NFL
Giving Back
By: Josh Aubrey
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Once again, one of the top football players in the NFL was in Bulloch County, giving back to the community where he grew up, as Kansas City All-Pro linebacker Justin Houston held his annual Faith Before Fame weekend.
Over the past four years Houston’s event has grown, from a free youth football camp, to adding a celebrity basketball game, and now this year the addition of a cheerleading and dance clinic, a three on three basketball tournament, and a kickball tournament.
“This is about trying to reach as many people as we can,” Houston said. “Trying to get everyone to come together as one community. We continue to expand what we are doing in order to reach more kids.”
“As a kid I dreamed one day of being able to play in the NFL,” Houston said. “Now that I have reached that goal, anything I can do to help another kid reach their goal, or just put a smile on a kid’s face, I’m happy to do it.”
The football camp saw a few hundred kids turn out and once again there were many current and former NFL players on hand to give them instruction.
“A lot of these guys played at Georgia or have ties to the state of Georgia,” Houston said. “I try and help a lot of these guys when they have their camps and they are happy to help me out. The NFL players are good about giving back and helping one another.”
Among the former University of Georgia NFL players that have helped Justin the past four years is Akeem Dent, who played for the Falcons and the Houston Texans.
“It’s so important to try and give back to the communities where we grew up,” Dent said. “You can tell when we talk to these kids they really listen to what we are saying. Just getting them to come out of their houses – in this kind of heat – where a lot of them are playing video games, shows they at least want to try, and there’s a great turn out here.”
Some of the kids at the camp will also want to follow in Houston’s steps and play at Statesboro High. Many of the younger current Blue Devil players participated in the camp, while many of the older ones helped work.
“It’s such a fantastic opportunity for our kids,” said Statesboro High football coach Jeff Kaiser. “Our kids love being around Justin and the other NFL players he brings here. He emphasizes the importance of hard work and pushing through the tough times. He also brings his message of faith before fame, and that is the same type of message we try and bring to our players as well.”
Houston’s volunteer staff is full of former University of Georgia players and with the Bulldogs nearly winning the national championship last year Houston and his former teammates have high hopes for this year’s team.
“It was amazing to watch how close they got to winning it all this year,” Houston said. “They have a lot of talent coming back. I went down and watched a practice session and I’m really impressed by the coaching staff. They really pay attention to detail during practice and I’d be surprised if they don’t make another run this year.”
Life Without Matty Ice
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
When Atlanta drafted Michael Vick with the number pick in 2001, most Falcons fans were convinced they had their franchise quarterback. And after multiple Pro Bowls and a playoff win at Lambeau Field, they had to feel like they were set at quarterback for the foreseeable future.
The sentiment was correct, it just wasn’t the player they thought it would be.
Matt Ryan has accomplished quite a bit since entering the NFL in 2008 and is well deserving of all the accolades and money that has been thrown his way.
Over the course of his career the most important thing he has achieved, or at least it should be in the mind of Falcons’ fans, is that he has kept the franchise from becoming the Miami Dolphins.
Since Dan Marino retired almost twenty years ago, the Dolphins have been mired in mediocrity, like quicksand; the more they struggle to get out, the deeper they get sucked in.
There are a few different reasons why that’s happened, but the main one is their lack of a franchise quarterback. Miami has had so many different quarterbacks since Marino I’m starting to believe they’re modeling their franchise after the Cleveland Browns.
The point is, with what happened to Vick and the dogfighting, Atlanta didn’t have a viable contingency plan in place for unexpectedly losing- up to that point- the best quarterback in franchise history.
(If you remember, Atlanta entered the 2007 season- or as I refer to it, the “season that explains why Bobby Petrino isn’t allowed in the state of Georgia”- with Joey Harrington at quarterback.)
It’s difficult enough to find one top tier quarterback in the draft, but to do it again seven years later is almost impossible.
Yet that was what Atlanta was tasked with doing. Had they missed on Ryan it could have set the franchise back 4-5 years; something that would’ve been almost unthinkable 12 months prior.
