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Author: Jon Kuzma

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When we talk about the most improved teams in football the San Francisco 49ers have to be near the top of the list. Their defense was already heading in the right direction with Deforest Buckner, Fred Warner, and Richard Sherman.


Then they went and added Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, and Kwon Alexander. Suddenly this group of defenders has enough firepower to completely overwhelm their opponents. There’s not gonna be any time for quarterbacks to drop back and stand tall in the pocket. Eventually Buckner, Ford or Bosa is going to break through and disrupt the play. It’s so hard to win when you can’t execute your game plan and coaches will be scrambling to make adjustments against this front four. It’s not just the passing game which will be effected by this group either. Teams are going to face an uphill battle trying to establish the run against San Francisco. Their front seven can maul running backs before they get back to the line of scrimmage. You better believe this is going to make the 49ers so much tougher to beat on Sundays and now Los Angeles, Seattle, and Arizona will have their hands full. Sean McVay and the Rams are known for having a high flying offense but talent usually trumps a good scheme. Jared Goff lost a couple of offensive linemen up front too so this could end up being a rough match-up for LA. Seattle is also very solid and Russell Wilson is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. However the 49ers do have the speed to run Wilson down and throw him off his game and the same goes for Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals. We don’t know if Jimmy Garoppolo will live up to his end of the bargain but there’s too many athletes on this defense not to be great. That’s this team’s identity from here on out.

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Gold rush. The San Francisco 49ers are loaded with defensive talent and quarterbacks won’t have any time to throw.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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There’s a trend in the NFL right now. If you’re one of the top quarterbacks in the league you’ll probably break the 100m dollars threshold. Carson Wentz is the latest signal caller to surpass that mark and and now the Philadelphia Eagles are all in on the talented but often injured QB. The idea is they’ll commit to this contract now and avoid paying Wentz even more later on. By taking this risk it’s clear Howie Roseman believes Wentz is going to make significant strides and become one of the top players at his position. We’ve already seen Wentz be in the discussion for the Most Valuable Player of the Year award.


Clearly Philadelphia doesn’t think that was a fluke and the team threw a boatload of money at the 26 year old to prove it. With 10,152 yards and 70 touchdowns over the course of his three year career it wasn’t a terrible bet to make. Wentz is somebody who can transform this offense into a juggernaut when he’s in top form. You see that on every single pass this guy makes when he stands tall in the pocket and plays the game fearlessly. The front office built a great supporting cast around Carson Wentz and now he has to go out there and facilitate everything. They’re four deep at wide receiver with Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson, Nelson Agholor, and J.J Arcega-Whiteside and two deep at tight end with Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert. As long as Wentz stays healthy he’s going to put up some big numbers and the Eagles should be in the playoffs once again. It won’t be easy though because there’s a lot of pressure. When you get paid the big bucks everyone expects you to live up to the hype. Meaning Philadelphia has to win a lot of games or Wentz will face some scrutiny.

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The Philadelphia Eagles rolled the dice and went all in on Carson Wentz.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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There’s a lot of great linebackers in the National Football League. Luke Kuechly and Bobby Wagner both come to mind. Darius Leonard is another young player that stands out but what Leighton Vander Esch did last season was truly special.



While Leonard was in a situation where the Colts weren’t expected to be very good they had no problem throwing their rookie into the fire right away. Whereas the Cowboys decided to keep the training wheels on Vander Esch and started Sean Lee and Jaylon Smith instead. Because of that Vander Esch only started 11 games in his first year of action and he probably would’ve had more tackles than Leonard had he been on the field full-time. Despite missing more than a quarter of the season, playing time wise, Vander Esch still finished third in the entire NFL with 140 tackles. You can begin to see just how amazing the former Boise State standout has been and the crazy thing is most people didn’t think this was a great pick by the Dallas Cowboys. There seemed like a million better choices in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft but you have to applaud the Jones family because they trusted their gut and went with the guy who they felt gave them the best chance of winning. That risk ended up panning out and this football team is now in a position to make a run at a Super Bowl. All of this is possible due to the fact that DeMarcus Lawrence, Jaylon Smith, Byron Jones, and Vander Esch can clamp down on their opponents. Whether it’s against the run or defending the pass Dallas suffocates everything offenses try to do and it’s tough to beat a team when you can’t score. The heart and soul of it all is Leighton Vander Esch.

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Leighton Vander Esch is the next great linebacker to attain excellence.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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At first the speculation was that Trent Williams was holding out for a new contract but now we know that Williams has actually requested a trade. This is the worst possible turn of events for the Washington Redskins because Williams is a seven-time Pro Bowler and he’s a staple on their offensive line at the left tackle position.


