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skaiapentertainment · 5 years

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Blast From The Past Development Listing

?= On the fence

↑= On the fence about moving them up

↓= On the fence about moving them down

Quarterbacks

SF Alex Smith, 22 yrs, Star

ARI Kurt Warner, 35 yrs, Superstar

SEA Matt Hasselbeck, 31 yrs, Star

LAC Philip Rivers, 25 yrs, Superstar

CIN Carson Palmer, 27 yrs, Star

BAL Steve McNair, 33 yrs, Star

PIT Ben Roethlisberger, 24 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Brick Wall)

GB Brett Favre, 37 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Bazooka)

GB Aaron Rodgers, 23 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Gambler)

NYG Eli Manning, 25 yrs, Star

PHI Donovan McNabb, 30 yrs, Superstar

DAL Drew Bledsoe, 34 yrs, Star

DAL Tony Romo, 26 yrs, Star

NE Tom Brady, 29 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Pro Reads)

NO Drew Brees, 27 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Fearless)

ATL Michael Vick, 26 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (First One Free)

TEN Vince Young, 23 yrs, Star ? ↓

IND Peyton Manning, 30 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Pro Reads)

Runningbacks

SF Frank Gore, 23 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Wrecking Ball)

ARI Edgerrin James, 28 yrs, Superstar ? ↓

LAR Steven Jackson, 23 yrs, Superstar

LAR Marshall Faulk, 32 yrs, Star

SEA Shaun Alexander, 29 yrs, Superstar

KC Larry Johnson, 27 yrs, Star

LAC Michael Turner, 24 yrs, Star

LAC Darren Sproles, 23 yrs, Star

LAC LaDanian Tomlinson, 27 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (First One Free)

BAL Jamal Lewis, 27 yrs, Superstar

GB Ahmad Green, 29 yrs, Star

NYG Tiki Barber, 31 yrs, Superstar

PHI Brian Westbrook, 27 yrs, Star

WAS Clinton Portis, 25 yrs, Star

NYJ Curtis Martin, 33 yrs, Star

NE Corey Dillon, 32 yrs, Star

BUF Willis McGahee, 25 yrs, Star

CAR DeAngelo Williams, 23 yrs, Star

ATL Warrick Dunn, 31 yrs, Star

JAX Fred Taylor, 30 yrs, Star

JAX Maurice Jones-Drew, 21 yrs, Superstar

Fullbacks

SEA Mack Strong, 35 yrs, Star

LAC Lorenzo Neal, 36 yrs, Superstar

TB Mike Alstott, 33 yrs, Star

Wide Receivers

ARI Larry Fitzgerald, 23 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Max Security)

ARI Anquan Boldin, 26 yrs, Superstar

LAR Torry Holt, 30 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Rac ‘Em Up)

LAR Isaac Bruce, 34 yrs, Superstar

DEN Rod Smith, 36 yrs, Star

DEN Brandon Marshall, 22 yrs, Superstar

OAK Randy Moss, 29 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Double Me)

LAC Vincent Jackson, 23 yrs, Star

CIN Chad Johnson, 28 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Rac ‘Em Up)

BAL Derrick Mason, 32 yrs, Star

PIT Hines Ward, 30 yrs, Superstar ? ↑

GB Donald Driver, 31 yrs, Star

GB Greg Jennings, 23 yrs, Star

NYG Plaxico Burress, 29 yrs, Star

WAS Santana Moss, 27 yrs, Star

DAL Terrell Owens, 33 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Double Me)

MIA Wes Welker, 25 yrs, Superstar

NE Deion Branch, 27 yrs, Star

TB Joey Galloway, 35 yrs, Star

NO Joe Horn, 34 yrs, Star

ATL Roddy White, 25 yrs, Superstar

HOU Andre Johnson, 25 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Double Me)

IND Marvin Harrison, 34 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Rac ‘Em Up)

IND Reggie Wayne, 28 yrs, Superstar

Tight Ends

SF Vernon Davis, 22 yrs, Star ? ↑

SF Delaine Walker, 22 yrs, Star

KC Tony Gonzalez, 30 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Max Security)

LAC Antonio Gates, 26 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Max Security)

BAL Todd Heap, 26 yrs, Star

PIT Heath Miller, 24 yrs, Star

NYG Jeremy Shockey, 26 yrs, Superstar ? ↓

WAS Chris Cooley, 24 yrs, Star

DAL Jason Witten, 24 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Max Security)