This is why I think that selection is the most important football decision the franchise has ever made and while you can argue there have been better players, I don’t think there’s been a more vital one than Ryan.
The Falcons were about to dive head first into six inches of water but the addition of Ryan changed their trajectory.
I realize with his new 5 year/$150 million contract to go along with the amount of talent on Atlanta’s roster, there is a lot of pressure for Ryan to bring home a Lombardi Trophy to the “Dirty South”; and there should be.
I just don’t think whatever winds up happening over his remaining years that it should diminish what he has meant to the Falcons organization and the city of Atlanta.
All I’m saying is that 10 years ago Atlanta was coming off the most difficult 12 months in their franchise’s history. Vick, Petrino, 4-12 season; they could have easily bottomed out. But they didn’t and a big reason is because of Matt Ryan.
Like I said, Atlanta always planned to go through with a franchise changing quarterback. The only difference is the name on the back jersey.
In a weird way, they can thank Michael Vick for that.
Keep Your Hands To Yourself
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
When you’re the number one draft pick, especially at quarterback, there is a lot riding on your shoulders. Obviously, you have the pressure of performing on the field, but you also have some off the field expectations you must live up to.
In the past those obligations would include you being a spokesperson and philanthropist within your community, as well as being a role model for the younger generation.
Not saying that always has happened, but those were general guidelines. Nowadays the organizations are asking for the minimum requirement of basically “don’t embarrass us“.
Jameis Winston has a decent, albeit inconsistent job, with his on the field performance. It’s his off the field actions that aren’t holding up their end of the bargain.
By now I’m sure you’re aware he is danger of being suspended for at least 3 games this season, which games and ultimately how many will depend on if he appeals or not, for allegedly groping an Uber driver back in 2016. (The charges are officially filed in November, 2017.)
Over the next few months, while this whole thing plays out, there will be people much more intelligent and articulate than I am, writing about its implications, both within the framework of the NFL as well as socially. So, for now, I’ll take the juvenile approach and focus on Winston’s story of what took place that night.
According to Jameis there were three men in the Uber. Winston, Ronald Darby, and an unnamed third man whom according to Winston and Darby is the actual person who groped the 26-year-old female driver.
Here is why I don’t buy that story. We’ve all seen enough movies, Netflix Documentaries, and episodes of “Entourage” to know there is a pecking order when it comes to friendships.
You have the main guy who is bringing in the money. No matter what he gets himself into, he can’t take the fall.
Then you have the second in the command, normally the brains of the operation, who is in charge of trying to keep the main guy out of trouble.
Lastly, you have the fall guy. He’s the guy that could literally be passed out in the backseat, but if the main guy gets pulled over for doing 120 in a 35 his butt’s getting yanked from the backseat up to the front before the cop can get to the window.
Yet in Jameis’ situation, that’s not really what’s taking place. I mean yeah, he’s blaming it on the fall guy, but if he’s not willing to name who that third guy actually is, then essentially Winston has become that guy.
And look, I know there’s a bro code and it’s not cool to be a narc; I get all that. But, if I am the number one draft pick; the franchise quarterback; I have been accused of sexual assault in the past; and I am truly innocent, you’re damn right I’m going to attach a name to that third person.
And if that makes me a bad friend, too bad; you should’ve kept your hands to yourself in the first place.
The only way I’m buying this story is if the unnamed person happens to be Dirk Koetter.
Truth is, this is a serious accusation. And if found to be true, should have significant repercussions. If Winston truly is innocent, as he claims, he needs to start acting like it. So far, he’s spending his time trying to be good friend, instead of a better person.
Small Titans Draft
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Tennessee Titans made their first playoff appearance since 2008 last season. They had a 9-7 record and finished second in the AFC South behind Jacksonville. They also won in the first round of the playoffs against Kansas City.
The biggest team weakness was on the defensive side of the ball. They ranked 13th in total defense, which is not bad but they ranked 25th in pass defense. They tried to address some of those needs in the draft.
