While the Chicago White Sox are competing in spring training games, it is time to take a look at five players whose performances will be vital to the White Sox success this season. By now, White Sox fans should know what to expect from many of the veterans on the team. This list will examine some of the younger players that will be looking to improve on their numbers from last season in order to reach their full potential.
John Danks, 27 (ages entering 2013 season)
Perhaps the biggest x-factor that will determine the success of the White Sox is John Danks. The lefty, who is coming off of shoulder surgery, will have to remain healthy to bolster the White Sox rotation this season. In addition to saying healthy, Danks will need to reverse the trend of declining numbers in his short career. During his six year career, Danks is 57-60 in 159 career starts with a 4.12 ERA and 1.32 WHIP. What is alarming is that over the last three seasons, Danks’ ERA and WHIP has increased each season resulting in a 5.70 ERA and 1.49 WHIP prior to last season’s injury. If Danks can stay healthy and produce numbers up to his potential (3.75 ERA and 1.25 WHIP), then the White Sox rotation should be very formidable.
Tyler Flowers, 27
After spending the last two seasons as A.J. Pierzynski’s primary back-up, Tyler Flowers will have a chance to be the team’s everyday catcher. Flowers possess plenty of power as a hitter, but strikes out a ton. As a result, Flowers fails to hit for a high average. In 273 ABs, Flowers hit for a .205 average with 12 home runs and 29 RBIs while striking out 107 times. If Flowers can improve on his contact rate and hit around .230, then the White Sox will gladly take the 20 homers and 60 RBIs that should come with more at-bats. In addition to hitting, Flowers will provide the White Sox with a strong arm behind the plate that threw out 33% of all base stealers last season. If Flowers hits up to his potential, then the White Sox should be in decent shape behind the dish.
Gordon Beckham, 26
At age 26, and entering his 5th season in the big leagues, second baseman Gordon Beckham is running out of time to reach his lofty expectations. Beckham was drafted 8th overall by the White Sox in the 2008 draft. After being a star shortstop at the University of Georgia, many scouts expected Beckham to be a perennial all-star as a .300 hitter with potential to hit 25 home runs. After playing 103 games in the 2009 season while batting .270 with 14 home runs and 63 RBIs, those expectations seem warranted. After two severely disappointing seasons, Beckham was able to reach those power numbers with 16 homers and 60 RBIs. Unfortunately, the batting average was just .234, and Beckham was very inconsistent. Beckham needs to start trying to drive the ball to the opposite field like he did in 2009. If he can do that, Beckham may not be able to ever hit .300, but a .270 average should be obtainable.
Dayan Viciedo, 24
By looking at the numbers, Left-fielder Dayan Viciedo had a great season. Viciedo hit .255 with 25 home runs and 78 RBIs in 505 ABs. The problem with “The Tank” is that his plate discipline is terrible. As a result, Viciedo struck out 120 times and walked just 28 times which helped produce a poor on-base-percentage of .300. Viciedo has reportedly being working on adding a “leg-kick” to his batting approach to help him time his swing more effectively. At age 24, Viciedo still has time to work on his approach so it is good to hear that he is willing to change things up. Viciedo has as much pure strength as anybody is baseball, and if he can make contact at a higher percentage his should be a perennial 30-plus home run hitter with potential to even reach 40 homers. This season will be big for Viciedo. If he can improve on last season’s numbers he will provide plenty of pop for the White Sox behind Alex Rios, Paul Konerko, and Adam Dunn.
Addison Reed, 24
The 2012 season was an up-and-down one for rookie closer Addison Reed. After having experience as a closer at San Diego State University, Reed was able to ascend to the closers’ role midway through last season. Reed finished the season pitching 55 innings in 62 games while recording 29 saves. By doing so, Reed proved he can shut the door, but also has room to improve after posting a 4.75 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. Considering it was his first season, Reed should be able to use his strike out-per inning potential to put up much better peripherals during his second season. With a mid-90s fastball, above average slider, and plus change-up, Reed has the pure stuff to be a successful closer in the majors. Given that and his experience as a closer in college, expect Reed to take a big step forward during the 2013 season and become one of the better closers in baseball.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Eifert, Ertz are Perfect Fits for Chicago Bears
With tight end prospects performing at the NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday afternoon, the Chicago Bears should have their eyes on two players. Notre Dame’s Tyler Eifert and Stanford’s Zach Ertz should both be very high on General Manger Phil Emery’s draft board. The Bears' tight end situation last season was absolutely dreadful. After Greg Olsen was sent to Carolina following the 2010 season, the Bears have not had a legitimate pass-catching option at the position. Olsen was Jay Cutler’s favorite target while he was in Chicago, and the Bears owe it to Cutler to upgrade the talent at tight end. Another season of Kellen Davis and Matt Spaeth routinely dropping passes simply can’t happen again. Both Eifert and Ertz would automatically become the Bears' best receiving tight end on the roster, and would help open up things offensively.
Tyler Eifert comes out of Notre Dame as the school’s most prolific tight end ever. Over the course of three seasons on the field, Eifert totaled 140 receptions and 1,840 receiving yards; both are school records. Eifert has shown the ability to play tight on the line, line up as an H-back, or be split out wide. During his time at Notre Dame, Eifert ran all types of routes and caught the ball nearly every time. Eifert has the strength and hands to catch passes in traffic, speed to stretch defenses down the middle, and athleticism to win jump-ball opportunities anywhere on the field. In addition to pass catching prowess, Eifert improved dramatically in run-blocking during his senior season. Prior to last year, NFL scouts questioned Eifert’s ability to be an every-down player because of his poor blocking skills. During the 2012 season, Eifert showed that he has the strength and technique to help out in the run game with his blocking, and he will have to improve on this as his career progresses. At 6 foot 5 inches and 250 pounds, Eifert has the body NFL teams now want at the position. Add in a 4.68 40-yard dash time and 35.5 inch vertical, and Eifert also possess the athleticism that is required to be a threat in the vertical passing game. With the way the NFL has evolved the last few years into a passing league, teams are searching for players like Eifert to be the next Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham, or Aaron Hernandez. Given that, the Bears would be wise to seriously consider taking Eifert with the 20th selection in the first round this April.
Zach Ertz finished his junior season at Stanford as the team’s featured tight end. After Coby Fleener left Stanford with Andrew Luck following the 2011 season, Ertz thrived while receiving more playing time. Ertz started 14 games for the Cardinal, and caught 69 passes for 898 yards and 6 TDs. Ertz is nearly identical in size to Eifert at 6 foot 5 inches and 249 pounds. However, Ertz is not nearly athletic as Eifert, as evidence by running a 4.76 40-yard dash and only having a 30.5 inch vertical. But, Ertz did outperform Eifert in the bench press, by benching 225 pounds 24 times as opposed to Eifert’s 22 times. Given how Ertz performed, his athleticism, strength, and size make him a more traditional tight end. Ertz may not be able to stretch the field as well as Eifert can, but he has terrific hands and should be a very reliable possession receiver in traffic. In addition to being able to move the chains, Ertz has proven to be a very solid blocker during his time at Stanford. Ertz may be the more well-rounded option, and should be taken in the first round as well. Given the Bears draft position, either Eifert or Ertz should be available with the 20th selection. With two potential All-Pro options at tight end, GM Phil Emery has a perfect opportunity to address arguably the Bears’ biggest need.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Tyler Eifert comes out of Notre Dame as the school’s most prolific tight end ever. Over the course of three seasons on the field, Eifert totaled 140 receptions and 1,840 receiving yards; both are school records. Eifert has shown the ability to play tight on the line, line up as an H-back, or be split out wide. During his time at Notre Dame, Eifert ran all types of routes and caught the ball nearly every time. Eifert has the strength and hands to catch passes in traffic, speed to stretch defenses down the middle, and athleticism to win jump-ball opportunities anywhere on the field. In addition to pass catching prowess, Eifert improved dramatically in run-blocking during his senior season. Prior to last year, NFL scouts questioned Eifert’s ability to be an every-down player because of his poor blocking skills. During the 2012 season, Eifert showed that he has the strength and technique to help out in the run game with his blocking, and he will have to improve on this as his career progresses. At 6 foot 5 inches and 250 pounds, Eifert has the body NFL teams now want at the position. Add in a 4.68 40-yard dash time and 35.5 inch vertical, and Eifert also possess the athleticism that is required to be a threat in the vertical passing game. With the way the NFL has evolved the last few years into a passing league, teams are searching for players like Eifert to be the next Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham, or Aaron Hernandez. Given that, the Bears would be wise to seriously consider taking Eifert with the 20th selection in the first round this April.