ATL Alge Crumpler, 29 yrs, Star

HOU Owen Daniels, 24 yrs, Star

IND Dallas Clark, 27 yrs, Star

Tackles

ARI Leonard Davis, 28 yrs, Star

LAR Orlando Pace, 31 yrs, Superstar

SEA Walter Jones, 32 yrs, Superstar

KC Willie Roaf, 36 yrs, Superstar

CIN Andrew Whitworth, 25 yrs, Superstar

CIN Willie Anderson, 31 yrs, Superstar

BAL Jonathan Ogden, 32 yrs, Superstar

GB Chad Clifton, 30 yrs, Star

PHI Tra Thomas, 32 yrs, Star

WAS Chris Samuels, 29 yrs, Superstar

DAL Flozell Adams, 29 yrs, Superstar

NYJ D’Brickshaw Ferguson, 23 yrs, Star

NE Matt Light, 28 yrs, Superstar

BUF Jason Peters, 24 yrs, Superstar

NO Jammal Brown, 25 yrs, Star

CAR Jordan Gross, 26 yrs, Star

TEN Michael Roos, 24 yrs, Star

IND Tarik Glenn, 30 yrs, Star

Guards

SF Larry Allen, 35 yrs, Superstar

LAR Richie Incognito, 23 yrs, Star

KC Will Shields, 35 yrs, Superstar

KC Brian Waters, 29 yrs, Superstar

LAC Kris Dielman, 25 yrs, Star

PIT Alan Faneca, 30 yrs, Superstar

DET Damien Woody, 29 yrs, Star

CHI Ruben Brown, 34 yrs, Star

MIN Steve Hutchinson, 29 yrs, Superstar

NYG Chris Snee, 24 yrs, Star

PHI Shawn Andrews, 24 yrs, Star

DAL Marco Rivera, 34 yrs, Star

NE Logan Mankins, 24 yrs, Superstar

TB Davin Joseph, 23 yrs, Star

NO Jahri Evans, 23 yrs, Superstar

CAR Evan Mathis, 25 yrs, Star

Centers

SF Jeremy Newberry, 30 yrs, Star

DEN Chris Myers, 25 yrs, Star

DEN Tom Nalen, 35 yrs, Star

CLE LeCharles Bentley, 27 yrs, Star

PIT Jeff Hartings, 34 yrs, Star

CHI Olin Kreutz, 29 yrs, Superstar

MIN Matt Birk, 30 yrs, Star

NYG Shaun O’hara, 29 yrs, Star

DAL Andre Gurode, 28 yrs, Star

NYJ Nick Mangold, 22 yrs, Superstar

NE Dan Koppen, 27 yrs, Star

TEN Kevin Mawae, 35 yrs, Superstar

IND Jeff Saturday, 31 yrs, Superstar

Edge

SF Bryant Young, 34 yrs, Star

ARI Bertrand Berry, 31 yrs, Star

LAR Leonard Little, 32 yrs, Star

SEA Julian Peterson, 28 yrs, Superstar

KC Jared Allen, 24 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Unstoppable Force)

KC Tamba Hali, 23 yrs, Superstar

DEN Elvis Dumervil, 22 yrs, Superstar

OAK Derrick Burgess, 28 yrs, Star

LAC Shaun Phillips, 25 yrs, Star

BAL Terrell Suggs, 24 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Unstoppable Force)

BAL Adalius Thomas, 29 yrs, Star

CLE Willie McGinest, 35 yrs, Star

PIT James Harrison, 28 yrs, Superstar

PIT Joey Porter, 29 yrs, Superstar

GB Aaron Kampman, 27 yrs, Star

GB Kabeer Gbaja-Biamilia, 29 yrs, Star

NYG Michael Strahan, 35 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Fearmonger)

NYG Justin Tuck, 23 yrs, Star

NYG Osi Umenyiora, 25 yrs, Superstar

PHI Jeveon Kearse, 30 yrs, Star

PHI Trent Cole, 24 yrs, Star

DAL DeMarcus Ware, 24 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Unstoppable Force)

NYJ Shaun Ellis, 29 yrs, Star

MIA Jason Taylor, 32 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Unstoppable Force)

MIA Kevin Carter, 33 yrs, Star

BUF Aaron Schobel, 29 yrs, Star

TB Simeon Rice, 32 yrs, Superstar

NO Will Smith, 25 yrs, Star

CAR Julius Peppers, 26 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Unstoppable Force)

ATL John Abraham, 28 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Unstoppable Force)

ATL Patrick Kerney, 30 yrs, Superstar ? ↓

TEN Kyle Vanden Bosch, 28 yrs, Star

HOU Jason Babin, 26 yrs, Star

HOU Mario Williams, 21 yrs, Superstar

IND Dwight Freeney, 26 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Unstoppable Force)

IND Robert Mathis, 25 yrs, Superstar ? ↑

Defensive Tackles

ARI Darnell Dockett, 25 yrs, Star

LAR La’Roi Glover, 32 yrs, Superstar

OAK Warren Sapp, 34 yrs, Superstar

LAC Jamal Williams, 30 yrs, Superstar

CIN Justin Smith, 27 yrs, Superstar

CIN Sam Adams, 33 yrs, Star

BAL Haloti Ngata, 22 yrs, Superstar

CLE Ted Washington, 38 yrs, Star

PIT Casey Hampton, 29 yrs, Star

DET Shaun Rogers, 26 yrs, Star

CHI Tommie Harris, 23 yrs, Star

MIN Pat Williams, 34 yrs, Star

MIN Kevin Williams, 26 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Run Stuffer)

NE Richard Seymour, 27 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Run Stuffer)

NE Vince Wilfork, 25 yrs, Superstar

BUF Kyle Williams, 23 yrs, Superstar

CAR Kris Jenkins, 27 yrs, Superstar

ATL Roderick Coleman, 30 yrs, Star

TEN Albert Haynesworth, 25 yrs, Star

TEN Randy Starks, 23 yrs, Star

JAX John Henderson, 27 yrs, Star

JAX Marcus Stroud, 28 yrs, Star

Linebackers

ARI Karlos Dansby, 25 yrs, Star

LAR Dexter Coakley, 34 yrs, Star ? ↓

SEA Lofa Tatupu, 24 yrs, Superstar ? ↓

KC Derrick Johnson, 24 yrs, Superstar

DEN Al Wilson, 29 yrs, Superstar ? ↓

BAL Bart Scott, 26 yrs, Star

BAL Ray Lewis, 31 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Reinforcement)

CLE D’Qwell Jackson, 23 yrs, Star

PIT James Farrior, 31 yrs Star

CHI Brian Urlacher, 28 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Run Stuffer)

CHI Lance Briggs, 26 yrs, Superstar

MIN Chad Greenway, 23 yrs, Star

NYG Lavar Arrington, 28 yrs, Star

PHI Jeremiah Trotter, 29 yrs, Superstar ? ↓

NYJ Jonathan Vilma, 24 yrs, Star

MIA Zack Thomas, 33 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Run Stuffer)

NE Mike Vrabel, 31 yrs, Star

NE Tedy Bruschi, 33 yrs, Star

BUF Takeo Spikes, 30 yrs, Star

BUF London Fletcher, 31 yrs, Superstar

TB Derrick Brooks, 33 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Run Stuffer)

CAR Thomas Davis, 23 yrs, Superstar

ATL Keith Brooking, 31 yrs, Star

HOU DeMeco Ryans, 22 yrs, Star

Corners

ARI Antrell Rolle, 24 yrs, Star

KC Patrick Surtain, 30 yrs, Star

DEN Champ Bailey, 28 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Shutdown)

OAK Nnamdi Asomugha, 25 yrs, Superstar

LAC Antonio Cromartie, 22 yrs, Superstar

CIN Deltha O’Neal, 29 yrs, Star

CIN Johnathan Joseph, 22 yrs, Star

BAL Chris McAlister, 29 yrs, Superstar

BAL Samari Rolle, 30 yrs, Star

PIT Ike Taylor, 26 yrs, Star

DET Dre’ Bly, 29 yrs, Star

CHI Charles Tillman, 25 yrs, Star

MIN Antoine Winfield, 29 yrs, Star

GB Charles Woodson, 30 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Zone Hawk)

