Year: 2015

Trades surrounding the second pick

Chris McGlynn Draft, Football, NFL , ,

Jameis Winston There has been a lot of buzz surrounding the Tennessee Titans number two overall selection in tomorrow’s draft. Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston will be available at that point and there are several teams in need of a franchise quarterback. Neither is a guaranteed solution, but both offer the potential for a bright future. Among teams reportedly in the mix to trade for the Titans’ pick are San Diego, New York Jets, Philadelphia and Cleveland. The Titans themselves could even draft one of the two signal callers. Time to look at who should be serious about making the swap and who should back off.Marcus_Mariota

For Tennessee, trading out is probably the best option. They are more than a quarterback away from being a playoff team. The problem is that they should not trade with San Diego. Landing Philip Rivers would put them in a win now situation. Tennessee has holes all over the place and Rivers would put them in a weird flux position. If Philadelphia or Cleveland (who reported has made an offer) decides to make an offer with a bunch of draft picks in return, that would be the best option. The Eagles could even send Sam Bradford to Tennessee, which would give them a veteran who still has a lot of time left if he is healthy.

From San Diego’s standpoint, adding Mariota or Winston at number two would be a great addition, especially if Rivers is truly set on leaving. It would be a much cheaper option for the Chargers and give them a chance to rebuild around him as well. The only thing that does seem a little bit off is that the Chargers would have to give up their own number one and Rivers to move up. I think San Diego could back off of the deal if only because they are undervaluing Rivers and believe they might find a better offer elsewhere.

Speaking of teams who could make a better offer, Cleveland is in need of a franchise quarterback. Johnny Manziel could still develop into something, which makes me think that bringing in either Mariota or Winston would not be a smart idea. Josh McCown is there already but if the Chargers would be willing to make a swap for both of Cleveland’s first round picks, a third rounder and maybe McCown, Cleveland should take it. The Chargers then have a chance to draft someone like Hundley, or Grayson later in the draft and use those now three first round selections to solidify both the offensive and defensive lines. I don’t think this will necessarily happen but it could be an interesting possibility.

Mariota would obviously be the grand prize for Chip Kelly. The question is what is too much to give up. If the Eagles can trade Bradford and a pair of first round picks (one in next year’s draft), I think Tennessee might be willing to listen. That is a lot for Philadelphia to give up though. It would give Kelly the quarterback he desperately desires but Philly has needs elsewhere. Without a wide receiver, a starting safety or a starting guard, the Eagles really need all of the help they can get. I think Philly would be wise to hold off on making a blockbuster deal quite yet. If Mariota begins to slide, then all bets are off.

The question that the Jets have to ask themselves is do they already have their quarterback of the future in house. If that answer is yes, (which it probably isn’t) then there is no reason to move up. However, if they really believe Mariota or Winston could be a once in a generation player, maybe make the move. They still would need to likely give up a lot just to jump four spots in the draft order. Realistically though, the Jets should just wait it out. There is always a possibility that one of the quarterbacks, probably Mariota, slides all the way to six. If that is the case, then I think the Jets would and should pull the trigger.

There is always so many unforeseen trades in the NFL draft and we could see a different team entirely swoop in and steal one of these players. That is the beauty of the NFL draft. You never have any what is going to happen until it has already happened.

Make or break time for several NFL teams

Chris McGlynn Draft, Football, NFL

Every NFL draft is critical but for certain teams, the draft tends to hold a bit more weight on a year-to-year basis. The Packers are consistently a team who gets the draft right, with the most drafted players still on their roster. The Raiders on the other hand, tend to struggle a bit more when it comes to making the right selection. Either way, the draft really dictates the future of a team. These are the teams who need to have a successful draft more than the rest of the league. DarrelleRevis

New York Jets
2014 record: 4-12
The Jets need an infusion of talent on the offensive side of the ball. New York went out and spent a ton of money on rebuilding their secondary. Now they need to bring their offense up to that level. Still in need of a franchise quarterback and some new offensive lineman, these selections will be vital to the Jets’ immediate future. On top of that, the Jets have a brand new front office and coaching staff. This new group needs to get off to a good start with a strong 2015 draft class.