Draft picks: Alabama LB Rashaan Evans (No. 22), Boston College EDGE Harold Landry (No. 41), Arizona S Dane Cruikshank (No. 152), Washington State QB Luke Falk (No. 199)
The Titans did not have a lot of draft picks but they addressed needs with the first two picks. This was the smallest draft class in Titans history so that was an understatement.
Avery Williamson departed in free agency (Jets). Evans is an attacker that played in a complex pro style scheme at Alabama so he should contribute immediately.
Evans made the All-SEC team in 2017 and he won two national championships. He had 13 tackles for loss and 6 sacks last year. A lot will be asked of him in Mike Vrabel and defensive coordinator Dean Pees’s system.
In the second round, Tennessee traded up to get late first-round projected edge rusher Harold Landry. He will have this year to develop because Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan are both in the final years of their contracts.
2016 second-rounder Kevin Dodd has not developed because he fits a classic 4-3, not a flexible 3-4, like Tennessee ran under Dick LeBeau and will run in a slightly different way under first-time head coach Mike Vrabel.
Landry’s best season was his junior year in 2016. He had 50 total tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks and an interception. He was drastically less productive as a senior with only 8.5 TFL’s and 5 sacks.
Landry has some good measurable, standing 6’2 and 252 pounds. He ran a 4.64 40 yard-dash and he benched 24 reps at the combine.
Dane Cruikshank was picked in the fifth round. He primarily played cornerback in college but will probably play safety in the NFL.
“Whatever they need me to play, I’m willing to play,” Cruikshank said. “I feel like I can do it all, so I don’t think I’ll have trouble playing free safety or strong safety. I can tackle, I can play in the box, I can roll to the post, so it doesn’t matter to me.”
As a senior in 2017 he recorded 75 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three interceptions, five pass breakups and a forced fumble in 13 games. Two of those picks were against Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold, two of the four quarterbacks drafted in the top 10 in the first round.
The final pick was a head scratcher, Washington State QB Luke Falk. Tennessee is set at the position with Marcus Mariota as the franchise quarterback. I thought they should have tried to add a weapon on offense instead of drafting a back up QB.
Grade: B-
Matty Ice Cool Dollars
By: TJ Hartnett
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Recently I wrote an article about the Falcons draft, suggesting that with their first-round pick of talented wide receiver Calvin Ridley, the rich got richer.
The rich being the offense in this scenario. Flash forward a few days and for one key member of that offense, it became literally true as Matt Ryan inked a five-year contract extension with Atlanta that includes a whopping $100 million guaranteed.
I’ll save you the research and tell you that this is the richest NFL contract in history and that Ryan will be the first quarterback to earn $30 million annually.
Matty Ice won’t be complaining, but neither should anyone else. Ten years into his career, Ryan has shown that he is the right guy to lead this Falcons team and the best chance they have of securing a Super Bowl win anytime soon.
Is he worth all that money?
Yes, it’s a lot of money and there are always going to be some concerns with a contract as huge as this one but here the benefits outweigh the literal costs.
There is, of course, some concern that devoting so much money to one player will handicap a team’s ability to spend on other areas of need in the future.
Let’s dig at that a little. Cap space is a much more complicated situation that simply looking at what the players on your team are being paid in any given year.
Teams move money around all the time, paying big bucks up front or deferring payments until later and cuts are being made constantly. Plus, that cap never remains the same – it rises. One big contract for a player like Ryan is not going to debilitate the Falcons’ spending ability. The process is too fluid to allow for that.
Besides, paying Ryan his market value is better than any alternative. Picture the Falcons resetting at QB with a draft pick; while maintaining the talented receiving core that they already have in place.
How many wins have they sacrificed because they didn’t want to pay up for established QB?
Building off of that, how would the Falcons even begin pitching an extension to the likes of Julio Jones if he’s faced with catching passes from an unproven rookie instead of recent MVP Matt Ryan? How much more difficult would it be to sign free agents?
Let’s also not overlook what Ryan has done for this franchise. He was drafted 10 years ago when the Falcons needed a PR win after Michael Vick’s legal woes.
