, they've won games, which is more than we can say for San Fran. Let's not overthink this.<br />
<br />
<b>LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (-14) over Cincinnati</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>JC:</b> The Bengals just have nothing left. A.J. Green and Andy Dalton are out for the year, the defense has been bad all season, and Marvin Lewis is probably finally on his way out the door. It's too bad, because their offense was humming early in the season and they looked like a potentially frisky team that could just win shootouts and be entertaining. That never quite panned out, and they're 1-6 over the last two months. The Chargers are still without Melvin Gordon, but they were able to grind out a win last week, so they should be fine here.<br />
<br />
<b>JP:</b> RING THE DAMN BELL!<br />
<br />
<b>ARIZONA (+3) over Detroit</b><br />
<br />
<b>JC:</b> I could spend some time trying to find out something interesting to say about either one of these teams or this matchup, but honestly, who cares? Then again, my refusal to do any research into these terrible matchups is probably why I'm still 16 games under .500 this year.<br />
<br />
<b>JP:</b> Ugh. Gimme the points.<br />
<br />
<b>DALLAS (-3.5) over Philadelphia</b><br />
<br />
<b>JC:</b> Wouldn't it be the most Cowboys thing ever to lose this game and suddenly make the NFC East wide open all over again? As much as I'd love for that to happen, I just don't like the matchup of Ezekiel Elliot and the Dallas offensive line vs. Philadelphia's 29th ranked defense per rush and a Dallas defense that beat the holy hell out of Drew Brees vs. a banged-up Philadelphia front.<br />
<br />
<b>JP: </b>Yeah, this seems like a game Dallas will blow, but given Philly's current injury situation, and Carson Wentz suddenly looking, uh, bad, I can't bring myself to take the Eagles.<br />
<br />
<b>SEATTLE (-3) over Minnesota</b><br />
<br />
<b>JC:</b> Seattle's resume continues to improve every week. Their five losses are all respectable (and one-possession games), and most of their wins have been convincing. The top of the conference is obviously incredibly strong, but the Seahawks at 22-1 to win the NFC is very, very, VERY, *VERY* tempting to me at the moment. I would buy now while the price is still so favorable.<br />
<br />
<b>JP:</b> This should be a great one, but it just seems like Seattle is building momentum each week. Expect a fun shootout, and three points for the surging home team seems fair.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Here Are The Picks We Disagree On (Home Teams Still In CAPS)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<b>JC: HOUSTON (-4.5) over Indianapolis</b><br />
<br />
Alright, I'll finally take Houston after trying to fade them (unsuccessfully) for the last month-plus. Naturally, they'll probably let the Colts hang around and win on a last-second field goal just to spite me.<br />
<br />
<b>JP: Indianapolis (+4.5) over HOUSTON</b><br />
<br />
The Texans are going to lay a stinker at some point this year, right? This week seems like as good a bet as any against a totally desperate Colts team that was playing well until that weird game against Jacksonville.<br />
<br />
<b>JC: CLEVELAND (+2) over Carolina</b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
Hear me out. Cleveland's remaining schedule after this week includes Denver, Cincinnati, and Baltimore. Winning out would put them at 8-7-1, and also hand a loss to three teams that are still fighting for AFC Playoff spots. There's actually a not-entirely-far-fetched scenario where Denver, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Miami, and Tennessee all end up at 8-8 (or worse) and Cleveland gets the AFC's 6th seed. It's a non-zero chance. Who wants to live the dream with me?<br />
<br />
<b>JP: Carolina (-2) over CLEVELAND</b><br />
<br />
The Browns are a trendy, scrappy pick right now, and the Panthers seem to be sinking, but I've got to believe that defense and Cam Newton dig deep and refuse to lose to Cleveland. Time to stop the bleeding.<br />
<br />
<b>JC: New Orleans (-9) over TAMPA BAY</b><br />
<br />
The league's most explosive offense coming off a loss and needing a win to keep pace going up against the league's most embarrassing defense? What's not to love?<br />
<br />
<b>JP: TAMPA BAY (+9) over New Orleans</b><br />
<br />
Nah man, this has Bucs backdoor cover written all over it.<br />
<br />
<b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />JC: New York Jets (+3.5) over BUFFALO</b><br />
<br />
I've been singing Buffalo's praises the last few weeks (and have been paid off a few times), but under no circumstances should the Bills be favored by more than a field goal. I just can't accept it.<br />
<br />
<b>JP: BUFFALO (-3.5) over New York Jets</b><br />
<br />
Uh... Playing the Jets at home seems like a proper circumstance for this line.<br />
<br />
<b>JC: CHICAGO (+3) over Los Angeles Rams</b><br />
<br />
Let's find out once and for all if Chicago is real or not. They've taken some bad teams out to the woodshed, but struggled at weird times and lost games that they shouldn't have. We can give them a pass for last week, relying on a backup quarterback, but Mitch Trubisky is expected to play Sunday night. The Rams had one of their worse offensive performances last week, and now go up against maybe the league's best defense. The Rams have found themselves in some close games against teams like Seattle and Denver, especially on the road, so Chicago might have a puncher's chance here.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>JP: Los Angeles Rams (-3) over CHICAGO</b><br />
<br />
If this wasn't Mitch's first game back, and the Bears defense wasn't carved up early by Eli Manning and Co. last week, I'd be with you. Still think this will be a great game, but I'll go with the top seed over the up-and-comer as long as the spread is a field goal or less.<br />
<br />
<b>JC: Pittsburgh (-10) over OAKLAND</b><br />
<br />
The Raiders covered a big spread at home against the Chiefs last week, but I'm not betting on that happening two weeks in a row. After two straight losses (and three straight lackluster performances), the Steelers find themselves with only a half-game lead over Baltimore in the AFC North, so they really need to kick it into gear down the stretch. With games remaining against New England and New Orleans, I'm not sure the Steelers can guarantee themselves even 10 wins this year despite starting 7-2-1. The Steelers need this game badly, so I wouldn't be surprised if come out swinging here.<br />
<br />
<b>JP: OAKLAND (+10) over Pittsburgh</b><br />
<br />
The Steelers have lost back-to-back games, and really deserve to be losers of three straight. Plus, James Conner is out, Ben Roethlisberger continues to start slowly outside of Eastern Standard Time, and Pittsburgh hasn't won in Oakland since 1995... Yeah, I ain't givin' 10 points against all that.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b>Jeremy's Record:</b></i><br />
<i>Last Week: 8-8</i><br />
<i>Season: 84-101-7</i><br />
<i>Last Week's Disagreements: 2-4</i><br />
<i>Season's Disagreements: 29-37-1</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>Joe's Record:</b></i><br />
<i>Last Week: 10-6</i><br />
<i>Season: 92-91-7</i><br />
<i>Last Week's Disagreements: 4-2</i><br />
<i>Season's Disagreements: 37-29-1</i><br />
<br />Jeremy Conlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999218325324667964noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-25418400824266868472018-12-06T12:34:00.000-05:002018-12-06T14:20:39.602-05:002018 MIAA High School Football All-State Team <br />
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Christos Argyropoulos guided Stoneham to its first Super Bowl, cementing his placement on our All-State team. </div>
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<i>By SuiteSports Staff </i><br />
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On Wednesday, SuiteSports unveiled its full list of award winners beginning with announcing <a href="http://www.suitesports.com/2018/12/mike-sainristil-is-suitesports-2018_5.html" target="_blank">Everett's Mike Sainristil</a> as its 'Show-Time' winner. We then followed by unveiling <a href="http://www.suitesports.com/2018/12/aidan-sullivan-is-suitesports-2018-miaa_5.html" target="_blank">Scituate quarterback Aidan Sullivan</a> as the 2018 MIAA High School Football Player of the Year.<br />
