SANTA CLARA Womens Brock Coyle Jersey , Calif. (AP) — Opportunity is slipping through San Francisco’s young defensive backs’ hands.Through 12 games, the 49ers have just two interceptions — the fewest in the NFL — and it isn’t always for lack of being in position to make big plays. Their pass defenders simply can’t secure the football when it does come their way.“Every game it seems like the ball’s on the ground or we’re missing an opportunity,” 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said. “They are going to come in bunches, but it’s baffling to me that we haven’t been able to get (more interceptions).”Losing the turnover battle goes a long way toward explaining the 49ers’ 2-10 record as they prepare to host the Denver Broncos on Sunday.San Francisco’s minus-20 turnover margin is the worst in the league. The 49ers have turned the ball over 25 times but generated just five takeaways themselves.Part of that, at least in terms of pass defense, can fairly be attributed to the youth and inexperience in the secondary.Former All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman lends veteran wisdom in his first year with the team. But second-year cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon has been picked on by opposing quarterbacks on numerous occasions this season.Witherspoon also failed to haul in a potential interception on a slant pass that he defended well last week against Seattle.Due to injuries, the 49ers are expected to start a pair of rookies at the safety positions Sunday in D.J. Reed and Marcell Harris, who have a combined 15 games and two starts of NFL experience between them.Reed, at free safety, is replacing the injured Adrian Colbert, who is only in his second season himself.Sherman said young defensive backs often get themselves in position to make plays but lose concentration on the most important part – wrapping up the football for an interception.“The old saying was the reason they play ‘DB’ is because they can’t catch Womens Nick Bosa Jersey , but I don’t think that’s as true anymore,” Sherman said. “Some of it is just guys panicking. Guys getting big eyes and seeing the end zone and seeing space in front of them and not going through the last second of looking the ball in.”But Sherman, a four-time Pro Bowl player in his eighth season, hasn’t helped in this department either. He entered the season with 32 career interceptions, most among all active players since 2011, but has yet to record one in 2018.In Sherman’s defense, he isn’t getting that many opportunities since opponents are choosing to target Witherspoon in coverage more.Never has Sherman recorded fewer than two interceptions in a season.Is he aware of that stat?“Yeah, (but) the ball will get where it gets,” he replied.Denver quarterback Case Keenum threw 10 interceptions through the Broncos’ first eight games, but he hasn’t been picked off a single time over the past four.NOTES: Receiver Marquise Goodwin practiced for the second day in a row and looks poised to return to the lineup after missing the past two games while being away from the team for personal reasons. With fellow starting receiver Pierre Garcon (knee) not having practiced Thursday, there seems a decent chance that rookie Dante Pettis draws the start opposite Goodwin against Denver. Pettis is coming off a breakout game against Seattle (5 catches Joshua Garnett Jersey , 129 yards, 2 TD’s). … Safety Antone Exum (knee), cornerback K’Waun Williams (knee) and linebacker Malcolm Smith (Achilles) were limited in Thursday’s workout. The San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders announced their Week 9 inactives, and the team will have some notable veterans available. Cornerback Richard Sherman and wide receiver Pierre Gar莽on will both be active for Thursday Night Football.Second year wide receiver Trent Taylor will be inactive. He has dealt with a back injury this year, but was not on the injury report this week. That would suggest he is a healthy scratch. He has struggled to get going this season, so it will be interesting to see what Kyle Shanahan has to say following the game.The 49ers will have their full offensive line in place, with Weston Richburg playing after being listed as questionable. This is a big boost after Erik Magnuson struggled with some of his snaps.49ers inactives: S Jaquiski Tartt, S Antone Exum, LB Reuben Foster, OL Erik Magnuson, DT Jullian Taylor Womens Dante Pettis Jersey , OT Shon Coleman, WR Trent TaylorRaiders inactives: WR Marcell Ateman, LB Shilique Calhoun, OT T.J. Clemmings, LB James Cowser, OL Denver Kirkland, CB Rashaan Melvin, OT Justin Murray

The 3-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be hosting the 2-8 San Francisco 49ers. The season for both teams is all but over and this game is a battle of bottom five teams in the NFL. Both teams Ryan Jensen Jersey White , have had disappointing seasons up to this point, but are starring a top five draft pick right in the face. In no way am I a professional gambler and in no way am I telling you to put your money with what I predict. This is really just for fun and something we here at Bucs Nation thought the readers would enjoy after sports gambling was legalized. This is by far my favorite article to write throughout the week.For those that don’t know sports gambling, I will quickly go over the three main bets that are often placed. Also, the lines could always change and the website you use, could be different from mine. Betting with the spread: Currently, the Buccaneers are -3 . This means that if you were to take the Buccaneers with the spread, they have to win by four points in order for you to win the bet. If you take the 49ersat +3, they can lose by 2 points and you’d win your bet. There is also the possibility of a push this weekend. If Tampa Bay wins by three points, everyone who bet with the spread gets their money back. Spread bets always have the same odds, which are -110. This means that you need to risk $110 to win $100.Money line bets: As of late Saturday night, the Buccaneers are -133. That means a $133 dollar bet would win you $100 dollars if the Buccaneers win outright. The 49ers, are +113.$100 dollar bet would win you $113 dollars. Over/Under bets: Again, no matter what way you pick, the odds in this case are -110. Vegas sports books currently have the over under at 54 total points scored. If you take the over, the Bucs and 49ers must combined to score 55 points in order for you to win. Obviously http://www.buccaneerslockerroom.com/authentic-demar-dotson-jersey , 53 points or under would result in a win if you go that route. Also, 53 points scored would result in a push Another week, another .500 record. I am currently 10-10 on the season, but am determined to finish the year undefeated.My picks: 49ers +3 , Over 54. When a new coach comes in, it's always interesting to see who lines up with the first-team units.One of the surprises for the New York Giants was seeing Josh Mauro at defensive end during the first practice at organized team activities this week.Mauro knows the 3-4 system that is being installed by new defensive coordinator James Bettcher. The drawback is that the five-year veteran is not going to be on the field when new coach Pat Shurmur and the Giants open the season at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He will be starting a four-game suspension for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.The NFL handed down the suspension days after the 27-year-old Mauro signed a one-year contract with the Giants. The team knew it was coming before signing him."They have confidence in me," Mauro said. "They are giving me an opportunity here. I just want to give them everything I have to return that favor. It means a lot to me and I want to give them everything I have."Mauro has accepted responsibility for using the drug. He purchased an over-the-counter supplement and didn't know it contained a banned substance. A trace amount of it was found in a test. It was not present in a test a week later.Mauro, who released a statement after the suspension explaining what happened, wants everyone to know that he is not a cheater."Once you step away from this game all you have is your name," Mauro said. "You can have your accomplishments, your stats, whatever else, individual or team successes you've had, but it's just important for me to let everyone know the circumstances beyond that."Mauro could be a key player for Bettcher, who coached him for three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. Along with linebacker Kareem Martin http://www.buccaneerslockerroom.com/authentic-warren-sapp-jersey , he can explain the new system to his teammates.He also doesn't see a team that was 3-13 last season."There are a lot of positives up here," the former Stanford product said. "This is probably the toughest division (NFC East) in the NFL, so there are a lot of opportunities to play great teams. And just this city, it's the ultimate football city."Mauro may train with the Giants and participate in training camp. Once his suspension starts, he cannot be with the team unless he is getting treatment for an injury.Mauro, who started 26 games for the Cardinals with 75 tackles and two sacks, plans to meet with the staff before the suspension starts to get a workout routine.While they traded Jason Pierre-Paul in the offseason, the Giants have depth at the end spot with Olivier Vernon, Kerry Wynn, Romeo Okwara and Avery Moss. They are heavy at the tackle spots with Damon Harrison, Dalvin Thompson, Robert Thomas and rookie draft picks RJ McIntosh and B.J. Hill.NOTES: The Giants signed veteran receiver Russell Shepard, who has played five seasons in the NFL. He was released by the Carolina Panthers last week. To make room on the 90-man roster, first year cornerback Tim Scott was released. He played in one game last season.

