NFL

Lawrence, Wilson, and Fields trending up while Jones remains stagnant

Published

3 years ago

October 6, 2021

darragh

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Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I hope you’re all ready because we FINALLY had a week where the rookie QB play in the NFL wasn’t a complete disaster. As a result, making the rookie rankings was fun for the first time! We’re just going to go ahead and leave the third-round rookie out of this one. I just need one week of not having to see my therapist because of rookie QB play — just one.

NFL QB Rookie Rankings Week 5 | 1-2

Remember, this is a cumulative award. Furthermore, this has very little to do with the statistical output of each quarterback. It’s much more to do with how they’ve looked on film, how comfortable I am with them playing for the rest of this season, and how I view them moving forward.

The truth can anger you, but if it sets just one of you free, your anger is worth it.

1) Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

This one feels pretty cut and dry from watching him play. However, nearly every advanced metric we look at tells us Trevor Lawrence has been bad. The disconnect lies with the offense and the continuous sideshow that head coach Urban Meyer is conducting.

Nevertheless, there is great solace in knowing that from a completion percentage over expectation (CPOE) standpoint, Lawrence is still above Zach Wilson and Justin Fields.

Lawrence is becoming more comfortable with the speed of the NFL game in general, but he’s really beginning to settle down a bit in the pocket.

The above throws are the ones that make Lawrence special. We’ll see a similar throw from another rookie QB later.

Standing in there knowing you’re about to take a shot from an unblocked defender isn’t easy. Still, Lawrence places this ball to the sideline where only his receiver can catch it, and Trey Hendrickson decides not to decapitate Lawrence.

He’s still trying to do too much too often, but he’s also started using his legs more to create, which is something young athletic quarterbacks must do to try and consistently pick up third downs as they progress mentally.

Things should only continue to look smoother for Lawrence as the year goes on.

2) Mac Jones, New England Patriots

Mac Jones is second in the NFL Rookie QB Rankings, but this is basically a default placement at this point. I just continue to wait for the floor to disappear underneath him. I understand that teams don’t want to be beat downfield. However, Jones is currently 4-for-18 with 2 interceptions on passes traveling over 20 air yards.

I said it after Week 2, and I’ll continue to echo this. His playstyle is not sustainable at the NFL level. It can’t be. There’s no way defenses will continue to allow these short throws between the numbers down in and down out.

But even though I think Jones’ long-term outlook is incredibly mediocre unless he can find some more velocity, he’s operating New England’s offense well enough to move the chains until the team gets to the red zone. The Patriots are slightly above average on third down and have also had success on fourth down. But their red-zone and goal-to-go finish rate are both well below average. That can’t continue if they want to get back on track.

To be regarded among the best in the league, a quarterback must be able to make plays on 3rd-and-long situations. On 3rd-and-10+, he’s 8-for-12, but the team has only picked up 1 first down on those 12 attempts.

In a playmaking league, Jones simply hasn’t shown the physical ability to do so yet. I hope he proves me wrong, but I’m not sure how he’ll go about accomplishing that.

NFL QB Rookie Rankings Week 5 | 3-4

Are Zach Wilson and Justin Fields headed in the right direction?

3) Zach Wilson, New York Jets

Wilson had himself the best performance of any rookie QB in Week 4, but his overall body of work, and even his performance on Sunday, still leaves a lot to be desired.

He’ll continue to reel us in with absolutely nutty throws, just as he did against the floundering Tennessee Titans.

These throws are silly. And Wilson was the No. 2 overall pick because he can do this at the drop of a hat. His flaws still read like a CVS receipt, but it also looks like offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur might be starting to understand how to help Wilson.

These are the kinds of looks that Wilson excelled at while playing at BYU. This is a heavy-personnel, condensed-split formation that really simplifies what the play is asking of Wilson.

In this tight, 12-personnel formation, there is only so much the defense will look to do in coverage. Most likely, with only one high safety, they’ll probably run a country Cover 3.