Zach Ertz finished his junior season at Stanford as the team’s featured tight end. After Coby Fleener left Stanford with Andrew Luck following the 2011 season, Ertz thrived while receiving more playing time. Ertz started 14 games for the Cardinal, and caught 69 passes for 898 yards and 6 TDs. Ertz is nearly identical in size to Eifert at 6 foot 5 inches and 249 pounds. However, Ertz is not nearly athletic as Eifert, as evidence by running a 4.76 40-yard dash and only having a 30.5 inch vertical. But, Ertz did outperform Eifert in the bench press, by benching 225 pounds 24 times as opposed to Eifert’s 22 times. Given how Ertz performed, his athleticism, strength, and size make him a more traditional tight end. Ertz may not be able to stretch the field as well as Eifert can, but he has terrific hands and should be a very reliable possession receiver in traffic. In addition to being able to move the chains, Ertz has proven to be a very solid blocker during his time at Stanford. Ertz may be the more well-rounded option, and should be taken in the first round as well. Given the Bears draft position, either Eifert or Ertz should be available with the 20th selection. With two potential All-Pro options at tight end, GM Phil Emery has a perfect opportunity to address arguably the Bears’ biggest need.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Friday, February 22, 2013
Te'o's Draft Stock Should Not be Affected by Hoax
Over a month has passed since the Lennay Kekua hoax took over the sports world by storm. For 48 hours, Twitter "blew up". For days virtually all sports and news related websites and television shows were covering the story. By now everyone knows what happened. Both, Manti Te'o and Ronaiah Tuiasosopo have went on national television telling their sides of the story. For what its worth, they both claimed that Te'o had no involvement in creating the hoax, and that he had no knowledge that Kekua did not exist prior to her "death". Whether or not you believe their claims is up to you.
The NFL scouting combine is underway, and Manti Te'o will be privately interviewed by a number of NFL teams and executives. Undoubtedly, they will all ask questions about the hoax and Te'o will tell them the exact same thing he has told everyone. It will be up to each NFL executive to determine whether or not they believe Te'o. However, I do not believe Te'o's draft stock should be affected by the hoax. But, his play versus Alabama in the national title game should. Manti Te'o played arguably his worst game on the biggest stage. Te'o seemed to be overwhelmed during the game. Maybe it was just the big stage, maybe he was overmatched, or maybe it was because of the hoax. Either way, Te'o missed more tackles in that game than he had all season. In addition, Te'o was unable to make plays because Alabama offensive guard, Chance Warmack, manhandled him every chance he got. If Te'o wants to succeed in the NFL he will have to learn how to shed blockers more effectively.
Although Te'o played poorly in that game, his performance over the course of four seasons versus BCS conference talent should not be ignored. Prior to the BCS title game, Te'o was considered to be a top 10 (maybe top 5) pick. In all honesty, that estimate was probably a little inflated due to the hype Notre Dame and Te'o received during their undefeated regular season. If Te'o were to be judged solely by his performance in the title game, then he would most likely be a 3rd round pick. Based on his career and title game performance, Te'o's draft stock has probably now reached a more realistic point. Most NFL draft experts now have Te'o being selected in the mid-to-late first round. In particular, ESPN's draft experts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay had Te'o going 13th and 20th respectively in their most recent mock drafts. Over his career Te'o has proven to be a tremendous football player, an outstanding coverage linebacker, and a great tackler. NFL teams that have a need at the inside linebacker position would be wise to take Te'o with a pick in the second half of the first round. Don't be surprised if Te'o winds up in a city like Pittsburgh, Chicago, or even Baltimore.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
The NFL scouting combine is underway, and Manti Te'o will be privately interviewed by a number of NFL teams and executives. Undoubtedly, they will all ask questions about the hoax and Te'o will tell them the exact same thing he has told everyone. It will be up to each NFL executive to determine whether or not they believe Te'o. However, I do not believe Te'o's draft stock should be affected by the hoax. But, his play versus Alabama in the national title game should. Manti Te'o played arguably his worst game on the biggest stage. Te'o seemed to be overwhelmed during the game. Maybe it was just the big stage, maybe he was overmatched, or maybe it was because of the hoax. Either way, Te'o missed more tackles in that game than he had all season. In addition, Te'o was unable to make plays because Alabama offensive guard, Chance Warmack, manhandled him every chance he got. If Te'o wants to succeed in the NFL he will have to learn how to shed blockers more effectively.
Although Te'o played poorly in that game, his performance over the course of four seasons versus BCS conference talent should not be ignored. Prior to the BCS title game, Te'o was considered to be a top 10 (maybe top 5) pick. In all honesty, that estimate was probably a little inflated due to the hype Notre Dame and Te'o received during their undefeated regular season. If Te'o were to be judged solely by his performance in the title game, then he would most likely be a 3rd round pick. Based on his career and title game performance, Te'o's draft stock has probably now reached a more realistic point. Most NFL draft experts now have Te'o being selected in the mid-to-late first round. In particular, ESPN's draft experts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay had Te'o going 13th and 20th respectively in their most recent mock drafts. Over his career Te'o has proven to be a tremendous football player, an outstanding coverage linebacker, and a great tackler. NFL teams that have a need at the inside linebacker position would be wise to take Te'o with a pick in the second half of the first round. Don't be surprised if Te'o winds up in a city like Pittsburgh, Chicago, or even Baltimore.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Keppinger Could Prove to be Valuable
The Chicago White Sox had a very quiet winter this offseason by failing to add a high-profile player. However, General Manager Rick Hahn did add a new piece to puzzle by acquiring free-agent infielder Jeff Keppinger. Keppinger was signed to a three-year, $12 million deal in December of 2012. At first, I questioned the move, hoping the White Sox would add a bigger name. But, based on how the White Sox are currently constructed, Keppinger may prove to be a valuable under-the-radar signing this summer.
By signing Keppinger, the White Sox filled two glaring holes to their roster and lineup. With Kevin Youkilis leaving via free-agency to New York and Brent Morel’s balky back, the White Sox needed a reliable option at third base. With the ability to play multiple infield positions, Keppinger is more than athletic enough to handle the “hot corner”.
Offensively, Keppinger may not possess the power that teams would like from their third baseman, but the White Sox don’t need a ton of power from the position. With Paul Konerko, Adam Dunn, Alex Rios, and Dayan Viciedo all capable of hitting at least 25 home runs, the one thing the White Sox don’t lack is power. Add in the 15-plus homer potential from Alexei Ramirez, Gordon Beckham, and Tyler Flowers and it is easy to see why GM Rick Hahn made the move.
But, amongst all that power comes a lot of strikeouts. Given that, the White Sox were in dire need of a more ideal number two hitter in their batting order. With Alejandro De Aza set to lead off once again, Keppinger should slide in nicely between De Aza and the White Sox 3-4-5 hitters of Rios, Konerko, and Dunn. Keppinger fits the mold as a classic number two hitter because he makes excellent contact. In fact, since 2010, Keppinger boasts the 2nd lowest strikeout rate (6.5%) in the majors behind only Juan Pierre. In addition to making contact, Keppinger has been able to reach base at a respectable rate over his career, highlighted by a career high on-base percentage of .367 last season. During his career, Keppinger also holds a .288 batting average and .337 on-base percentage.
If there was a concern with Keppinger, it would be how he handles being in the lineup every day. Throughout his career Keppinger has rarely been a full-time player, eclipsing 400 at-bats twice, and 500 ABs just once. Given those statistics, it should be interesting to see what kind of production the White Sox will get from their offseason investment provided he gets over 500 at-bats. If that happens expect Keppinger to hit around .290 with 10-15 homers and 50-60 RBIs. Add those statistics with a .340 or better OBP, and the White Sox lineup should prove to be very well-rounded. With a prototypical number two hitter added to the batting order, solid defense, and versatility to play all-over the field, Keppinger should prove to be more valuable to the White Sox than originally thought.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
By signing Keppinger, the White Sox filled two glaring holes to their roster and lineup. With Kevin Youkilis leaving via free-agency to New York and Brent Morel’s balky back, the White Sox needed a reliable option at third base. With the ability to play multiple infield positions, Keppinger is more than athletic enough to handle the “hot corner”.
Offensively, Keppinger may not possess the power that teams would like from their third baseman, but the White Sox don’t need a ton of power from the position. With Paul Konerko, Adam Dunn, Alex Rios, and Dayan Viciedo all capable of hitting at least 25 home runs, the one thing the White Sox don’t lack is power. Add in the 15-plus homer potential from Alexei Ramirez, Gordon Beckham, and Tyler Flowers and it is easy to see why GM Rick Hahn made the move.
But, amongst all that power comes a lot of strikeouts. Given that, the White Sox were in dire need of a more ideal number two hitter in their batting order. With Alejandro De Aza set to lead off once again, Keppinger should slide in nicely between De Aza and the White Sox 3-4-5 hitters of Rios, Konerko, and Dunn. Keppinger fits the mold as a classic number two hitter because he makes excellent contact. In fact, since 2010, Keppinger boasts the 2nd lowest strikeout rate (6.5%) in the majors behind only Juan Pierre. In addition to making contact, Keppinger has been able to reach base at a respectable rate over his career, highlighted by a career high on-base percentage of .367 last season. During his career, Keppinger also holds a .288 batting average and .337 on-base percentage.