GB Al Harris, 32 yrs, Star

NYG Sam Madison, 32 yrs, Superstar

PHI Lito Shepard, 25 yrs, Star

DAL Terrence Newman, 28 yrs, Star

NE Asante Samuel, 25 yrs, Superstar

BUF Nate Clements, 27 yrs, Star

TB Ronde Barber, 31 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Shutdown)

ATL DeAngelo Hall, 23 yrs, Star

TEN Adam Jones, 23 yrs, Star

JAX Rashean Mathis, 26 yrs, Star

Safeties

SF Mike Adams, 25 yrs, Star

ARI Adrian Wilson, 27 yrs, Superstar

DEN John Lynch, 35 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Reinforcement) ? ↓

BAL Ed Reed, 28 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Zone Hawk)

PIT Troy Polamalu, 25 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Reinforcement)

MIN Darren Sharper, 31 yrs, Superstar

GB Nick Collins, 23 yrs, Star

PHI Brian Dawkins, 33 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Reinforcement)

WAS Sean Taylor, 23 yrs, Superstar X-Factor (Reinforcement)

DAL Roy Williams, 26 yrs, Superstar

NE Rodney Harrison, 34 yrs, Star ? ↑

BUF Donte Whitner, 21 yrs, Star

NO Roman Harper, 24 yrs, Star

ATL Lawyer Milloy, 32 yrs, Star

IND Bob Sanders, 25 yrs, Superstar

Kickers

ARI Neil Rackers, 30 yrs, Star

OAK Sebastian Janikowski, 28 yrs, Star

LAC Nate Kaeding, 24 yrs, Star

BAL Matt Stover, 38 yrs, Star

CLE Phil Dawson, 31 yrs, Star

CHI Robbie Gould, 24 yrs, Star

PHI David Akers, 32 yrs, Superstar

DAL Mike Vanderjakt, 36 yrs, Star

NE Stephen Gostkowski, 22 yrs, Star

TB Matt Bryant, 31 yrs, Star

Punters

SF Andy Lee, 24 yrs, Superstar

KC Dustin Colquitt, 24 yrs, Star

OAK Shane Lechler, 30 yrs, Superstar

DAL Mat McBriar, 27 yrs, Star

BUF Brian Mooreman, 30 yrs, Superstar

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bongaboi · 3 years

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I rewatched every fourth quarter Tom Brady has played in a Super Bowl. Here’s what I saw

I rewatched every fourth quarter Tom Brady has played in a Super Bowl. Here’s what I saw By Chad Finn Globe Staff,Updated February 5, 2021, 9:59 a.m.

Of all the Patriots’ staggering achievements in their two-decade dynasty, there’s one obscure statistic that I struggle to comprehend.

In their nine Super Bowl appearances, they never scored a first-quarter touchdown, and in fact scored just 3 points in the opening quarter in total, a Stephen Gostkowski field goal in Super Bowl LII versus the Eagles.

Given the potency of their offenses through those years, that makes no sense. But it’s also a reminder of something else: Tom Brady and the Patriots usually made the magic happen in the fourth quarter.

With a little bit of envy kicking in that Brady — who was supposed to be in the fourth quarter of his career a decade ago — has taken a new team to the Super Bowl, I thought it would be cathartic to rewatch the fourth quarters of all of Brady’s Super Bowl appearances, to relish what we remember, and remember what we forgot …

SUPER BOWL XXXVI: Patriots 20, Rams 17 Score at the start of the fourth quarter: Patriots 17, Rams 3

Random observation: Willie McGinest didn’t so much hold Marshall Faulk as he did maul him like a hungry bear catching up to his prey. His fourth-down penalty with 10:09 left negated Tebucky Jones’s 90-plus-yard touchdown return of a Kurt Warner fumble. (Tebucky sure could run fast in a straight line.) That TD would have given the Patriots a 23-3 lead, point-after pending. Instead, the Rams scored on the next play and it was game on. McGinest is a cornerstone of the dynasty, but he came awfully close to Schiraldian infamy there.

Stuff I forgot: Rookie left tackle Matt Light went down with an injury, and it was Grant Williams (no relation to the current Celtic) who was protecting Brady’s blind side … Drew Bledsoe inexplicably started warming up with 4½ minutes left … Brady was nearly sacked on the first play of the winning drive, before stepping up and completing the first of his three passes to unheralded hero J.R. Redmond.

Coolest moment: I mean … all of it? I suppose I could say Pat Summerall’s minimalist call of Adam Vinatieri’s upright-splitting 48-yard field goal, a moment both cathartic and unbelievable for longtime Patriots fans. But if we’re talking cool, it has to be Brady’s casual spike and catch of the football to stop the clock for Vinatieri’s winning attempt. Joe Namath was a hopeless dork-for-life compared with Brady’s cool in that moment.

SUPER BOWL XXXVIII: Patriots 32, Panthers 29 Score at the start of the fourth quarter: Patriots 14, Panthers 10.

Random observation: Though it was a weird game that didn’t have much rhythm or flow, it was shocking to look up with 6:53 left and see that the Panthers were all of a sudden leading, 22-21. They took the lead on an 85-yard pass from Jake Delhomme to Muhsin Muhammed, who ran past Ty Law in zone coverage and left late-arriving safety Eugene Wilson (who had an outstanding rookie year) collapsed and injured on the turf. The attrition in the secondary got worse when Rodney Harrison busted his forearm in the final minutes. If you remember that Shawn Mayer was one of the Patriots’ safeties in closing out that game, I’m going to suspect you’re his relative.

Stuff I forgot: Christian Fauria made a nifty catch (especially for a future sports radio host) that would have given the Patriots a 21-10 lead seven seconds into the fourth quarter, but the play was blown dead because of a Panthers penalty before the snap … David Givens overpowered Panthers defensive backs to make a couple of catches on the touchdown drive that put the Patriots up, 29-22, inside three minutes. If you didn’t like Givens, you weren’t paying attention … McGinest picked up an illegal-use-of-hands penalty midway through the quarter when he more or less folded Steve Smith in half while jamming him at the line. He hit him so hard Faulk probably felt it, wherever he was.

Coolest moment: Vinatieri’s second Super Bowl-winning field goal. He had a rough game to that point, with a miss and a block, and with just under six minutes, analyst Phil Simms said, “I don’t know that the Patriots are feeling very confident about that field goal situation.” Ah, we all knew Vinatieri would make the big one when the time came, Phil. He was just adding a little suspense.