The Carolina Panthers traded up at what many say was a high cost to select the talented left tackle prospect out of Ole Miss. Did the team make the right decision?"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Keep Sounding PodcastPanthers 2019 NFL DraftCSR Film RoomPanthers 2019 NFL DraftGreg Little has the tools to be a solid left tackle for the Carolina PanthersNew Color Rush Christian McCaffrey Jersey ,104commentsThe Carolina Panthers traded up at what many say was a high cost to select the talented left tackle prospect out of Ole Miss. Did the team make the right decision?EDTShareTweetShareShareGreg Little has the tools to be a solid left tackle for the Carolina PanthersNelson Chenault-USA TODAY SportsLeft tackle is a position that has plagued the Carolina Panthers ever since the retirement of Jordan Gross back in 2014. Fans have been banging the table for drafted talent to be brought in ever since, and the belief was that we would have to use a high first round draft pick to reasonably acquire one. In a spurt of unusual luck, the first round fell very favorably for the Carolina Panthers, allowing them to address their other pressing need in the pass rush by taking Brian Burns at No. 16 overall while at the same time leaving quite a few legitimate left tackles available at the end of the first round.After Florida right tackle Jawaan Taylor was taken early in the second round, Marty Hurney smelled a run on offensive tackles coming. He ended up packaging his own second round pick, as well as the No. 77 overall pick to move up and acquire Greg Little, left tackle from Ole Miss. Going into the draft, this would have been seen as a steal, and I’m here to tell you that regardless of the price paid for the move, it still is. Little has a very good chance to anchor the left side of the Panthers offensive line for a long time, and should that come to fruition, it will have been a bargain that even your frugal aunt who maniacally clips coupons would have to bow to.After diving into some of his game film and combine results, here are the impressions I have of him as a prospect.Athleticism and intangibles: GoodGreg Little didn’t test extremely well in his underwear at the combine, but his functional strength and athleticism appear up to standard in live action. He has the ideal frame for an NFL caliber left tackle, and he knows how to use it to gain an advantage on would be rushers. While he hasn’t parlayed that into dominance in the run game, he is extremely refined in pass protection, the most important part of a left tackles game. Ultimately, having the body needed can’t be coached Christian McCaffrey Jersey Boys , but a prospect can always get stronger and have his technique refined, so this places Little in a good spot entering his pro career.Greg Little perfectly defeats both first and second moves from speed rushing linebacker, and now Carolina Panther, Christian Miller.Technical skill: EliteLittle probably could have had a decent college career on his natural gifts alone, but what pushed him into first round consideration is his advanced technique. He has a pro-level knowledge of how to optimally use his hands to control defenders, and the ability to switch quickly on the fly and adapt to a rusher. He consistently gets his hands on the chest plate and uses his long arms to lock opponents in, in fact, he was never called for holding the entire 2018 season. Greg Little stands up beautifully against a bull rush by the TAMU defender, locks him in at the chest.gfycat.comBeyond hand placement, he maintains a wide and powerful base throughout any given down, and sinks his hips when initiating contact to stymie his opponent. Speaking of contact, Little is not shy to go and get his man, often thwarting their first move before they are finished making it, and once he gets his hands on you... well. “You’re done, son.”Greg Little, making pancakes.herosports.comFinally, and maybe most importantly, Little appears to have a complete understanding of his assignment depending on what the defense does. He never seems to get caught off guard by stunts Cheap Christian McCaffrey Jersey , late blitzes, or odd alignments. His composure is excellent, and he can be relied upon to play well even when the team is not.Run blocking: Below averageThe run game is where Little’s average athleticism manifests itself. He seems a step slow on getting to his man on reach blocks, and would almost certainly be beaten to a spot by Christian McCaffrey should he be required to pull across formation. While he does usually get his hands on a man on more in-line blocks, he doesn’t seem adept at translating that same lower body power that makes him an excellent pass protector into powerful leg drive to move a defender backwards. As Billy pointed out in his pre-draft scouting report, Ole Miss ran an air raid variant last season, which could be a reason for some of this. Greater emphasis at the pro level on running the football, and pro-level strength training could help him improve, but right now, he isn’t where you’d want him to be.Pass blocking: EliteNow that we have talked about his shortcomings, it is important to reinforce the fact that you draft a left tackle primarily to protect your quarterback against hard hits that they can’t see coming when they drop back to pass. In this area, I believe that Little might be the best in the draft.I havent watched all 993 pass blocking snaps for Greg Little, but I am willing to trust that I’d come up with a similar number. A 2.6% pressure rate is absurdly low, but I would believe it after watching the games that I did. Little was at his most impressive in the 2018 bout against No. 1 Alabama, where he pitches a shutout despite his team getting absolutely obliterated.The reason he is so good at it is everything that I already discussed in the technique section; he plays smart, executes his fundamentals, and has the functional strength to make it all happen against anyone.ConclusionBased on what I’ve seen, I think Greg Little was a great pick in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft Custom Christian McCaffrey Jersey , regardless of having to give up the No. 77 pick to get him. He looks like a pro-ready left tackle to me, and that cost is peanuts if he indeed becomes a solid left tackle for the Panthers. In the end, I can guarantee all of you that if we still had the No. 77 pick, it would have been used to take Will Grier instead of using the No. 100 pick on him. Not trading up almost certainly means that we miss out on Greg Little, and maybe any other left tackle prospect with the chance to help us this season. Ultimately, the Panthers filled their two greatest needs with players that can potentially help right away, when in reality it was just expected they’d get one. The Carolina Panthers have announced today that Cam Newton underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his injured right shoulder, and it was successful. The surgery was performed by team physician Dr. Pat Connor.Details above and beyond that are currently non-existent. There are no timeframes for when he could throw again this early in his recovery process, and largely that would vary greatly from patient to patient.Compared to the last time Cam Newton went under the knife for shoulder surgery, the team is getting a much earlier start on this one. After hoping that his ailing shoulder would heal without surgery, delaying any procedure for several months after the end of the regular season, Newton had one done with very little time until offseason activities began. Many people have theorized that it was not a long enough recovery window, and in the long run, that may have affected his ability to heal, leading to this second issue.As more details are announced, if any, we’ll be sure to let you know here on CSR.

