Author: Jimmy Simonis

NFL

NFL Wild Card: Takeaways from a crazy weekend. (AFC Edition.)

Posted on by Jimmy Simonis

4 games were played this past weekend, and all were won within one possession. The start of the NFL Postseason was crazy, and each game showed why these teams ended up playing in Week 18. Let’s go over all the games discussing the key moments, injuries, and more.

Game 1: Houston-22 Buffalo-19

Credit: ATS.io

Summary: Tale of two halves. That was what this game was, as Buffalo out of the gate could not be stopped. Bills play-calling on the first drive was some of the best all year. Houston’s defense had no answer even with All-Pro Defensive End J.J. Watt making his return. The dynamic playmaking ability of Josh Allen and Devin Singletary helped this offense jump to a 16-0 lead at halftime.

To be blunt, the Texans sucked on offense in the first half. Granted, the Bills have a Top-3 defense in the league, but each play it seemed the Bills were getting pressure, and they were only bringing their front four. Houston struggled so bad that DeAndre Hopkins had 3 targets and ZERO receptions in the first half.

Tre’Davious White seemed to have brought his A-game, that is, until the second half started.

Houston on defense came up big and they pressured Josh Allen to make some poor throws and bad decisions. Numerous times the Texans could have gotten an interception due to poor reads, but still no damage done. As the Bills offense sputtered, Houston got it together and rallied off 19 unanswered points. Remember DeAndre Hopkins not having a reception in the first half? He finished with six receptions and ninety yards.

Fortunately for the Bills, they did just enough to send the game into OT, but the offense continued their woes, and that ultimately allowed the Texans (DeShaun Watson) to drive down and score the game-winning FG.

Texans play the Chiefs this week, and this match-up is much more favorable compared to the Ravens (lost to them 41-7 in the Regular Season). My main concern is the fact that Watson was sacked seven times, and the reality is the Chiefs offense is going to score. Houston has to play a perfect game in order to win because the Chiefs are much stronger offensively than the Bills. If Houston can pressure Mahomes, they do have a chance.

Game 2: Titans-20 Patriots-13 (is this real?)

Photo Credit: Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images

The New England dynasty may be over, but that is not what I am here to talk about!

I never thought this was possible, but coaching legend Bill Belichick got out-coached. Mike Vrabel and the Titans coaching staff schemed to do one thing, and one thing only.

Run. The. Football.

In the damp weather of Foxborough, throwing the ball is simply not an option, so give it to Derrick Henry the entire game. 32 carries for 187 yards and 1 touchdown. Unbelievable.

As I watched this game unravel, one thing became clear, and that was the Patriots had no answer for Henry. Every play he was getting 4-7 yards a carry while taking the entire defense with him. Much credit to the offensive line too, the Pats were blitzing Pro Bowler Dont’a Hightower almost every play and still kept the ball moving.

This game was as old school as you could get, and that is why the Titans won. Run the ball, chew clock, and trust the defense. This philosophy time and time again proves to be a formula to maintain success in the NFL.

Titans are now set to play the hottest team in the NFL which is the Baltimore Ravens, but to say this game is one-sided is not true. Ryan Tannehill (not a franchise QB by any means) is more than capable to get the job done. Derrick Henry defines whether the Titans stay in this game or get blown out. Baltimore is going to score, and that will be the given, and both teams are run-heavy. If Tennessee can force Lamar Jackson to make a few bad reads, this game could go to the wire.

I expect it will be a game much similar to Tennessee versus New England.

Stay tuned for the NFC Edition that will be released here in the next couple days.

Let me know your thoughts on the games! As well as your postseason predictions.

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NFL

Expectations versus Reality: Cleveland Browns edition

Posted on by Jimmy Simonis

Expectations: All this talent, no way anyone can stop them! Freddie Kitchens will take this team all the way. The Ravens cannot compete, and the Steelers lost a lot of talent to be more than average.

Preseason rolls around: Baker looks great, no one will stop these guys.