It’s hard to believe that this team can overcome the loss of Williams because they’re already facing an uphill battle in the NFC East. Daniel Snyder needs all of the help he can get and losing perhaps his best player is the last thing this roster can afford. Williams is so dominant and so physically imposing that the offense as a whole will take a huge step backwards without number 71 on the field. Just look at the things that Williams does good. He’s absolutely outstanding at going toe to toe with some of the best pass rushers in the league. This is also a player who can get out on the edge on screen plays and make blocks downfield. You’ll also see Williams push a defender down to the guard and then pick up the looping defensive tackle on the outside. It takes so much competence to be able to block two guys on one play because it’s a mental challenge as much as it is a physical one. You have to know where these guys are coming from and how to put yourself in a position to stay in front of each rusher. And then in the running game it becomes so much harder to establish those outside runs to the left if the Redskins don’t have Trent Williams reach blocking everyone on that side of the field. So now Adrian Peterson and Derrius Guice will have less daylight in front of them and that will eliminate most of their opportunities. Proving that Washington doesn’t want to let Williams go and Jay Gruden has been adamant about how much he’d like to keep him. The problem is The 30-year-old doesn’t feel the same way and if Williams’ wish is granted then someone is going to get one of the best offensive linemen around. We don’t know what teams are interested in this guy but you have to believe there will be plenty of phone calls and discussions about acquiring him. He might only have 3 or 4 years left in the tank but Williams could get a contender over the hump and help them win a Super Bowl.

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The Washington Redskins will take a huge hit if Trent Williams forces his way out of DC.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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The New York Jets took a risk when they decided to sign Le’Veon Bell. After missing the entire 2018 season there were a lot of question marks whether or not Bell would lose a step? Being away from the sport for so long can be challenging because not only are you out of game shape but you also start to lose your mental edge.


Luckily for New York that hasn’t been the case and we should applaud Bell for how well he’s handled himself throughout all of the drama that’s been going on with the Jets. There were a lot of rumors that Adam Gase didn’t want to sign the pricey running back.However Le’Veon Bell has taken everything in stride and claims he has a great relationship with his new coach. This whole situation could’ve become combustible with how much turmoil was swirling around the organization. Yet Bell has done an incredible job with the media and smoothed over a lot of the problems they should’ve had. Truthfully it seems like Bell is in a very good place and he took these difficult circumstances and turned a negative into a positive for this ball club. Most of these issues were caused by the Jets too and Bell had to deal with all this before he even suited up for a game. So many players would’ve been upset with how unfairly they were being treated. To be able to overcome everything just goes to show how much the former Steeler has matured as a person. This was on the cusp of becoming a disaster and instead Bell has shown more leadership than the people who are in charge of the team. From here it’s about going out and putting together another great season. This guy’s goal will always be rushing for 1000 yards and hauling in at least 500 receiving yards. Because he’s been sidelined for such a long time if Bell can achieve at least one of those objectives it will be a great year for him. Regardless he’s been worth every penny up to this point and you have to tip your hat to this guy for keeping morale high during these last two months.

Charity of the day: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

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The Jets have made it very difficult on Le’Veon Bell but he’s handled it great.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy has decided to sign with the Carolina Panthers and he’ll stay in the NFC South. Obviously McCoy has been a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the past nine seasons and now McCoy will have a chance to go against his former team.


Clearly that played a role in his decision to sign with Carolina and this has all of the makings of a perfect revenge game. You know he’s motivated to destroy Tampa Bay for letting him go and McCoy should start right away for the Panthers. He’ll probably end up replacing Dontari Poe who‘s production has fallen off a cliff lately. Gerald McCoy will be paired up with Kawann Short and those two guys will do damage plus Poe will still be in the rotation. You can begin to see how tough that defensive line is going to be on game day and you have to remember the Panthers still have Luke Kuechly at middle linebacker. From a run stopping standpoint it’s going to be very difficult to establish a ground game against them. The interior pressure will overwhelm Carolina’s opponents. Therefore quarterbacks won’t have much time to throw either and McCoy did have six sacks in 2018. This is also the perfect acquisition for Ron Rivera’s system. A cover two based scheme doesn’t blitz as often as some of the other defensive formations. So you need a good push from your front four and that’s exactly what Gerald McCoy brings to this group. Everyone knows Rivera’s job is on the line too and this addition couldn’t have come at a better time. After winning 7 games a year ago it’s possible this franchise ends up in the playoffs. GM Matt Hurney can’t settle though he needs to keep searching for potential trades and free agents that can improve this roster.

Charity of the day: Hunger Project

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Gerald McCoy signed with Carolina and now they’re stacked at the defensive tackle position.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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Todd Gurley has been down this road before. The former Georgia Bulldog tore his ACL while in Athens and went on to become one of the most talented running backs in the National Football League. So when you hear that he’s struggling with another knee injury it’s concerning but not the end of the world for Gurley.


Yeah the Rams selected Darrell Henderson in the third round of the NFL Draft but he’s nowhere near the prospect Gurley was back in 2015. And when you take into consideration that Gurley is an unbelievable competitor. It just makes sense that he would defy the odds again and become the player he once was. Now Gurley is facing an uphill battle and he might not get on track in 2019. You have to remember he’s still sitting out of OTAs and that’s not a good sign with training camp right around the corner. Which means Henderson will have a chance to steal the show this season. If that happens then Todd Gurley could be expendable. Los Angeles may want to go with the cheaper and younger player but at some point Gurley’s knee will heal. Meaning that when he does return to top form it’s very possible that he could be playing for a different team. Who knows what the future holds and it’s hard to predict what’s going to happen down the line? However placing a bet on Gurley and his athletic potential is never a bad option. Saying this setback will limit the rest of his career is a tough sell and at some point there will be a breakthrough. Science and medicine are better than ever these days and Gurley can afford some of the best treatment on earth. It’s only a matter of time until he’s carving people up on the field again.