In fact, you might argue that drafting this admittedly talented but pretty bland character out of Boston College was little more than just that; a PR move. But he took the reins of a team in turmoil and led the charge into relevancy.
The Falcons made the playoffs with him as a rookie QB and while they didn’t make the postseason the following year, Ryan led them to a 9-7 record which was the first time in franchise history that the Falcons posted back-to-back winning seasons. Then he led them to three more.
Think about that. Consider how important this guy has been to a Falcons team that in 43 years had never strung together two winning seasons before Matt Ryan showed up and put up five in a row.
The Falcons are as legit a team as there is in the NFL and it is thanks in large part to the league’s new $30 million man.
We’re ten years into the Matt Ryan era in Atlanta, with at least six more on the horizon. Is he worth the money?
Without a doubt.
Making The Grade
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The AFC South Champions are now a Super Bowl contender. Let’s take a look at the Jags 2018 Draft.
Round 1: Taven Bryan, DT, Florida: With Calvin Ridley going to the Falcons, which nobody saw, the Jaguars selected Bryan out of Florida.
Bryan has Pro Bowl talent, but is raw. He will come in and get some reps in 2018 and will be a future starter at the position.
Try this on for size, Calais Campbell, Yannick Ngakoue, Dante Fowler, Malik Jackson, Marcell Dareus, Abry Jones, Dawaune Smoot, Eli Ankou, and now Taven Bryan opposing teams better get a back-up QB some reps during Jags week. This is a sick unit. The best defensive line position group in all of football. Grade: A as the rich get richer.
Round 2: DJ Chark, WR, LSU: Chark is a burner and will be a vertical threat in this offense.
With the addition of Chark the Jags have two receivers with 4.3 speed. Chark could win a starting job, he is that talented. LSU did not have a QB who could get him the ball consistently.
Chark joins Marquise Lee, Donte Moncrief, Keelan Cole, and Dede Westbrook in a solid receiving unit, even after losing the Allen’s to free agency. Grade: B+. Can Bortles get him the ball?
Round 3: Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama: I think Harrison is the steal of the Jags draft. He will come in and contribute in 2018 and will be a full time starter in 2019.
He can play either safety spot. I love this pick. He joins a deep unit that includes Tashaun Gipson, Barry Church, and Cody Davis. Harrison will be a Pro Bowl safety one day. Grade A+. Great pick in the third round.
Round 4: Will Richardson, T, NC State: with this selection A. J. Cann is officially put on notice. Pick up your play or Richardson will take your spot at right guard.
If Richardson can come in and compete the OL unit becomes one of the better ones in the NFL. Grade: B+. You can never have enough offensive lineman. Two words here: Leonard Fournette.
Round 6: Tanner Lee, QB, Nebraska: I’m not sure about this pick, but Missouri QB Drew Lock would look great in a Jag uniform in 2019 if QB play struggles. Grade: C. Lee could push Cody Kessler, but who knows.
Round 7: The Jaguars selected outside linebacker Leon Jacobs out of Wisconsin and punter Logan Cooke out of Mississippi State. Jacobs will come in and push Blair Brown and will provide some depth. I like the pick. Grade: B.
Logan Cooke averaged 41.7 yards per kick at Mississippi State. Jags cut Brian Nortman so we will see if Cooke is the answer. Grade B. Anytime you use a draft pick on a kicker they better deliver.
Below are the Jaguars undrafted free agent signings:
Tony Adams, OL, NC State
Dee Delany, DB, Miami (FL)
Tre Herndon, DB, Vanderbilt
Michael Hughes, DT, UNLV
Reggie Hunter, LB, North Carolina
Darius Jackson, LB, Jacksonville State
Lyndon Johnson, DE, Cincinnati
Allen Lazard, WR, Iowa State
KC McDermott, OL, Miami (FL)
Quenton Meeks, CB, Stanford
Dorren Miller, WR, Carson-Newman
Andrew Motuapuaka, LB, Virginia Tech
C.J. Reavis, S, Marshall
Malik Zaire, QB, Florida
Two from this list have a great shot of playing next year. Lazard should crack the Jags receiving rotation as he has a big frame and could be a great red zone target.
