- Pass Rush: 18/20
- Physically there is no prospect with the pass rushing gifts of Jadeveon Clowney. His rare combination of size, speed, and jump off the snap make him physically one of the most feared pass rushers in college football. However, Clowney’s inability to be consistent is his biggest problem rushing the passer. He will have a monster game one week, then a game where he disappears the following week. Despite his gifts Clowney only managed to have 3 sacks this entire season. The reason his score is so high with the lack of production is his rare combination of power and speed pass rushing moves. Without these, his score would be much lower.
- Run Stopping: 13/20
- Clowney is best known for his pass rushing, but this year he greatly regressed in stopping the run. His motor and inability to finish plays created many instances where Clowney missed out on making plays. This year he took major steps back as a run stopping defensive end. What saves him is that when he does give the effort, he has great form when tackling, not to mention he can lay some lumber as a defensive hitter. With 41 tackles and no forced turnovers, Clowney’s 2013 campaign was very forgettable when it came to stopping the run.
- Physical Attributes & Size: 20/20
- At 6’6, 274 pounds, Clowney has the size to play in the NFL. His combination of size and speed is a unique combination that is rarely seen in the NFL. While he projects best as a defensive end in a 4-3 scheme, Clowney is one of those rare prospects who can play multiple positions. He can play the interior or end position along the Defensive line and could stand up as an outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme. This is what scouts most drool about when Clowney is brought up. They love his size and power, and this is what will propel him to be a top pick in the draft.
- Potential: 10/10
- No prospect in the 2014 class has the physical attributes that Clowney possesses. If he is focused and committed, he can be an impact player from day one. Similar to Mario Williams, he could develop into an elite pass rusher that could be a 10 plus sacks a season type of player. Physically, the sky is the limit for Clowney.
- Injury: 6/10
- Clowney has suffered many minor injuries during his college career that has cost him a couple of games. Clowney blames his lack of production on injuries this season, but having these nagging injuries could be a red flag for teams. It also doesn’t help that he doesn’t exactly play through pain, which brings up questions about his toughness. While he isn’t an injury prone player, Clowney has had some dings from college football. While there are no major red flags about his health, there has to be concern about his injuries in college and how he doesn’t fight through them.
- Scheme fit: 10/10
- Clowney is one of those rare prospects who fits almost any system in the NFL. While his best fit would be as a 4-3 end, he can play outside linebacker or end in a 3-4 as well. With his size and athleticism he can moved all over the field to give him the best matchup for the particular play. It doesn’t matter the scheme, Clowney will be a great fit for whatever defense he plays for.
- Motor: 3/1o
- Clown’s lack of hustle was apparent this year. Many experts will save that he is saving himself for the NFL, but as a GM this has to be concerning. Defense is all about desire and you want the consistent effort from players. It’s great when Clowney makes a big play, but not great when he disappears for the next 10 snaps. While he has a high motor in 2012, that motor and hustle greatly diminished. Clowney clearly gives up on plays, and doesn’t give a full effort on every snap. This is a huge red flag for a team because they might not want a player who will take off plays.
- Total Grade: 80/100 projection: Top 10 pick
- A year ago Clowney would have been the surefire number one pick in the draft. But after a tumultuous 2013 season with both on and off the field issues, Clowney’s draft stock has taken a major hit. While a team will gamble on his raw ability and potential, there has to be concern about his motor and off the field issues. As of now he will probably be a top 5 pick and will almost certainly be off the board by the tenth pick. Clowney defiantly has the highest ceiling off any prospect this season. However, he does have bust potential after a poor season this year and will be in my opinion either a star or a complete bust.
sports
Time to go? Is RGIII wearing out his welcome?
Robert Griffin the Third has gone from NFL poster boy, to the definition of NFL diva in one year. After a season riff with turmoil, RG III continues dumping kerosene on the fire that is the Washington Redskins. After a year of being called out by his teammates about his leadership and focus, RGIII has gone from savior to cancer. True this isn’t all his fault, his knee injury and Shannahan’s coaching issues were aspects that Griffin had no control over. However, RGIII became consumed in the brand that was RGIII. Sure he dominated the media market with countless commercials, but he forgot that with great athlete commercials, there must be great athletic performances.