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In the afternoon, SuiteSports announced the <a href="http://www.suitesports.com/2018/12/miaa-football-complete-list-of-our-2018.html" target="_blank">rest of its award recipients</a> including offensive, defensive, and breakout player of the year, underclassmen of the year, lineman of the year, and coach of the year.<br />
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Now, SuiteSports and its panel of writers, correspondents, and editors are ready to release its 2018 MIAA High School Football All-State Teams. Check back in tomorrow when editor Matt Feld finishes our fall content by providing his final thoughts on the season, and the overall high school sports landscape in Massachusetts. </div>
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<b><i>First Team<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jake McElroy, Sr., North Andover<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Aidan Sullivan, Sr., Scituate<br />
Colin Schofield, Jr., St. John's (Shrewsbury) </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Will Sheskey, Jr., Scituate <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Justin Jameson, Sr. Oakmont</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Christos Argyropolous, Sr., Stoneham </span></div>
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Tajon Vassar, Sr., Doherty </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jay Brunelle, Jr., St. John's (Shrewsbury) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Will Prouty, Jr., Duxbury </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wes Rockett, Sr., St. John’s Prep<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Myles Bradley, Sr. Springfield Central</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Matt Smith, Sr., Needham<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Spencer Cassell, Sr., Hingham </span></div>
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<b>Offensive Line<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kevin Pyne, Jr., Milford<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mike Ciaffoni, Sr., Lincoln-Sudbury </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Scott Elliot, Sr., Holliston <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lucas Ferraro, Sr., Xaverian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kevin Dewing, Sr., St. John's Prep <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lucas Folan, Sr., Catholic Memorial<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ryan Clemente, Sr., North Attleboro</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Cal Kenney, Sr., Lincoln-Sudbury </span></div>
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James Taylor, Sr., St. John's Prep</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jack Webster, Sr., King Philip<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mike McCutcheon, Sr., Duxbury <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mike Masse, Sr., Xaverian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Cooper DeVeau, Sr., Xaverian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mike Sainristil, Sr., Everett<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Elijah Ayers, Sr., Springfield Central <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Gabe DeSouza, Sr., North Andover <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Shane Aylward, Jr., Tewksbury<br />
Owen McGowan, So., Catholic Memorial<br />
James Dillon, Sr., Lincoln-Sudury<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Cole Baker, Jr., King Philip<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Matt Sokol, Jr., Catholic Memorial </span></div>
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<b><i>Second Team<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<b>OFFENSE<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Matt Crowley, Jr., St. John's Prep <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nick Gordon, Sr., Franklin </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Matt Petercuskie, Sr., Barnstable </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Matt McCarthy, Sr., Danvers <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ryan Halliday, Jr., King Philip<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kwame Kyles, Jr.., Springfield Central </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Niko Murray, Sr., Oxford</span></div>
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Nate Gould, Jr., Nipmuc<br />
Shea Gallo-Kolegue, Sr., St. John's (Shrewsbury)<br />
Alex Henry, Jr. Minnechaug<br />
Daniel May, Sr., Scituate </div>
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Tim Lawton, Sr. Maynard</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Matt Johnson, Sr., Nashoba <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>Offensive Line<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Hunter Salmon, Sr., Catholic Memorial<br />
Nick Evans, Sr., Attleboro<br />
Matt Doyle Sr., Braintree<br />
Jalen Smith, Sr., Everett<br />
Liam Daly, Sr., St. John's (Shrewsbury)<br />
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<b>DEFENSE<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Xavier Gonsalves, Sr., Mashpee<br />
Chris Yeboah, Sr. Doherty<br />
Quinn Murphy, Sr., Duxbury<br />
Michael Roche, Sr., North Andover<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Brendan Albert, Sr., Canton </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Vinnie Holmes, Jr., Mansfield <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kamerin Williams, Sr. Everett</span></div>
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<b>Defensive Back<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Khari Johnson, Sr., Catholic Memorial </div>
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Keshaun Dancy, Sr., Springfield Central<br />
DeVaun Ford, Sr., Mashpee<br />
Darren Watson, Sr., North Andover<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Billy Silvia, Sr., Braintree </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">J.D. Antaya, Jr., Blackstone Valley Tech</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mitch Beaudoin, Sr., Littleton</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Special Teams</b></span><br />
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Sean Majeski, Sr., St. John's Prep<br />
Sam Lehane, Sr., Milford<br />
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<b>Honorable Mention</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
. John Roberts, Sr., QB, Duxbury<br />
. Sam Bolinsky, Sr., QB, Nashoba<br />
. Jay Connolly, Sr., QB, Tewksbury<br />
. Keith Ridley, Sr., QB, Lynn Classical<br />
. Kevin Shea, Sr., RB, Hingham<br />
. Richard Broni, Jr., RB, Nipmuc<br />
. Seth Russell, Jr., RB/DB, Stoneham<br />
. Desmond Dias, Sr., RB, Old Rochester<br />
. Ja'Mier Woods, Sr., DB, Milton<br />
. Hunter Tully, Sr., WR/DB, Catholic Memorial<br />
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Matt Feldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02872699577357839749noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-7866597498709203192018-12-05T13:35:00.002-05:002018-12-05T13:55:48.234-05:00MIAA Football: The Complete List of Our 2018 Award Winners
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">North Andover's Jake McElroy was the centerpiece of the Scarlet Knights vaunted offensive attack (Photo Courtesy: Brendan Hall/@BHaullUFA)</span></div>
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<i>By Matt Feld (<a href="https://twitter.com/mattyfeld612" target="_blank">@Mattyfeld612</a>) </i><br />
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Earlier today, SuiteSports announced its first two award winners.<br />
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Sctiaute quarterback <a href="http://www.suitesports.com/2018/12/aidan-sullivan-is-suitesports-2018-miaa_5.html" target="_blank">Aidan Sullivan took home our third annual MIAA High School Football Player of the Year Award</a> as his overall value and impact on the Sailors helped lead them to their first Super Bowl in school history.<br />