Regular Season: Welcome to reality, and Week 1 was the indicator that set the tone for the Browns. Getting their breaks blown off by a tough Titans team by 30 points. This team was unraveling because they got their doors knocked down at home and thought talent would prevail. Coaching and preparation determine the success of a football team and these past 15 games showed that. No discipline (2nd most flags in the NFL) and minimal adjustments. A team that was caked with talent and a promising coaching staff leads to a painful year that may potentially unfold.

Being from Cleveland, and I said it going into the season, I did not think this team was ready to be a double-digit win team. Week after week, watching players yelling at the coaches, and having to eat their crow in front of podiums is just the same trend that has been for the last 20 years. Could it change, could this all be for the better? Maybe, but the damage is done. A coaching staff (mainly defense) that continued to roll out the same defense and get torched against the run (have given up a total of 1,893 rushing yards).

Although the defense has struggled, it is the offense (passing game primarily) that has really flopped, especially with a coach who was lauded for his play-calling for 8 games the year prior. Here are the rankings: 19th ranked passing offense with the 10th ranked rushing offense. Not bad, but when your defense cannot stop the run, questionable play-calling, and lack of discipline, you are bound to collapse.

What the team is missing is rather obvious, and that is passion.

The coaches show no passion on the sideline and the players are not responding to them. A coach that does not have the support of the players is as good as a team with no coach, for example, look at how the team played with Gregg Williams as the interim. The team was fun to watch and the identity of the team was physical and smash-mouth with some flare.

This off-season is up to John Dorsey to resign numerous players and how he wants to approach the coaching staff. This window is going to be gone once you start paying your star players and cannot bring in depth. Look at the Rams.

Talent is not the problem, coaching/mentality is the problem.

Sources: NFL and Pro-Football Reference

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MLB

MLB: Free Agency-mania.

Posted on by Jimmy Simonis

We are about two months removed from the Nationals winning the World Series, and this off-season has not disappointed (like last year). Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rendon, and Stephen Strasburg capitalized on the market and cashed in big time. Let’s evaluate these three deals.

Photo credit: Mike Ehrmann

Stephen Strasburg: Cole and Rendon were expected to land massive contracts, but Strasburg opted out of his prior contract with the Nationals because his value could not get any higher. He came through big time in the playoffs with a sub-3 ERA and winning World Season MVP. This resulted in him landing a 7 year/$245 million deal to stay in D.C., and keeps the core of Scherzer, Corbin, and Strasburg intact. My only question is how long Strasburg will play at a high level, and he will 38 when the contract ends. Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera are two examples of players making a lot of money with lackluster production.

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Anthony Rendon: The goal for the Nationals was to retain at least one of the two. Both wanted contracts that may cost just too much to retain both, and that seemed to have been the case as Anthony Rendon. He is moving West to become an Angel, and is a huge addition to a team that lacks consistent production behind Trout. What got him his deal was the fact that he is one of the best and most consistent hitters and defenders in the league. A fun trio to watch this year will be Rendon, Trout, and Ohtani. Fun fact, his contract is the same as Strasburg’s (7 yr/$245 Million).

Gerrit Cole: The highly touted pitcher was expected to have a monumental deal, and who else than the New York Yankees to break the bank? He received a 9 year/$324 Million to join the dark side, and he walks in being the ace for the Yankees. The biggest problem with the Yankees is that they did not have a good starting rotation and had to do something. Bringing in Cole now creates a strong 4 with Tanaka, Severino, and Saxton. By no means elite, but not having to consistently rely on J.A. Happ and Jordan Montgomery is a bonus. Especially for the bullpen. My only concern is that Cole is pitching in a smaller ball park, and his velocity is high; therefore, he has to find a way to avoid hard contact or he may give up more runs than the team will hope for.

Comment below which team will benefit most from their signing!

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Rugby

Rugby: How can the sport grow?

