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Author: Jon Kuzma

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Playing cornerback in the National Football League is so tough because it takes an unbelievable amount of athleticism to be good. It’s a position that has to react instantly and it’s very difficult to cover an NFL wide receiver even when you’re doing everything right.

However every once in a while you‘ll see a rare talent like Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander. The 2018 first round pick made a name for himself at Louisville and then he backed that up by running a 4.38 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine. So right away that lets you know just how physically gifted Alexander is and he can outmatch the players he ends up covering. The Packers defense is lucky to have an individual with that much potential because he can eliminate some of the opposing teams’ best weapons. You’ll notice this right away when you watch Alexander play and it’s incredible how he rarely gives up any separation. He might not always be able to intercept the pass but it seems like Alexander is always there to break up the completion. Sooner or later those plays are going to turn into takeaways and that’s when we’ll see this guy start to fulfill his true potential. Right now the best corner in the league is Stephon Gilmore. Although Alexander could take over that title someday and it’s because there’s not many people that have the instincts and closing speed Jaire Alexander possesses. It’s easy to see the direction his career arc is heading and don’t be surprised if he makes huge strides in his second year. Alexander knows how high the stakes are and there’s no denying that he wants to be great. From here on out it’s about putting it all together and finding a way to consistently make an impact for his team.

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Don’t surprise if Jaire Alexander becomes the league’s next great cornerback.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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The Carolina Panthers knew they were getting a dynamic player when they drafted former Ohio State wide receiver Curtis Samuel. This team took Samuel in the second round and he’s always had big play capabilities. So when Samuel struggled in his rookie season due to a left ankle injury it was definitely concerning.


However Carolina never lost faith in the young pass catcher and ultimately that faith has been rewarded. With 494 yards and 5 touchdowns in his second year of action Samuel finally gave us a glimpse of what he can bring to this offense. It looks like that was just the beginning too because he’s been lighting it up at the teams off-season practices. Defenders are having a tough time keeping up with Samuel and it’s because of his speed. This is someone who is very capable of going deep on every single snap. You’ll notice that he loves to run fade and post routes. The other thing Curtis Samuel does really well is make people miss when the ball is in his hands. Which is why the Panthers love to use him on reverses. What that does is take advantage of the defenses pursuit and uses their flow against them. If Samuel has the ball in the open field you can almost guarantee some fireworks are going to fly. It’s almost like watching a punt returner do his thing just because he’s so fast and so shifty. At the end of the day the combination of D.J Moore and Samuel are going to be extremely explosive. Carolina finally has the weapons they’ve been lacking out wide. Now Cam Newton has to step up and get them involved. There’s no excuses anymore and new owner David Tepper is expecting positive results.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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Whether it’s a work environment, relationships in your personal life, or even in sports there’s always politics. Every team has it and sometimes there’s dynamics in play off the field that can make-or-break a team.


Jealousy is always one of those things and when you gain a lot of power there will always be detractors and some of them can even be your teammates. It’s real and it happens even if you believe it or not. So when a report came out of Cleveland that Baker Mayfield was receiving a lot of pushback from the other Browns players you have to question why that’s happening? Obviously some of the team’s other leaders felt like Mayfield handled Duke Johnson’s situation poorly. The 2nd year quarterback was harsh when speaking about Johnson and his desire to be traded but if Cleveland really wants to be at their peak level they shouldn’t be reeling Baker Mayfield in. This is a player who is at his best when he channels his emotions and uses them to elevate his play. This franchise hasn’t had competitive fire like that in a very long time and when you’re trying to cook something up you need to bring the heat. Almost all of the older generations will absolutely hate that approach but we don’t live in the ho-hum era anymore. Mayfield is a new school kind of guy and he wears his emotions on his sleeve. It’s better to get out of his way and let him do it his own way because he’s the reason this team has any hope right now. The 2018 1st overall pick is the lifeblood of this organization and it’s sad that the rest of the other individuals in this locker room are losing sight of that.

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The Cleveland Browns are better off taping into Baker Mayfield’s tenacity.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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The Philadelphia Eagles love using two tight end formations and that was one of the reasons they won the Super Bowl back in 2018. Zach Ertz and Trey Burton were phenomenal during their legendary run but Burton eventually left to play for the Chicago Bears. Which is exactly why the Eagles selected Dallas Goedert in the 2nd round last year.