Now after a terrible season, RGIII just continues to pile on the controversy. Even after getting Mike Shanahan fired, Griffin still continues to grab the limelight for the wrong reasons. He recently came out bragging to teammates about the influence he has on the team’s management. Owner Dan Schneider only confirms that notion by stating that Griffin will have input on who the next coach of the Redskins will be. I’m sorry, but it is clear that the inmate is running the asylum, and this never ends well. This is the NFL. This isn’t the NBA where one superstar is the difference, there are 52 other men that make a team. RGIII struts around as if he is the best quarterback in the league. But really what has he done? Sure he got the Redskins to the playoffs, but that’s it. He’s only had one winning season, been in the league two seasons, and hasn’t won a playoff game. Yet, he acts like he has done everything you can in the NFL. If anything, RGIII has a terrible legacy for now being a so-called “coach killer” and a diva. You can tell that his team doesn’t want to play for him anymore. They won’t help him up after plays and continue to talk about their quarterback’s poor leadership.
So what should the Redskins do? Some fans may not want to hear this, but the Redskins should try to get rid of RGIII. While this will probably never happen, because Daniel Snyder loves Griffin, it could be what’s best for this team. While they have given up three first round draft picks for Griffin, it would be addition by subtraction. Griffin has too much power in DC, power no player should have. His job is to play quarterback, not help pick the roster and coaching staff. When the inmates start to run the asylum, your organization is in trouble. Now the Redskins also have the issue of being an organization that is in chaos. What players would want to come play with a quarterback who is injury prone and is a diva? The Redskins also may be costing their organization a great coach. What coach really wants to come into a situation when their quarterback has so much power within the organization? RGIII could be costing the organization a great coach.
2014 will be a crucial year for RGIII. Not only does he have to get healthy and return to his rookie year form, but he also will be under a tremendous microscope. With all these offseason issues and drama in the nation’s capital, Robert Griffin must prove that he’s an elite quarterback. Not only on the field, but off the field. He has numerous bridges to repair in D.C. If RGIII can overcome this and become the quarterback he has the potential to be, it will be one of the greatest transformations in NFL history. If not, Griffin could be the next great bust in the NFL. What do you think? Will RGIII be a bust or will he regain his form? Is it in the best interest for the Redskins to get rid of him?
Grading the Jets Rookies in 2013
The 2013 season may be over for the New York Jets, but there is reason to be optimistic. With a young roster and the return of Rex Ryan for 2014, it looks like the Jets are posed for a playoff push next season. This year was a crucial year for the New York Jets to develop the young talent from the 2013 NFL Draft. After sixteen games we have seen what these players can do and what they maybe capable of in the future. For this list, we will focus on both production, and potential when evaluating the Jets rookie class. First up we have….
- Dee Milliner: B –
Well someone had some big shoes to fill. After the Jets traded cornerback Darrelle Revis before the draft, they selected the best cornerback prospect in the draft, Alabama’s Dee Milliner to replace him. Of course asking a rookie to fill the shoes of the best cover corner in the NFL is putting too much pressure on a young player. After an offseason surgery and missing most of the preseason, it was apparent that Milliner was struggling from missing those important workouts. Despite three benchings this season, over the past month Milliner has looked like a first round corner and finished the season being named the AFC Defensive player of the week in week 17. Some Jets fans maybe wondering why this grade is so high? The reason is because Milliner finished the season strong and is beginning to look like a very good corner. With a full offseason now to learn the defense, 2014 could be the year the Milliner turns into a great NFL corner. Despite the shaky season Milliner still finished with 45 tackles, 3 picks, and 17 passes defended. While he may not have been the impact player the Jets were looking for this year, he still has the upside to be a great corner in this league.