Johnny_Manziel

Cleveland Browns
2014 record: 7-9
Is there a year where the Browns don’t seem like they need rebuilding? Once again, Cleveland finds itself with major holes at some key positions. The team is struggling to find a franchise quarterback. They have Johnny Manziel, but the jury is still out on whether he has what it takes to compete at the NFL level. This draft comes on the heels of general manager Ray Farmer’s suspension for texting to his sideline. The Browns need a fresh start to turn over a new leaf. Not to mention, with two first round picks, the front office in Cleveland has a chance to make a huge impact on the team and really cannot afford to make mistakes.

Colin_Kaepernick

San Francisco
2014 record: 8-8
The longer you stare at this situation, the more you have to wonder what the hell happened. San Francisco was a Super Bowl team in 2012 and a NFC Championship team in 2013. Now the Niners are looking at a situation where they have dozens of changes to make. With a new head coach in Jim Tomsula, the 49ers will be a very different team than a year ago. With needs on both sides of the ball and the outside perception that this team is spiraling out of control means that this draft holds even more weight than it already would.

Drew_Brees

New Orleans Saints
2014 record: 7-9
Jimmy Graham is gone. Ben Grubbs is gone. Kenny Stills is gone. The Saints’ offense is a skeleton of what it once was. Adding Max Unger is huge but losing those two receivers and a starting guard drastically changes the draft approach. The championship window with this team’s core is rapidly closing. Drew Brees is 36 and is definitely running out of chances at another ring. Without some new offensive options, this team is going nowhere. On top of that, the defense was terrible last season. This team has some extreme remodeling to do and as one of only two teams with two first round picks, the Saints need to find some impact players to right the ship and get them back in the postseason.

Peyton_ManningTony_Romo

Denver Broncos/Dallas Cowboys
2014 record: both 12-4
This might seem a little odd to have two teams, and two teams that made the divisional round of the playoffs as well, but here’s why: these teams are on their last ride with their current core. Dallas cannot count of Tony Romo lasting forever with both his injury history and age. The team has a lot of salary cap issues as well so it is unlikely that a lot of this team will still be around in about two or three years. For the Broncos, had Peyton Manning retired, Denver probably would’ve blown up the team. With Manning back, it’s gotta be Super Bowl or bust. Manning is now 39 and entering the last two years of his deal. This will be the end for him. Both teams lost some key free agents and will need to fill those holes if they hope to make a championship run.

Obviously, Thursday through Sunday will be very important for every NFL team, but these select few have a lot riding on the outcome of the weekend. For some teams, it will be the difference between a successful rebuild or another year of failed experiments. For others, it will determine if they can raise the Lombardi Trophy next February or spend that weekend pondering what might have been. Either way, the draft will feature plenty of high tensions and shocking deals. This is where championship teams are built.

The curious case of Jordan Morris

Chris McGlynn MLS, Soccer, USMNT
Photo from ussoccer.com
Photo from ussoccer.com

In this day and age, college athletes cannot wait to make it to the next level. Hundreds, if not thousands, of them make the jump every year to join professional leagues and get their true career underway. College basketball faces the perennial “rent-a-players,” in the words of Bo Ryan. College football rarely sees player make it all the way to their senior year; at least not the top-rated prospects. It is nice to hear a story now and then about a player who is putting his academics first and wanting to stay in school. Then you have Jordan Morris, who’s story is probably a little bit different than most. In a sport like soccer, notorious for signing players at the age of sixteen and beginning their professional careers right away, Morris is straying from the beaten path. He is playing international football and spurning professional contract offers, determined to do things on his terms.

A few short years ago, Morris began playing for Eastside FC to start his youth soccer career. From 2009 to 2012, Morris was a mainstay on the Seattle based club team, garnering some major attention nationwide. Eastside is a premier soccer club, one of the highest levels of youth soccer available. The program helps develop promising soccer players as young as nine years old, and helps them take the next step whether it be college or the pros. Eastside has generated hundreds of college players across the country and Morris was actually one of six player to join the Seattle Sounders FC Academy when he left in 2013.