SUPER BOWL XXXIX: Patriots 24, Eagles 21 Score at the start of the fourth quarter: Tied, 14-14.

Random observation: It’s wild that the Eagles had a chance to win in the final minutes. It should have been in the bag for the Patriots when Tedy Bruschi picked off Donovan McNabb with 7:20 left and the Patriots ahead, 24-14. But the Patriots couldn’t quite put it away, even when they got the ball back with 1:47 left, up 3. If punters could earn saves, Josh Miller would be credited with one after pinning the Eagles at their own 4 with 46 seconds left.

Stuff I forgot: Remember MVP Deion Branch’s catch that went through the hands of an Eagles defensive back? I hope you do. Remember the name of the defensive back whose hands willed themselves invisible at the worst possible time? Let’s put it this way: I bet Eagles fans add some descriptors to Sheldon Brown’s name … Legend has it that a rattled McNabb threw up on the field during one of the Eagles’ weirdly meandering final possessions. But his stress was obvious much sooner. With just under six minutes left, Terrell Owens was yelling at him on the sideline to relax … McNabb did find future brief Patriot Greg Lewis for a touchdown with 1:48 left, with backup safety Dexter Reid in coverage. Wilson had left with an injury for the second straight Super Bowl.

Coolest moment: It’s probably the Branch catch. But Harrison mocking the Eagles by flapping his arms like wings after his clinching interception is a fine runner-up.

SUPER BOWL XLII: Giants 17, Patriots 14 Score at the start of the fourth quarter: Patriots 7, Giants 3.

Random observation: Yeah, I’ll admit it. The impetus for this entire project was the opportunity to say this: Eli Manning was a disaster on that last drive, and the only way he belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame is if he’s going to check out Peyton’s bronze bust. He air-mailed Plaxico Burress twice early in the drive. He nearly fumbled, holding on to the ball with his legs, after Adalius Thomas (who played like an Andre Tippett clone) chased him down. Asante Samuel dropped a pick (it was a high throw and tough catch). Brandon Meriweather nearly had a pick after Thomas drilled Manning while he was throwing. The legendary pass to David Tyree was a desperation heave. Manning tried to give the game to the Patriots, and they just would not take it.

Stuff I forgot: Harrison had kind of a rough go of it beyond failing to rip the ball away from Tyree. Kevin Boss shook him off for a 45-yard catch early in the quarter that set up the Giants’ first touchdown … The image of Junior Seau hugging Bruschi after Brady found Moss for the go-ahead touchdown with 2:42 left only gets more haunting as the years pass … Ray Ventrone blew up kick returner Dominik Hixon prior to the Giants’ final possession, forcing them to start at their own 16.

Coolest moment: Is there one, when you’re rewatching the dream of 19-0 turn into 18-1? I suppose it would have to be that fleeting fraction of a second when it looked as if Brady and Moss might connect on a run-as-fast-as-you-can-and-I’ll-throw-it-as-far-as-I-can deep ball with 16 seconds left. Jason Webster got a fingertip — maybe just a fingerprint — to deflect the pass near the 21-yard line. Brady threw the ball 68 yards, and if it had carried another foot … well, you know.

SUPER BOWL XLVI: Giants 21, Patriots 17 Score at the start of the fourth quarter: Patriots 17, Giants 15

Random observation: I thought it then, and I know it now: The Patriots win this game if Rob Gronkowski is healthy, and they win it with ease. Playing on a heavily-taped sprained ankle, he had the mobility of an aging peg-legged pirate, and the Giants figured it out early. Gronk had one catch in the first three quarters, and he briefly stopped running on one of the key plays in the game, a Brady interception in the first minute of the fourth quarter. On a broken play after eluding the rush, Brady heaved it deep to Gronk, but he didn’t have the mobility to outposition generic linebacker Chase Blackburn, who came down with the interception. A healthy Gronk also might have hauled in the Hail Mary that Aaron Hernandez deflected his way on the final play, but he was a half-step late.

Stuff I forgot: Mario Manningham made a memorable catch along the sideline on the Giants’ winning drive. Earlier in the quarter, NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth criticized him, with an accompanying graphic, for his habit of running at an angle along the sidelines that would carry him out of bounds before he could get both feet down. That play was even more unlikely than we knew … Ahmad Bradshaw fumbled at the 14-minute mark at the Giants 13. James Ihedigbo should have made the recovery — it was right there — but Chris Snee ended up pouncing on it, keeping the Giants in possession. There are so many scattered what-ifs in the losses … It’s remembered as a drop, but Brady threw the ball behind Wes Welker on the infamous blunder with four minutes left. The more damaging drop might have been Branch’s at the Patriots 40 on the first play of the final possession, with 57 seconds left. If he catches it — and he was wide open — he has at least 20 yards on the play, with room to run.

Coolest moment: None. No cool moments. And it’s creepy seeing Hernandez. Do not recommend.

SUPER BOWL XLIX: Patriots 28, Seahawks 24 Score at the start of the fourth quarter: Seahawks 24, Patriots 14.

Random observation: Pete Carroll’s blank-eyed stare after the Malcolm Butler pick nourishes my soul. Less random observation? Rallying to win against this ferocious Seattle defense — and overcoming a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit, the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history — was the greatest feat of Brady’s career to that point.

Stuff I forgot: When you’re talking about third-down backs who have shown up in the biggest moments over the years, never forget to put Shane Vereen up there with James White, Redmond, and Kevin Faulk. Vereen made three of his 11 catches on the go-ahead drive, including a lovely one-handed grab with 6:45 left … Collinsworth started blathering about Deflategate with 2:52 left and the Patriots on the Seattle 5, trailing, 24-21. If there was any one moment to stick to the game, that was it … It’s amazing how prominent Butler had become even before the interception. He had blanket coverage on the ridiculous Jermaine Kearse catch, which felt like a here-we-go-again moment for Patriots fans. But he also got away with a trip earlier in the quarter, and had a spectacular breakup off a pass intended for Kearse just inside the two-minute mark.

Coolest moment: Given the timing and magnitude of the play, the effect that it had on win probability, how it saved the Patriots from what seemed to be another heartbreak, the degree of difficulty in catching it, and that it ushered in the second phase of the greatest dynasty in NFL history, Butler’s interception is to me the greatest single play in NFL history. But the coolest moment might have come a few seconds after the play, when Butler burst into tears while Patrick Chung hugged him, the joy and weight of his accomplishment hitting him all at once.