If there was a concern with Keppinger, it would be how he handles being in the lineup every day. Throughout his career Keppinger has rarely been a full-time player, eclipsing 400 at-bats twice, and 500 ABs just once. Given those statistics, it should be interesting to see what kind of production the White Sox will get from their offseason investment provided he gets over 500 at-bats. If that happens expect Keppinger to hit around .290 with 10-15 homers and 50-60 RBIs. Add those statistics with a .340 or better OBP, and the White Sox lineup should prove to be very well-rounded. With a prototypical number two hitter added to the batting order, solid defense, and versatility to play all-over the field, Keppinger should prove to be more valuable to the White Sox than originally thought.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Robin Ventura Turns Down Extension
In 2012, Robin Ventura guided the Chicago White Sox to an 85 win season, resulting in a 2nd place finish in the American League Central Division. The White Sox led the division for most of the season, but were unable to hold off the Detroit Tigers in September causing them to miss the playoffs. Considering that the White Sox were not expected to contend last season, Ventura’s first managerial season was considered a success. So much that General Manager Rick Hahn, and the White Sox brass, offered Ventura a one year extension to his contract earlier this week. After taking some time to think about it, Ventura turned down the extension on Wednesday that would keep him as manager through the 2015 season. As a result, Ventura still has two years left on his current deal and feels there is plenty of time to figure things out. In a statement released on Wednesday, Ventura stated:
“It’s flattering and nice and everything, but in talking to Rick, we have two more years to do this. We have good communication and everything is fine. I think this is my contract. I was the same way as a player. I’ll worry about it at the end of it. For them, I want them to have two years to think I’m still the right guy for the job for that to continue to go. It wasn’t anything that was a big deal, so I’m not holding out for anything or disappointed in not wanting to stay here. I think at the end of that, that’s when you talk about it. I’m not worried about trying to extend anything right now. I’m more worried with this team in this spring training than I’m worried about 2015.”
At first, I was wondering why Ventura turned down the extension. Usually, you would expect a manager to accept a contract extension for more security and money. However, after hearing his reasons, I understand and respect Ventura’s decision to turn down the extension. As a former player that had a long successful career, Ventura most likely has financial stability and is not managing for the money. This decision proves that Ventura is only focused on continuing to do his job, and that he wants to be the White Sox manager because he loves the organization. Considering that the White Sox are very loyal to their former players, expect Ventura to get offered and accept a more long term extension provided that the White Sox are contending during the next two seasons. When former GM Kenny Williams hired Ventura prior to the 2012 season, Williams had visions of Ventura being the manager for a substantial amount of time. If things go right, Williams will have his wish and Ventura will indeed be on the south side for years to come.
-Eric Tichelbaut
“It’s flattering and nice and everything, but in talking to Rick, we have two more years to do this. We have good communication and everything is fine. I think this is my contract. I was the same way as a player. I’ll worry about it at the end of it. For them, I want them to have two years to think I’m still the right guy for the job for that to continue to go. It wasn’t anything that was a big deal, so I’m not holding out for anything or disappointed in not wanting to stay here. I think at the end of that, that’s when you talk about it. I’m not worried about trying to extend anything right now. I’m more worried with this team in this spring training than I’m worried about 2015.”
At first, I was wondering why Ventura turned down the extension. Usually, you would expect a manager to accept a contract extension for more security and money. However, after hearing his reasons, I understand and respect Ventura’s decision to turn down the extension. As a former player that had a long successful career, Ventura most likely has financial stability and is not managing for the money. This decision proves that Ventura is only focused on continuing to do his job, and that he wants to be the White Sox manager because he loves the organization. Considering that the White Sox are very loyal to their former players, expect Ventura to get offered and accept a more long term extension provided that the White Sox are contending during the next two seasons. When former GM Kenny Williams hired Ventura prior to the 2012 season, Williams had visions of Ventura being the manager for a substantial amount of time. If things go right, Williams will have his wish and Ventura will indeed be on the south side for years to come.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
WBC Not a Top Priority for USA
Justin Verlander, Clayton Kershaw, Cole Hamels, David Price, Kris Medlen, Matt Harrison, Andrew McCutchen, Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Buster Posey, and Dustin Pedroia. Those are some of Major League Baseball’s best players, and all are United States’ citizens. However, none of them will be participating on Team USA during the World Baseball Classic this March. Whether it is because of recovering from an injury, personal issues, or contractual reasons many of our country’s most talented players feel that the WBC is not nearly as important as the MLB regular season. While I can’t say that I disagree with some of their decisions, American baseball fans will never take the WBC seriously unless the players do first. One could argue that American baseball players choose not to participate in the event because they feel obligated to get ready for the MLB season, but that argument is flawed when you realize that other star players from different countries are participating. For example the Venezuelan Team has Miguel Cabrera, Felix Hernandez, and Carlos Gonzalez all participating on their roster. If those star players can “risk” their MLB seasons', then I see no reason why the United States' best players can’t as well. As an avid baseball fan, I should be more excited about a competition involving the greatest players from various countries around the globe, but I’m not. For baseball fans in America, the MLB regular season and World Series are what matters most. On the other hand, baseball fans across the globe feel that international competitions such as the WBC are more important. Until the United States' players stop treating the WBC like an exhibition, it will never garner enough attention in our country. As a baseball fan, I am disappointed that my country’s players do not care about the WBC as much as they should. As a result, American baseball fans should feel cheated that their team is not as star-studded as it ought to be.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Update: Felix Hernandez has officially declined his WBC invite for Team Venezuela based on elbow issues that held up his 7 year $175 million dollar deal with the Seattle Mariners. Although Hernandez declined the invite, still more star players from the United States are declining invites than any other country. Hernandez has also apologized to his home country because he knows how much Venezuelan citizens cared about him participating.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Update: Felix Hernandez has officially declined his WBC invite for Team Venezuela based on elbow issues that held up his 7 year $175 million dollar deal with the Seattle Mariners. Although Hernandez declined the invite, still more star players from the United States are declining invites than any other country. Hernandez has also apologized to his home country because he knows how much Venezuelan citizens cared about him participating.
Jadeveon Clowney Should Play
An article has recently been written suggesting that all-everything defensive end, Jadeveon Clowney, should sit out his upcoming junior season before entering the NFL draft in 2014. The article argues that because Clowney will be the number one overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft, that he should not risk a career-threatening injury by playing his junior season. While I understand the thought process behind the argument, the idea is completely ridiculous. When Clowney committed to the University of South Carolina prior to the 2011 season, he signed up to play at least 3 years of college football. By sitting out his junior season, Clowney would by sending a terrible message in several ways. First, Clowney should play his junior season because he still can get better. Yes, Clowney will likely be the first player taken in the 2014 NFL draft, but he can still work on skills during practices and games. While playing in the South Eastern Conference, Clowney will continue to develop his talents against some of the nation’s best players. Second, Clowney shouldn’t sit out his junior year because he should want to play. Anyone that is considering playing football as a profession should want to play whenever he has the chance. Choosing not to play will make people seriously question his desire to have a long NFL career. Third, by sitting out during his junior season, Clowney will appear to be a selfish player. Clowney owes it to his teammates at South Carolina to compete with them. Clowney should want to help his team win a SEC championship or even a BCS national championship. Fourth, by sitting out his junior season, Clowney will appear to have a lack of character and dedication to NFL executives. If I was a NFL executive, I would have hesitations on drafting Clowney with the first overall selection after sitting out a year. It would raise a red flag, and make me question where his heart is at. If Clowney would be willing to sit out an entire season for fear of getting hurt, then why wouldn’t he sit out during training camp, practice, preseason games, or even meaningless regular season games (when his team is eliminated from playoff contention)? Lastly, Clowney should play his junior year because nobody knows if he will get hurt. Clowney has played two seasons without a major injury, and could easily play another. In addition, a career-threatening injury can happen at any time and anywhere. Clowney could suffer an injury while training, weight lifting, playing a pick-up basketball game, or by any other freak accident. The possibilities are endless, and while sitting out his junior season would prevent any on-the-field injury, it will not prevent every possible injury from occurring. I believe that Jadeveon Clowney should and will play his junior season, but the fact that this is even a discussion in the minds’ of some sports analysts and columnists is very disheartening to say the least.
-Eric Tichelbaut
-Eric Tichelbaut
Monday, February 11, 2013
3 Things to Watch this Spring for the Chicago White Sox
On Monday, pitchers and catchers started to report to Major League Baseball spring training camps. Shortly after that position players will join them, and spring training games are only two weeks away. In light of that, it is time to take a look at three key factors to watch as the Chicago White Sox begin spring training.
1. John Danks’ health
Left-handed starter, John Danks, underwent surgery on his pitching shoulder on August 6th of last year. Although shoulder surgeries are hard to predict, Danks appears to be recovering at a good enough pace that he could be ready to start by Opening Day. As Danks begins to pitch in spring games, look to see how his velocity improves with each start. When recovering from a shoulder surgery, building up arm strength is the key. It will be interesting to see how Danks responds to increased workloads and pitch counts this spring, as well as taking the mound every fifth day. The White Sox already have a strong starting rotation with Jake Peavy, Chris Sale, and Gavin Floyd all returning. Assuming those three stay healthy all year, having a healthy and effective Danks could make the White Sox rotation one of the strongest in the American League.
2. Battle for fifth starter
Peavy, Sale, Danks, and Floyd should lead the White Sox starting rotation, but a fifth member is needed to round out the staff. Last year, lefty Jose Quintana came out of nowhere to secure a starting rotation spot throughout most of last season. Quintana pitched extremely well over his first two months of action, but leveled off in the 2nd half of the season. Considering he was claimed off waivers from the New York Yankees, I would expect Quintana to be closer to the average pitcher we saw late in 2012, as opposed to the all-star caliber starter we saw early. Either way, Quintana still can be effective enough to be a fifth starter in the American League. In 2012, lefty Hector Santiago was a closer, set-up man, long reliever, and a starter. This season, Santiago will have a chance to win the fifth starter’s spot. Santiago made a few starts down the stretch in 2012, and was able to strike out 26 batters in 19 innings as a starter. Santiago throws a little harder than Quintana, and in my opinion he also has better off-speed pitches. With Santiago’s ability to throw in the low to mid 90s, an above average change-up, and a nasty screwball (that acts as a right-handed pitchers’ slider), he appears to be better suited to put away hitters from both sides of the plate than Quintana. It will be interesting to see how both southpaws perform in the spring, and who ends up winning the job.