Here, Wilson sees the cornerback is bailing with over-the-top and outside leverage. Despite the outside leverage, Wilson knows he’ll never be able to flip his hips and drive on this football, even though it’s a far-hash deep out.

Then, on third down in overtime, he made this throw that helped the Jets secure their first win of the season. If he keeps this up, they’ll get a few more in 2021, and Wilson will continue to rise in the NFL Rookie QB Rankings.

4) Justin Fields, Chicago Bears

Man, what a difference a week and a different play-caller can make. Of course, in Matt Nagy’s press conference, his ego wouldn’t allow him to let the delegation receive the credit. He oozes insecurity. His quarterback did not, at least not in Week 4.

I, for one, am absolutely flabbergasted that the rookie QB that slung the ball downfield in college and did not survive off of RPOs and quick-game concepts had success slinging the ball downfield as a pro.

It still wasn’t always pretty. Fields is still genuinely uncomfortable with pressure, which happens a lot behind a Swiss cheese offensive line. But he looked far more comfortable in his second start.

Like Lawrence, Fields (and the offense) must use his athleticism more often. He’s not a running QB, but his legs add a layer to the offense. Additionally, he’s a better athlete than most professional defenders, as he showed spinning away from this sack.

He even went out and made his own ridiculous throw, just like we saw from Wilson and Lawrence. His wasn’t a bucket throw to the corner. Instead, Fields threw an absolute laser to the honey hole against Cover 2.

Nagy said Andy Dalton will be the starter when healthy. When that happens, I hope they deactivate his card to get into the building, just so he has to drive to work to know his services are no longer necessary.

Start Justin Fields. This team isn’t winning the division, and it would take a small miracle for them to make a Wild Card run. Let him grow on the field and start to build an offense around him.

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NFL

Taylor Swift Is Shown Chugging a Beer on the Jumbotron at Super Bowl 58

Published

2 months ago

February 12, 2024

darragh

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Global superstar Taylor Swift made it to the big game to support her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce. In the second quarter, it was evident that she was having a good time at the Super Bowl after taking a 12-hour flight from Tokyo the night prior.

Taylor Swift Seen Chugging Beer at Super Bowl

Swift’s attendance has been highly anticipated, as many fans questioned whether she would be able to make it to the big game since she had been in Japan until Saturday for her Eras Tour.

Sure enough, she made it to the Super Bowl and was seen making a grand entrance alongside Blake Lively and Ice Spice.

Swift made it back to the States with plenty of time to make it to Allegiant Stadium to support Kelce. After a leg of her Eras Tour, where she performed several nights in Japan, the singer appeared to let loose.

In a box full of friends, Swift was shown chugging a beer with Ashley Avignone. She was shown on the jumbotron and slammed her cup down after she finished her beer.

Legend 😂 pic.twitter.com/hk27JTAXZ9

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) February 12, 2024

There was a mix of cheers and boos as Swift was shown on the big screen, and a long pass to Mecole Hardman was the only highlight of the first half for Swift and her friends. The 49ers led the Chiefs, 10-0, late in the second quarter.

On social media, Swift garnered plenty of support from NFL fans.

“If you’re hating on her you can kick rocks man she’s the best,” one user posted on X.

“The one thing I learned this season is that she is actually fun,” another said.

“Booing Taylor Swift chugging a beer is so soft. She’s just one of us now and I respect it ,” another posted.

At the time of the beer chugging, Kelce, Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, has had one catch for a single yard. It came on the first possession, which ended up being a three-and-out. The Kansas City Chiefs hadn’t done much otherwise.

They did have a deep pass play to Hardman, which put them in the red zone, but Isiah Pacheco fumbled on the very next play — one that Kelce was surprisingly on the sideline for.

Swift and Kelce have garnered much media attention as their romance has taken off throughout this NFL season.

Swift was able to support her boyfriend at many of his games throughout the final stretch of the season, as her Eras Tour was on a break. But starting on Feb. 7, she went back on the road.