Mathis has to be one of the first two or three names you mention in a series like this."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Library FalcFans Podcast on The FalcoholicContact The FalcoholicFalcons StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Falcons NewsYahoo Falcons Team PageYahoo Falcons ReportYahoo Falcons Depth ChartYahoo Falcons TransactionsYahoo Falcons PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub 鉁旴est Falcons free agents ever: Terance Mathis New Youth Austin Hooper Jersey ,3commentsMathis has to be one of the first two or three names you mention in a series like this. ESTShareTweetShareShareBest Falcons free agents ever: Terance Mathis Welcome to another offseason series, this one a warm-up for free agency. Here, we’ll look at the best—and eventually the worst—Falcons free agents ever signed. We kick things off with a Falcoholic favorite, Terance Mathis.Years with Falcons: 1994-2001Stats: 573 receptions, 7,349 yards, 12.8 yards per reception, 57 touchdown receptions Earlier this week, Evan Birchfield looked back fondly on Terance Mathis’ career in Atlanta. Today, I’m going to do the same with a bit of a spin, which is talking about why he was one of the best free agents the Falcons ever signed.With the advantage of hindsight, it seems obvious that the New York Jets had no idea what they had with Terance Mathis.That’s why after four years with the Jets, where he put up 93 receptions for 1,242 yards and four touchdowns, Mathis found himself launching into free agency. The Falcons were looking to add talent at wide receiver with stud Andre Rison in the fold and June Jones in charge of the team, and they would end up signing Mathis to a multi-year deal and adding rookie Bert Emanuel to the corps. Both turned out to be incredibly savvy moves—Emanuel managed 260 receptions, 3600 yards, and 24 touchdowns in just four seasons in Atlanta—but Mathis would end up going down as one of the greatest receivers ever to play for the franchise.I doubt the Falcons had their sights set that high when they got him, but in retrospect Mathis’ skills made him a great fit even after June Jones was long gone. He was speedy, offered refined route running, and had good enough hands to make him a force as a volume receiver. Mathis was the trusted option for a series of Falcons quarterbacks from Jeff George to Chris Chandler, drawing more than 100 targets every single year he was in Atlanta. That began in 1994, when the former Jets sixth-round pick exploded for 111 receptions, 1,342 yards, and 11 touchdowns, arguably the finest year of his entire career. He followed that up with 78/1,039/9 in 1995, 69/771/7 in 1996, 62/802/6 in 1997, and a huge 64/1 Stitched Deion Jones Jersey ,136/11 to help propel the Falcons to the Super Bowl in 1998. His last three years in Atlanta weren’t as spectacular, but he still managed 81/1,016/6 in 1999, 57/679/5 in 2000, and 51/564/2 in 2001, getting the opportunity to play with rookie Michael Vick for a short time. Mathis played one more year with the Steelers, one of the quietest of his career, and then retired. When he retired, he held the Falcons franchise records for targets, receptions, receiving yardage and touchdowns. While he was eventually surpassed by Roddy White and has been or will be surpassed by Julio Jones, he’s still one of the best receivers ever to suit up for the Falcons, and one of the best free agent signings this team has ever managed. How does the NFL Combine change things for the Falcons in the 2019 NFL Draft? We take a closer look with our first post-Combine 7-round mock draft."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Library FalcFans Podcast on The FalcoholicContact The FalcoholicFalcons StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Falcons NewsYahoo Falcons Team PageYahoo Falcons ReportYahoo Falcons Depth ChartYahoo Falcons TransactionsYahoo Falcons PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub 鉁旻alcons NFL Draft 20192019 NFL Combine CoverageFalcons 7-Round Mock Draft: Fifth EditionNew,152commentsHow does the NFL Combine change things for the Falcons in the 2019 NFL Draft? We take a closer look with our first post-Combine 7-round mock draft.ESTShareTweetShareShareFalcons 7-Round Mock Draft: Fifth EditionChuck Cook-USA TODAY SportsThe 2019 NFL Combine has come and gone. We’ve seen some outstanding performances and some very disappointing ones, and also heard some very interesting rumors about where certain teams might be going with their early picks—the Kyler Murray to Arizona noise is particularly silly, in my opinion.How does the Combine change things for the Falcons’ draft plans? The answer is...it doesn’t really. Truthfully, most teams have their boards pretty much set before the Combine even happens. The athletic testing isn’t as important as some think—meanwhile, the interviews and medical testing are probably more important than many fans realize.Still, it tends to move around the stock of players—particularly in the later rounds of the draft. For this mock draft, I used The Draft Network’s new “Mock Draft Machine”. For those that enjoy this sort of thing, I’d highly recommend it. Personally, I feel their predictive board is a lot more accurate than anything on Fanspeak.Let’s jump right in!Round 1, Pick 14: DT Ed Oliver, HoustonEd Oliver may have elevated his stock with an exceptional day at the Combine, but there’s still a non-zero chance of him lasting until pick 14. The Combine doesn’t move the needle for NFL teams as much as it does for fans, and the size/scheme concerns that worried some teams probably haven’t totally dissipated. If Oliver makes it past Buffalo (who might be enamored with an equally impressive tester in WR D.K. Metcalf), he is probably falling to the Falcons. I wrote a full scouting report on Oliver, and here’s how I described his skillset:Round 2, Pick 45: C/G Erik McCoy, Texas A&MOne of my favorite Day 2 OL prospects, Texas A&M’s Erik McCoy elevated his stock in a big way with a tremendous showing at the Combine. He fits the profile of a Falcons’ offensive lineman perfectly Youth Deion Jones Jersey , and one of his closest athletic comps (according to Mockdraftable) is ex-Falcons G Chris Chester. He would be in line to start immediately at either guard spot, and his experience at center could eventually make him the long-term replacement for Alex Mack. Here’s how I described McCoy’s skillset in a previous mock draft:Round 3, Pick 79: EDGE Zach Allen, Boston CollegeWith the Falcons bringing back Vic Beasley for 2019, it’s clear that the team doesn’t view EDGE as their biggest need this offseason. Still, going into the season without adding anyone else to the rotation would be downright foolish, as the depth chart right now consists only of Beasley, Takk, and Steven Means. Enter Boston College’s Zach Allen—an inside-outside hybrid player that can take on a similar role to Adrian Clayborn in Quinn’s defense. I talked about Allen in my EDGE prospect preview, and here’s how I described his talents:Round 4, Pick 117: OT Tytus Howard, Alabama StateThe Falcons allegedly view Ty Sambrailo as a “starter”, according to Dan Quinn, but I think we all know the truth: Sambrailo is a stopgap option at best, and is meant to be a bridge to a young draft pick. If the Falcons elect to wait on OT until late Day 2 or early Day 3, Alabama State’s Tytus Howard could be a perfect fit. I doubt he’ll last this long in the real draft—in this scenario, I’d definitely consider a trade-up into the late third round. I mentioned Howard in my OT prospect preview—here’s a quick write-up on his skillset:Round 4, Pick 137: CB Isaiah Johnson, HoustonIf Houston CB Isaiah Johnson is still around this late, the Falcons need to snatch him up. Johnson’s tape is littered with inconsistencies and he’s far from a finished product, but he put on a show at the Combine and has elite traits for the position. The Falcons can afford to develop Johnson before throwing him into the fire, making this a very high-upside pick on Day 3. Here’s how I described Johnson’s skills in my CB prospect preview:Round 5, Pick 152: RB Myles Gaskin, WashingtonWith my favorite RB for the Falcons—Justice Hill—seeing his stock explode after an impressive Combine performance, the Falcons will have to look elsewhere for a RB at this point in the draft. Washington RB Myles Gaskin is another option who is likely to be around this