3. Tyler Flowers as an everyday catcher
Much to the dismay of many White Sox fans, veteran catcher A.J. Pierzynski is gone after 8 years of being the everyday catcher. His replacement will be Tyler Flowers. Flowers was acquired from the Atlanta Braves a few years ago to be the eventual replacement to Pierzynski. During the last two seasons, Flowers has spent most of his time on the bench. In limited action, Flowers has showed tremendous raw power as a hitter, and proved to have a much better throwing arm than Pierzynski. The main question mark for Flowers will be his ability to call a game every day and how he handles the pitching staff. If he can show signs of working well with the pitchers in spring games, then the White Sox should be in pretty good shape during the regular season. Pierzynski won’t be easy to replace, but Flowers should prove to be an adequate catcher.
-Eric Tichelbaut
1. John Danks’ health
Left-handed starter, John Danks, underwent surgery on his pitching shoulder on August 6th of last year. Although shoulder surgeries are hard to predict, Danks appears to be recovering at a good enough pace that he could be ready to start by Opening Day. As Danks begins to pitch in spring games, look to see how his velocity improves with each start. When recovering from a shoulder surgery, building up arm strength is the key. It will be interesting to see how Danks responds to increased workloads and pitch counts this spring, as well as taking the mound every fifth day. The White Sox already have a strong starting rotation with Jake Peavy, Chris Sale, and Gavin Floyd all returning. Assuming those three stay healthy all year, having a healthy and effective Danks could make the White Sox rotation one of the strongest in the American League.
2. Battle for fifth starter
Peavy, Sale, Danks, and Floyd should lead the White Sox starting rotation, but a fifth member is needed to round out the staff. Last year, lefty Jose Quintana came out of nowhere to secure a starting rotation spot throughout most of last season. Quintana pitched extremely well over his first two months of action, but leveled off in the 2nd half of the season. Considering he was claimed off waivers from the New York Yankees, I would expect Quintana to be closer to the average pitcher we saw late in 2012, as opposed to the all-star caliber starter we saw early. Either way, Quintana still can be effective enough to be a fifth starter in the American League. In 2012, lefty Hector Santiago was a closer, set-up man, long reliever, and a starter. This season, Santiago will have a chance to win the fifth starter’s spot. Santiago made a few starts down the stretch in 2012, and was able to strike out 26 batters in 19 innings as a starter. Santiago throws a little harder than Quintana, and in my opinion he also has better off-speed pitches. With Santiago’s ability to throw in the low to mid 90s, an above average change-up, and a nasty screwball (that acts as a right-handed pitchers’ slider), he appears to be better suited to put away hitters from both sides of the plate than Quintana. It will be interesting to see how both southpaws perform in the spring, and who ends up winning the job.
3. Tyler Flowers as an everyday catcher
Much to the dismay of many White Sox fans, veteran catcher A.J. Pierzynski is gone after 8 years of being the everyday catcher. His replacement will be Tyler Flowers. Flowers was acquired from the Atlanta Braves a few years ago to be the eventual replacement to Pierzynski. During the last two seasons, Flowers has spent most of his time on the bench. In limited action, Flowers has showed tremendous raw power as a hitter, and proved to have a much better throwing arm than Pierzynski. The main question mark for Flowers will be his ability to call a game every day and how he handles the pitching staff. If he can show signs of working well with the pitchers in spring games, then the White Sox should be in pretty good shape during the regular season. Pierzynski won’t be easy to replace, but Flowers should prove to be an adequate catcher.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Saturday, February 9, 2013
2013 Notre Dame Recruiting Class
This past Wednesday marked one of the most exciting (non-gameday) days associated with college football, National Signing Day. As of 7:00am local time, recruits all across the country were allowed sign with a school and fax in their Letter of Intents. While having a top rated recruiting class does not necessarily translate to on-the-field success, it certainly makes it easier to have talent. On Wednesday, the University of Alabama signed the top ranked recruiting class according to Rivals.com. This was the 5th time in 6 years that Alabama has garnered such ranking. These top-rated recruiting classes have helped Alabama win 3 out of the last 4 BCS National Championship. As Notre Dame found out on January 7th, there is a major talent gap between Alabama and everyone else. To win a national title, Notre Dame needs to close that gap. On Wednesday, Notre Dame took a huge step in the right direction.
Notre Dame was able to haul in an impressive class of recruits that placed them 3rd in the country. In all, 24 teenagers agreed to join the Fighting Irish. Amongst those recruits were four 5-star players, fourteen 4-star players, and six 3-star players. To demonstrate how impressive this class looks on paper, only three 5-star players signed with Notre Dame in the previous three classes combined. While Notre Dame has certainly had good recruiting classes under Head Coach Brian Kelly, none have come clo€se to this one. In Kelly’s first year, a shared class with former coach Charlie Weis, the Irish ranked 14th. In 2011, they ranked 10th, and in 2012 they ranked 20th. Throw in the 21st ranked class in 2009 during the last full Weis’ season, and it is remarkable to think Brian Kelly led the Irish to an undefeated season without a “great” recruiting class. This year’s 3rd ranked class shows what winning can do to help recruiting. If Notre Dame can continue to reach BCS bowl games, then they should be able to consistently have top 5 recruiting classes. It will be interesting to see how Brian Kelly can develop this kind of talent, and what kind of success he can have in closing the gap with Alabama.
I would like to breakdown this class by position, and talk about what I expect each player’s future to look like. Let’s take a look at the new members of the Fighting Irish.
Quarterback-The lone recruit for the quarterback position is Malik Zaire (4-stars). Zaire is the 3rd rated dual-threat quarterback in the country and appears to be an ideal fit for Brian Kelly’s spread offense. Zaire has enrolled early this spring, and will have both spring and summer practices to learn the offense. With that being said, I fully expect Zaire to be redshirted this season. Notre Dame currently has four other scholarship quarterbacks on their roster in Everett Golson, Tommy Rees, Andrew Hendrix, and Gunner Kiel, so there is a logjam at the position. With Golson, the presumed starter, having 3 years of eligibility remaining, and Kiel with 4 years left, it may be a few years before Zaire makes an impact on the field.
Running Back-With running backs Cierre Wood and Theo Riddick now gone, Notre Dame recruited this position extremely hard. Their efforts landed them two big recruits out of the state of Florida. The first is 5-star back, Greg Bryant. Notre Dame has not had a 5-star running back since James Aldridge in 2006, and they hope that Bryant will have a better career. The second is 4-star back, Tarean Folston, who joins Notre Dame because they were able to hold off Auburn’s late push to try and steal Folston. With Bryant and Folston, Notre Dame has landed two “SEC-type” running backs. Bryant gives the Irish a powerful back that can also break one for 60-yards, whereas Folston will provide more speed and run outside the tackles. Neither recruit has enrolled early, but I expect both to have a shot for playing time. In fact, it would not surprise me if Greg Bryant starts on August 31st vs Temple. At the very least, Bryant should receive carries early on during the season, and could be the “featured back” come mid-season. Folston should also have a shot at earning playing time, but I would not be surprised if Kelly redshirts him. Notre Dame already has a speedster in George Atkinson III, and Kelly may want to save his eligibility for when Atkinson leaves after 2014. With Atkinson, Bryant, USC transfer Amir Carlisle, and Will Mahone coming off a redshirt from 2012, the Irish backfield should be loaded once again.
Wide Receiver-The wide receiver position was pretty weak after the departure of Michael Floyd following the 2011 season. Last year, TJ Jones and Davaris Daniels emerged as starters and should be one of the top tandems in the country next season. In addition, 3 freshmen (Chris Brown, Davonte Neal, and Justin Ferguson) either redshirted or played sparingly last season and should now be ready for larger roles. Joining Notre Dame’s receiving corps will be four 4-star recruits. Two of the four are already in South Bend as early enrollees. James Onwualu and Corey Robinson (son of former NBA star David Robinson) should have a leg up on the other two recruits. William Fuller and Torii Hunter Jr. (yes, that Torii Hunter) are the other two receivers set to join the Irish this summer. Hunter has just started to recover from a broken leg, and will have a lot of work to do to see the field this season. Given the injury, I am expecting a redshirt. Onwualu, Robinson, and Fuller will all have a chance to prove if they can play, but I am not expecting much of an impact from any of them this season. It is hard for wide receivers to make an immediate impact, and Kelly has already shown he is willing to redshirt talent at the position. With Daniels, Jones, Daniel Smith, Brown, Neal, and Ferguson already ahead of the four newcomers on the depth chart, playing time will be slim. Expect the four recruits to learn the offense this year and become a very strong group in a couple years.
Tight End-“Tight End U” has lost another prospect to the NFL in Tyler Eifert. To help fill the void, Notre Dame has signed three recruits in Mike Heuerman, Durham Smythe, and Jacob Matuska. Out of the three, Heuerman has the best chance to make an impact next season. Heuerman is a 4-star recruit and has enrolled this spring. With spring and summer practices, Heuerman has a chance to step right in and fill some of the void left after Eifert’s departure. At 6 foot 4 inches and 220 pounds, Heuerman has the body type and athleticism (4.69-40 yard dash) to replace Eifert’s role when he was spread out wide and ran wide receiver type routes. Durham Smythe (3-stars) has more of a natural tight end’s body and should eventually take on the blocking role that junior Troy Niklas did this past season. Smythe figures to be more of a project and will likely redshirt this season with Heuerman, Junior Ben Koyack, and Niklas all ahead of him on the depth chart. Jacob Matuska (3-stars) has been rumored to be moving to either defensive end or offensive tackle. Given this news, expect a redshirt and for it to take a few years before he makes an impact.