SUPER BOWL LI: Patriots 34, Falcons 28, OT Score at the start of the fourth quarter: Falcons 28, Patriots 9

Random observation: When we retell the tale of this football miracle, it’s tempting to say every single decision and play had to go the Patriots’ way in the fourth quarter. But the reality is, only most of the plays went their way, and the fourth quarter actually started with a bit of a letdown. The Patriots had to settle for a field goal with just under 10 minutes left, cutting it to 28-12, with Grady Jarrett sacking Brady twice on that drive. They were just warming up for their impossibly perfect finish.

Stuff I forgot: White should have been the MVP, and Brady ended all honest debates about who the greatest quarterback of all time is, but there were countless other heroes too, and rewatching this game offered a nice reminder of Malcolm Mitchell’s role. He had five catches in the fourth quarter and overtime, including a third-and-11 conversion on the drive that cut the score to 28-20. He was the David Givens of that Patriots team, and he’ll always be remembered well … It’s forgotten now, but the Patriots defense had a huge breakdown with 5:48 left, when Devonta Freeman was left uncovered and raced for a 39-yard catch-and-run … Of all of the huge plays, the biggest to me is Dont’a Hightower’s sack of Matt Ryan and forced fumble (recovered by Alan Branch) at the Falcons 25 with 8:28 left and the Patriots down 16.

Coolest moment: Julian Edelman’s catch — you know the one, with a little over two minutes left, when he somehow entered the Matrix, stopped time, or dabbled in some other sorcery and clutched the ball amid a sea of limbs just as it was about to hit the turf — is one of the most famous in NFL history. If Lynn Swann got to Canton based largely on Super Bowl highlights for a dynasty, Edelman deserves the same consideration someday.

SUPER BOWL LII: Eagles 41, Patriots 33 Score at the start of the fourth quarter: Eagles 29, Patriots 26

Random observation: I don’t know if we’ll ever know more than we do about why Butler was benched. But it was impossible to believe then, and it remains impossible to believe upon rewatch, that he would not have performed better than Eric Rowe, Johnson Bademosi, and Jordan Richards in pass coverage.

Stuff I forgot: Chris Hogan had just one catch in the fourth quarter, on the possession punctuated with Gronk’s touchdown, but it’s worth remembering that he was one of three Patriots pass catchers to have a monster game, catching six passes for 128 yards and a score. I tended to remember Gronkowski (9-116-2) and Danny Amendola (8-152-0) in a game in which Brandin Cooks got knocked out and Edelman (who missed the season with a knee injury) didn’t play, but not Hogan’s … Despite being close to unstoppable on offense, the Patriots never led until Gronk’s 4-yard touchdown reception put them up, 33-32, with 9:22 left … The biggest non-scoring play of the game? Nick Foles’s 2-yard completion to Zack Ertz on fourth-and-1 from the Eagles 45 with 5:39 left. Trey Flowers was a half-step from getting to Foles.

Coolest moment: I don’t know, the one play Butler was allowed to participate in on special teams? I mean, Foles figured them out. Nick Foles? This is a real low point. This one hurts.

SUPER BOWL LII: Patriots 13, Rams 3 Score at the start of the fourth quarter: Patriots 3, Rams 3

Random observation: I wonder if Jared Goff would still be a Ram today if not for two outcomes on back-to-back plays — a dropped touchdown pass by Cooks with 4:24 left, and an interception by Stephon Gilmore on a terrible, forced pass to Cooks on the next play. Bill Belichick and Brian Flores broke him that day.

Stuff I forgot: Jonathan Jones crushed Goff as he was running toward the sideline with 11:42 left. If you didn’t think of Bledsoe and Mo Lewis at that moment, you must be one of those newer Patriots fans … Here’s a subtle big play: Sony Michel’s 26-yard run, from his own 5 to the 31, with 3:38 left and the Patriots up, 10-3. Amazes me how so many forget how good he was running behind James Develin that postseason … Three plays later, Rex Burkhead also had a 26-yard run. How did they do this up the middle against a defense featuring Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh?

Coolest moment: Easy call. Brady’s 29-yard throw to a triple-covered Gronkowski midway through the quarter that set up the game’s only touchdown. That has to be one of the three or four prettiest throws of Brady’s career, and it was the perfect coda to their time as teammates — with the Patriots, at least …

#2021 #nfl #national football league #tom brady #new england patriots

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newslookout · 3 years

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Rex Ryan says Aaron Rodgers is playing ‘desperate’ this season | NFL Countdown

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The NFL Countdown crew of Rex Ryan, Tedy Bruschi, Randy Moss and Matt Hasselbeck discuss the storylines that intrigue them most in the NFC Divisional Round game between the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers.

#NFL #Rams #Packers

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The post Rex Ryan says Aaron Rodgers is playing ‘desperate’ this season | NFL Countdown appeared first on News Lookout.

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swisscoin4-blog · 5 years

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The Bear’s Den, November 2, 2018

BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!

BEARRRSSSS

Medina: Bryce Callahan Is Ballin’ Out and Playing His Way to a Potential Contract Extension - Bleacher Nation - Bryce Callahan is having a breakout year in a contract year. Considering his importance to the defense, is he worthy of an extension?

Bernstein: Bears Getting Their Share Of Breaks - 670 The Score - The Bears are capitalizing on opportune developments -- and must keep doing so.

Bears defense matchup well vs. Bills - ESPN Video - NFL Live’s Tedy Bruschi and Darren Woodson explain their picks for the Week 9 matchup between the Bears and Bills.

Emma: Bears Getting Running Game Off The Ground - 670 The Score - Coach Matt Nagy has vowed for a more efficient Bears rushing attack.

Emma: Vic Fangio - Bears ‘Probably’ Should’ve Rested Khalil Mack Sooner - 670 The Score - Hampered by an ankle injury, Khalil Mack’s status for Sunday remains in doubt.

Letizia's Opponent Outlook: Buffalo Bills By the Numbers - Da Bears Brothers Blog - Here's a deep dive into the numbers for this week's opponent, the Buffalo Bills.