late, and while he isn’t quite as athletic as Hill, he’s got plenty of upside and proven production. I talked about Gaskin’s talents in my RB prospect preview:Round 5, Pick 172: TE Foster Moreau, LSULSU’s Foster Moreau turned a lot of heads at the Combine with his impressive workouts. I knew he had some juice to him, but he was never utilized much as a receiver and the general consensus among a lot of draft analysts was that he didn’t have much upside in the passing game. Well, even if he needs a lot of work Stitched Keanu Neal Jersey , the athleticism is clearly there for Moreau to be more than just a quality blocker. At this point in the draft, Moreau is a good value for Atlanta to find a cheap, high-upside replacement for veteran Logan Paulsen. Here’s how I described Moreau’s talents in my TE prospect preview:Round 6, Pick 186: WR Cody Thompson, ToledoThis WR class is insanely deep, and with the Falcons missing out on some of my favorite targets in Jakobi Meyers, Terry Godwin, and Mecole Hardman, I had to look a little harder to find a great fit. Luckily, Toledo’s Cody Thompson ended up falling—as some receivers are going to do, due to the sheer volume of quality players in this class. I like Thompson as a future WR3 that can contribute in a lot of ways on the field. At only a sixth round price tag, that’s darn good value. I mentioned Thompson in my WR prospect preview, and here’s how I talked about his skillset:Round 7, Pick 230: S Will Harris, Boston CollegeI was really hoping to pick up LB Terrill Hanks or CB Jimmy Moreland with this final pick, but both went just a few spots ahead of the Falcons. So instead, Atlanta targets depth at another position with the addition of S Will Harris. He’s a reliable, versatile backup that can do a lot for you early in his career. Harris has an excellent shot at making the roster as the fifth safety—particularly if Kazee is being moved to CB full-time. Here’s how I described Harris’ talents in my S prospect preview:AnalysisIn this mock draft, the Falcons address all of their major needs, just not necessarily in the most logical order. Ed Oliver still being available at 14—it’s more possible than many fans want to admit—kind of throws a wrench into things. It’s clear that DT isn’t the biggest need in Atlanta, but Oliver is simply too good of a talent to pass up. In the second round, the Falcons add one of the most athletic offensive linemen in the draft in C/G Erik McCoy to bolster the other side of the trenches.In the third, the Falcons finally address EDGE with an “Adrian Clayborn-like” player in Zach Allen. With their two fourth round picks, Atlanta begins to address depth across the roster with the developmental players OT Tytus Howard and CB Isaiah Johnson. Both fit the prototype the Falcons are looking for, but both need time and coaching before they’re ready for prime time. The two fifth rounders go to addressing free agent departures, with RB Myles Gaskin filling the void left by Tevin Coleman and TE Foster Moreau taking over for Logan Paulsen.Atlanta uses their sixth rounder on what I view to be an absolute steal in WR Cody Thompson, who has legit WR3 upside and can factor into the competition at returner. Finally, the Falcons select S Will Harris to help fill out the depth chart at safety and add another quality special teams contributor.What are your thoughts on this potential draft class for the Falcons? Who are some players you’d love to see wind up in Atlanta? In what order would you address the team’s needs?

NASHVILLE Womens Marcus Mariota Jersey , Tenn. (AP) — Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans finally are starting to show signs that some of their growing pains of learning a new offense may be easing.The quarterback had to learn his third new scheme going into his fourth NFL season. The Titans are leaning on a lot of young receivers and coordinator Matt LaFleur’s experience calling plays grows with each game. The changes, along with the loss of three-time Pro Bowl tight end Delanie Walker in the opener, led to some early struggles on offense.Now Mariota is feeling comfortable enough with the offense and LaFleur to speak up when the game plan features something he doesn’t like.“I just feel as though I’ve gotten a better understanding of the offense, why we’re calling certain things,” Mariota said Wednesday. “Maybe why he wants a particular play against certain coverage, so having that understanding I think has allowed me to have confidence in going in and saying, ‘Hey, maybe I don’t really like that. I’m not feeling that.'”Mariota said previously he might not have known how a play would look or work on the field.“Having confidence in it, being in the offense a little longer has definitely helped that Quinton Spain Jersey White ,” Mariota said.The results might not show up in NFL rankings with the Titans (5-4) 30th in total offense and 18th averaging 18.7 points a game.The offensive turnaround started Oct. 21 in London in a 20-19 loss to the Chargers and includes a 28-14 win in Dallas and last weekend’s 34-10 rout of the Patriots. In those three games, the Titans have converted 61 percent (25 of 41) of their third downs, which is best in the NFL in that span.Mariota has posted his best passer ratings of the season in each of the past two games, and he has 542 total yards passing, running and catching with five touchdowns. His lone interception in the three-game stretch came in the second quarter against the ChargersCorey Davis finished with seven catches for 125 yards against Dallas, his second 100-yard receiving game this season. Tight end Jonnu Smith had a career-high 45 yards receiving on three catches with a TD. Even rookie Cameron Batson, who spent three weeks on the practice squad earlier this season, has had four catches for 47 yards over the past two games.Running back Dion Lewis believes everyone has gotten comfortable with each other.“It’s a lot of bumps in the road when you’re learning,” Lewis said. “You make a mistake http://www.thetitanslockerroom.com/authentic-tajae-sharpe-jersey , and you try not to make the same mistake again. I think that’s what everybody’s trying to do knowing what the coaches expect from them. And if they messed up something in the past, just move on forward and not make that same mistake. I think if guys do that, we can keep building on that as an offense and keep getting better.”The results are easy to see with the Titans, who went through an eight-quarter drought without scoring a touchdown during a three-game skid in October. They followed up a season-high 28 points in Dallas with the best first quarter (17) and first half (24) of scoring since Nov. 13, 2016, against Green Bay.The Titans are 13th in the NFL holding the ball 30 minutes, 30 seconds per game. They’re also 10th converting third downs, and they’ll test their comfort level Sunday when they visit the Colts (4-5) in a key AFC South game.“We’ve done a good job on third downs, definitely done a whole lot better in the red zone being able to score touchdowns Corey Davis Jersey White ,” Mariota said. “If we can continue that, I think we got a chance to be pretty good.”Notes: LB Wesley Woodyard was named the AFC defensive player of the week after 1 ½ sacks against the Patriots. … LB Derrick Morgan (shoulder) and RT Jack Conklin (concussion protocol) were limited Wednesday at practice along with S Dane Cruikshank (knee). LG Quinton Spain (ankle), WR Taywan Taylor (left foot), G/C Corey Levin (illness) and RB David Fluellen (knee) did not practice. The Titans got some welcome news Thursday when quarterback Marcus Mariota returned to practice.Mariota was working with no tape on his hand and no noticeable discomfort as he threw passes at the start of practice, Erik Bacharach of reports.Mariota missed Wednesday’s practice for treatment and rest.He left Saturday’s victory over Washington after 27 snaps because of a stinger. Blaine Gabbert finished up the final 29 snaps.Various injuries have kept Mariota on the injury report much of the season and on the sideline some. He has played 82.7 percent of the team’s offensive snaps, missing one game and parts of four others.The Titans also got linebacker Brian Orakpo back on the practice field. Orakpo has missed the past two games with an elbow injury.The team’s injury report later today will indicate how much Mariota and Orakpo practiced, but they at least are getting limited work in.