- Sheldon Richardson: A+
And with the 13th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft the New York Jets select Sheldon Richardson! Like most Jets fans my reaction to this pick was huh? Why are we taking another defensive lineman? Who is this guy? Really this is what we got for Revis? My how a season can change a perspective. Sheldon Richardson looks like a steal from the Revis trade as he helped to make the Jets defensive line one of the most ferocious lines in football. In his rookie season only J.J. Watt was a better defensive end when it came to stopping the run for a defensive end. Richardson dominated with 77 tackles (15.5 for a loss), 3.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. Not to mention he became the first defensive player since William “The Refrigerator” Perry to score two touchdowns as a defensive player playing on offense. From run stuffer, to new goal line weapon, Richardson had an incredible 2013. If he can continue to work on his pass rushing and improve that aspect of his game, he could become one of the best defensive ends in football before we know it.
- Geno Smith: B
It was a roller coaster of a season for Geno Smith there were up and downs, but in the end Geno has shown flashes that he can be the franchise quarterback. Despite throwing for 3,046 yards and throwing 12 touchdowns, Smith also has the lowest quarterback rating in the league and 21 interceptions. Despite these lackluster passing stats, Geno also used his legs to rack up 366 rushing yards and 6 rushing touchdowns. The reason he gets a B instead of a C is because of two reasons. First he has shown great poise and a strong-arm he will hopefully learn to control. Second, and most importantly is that he was an 8-8 quarterback with arguably the worst offensive personnel in the NFL. With a horrible receiving core, at best average running backs, and no tight end for a security blanket, it’s a miracle in itself that Geno had this team even competing for a playoff spot. If the Jets can give him some weapons in 2014, we may see Geno take the next step in his development and become a great quarterback. Not to bad considering the Jets stole him in the second round.
- Brian winters D+
Here is where it starts to go down hill for the Jets. In the third round the Jets selected Brian Winters. While the guard did have some flashes, he mostly struggled. With inconsistent run blocking and struggles in pass protection, instead of being the answer at guard, Winters has only raised more questions. While he still is young and could develop into a solid starting guard this grade goes beyond Winters. I would have given him a C grade, but with the players the Jets passed on, only make this pick look worse. The Jets passed on a receiver I was praying for them to draft, Keenan Allen. He became one of the best rookie receivers along with Terrance Williams, who was also available along with tight end Jordan Reed. With the lack of weapons on the Jets offensive, one of these players could have helped Geno Smith develop quicker. The Jets would have been better of with a playmaker rather than Winters inconsistent guard play.
- Oday Aboushi D
Aboushi didn’t do too much in 2013. He was basically on the practice squad the entire year. While he may eventually develop into a starting tackle or guard for the Jets, it looks like he will be no more than a backup for Gang Green. While he could be a versatile backup for the Jets, it may take time for him to become a future starter. Overall not a terrible pick, but a pick that was used for just improving the team’s depth and a possible offensive line project. With no NFL starters around this pick, it doesn’t look like the Jets missed out on too much here. If D’Brickashaw Ferguson continues to regress, maybe Aboushi could be his replacement one day. It’s along shot, but stranger things have happened
- William Campbell: F
-
I still don’t get this pick. Three offensive linemen in a row? You don’t think you could spread the wealth to other parts of your team? While I do think Campbell could be a solid backup in the NFL, he is a huge work in progress. I’m never a big fan of switching positions in the NFL. Tight end to a receiver or a defensive end to stand up linebacker, sure. Defensive tackle to offensive guard, bad idea. While Campbell has impressed more than Aboushi, the Jets could have used this pick from some much-needed depth in their lineup.
- Tommy Bohanon: A –
Talk about finding value late in the draft. Bohanon has been the Jets starting fullback since week one. He’s an A minus because he was unpolished as a run blocker, but continued to develop as the season progressed. He can run the ball well between the tackles in start yardage situations and displayed great hands out of the backfield. While his blocking needs works, the Jets may utilize him more in the playbook next year by throwing him the ball more and allowing him to get more carries in short yardage situations.