Offensive Line-Since Brian Kelly has arrived, he has constantly stated that recruiting offensive lineman will be a top priority. This recruiting class is no exception. On Wednesday, Notre Dame was able to sign five massive offensive linemen. To illustrate that, the five recruits’ average height is 6 foot 6.4 inches and 290.4 pounds. With four or five years to grow and develop this groups could turn into the biggest lines in the country. Since Notre Dame has been recruiting the offensive line so hard, and have 3 returning starters, these guys will not be forced into action. Out of the five, early enrollee Steve Elmer (4-star) has the best chance to make an impact next season. Brian Kelly has already called him “the best offensive lineman in the country” when comparing him to other recruits. Elmer will have a chance to learn and develop over the spring and summer practices, so expect him to play some this season and maybe even start later in the season if an injury occurs. The remaining four, John Montelus (4-stars), Hunter Bivin (4-stars), Mike McGlinchey (4-stars), and Colin McGovern (3-stars) will all be joining the Irish for summer camp. I expect these four to either be redshirted or only used if Notre Dame were to need them due to injury later in the season. In the end, these five recruits have a chance to build something special together and form a formidable line for years to come.
Defensive Line-The defensive line has always been Brain Kelly’s other main recruiting focus since he took the job following the 2009 season. Since Kelly has recruited the position so heavily the last couple years, he did not need to acquire a handful of recruits. Instead of focusing on quantity, Kelly was able to get two elite prospects at the position. Isaac Rochell (4-stars) committed to Notre Dame last summer and will join the Irish this summer to compete for playing time at defensive end. With Kapron-Lewis Moore gone, the Irish will need a replacement a defensive end. Right now, sophomore Sheldon Day should have the advantage after receiving a lot of playing time this year. However, I think Rochell’s talent will be hard to ignore and I expect him to receive playing time by rotating in on the defensive line. Along with Rochell, the Irish will welcome Eddie Vanderdoes (5-stars) to South Bend this summer when he officially committed and signed on Wednesday night. Perhaps the last commitment for the Irish will prove to be the best one, because I expect Vanderdoes to make an immediate impact. Louis Nix III will return for his senior season at nose guard, but Vanderdoes is too talented to sit on the bench. I expect Nix and Vanderdoes to be rotating quite a bit to keep both guys as fresh and explosive as possible. I would not be surprised to see Vanderdoes on the field during passing situations to provide a pass rush up the middle, and he will also be used during short-yardage and goal-line situations. Needless to say, the Irish have added more talent to an already elite group of lineman of Nix, Day, Stephon Tuitt, and Jarron Jones.
Linebacker-Manti Te’o is gone. But, Prince Shembo, Carlo Calabrese, Dan Fox, and Danny Spond all return with ample starting experience. Despite that, Notre Dame still added three strong recruits to the mix. Leading the way is Jaylon Smith (5-stars). Smith comes into Notre Dame this summer as the 3rd rated prospect overall in the country, as well as the top linebacker. If Smith was an early enrollee, I would think he would have an excellent chance at starting out of the gate. Since he isn’t, Smith will have little time to prove that he is better than the experienced bunch the Irish already have. Given his position as drop linebacker, Smith will be competing with Danny Spond for one of the outside linebacker spots. Brian Kelly has already stated that the best player will start. On Wednesday Kelly was asked about the possible position battle, “If Danny Spond is [among] the best 11, he’s playing. If Jaylon Smith is [among] the best 11, he’s playing.’’ Given those statements, I expect Smith to give Spond a run for his money. Smith is a tremendous athlete, as evident with his 1,625 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior, and will at the very least receive playing time early on. I expect Spond to win the job initially, but think that Smith will be the starter by mid-season. Doug Randolph (4-stars) and Michael Deeb (3-stars) are the other two linebackers coming to Notre Dame this summer. Randolph is an outside linebacker and is projected to play the cat position. The cat position is currently occupied by senior Prince Shembo, and don’t think Randolph will get much playing time this season. Therefore, I would guess that Randolph is redshirted and groomed to take over for Shembo starting in 2014. Michael Deeb comes to South Bend this summer as a middle linebacker project. Brian Kelly wants him to get bigger, and with plenty of veterans ahead of him on the depth chart, a redshirt is certain for this season.
Secondary-Perhaps the weakest position in terms of talent and depth for Notre Dame last season was the defensive backfield. To help counter that, Brian Kelly was able to bring in four talented newcomers that will join the Irish this summer. Max Redfield (5-stars) headlines the group. Redfield is a safety recruit, and his impact this season depends greatly on the status of Jamarious Slaughter. Slaughter is in the process of appealing the NCAA’s decision to reject his request to a 6th season of eligibility. If Slaughter wins the appeal, he will start alongside with Matthias Farley. If Slaughter loses the appeal, then I expect Redfield to start immediately. Notre Dame would have too big of a need at the position, and Redfield is too talented for that not to happen. Even if Redfield doesn’t start because Slaughter stays, expect an ample amount of playing time during nickel and dime situations. Adding to the Irish cornerback positions will be Cole Luke (4-stars) and Devin Butler (3-stars). Luke comes in as the 11th rated cornerback in the country and should see the field in passing situations. Luke has talent to compete for a starting job, but Bennett Jackson and KeiVarae Russell are both returning and both should still start. Butler is considered the lesser prospect, but Brian Kelly hinted that he will also have an opportunity to compete for playing time. Given Notre Dame’s lack of depth at the position, I don’t expect a redshirt, and Butler could see limited action this fall. The last recruit to join the secondary is athlete Rashad Kinlaw (3-stars). Kinlaw could play either receiver or defensive back, but as of now appears to be headed towards the defensive side of the ball. Given his lack of position uncertainty, I would expect a redshirt coming his way this season. In all, the Irish have added great talent and depth to a relatively weak group.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Update: Jamarious Slaughter has lost his appeal for a sixth season. Therefore, I expect Max Redfield to have a tremendous opportunity to win a starting role this fall.
Notre Dame was able to haul in an impressive class of recruits that placed them 3rd in the country. In all, 24 teenagers agreed to join the Fighting Irish. Amongst those recruits were four 5-star players, fourteen 4-star players, and six 3-star players. To demonstrate how impressive this class looks on paper, only three 5-star players signed with Notre Dame in the previous three classes combined. While Notre Dame has certainly had good recruiting classes under Head Coach Brian Kelly, none have come clo€se to this one. In Kelly’s first year, a shared class with former coach Charlie Weis, the Irish ranked 14th. In 2011, they ranked 10th, and in 2012 they ranked 20th. Throw in the 21st ranked class in 2009 during the last full Weis’ season, and it is remarkable to think Brian Kelly led the Irish to an undefeated season without a “great” recruiting class. This year’s 3rd ranked class shows what winning can do to help recruiting. If Notre Dame can continue to reach BCS bowl games, then they should be able to consistently have top 5 recruiting classes. It will be interesting to see how Brian Kelly can develop this kind of talent, and what kind of success he can have in closing the gap with Alabama.
I would like to breakdown this class by position, and talk about what I expect each player’s future to look like. Let’s take a look at the new members of the Fighting Irish.
Quarterback-The lone recruit for the quarterback position is Malik Zaire (4-stars). Zaire is the 3rd rated dual-threat quarterback in the country and appears to be an ideal fit for Brian Kelly’s spread offense. Zaire has enrolled early this spring, and will have both spring and summer practices to learn the offense. With that being said, I fully expect Zaire to be redshirted this season. Notre Dame currently has four other scholarship quarterbacks on their roster in Everett Golson, Tommy Rees, Andrew Hendrix, and Gunner Kiel, so there is a logjam at the position. With Golson, the presumed starter, having 3 years of eligibility remaining, and Kiel with 4 years left, it may be a few years before Zaire makes an impact on the field.
Running Back-With running backs Cierre Wood and Theo Riddick now gone, Notre Dame recruited this position extremely hard. Their efforts landed them two big recruits out of the state of Florida. The first is 5-star back, Greg Bryant. Notre Dame has not had a 5-star running back since James Aldridge in 2006, and they hope that Bryant will have a better career. The second is 4-star back, Tarean Folston, who joins Notre Dame because they were able to hold off Auburn’s late push to try and steal Folston. With Bryant and Folston, Notre Dame has landed two “SEC-type” running backs. Bryant gives the Irish a powerful back that can also break one for 60-yards, whereas Folston will provide more speed and run outside the tackles. Neither recruit has enrolled early, but I expect both to have a shot for playing time. In fact, it would not surprise me if Greg Bryant starts on August 31st vs Temple. At the very least, Bryant should receive carries early on during the season, and could be the “featured back” come mid-season. Folston should also have a shot at earning playing time, but I would not be surprised if Kelly redshirts him. Notre Dame already has a speedster in George Atkinson III, and Kelly may want to save his eligibility for when Atkinson leaves after 2014. With Atkinson, Bryant, USC transfer Amir Carlisle, and Will Mahone coming off a redshirt from 2012, the Irish backfield should be loaded once again.