In early February of 2012, Morris committed to Stanford, intent on joining the men’s soccer team. He spent most of 2012, into 2013, playing for the Sounders academy team before officially enrolling in school. Morris made a splash his freshman season for the Cardinal, scoring six goals and tallying seven assists in 21 appearances. Stanford made the NCAA tournament for the first time in four years, but eventually fell in the round of 16 to PAC-12 rival Washington. 2014 saw Morris’ numbers drop across the board but he also appeared in six fewer contests.

The reason he missed more contests was due to his appearances on the US men’s U-20 and U-23 national team. Morris made a decent impact despite the small sample size, particularly with the U-23 squad. In only four appearances, Morris tallied three goals. It became clear that Morris was an international caliber player, or that he could develop into one if he was given enough caps and found himself in the right system. The next logical step came when he appeared for the senior squad for the first time against Ireland in August of 2014. Morris took the next step when the United States faced off with Mexico just 11 days ago and he scored the opening goal of the match, the first of his international career.

Clearly, Morris has quite the resume and is obviously on the radar of MLS clubs, but this is where things get interesting. He has international caps, familiarity with the system and potential to make a good amount of money for a US soccer player, but Morris wants to stay in school. So far, Seattle has offered him a contract on a number of occasions now, most recently just this past week. Reportedly, the offer was one of the most lucrative homegrown contracts in MLS history. Morris once again turned it down though, maintaining that he wants to return to Stanford for his junior season. After the season is over, Morris has hinted that he might consider joining the Sounders ahead of the 2016 MLS season. He has also said that he will just see where his soccer takes him. That could just as easily mean that Morris stays for his senior season, or even goes to play in a different league.

It is refreshing, in a way, to see a 20-year old kid turn down the fame and fortune of professional sports to continue playing the sport for just the simple enjoyment. Morris has had a lot of success at Stanford and definitely has some unfinished business to attend to at school. The Cardinal entered the NCAA College Cup ranked sixth overall and were upset by in-state opponent UC-Irvine in their first game. That has to leave a bitter taste in Morris’ mouth. I can understand why the kid wants to go back and take another stab at National Championship. Stanford is only graduating four players, only three of which were starters. Morris will come to the MLS (or another pro league) when he is good and ready. For now, he is going to keep having fun and enjoying his youth. Sometimes, money and recognition don’t win out. The love of the game does.

Who are the next three up?

Chris McGlynn Football, NCAAF, NFL , ,

We get it. Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota are the top two quarterbacks in this draft. It has been overanalyzed and, at this point, just taken as a fact. The topic that has been mostly skated over is the next three quarterbacks in this draft after them. For the most part, experts have agreed that the prospects in play are Garrett Grayson, Bryce Petty and Brett Hundley. No one can seem to agree on how to rank them though. None of these guys have very similar backgrounds nor do they seem to have like skill sets. It’s time to get to know the other quarterbacks in this draft.

Bryce Petty, Baylor
Height/Weight: 6’3”/230
Age: 23
The red-shirt senior had another successful year at Baylor. Petty led his team to a bowl game against Michigan State and looked set to win before a stunning comeback by the Spartans. The only other game that Baylor lost was to West Virginia. Petty demonstrated that he has a reliable arm, throwing over 400 passes in two years as Baylor’s starter. He is a talented player with enough mobility to extend plays. He demonstrates good zip on his on most of his short to intermediate throws. He doesn’t possess a cannon so that he can hit receivers on a line, but he leads his receivers well, allowing for them to run onto the ball.

Some concerns can be raised about his consistency. Petty aired out the ball with over 325 yards in two straight contests before he turned in a 111-yard, 31.8 completion percentage outing at Texas. Petty also seemed to throw his interceptions in clusters. He would go weeks without tossing one before getting picked off twice against TCU and Oklahoma State. Some other concerns rise when you look and see his yards per attempt and touchdowns fell while his interception total rose. Another major knock is the system he played in college. He used only a one-read system that never really required him to run through his progressions, something he will desperately need to do at the next level.