- Overall: B –
- While Richardson is a star, Milliner and Smith will have to continue their strong late season campaigns and show improvement in 2014. The good news is they both have tremendous upside and now experience from 2013. The middle rounds were a mess with three offensive linemen who instead of answers to a struggling offensive line have only created more questions. The Jets also passed on playmaking offensive weapons that could have helped Geno Smith’s development. Their final pick, Bohanon, was a steal considering the found a versatile starting fullback in the seventh round. While the draft could have been better, the Jets found talented players and could have done much worse. Hopefully the Jets can continue to build a playoff caliber team in the upcoming NFL Draft. Do you agree? What grades would you give the Jets? Comment below.
Big Ten for UConn Key to Hartford Whalers Return
Yes! Let’s hope we can get the Whalers back!
The 10 Worst NHL Jerseys of all-time
The NHL has some of the best uniforms in sports. From the originality of the Original Six, to some great modern jerseys, the NHL has some of the best looks in sports. However, like with all great fashions, in order to get the great jerseys in hockey, there have to be numerous failures. Whether it’s trying something new with designs or colors, or modifying the logo, some jerseys should have been just left on the drawing board. Being a hockey fan, I’ve seen my fair share of bad jerseys throughout the years. Here is my list, but there are certain rules to this list. First, it will only be NHL teams, I could do a whole list on minor league hockey uniforms. Second, only one entry per franchise. While there have been many teams that have had their fair share of jersey disasters, I’m talking to you New York Islanders, I wanted to get a wider range of teams instead of focusing on a few teams at a time.
- 10: Nashville Predators
Talk about your condiment calamity! Dijon mustard may work on hotdogs and burgers, but not hockey jerseys. Aside from the tasteless color, the logos also are an eyesore. The “skull” Predators logo on the sleeves could be an ok logo if used properly, but doesn’t go with this jersey. It’s because you have a gaudy multicolored predator that belongs in the Ice Age movies on the front. Modern logo with skulls on the shoulders? Doesn’t exactly connect. This sweater was doomed with weak and confusing logos along with a color that just gives me craving a hotdog. Excuse me one second I gotta go to the grill!
- 9: Montreal Canadiens
Thanks, I just needed a hotdog. Oh look, I didn’t know the barbershop quartet was on TV tonight! What that’s not a barbershop quarter it’s the Canadiens? Oh boy. Look, I understand some team’s want to wear throwbacks to get in touch with their roots, but sometimes certain uniforms should be left in the past. Montreal you have an original six logo and jersey, you are set for life. You don’t need to modify anything. These uniforms are disaster. Weak white leaf logo and a headache inducing design with the horizontal red, white, and blue strips. This is a color overload that is not easy to look at and once you get over the novelty of the throwback for five minutes you’ll be saying, “ok bring out the actual Canadiens jerseys please”!
- 8: Phoenix Coyotes
Of all the jerseys on this list these are my favorites. I can appreciate what the Coyotes tried to do with a dark green jersey with the desert trim on the bottom. I also like the original Coyotes logo better than the new logo they have now. Still, this wasn’t a great jersey. Even though I liked them, I can see why people don’t. These are not traditional jerseys with bizarre colors. The green and burnt orange aren’t exactly the Coyotes main colors and the desert look on the jersey with the cacti makes the jersey look too much like a cartoon. Plus there are salamanders on the shoulders, weird numbers, and a moon on one side of the jersey. Even though they broke the mold and gave it a good try, the Coyotes still made a jersey that was to Will-E, and not enough Coyote.
- 7 Atlanta Thrashers
Thank god the Jets are back. On that note one franchise that never could seem to get its jerseys in order was the Atlanta Thrashers. If I didn’t limit the list to one team, the Thrashers would have multiple entries. Anyways, the Thrashers failed because they have too many colors, weird designs, and multiple logos. Talk about an identity crisis. With that I give you the epitome of all of this in a jersey. This jersey represents all of the different factors which made Thrasher’s jerseys hard to stomach. First the had weird designs. Here the socks with the vertical patterns and stripes look ridiculous. Then the white on the upper arms with the goofy large number in the center if the jersey just looked stupid. With the “Thrashers” script across the chest, these jerseys looked more like basketball jerseys then hockey jerseys. Then you have a barrage of different colors on the jersey with makes you wonder what are the team colors and finally the terrible woody woodpecker logo on the shoulders. Wow Thrashers, talk about setting low standards for expansion teams and their jerseys.