Jermaine Kearse spent his first five seasons in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks and would love the chance to return to his hometown team should the opportunity present itself.In a discussion with former teammates Doug Baldwin and Cliff Avril on Sports Radio 950 KJR http://www.seahawkslockerroom.com/authentic-jarran-reed-jersey , Kearse said he would definitely be open to the chance to return to the Seahawks should such a chance arise.“Yeah. Look, I would love to play back in Seattle,” Kearse said. “Obviously things have to work out in its own and things have to be right. It would be an opportunity that would be a great opportunity.”Kearse grew up outside of Seattle in Lakewood, Wash. and attended the University of Washington. His wife is also from the Seattle area and a return to the Seahawks would be a return home for the entire family.Additionally, the Seahawks appear to be in the market for help at wide receiver. The team hosted former Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers receiver Jordy Nelson on a free agent visit this week. Outside of top targets Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett, the duo of Jaron Brown and David Moore combined for just seven receptions in Seattle’s five games last season.Baldwin and Avril discussed taking up a petition with the team in supporting Kearse’s return.“It’s already started. I’m the first one (to sign),” Baldwin said.Kearse said he has not spoken to anyone from the Seahawks yet at this point. However, Kearse and head coach Pete Carroll are represented by the same agent, Gary Uberstine, so finding a line of communication shouldn’t be a tough task.“I have not personally talked to John or Pete,” Kearse said. “I know my agent has really close ties with Pete so I’m pretty sure they’ve spoke here and there.”Kearse played in 69 regular season games for Seattle over five seasons after signings with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He caught 153 passes for 2,109 yards and 11 touchdowns. However, Kearse added 31 receptions for 493 yards and six touchdowns in 12 career playoff games for Seattle as well.The Seahawks traded Kearse to the New York Jets prior to the start of the 2017 season in a deal that brought defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson to Seattle.Kearse had his best statistical season with the Jets in 2017 Mychal Kendricks Jersey Green , recording 65 receptions for 810 yards and five touchdowns. All three marks were career-highs. The last time the Los Angeles Rams visited Seattle, they were announcing themselves as the new powerhouse in the NFC West by handing the Seahawks a drubbing unlike any they had experienced in Pete Carroll's tenure.As much as the Seahawks would like to forget that day last December, a 42-7 loss to a division rival lingers.Less than a year later, the Rams are more than just the favorites of their division. A quarter through the season, they may be the prohibitive Super Bowl favorites. The Rams (4-0) make their annual trip to Seattle on Sunday looking to take control of the division just five weeks into the season."I think there's definitely a lot of confidence that comes with playing well and definitely can get some momentum going, but I think we're just executing," Rams quarterback Jared Goff said. "We've done a pretty good job executing."And there is little reason not to believe Los Angeles will be leaving town with a three-game lead.The Rams are scoring an absurd amount of points, having scored at least 33 points in all four games. Goff is coming off a career-high 465 yards passing and five TDs, carving up a Minnesota defense that was regarded as among the best in the NFL and posting a perfect passer rating in the process. Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks each had 100 yards receiving against the Vikings.Oh, and there's still Todd Gurley, who the last time he saw the Seahawks rushed for 152 yards and scored a career-high four total touchdowns. And this time, they'll be facing a Seahawks defense without safety Earl Thomas after suffering a season-ending lower leg fracture last week against Arizona."Not having Earl now Steve Largent Jersey , this week changes a lot and just how good he is at understanding offenses and concepts," Goff said. "You wish he was there, you want to get them at full strength with him as part of that and how good he is. Would have been great to compete against him."The Seahawks (2-2) have recovered from a 0-2 start by knocking off Dallas and Arizona in consecutive weeks. The Seahawks have rediscovered their run game with consecutive 100-yard rushers and their defense has held three straight opponents to under 305 total yards of offense.But they know the Rams are a different challenge."They're going to do something that we haven't seen before, but if we're disciplined and we do what we practiced, we should be fine," Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner said. "That's why your eyes are so important this week."Here's what else to watch for:FIRST THINGS FIRSTSlowing the Rams' powerhouse offense on first down would be huge for the Seahawks, but it's been almost impossible this season. Goff is an astonishing 46 of 56 for 668 yards and six touchdown passes on first downs in the Rams' first four games, averaging 11.9 yards per pass. Add in Gurley's steady running on every down, and Los Angeles is tough to contain."We've done a pretty good job so far (of) staying in second-and-manageable, and then third-and-manageable, as well," Goff said.RUNNING OPTIONSSeattle is coming off consecutive 100-yard performances by running backs for the first time since the 2014 season. But it was two different backs accomplishing that feat, leaving open the question of how Seattle divides the carries going forward. Starter Chris Carson is expected to return Sunday after missing last week with a hip injury. Mike Davis has earned a role after rushing for a career-high 101 yards and two TDs in the win over Arizona. And Nick Vannett Jersey , rookie first-round pick Rashaad Penny has started to look more like the back Seattle expected in a limited role.Running won't be easy against a Rams defense giving up just 86 yards per game on average.TEDRIC TIMESecond-year safety Tedric Thompson knows he's about to get a lot of attention. Thompson will be stepping in at free safety replacing Thomas after the former All-Pro was lost for the season in last week's win. Thompson gained plenty of experience in the offseason and training camp when Thomas was holding out as part of a contract dispute, but there couldn't be a tougher team to debut against than the top passing offense in the NFL through four weeks."He's really mature about stuff, he's really worked hard to understand the scheme and the principles of what we want and he plays really strict and disciplined football," Carroll said.TEMPORARY KICKERKicker Cairo Santos will make his Rams debut in Seattle. Los Angeles signed the former Chiefs kicker Tuesday after cutting Sam Ficken and determining that All-Pro Greg Zuerlein isn't quite ready to return from a groin injury.Santos, who injured his own groin twice last season, is getting his shot at an NFL return in a high-pressure rivalry game, but he welcomes the challenge."Coming out and playing for a great offense, hopefully I'll get a bunch of kicks and show the other 31 teams that I'm back and I belong in this league," Santos said.