As a rookie Goedert showed a lot of promise recording 334 yards and 4 touchdowns. Now at camp the second year tight end has looked outstanding and the coaching staff was raving about the strides he’s made. You have to remember Zach Ertz is still with the team as well and together those two are going to create so many match-up problems. The Eagles have already talked about moving Ertz around more often and leaving Goedert lined up at his normal spot (inside at TE). That will create additional opportunities for Carson Wentz in the passing game and it’s amazing how many playmakers there are on this team. Yeah Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson, and the rest of those guys are going to make a lot of plays. However Goedert is special because he’s going to work the inside of the field. Those smaller wide receivers don’t like to go over the middle. It’s because opposing linebackers are waiting in that area and they deliver some of the hardest hits. The good news for Philly is Dallas Goedert has a big enough body that he can absorb most of that punishment. Whether it’s running a post or a seam route it’s no problem for the 6’5″ 255 pound pass catcher. The other thing that stands out about Goedert’s game is his agility. When you watch him play he’s constantly juking and spinning defenders. It’s hard to make solid contact with this guy when he has the ball in his hands. Those after the catch plays will also be big for the Eagles and it’s clear Goedert is rising fast.

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Dallas Goedert is the Philadelphia Eagles secret weapon.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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The Buffalo Bills knew they were getting a great talent when they selected Tremaine Edmunds in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft. This is a player you notice right away on film because he’s usually the biggest linebacker on the field. After recording 121 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 interceptions in his rookie season Edmunds is off to a great start career-wise.


The Bills expect this guy to be the centerpiece of their defense and all of the signs indicate that he’s fit for that role. Not only did Edmunds call the defensive plays in his first year. He also established himself as a leader in that locker room by doing so. When you combine those mental skills with Edmunds ability to diagnose plays and react on the fly. It becomes evident just how gifted the 21 year old defender truly is. Very few players that age can take on this much responsibility. Usually in year two or three a top prospect will start to come into his own and become elite. We take for granted how rare it is to make an impact from day one but Tremaine Edmunds’ tape checks out. Whether it’s a high motor, playing sideline-to-sideline, or racking up TFLs Edmunds can do it. The other thing that helps him is how good he is against the pass. A lot of times linebackers get lost when they have to drop to their hook zone but not with the former Virginia Tech alum. Next time you see him play watch how fast he breaks on the ball once the quarterback locks on to his receiver. Even if Edmunds doesn’t bat down or intercept the throw he usually lays a devastating blow on the pass catcher and breaks up the play. An incomplete pass will always be a win for the Bills defense and you have to remember now Edmunds has Ed Oliver playing in front of him. Those two are going to wreak havoc for years to come. Meaning it’s a good time to be a Buffalo fan.

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Tremaine Edmunds is everything the Bills hoped for when they selected him in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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The New Orleans Saints knew it was time to take care of one of their top players and that’s why they handed Cam Jordan a new 3-year $52M contract. This deal will keep Jordan in the Big Easy until he’s 34 years old and that could be for the rest of his career.


Either way this is a smart move by the Saints front office because Jordan has been stellar since coming into the league back in 2011. With 71 career sacks this isn’t a player who could be replaced easily. Not to mention taking the risk of moving on from Jordan may have resulted in a total disaster. That wasn’t an option for Mickey Loomis and Sean Payton. Instead they decided to reward someone they considered instrumental to their success. Now Jordan has to go out and do what he’s done over the past eight seasons. On the field that usually entails swim moving offensive tackles and coming down the line to clean up running plays in the offensive backfield. Jordan can also bull rush through double teams and he’s physically overwhelming. It’s more about power than it is about finesse with this guy and his instincts are off the charts. All of these skills and traits combine to make up one of the best defenders in the entire league. It should also be mentioned that Jordan bats a lot of balls down too. So there’s a few different phases of the game that he makes an impact in and moving forward it’s all about winning a Super Bowl. New Orleans is loaded with talent and they’re not that far away from making it to the big one. Defensively guys like Cam Jordan and Marcus Davenport have to play lights out in order to get there. We know there’s one person this team can always count on and that’s the reason Jordan will make $17M per year from here on out.