Quenton Meeks will provide depth at corner for the best corner combo in the NFL.
Both Lazard and Meeks were listed in NFL Network Draft Analyst Mike Mayock’s Top 100 so getting these two UDFA’s is a real bargain.
Overall Grade: B+. This was a solid draft for Jacksonville. This team is ready to go to the Super Bowl.
NFL Draft Winners and Losers
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2018 NFL Draft is in the books and we have an idea of what teams addressed their biggest needs. I’m going to take a look around the NFL at a couple of the biggest winners and losers.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs ranked dead last in total defense in 2017, giving up 378 yards per game. They selected Washington DT Vita Vea (No. 12) to strengthen the interior defensive line.
UNC DB M.J. Stewart was the second-round selection and Auburn CB Carlton Davis was picked in the third round. They will probably compete for the nickel corner since Tampa Bay already has Brent Grimes and Vernon Hargreaves.
Doug Martin has moved on to Oakland so they also had a void to fill at running back. USC RB Ronald Jones (No. 38) should be able to step in and contribute from day one.
Humboldt State OG Alex Cappa (No. 94) has the potential to help open holes for Jones. Grade: A
Cleveland Browns: This team needs a complete overhaul after going winless last season. The year before that they were a miserable 1-15. With the first pick they got Heisman Trophy winning QB Baker Mayfield from Oklahoma. He has some off the field red flags you probably already heard of. He also doesn’t have the ‘prototypical’ height for a quarterback but this is a high risk/high reward pick.
Then they selected Ohio State CB Denzel Ward with the fourth pick. Even though they passed stud defensive end Bradley Chubb, I like this pick. I have the most faith in Ward to pan out and be a perennial Pro Bowler. The second-round picks were Nevada OG Austin Corbett (No. 33) and Georgia RB Nick Chubb (No. 35).
I think pairing Chubb with Carlos Hyde could be a potent 1-2 punch. The lone third rounder was Miami DE Chad Thomas. The Browns are trying to get some help for last year’s No. 1 pick Myles Garrett. Grade: B+
Dallas Cowboys: One of the biggest needs was wide receiver, even before Dez Bryant was released. They addressed the need by drafting Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (No. 19). It’s odd because he does not fill any immediate need.
Texas OG Connor Williams was picked in the second round. The Cowboys have perhaps the best offensive line in the NFL so they just added to that strength. They finally selected Colorado State WR Michael Gallup in the third round. Dallas is so thin at receiver that Gallup could start instantly. Grade: C-
Seattle Seahawks: Many of the players that led Seattle to the 2013 Super Bowl are gone. The formula that made them elite was a power running game and great defense led by the secondary.
They selected San Diego St RB Rashaad Penny (No.27) and that was a reach. He might become a decent player but he’s not a game changer.
Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham left in free agency and they picked his replacement in the fourth round (Will Dissly). USC DE Rasheem Green (No. 79) is a pretty good pick and he will help rush the passer. UCF LB Shaquem Griffin (No. 141) is a great feel good story and he will likely contribute on special teams.
In one of the more head scratching moves of the draft the Seahawks drafted Texas punter Michael Dickson three picks later. Yes, you read that right, they drafted a punter.
The last pick also seemed like a waste, FIU QB Alex McGough. Grade: D
The New Dirty Birds
By: TJ Hartnett
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
This is that special time of year when college football and the NFL collide to create the NFL Draft. Fans of both levels of the sport pay close attention; the college fans for validation of their favorite players and pro fans to see how their teams can improve by addition.
Coming off a 10-6 season with a playoff win, the Falcons looked for pieces to help them get over that hump they have struggled with for the past few years and secure that elusive Super Bowl victory. Did they succeed?