Posted on by Jimmy Simonis

When the 80th minute hit when South Africa versus England struck in Japan, everyone was shocked to see the final score was 32-12 Springboks. Not because they are not good, but they dominated the third ranked team in the world! Watching the game, England would move the ball, but they could not just get the try when needed. All in all, it was a great World Cup tournament; although, some matches cancelled due to the typhoon.

Photo Credit: AP Press (Christophe Ena)

Now, the question is, how does Rugby continue to grow and build momentum following this World Cup?

Simple, it has to be easily accessible for everyone. In America, NBC Sports was the only “mainstream” sports platform I could find to watch Rugby. Here is the catch, unless you have NBC Sports on cable, it costed roughly $200 to watch the tournament. Unfortunately, not many people care enough about Rugby to pay a good amount of money to watch it, so there has to be a way for Americans to be exposed to it… right?

The best option I have found so far (for price) would be ESPN+ because it is $5 dollars a month for all the sports ESPN cover. Its main knock is that it does not live stream games often, so that is a turn off for many. Personally, if I pay for a sports app, I would like to watch games live. I can watch many NFL games live for free with the Yahoo Sports app and it is great. I would love to watch on the TV, but it is better than nothing and the quality is worth it.

To capitalize off the downturn of American Football due to decreasing numbers in youth leagues and health concerns. Rugby has to heavily target the youth. That will be their only way of allowing the sport to hit the mainstream and become the most popular contact sport. Is that a long shot considering the NFL is a juggernaut currently? Totally, but lets not ignore that the league product is not what it used to be. In the 2000’s, there were stars everywhere throughout the league, and now defense is limited with contact limitations.

I would like to see how many wide receivers could take a hit like that coming across the middle…

Rugby has been a sport for a longer time than American football, but it is in its adolescence in the worldwide scheme of things. It will take time and a targeted approach to the youth to get them to play rugby. Then, the quality will get better as these athletes will be playing throughout their childhood learning the fundamentals which will in-turn strengthen the national team and the professional leagues.

I discuss the growth of Rugby on the podcast as well with two fellows from Wales! It was great to hear how the country rallies around the sport!

Let me know your thoughts! Do you like Rugby? What does America need to do to allow Rugby to grow?

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MLB

MLB: The Washington Nationals. I was wrong.

Posted on by Jimmy Simonis

Just when I turn my back to a team that I thought was not ready to win, then go on a run and are now up 1-0 in the World Series…

Quit pretending, Nationals are not ready for October.

There is one thing the Nationals have been good at, and that is winning baseball games. Now, if we said this entering the postseason, there might be some laughs and insults because no one saw the Dodgers getting beaten. Then…the Nationals run the table, and despite taking two bad losses against LA (10-4 and 6-0), they overcame what seemed a huge problem all year in their bullpen by using Strasburg, Scherzer, and Corbin in tough situations.

Just when the Nationals beat the Dodgers, the Cardinals came surging in as they obliterated the Braves in Game 7 of the NLDS. An unlikely matchup in the NLCS with the Cards and Nats was intriguing, and it felt apropos to every other Cardinals postseason where they run the table, yet that was not the case. In 4 games, the Cards scored 6 runs… that got them zero wins. Season over. On to the World Series…

Oh, you get to face the best team in the league, the Houston Astros. Good luck.

Nationals: the who?

Photo Credit: USA Today

First game of the World Series was predominantly Juan Soto (I mean Nationals) as they beat the Astros 5-4. In a match-up of two of the best pitchers, Scherzer versus Cole, it was expected to be a low-scoring game, but Juan Soto had some other ideas. Him and Ryan Zimmerman countered a 2-run Astros first inning with solo shots, then Soto went on and hit a 2-run double along with an Adam Eaton single to go up 5-2. George Springer tries to rally the team with a two-run double but it is not enough.

I have stated I am a Nationals fan, and I am so excited to see Max Scherzer get his chance at the World Series (I know he was on the 2012 Tigers team). Not to mention his teammate from the 2012 team Anibal Sanchez is still throwing at a good pace. He has really helped the starting rotation by giving Mad Max, Corbin, and Strasburg an extra day to rest.