Stankevitz: The Bears have an elite run defense. But how much does that actually matter in today’s NFL? - NBC Sports Chicago - Stopping the run isn't as critical as it used to be in today's pass-happy NFL, though members of the Bears explain why it still is important for the success of their defense.

Bears Mailbag: The Bears' offense vs the Bills' defense will be ... something - NBC Sports Chicago - Answering some your most pressing questions.

Perez: Chicago Bears 2018 Midseason Awards - Bears Wire - Chicago Bears 2018 Midseason Awards, including MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and more!

Perez: Sean McDermott uses Bears QB Mitch Trubisky as example for Josh Allen - Bears Wire - Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott used Chicago Bears QB Mitch Trubisky as an example for the kind of growth Josh Allen can have next season

Kaufman: Week 9 Key Matchups - ChicagoBears.com - When the Bears take on the Bills Sunday, keep an eye out for these key matchups, including defensive tackle Akiem Hicks against running back LeSean McCoy.

Mayer's Chalk Talk: Is Shaheen returning to practice? - ChicagoBears.com - Senior writer Larry Mayer discusses whether tight end Adam Shaheen will return to practice this week, the Bears not making a trade before the deadline and Jordan Howard’s role after his productive game against the Jets.

Mayer: Run defense remains critical to Bears - ChicagoBears.com - With the proliferation of the passing game in the NFL, a stingy run defense seemingly has lost some of its value. But the Bears realize that stopping an opponent’s ground game is paramount to success.

Mayer: Bears running backs honor Payton - ChicagoBears.com - Walter Payton passed away 19 years ago Thursday, but the legendary Hall of Famer is still very much on the minds of Bears nation, especially the team’s three running backs.

Medina: Wasn't Cody Parkey Supposed to Make Us Forget About the Bears' Kicking Struggles? - Bleacher Nation - Cody Parkey was supposed to bring stability to the kicking game, but some high-profile misses have cast some doubt over the latest kicker to call Soldier Field home.

Finley: After Cody Parkey's miss, Bears coach compares Soldier Field to British Open - Chicago Sun-Times - Cody Parkey’s 40-yard missed field came on a “tough day to kick” Sunday at windy Solider Field, special teams coordinator Chris Tabor said.

Jahns: Why Bills defense is good test for Bears QB Mitch Trubisky - Sun Times - Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky faces a stiff test this week against the Bills.

Finley: Vic Fangio - Bears 'probably' should have sat Khalil Mack sooner - Sun Times - The Bears might have been wise to sit Khalil Mack once he hurt his right ankle against the Dolphins last month, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said.

Bears predictions: Week 9 vs. Bills - Sun Times - The Sun-Times’ experts offer their picks for the Bears’ Week 9 game Sunday at the Bills:

Potash: Nathan Peterman expected to start for Bills - Sun Times - Bills quarterback Nathan Peterman has thrown four interceptions this season. He's expected to face the Bears.

Kane: 7 things we heard from Bears coordinators Thursday, including Vic Fangio on letting Khalil Mack play through injury and out-of-line NFL fines - Chicago Tribune - Bears defensive end Khalil Mack was inactive for the first time in 71 career games Sunday against the Jets because of a right ankle injury. He played through the injury for two games because Fangio said the Bears were trying to listen to Mack’s assertions that he was good to play.

Bills 27, Vikings 6: Why this season's most startling upset should be a major warning sign for the Bears - Chicago Tribune - If the Chicago Bears had any urge to see Sunday's game against the last-place Buffalo Bills as a gimme win, they should know better. The Bills' 27-6 destruction of the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3 is a warning sign for Bears coach Matt Nagy and his players.

Kane: Khalil Mack, Allen Robinson remain out in Thursday's Bears practice - Chicago Tribune - Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack and wide receiver Allen Robinson sat out practice for a second straight day Thursday as both continue to recover from injuries that kept them out of Sunday’s game against the Jets.

Bear Download podcast: The brutality of football and previewing Bears-Bills - Chicago Tribune - Welcome to the weekly Bear Download podcast with Rich Campbell and Dan Wiederer. Listen below or subscribe and listen on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Play Rich and Dan preview the Bears' road game Sunday against the Bills. But first they take a deep dive into the brutality of football and...

Audio Mailbag: How Many Wins Will it Take for the Bears to Make the Playoffs? (And More) - Da Bears Brothers Podcast - Da Bears Brothers provide another round of in-depth analysis on questions submitted by the fans in their weekly Audio Mailbag episode.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Projecting 2020 roster locks, bubble players for all 32 NFL teams - ESPN - NFL rosters turn over quickly, and your favorite player could be gone soon. We predicted who will still be on their current teams in two years.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Midseason QB Index: Aaron Rodgers > Tom Brady - NFL.com - Gregg Rosenthal reveals his ranking of all 32 starting quarterbacks at the midpoint of the 2018 NFL season. Have a look at where Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady land in the pecking order heading into their Week 9 matchup. Ken’s Note: Mitchell Trubisky is worse than Jameis Winston and Blake Bortles? Two benched QB’s? ESPN’s own (stupid) QBR ranks him 7th in the league. I swan, ESPN, consistency be damned.

‘Swiss-Army knife’ TJ Jones expected to take on bigger role in the Lions offense - Pride Of Detroit - It certainly sounds like TJ Jones is expected to take on a much bigger role after the Golden Tate trade.

Viking injury report - Daily Norseman - The list of Minnesota Vikings injuries has been lengthy as of late. And while it doesn’t look like it is letting up, a few names stand out as promising.

Fantasy week 9: A smart player will sit Bills RB LeSean McCoy against the Bears - Sun Times - There’s no reason to wheel out McCoy against a Bears run defense that is third in yards allowed and remains the only team to not allow a rushing TD.

Finley: Bears’ Khalil Mack and Allen Robinson sit — as does Bilal Nichols - Sun Times - Despite Nagy saying that Bilal Nichols being limited with an knee injury Wednesday was precautionary, he did not practice Thursday.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong: Both Bears and Bills fans expect a huge Chicago win - Windy City Gridiron - Welcome to SB Nation FanPulse — a survey of fans across the NFL, powered by SurveyMonkey. Each week, we send 32 polls to 100+ plugged in fans from each team. Bears fans, sign up HERE to join...