The Steelers didn’t look good against the Bengals on Sunday A.J. Green Jersey , but they needed a win more than they聽needed to look pretty.They got that win when kicker Matt McCrane made his third field goal of the day with two minutes left in the game. The kick made the score 16-13 and the Steelers defense came up with the stop they needed to end the season with a 9-6-1 record.Winning alone wasn’t enough to send the Steelers to the playoffs as they needed either a Ravens loss to the Browns or a tie in Sunday night’s game between the Titans and Colts to push them to the postseason. Players remained in a packed Heinz Field to watch the final minutes of the game in Baltimore and root for their divisional rivals from Cleveland.Their wish did not come true. The Ravens held on and the Steelers are now clinging to the slimmest of playoff threads.The Steelers were shut out for the entire first half until McCrane, who was signed this week when Chris Boswell went on injured reserve, hit a field goal at the whistle to put them in the locker room down 10-3. Ben Roethlisberger threw an interception that Shaun Williams took back for the Bengals’ only touchdown of the game, but bounced back to hit JuJu Smith-Schuster for a touchdown in the second half.Roethlisberger went over 5,000 yards for the season while going 31-of-45 for 287 yards. The Steelers offense appeared to miss wide receiver Antonio Brown, who sat with a knee injury, but they were able to just enough to back up an outstanding defensive performance.It wasn’t enough, though, and four losses in the five previous games proved to be too much for the Steelers to overcome. CINCINNATI (AP) — Bengals coach Marvin Lewis shut down the question immediately Michael Jordan Cincinnati Bengals Jersey , making it clear he won’t be talking about the latest addition to his staff — one who’s in an unusual position to influence the next game.Only last month, Hue Jackson was Cleveland’s head coach, intimately involved in the Browns‘ game planning. Now he’s on the Bengals sideline with Lewis, trying to beat the Browns — a sensitive subject that the head coach is trying to put off limits.“I think I’ve answered enough Hue questions, OK?” Lewis said Wednesday with an edge to his tone. “We’re done. We’re over.”Oh, no. The intrigue is just getting started.The Bengals (5-5) desperately need to beat the Browns (3-6-1) at Paul Brown Stadium to remain relevant in the playoff chase. They’ve lost four of five , fired their defensive coordinator and installed Lewis as leader of a historically bad unit.As part of the shuffle, he brought back a close friend at an opportune time.Jackson was fired by the Browns on Oct. 29 after winning only three games in three seasons. Lewis brought him back to Cincinnati for the third time , creating a role of special assistant. Jackson helps develop the weekly game plan on defense and provides tips on the sideline during games.His input will be especially useful this week. Jackson knows the Browns’ tendencies and the players’ strengths and weaknesses.“That was very unique Michael Jordan Jersey 2019 ,” defensive end Carlos Dunlap said. “He knows the players, he knows the staff. They just got a new (offensive coordinator), so they’re probably calling things differently than when (Jackson) left. So you have your advantages there.”It’s not unusual for a team to pick up a player who was released by an upcoming opponent, but it’s highly unusual to get the other team’s former head coach.One more unique feature to this intrastate matchup: Both head coaches will be calling the defensive plays. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was elevated to interim coach after Jackson was fired. Lewis took over the defensive coordinator duties after Teryl Austin was fired on Nov. 12.“It brings a smile to my face,” Williams said Wednesday during a conference call. “It’s kind of unique.”It’s challenging to analyze what the opposing offense is doing and adjust defensively while also running the overall game. That’s where Jackson’s presence could be especially helpful on Sunday.The Browns are coming off a bye week that gave them a chance to add a few things that Jackson won’t anticipate.“He’s not there (in Cleveland) anymore, so they could have changed a lot of those things,” Dunlap said. “So you don’t want to get caught guessing. But it’s good to know what they like to do and what they’re built and set up for, so it’s great to have that understanding.”Jackson jogged off the practice field on Wednesday and declined to stop and talk about his reunion with Cleveland, referring questions to the closed-lipped Lewis.A.J. GETTING CLOSERReceiver A.J. Green could return against Cleveland. He’s missed the past two games with an injured toe on his right foot Color Rush Michael Jordan Jersey , and the offense struggled in losses to the Saints and Ravens . Green didn’t practice Wednesday, but Lewis said he will work out the rest of the week, aiming to be ready by Sunday.Left tackle Cordy Glenn (back) and cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (shoulder) also missed practice. Defensive end Michael Johnson (calf) and safety Shawn Williams (hamstring) were limited.BROWN’S DISAPPOINTMENTThe Bengals figured they’d upgraded their linebacker group when they signed durable Preston Brown from Buffalo in the offseason. He was limited by a right ankle injury that he suffered the first game, and he injured his right knee during a 51-14 loss to the Saints. The Bengals put him on injured reserve Tuesday and signed defensive end/linebacker Kasim Edebali, a college free agent who has played with the Saints, Broncos, Lions and Rams. Lewis said Brown might have surgery on his ankle now that he can’t return this season.

This past offseason Womens Tarvarius Moore Jersey , the Seahawks decided to release franchise corner Richard Sherman, due to salary cap issues, a high cap number for Sherman, and of course his Achilles injury. With a lack of veteran leadership in the 49ers’ locker room, general manager John Lynch brought in Sherman to become a leading voice with the younger players. San Francisco signed Sherman to a three-year, incentive-laden deal that’s proving to be worth every penny for his on and off-field contributions. Returning from a torn Achilles, Sherman played in 14 games, racking up four passes defensed Dante Pettis Jersey , 37 combined tackles and a recovered fumble. Pro Football Focus rated the former Stanford defensive back with a 68.9 grade. Half-way through the season, PFF also added a stat that Sherman was only allowing a reception every 146 snaps. While his on-field dominance continued this season, his off-field patience and leadership was tested amidst a 4-12 season that featured a turnstile at the cornerback position opposite to Sherman. The ex-Seahawk decided to write a post a on his blog once the 49ers’ season ended, commenting on 2018.Sherman’s leadership was highlighted in a 14-9 loss to Chicago in the home stretch of the season. Chicago and San Francisco got into a skirmish on the Bears’ sideline, with Sherman coming to his teammates’ defense. As a result, the 49ers’ veteran corner was ejected from the game. Shanahan praised Sherman for his actions against Chicago, despite the ejection in a close game.With the likes of young defensive backs Ahkello Witherspoon and Tarvarius Moore playing opposite to Sherman, they couldn’t have a better mentor to look up to all season long. The 49ers’ youngest position group is their defensive backfield and having Sherman lead that group in 2019 should alleviate Shanahan’s concerns. Wednesday http://www.49erslockerroom.com/authentic-tevin-coleman-jersey , April 16th, 2019 edition of the Golden Nuggets, a daily compilation of San Francisco 49ers links from the Internet"The #2 pick that the San Francisco 49ers currently possess is likely to be used on a defensive player or depending on the #1 pick could be traded for multiple picks. But one thing is clear, the 49ers will be drafting a receiver in this draft and it will probably be in an earlier round. This week the 49ers are hosting some of the top talent at the position for pre-draft visits.Hakeem Butler, N’Keal Harry, AJ Brown, and Deebo Samuel either already visited with the team this week or are scheduled to visit. The team has had a rough go for years on selecting receivers in the draft. The receivers they have drafted had various degrees of success, but none have been great. They are consistently looking for their #1 receiver through the draft and free agency Joe Montana Jersey White , but they have not been able to fill that void. In last year’s draft, the 49ers selected Dante Pettis and while he dealt with injuries, he did perform well down the stretch. They are hoping he can stay healthy and continue to progress this season. They would like to add another WR to pair with Jimmy Garoppolo and Pettis to take their passing attack to another level. Jerry Rice is the greatest WR in NFL history and he is the gold standard for 49ers receivers. One draft visitor decided to give the infamous hill that Jerry Rice and Roger Craig used to run up a try with Jerry. AJ Brown, WR from Ole Miss, tackled the famous hill yesterday. AJ is one of the top WRs in the upcoming draft and if he is taken by the 49ers, he can run the hill as often as he would like. 49ers linksLooking at the DEs (Inman)The market keeps going up and up | The QB market (Florio)Roster moves (Madson)Looking for the next great 49ers WR | A couple of receivers coming to visit (Alper)Hakeem Butler visits (Madson)#2 pick trade market (Fann)Potential pick works out with the GOAT (Madson)He decided to run the infamous hill | AJ Brown runs with Jerry Rice (Almquist)Who will the 49ers end up drafting? | Visiting receivers (Branch)Running the hill (Maiocco)Hakeem Butler (Maiocco)AJ Brown, Deebo Samuel (Maiocco)N’Keal Harry visits (Alper)Greg Mabin coming back (Williams)Could happen with the #2 pick depending on what happens with the #1 pick | Draft day trades (Biderman)