If baseball could be summarized into one season, look no further than the 2019 Washington Nationals. They lose their top star, start out 19-31 and on the verge of firing their manager Dave Martinez, to completely wiping the floor (with some fortunate bounces *cough* Trent Grisham *cough* ) and making it to the World Series.

Photo Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports – 13521510

Baseball is not the most fun to watch, but it has to be the most bizarre sport. Let me know if you can make an argument!

Sources: Pro Baseball Reference

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NFL

NFL: Can the Rams make it to the playoffs?

Posted on by Jimmy Simonis

First off, apologies on the hiatus, been busy continuing to build the podcast, but here we are with sports news!

Now, back to the fun part. The L.A. Rams decided this week that it is time to move on from Marcus Peters, and sent him to Baltimore for linebacker Chase Young and draft pick. Baltimore Ravens acquired a good corner in Peters, who has struggled since his arrival in L.A. due to playing in a predominant zone coverage scheme. He is going into a Ravens defense that is aggressive, which is where he thrived when playing for the Chiefs, he is a good man-on-man corner that makes plays.

Photo Credit: The Canadian Press

Fun fact, his coordinator in Kansas City (Bob Sutton) and Baltimore (Don Martindale) both coached under Rex Ryan so expect him to gel into his new system.

The most interesting part to this story is that the Rams traded him, and with Aqib Talib injured, the secondary was looking weak. Until a few hours later…

Insert one of the best corners in the game, Jalen Ramsey.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

The Rams traded two first round picks and a fourth round draft pick for Ramsey. General Manager Les Snead made it clear that they are here to win now, and will sacrifice future pieces to make a run. No one can deny the talent of Jalen Ramsey, but will he succeed in a predominant zone coverage defense? That remains to be seen.

The acquisition of Ramsey bolsters the secondary a lot, but the Rams offense is the bigger question mark. Last week against the 49ers, Jared Goff only passed for 78 yards and concerns are being raised if he can lead this team to the Super Bowl. Here is what I say, talent-wise, he can sling it with the best. What I doubt is that whether he can read a defense on his own.

The Super Bowl was the beginning of what is now a new story of this team, can they bring it all together? So far, the running game has hurt, which has stalled this offense. This year it is ranked 22nd in rushing yards and attempts, but last year with a healthy Todd Gurley it was top-10 in both categories.

Photo Credit: Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Sean McVay needs to get the wheels rolling again because this team is way too talented to flop. The defense must step up and utilize the strengths of the players. Ramsey is an elite man on man corner, but this defense is heavily predicated on zone, so his impact may be negated. The front seven has to stop the run, and get some pass rush to alleviate pressure of the injured secondary.

NFL: Can the Rams make it to the playoffs?

Don’t forget to listen to the podcast! If want to share your sports journey, send me an email at sportsave440@gmail.com.

Sources: Pro-Football Reference, Sports Illustrated, and the NFL

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Uncategorized

NFL Week 2 Review

Posted on by Jimmy Simonis

This past week was interesting, and it was rather obvious that multiple teams are still not firing on all cylinders. Just like last week, I am going to talk about some key games that were not discussed in the podcast, so lets get right into it!

Quick note: The Dolphins are bad, like really bad.

First game: Packers vs. Vikings

Both teams went into this game 1-0, and these two were fighting to take the lead of the NFC North. The end result was 21-16 Packers, and they never were down in the entire game. The score was 21-0 in the second quarter, but the Vikings did fight back to make it 21-10 going into the half. Then scored a touchdown in the third, but never amounted anything in the fourth quarter.

This game was a tale of two teams who ran the ball effectively as Dalvin Cook and Aaron Jones both had over 100 yards rushing. Cousins had a rough game with going 14-32, 1 touchdown, two interceptions, and a fumble lost, and just furthers the notion that the Packers defense is LEGIT. Only 19 points in allowed in two games, and play Denver this week. Do not be surprised if they allow 14 points or less. Rodgers had a good game, he went 22/34 with two touchdowns, he threw for 209 yards and lost a fumble. Going against two tough defenses to start showed the Packers are not in complete rhythm, but they are doing enough and have a defense that supports them.