Overall, I think Petty is a solid player who has the right physical tools to succeed in the NFL. He needs a year or two to polish his mechanics and learn a pro system but he could prove to be a fringe starter one day. If nothing else, he will be a solid backup for a number of years in the league.

Predicted Round: Fourth
Ideal team: San Diego. Petty would get to learn from Philip Rivers for at least a year before the veteran potentially left town. Mike McCoy, as a former quarterback, would likely be a good coach for Petty as he learns to adjust

Brett Hundley, UCLA
Height/Weight: 6’3”/226
Age: 21
There is a lot of potential for this kid. He is tough, determined and athletic. Hundley is a dual-threat quarterback but that does not mean that he cannot throw. Hundley has already shown plenty of development as the quarterback of UCLA. He is a three-year starter and improved his completion percentage every year while cutting down on his interceptions. What was impressive too was that Hundley managed to avoid making multiple mistakes in games. He never threw more than one interception in a game all season. Most importantly, Hundley has shown that he is willing to take a hit when he makes a throw.

Some concerns can be raised about how much he throws the ball, falling below 400 attempts in each of the last two season. He also never even came close to matching his yardage total from his first season. His touchdown passes fell every year as well, dropping to a middling 22 in 2014. Hundley also has a lot of criticism for his lack of an internal clock. He took 125 sacks in 3 seasons, which can’t all be on him but that is a really high number for it to be all on the offensive line. Hundley will also need to improve his velocity on throws and find a way to avoid short arming them.

Hundley has a lot of developing left but he has already shown he is capable of being coached. It shows in his stats. Hundley could be a very difficult player to stop if he takes time to work on his mechanics. He needs to improve his release and body movement. Hundley is a lot like Colin Kaepernick, just without as strong an arm.

Predicted round: third
Ideal team: Denver Broncos. Hundley would obviously be able to learn from one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time. On top of that, he would be in a system that relies heavily on plays from the gun and lots of play-action, which is what Hundley did a lot of at UCLA. 

Garrett Grayson, Colorado State
Height/Weight: 6’2”/216
Age: 23
One of the more unknown prospects in this year’s draft, Grayson has been a bit of a late riser. He spent the last two years as the starting quarterback for Colorado State, showing vast improvements from his first to second year. Grayson tossed 32 touchdowns to only 7 interceptions with just over 4,000 passing yards. He wasn’t always consistent but Grayson managed to post absurd completion percentages at times this season, going above 70 percent on 5 separate occasions. Grayson displayed his amazing deep ball touch throughout the season. Grayson has worked in multiple offensive sets and demonstrated great poise in the pocket.

Grayson needs to work on some of his underneath throws. He has great arm strength but occasionally will lead his receivers too much, setting them up for big collisions. Grayson’s mechanics need a little bit of refinement as well. His release is a little elongated. He has been known to be a little slow in his progressions and fails to get into his drop back quickly enough. Grayson never really got the chance to play against top competition in the Mountain West Conference. The best teams Grayson faced all season, Boise State and Utah, beat him by a combined total of 48 points.

There is talent there, that is for sure. Refining that talent will be the challenge team will encounter with Grayson. He has a great deep ball, which is something a lot of prospects do not. He has a lot of the makings of a great NFL quarterback. Grayson needs some development, but he definitely has the potential to be a starter one day.

Predicted round: third (before Hundley)
Ideal team: New Orleans Saints. Learning from Drew Brees for a year, another quarterback who is slightly undersized, would be a blessing for Grayson. He has made a career so far out of a deep ball thrower, which the Saints offense does a lot of. It would be a good fit and allows Grayson to develop for a year or two.

What if Cleveland hadn’t won the 2014 NBA Draft Lottery?