Charity of the day: Hunger Project

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We shouldn’t give up on Todd Gurley yet. He’s got a history of bouncing back.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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The Los Angeles Rams are looking to regroup after falling short in last year’s Super Bowl. The hope is to gear up and go on another deep playoff run. If that’s going to happen then Aaron Donald will have to pick up right where he left off. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year is coming off a 20.5 sacks season and that’s outstanding production for one individual.


To be honest nobody can block Donald and he’s certainly the backbone of the Rams defense. Maybe the most entertaining thing about this guy is how well rounded he is. Donald has so many different ways of beating offensive linemen and his favorite seems to be his swim move. It allows him to slip into the backfield very quickly and those plays usually result in sacks or TFLs. Plus Donald has been working with Demarcus Ware to learn some other pass rushing techniques. That set of tools will make Aaron Donald even more dangerous is 2019 and it just goes to show that even the best are constantly improving themselves. The 28 year old 3-4 defensive end also showed up to OTAs this year to get in game shape heading into the new season. Doing drill work in the Spring ends up being great cardio training and that translates into a high motor on game day. He’s already fast for a 280 pounder but now Donald will be able to maintain his output for much longer because of all of those reps in these voluntary practices. There’s no doubt this is a great sign for Los Angeles and it’s much needed. Ndamukong Suh is gone and the Rams defense got older. So it’s good to see Donald stepping up and doing everything he can to make sure the team is on the right track with training camp quickly approaching.

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Aaron Donald’s brute strength, perfect technique, and amazing quickness make him special.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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The Philadelphia Eagles had a great off-season. General Manager Howie Roseman worked extremely hard to make this team a true Super Bowl contender and one of the most important things he did was bolster the wide receiver position. Roseman did that by trading for DeSean Jackson and by drafting J.J Arcega-Whiteside.


Don’t forget that the Eagles already had Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, and Zach Ertz at tight end. So collectively there’s a lot of talent there and Carson Wentz will certainly benefit from this. Jackson in particular is someone who can create plenty of big plays for this passing attack. Whether it’s going deep for six points or hauling in a short pass and then out sprinting the defense after the catch. We all know how explosive DeSean Jackson is and that’s why he’s been in the NFL for 11 seasons already. Therefore Jackson should hit the ground running in his second stint with Philadelphia. Hopefully his return also helps Jackson get back in his comfort zone because this is where he wanted to be all along. As for J.J Arcega-Whiteside he’s going to do his best work down near the goal line. Arcega-Whiteside made a name for himself at Stanford by winning one-on-one match ups which usually resulted in touchdowns. It’s the ability to high point the football that makes this guy special and his basketball background helps him box out defensive backs when competing for the football. Between Jeffery and Arcega-Whiteside there’s two playmakers who have enough size to fight through the contact, make the tough grab, and put points on the board. While Nelson Agholor and DeSean Jackson will be tasked with beating defenses with their speed. From a balance stand point these pass catchers have it all and then Zach Ertz is quickly becoming one of the best players at his position. Look out because the Eagles are ready to take flight.

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The Eagles wide receivers are dangerous and that’s going to make this team much more explosive.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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Le’Veon Bell might not have played in 2018 but it’s still the first year that he’s no longer a Pittsburgh Steeler. The team is trying to move on without Bell and we know most of the responsibility will fall on James Conner’s shoulders. Conner was very good last season with 973 yards and 12 touchdowns.


He’ll certainly be the lead back with Bell gone and this offense needs him to pick up right where he left off. By pounding the rock the Steelers can chew up the clock and wear down defenses with their physicality. It’s not just Conner who can run all over teams either. Jaylen Samuels has also shown a lot of promise by combining for 455 yards and 3 touchdowns in only 3 career starts. Samuels does his best work as a receiver coming out of the backfield and he adds a dual-threat element to Pittsburgh’s attack. Those two ball carriers are guys that the team is familiar with and then’s there’s the rookie Benny Snell. Believe it or not Snell might be the most physical out of the three. The former Kentucky Wildcat is so good after contact and the first would be tackler rarely brings him down. It’s very possible that Snell leapfrogs Samuels and takes most of his playing time. James Conner has to look out as well because Snell doesn’t go down easily and those are runs that will inspire the team. Ultimately Mike Tomlin will go with the hot hand and whoever he believes will give his ball club the best chance of winning. It’ll be exciting to see how everything shakes out but it’s Conner’s job to lose. At some point that could change because there’s serious competition between these three. You know what they say though competition brings out the best in everybody.

Charity of the day: Government Accountability Project

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The Steelers are in good shape at the running back position.