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Additionally, <a href="http://www.suitesports.com/2018/12/mike-sainristil-is-suitesports-2018_5.html" target="_blank">Everett's Mike Sainristil was the recipient of our 'Show-Time' Award</a>. Previously only given to the most exciting player in Central Mass., we elected to open it up to the rest of Massachusetts this season and there was no one who fit that label better than the Michigan commit in Sainristil.<br />
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Now, SuiteSports and its panel of writers, correspondents, and editors, is ready to unveil the rest of its award winners. The list includes our Offensive, Defensive, Linemen, Breakout, Underclassmen, and Coach of The Year of the year recipients.<br />
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Check back in tomorrow when SuiteSports continues with its end of season coverage by releasing its MIAA Football All-State Team.<br />
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<b><i>Offensive Player of the Year - Jake McElory, Sr., QB, North Andover </i></b><br />
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McElroy was the captain of an offense that consistently piled up the points and steere North Andover to the Division 2 Super Bowl Championship. The senior quarterback was weekly one of the top dual-threats in the state, using both a strong arm to decimate teams from the pocket while also picking-up-apart defenses with his ability to make plays on the run.<br />
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McElroy also showcased an ability to come through in the clutch when his team needed it most. In the Super Bowl, on fourth and goal fro, the one-yard line, McElory made a second effort to plunge into the end zone for the only score of the game after initially getting stuffed.<br />
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Then, with less than five minutes to go, McElroy made a pair of key throws after the Scarlet Knights were pinned at their one-yard line, allowing them to extend the drive and chew up crucial minutes off the game cock.<br />
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For the season, McElory had 1,669 passing yards and 18 touchdowns to go with 453 rushing yards and eight more scores on the ground for a total of 26 touchdowns.<br />
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<b><i>Defensive Player of the Year - Mike McCutcheon, Sr., MLB/FS, Duxbury</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
Throughout the 2018 season, there was no one who created more havoc on the defensive side of the ball than McCutcheon.<br />
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Duxbury's senior middle linebacker was an unstoppable force throughout the fall seemingly making a difference on every play. Opposing offensive players often only had a split-second to turn up field before McCutcheon was there to pounce on them and plow them into the turf.<br />
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His six-foot-one, 195-pound build made him physical enough to easily push through blocks while also giving him the quickness and athleticism to catch speedy skill players.<br />
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Due to McCutcheon's efforts, Duxbury surrendered 14 points or less in eight of its 12 games and captured its 11th straight Patriot League Keenan crown.<br />
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For the 2018 season, McCutcheon finished with an incredible 147 tackles, with 98 of them being solo. He finished with 15 TFLs, including a season-high four in the Dragons week two win over Scituate, an interception, and three forced fumbles.<br />
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<b><i>Lineman of the Year - Scott Elliot, Sr., Holliston</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>In a fall where a number of linemen made their presence felt, Elliot was in a class of his own.<br />
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Holliston's senior two-way star finished his career in style helping to propel a Panthers team to an undefeated regular season and Tri-Valley League Large Title. From the guard position on offense, Elliot frequently opened up holes for the Panthers ground game. That was on full display in Holliston's league-clinching win over Ashland where a 300-yard rushing performance propelled the Panthers to a a 48-0 win.<br />
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The six-foot-three, 282-pound Harvard commit also was a standout defensive tackle for the Panthers using his quick feet, athleticism, and technique to frequently gain positioning on opposing linemen and overwhelm the opposition. <br />
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<b><i>Underclassmen of the Year - Owen McGowan, So., MLB/FB, Catholic Memorial</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
For those who had the opportunity to watch McGowan play this past season, it was hard to come to the realization that he was only a sophomore.<br />
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Catholic Memorial's two-way sensation was a force to be reckoned with all over the field in 2018, making it easy for one to believe that he has only scratched the surface as it pertains to his ultimate potential. In helping to lead the Knights to a Division 1 South Sectional crown and their first Super Bowl appearance in 40 years, McGowan wracked up 108 tackles from the middle linebacker position while also adding a pair of sacks, an interception, and a blocked punt.<br />
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McGowan also showed flashes of his ability on offense, rushing in a touchdown in the Knights South Sectional Semifinal win over Needham while also adding a 14-yard touchdown reception in the Super Bowl versus St. John's Prep.<br />
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The six-foot-one inch, 215-pound versatile playmaker finished with three touchdowns for the season. <br />
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<b><i>Breakout Performer of the Season - Will Sheskey, Jr., RB, Scituate </i></b><br />
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Sheskey burst onto the scene this year, asserting himself this fall as one of the top running backs in Massachusetts.<br />
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The junior frequently found himself filling up the stat sheet as he piled up the yardage on a consistent basis before eventually breaking Scituate's single season program record for rushing yards with 1,785. During the season when an opposing defense was able to quell the threat generated by Scituate's passing game, Sheskey was there to answer the call.<br />
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What made Sheskey even more dangerous, however, was his ability to become a weapon in the Sailors aerial assault turning Scituate's offense into a pick-your-poision attack as the season went along.<br />
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While not physically overpowering, Sheskey possesses unique talents such as keen footwork and agility that allow him to dance around opposing defensive fronts before using his premiere speed to breakaway for long gains.<br />
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This fall, Sheskey finished with the aforementioned 1,785 yards on 240 carries to go with 28 total touchdowns. Another year of varsity football remaining, Sheskey showcased throughout the latter weeks of the season that he has more than enough talent to carry the Sailors offense in 2019.<br />
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<b><i>Coach of the Year - Valdamar Brower, Springfield Central </i></b><br />
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Coming into the season, Springfield Central possessed plenty of talent. In its attempt to become the first Western Mass. team to win a state wide Super Bowl, however, its coach in Valdamar Brower pushed them over the top.<br />
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Brower, whose signature is his routine of wearing shorts on game day regardless of the weather, has built a Golden Eagles program that has developed into one of the top in Massachusetts. Central won its second consecutive Division 3 West title in 2018, but this time around proved ready for the challenges that a deep postseason run brings.<br />