Wide Receiver-The wide receiver position was pretty weak after the departure of Michael Floyd following the 2011 season. Last year, TJ Jones and Davaris Daniels emerged as starters and should be one of the top tandems in the country next season. In addition, 3 freshmen (Chris Brown, Davonte Neal, and Justin Ferguson) either redshirted or played sparingly last season and should now be ready for larger roles. Joining Notre Dame’s receiving corps will be four 4-star recruits. Two of the four are already in South Bend as early enrollees. James Onwualu and Corey Robinson (son of former NBA star David Robinson) should have a leg up on the other two recruits. William Fuller and Torii Hunter Jr. (yes, that Torii Hunter) are the other two receivers set to join the Irish this summer. Hunter has just started to recover from a broken leg, and will have a lot of work to do to see the field this season. Given the injury, I am expecting a redshirt. Onwualu, Robinson, and Fuller will all have a chance to prove if they can play, but I am not expecting much of an impact from any of them this season. It is hard for wide receivers to make an immediate impact, and Kelly has already shown he is willing to redshirt talent at the position. With Daniels, Jones, Daniel Smith, Brown, Neal, and Ferguson already ahead of the four newcomers on the depth chart, playing time will be slim. Expect the four recruits to learn the offense this year and become a very strong group in a couple years.
Tight End-“Tight End U” has lost another prospect to the NFL in Tyler Eifert. To help fill the void, Notre Dame has signed three recruits in Mike Heuerman, Durham Smythe, and Jacob Matuska. Out of the three, Heuerman has the best chance to make an impact next season. Heuerman is a 4-star recruit and has enrolled this spring. With spring and summer practices, Heuerman has a chance to step right in and fill some of the void left after Eifert’s departure. At 6 foot 4 inches and 220 pounds, Heuerman has the body type and athleticism (4.69-40 yard dash) to replace Eifert’s role when he was spread out wide and ran wide receiver type routes. Durham Smythe (3-stars) has more of a natural tight end’s body and should eventually take on the blocking role that junior Troy Niklas did this past season. Smythe figures to be more of a project and will likely redshirt this season with Heuerman, Junior Ben Koyack, and Niklas all ahead of him on the depth chart. Jacob Matuska (3-stars) has been rumored to be moving to either defensive end or offensive tackle. Given this news, expect a redshirt and for it to take a few years before he makes an impact.
Offensive Line-Since Brian Kelly has arrived, he has constantly stated that recruiting offensive lineman will be a top priority. This recruiting class is no exception. On Wednesday, Notre Dame was able to sign five massive offensive linemen. To illustrate that, the five recruits’ average height is 6 foot 6.4 inches and 290.4 pounds. With four or five years to grow and develop this groups could turn into the biggest lines in the country. Since Notre Dame has been recruiting the offensive line so hard, and have 3 returning starters, these guys will not be forced into action. Out of the five, early enrollee Steve Elmer (4-star) has the best chance to make an impact next season. Brian Kelly has already called him “the best offensive lineman in the country” when comparing him to other recruits. Elmer will have a chance to learn and develop over the spring and summer practices, so expect him to play some this season and maybe even start later in the season if an injury occurs. The remaining four, John Montelus (4-stars), Hunter Bivin (4-stars), Mike McGlinchey (4-stars), and Colin McGovern (3-stars) will all be joining the Irish for summer camp. I expect these four to either be redshirted or only used if Notre Dame were to need them due to injury later in the season. In the end, these five recruits have a chance to build something special together and form a formidable line for years to come.
Defensive Line-The defensive line has always been Brain Kelly’s other main recruiting focus since he took the job following the 2009 season. Since Kelly has recruited the position so heavily the last couple years, he did not need to acquire a handful of recruits. Instead of focusing on quantity, Kelly was able to get two elite prospects at the position. Isaac Rochell (4-stars) committed to Notre Dame last summer and will join the Irish this summer to compete for playing time at defensive end. With Kapron-Lewis Moore gone, the Irish will need a replacement a defensive end. Right now, sophomore Sheldon Day should have the advantage after receiving a lot of playing time this year. However, I think Rochell’s talent will be hard to ignore and I expect him to receive playing time by rotating in on the defensive line. Along with Rochell, the Irish will welcome Eddie Vanderdoes (5-stars) to South Bend this summer when he officially committed and signed on Wednesday night. Perhaps the last commitment for the Irish will prove to be the best one, because I expect Vanderdoes to make an immediate impact. Louis Nix III will return for his senior season at nose guard, but Vanderdoes is too talented to sit on the bench. I expect Nix and Vanderdoes to be rotating quite a bit to keep both guys as fresh and explosive as possible. I would not be surprised to see Vanderdoes on the field during passing situations to provide a pass rush up the middle, and he will also be used during short-yardage and goal-line situations. Needless to say, the Irish have added more talent to an already elite group of lineman of Nix, Day, Stephon Tuitt, and Jarron Jones.
Linebacker-Manti Te’o is gone. But, Prince Shembo, Carlo Calabrese, Dan Fox, and Danny Spond all return with ample starting experience. Despite that, Notre Dame still added three strong recruits to the mix. Leading the way is Jaylon Smith (5-stars). Smith comes into Notre Dame this summer as the 3rd rated prospect overall in the country, as well as the top linebacker. If Smith was an early enrollee, I would think he would have an excellent chance at starting out of the gate. Since he isn’t, Smith will have little time to prove that he is better than the experienced bunch the Irish already have. Given his position as drop linebacker, Smith will be competing with Danny Spond for one of the outside linebacker spots. Brian Kelly has already stated that the best player will start. On Wednesday Kelly was asked about the possible position battle, “If Danny Spond is [among] the best 11, he’s playing. If Jaylon Smith is [among] the best 11, he’s playing.’’ Given those statements, I expect Smith to give Spond a run for his money. Smith is a tremendous athlete, as evident with his 1,625 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior, and will at the very least receive playing time early on. I expect Spond to win the job initially, but think that Smith will be the starter by mid-season. Doug Randolph (4-stars) and Michael Deeb (3-stars) are the other two linebackers coming to Notre Dame this summer. Randolph is an outside linebacker and is projected to play the cat position. The cat position is currently occupied by senior Prince Shembo, and don’t think Randolph will get much playing time this season. Therefore, I would guess that Randolph is redshirted and groomed to take over for Shembo starting in 2014. Michael Deeb comes to South Bend this summer as a middle linebacker project. Brian Kelly wants him to get bigger, and with plenty of veterans ahead of him on the depth chart, a redshirt is certain for this season.
Secondary-Perhaps the weakest position in terms of talent and depth for Notre Dame last season was the defensive backfield. To help counter that, Brian Kelly was able to bring in four talented newcomers that will join the Irish this summer. Max Redfield (5-stars) headlines the group. Redfield is a safety recruit, and his impact this season depends greatly on the status of Jamarious Slaughter. Slaughter is in the process of appealing the NCAA’s decision to reject his request to a 6th season of eligibility. If Slaughter wins the appeal, he will start alongside with Matthias Farley. If Slaughter loses the appeal, then I expect Redfield to start immediately. Notre Dame would have too big of a need at the position, and Redfield is too talented for that not to happen. Even if Redfield doesn’t start because Slaughter stays, expect an ample amount of playing time during nickel and dime situations. Adding to the Irish cornerback positions will be Cole Luke (4-stars) and Devin Butler (3-stars). Luke comes in as the 11th rated cornerback in the country and should see the field in passing situations. Luke has talent to compete for a starting job, but Bennett Jackson and KeiVarae Russell are both returning and both should still start. Butler is considered the lesser prospect, but Brian Kelly hinted that he will also have an opportunity to compete for playing time. Given Notre Dame’s lack of depth at the position, I don’t expect a redshirt, and Butler could see limited action this fall. The last recruit to join the secondary is athlete Rashad Kinlaw (3-stars). Kinlaw could play either receiver or defensive back, but as of now appears to be headed towards the defensive side of the ball. Given his lack of position uncertainty, I would expect a redshirt coming his way this season. In all, the Irish have added great talent and depth to a relatively weak group.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Update: Jamarious Slaughter has lost his appeal for a sixth season. Therefore, I expect Max Redfield to have a tremendous opportunity to win a starting role this fall.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Early Super Bowl XLVIII Contenders
Now that the Super Bowl is over, it is time to take a look at some of the contenders to make next year’s big game in the Big Apple. It is hard to project how teams will perform next year since free agency has yet to begin, and the draft is over two months away. With that being said, these are the teams that I like as of now. I have ranked the top three teams from each conference.
NFC Contenders
3)Green Bay Packers
After becoming 2010 Super Bowl champions, the Green Bay Packers have had disappointing performances in the past two playoff appearances. Despite the poor performances, the Packers are on this list because of Aaron Rodgers. As long as Rodgers is under center, the Packers will most likely be Super Bowl contenders. Although the Packers still have Rodgers, they will have to replace some key players on offense. Veteran wide receiver Donald Driver has already announced his retirement, and the Packers most likely will lose Greg Jennings to free agency. On top of that, the Packers have a decision on whether or not to pick up a team option on inconsistent tight end, Jermichael Finely. Even with an explosive passing game, the Packers also need to find a running game to have more balance to win in the postseason. But, the main problem with the Packers the last two years has been their defense. If Green Bay has any aspirations of making it to the Super Bowl in 2013, they will have to greatly improve in that area by adding talent through the draft and free agency.