With the 26th pick, Atlanta took wide receiver Calvin Ridley from Alabama. Ridley certainly improves the already potent Falcons offense and could even be considered a secret weapon of sorts. Defenses across the NFL will focus on sorting out what to do about Julio Jones, Ridley could be deployed to great effect. If he can figure out the game at the pro level, he and Mohamed Sanu will complement each other to make a big-time receiving threat for the Dirty Birds after Jones.
Matt Ryan can do some real magic with those three if Ridley can step up. He’s athletic enough to do so and to his benefit he won’t need to be the Falcons number one option.
In round two Atlanta picked up cornerback Isaiah Oliver from Colorado. A curious choice because while Atlanta’s defense needs improvement, those improvements aren’t needed at cornerback. With Desmond Trufant, Robert Alford and Brian Poole, the Falcons are more than covered there.
He must have caught Thomas Dimitroff’s and Dan Quinn’s eyes, which isn’t a bad thing.
The real need was at defensive tackle, which the Falcons took care of with their third pick in South Florida’s Deandrin Senat.
He fills a dire need in Atlanta and will be relied on right out of the gate. Quinn has already suggested he’ll be slotted into a rotation at nose tackle. He’s big enough to take care of business against the running game and should be quick enough to stifle the pass. The DT pick came two rounds after I think most people expected, but they ended up with what they wanted nonetheless.
Russell Cage from LSU was taken next and he’s ostensibly a wide receiver but with Ridley going in the first round that is likely to change.
Cage transitioned to WR in 2016 after being recruited as a defensive back but is being looked at to serve as gunner, where he also has experience. A player with a lot of weapons and a solid pick four number four.
So, while the Falcons had a clear need at DT going into the draft, in a way they got to have their cake and eat it too. They waited until their third pick to satisfy that need but still managed to get a serviceable piece.
Instead, they went a different direction for pick number one and the rich offense got richer in Atlanta. It was a gauntlet throw down in a way, as the offense took a step back in 2017 after leading the planet with a potent scoring game the previous year.
Steve Sarkisian has an even bigger embarrassment of riches and he’ll need to utilize them to the best of their abilities. To me, this says that the team expects to be back at the top of the offensive heap in 2018 and anything less might be Sark’s head.
Overall, there weren’t any truly huge gets for Atlanta (thought that’s only because Ridley wasn’t as necessary as a DT was), but it’s a solid draft class for what was already a winning team.
Where Will They Go?
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The NFL Draft is upon us. I have had so many people ask me where Sony Michel and Nick Chubb will go in this draft.
The most prolific running back duo in UGA history will make a couple of teams very happy in this draft. So, let us take a look at where these two may be selected.
Nick Chubb: Chubb suffered a major knee injury as a sophomore. However, it looks like he’s moved past that setback.
Chubb is a Frank Gore or Ray Rice type of back who can get you 4-5 yards per carry and then break the 25-yard run in the 4th quarter when a defense is getting worn down.
Chubb is rated in the top 5 in every scout’s review of the RB position. This is a deep draft class at running back. Chubb is the #2 rusher all time in the SEC, which has a rich draft history of churning out elite defensive line talent. Chubb’s game will translate well to the NFL. Look for Chubb to go in the second or third round.
Sony Michel: To me, Sony Michel was the most valuable player on the 2017 Georgia Bulldogs.
Michel made big play after big play in crunch time for the Dawgs magical run in 2017. He can catch out of the backfield, he can make people miss in space, and while he only ran a 4.54 at the combine he plays much faster than that.
Many are saying Michel could be the second back off the board after Saquon Barkley, who many feel is the best prospect in the draft.
Sony Michel is a big-play back and will be a three down back in the NFL. Michel has bulked up and can handle 20 carries per game. Sony Michel could end up being a Pro Bowl type player in the NFL. Look for Sony to be off the board by the mid-second round.
Teams that are in need of help at the running back position:
1) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs cut Doug Martin loose this offseason and now they need someone who can handle 20-25 carries a game to take some pressure off of Jameis Winston who needs to develop into the QB Tampa invested millions in.
2) New York Giants: This team needs help everywhere and I mean everywhere.