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Behind a core of Kwame Kyles, Isaac Boston, Elijah Ayers, and Keshaun Dancy the Golden Eagles took down defending Division 3 Super Bowl champion St. John's Shrewsbury before flexing their defensive muscles in its championship win over Tewksbury.<br />
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Consistently throughout the season, Brower preached to his team about "getting better every day" and the Golden Eagles did just that. Over the course of four postseason games, Central outscored its opponents 147-34, with none of their games being closer than 13 points.Matt Feldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02872699577357839749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-90175956889972614322018-12-05T09:37:00.002-05:002018-12-05T09:52:06.273-05:00Aidan Sullivan is SuiteSports' 2018 MIAA High School Football Player of the Year <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image">
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Scituate's Aidan Sullivan proved by season's end that he was the Most Valuable Player in Massachusetts in 2018 (Photo Courtesy: Andrew Bowman/@Andrew_Bowman5). </span></i></div>
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<i> SuiteSports Staff</i><br />
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SuiteSports and its panel of writers, correspondents, and editors is proud to announce Scituate quarterback Aidan Sullivan as its 2018 MIAA High School Football Player of the Year Award recipient.<br />
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Sullivan joins Duxbury quarterback Bobby Maimaron and King Philip running back Shane Frommer as the three players to home the annual honor.<br />
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The award not only recognizes a player's talent, but also their value to their team on and off the field, their impact on team performance and their overall performance for the season's entirety. It is, in its truest definition, the most valuable player of the season.<br />
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What makes Sullivan's ascension to the top of the list so unique is that he was not even on our initial watchlist to begin the season, becoming one of the final players to add there name into consideration before locking up the honor Super Bowl weekend.<br />
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In the fall of 2018, there was no one who was a greater catalyst for his team's success than Sullivan. The five-foot-10 inch senior captain of the Sailors offense was a dynamic playmaker from opening kickoff to season's end. He made clutch plays with both his arms and his legs to lead Scituate to their first Super Bowl in program history.<br />
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Most impressive about his performance, Sullivan always carried the aura of being in command making sure every facet of the Sailors offense was in check.<br />
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Sullivan's knack for coming up big when it mattered most was on full display all season long. It was never more evident than in Scituate's opening round victory over defending Super Bowl champion Dennis-Yarmouth when for a moment it looked as though a Super Bowl would never come the Sailors way.<br />
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Trailing 27-20, however, Sullivan brought Scituate back from the dead embarking the Sailors on 97-yard drive in the span of just under two minutes. Sullivan capped off the drive by firing a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jack Ruble before icing the game with a dramatic, game-winning two-point run.<br />
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From there, Sullivan's postseason performances only got stronger. Over the Sailors final four postseason games, Sullivan threw for a combined 745 yards and 11 touchdowns to just three interceptions.<br />
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Sullivan capped off his season with a big afternoon in the Scituate's' Super Bowl win over Nipmuc going 11-of-15 for 169 yards and three touchdowns.<br />
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For the season, Sullivan went 141-of-211 for an efficient 67-percent completion rate. He amassed 2,300 passing yards and 24 touchdowns through the air to go with just seven interceptions. Additionally, Sullivan also added 146 rushing yards and six more scores on the ground to finish with 2,416 total yards and 30 touchdowns.<br />
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Sullivan ended his tenure with a pristine record of 20-3 and as the all-time program record holder for career touchdowns with 50.<br />
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Also Scituate's starting point guard in the winter, Sullivan will play basketball at Suffolk University.Matt Feldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02872699577357839749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-75082124685441980502018-12-05T09:05:00.001-05:002018-12-05T09:06:41.862-05:00Mike Sainristil is SuiteSports' 2018 MIAA High School Football 'Show-Time' Award Winner <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image">
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<i>Everett's Mike Sainristil had a standout senior season, clearly supplanting himself as the most exciting player to watch in Massachusetts.</i></div>
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<i>By SuiteSports Staff </i><br />
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SuiteSports and its panel of writers, correspondents, and editors is excited to announce Everett's Mike Sainristil as this year's recipient of the 'Show-Time' Award given to the most exciting MIAA High School Football player to watch in the state.<br />
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In the past, the award was specifically given to Central Mass. football talents, but this year we elected to open it up to the entire state of Massachusetts. Previous winners include Isaac Yaidom, Kevin Mensah, and Tajon Vassar. There was no question that as the season developed, Sainristil was in a class of his own when it came to what he brought to the football field on a weekly basis.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Sainrisitil's talent, versatility, and ability to totally change the course of a game at any moment made him a must-watch player every Friday night. His played steered Everett to a 10-1 season.<br />
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What makes Sainristil so electric as a player is his ability to destroy an opponent's will in all three phases of the game. Not only do his speed, athleticism, and incredible hands translate to explosive numbers on the offensive side of the football but they also make him the top defensive back in the region.<br />
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When used at tailback, Sainristil piled up the yards in bunches averaging 9.1 yards per carry on 32 attempts with five touchdowns. Sainristil was even more dangerous when he was able to get the ball in the open field by virtue of the passing game. The senior hauled in 32 catches for 792 yards and 12 touchdowns.<br />
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It was not often an opposing quarterback felt confident enough to throw in Sainristil's direction, but when they did he often made them pay. Sainrisitl finished the season with six interceptions for a total of 92 yards.<br />
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Sainristil's multi-dimensional talents were on full display in Everett's week two win over Mansfield. For the game, Sainristil finished with three catches for 110 yards, two touchdowns, and an eye-popping there interceptions.<br />
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The most impressive aspect of Sainristil's numbers is that he reached them in only 10 games due to a forfeit victory that Everett acquired.<br />