Chris McGlynn Basketball, Draft, NBA , ,

Andrew_Wiggins_2014The NBA draft lottery is always difficult to predict. The last time the team with the highest chance of winning the lottery landed the top pick was over a decade ago when the Magic won back in 2004. That pick turned into Dwight Howard and drastically changed Orlando’s fortunes for the next several years. Some teams have simply gotten lucky with the draft lottery. Cleveland ended up with the top pick in the draft three out of the past four years, including 2014, where the Cavs won despite only having a 1.7 percent chance. That is simply unprecedented. It makes you wonder what might have happened if the Cavaliers’ fortunes weren’t so great. Here is what would have happened if the Cavs did not win the 2014 NBA draft lottery.

First thing is first, Andrew Wiggins doesn’t go first overall anymore. Milwaukee wins the draft lottery instead and the Bucks made it clear they wanted Jabari Parker no matter what. Instead, Wiggins goes second overall to the 76ers, making Philadelphia a scary young team. What transpires after the draft drastically changes the outlook of the 2014-2015 NBA season.

With no elite bargaining chip, the Cavaliers are unable to pry Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Instead, Love is shipped to Boston in exchange for Marcus Smart, Rodney Hood and two future first round picks. With Love headed for the Celtics instead of the Cavaliers, LeBron James decides to opt into his contract with Miami. The King’s presence in South Beach means that Chris Bosh walks away from the Heat for a contract with the Houston Rockets. Bosh teams up with the aforementioned Howard and James Harden to form a new Big Three in Texas. Some other free agents change their decision as well. Pau Gasol joins Miami to fill Bosh’s void. The incredible amount of spending by the Heat means they cannot afford to add the young Hassan Whiteside, who instead joins Philadelphia now that Joel Embiid is not in the picture. And with Gasol bound for Florida, the Bulls hang on to Jusuf Nurkic rather than trade for Doug McDermott. Chicago also finds an incredible amount of cap space they use to lure Carmelo Anthony away from New York.

The season starts with plenty of crazy headlines. Orlando cannot wait to pair Embiid with Nikola Vucevic next season. The 76ers love their core of Michael Carter-Williams, Nerlens Noel and Andrew Wiggins and never send MCW to Milwaukee. Rajon Rondo could not be happier in Boston with another star present in the form of Love. Dallas is in desperate need of a point guard but with Rondo locked in for the Celtics, the Mavericks find themselves out of luck. Right around the trade deadline, with the playoffs essentially out of sight with Dallas, Oklahoma City and New Orleans all in front of them, Phoenix deals Goran Dragic to the Knicks in exchange for Tim Hardaway Jr. and Lance Thomas. The Suns also send Isiah Thomas packing but this time to Charlotte for Lance Stephenson and a couple of future picks.

When the playoffs roll around, the super teams in each conference, Miami and Houston, enter as the top seeds. Milwaukee and Dallas miss the postseason due to the trades that now never happen. The Heat matches up with the eighth-seeded Cavaliers in the first round as LeBron inflicts even more pain on Cleveland with a 4-0 sweep. Miami edges the fourth-seeded Celtics and beats out the talented Bulls for a return to the NBA Finals for a fifth straight year. They meet the Memphis Grizzlies after the Griz outlast Houston in the Western Conference Finals. Pau and Marc Gasol become the first brothers to face each other in the NBA Finals. It would be the elder Gasol who gets the last laugh as Miami snags its third title in five years.

LeBron_JamesThe following offseason, with his contract up and three rings to his name, James walks away from the Heat and joins the Cavaliers. Linking up with Kyrie Irving, James sets out to recruit either LaMarcus Aldridge or Marc Gasol to join him in Cleveland. Minnesota is still sitting with the worst record in the league after an atrocious 11-71 season. The Knicks and Lakers both join the Wolves as those among the bottom three in the league. All of this happens if a different ping-pong ball was picked back in May of last year. Instead of talking about Cleveland, all the hype would still be in Miami right now with the playoffs just getting underway and the MVP conversation would likely be over as James dominated the league once again. Who knows, maybe LeBron will still get that third ring anyway.