Buccaneers 48 Chandler Catanzaro Jersey , Saints 40: Immediate Reactions With the Buccaneers coming into Sunday’s season opener as nearly double-digit underdogs, expectations obviously weren’t all that high. They were without their starting quarterback on the road against the defending NFC South champion Saints. The defense still had a ton of question marks. To add to that, veteran cornerback Brent Grimes was a late addition to the injury report. Tampa Bay had no chance.But then the game started and the Bucs looked better than they have in years. The offense fired on all cylinders and the defense did just enough to help Tampa Bay to a 48-40 victory. The team is now 3-0 in season openers under Dirk Koetter. Let’s get to some reactions from the season-opening win!Observations and Reactions— GeneralThe Bucs’ 31 first-half points tied a franchise record. The offense (which we’ll get to in full shortly) put up 24 and the defense added a touchdown of its own. But it didn’t end there, as they continued to roll in the second half. By the end of the day, they had tied their record for points in a single game with 48. The last time Tampa Bay put up 48 points was in its Super Bowl win on Jan. 26, 2003.Tampa Bay dismantled New Orleans completely, which won the division last year and came one play away from the NFC Championship Game. The Bucs quickly proved that they aren’t going to be an easy team to beat, even without starting quarterback Jameis Winston for the first three games. Injury-wise, the Bucs were pretty unlucky throughout the day. Vernon Hargreaves left with a shoulder injury, DeSean Jackson left with a concussion and Justin Evans got shaken up at one point.As far as penalties are concerned, Tampa Bay will have to clean some things up. It was flagged seven times for 70 yards. The victory makes that look like less of an issue, but it still isn’t ideal.Observations and Reactions— OffenseOffensively, the Bucs looked more explosive than they’ve been since 2015. They averaged 8.5 yards per play, totaled 529 yards and scored on their first five drives (not including the short possession at the end of the first half).That explosiveness came under the watch of offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who took care of play-calling for the first time in a regular season game. There was a noticeable difference in the way the game was called and it was excellent to see. 35-year-old Ryan Fitzpatrick, starting in place of Jameis Winston, was on fire all day long. He completed 21 of his 28 passes for 417 yards (a career-high) and four touchdowns. He added 36 yards and a touchdown on the ground, including a crucial 12-yard scramble on 3rd & 11 with just over two minutes to go. Because of the conversion, he was able to kneel down three straight times to complete the victory.Tampa Bay’s receiving corps looked every bit as dangerous as expected. Mike Evans caught seven passes for 147 yards and a touchdown, DeSean Jackson went for 146 yards and two scores on five receptions and O.J. Howard totaled 54 yards on two catches. The run game complemented Fitzpatrick well Womens Ryan Jensen Jersey , with Peyton Barber rushing for 69 yards on 19 carries. He didn’t do anything too flashy, but he got the job done.The revamped offensive line was really good, allowing no sacks and providing Fitzpatrick with plenty of time to throw. Those deep touchdown passes wouldn’t have connected without the blocking up front. Plus, new center Ryan Jensen showed some fire when the Saints took a couple of cheap shots at his quarterback. He did draw a penalty, but you can never be too mad when a guy is sticking up for his teammate like that.Tampa Bay didn’t turn the ball over, which is a big reason for its ability to take control of the game.Rookie Ronald Jones II was a healthy scratch on Sunday, which is a bad sign for where he is after a rough preseason.Observations and Reactions— DefenseThe defense struggled for much of the day, allowing 40 points and 475 total yards. Most of the issues came in the passing game, as Drew Brees completed 37 of his 45 passes for 439 yards and three touchdowns.With Brent Grimes out, the secondary was left vulnerable for a veteran like Brees to pick apart. Rookie Carlton Davis got his first start and did a few good things, but got picked on a ton in the first half. Ryan Smith had his own issues as well. All things considered, the new-look defensive line played pretty well. The secondary’s inability to cover receivers early in their routes allowed Brees to get the ball out early, so there wasn’t a ton that the front four could do as far as getting after the quarterback. Even still, there were times when the pressure was good. Vinny Curry picked up the team’s first sack of the year in the second quarter.There was no stopping Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas on Sunday. Kamara ran for two scores and caught nine passes for 112 yards and a score. Thomas set a franchise record with 16 catches for 180 yards and a touchdown.The defense allowed just 43 rushing yards, so if it could get its secondary up to speed, the unit could be pretty dangerous.Another thing that will make this a dangerous unit is continuing to create turnovers like it did on Sunday. In the first half, Vernon Hargreaves forced a fumble that was picked up and returned 36 yards for a touchdown by Justin Evans. In the second half, Kwon Alexander forced another fumble that was recovered by Ryan Smith.Lavonte David led the team in tackles with nine (six solo). Observations and Reactions— Special TeamsChandler Catanzaro was efficient early, but a late miss will leave a bad impression. He started by connecting on kicks from 33 and 36 yards out and made six of his six extra points. But late in the fourth quarter, he missed a 44-yarder that kept it a two-score game. Three points there likely allows Tampa Bay to coast to a comfortable win.Bryan Anger only had to punt once Peyton Barber Jersey White , but it was a pretty good one as it went for 42 yards.Special teams coverage was another plus for the Bucs, with both Ryan Smith and rookie Jack Cichy coming up with some nice tackles.Final ThoughtsWhen Jameis Winston’s three-game suspension was announced, expectations for Tampa Bay plummeted. The general consensus was that the Bucs would be lucky to emerge from games against the Saints, Eagles and Steelers with one win. Well, they’re one game into that gauntlet and they already have one win. The offense was absolutely dominant, the defense forced some turnovers and came up with just enough stops and the special teams units were pretty solid as well. For a season opener that no one expected them to win, this was a pretty great day for the Bucs.Going forward, there’s work to do on the defensive side of the ball. The defensive line as a group was encouraging and the run defense was stingy. But that pass defense... Drew Brees is a future Hall of Famer, but no quarterback should be able to make an NFL defense look that silly. Getting Grimes back would help, but there have to be some adjustments in Mike Smith’s scheme, right? If the defense can step up its play and the offense continues to be as efficient as it was on Sunday, Tampa Bay could be looking at a winning record—or a perfect one???— by the time Winston returns in week four.The Bucs host the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles (1-0) next Sunday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. The Buccaneers are in a prime position with pick number five - but what side of the ball should they focus on?"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections 2016 NFL DraftInjuriesFree AgencyGame FilmDebating Bucs: Which Side of the Ball Should Jason Licht Target in Round 1New,19commentsThe Buccaneers are in a prime position with pick number five - but what side of the ball should they focus on?ESTShareTweetShareShareDebating Bucs: Which Side of the Ball Should Jason Licht Target in Round 1Kim Klement-USA TODAY SportsWhich side of the ball should Jason Licht be targeting for his first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft? Adding a Top-5 talent to any NFL roster has the potential to drastically change the trajectory of any franchise. Get it right, and your team could be competing for a title one or two years later.Get it wrong, and a general manager could be looking for a new job. So. No pressure.Here, we’re going to bring you both sides of the coin and leave the final decision to you, Bucs Nation.DAVID HARRISON - DEFENSEChuck Cook-USA TODAY SportsIt’s #FollowTheLicht season, and Jason needs to point his beam squarely onto the defensive side of the ball.Quinnen Williams, Ed Oliver, competitive Alex Cappa Jersey , even without a Top-5 draft addition.But, unless the defense gets one touchdown per game better in the upcoming season it'll all be for nothing when January 2020 rolls around.James Yarcho - OffenseMatthew Emmons-USA TODAY SportsI have no issues with the arguments David made above. That said, the Bucs will need to secure the best offensive lineman in the draft if at all possible. Bruce Arians’ offense is predicated on the deep ball, the run game, and maximizing the ability to score from anywhere on the field. In order to do so, the Bucs have to keep Jameis Winston upright. That won’t happen with the state of the current offensive line.Now, if Williams is gone - which he may be - then the Bucs will be in prime positionto trade back with a quarterback needy team that will have to pay that franchise quarterback premium to move up. Given that the Bucs only have six picks, this would be the ideal situation.I’m not going to advocate that the Buccaneers take a receiver or a running back at number five. IF they go offense, it has to be in the trenches. And if Williams is gone, they will need to go to the defensive side if they can’t move down.Something has to be done about this line. There’s a solid chance Donovan Smith returns, so he’s likely going to keep the left tackle spot regardless of the draft. That doesn’t make him any less of a question mark, though. Then you have the entire right side with Caleb Benenoch, Alex Cappa, and Demar Dotson. Dotson has been a solid starter for years, but the knee injuries and age seem to have caught up with him in 2018.You can’t win in the NFL if you don’t win the battle up front. That should be the number one focus this off-season for the Bucs before they address the needs at cornerback, linebacker, and defensive line. You can’t fix it all in one year, but the Bucs will do their best to do just that - and it starts by protecting the franchise quarterback.