- 6 Boston Bruins
-
Wow, Boston wow. You have one of the best logos in sports and this is the best you can come up with? A honey yellow jersey with black fur trim? Then you have Bruins in script on the shoulders? You couldn’t put spoked B’s on the shoulders? To top it off the Build a Bear mascot on the chest of the jersey. Nothing strikes fear into opponents like a dead eyed teddy bear on a jersey. Note to the Original Six, you have great uniforms, don’t change anything!
- 5: Los Angeles Kings
Now its really getting bad. The only saving grace for this jersey is that Wayne Gretzky actually wore it. Still a Burger King mascot is brutal. If the Kings were smart they should have partnered with Burger King with this jersey. Then you have the logo in the upper right of the jersey, not centered, with a giant purple stripe crisscrossing the front of the jersey. Wait I thought the Kings were supposed to be black and silver? Purple too, ok I guess. I mean this just likes awful. The jersey itself looks like its been washed with the purple and grey socks, yikes. Overall when it looks like the graphic studio threw up all it’s ideas onto one jersey, this is what you pretty much get.
- 4: Tampa Bay Lightning
When you’re an expansion team, it’s tough. So I do tend to give expansion teams a pass on their first go of uniforms, I’m talking about you Columbus. However, the Tampa Bay Lightning jerseys are a natural disaster. Did a hurricane wash away the actual jerseys and they had to make these at the last-minute? It’s all the extra add ons that kill this jersey. Had it just been the logo with the plain silver and black sleeves the jerseys would be ok. But how do you have rain, lightning, and rough waves on this jersey? Come on this isn’t a painting of a lightning storm, it’s a hockey jersey! You know how they say “less is more”? Apparently the Lightning ignored this philosophy and decided let’s put everything on this jersey, except something good.
- 3: Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Wow, Disney really wanted to advertise their Mighty Ducks cartoon didn’t they? While the Mighty Ducks original jerseys are one of my favorites, I can’t believe someone thought this was a good idea. Come on this team’s already based off of a movie and was owned by a company known for cartoons, did we really need a jersey that should be on the clearance rack at a Disneyland Park? Apparently the answer was yes. True the overall designs on the jersey aren’t terrible, but the logo kills it. Seriously? Wild Wing jumping through the ice? Come on Disney. You already have many people questioning a team called the “Mighty Ducks”, did you really need another reason for hockey fans to laugh at you? Thank god this jersey didn’t last long. Looks like these Ducks of a jersey were roasted.
- 2: New York Islanders
In one of the biggest marketing disasters in sports history, the New York Islanders decided to change their historic and iconic logo. The new ownership, “The Gang of Four”, decided that the team needed a modern-day update. Not only did they seemingly piss off every Islanders fan in the process, but also plunge the franchise further into darkness. The Fisherman logo, which replace the iconic NY Island logo, was a disaster from the beginning. It looked terrible, angered the fan base, and created the “we want fish sticks” chants at Rangers’ games. Another jersey with a terrible logo, and a wave design on the bottom that just looks ridiculous. Plus the additions to grey and teal to the colors. Teal should never be used on an NHL jersey ever! The jerseys were so bad, the Islanders changed the logo one year later. These jerseys were horrible and almost were the worst of the worst except for….
- 1: Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks for a long period of time had the worst jerseys in hockey. While most teams changed their bad designs quickly, the Canucks stayed with these jerseys for years. While the skate logo wasn’t terrible, the colors of yellow, black, and orange made these look like the horrible offspring of a Halloween costume and a construction vest. The the massive V design from the neck to the middle of the sweater looked ridiculous, and they put the logo on the middle of arm. There’s no logo or script on this jersey just the V design. So Canucks fans riot over being in the Stanley Cup but not over this ridiculous uniforms that made their team a laughing-stock? Wow. Do you agree or disagree? Any jerseys that I missed or suggestions you have? Don’t forget to comment and follow below!