2)Seattle Seahawks
When the 2012 season ended, and the playoffs began, the Seattle Seahawks were my dark horse team to make the Super Bowl. The Seahawks finished the season as one of the hottest teams in the league, and it looked as though they could be the team to make a run. Obviously, that did not happen, but the Seahawks should be strong favorites in 2013. Russell Wilson appears to a franchise quarterback with the talent to lead a team to the Super Bowl as early as next season. Wilson may not throw for over 300 yards a game on average, but he can make plays with his arm and legs in the clutch to win games for his team. On the defensive side of the ball, Pete Carroll has turned the Seahawks into one of the top units in the league. Seattle should once again have a great defense led be their talented secondary. If Seattle can overtake the 49ers in the NFC West, then the Seahawks could parlay their home-field advantage (8-0 at home last year) into a Super Bowl appearance.
1)San Francisco 49ers
The NFC favorite to reach the Super Bowl in 2013 is the San Francisco 49ers. After losing in the NFC Championship in 2011, and losing the 2012 Super Bowl, the 49ers have what it takes to make that final step. The 49ers are a young team, and probably were the NFL’s deepest and most talent team this season on both sides of the ball. Having Colin Kaepernick returning for his first full season as a starter should make the 49ers offense even better next season. With their strong running game, and emergence of Michael Crabtree as a legitimate number one wide receiver, the 49ers might have the most balanced offensive attack next season. The 49ers should also be very solid on defense next season. Their front seven is arguably the best in the NFL and should once again be tremendous in stopping the run. Despite a stingy front seven, the 49ers will have to fix some of the holes in their secondary if they want to return to the Super Bowl next season.
AFC Contenders
3)Baltimore Ravens
The defending Super Bowl champions are third on my list for a couple reasons. To be honest, I almost left the Ravens off my list because of the division they play in. The AFC North should be the toughest division in the conference, and maybe the hardest in the NFL. With Cincinnati and Pittsburgh in their way, the Ravens will have a tough time winning their division, let alone winning the conference. In addition, losing Ray Lewis will bring this team down a notch. Although Lewis was not the same player the last few years, his leadership and presence helped guide the Ravens to a Super Bowl championship. It should be interesting to see how the Ravens perform without the extra motivation of trying to win for Ray Lewis. Along with losing Lewis, the Ravens defense will also be one year older and will have to avoid the injuries that they had this season. If the Ravens want to have a chance to defend their title, then Joe Flacco will have to play like he did once Jim Caldwell took over as offensive coordinator in mid-December.
2)Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos won their last 11 regular season games before losing to the Ravens in the 2012 playoffs. With Peyton Manning as their quarterback, the Broncos figure to have one of the best offenses in the NFL again next season. Coming of off multiple neck surgeries, and missing the entire 2011 season, Manning was able to develop chemistry with wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker. With another offseason under their belts, this trio should only get more familiar and comfortable with each other heading into 2013. Despite giving up 38 points to the Ravens in their 2012 playoff appearance, the Broncos defense proved itself to be one of the better units in the AFC throughout the regular season. Entering his third season, Von Miller could win defensive player of the year, and should help the Broncos be one of the top defenses again next season. If the Broncos wish to play in next year’s Super Bowl, they will have to learn from the mistakes they made versus the Ravens this season and play up to their potential in the postseason.
1)New England Patriots
As long as Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are in New England, the Patriots will always appear near the top of this list. Despite not winning a Super Bowl since 2004, and losing their last two appearances, the Patriots are the favorites once again. With Tom Brady under center, the Patriots passing attack will always be among the league’s best. If Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez can stay healthy all season, then the Patriots should be very hard to stop with two of the NFL’s best tight ends. However, the Patriots may have to replace wide receiver Wes Welker if they do not sign him to a long-term deal or franchise-tag him again. If that happens, Welker will be tough to replace, but it seems as though the Patriots are prepared to insert Julian Edelman into that role. Edelman is also a free agent this offseason, but he will be a much cheaper option than Welker. In limited action, Edelman has proved to be effective in that role and could put up similar numbers to Welker. During last season, the Patriots also found success in the running game with Stevan Ridley. That should allow them to have a balanced attack, and not rely on the passing game so much. Bill Belichick has been trying to build on defense by using a number of draft picks on defensive talent in recent years. If the Patriots want to end their Super Bowl “drought”, then they need to develop that young talent and improve on defense.
-Eric Tichelbaut
NFC Contenders
3)Green Bay Packers
After becoming 2010 Super Bowl champions, the Green Bay Packers have had disappointing performances in the past two playoff appearances. Despite the poor performances, the Packers are on this list because of Aaron Rodgers. As long as Rodgers is under center, the Packers will most likely be Super Bowl contenders. Although the Packers still have Rodgers, they will have to replace some key players on offense. Veteran wide receiver Donald Driver has already announced his retirement, and the Packers most likely will lose Greg Jennings to free agency. On top of that, the Packers have a decision on whether or not to pick up a team option on inconsistent tight end, Jermichael Finely. Even with an explosive passing game, the Packers also need to find a running game to have more balance to win in the postseason. But, the main problem with the Packers the last two years has been their defense. If Green Bay has any aspirations of making it to the Super Bowl in 2013, they will have to greatly improve in that area by adding talent through the draft and free agency.
2)Seattle Seahawks
When the 2012 season ended, and the playoffs began, the Seattle Seahawks were my dark horse team to make the Super Bowl. The Seahawks finished the season as one of the hottest teams in the league, and it looked as though they could be the team to make a run. Obviously, that did not happen, but the Seahawks should be strong favorites in 2013. Russell Wilson appears to a franchise quarterback with the talent to lead a team to the Super Bowl as early as next season. Wilson may not throw for over 300 yards a game on average, but he can make plays with his arm and legs in the clutch to win games for his team. On the defensive side of the ball, Pete Carroll has turned the Seahawks into one of the top units in the league. Seattle should once again have a great defense led be their talented secondary. If Seattle can overtake the 49ers in the NFC West, then the Seahawks could parlay their home-field advantage (8-0 at home last year) into a Super Bowl appearance.
1)San Francisco 49ers
The NFC favorite to reach the Super Bowl in 2013 is the San Francisco 49ers. After losing in the NFC Championship in 2011, and losing the 2012 Super Bowl, the 49ers have what it takes to make that final step. The 49ers are a young team, and probably were the NFL’s deepest and most talent team this season on both sides of the ball. Having Colin Kaepernick returning for his first full season as a starter should make the 49ers offense even better next season. With their strong running game, and emergence of Michael Crabtree as a legitimate number one wide receiver, the 49ers might have the most balanced offensive attack next season. The 49ers should also be very solid on defense next season. Their front seven is arguably the best in the NFL and should once again be tremendous in stopping the run. Despite a stingy front seven, the 49ers will have to fix some of the holes in their secondary if they want to return to the Super Bowl next season.
AFC Contenders
3)Baltimore Ravens
The defending Super Bowl champions are third on my list for a couple reasons. To be honest, I almost left the Ravens off my list because of the division they play in. The AFC North should be the toughest division in the conference, and maybe the hardest in the NFL. With Cincinnati and Pittsburgh in their way, the Ravens will have a tough time winning their division, let alone winning the conference. In addition, losing Ray Lewis will bring this team down a notch. Although Lewis was not the same player the last few years, his leadership and presence helped guide the Ravens to a Super Bowl championship. It should be interesting to see how the Ravens perform without the extra motivation of trying to win for Ray Lewis. Along with losing Lewis, the Ravens defense will also be one year older and will have to avoid the injuries that they had this season. If the Ravens want to have a chance to defend their title, then Joe Flacco will have to play like he did once Jim Caldwell took over as offensive coordinator in mid-December.
2)Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos won their last 11 regular season games before losing to the Ravens in the 2012 playoffs. With Peyton Manning as their quarterback, the Broncos figure to have one of the best offenses in the NFL again next season. Coming of off multiple neck surgeries, and missing the entire 2011 season, Manning was able to develop chemistry with wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker. With another offseason under their belts, this trio should only get more familiar and comfortable with each other heading into 2013. Despite giving up 38 points to the Ravens in their 2012 playoff appearance, the Broncos defense proved itself to be one of the better units in the AFC throughout the regular season. Entering his third season, Von Miller could win defensive player of the year, and should help the Broncos be one of the top defenses again next season. If the Broncos wish to play in next year’s Super Bowl, they will have to learn from the mistakes they made versus the Ravens this season and play up to their potential in the postseason.