The offense was not pretty once it crossed the 20-yard line last year"No matter who was playing quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers in 2018 Womens Jerick McKinnon Jersey , the red zone offense wasn’t pretty. For the entire season, the team finished dead last in red zone touchdown percentage at 41%. When Jimmy Garoppolo was under center, the offense was 5-12, which is also 41%. It wasn’t just one persons fault. I saw everything from penalties to fumbles to guys simply not getting open. I’ll use one example with each QB. That seems fair.The issueHave to block somebody The first game of the season the 49ers offense couldn’t budge the Minnesota Vikings front. Here’s how the sequence went: It’s third down and one. Alfred Morris struggles but gets just enough for a first. It’s now first and goal from the four. Weston Richburg doesn’t block anybody and Mike Person gets beat. Gain of one. Next play, the offense gets bailed out by a defensive holding call after nobody could get open and Jimmy G takes a sack. But it’s now first and goal from the one. Laken Tomlinson pulls but forgets to block the linebacker and Morris is met at the line for no gain. The next play Joshua Garnett gets tossed out of the way like a rag doll and his man hits Morris and he fumbles.This was one of the ugliest sequences you’ll see from an offense. Up front, the interior offensive line just looked overmatched in each short yardage situation. While this was just the first game, the offense finished 18th in short-yardage run situations on third and fourth down. They were 16th in plays where the running back was tackled either at or the line of scrimmage. A healthy backfield will help. The team has plenty of guys that can create for themselves. They line needs to be tougher and more physical up front.Go-to Receiver One thing I saw teams do on third and five or more was flood the middle of the field and make somebody on the perimeter beat them. Take away George Kittle and force someone else to get open, essentially. Check this play out from Week 8 against the Arizona Cardinals.Starting at the top of the screen, Marquise Goodwin doesn’t even get to the sticks on his route, let alone gets open. The zone the Cardinals are in all but takeaway the other two routes to that side. Because the 49ers needed to gain seven yards, the linebacker to Kittle’s side didn’t have to respect the underneath route out of the backfield by Kyle Juszczyk.There were plenty of times where Kittle was wide open on third down, but didn’t even get targeted. Check out this play below. It’s third and two:How do you not even look Kittle’s way!When Dante Pettis was down, the other receivers really struggled to get open on third down when they weren’t schemed open. That’s likely why we’ll see the 49ers add another target on the perimeter on Day 2 of the draft. Plays like this are likely why the team is interested in strong receivers like N’Keal Harry and Deebo Samuel.Time to improve the timingWhat is pretty clear in these clips and just watching the red zone offense is that the timing was off on a lot of their passing routes. The play above with Marquise Goodwin is a timing issue. He gets jammed at the line, and the timing of the entire play is off. That’s what happens when you have a backup QB playing. Garoppolo was far from perfect Frank Gore Jersey White , he had some misses and held on to the ball too long. Garoppolo has that gunslinger mentality with a release that is as quick as it gets. Jimmy G knowing where to go with the ball should improve the teams red zone deficiencies.It’s tough to read too much into the 49ers offense last year with all of the injuries. They But health matters. “Your best ability is your availability.” It’d be nice to see Garoppolo and the receivers build a rapport with each other. The offense was 15th in red zone opportunities per game last year. Kyle Shanahan is a wizard. He’ll need healthy bodies, 11 players on the same page, and a receiver not named Kittle to be a consistent threat if the 49ers are going to take the next step in 2019.Survivor, straight up picks for Week 3 NFL action We are officially 1/8th of the way through the 2018 NFL season. Week 3 is upon us, and it kicks off with the Cleveland Browns hosting the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football. Neither team is going to make the playoffs this year, but they have shown some signs of life through the first two weeks. Maybe TNF won’t be a bore!It’s time once again for our pick ‘em and Survivor pool contest options. We have the weekly prediction contest this season, and you can make those picks here. We also have a traditional “Pick ‘Em” contest. If you still want to join, the group name is Niners Nation, the group ID is 45734, and the password is go49ers. You’re pretty far behind, but feel free to join.Survivor pools continue. I took the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, and went with the New Orleans Saints in Week 2. The Cleveland Browns gave them a scare, but the Browns did Browns things, and the Saints managed the win. This week Womens Deion Sanders Jersey , the Minnesota Vikings are going to be incredibly popular as a 17 point favorite at home against Buffalo. The pick is a safe one, but I’m leaning toward Chicago over Oakland Arizona. It’s a road game, which is concerning, but that Bears defense looks really good. Another option would be Miami over Oakland, but the Dolphins are not the most inspiring of teams.Tonight, Week 3 opens with the Jets and Browns squaring off. The Jets thumped the Lions on the road in their opener and then lost an ugly one at home to Miami. Cleveland tied Pittsburgh in Week 1, and then lost a heartbreaker in Week 2 — and both games would have swung the other way with an adequate kicker. The Browns are a three point favorite, marking the first time they’ve been home favorites since 2015. I don’t have a great feel for this one, but given how the Browns have played thus far against the Steelers and Saints, I’m going to lay the pointsHere are the rest of my straight-up picks. I was 10-5-1 last week, bringing my season record to 20-10-2. I’ll have my picks against the spread later this weekend.Jets @ Browns: BrownsSaints @ Falcons: Falcons49ers @ Chiefs: ChiefsRaiders @ Dolphins: DolphinsBills @ Vikings: VikingsColts @ Eagles: EaglesPackers @ Washington: WashingtonBengals @ Panthers: BengalsTitans @ Jaguars: JaguarsBroncos @ Ravens: RavensGiants @ Texans: TexansChargers @ Rams: RamsBears @ Cardinals: BearsCowboys @ Seahawks: SeahawksPatriots @ Lions: PatriotsSteelers @ Buccaneers: Bucs