Berckes' Five Questions with Buffalo Rumblings: “When it comes to Peterson...you just have to wait him out” - Windy City Gridiron - As the Bears roll into Buffalo for their 4th straight game against the AFC East, we prep with Buffalo Rumblings

Householder's 2018 NFL Week 9 Game Preview: Chicago Bears at Buffalo Bills - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears try to make it two in a row with a road trip to Buffalo. Can Chicago drop the Bills through the proverbial table?

Silverstein: When Sid threw seven - Windy City Gridiron - Bears historian Jack M Silverstein looks back at Sid Luckman’s historic 7-touchdown game, 75 years ago this month.

DDKS: Jordan Morgan still available - Windy City Gridiron - There's a young offensive guard out there that has some familiarity with the Bears offense, so should they bring him back?

WCG CONTRIBUTORS BEARS PODCASTS & STREAMS

2 Minute Drill - Website - iTunes - Andrew Link; Steven’s Streaming – Twitch – Steven Schweickert; T-Formation Conversation - Website - iTunes - Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; WCG Radio - Website - iTunes - Robert Zeglinski

THE RULES

Windy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following is not permitted in comments, FanPosts, usernames or anywhere else in an SB Nation community: Comments, FanPosts or usernames that are intolerant or prejudiced; racial or other offensive epithets; Personal attacks or threats on community members; Gendered insults of any kind; Trolling; Click link for full information.

The Bear’s Den Specific Guidelines – The Bear’s Den is a place for Chicago Bears fans to discuss Chicago Bears football, related NFL stories, and general football talk. It is NOT a place to discuss religion or politics or post political pictures or memes, and any posts that do this will be deleted and the poster will be admonished. We do not allow comments posted where the apparent attempt is to cause confrontation in the community. We do not allow gender-directed humor or sexual assault jokes. The staff of WCG are the sole arbiters of what constitutes “apparent attempt to cause confrontation”. We do not allow the “calling out” of other members in any way, shape or form. Posts that do this will be deleted on sight. Bottom line, it’s fine to debate about football, but personal jabs and insults are strictly prohibited. Additionally, if you keep beating the same dead horse over and over and fail to heed a moderator’s warning to stop, you will be banned.

Click on our names to follow us on Twitter:

WCG Contributors: Jeff Berckes; Patti Curl; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter; Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Andrew Link; Ken Mitchell; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; EJ Snyder; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; Whiskey Ranger; Robert Zeglinski; Like us on Facebook.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2018/11/2/18053902/chicago-bears-2018-season-news-updates-analysis-game-eight-buffalo-bills-limit-turnovers-running

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229greenkill · 6 years

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Nick Lathrop

You are invited to the opening reception for Nick Lathrop who is in the exhibition “The Black Rainbow,” curated by Aaron Landcastle on Saturday July 7 from 5 to 9 PM.

Nick’s work will be on display from Saturday, July 7 until Saturday, July 28, 2018.

“The Black Rainbow”includes sixteen exceptional artists who live and work in the Hudson Valley: Laura Andrighetti, Don Bruschi, Will Dayer,…

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questionguy · 6 months

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there is certainly a good reason why disease doesn’t know how to react when someone touches him.

minor tw for implied drug use/withdrawl

he’s sickly. he is constantly sick, battling some sort of illness. fighting detox. its hard, and although he keeps up with his own personal hygiene he can’t really hide how his face and body looks and with how people are in jail..

it isn’t like he has no friends. he has friends, but he can tell they feel uneasy when they’re too close to him. he can see the discomfort on his fellow inmate’s faces when they accidentally brush against his arm. he made up his own name, hell- but that doesn’t mean its a double edged sword. literally everything in jail is.

anyway, given all of that, its a shock when a new guy shows up and pats his back despite being clearly introduced to him. its also a shock when he doesn’t make a remark about his nose bleeding, but instead grabs him tissues and asks if he’s okay.

especially considering how neat this guy looks. i mean. disease is covered in various marks from a laundry list of different things. he has bad acne everywhere, his nose is always red and runny, his arms are littered in improperly healed scabs from picking at bug bites and needle marks. the list goes on.

meanwhile?

this man looks, well, beautiful for a lack of a better word. his name certainly matched the eloquence the rest of him had as well. Maryln.

even after their prior introduction to eachother, it didn’t seem like he cared for any of the atmosphere the inmates forced on him. he spoke to him regularly, quite gracefully actually. he sat next to him, not putting space between the two of them out of fear or disgust. he was kind. a different sort of kind from the usual “kind” he’d see in prison.

of course he was apprehensive. but then he got used to it. and eventually, he enjoyed it.

it was nice having someone in his little quarantine bubble.

#prison panic⚡️#disease #aaron bruschi #marlyn fogger #oc #mavwriting

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junker-town · 6 years

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Hercules Mata’afa is a ‘tiny’ defensive tackle. Does he have a future as an NFL linebacker?

Mata’afa clocks in at 252 pounds, and his NFL success hinges on a position change.

Hercules Mata’afa is as strong as his name suggests. He’s big, too — just not big enough to be an NFL defensive lineman.

It meant he didn’t hear his name called in the 2018 NFL Draft, and signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent.

Mata’afa proved himself as one of college football’s most disruptive defensive tackles despite being one of its smallest. At just 6’1 and 252 pounds, he was able to bully and blow past interior linemen en route to 10.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss at Washington State in 2017.

But if he’s going to prove himself as an NFL athlete, he’ll have to do it as a linebacker.

While Mata’afa’s resume compares favorably to almost any other pass rusher in the 2018 NFL Draft, his background as a significantly undersized lineman casts a long shadow over his potential pro career. His NFL dreams will hinge on developing from an underdog college tackle to a regular-sized NFL linebacker. Fortunately for him, it’s a position he’s handled in the past.

Mata’afa’s experience should inspire confidence in his ability to handle the transition

Mata’afa was a 225-pound outside linebacker at Hawai’i’s Lahainaluna High School when he began his football career in earnest. He wasn’t an especially well-regarded prospect — 247Sports’ composite rankings paint him as a low three-star player who barely cracked the top 1,700 recruits in 2014 — but he chose Mike Leach’s Cougars over offers from Oregon State and San Diego State. That’s where his transformation began.

A redshirt freshman year bulked him up to 242 pounds and transitioned him from a stand-up pass rusher to one on the front line. Mata’afa’s first year of college football action saw him handle duties both at defensive end and inside, where he showed off his speed and power en route to seven sacks — all against Power 5 opponents — and honorable mention All-Pac-12 status. That led to an experiment for the Cougars to see if Hercules’ strength and elite first-step quickness could hold up in the middle of the defensive line rather than at the edge.