1)New England Patriots
As long as Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are in New England, the Patriots will always appear near the top of this list. Despite not winning a Super Bowl since 2004, and losing their last two appearances, the Patriots are the favorites once again. With Tom Brady under center, the Patriots passing attack will always be among the league’s best. If Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez can stay healthy all season, then the Patriots should be very hard to stop with two of the NFL’s best tight ends. However, the Patriots may have to replace wide receiver Wes Welker if they do not sign him to a long-term deal or franchise-tag him again. If that happens, Welker will be tough to replace, but it seems as though the Patriots are prepared to insert Julian Edelman into that role. Edelman is also a free agent this offseason, but he will be a much cheaper option than Welker. In limited action, Edelman has proved to be effective in that role and could put up similar numbers to Welker. During last season, the Patriots also found success in the running game with Stevan Ridley. That should allow them to have a balanced attack, and not rely on the passing game so much. Bill Belichick has been trying to build on defense by using a number of draft picks on defensive talent in recent years. If the Patriots want to end their Super Bowl “drought”, then they need to develop that young talent and improve on defense.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Super Bowl XLVII Preview
Super Bowl weekend is finally here! The big game tomorrow is essentially a national holiday. With all of the parties, festivities, commercials, and the halftime show, most of America has a reason to watch. Like many football fans, I will be watching because I love football, and I am especially excited about the matchup. Super Bowl XLVII features the Baltimore Ravens versus the San Francisco 49ers. By now everyone knows the headlines. I already gave my take on the Harbaugh's, and this will also be the last time Ray Lewis' laces up his cleats. I won't even get into the whole deer antler spray story, because frankly, I don't care. On the field, Ray Lewis is a legend and arguably the greatest linebacker ever. Lewis is a once-in-a-generation player, and should be mentioned in the same breath as Tom Brady and Peyton Manning as this generations' all-time greats. I am excited to see how well he performs, and what type of impact he can have on the field. Between these two stories, Super Bowl XLVII has received a lot of hype. Will the game live up to that hype?
Super Bowl XLVII: Baltimore Ravens vs San Francisco 49ers
The Baltimore Ravens reached New Orleans by defeating Indianapolis, Denver, and New England. Based on how the Ravens finished the regular season, many people were predicting the Colts to pull off the road upset. Baltimore prevailed in that matchup, and were huge underdogs on the road at Denver and New England. Baltimore then defeated Denver in a double-overtime thriller, and the Raven's defense was able to shutout the Patriots in the 2nd half to win the AFC Championship. The Ravens now come into the Super Bowl as underdogs once again. How can they pull off another upset? On offense, the Ravens will have to throw the ball to win. I don't expect the Ravens to be able to run on the 49ers, so the key to them winning this game will be the Ravens' passing game. As I stated in my NFC Championship preview, there are big plays to be had against the 49ers secondary. The 49ers do have an impressive front seven that can stop the run, and some playmakers in the secondary, but they give up big plays when their "Cover 2" scheme breaks down. Both Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan were able to combine for over 650 yards passing and 5 Touchdowns against the 49ers secondary. With Torrey Smith as a deep threat, and Anquan Boldin and Dennis Pitta as underneath options, the Ravens have the ability to make plays in the passing game. But to be able to do this, Joe Flacco must have time to read the coverage and make the throws. To me the key to the Ravens' offensive success will be Torrey Smith. If Smith can get behind the 49ers secondary he has a chance to have a huge day. If not, Smith can still have an impact in the passing game by stretching the 49ers defense out and opening up holes underneath for Boldin and Pitta to move the chains. Either way, the 49ers need to get more pressure on the quarterback than they have in their two previous playoff games to slow down the Ravens' passing attack.
The San Francisco 49ers are playing in the Super Bowl because of defeating the Green Bay Packers at home, and the Atlanta Falcons on the road. After receiving a first round bye, the 49ers offensive didn't miss a beat. Colin Kaepernick will be making just his 10th career start on Sunday, but has been a nightmare for defenses to defend. Equipped with a huge arm, and home run hitting speed at the quarterback position, Kaepernick has turned the 49ers into arguably the NFL's most balanced offensive attack. For the 49ers to win on Sunday, Kaepernick just has to keep doing what he has been. By using the "pistol" offense, Kaepernick has been able to spread out NFL defenses and force them to make plays in space by implementing the read-option. Against the Packers, Kaepernick was able to run all over the field because the Packers did not get penetration at the line, and focused on the running backs more than Kaepernick. On the other hand, the Falcons tried to stop Kaepernick from running. Although they were able to hold him to just 21 yards rushing on 2 carries, Frank Gore and LaMichael James were able to combine for 124 yards rushing and 3 TD's. Kaepernick is running the read-option so effectively right now that I don't know if you can stop both options in the run game. If the Ravens try to load up the box and stop both options, then there will be massive holes in the Ravens' secondary. If that happens, Kaepernick has the arm to shred the Ravens' secondary with one big play after another. If the Ravens have any chance on slowing down the 49ers offensive attack, they need to get pressure and attack the read-option. The Packers and Falcons were not able to stop the option because they waited to see what Kaepernick would do with the ball. That is exactly what Kaepernick wants defenses to do. If you give Kaepernick time to read the defense and the holes that his offensive line creates, then he will make the correct read every time. If guys like Haloti Ngata can get penetration up the middle and attack the read-option, then Kaepernick will be forced to make quick decisions. If that happens, the Ravens should have success because San Francisco has not been able to set up blocks, and get to the second level allowing Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs to make plays.
I see this game being a close, back-and-forth type battle. In the end, I believe the 49ers offense will be too much for the Ravens defense to handle. The way Kaepernick is running the offense, it is nearly impossible to be able to stop both running options and the passing game. The Ravens' offense will be able to make plays through the air and should find the end zone at least twice. Unfortunately for Baltimore, that won't be enough. The Harbaugh Bowl figures to be a classic game, and I predict younger brother Jim's 49ers will defeat John's Ravens. With a victory and a relatively young team, the 49ers could be on the brink of starting a dynasty.
Prediction: San Francisco 24 Baltimore 20
-Eric Tichelbaut
Super Bowl XLVII: Baltimore Ravens vs San Francisco 49ers
The Baltimore Ravens reached New Orleans by defeating Indianapolis, Denver, and New England. Based on how the Ravens finished the regular season, many people were predicting the Colts to pull off the road upset. Baltimore prevailed in that matchup, and were huge underdogs on the road at Denver and New England. Baltimore then defeated Denver in a double-overtime thriller, and the Raven's defense was able to shutout the Patriots in the 2nd half to win the AFC Championship. The Ravens now come into the Super Bowl as underdogs once again. How can they pull off another upset? On offense, the Ravens will have to throw the ball to win. I don't expect the Ravens to be able to run on the 49ers, so the key to them winning this game will be the Ravens' passing game. As I stated in my NFC Championship preview, there are big plays to be had against the 49ers secondary. The 49ers do have an impressive front seven that can stop the run, and some playmakers in the secondary, but they give up big plays when their "Cover 2" scheme breaks down. Both Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan were able to combine for over 650 yards passing and 5 Touchdowns against the 49ers secondary. With Torrey Smith as a deep threat, and Anquan Boldin and Dennis Pitta as underneath options, the Ravens have the ability to make plays in the passing game. But to be able to do this, Joe Flacco must have time to read the coverage and make the throws. To me the key to the Ravens' offensive success will be Torrey Smith. If Smith can get behind the 49ers secondary he has a chance to have a huge day. If not, Smith can still have an impact in the passing game by stretching the 49ers defense out and opening up holes underneath for Boldin and Pitta to move the chains. Either way, the 49ers need to get more pressure on the quarterback than they have in their two previous playoff games to slow down the Ravens' passing attack.
The San Francisco 49ers are playing in the Super Bowl because of defeating the Green Bay Packers at home, and the Atlanta Falcons on the road. After receiving a first round bye, the 49ers offensive didn't miss a beat. Colin Kaepernick will be making just his 10th career start on Sunday, but has been a nightmare for defenses to defend. Equipped with a huge arm, and home run hitting speed at the quarterback position, Kaepernick has turned the 49ers into arguably the NFL's most balanced offensive attack. For the 49ers to win on Sunday, Kaepernick just has to keep doing what he has been. By using the "pistol" offense, Kaepernick has been able to spread out NFL defenses and force them to make plays in space by implementing the read-option. Against the Packers, Kaepernick was able to run all over the field because the Packers did not get penetration at the line, and focused on the running backs more than Kaepernick. On the other hand, the Falcons tried to stop Kaepernick from running. Although they were able to hold him to just 21 yards rushing on 2 carries, Frank Gore and LaMichael James were able to combine for 124 yards rushing and 3 TD's. Kaepernick is running the read-option so effectively right now that I don't know if you can stop both options in the run game. If the Ravens try to load up the box and stop both options, then there will be massive holes in the Ravens' secondary. If that happens, Kaepernick has the arm to shred the Ravens' secondary with one big play after another. If the Ravens have any chance on slowing down the 49ers offensive attack, they need to get pressure and attack the read-option. The Packers and Falcons were not able to stop the option because they waited to see what Kaepernick would do with the ball. That is exactly what Kaepernick wants defenses to do. If you give Kaepernick time to read the defense and the holes that his offensive line creates, then he will make the correct read every time. If guys like Haloti Ngata can get penetration up the middle and attack the read-option, then Kaepernick will be forced to make quick decisions. If that happens, the Ravens should have success because San Francisco has not been able to set up blocks, and get to the second level allowing Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs to make plays.
I see this game being a close, back-and-forth type battle. In the end, I believe the 49ers offense will be too much for the Ravens defense to handle. The way Kaepernick is running the offense, it is nearly impossible to be able to stop both running options and the passing game. The Ravens' offense will be able to make plays through the air and should find the end zone at least twice. Unfortunately for Baltimore, that won't be enough. The Harbaugh Bowl figures to be a classic game, and I predict younger brother Jim's 49ers will defeat John's Ravens. With a victory and a relatively young team, the 49ers could be on the brink of starting a dynasty.
Prediction: San Francisco 24 Baltimore 20
-Eric Tichelbaut
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