Kirk Cousins has to get hot, and then I will say Minnesota can be a Super Bowl team. Dalvin Cook is legit, and that defense has been good for a few years now. It comes down to him producing when it matters, and not turning the ball over. Both teams are really good, but the division is strong this year, so it will be a fight to the finish.

Second game: 49ers versus Bengals (41-17)

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Well, Bengals played as expected, and their defense got butchered on both fronts. 49ers had 571 total yards, and 259 yards were from running the ball. That is a recipe for success, especially against their division rivals. Bengals offense did well passing the ball with 291 yards, but they did not do anything running the ball. They ran for a whole 25 yards. This game was simply about the 49ers offense and their front seven stopping the run game.

It was a tale of two weeks for the Bengals who fought tooth and nail against the Seahawks in Seattle. It is tough to gauge how they can perform, so I expect within the next few weeks we will see their true colors.

Third game: Cardinals versus Ravens (24-17)

Photo Credit: AP

Although the Cardinals tied two weeks ago and lost last week. I will admit, they have impressed me, because they have competed in both games. Kyler Murray has shown he can throw the football, and it was against an always stingy Ravens defense. He went for 25/40 with 349 passing yards, but no touchdowns or interceptions. The Cardinals struggled to contain Lamar Jackson, who had 272 yards passing and 120 rushing.

The Ravens offense has excelled so far, and they are proving their system can work. The production of tight end Mark Andrews and wide receiver Marquise Brown has helped elevate the offensive production and gives opportunities for Lamar to run the ball. Andrews had over 100 yards receiving and Brown had 86 yards with both catching 8 passes, and I will be intrigued on how they keep consistency moving forward. The defense I have concerns with as they gave up 349 yards passing while stopping the run completely. If they cannot stop the pass, it will be a problem when facing pass-prolific teams like the Browns, Rams, and Patriots who value the pass, and they all can run the ball better than the Cardinals too.

I am not sold on the Ravens though, they have played the Dolphins and Cardinals, and this Sunday is the true test going against the Chiefs. It is going to be a shoot-out and will come down to which QB steps up; Mahomes or Jackson.

Comment your biggest takeaways from week 2 and how your team did!

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Rugby

2019 Rugby World Cup preview

Posted on by Jimmy Simonis

Japan is hosting the 9th edition of the Rugby World Cup which starts this Friday, September 21st, and it will be a great event. There are twenty teams in the tournament; although New Zealand has won the two prior World Cup’s and the favorites for this year, it will not be an easy task. Let’s take a look at three teams that are underdogs to win it all.

Japan: Walking in as the home team for the biggest event in Rugby is an advantage that cannot be downplayed. Not to mention this will be the first World Cup to be hosted in Asia, so expect a huge crowd for this team from the moment they touch the pitch on Friday against Russia. The Cherry Blossoms have had a solid 2019 up to this point. They went undefeated and won the Pacific Nations Cup, and 34 or more points in those games, but their downfall was losing to South Africa 41-7. Yikes. They are underdogs going into this, but offense must generate enough points to avoid a defensive collapse. Update: Beat Russia 30-10, great play by the backs.

Wales: Coming in as the highest ranked team in their pool (5th). Wales has had a really good 2019 with winning the Six Nations Championship tournament; however, it has come with some bumps in the road as they are walking into the World Cup losing three out of their last four games, one against England (3rd) and twice against Ireland (1st). Being in a weaker pool does give this team an advantage if they find their hot streak and take it past pool play. Only concern is if they are good enough to beat the top dogs of the tournament. Update: Won 43-14 against Georgia.

Argentina: This is the team that is against all odds, they lost all four games they played in 2019 against Australia (6th), South Africa (twice) (4th), and New Zealand (2nd). That is being put through the ringer, but three of the losses came within a possession (try and kick), so they very well can compete and go far. The Pumas last played on August 17th, so they have had a good month of rest and preparation. Their bracket is tough with England leading the pack, along with France, Tonga, and the United States. As I stated, odds are against them, but I would not rule them out. Update: Lost a tough game to France, 23-21.