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A four-year member of the varsity football team, and a two-time Super Bowl champion, Sainristil will continue his playing career in the fall at Michigan.Matt Feldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02872699577357839749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-61504992538016742982018-12-04T09:02:00.001-05:002018-12-04T12:14:33.299-05:00MIAA Football: Final Top 25 Poll of the 2018 Season
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>North Andover finishes the season at the top after completing a perfect season with a Division 2 Super Bowl (Photo Courtesy: Brendan Hall/@BhallUFA)</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>By Matt Feld (<a href="https://twitter.com/mattyfeld612" target="_blank">@Mattyfeld612</a>)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The last two years, Everett has made it easy cruising through the majority of the regular season and postseason to clearly emerge as the top team in Massachusetts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This season, however, became much more difficult to read when the Crimson Tide were shocked in the Division 1 North Sectional Semifinals to Central Catholic leaving the door open for someone else to grab the top spot in our final MIAA Football Top 25 Poll.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After plenty of discussion, <b>North Andover </b>is our top overall team to conclude the 2018 season with its blowout win over Lincoln-Sudbury coupled with its Super Bowl victory over King Philip in a rock fight being the deciding factor. <b>St. John's Prep</b> ends up in the two spot after being nothing short of dominant during the Division 1 Tournament. The aforementioned Crimson Tide end up at three, while Catholic Conference champion <b>Xaverian</b> and Division 1 South Sectional champion<b> Catholic Memorial</b> round out the top five.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Other Super Bowl winners to finish in the top 10 beyond North Andover and the Prep are <b>Springfield Central</b> (No. 6), <b>Scituate</b> (No. 9) and <b>Nashoba</b> (No. 10).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, here is our final Top 25 Poll of the 2018 season. Make sure to check back in tomorrow when we release our MIAA Football All-State Team</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1. North Andover (12-0; Last Poll: 2) </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">North Andover proved it could win in a variety of ways this season, scoring 42 points on Lincoln-Sudbury in the sectional final before emerging victors from a slug fest with King Philip in the Division 2 Super Bowl. This senior class will go down in program lore. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2. St. John's Prep (9-2; Last Poll: 2) </b>The Eagles left little doubt about their standing in Division 1, scoring 159 points over four postseason games to win the Super Bowl for the first time since 2012. A strong senior class departs, but quartberback Matt Crowley should have them back as a contender next year.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>3.</b></span><b> Everett (10-1; Last Poll: 1) </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Crimson Tide were stunned by Central Catholic in the Division 1 North Semifinals leaving everyone to wonder what could have been. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>4. Xaverian (8-2; Last Poll: 4) </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hawks may not have gotten back to Gillette for a sixth straight season, but a </span>Catholic<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>Conference<span style="font-family: inherit;"> title over St. John's Prep at Fenway Park is a pretty good </span>consolation<span style="font-family: inherit;"> prize. </span></span><br />
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<b>5. Catholic Memorial (9-3; Last Poll: 11)</b> John DiBiasio's first year at the helm was an impressive one as the Knights reached their first Super Bowl since 1978. With talents such as Owen McGowan, Will Stockwell, and Barrett Pratt back again in 2019 one has to believe CM is just scratching the surface.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>6. Springfield Central (10-1; Last Poll: 13) </b>The 2018 season was a historic one for Springfield Central as they became the first Western Mass. team to win a state-wide Super Bowl. Valdamar Brower deserves heavy praise for the job he has done. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>7</b></span><b>. Central Catholic (8-3; Last Poll: 17)</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Chuck Adamopolous did as good a coaching job as anyone in the state this season. His young Raiders only improved as the year went on, culminating in a stunning victory over Division 1 favorite and two-time defending champion Everett.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>8. King Philip (8-3; Last Poll: 14) </b>A bitter taste will certainly linger in Wrentham considering how close the Warriors were to knocking off North Andover, but it was still a terrific season for a program that has gotten used to winning. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">9. </span><b>Scituate</b><b> (12-1; Last Poll: NR) </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Scituate had a season to remember with Aidan Sullivan, Will Sheskey, and Daniel May leading a loaded roster that had weapons all over the field. This Sailors team may have been the first to win a Super Bowl in program history, but </span>there<span style="font-family: inherit;"> is reason to believe a second may be coming in the near future. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>10. Nashoba (12-1; Last Week: NR) </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">They do not often receive the state-wide recognition they </span>deserve, but the Chieftains have built a bit of a dynasty with Saturday night marking their fourth Super Bowl since 2011. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>11. Tewksbury (11-2; Last Week: 20) </b>Impressive run for Brian Aylward's bunch, as only a loaded Springfield Central team had the man power and physicality to slow them down. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>12. Stoneham (12-1; Last Week: 21) </b>Christos Argyropoulos' career ended the way it should have - with him carrying a game-winning, 42-yard touchdown run into the end zone at Gillette Stadium.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-style: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">13. Duxbury (11-1; Last Week: 5) </b>Many were surprised when the Dragons fell in the Division 3 State Semifinals. Still a terrific season for Dave Maimaron's group, highlighted by Patriot League Keenan MVP Will Prouty. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>14. Acton-Boxboro (9-2; Last Week: 7)</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> It was a breakout year for Acton-Boxboro who, behind quarterback Finn Murray and wideout Victor Otero, picked up big wins over rivals such as Lincoln-Sudbury and advanced to the Division 1 North Semifinals. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>15. Lincoln-Sudbury (9-2; Last Week: 8)</b> Warriors season ended with a bitter defeat to North Andover, but this senior class highlighted by Braden O'Connell, James Dillon, and Cal Kenney will not soon be forgotten. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>16.</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> Old Rochester (11-1; Last Week: NR)</b> Impressive season for the Bulldogs who were minutes away from finishing an undefeated season with a Super Bowl. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>17. Franklin (7-4; Last Poll: NR)</b> Panthers were a couple of plays away from an upset at Xaverian in the second round of the Division 1 South Tournament. Nick Gordon was one of the more exciting quarterbacks to watch this season. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>18. Hingham (7-3; Last Poll: 19) </b>Successful season for the Harbormen in Jim Connor's first year despite fighting the injury bug all fall. Getting over the Duxbury hump is crucial going forward. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>19. North Attleboro (8-3; Last Poll: NR)</b> Another eight-win season for a Don Johnson program that is one of the more consistent ones in the state. Ryan Celemente departs as one of the top linemen in Massachusetts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>20. Danvers (8-3; Last Poll: NR) </b>Danvers showcased their true capabilities in the postseason, putting top-seeded Tewksbury on its heels before the Redmen came storming back in the sectional final. It will not be easy to find a duo that has the same explosiveness as Brandon Treacy and Matt McCarthy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>21. St. John's Shrewsbury (8-4; Last Poll: 18) </b>Season may not have ended the way St. John's hoped, but with Colin Schofield, Jay Brunelle, and Eamonn Dennis back in the fold next season the Pioneers should be the favorite to return to Gillette. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>22. Canton (9-2; Poll: NR)</b><span style="color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px;"> Terrific season for the Bulldogs who came out of nowhere to make the sectional finals. Brendan Albert spearheaded a defense that was one of the more dangerous units in Eastern Mass. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>23. Blackstone Valley Tech (11-1; Last Poll: NR) </b>Beavers used fuel from their 2017 Super Bowl loss as motivation and came storming back to claim the Division 7 crown convincingly this time around. With J.D. Antaya back in the mix next season they will likely contend again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">24. Dighton-Rehoboth (9-3; </span><b>Last</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><b>Poll</b><b>: NR) </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Super Bowl performance may be one to forget, but the Falcons were impressive throughout the season consistently relishing the role of underdogs and defeating Milton in the sectional final to reach Gillette.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>25. Gloucester (9-3; Last Week: NR) </b>Running back trio of Marc Smith, Jan Pena-Ortiz, and Daylon Lark met its match against Nashoba, but not before grabbing a Div. 4 North Sectional crown</span>. </span></div>
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Matt Feldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02872699577357839749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-87580150770254353732018-12-03T18:40:00.001-05:002018-12-04T12:14:42.993-05:00MIAA Football: All-Tournmanet Team <br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">North Andover quarterback Jake McElroy was the face of the Scarlet Knights run to the Division 2 Super Bowl (Photo Courtesy: Peter Raider/@PeterRaider2)</span></i></div>
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<i>By Matt Feld (<a href="https://twitter.com/mattyfeld612" target="_blank">@Mattyfeld612</a>), Joe Parello (<a href="https://twitter.com/HerewegoJoe" target="_blank">@HereWeGoJoe</a>)</i><br />
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On Friday night and into Saturday, eight high school football teams were crowned Super Bowl champions at Gillette Stadium.<br />
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It was a banner year for Central and Western Mass. as the two regions combined to take home four championships. <b>Springfield Central </b>became the first Western Mass. school to win a state wide championship since the new playoff format came into effect in 2013. In Division 4, Nashoba continued its run of dominance as it won its second Super Bowl in four years.<br />
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Elsewhere, history was made as <b>North Andover,</b> <b>Scituate</b>, and <b>Stoneham</b> all grabbed their first Super Bowls while <b>Blackstone Valley Tech</b> won the Division 7 Crown. <b>St. Bernard'</b>s won its first Super Bowl since 1997 in a win over Pope John and <b>St. John's Prep</b> grabbed its first since 2012 as they defeated Catholic Memorial.<br />
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With the MIAA High School Football State Tournament officially in the books, SuiteSports is excited to announce its All-Tournament Team to recognize the top players from the 2018 postseason.<br />
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Check back in throughout the week as we release our final MIAA Football Top 25 Poll, our All-State Teams, and announce our award winners.<br />
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Here is our MIAA Football All-Tournament Team.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Quarterback<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Aidan Sullivan, Sr, Scituate <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jake McElroy, Sr., North Andover</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jay Connolly, Sr., Tewksbury </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ryan Halliday, Jr., King Philip </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Will Sheskey, Jr., Scituate <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christos Argyropoulos, Sr., Stoneham </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wes Rockett, Sr., St. John's Prep </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Will Prouty, Jr., Duxbury </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gabe DeSouza, Sr., North Andover</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Matt Johnson, Sr., Nashoba </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Offensive Line<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mike Driscoll, Jr., Stoneham</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jack Clem, Sr., Blackstone Valley Tech </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lucas Ferraro, Sr., Xaverian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cooper Smith, Jr., St. John's Prep</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Scott Elliot, Sr., Holliston</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ryan Clemente, Sr., North Attleboro</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cal Kenney, Sr., Lincoln-Sudbury</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lucas Folan, Sr., Catholic Memorial</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">James Taylor, Sr., St. John's Prep </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jack Webster, Sr., King Philip <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Brendan Albert, Sr., Canton </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mike McCutcheon, Sr., Duxbury </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Defensive Back<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cooper DeVeau, Sr., Xaverian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mike Sainristil, Sr., Everett </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Elijah Ayers, Sr., Springfield Central</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Richard Broni, Jr., Nipmuc </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Owen McGowa</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">n, So., Catholic Memorial </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Walter Morales Jr., Jr., St. Bernard's </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shane Aylward, Jr., Tewksbury </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Special Teams</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Matt Sokol, Jr., Catholic Memorial </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Tournament</i><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b> Most Valuable Player - Will Sheskey, Jr., RB, Scituate </b></i></span><br />
<b><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b>