3) Carolina Panthers: Christian McCaffrey is a playmaker in space, but a strong, consistent power back is needed.
4) Miami Dolphins: Signing Frank Gore is great short term. Dolphins need to address the position.
5) Detroit Lions: The Lions have not had a running back rush for over 100 yards in a single game since 2013. Ouch!! Even with signing LeGarrette Blount the Lions need major help at the position.
Who will end up taking this UGA dynamic duo?
The Detroit Lions have pick 51 in the second round and I think the Lions will take Sony Michel. Michel will be the long-term solution at RB in Detroit. The Colts have pick 36 and 37 and could take Michel, but I think the Lions snatch him up at pick 51.
Nick Chubb: The Bucs have pick 38, but I don’t think they select a RB with that pick. The Panthers have pick 55 and 85 and I think if Chubb is still on the board at 85 the Panthers take him.
The New York football Giants have pick 69 and if there was ever a player that fit the traditional mold of a New York Giant it would be Nick Chubb. I think Chubb ends up being in the Big Apple and a year one starter in New York.
One thing is for certain with these two and that is they will bring their lunch to work daily and never cause an organization any trouble.
This duo will be greatly missed in Athens, Georgia.
Offensive Minded
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
As sports fans, whenever our teams start to struggle, there’s always someone we blame.
Sometime it’s the star player; sometimes the head coach. When it came to the Carolina Panthers that scapegoat used to be former Offensive Coordinator, Mike Shula. For Falcons fans think Steve Sarkisian type hatred, to the tenth degree.
When Shula was relieved of his duties following the season, you could hear that collected sigh of relief coming from the Panthers fan base.
It’s been a few weeks since Carolina brought in Norv Turner as Shula’s replacement, with tepid excitement.
Turner’s success as an NFL head coach has been less than stellar, to put it politely. His history working with quarterbacks and his reputation as an Offensive Coordinator, has been well earned.
Two accusations that followed Shula during his tenure was mundane play calling, as well as an inability to help Cam Newton realize his full potential. (I was not a huge fan of Shula, but I always thought the latter was a little unfair. I mean, Cam did win a MVP under Shula’s direction).
Turner has never struck me as someone who was an innovative offensive mind but rather someone who was an excellent play caller. It’s kind of like going to a music concert; would you rather hear the hits or songs from their “experimental” album when they were trying to find themselves?
Turner isn’t going to reinvent the plays being run, he’s just going to do a better job of calling them.
As for the part about Cam’s lack of development under Shula, that really shouldn’t be an issue with Turner. The new Carolina OC has a history of getting the most out of his quarterbacks.
His influence on QB’s like Troy Aikman and Philip Rivers are well known, but he has been very successful with those who aren’t current/future Hall of Famers. Take his time in Minnesota; his most recent NFL stop before Carolina.
In his three years with the Vikings he helped turn Teddy Bridgewater in a Pro Bowl Quarterback and was calling plays when Sam Bradford set an NFL record for completion percentage.
Cam has a lot to work on- footwork and accuracy being two of the larger ones- but it’s obvious the talent is there; just look at what he accomplished three years ago. Working with Turner every day, you’d expect to see some of the growth missing over the past few years.
There is some trepidation with the hiring though. For one, outside of his coaching gigs, Turner’s stay with the Vikings, 3 years, has been his longest stop since he was Wise Receivers with the Rams in the late ‘80’s.
Like I mentioned, some of those stops were short lived because of head coaching jobs, but overall he is not someone who stays in one place for an extended period of time. I don’t know if it’s because he wears out his welcome fairly quickly, or if he’s a “grass is always greener on the other side” person. However, for a franchise like Carolina that puts a premium on stability, Turner’s one night stand history is a little worrisome.
There have been a lot of changes to the Panthers organization since the season ended, both on and off the field.
The firing of Shula was one most fans were happy to see. The jury is still out on Turner. If history repeats itself, the Panthers should see some success in the offensive side of the ball. Just don’t get too excited, it may only be for one year.