Mata’afa was up to the task, earning second-team all-conference honors after he led his team in quarterback hurries, sacks, and tackles for loss. That set the stage for 2017’s revelation; a nine-win season in Pullman and consensus All-American status in a season where he doubled his sack output.

It also raised an important question: Can a player who was dominant in stretches at defensive tackle despite giving up 50-plus pounds to blockers every week have a similar impact against bigger, faster, stronger offensive linemen in the NFL?

Mata’afa’s versatility should add to his value as a player, not detract

It seems a given Mata’afa will be drafted as a linebacker or potential 4-3 defensive end rather than as the middle-of-the-line bulldog he’s been in college. Da’Ron Payne, one of the draft’s top-ranked tackles, clocks in at 6’2 and 308 pounds and is considered small for the position. Vita Vea, who chased down quarterbacks for Mata’afa’s rival at Washington, clocks in at 6’5 and 340.

Even Aaron Donald, one of the smallest tackles in the league, has a solid 30 pounds on the Washington State product.

One useful comparison could be another undersized Pac-12 lineman who turned into a Pro Bowl NFL linebacker: Arizona’s Tedy Bruschi.

Bruschi was a 6’1, 247-pound tackle/end with the Wildcats who racked up All-American honors but fell to the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft thanks to questions about whether he could thrive at the next level. The Patriots selected him and converted him to linebacker, where he developed into a two-time All-Pro and three-time Super Bowl winner. While Mata’afa doesn’t quite have the chops of his College Football Hall of Fame counterpart, his versatility gives him the chance to follow Bruschi’s path.

The truth is he doesn’t fit the NFL mold for one specific position, but he can fill multiple roles. He’ll be small with his hand on the ground, but his explosive first step and stout power give him the bonafides to contribute at end, especially if he can add a useful spin move to help him torch offensive tackles around the corner. His quarterback-terrorizing resume shows he’s gifted enough to hold down an RUSH linebacker role, and his 4.76 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine suggests he’s not as slow as his defensive line peers.

While picking up pass coverage is a concern — athletic tight ends would feast on the mismatch created by his presence up the seam — he’s great at shedding blocks and making stops. His top-line speed isn’t great, but his quickness and fluidity has been the foundation of a stellar collegiate career.

So why didn’t Mata’afa land in the 2018 NFL Draft?

That background pushed him into draft consideration, but his lack of positional stability left him scattered across mocks. Pro Football Focus paints him as a top 60 prospect. NFL.com sees him as a round 5-6 pick. Gil Brandt slots him in as the draft’s No. 119 prospect, landing somewhere in the fourth round. Somehow, that leaves him the opportunity to be either a sleeper or a bust at the same time.

As an undrafted free agent, he’ll really only have a chance to be a gem.

More importantly, his experience as an undersized tackle has showcased his strength, toughness, and ability to overcome physical limitations. Further boosting his stock is the fact 2018’s draft class isn’t deep with pass rushers; a needy team may be willing to overlook his shortcomings in order to focus on his production. A utility player with a knack for getting to the quarterback is a valuable thing — especially if an enterprising defensive coordinator can carve out a niche for a player praised for his leadership.

He believes another transition won’t be a problem, even if finding an opportunity might.

“That’s the aspect of my game that I don’t think anyone else in this draft can match,” he wrote for CBS New York earlier in April. “That experience of rushing the passer from every angle and every technique. I hope people see that in me and give me that chance to prove what I can do, because that’s all I need: one chance.”

Mata’afa will have to prove himself all over again now that his transition to the pro ranks wiped the slate clean on a college productive career. Fortunately for the big, yet somehow too small Hawaiian, he’s spent the last four years proving himself — with great success.

0 notes

junker-town · 6 years

Text

Hercules Mata’afa is a ‘tiny’ defensive tackle. Does he have a future as an NFL linebacker?

Mata’afa clocks in at 252 pounds, and his NFL success hinges on a position change.

Hercules Mata’afa is as strong as his name suggests. He’s big too — just not big enough to be an NFL defensive lineman.

But if he’s going to prove himself as an NFL athlete, he’ll have to do it as a linebacker.

Mata’afa’s experience should inspire confidence in his ability to handle the transition

Mata’afa was a 225-pound outside linebacker at Hawai’i’s Lahainaluna High School when he began his football career in earnest. He wasn’t an especially well-regarded prospect — 247Sports’ composite rankings paint him as a low three-star player who barely cracked the top 1700 recruits in 2014 — but he chose Mike Leach’s Cougars over offers from Oregon State and San Diego State. That’s where his transformation began.

It also raised an important question: Can a player who was dominant in stretches at defensive tackle despite giving up 50+ pounds to blockers every week have a similar impact against bigger, faster, stronger offensive linemen in the NFL?

Mata’afa’s versatility should add to his value as a player, not detract

Even Aaron Donald, one of the smallest tackles in the league, has a solid 30 pounds on the Washington State product.

One useful comparison could be another undersized Pac-12 lineman who turned into a Pro Bowl NFL linebacker: Arizona’s Tedy Bruschi.

The truth is he doesn’t fit the NFL mold for one specific position, but he can fill multiple roles. He’ll be small with his hand on the ground, but his explosive first step and stout power give him the bonafides to contribute at end, especially if he can add a useful spin move to help him torch offensive tackles around the corner. His quarterback-terrorizing resume shows he’s gifted enough to hold down an RUSH linebacker role, and his 4.76 40 time at the NFL Combine suggests he’s not as slow as his defensive line peers.

So where will Mata’afa land in the 2018 NFL Draft?

That background has pushed him into draft consideration, but his lack of positional stability has left him scattered across mocks. Pro Football Focus paints him as a top 60 prospect. NFL.com sees him as a round 5-6 pick. Gil Brandt slots him in as the draft’s No. 119 prospect, landing somewhere in the fourth round. Somehow, that leaves him the opportunity to be either a sleeper or a bust at the same time.

He believes another transition won’t be a problem, even if finding an opportunity might.

Mata’afa will have to prove himself all over again once the NFL Draft wipes the slate clean on a college productive career. Fortunately for the big, yet somehow too small Hawaiian, he’s spent the last four years proving himself — with great success.

0 notes