Lost: Why the Islanders moving to Brooklyn will be a disaster
In the fall of 2015 the New York Islanders will move from Nassau to Brooklyn in what will be a new chapter in New York sports. While the team finally gets the new arena the franchise has coveted for almost two decades, the Islanders may regret making the jump to Brooklyn. In the grand scheme of things it is easy to see why the Islanders are moving. The Nassau Coliseum is a dump that has been long considered the worst venue in the NHL and Long Island hasn’t exactly shown the initiative or resolve to get a new arena on the Island. Given the current circumstances it’s easy to see why the Islanders needed a new home. Problem is, they may have picked the wrong one.
-
Hockey at the Barclays Center. sounds like a good idea except for the arena logistics. For example, the layout can cause for some problems. This is because Barclay’s Center was built for basketball and concerts, not hockey. As seen here the scoreboard for the hockey games doesn’t hang outer center ice, but over a blue line. While the arena features a hockey layout, this was only supposed to be for special games, not an entire season. The whole purpose of the Barclay’s Center was to deter any hockey teams from coming in. I understand that they loved how new and modern the arena is, but when this nostalgia of a new arena wears off after a few years and then the Islanders will say “this was a mistake”. At Barclay’s, the rink is not centered creating unusual hockey sight lines and certain blind spots to the action. Sure the idea of the Islanders in a new arena is great, but once that fad wears off people will realize that the Islanders in the Barclay’s Arena was a mistake.
- West End:
A unique feature about the Islanders at the Barclay’s center is that there are no seats behind the net in the west end of the arena. You heard right with the configuration, there will be just a wall behind the west goal with seats above the glass. Some of the best seats in hockey are right behind the goaltender and the Islanders are ok with half these seats gone? One of the biggest
arguments about the Islanders getting a new arena was about the seating capacity. At 16,170, the Nassau Coliseum is the second smallest arena in tens of capacity in the league. At Barclays the capacity is 15,800 for hockey, and while they have said that more seats will be added for Islanders games, it still makes Barclays the smallest hockey arena in the NHL. On top of that, there are terrible sight lines from this configuration such as blind spots from the upper deck in the west end. I can se Islander fans really happy about commenting to Brooklyn and paying for ridiculous ticket prices for seats with blind spots.
- Bye Bye Tailgating
Sure the Barclays Center is beautiful, but it does have its own problems. Case in point parking. Why is this important? Without parking there is no tailgating, which is an Islanders’ fan staple. Sure tailgating probably originated because Islander fans wanted to spend as little time as possible inside the Nassau Coliseum, but it is who they are. Tailgating brings fans together in a community linked by sausages and burgers. Sure it’s more of a football thing, but tailgating and hockey are a terrific combination. However, Brooklyn will put an end to this with almost no parking and no large gathering place for tailgating. The closest Islander fans will get to tailgating stating in 2015 is cramming onto the train to Brooklyn with other Islanders fan.
- It’s not Long Island!
This is the most important aspect of why the Islanders moving to Brooklyn will be a disaster. They are Long Island’s team, not a New York City team. The reason this team was so beloved on Long Island is because it was Long Island’s own team that became one of the greatest dynasties in sports. Now those championships and history are being moved away from the fan base that loves this team so much. It be like the Packers moving to Milwaukee, it just doesn’t make sense. You take the Islanders of the Island, you lose the essence of what the team means to the people of Long Island. They’re not a New York team so why should they now play in the New York market in Brooklyn?
- Now your telling a fan base that’s been loyal through thick and thin, sorry if you still want to watch us play you have to commute to Brooklyn. Sure this isn’t the worst case scenario which would have been the team moving completely away from the New York area, but it has moved the Islanders away from the community that helped make them a proud NHL franchise. While Brooklyn may have all the bells and whistles, once the thrill of a new arena wears off coupled with terrible hockey sight lines, will make this move a disaster for the Islanders. Sure the team will be the same, but the soul of the Islanders will be lost once they move in 2015.