<span style="color: black; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sheskey was the face of a Scituate offense that was simply dominant over the final six weeks of the season. In the rare instances in which the Sailors vertical attack could not develop, Sheskey was there to carry the load both out of the backfield and as a weapon for quarterback Aidan Sullivan. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While not overbearing physically, Sheskey showcased an ability to breakdown defenses with his shiftiness and athleticism. His agility him to maneuver through opposing fronts before turning on the after burners to breakaway from the secondary. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That was never more evident than in Scituate's Division 5 South Sectional Final win over Canton in which Sheskey had 24 carries for 160 yards and a touchdown. He also added two receptions for 76 yards and a score. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The junior back showcased his talents throughout Scituate's postseason run. Over Scituate's state semifinal and Super Bowl contests, Sheskey combined for 51 carries with 415 yards and five total touchdowns. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In Scituate's aforementioned Super Bowl victory, Sheskey broke the single-season program rushing record as he amassed 207 yards on the ground and two touchdowns to finish the season with 1,767 yards on the ground.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the postseason, Sheskey compiled 887 yards on 120 carries (7.39 YPC) and 10 rushing touchdowns. He also added nine receptions for 245 yards and two more scores to finish the tournament with 1,132 total yards and 12 touchdowns. </span></span></div>
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Matt Feldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02872699577357839749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-23095188972728164462018-12-03T09:18:00.000-05:002018-12-03T09:20:09.040-05:00MIAA Football: End of Season Podcast <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Springfield Central hoists the Division 3 Super Bowl trophy following Saturday night's win over Tewksbury (Photo Courtesy: Brendan Hall/@BHallUFA)</i></span></div>
<i><br /></i>
<i>By Matt Feld (<a href="https://twitter.com/mattyfeld612" target="_blank">@Mattyfeld612</a>), Joe Parello (<a href="https://twitter.com/HerewegoJoe" target="_blank">@HereWeGoJoe</a>)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
On Sunday night, SuiteSports editors Matt Feld and Joe Parello gathered at Jake N' Joes in Waltham for a third time for the MIAA High School Football Podcast.<br />
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In their final one of the season, Matt and Joe discuss the big storylines from this past weekend's eight Super Bowls at Gillette Stadium, dive into their most notable take aways from the season, and analyze the player of the year race. Lastly, the two look at potential changes coming to the MIAA High School Football landscape.<br />
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Thank you for tuning in over the last few weeks. We will have content throughout the week, including our Final MIAA Football Top 25 Poll, Our All-State Team, and a release of all of our award winers.<br />
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For now, we hope you enjoy our MIAA Football: End of Season Podcast.<br />
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<br />Matt Feldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02872699577357839749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-70176409604691270502018-12-02T18:06:00.005-05:002018-12-02T18:08:32.151-05:00MIAA Football: Top Performances From Super Bowl Weekend <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Scituate's Will Sheskey broke the program record for rushing yards in a single season and guided the Sailors to their first Super Bowl in program history on Saturday (Photo Courtesy: Andrew Bowman). </span></div>
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<i>By Matt Feld (<a href="https://twitter.com/mattyfeld612" target="_blank">@Mattyfeld612</a>)</i><br />
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Friday night and Saturday served as a celebration of the 2018 Massachusetts High School Football season as the Super Bowls across all eighth divisions were played at Gillette Stadium.<br />
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<b>Nashoba</b> got things started on Friday by winning its fifth championship in program history as they cruised past <b>Dighton-Rehoboth</b>, 31-0, in the <a href="http://www.suitesports.com/2018/12/bolinsky-nashoba-finish-job-in-division.html" target="_blank">Division 4 Super Bowl</a>. In the nightcap, <b>North Andover </b>prevented a three-peat from <b>King Philip </b>as its defense pitched a shutout including halting three drives inside the 35-yard line to come away with a 6-0 win in the <a href="http://www.suitesports.com/2018/11/north-andovers-defense-slams-door-on.html" target="_blank">Division 2 Super Bowl</a>.<br />
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In the <a href="http://www.suitesports.com/2018/12/st-bernards-outlasts-pope-john-in.html" target="_blank">Division 8 Super Bowl,</a> <b>St. Bernard's</b> outlasted <b>Pope John</b>, 46-35, behind a dual rushing attack from Xavier Marty and Walter Morales. The game was the second highest scoring total in Super Bowl history.<br />
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After falling in last year's Super Bowl, <b>Blackstone Valley Tech</b> earned a second chance and took full advantage shutting out <b>St. Mary's</b>, 18-0, to win the <a href="http://www.suitesports.com/2018/12/blackstone-valley-techs-revenge-tour.html" target="_blank">Division 7 Super Bowl</a>.<br />
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Guided by the S and S tandem of Aidan Sullivan and Will Sheskey, <b>Scituate</b> captured its first Super Bowl in program history with a 35-14 win in the <a href="http://www.suitesports.com/2018/12/sheskey-sullivan-lead-scituate-to-first.html" target="_blank">Division 5 Super Bowl</a> over <b>Nipmuc</b>. Christos Argyroplous turned a potential heartbreaking loss for <b>Stoneham</b> into an incredible victory as his 42-yard touchdown run pushed the Spartans over the top versus <b>Old Rochester</b>, 26-20, in the<a href="http://www.suitesports.com/2018/12/stoneham-grinds-out-d6-title-win.html" target="_blank"> Division 6 Super Bowl</a>.<br />
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<b>Springfield Central</b> became the first Western Mass. program to win a state-wide Super Bowl as Isaac Boston's prowess in all three facets of the game led the Golden Eagles past <b>Tewksbury</b> in the <a href="http://www.suitesports.com/2018/12/photo-gallery-springfield-central.html" target="_blank">Division 3 Super Bowl</a>, 20-7.<br />
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Then, in the final game of the day, <b>St. John's Prep</b> left little doubt about its standing in Division 1 as it outscored <b>Catholic Memorial </b>21-0 over the final 12 minutes to defeat the Knights, 40-22, <a href="http://www.suitesports.com/2018/12/wes-rockett-eagles-land-2018-season.html" target="_blank">to win its first Super Bowl since 2012</a>.<br />
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Here are our top 10 performers from Super Bowl weekend.<br />
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<b><i>Wes Rockett, Sr., WR/DB, St. John's Prep</i></b><br />
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Rockett was sensational in Saturday night's Division 1 Super Bowl reeling in nine receptions for 188 yards, and three touchdowns. The senior also added an interception as St. John's Prep claimed the Division 1 State Championship with a 40-22 win over Catholic Conference rival Catholic Memorial.<br />
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<b><i>Gabe DeSouza, Sr., ATH, North Andover</i></b><br />
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As he has done all season long, DeSouza did a little bit of everything for the Scarlet Knights on Friday night. The senior hauled in five receptions for 64 yards and captained North Andover's defense alongside Darren Watson, coming through with a crucial breakup with 4:40 to play as the Scarlet Knights finished a perfect season with a 6-0 win over King Philip in the Division 2 Super Bowl.<br />
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<b><i>Isaac Boston, Sr., QB, Springfield Central</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>Bostton did it all for Central on Saturday night, using his arm, legs, and even talents on special teams to lead the Golden Eagles. The senior quarterback went 9-of-11 for 153 yards and a touchdown through the air, while also returning a muffed punt seven yards for a second score as Springfield Central became the first Western Mass. team to claim a state championship with a 20-7 win over Tewksbury in the Div. 3 super Bowl.<br />