MORE: NFL World Reacts to Unbelievable Super Bowl Trick Play

Despite performing in Tokyo the night before the Super Bowl, she was able to make it in time to support her boyfriend due to the time difference and is having a good time doing so.

As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!

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What Happened to the 49ers Linebacker?

Published

2 months ago

February 12, 2024

darragh

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The San Francisco 49ers sustained a massive blow during the second quarter of Super Bowl 58, as linebacker Dre Greenlaw left the game on a medical cart.

CBS Sports confirmed that the veteran Greenlaw suffered an Achilles tear, ruling him out for the rest of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

What Happened to Dre Greenlaw?

The outside linebacker, who had already been battling past injuries to his hamstrings and calves, left with what appeared to be a leg injury.

And somehow, his left leg looked like it buckled as he tried to trot onto the field with the Niners’ defense.

#49ers LB Dre Greenlaw appeared to suffer an injury while running on the field.

pic.twitter.com/zx0l1NjTew

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) February 12, 2024

Greenlaw clutched his left leg in agony before being helped off the field.

CBS Sports sideline reporter Evan Washburn reported that the outside linebacker left with what was ruled as a lower leg injury. He was later determined to sustain an Achilles injury.

Greenlaw was declared out for the rest of the game.

#49ers LB Dre Greenlaw (Achilles) is now officially out for the game.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 12, 2024

Greenlaw Carted Off in Passenger Seat

Even more noticeable was where Greenlaw sat on the cart.

He ended up leaving not in the back of the medical vehicle but ended up riding shotgun with his leg injury.

He can’t sit in the back? pic.twitter.com/9jpz0rdoF1

— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) February 12, 2024

One would think that with an injury like an Achilles ailment, medical officials would try to make the player as comfortable as possible before they leave. It wasn’t the case here.

MORE: San Francisco 49ers Depth Chart

Regardless, Greenlaw was replaced by Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles for the rest of the first half. Greenlaw became the most significant injury of the game.

As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!

Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast

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NFL World Reacts to Epic Super Bowl Intro From CBS

Published

2 months ago

February 12, 2024

darragh

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Super Bowl 58 is here and it’s going to be exciting. The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs are facing off in the final game of 2023.

CBS is broadcasting the game and the opening was nothing short of amazing. How is the NFL world reacting to the electric Super Bowl-opening video?

Epic CBS Super Bowl Intro Garners Reaction From NFL World

The video, which spanned four minutes and 19 seconds, featured players from both teams talking about the big game and what it means to them. It also featured their families talking about their journeys to this point.

“Amazing intro! Reminds me of my dad! Bravo on the intro!,” one NFL fan said on X (formerly known as Twitter)

And now, the end is near.

And so, the @49ers and @Chiefs face that final curtain. pic.twitter.com/YgIEGOAMb1

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 11, 2024

Additionally, Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” played in the background, giving it a near-movie feel. “This was incredible.,” another person said on X. “And so, the @49ers and @Chiefs face that final curtain,” CBS Sports said.

The 49ers finished the regular season as the top seed in the NFC with a 12-5 record. After their first-round bye, they defeated both the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions to earn their trip to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl. Both of their victories came in comeback fashion, including an NFC Championship-record 17-point comeback.

The Chiefs, on the other hand, had a more uphill battle. Entering the playoffs as the AFC’s third seed, they finished the regular season with an 11-6 record. In the playoffs, they defeated the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and Baltimore Ravens to punch their ticket.

Super Bowl 58 is a re-match of Super Bowl 54 when the Chiefs defeated the 49ers 31-24. The win was the first in Patrick Mahomes career, as he also won Super Bowl MVP. Four years later, the Chiefs have made three more and won another. For the 49ers, this is their first trip back to the big game since.

The game kicked off at 6:30 p.m. ET with the 49ers receiving the opening kick. In addition to being broadcast on CBS, the game is also being streamed on Paramount+.