As time goes by, I often realize it is flying at warp speed. This weekend marks game 4 for most colleges, which means their regular season is 1/3 done. Say what?! The number of quality games picks up a bit this week, but many conference schedules don’t get into full swing ’til next week. By the way an… Read More »
I have been perusing NFL rosters since the day after Labor Day. In reality those 53-man rosters, in addition to Reserve lists, are the most significant numbers to evaluate how good recruiting was by the 3 main Star Games last January. I did an initial summary after the actual 2018 Draft to indicate how many players were Drafted… Read More »
The Week 3 game schedule was a bit weak, as many teams prepped for their pending Conference schedules with cup-cake tune ups. Then again there were more than enough solid matchups to view, with pro prospect status in mind. So once again let me share with you some thumb-nail sketches of players Who Caught My Eye! SQALLY CANADA… Read More »
Tough duty pulling out key games to highlight this week. In preparation for conference schedules, most of which begin in earnest this Saturday, many teams have scheduled cup-cake games in which to tune up their teams and game plans for the conference gauntlets they begin on the 22nd. But fear not, there are good games if you are… Read More »
Once again, this year it sure feels like there are an inordinate number of player injuries, seriously affecting significant prospects for the 2019 NFL Draft. I had intended to thumbnail Oklahoma RB RODNEY ANDERSON for last week’s column, but Oklahoma was rolling roughshod over Florida Atlantic and he never saw the field in the second half with 100+-yards… Read More »
A lot of walk-over games last week, but don’t mention that in front of a rabid Penn State fan. ‘Bama’s effort on the field against Louisville was mighty impressive, just don’t mention the word Quarterback within walking distance of Nick Saban, lest he challenge you to a fight. We have serious matchups this week in preparation for Conference… Read More »
I have to keep reminding myself to try to temper early season player thumbnails because overall play suffers a bit the first couple of weeks of the season, since college has no pre-season games… thank God. So in general I try to avoid QB evaluations this early. But as you will see below I have made an exception,… Read More »
As we all watch the finalizing (well almost) of NFL 53-man rosters it also just happens to be time for the first full weekend of College Football 2018. And so I have selected 4 top games and given you game projections and team info, as well as some detail (including numbers) of 2019 NFL Draft Prospects. For the… Read More »
Members of the 2018 Rookie Class continue to shine, if not dominate this pre-season. MARCUS DAVENPORT/DE/Saints made his Saints debut and though he did not dominate play he held his own, and certainly displayed once again his freakish athleticism. From the Saints perspective I have to believe they are hoping/expecting that DAVENPORT will be rolling at full tilt… Read More »
Week Two of the full pre-season was concluded by a game on Monday Night Football on ESPN, that was actually played on… wait for it… Monday Night. Go figure! Watching the ‘SKINS game the other day it struck me that given the talent on their roster right now, and the fact that ALEX SMITH/QB is new to DC,… Read More »
Just so we don’t get bogged down by semantics of any sort, I realize to some this was Week Two of the pre-season. But to me a work-week night single game at the Hall of Fame is not Week 1. Not to be an ‘I told you so’, but I mentioned on multiple occasions that the 2018 Draft… Read More »
Football is back and all teams are in their Training Camps around the NFL. By next week we will be looking forward to weekly full slates of pre-season games. To yours truly, one of the fascinating watches over the next month is the performance and emergence of undrafted Rookies. With the emergence of Practice Squads as a serious… Read More »
If you cherish the NFL Draft process like we do here at the GBN Report then you never tire of hearing more about the January College All-Star venues. Now that I have wrapped up all 32 team Draft Reviews, and prior to the bulk of the League teams opening their Training Camps around the 25th of July, I… Read More »
I jus got past my birthday and Wedding Anniversary last week to wake up this morning to the realization that the first NFL training Camp of the 2018 season is scheduled to open up today when the RAVENS welcome in their Rookies. They will also become the first team to bring in their veterans on the 18th. The… Read More »
I chose to finish my team Draft Reviews with the RAVENS as a mini (very mini) tribute to retiring GM OZZIE NEWSOME for whom 2018 was his final Draft effort as Captain of the good ship RAVENS. NEWSOME became a favorite of then Owner ART MODELL during his playing days as a TE for the Cleveland Browns. NEWSOME… Read More »
Good news for PATRIOTS fans. The team actually had a Draft this year picking 9 players. More good news. Little Bill traded around a bit, as is his way, and got a couple extra Picks for 2019 in the process. The question now is whether or not it’s enough, or is it a case of too little, too… Read More »
I find two items worth remembering as you look at this draft effort by the TEXANS. You must remember that the reason the team doesn’t pick until Round 3 is because of the trade to move up in 2017 to draft DeSHAUN WATSON/QB. Prior to his knee injury WATSON was off to a fantastic start to the 2017… Read More »
The FALCONS have been on a very nice roll since the hiring of DAN QUINN as Head Coach. Despite losing their Super Bowl team OC KYLE SHANAHAN, before last season, the team scrambled their way into the Play-Offs in good measure thanks to their 4-2 divisional record. The NFC South has become one of the toughest divisions in… Read More »
After a couple of 9-7 seasons with still no Play-Off victory for the 26 straight season GM BOB QUINN fired JIM CALDWELL in favor of a more “aggressive” approach from a new coaching staff. Enter an old acquaintance of his from New England named MATT PATRICIA. PATRICIA hopefully brings the cache’ of working for/with the most successful HC… Read More »
So if you are clearly one of the NFL bottom feeders and have more needs than you can shake a stick at what do you do when the annual NFL Draft rolls around? Clearly you accumulate extra Picks and keep drafting the best folks available, since you need just about everything. Everything except a QB, because you are… Read More »
There may be bigger changes in the desert than many of you expected going into Training Camp. One of the somewhat fatal flaws with Bruce Arians as a Head Coach was his aversion to Rookies and young players because they might make more mistakes than veteran guys. So during his successful run with the Cardinals, the team got… Read More »
I remember being one of those scribes who was already attacking the JETS at this time last year as they cut numerous vets, and many of us felt they were tanking the season to begin a roster rebuild. Well they certainly started an aggressive roster rebuild but with some solid coaching leadership from TODD BOWLES and his staff… Read More »
GM JOHN LYNCH finds his team in a somewhat awkward, but optimistic situation right now thanks in great part to the mid-season acquisition of QB/JIMMY GAROPPOLO, whose performance the last month of the season had to exceed their wildest expectations. Now fan expectation is that the rest of the roster should be ready to catch up with Jimmy… Read More »
You will have to excuse me if I confuse you by not using the official team “name” for the organization in Old D.C., but I find it racist and offensive. And even though I respect the heritage and records of that team, I reject the acceptance of their nickname. So let’s take a look at the Draft in… Read More »
I think it would be appropriate to say that the Titans Draft effort was short, but sweet. The team ended up with the fewest Picks of any team in the League, with only 4 selections. The good news down in Music City is that the team got the guys they wanted especially at the top. The TITANS set… Read More »