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The New Orleans Saints had no problem paying Cam Jordan the big bucks.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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The NFL is a young man’s game and that means players in their early 20s are always trying to carve out a name for themselves. Luckily for the Green Bay Packers they believe they have an emerging star in Marquez Valdes-Scantling. The former fifth round pick out of South Florida has shown that he can be a reliable pass catcher for Aaron Rodgers. As a rookie he recorded 581 yards and 2 touchdowns.


Green Bay has been waiting for someone to step up and be a guy who can make plays opposite of Davante Adams. Right now Valdes-Scantling seems like the best bet and this is exactly what first year head coach Matt LaFleur needs. If Adams is the only receiver that the Packers can count on then it’s so much easier for defenses to key in on him. However when the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th options are on their game it makes Green Bay’s passing attack more unpredictable. Which is one of the reasons this group can flourish this year. So you dive into the film and try to see what makes Valdes-Scantling special and it’s clearly his quickness. You’ll see him set cornerbacks up to the inside and then break his route off wide. It’s that stutter step which causes defenders to bite and then MVS usually capitalizes. He’s also a player who has a pretty good frame at 6’4” 201 pounds. Rodgers likes to throw his passes high to Valdes-Scantling and then let him use his length to go up and make a play. The 24 year old isn’t afraid of going over the middle either and that means all of the slants, drags, and post routes are on the table. For someone who slid so far in the draft it’s amazing how much upside Marquez Valdes-Scantling has. We might’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg too.

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On the Rise. Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s progression has been impressive.

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Author: Jon Kuzma

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You could see it last year. Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Christian Kirk was ahead of the curve compared to most of the other pass catchers from the 2018 NFL Draft class. Kirk showed big play capabilities right from the get go and you saw a lot of the same things when he was at Texas A&M.


This is a player who was a dynamite punt returner in college and Kirk is just as deadly in the pros. The main strength of his game is definitely his speed and that’s why he runs a lot of deep routes. Christian Kirk often utilizes fades, digs, and posts down the field. Because he’s so good at making the defense respect his vertical skills a lot of times that opens up the comeback route for him near the sidelines too. Another way the Cardinals use Kirk is on shallow crossing routes and bubble screens. Those plays allow him to use his speed after the catch. When you have a great athlete you want to get him the ball in space and the Cardinals did a good job of that in 2018. The result was 590 yards and 3 touchdowns out of the gate for the former second round draft pick. Which is so crucial for Kirk heading into this upcoming season. From here on out he knows without a doubt that he can perform at a high level in this league. Once a players starts to become more aware then it translates into confidence. The Christian Kirk we’re hearing about at OTAs is a culmination of probably a decade or so of hard work. Give him a ton of credit though he’s defied the odds and manifested his destiny every step of the way. Now we’re at a stage where he’s starting to step into a leadership role. Over the next year or two Larry Fitzgerald is going to hand the torch to Kirk and then step away from the game. It’s well deserved and he’s a key piece in this franchise’s future.

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Christian Kirk is making strides at Arizona Cardinals off-season workouts.

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The Atlanta Falcons finished the 2018 season on a high note by beating the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers to finish their season. It was a promising sign for a team that battled injuries for most of the year.


Devonta Freeman, Deion Jones, and Keanu Neal all missed significant time and those are some of Atlanta’s best players. Their return could be enough to get the Falcons back in the playoffs. Offensively this team is dangerous with Matt Ryan leading the way. Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, and Ryan aired it out for 414 points against some tough opponents in the NFC South. Thomas Dimitroff didn’t settle though he added a couple of offensive linemen in Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary to bolster the protection up front. They still have Alex Mack as well so those guys should be able to win at the point of attack. There’s also hope that this team will improve from a running standpoint as well. Freeman’s return almost guarantees that and then you have to take a look at what’s happening on defense. Deion Jones is usually good for 100 tackles when he’s healthy. Having him back at the middle linebacker position makes this team much tougher against those inside runs and Jones is also athletic enough to play sideline-to-sideline. This is the perfect defender to have right behind Grady Jarrett and those two guys are going to anchor this group. If that wasn’t good enough the Falcons will also get back Keanu Neal who is stout against the run. Neal packs a punch in the secondary and wide receivers think twice about going over the middle when he’s on the field. All of these pieces are good individually but when you combine them it becomes obvious that this ball club is trending in the right direction. The division will probably come down to the Saints and Falcons when everything is said and done.

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The Atlanta Falcons finished the 2018 season on a three game winning streak and that’s a good sign of what’s to come.

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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.