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<b><i>Sam Bolinsky, Sr., QB, Nashoba</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>One season after suffering a broken leg that sidelined him during the Division 4 Super Bowl, Bolinsky led his team to victory. The senior quarterback finished 10-of-18 for 250 yards and a touchdown as Nashoba won its fifth state championship with a 31-0 win over Dighton-Rehoboth.<br />
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<b><i>Will Sheskey, Jr., RB, Scituate</i></b><br />
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It was a record-breaking day for Sheskey. The junior running back rushed for 207 yards and two touchdowns, breaking the single season program record for rushing yards with 1,762 total for the 2018 season to lead Scituate to its first Super Bowl in program history with a 35-14 win over Nipmuc.<br />
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<b><i>Aidan Sullivan, Sr., QB, SCtiaute </i></b><br />
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Sullivan bolstered his player of the year candidacy on Saturday, finishing 11-of-15 for 169 yards and three touchdowns to complement Will Sheskey's performance in the Sailors Division 5 Super Bowl victory.<br />
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<b><i>Christos Argyropoulos, Sr., RB, Stoneham</i></b><br />
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Despite fumbling midway through the fourth quarter, Argyropoulos refused to be phased as he broke three tackles and found the end zone for the game-winning 42 yard touchdown run in the Division 6 State Final as Stoneham captured its first Super Bowl with a 26-20 win over Old Rochester. Argyropoulos finished with 113 yards and a score.<br />
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<b><i>Scott Mackay, Sr., QB, Blackstone Valley Tech</i></b><br />
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The Beavers quarterback inflicted damage on the St. Mary's defense with his legs rushing for 96 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns as Blackstone Valley Tech avenged last season's loss with a 18-0 win over St. Mary's in the Division 7 Super Bowl.<br />
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<b><i>Walter Morales, Sr., RB, St. Bernard's</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>Alongside fellow back Xavier Marty, Morales led a St. Bernard's offense that was unstoppable on Saturday morning. Morales finished with seven carries for 42 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, while also adding 51 yards and a third touchdown in the passing game. Behind Morales' prowess, the Bernardians took down Pope John, 45-34, to win the Division 8 Super Bowl.<br />
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<b><i>John Smith-Howell, So., RB, Pope John</i></b><br />
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Smith-Howell capped off a standout sophomore season in style. The Tigers' lead back rushed for 116 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns, highlighted by a 55-yard run for a score, while also adding a 34-yard touchdown reception in Pope John's 46-35 loss to St. Bernard's in the Division 8 Super Bowl.<br />
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<br />Matt Feldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02872699577357839749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3942142104359573240.post-74572151654185825002018-12-02T10:06:00.000-05:002018-12-07T10:09:21.350-05:00Formerly Struggling Celtics Beginning to Find their Footing<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcex51AhD71YNYS6_w5fhb0i1boOsiVBOYzbIy14YHkjt7c0KF-idSDOkXlGHpJZQffiROb0pdXTHckvgFEPCDCiQIYYlFkzpQGDcJJMM_mHnnoJVNyG_MgtRySXWmyQ7ZpLmeJrLWqLQ/s1600/Gordon_Hayward%252C_Celtics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="983" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcex51AhD71YNYS6_w5fhb0i1boOsiVBOYzbIy14YHkjt7c0KF-idSDOkXlGHpJZQffiROb0pdXTHckvgFEPCDCiQIYYlFkzpQGDcJJMM_mHnnoJVNyG_MgtRySXWmyQ7ZpLmeJrLWqLQ/s400/Gordon_Hayward%252C_Celtics.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gordon Hayward and the Celtics are getting into rhythm, and that could be trouble for the rest of the Eastern Conference.</td></tr>
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<i>By Adam Lowenstein (<a href="http://twitter.com/statsadam" target="_blank">@StatsAdam</a>)</i><br />
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The Celtics’ offense has exploded recently, posting at least 118 points in each of their last three games, all three of which were victories. Only the Celtics have a current streak of that nature in the NBA. For the franchise, Boston has accomplished the feat for the first time since March 1994.<br />
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Gordon Hayward was the most valuable player on Saturday’s 118-109 win at the Minnesota Timber-highlighters, as Hayward became the first Celtic since Kyrie Irving in 2017 to attempt double-digit free throws in one contest. Gordon’s performance off the bench was impressive, especially on the second night of a back-to-back. He became just the third reserve in NBA history to score 30 points, grab nine rebounds and dish out eight assists in a contest.<br />
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In addition, the Celtics’ start to the season is not anywhere as bad as it seems. According to ESPN’s Pythagorean formula, their expected record should be 15-8 instead of 13-10. Boston’s win differential also stands at +4.4 per game, and that ties the Celtics with the Golden State Warriors. The differential ranks as the third-best one in the Eastern Conference.<br />
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The Celtics’ schedule has been road heavy thus far, and they have only one fewer home loss than the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors. Boston’s offense recently moved from the basement of the league to middle of the pack. The C’s are also in the top five in turnover ratio and top 10 in assist ratio, and of course, the Celtics’ perennial powerhouse defense ranks second in the league.<br />
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Although Brad Stevens does not seem to care about his starting lineups, both of the Marcuses have ignited the Celtics to start off the game. Marcus Morris is 4-1 in his five starts this season, which coincidentally are the team’s last five games. Marcus Smart is 3-0 in his three starts of the 2018-19 season, and – you guessed it – it is the Celtics’ last three games, the team’s three highest-scoring non-overtime performances of the season.<br />
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The Celtics are fortunate to finally get some rest in December, as they do not play until Thursday. The long time off between games gives Jaylen Brown more time to rest. With the Celtics being 4-0 without him this season, he may lose his spot in the starting five after starting each of his first 19 contests this season. His low back bruise has sidelined him for each of the last three games, and who knows if he will be a part of a trade package this season or in the offseason.<br />
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There remains a logjam for Stevens to deal with when the team is fully healthy, but for the time being, the Celtics will try to ride the highs of the rollercoaster start to their season. Unfortunately, a 2018-19 season in which Irving is throwing alley-oops to Anthony Davis is a pipe dream, and this Boston team is now looking like a slight underdog to the Kawhi Leonard-led Raptors and of course, the Warriors. The slightly lower expectations for this Celtics squad could take the pressure off them and allow the team to hit their potential. Saturday was a big step toward doing so.<br />
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<i>For more sports coverage, follow Adam Lowenstein on Twitter at <a href="http://twitter.com/statsadam" target="_blank">@StatsAdam</a>. Statistics used from <a href="http://basketball-reference.com/">Basketball-Reference.com</a>.</i>Joe Parellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356509998054357391noreply@blogger.com0