I played my first year of Rugby last spring, and I genuinely enjoy this sport. The popularity in the United States is continuing to grow, and after playing football for 9 years of my life. It is a great alternative and recommend anyone to try the sport. Following that, the World Cup this year is going to be the best one yet, with great competition across the board. It will be nothing less than great and a key stepping stone for the rising popularity of Rugby!

To stay updated with the World Cup, I will put the Twitter and website down below! (Not sponsored by the way)

https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/

See you on the pitch this Friday!

Sources used: ESPN Scrum, and Rugby World Cup

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NFL

NFL Week 1 Review:

Posted on by Jimmy Simonis

The first week of the NFL season is officially over, and half of the teams performed really well, but the other half lost, and it was not pretty. I am going to go over games that I did not cover in the podcast, so let us get started!

Listen to the podcast below:

A whole week has been removed since the Bears and Packers kicked off the one hundredth NFL season, and it was underwhelming for both sides. Green Bay won 10-3, and it came due to a disappointing start for Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky, who was a favorite to win NFL MVP this year. Green Bay’s defense was staunch against the run, as no running back ran for more than 19 yards, which in toll forced the Bears to throw it and did not go well. Only 228 yards passing off 26 completions. Only takeaway from this game is that the Packers defense is going to be a top-10 defense. It is that good.

Photo Credit to Associated Press

The 49ers and Buccaneers squared off Sunday and game went as expected. Winston got picked three times, and one going for a touchdown (Sherman), and Bucs defense played well overall. They only gave up 256 yards, and allowed a little more than 3 yards a carry. The 49ers took advantage of turnovers to convert points, but the offense was to be desired with Jimmy G completing 18 passes, 8 of which went to George Kittle, and a running game that was inefficient. 49ers can compete, but the offense has to be more efficient when going against tougher competition.

Last game was arguably the best game of the week, the Rams faced the Panthers in Cam Newton’s first game back from shoulder surgery, and they wanted to lighten to the load by giving Christian McCaffery the ball. To be blunt, McCaffery IS the offense, he had 30 total touches for 209 yards. Panthers total offense was 343 yards, that is great if you are in fantasy, but he will get hurt if he continues to be worked like this. The biggest surprise from this game to me was that Aaron Donald had ONE tackle. Not one sack and only a Qb hit, so kudos to Ron Rivera scheming a plan to keep Donald out of the game.

Week 1 was interesting, but Week 2 will be no different! Let’s have and enjoy a great NFL season sports fans!!!

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NFL

Ezekiel Elliot cashes in on his new contract, but is he worth it?

Posted on by Jimmy Simonis

Zeke just achieved what he set out to do this off-season, and that was to become the highest paid running back in the NFL. He inked a deal that was for 5 years and $90 million, and $50 million is guaranteed. The Cowboys got a gem in Elliot when they drafted him in 2016, and he has not let them down as he has been the catalyst for the Cowboys.

 Last year Zeke totaled over two-thousand yards from the line-of-scrimmage, and could very well do it again this year. The team is designed to run the ball then let Dak throw off play action pass, which is why Elliot has over one-thousand touches in 3 years.

Credit to AP Images.

Not only running the ball, he is improving as a pass catcher, last year he caught 77 passes for 567 yards. With the addition of Amari Cooper, Dak Prescott has those two and budding receiver Michael Gallup to throw to. He is a complete back as he can pass-block and is considered one of the best at it.

Todd Gurley didn't miss a single block in pass protection last season
One of the best overall backs!

Paying Zeke was the best thing the Cowboys could do, and have the backbone of this team for the next 8 years. If he stays healthy, he can and will go down as one of the best running backs to step foot on the football field EVER.

Ezekiel Elliot cashes in on his new contract, but is he worth it?

Sources: Pro Football Reference, NFL

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