Five Players Key to White Sox Success

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

Football Safety and it's Future

Based on the recent comments and ongoing situation about player safety, I wanted to quickly share my thoughts. It has been well documented that football related injuries, most notably concussions, have affected lives of former players. Post concussion symptoms have been so severe, that some former player's families are claiming that they have committed suicide over the problems associated with it. Over the last few years, the NFL has made a greater attempt to prevent head injuries. Helmet to helmet hits are being penalized and fined, kickoffs have been limited, more hands to face penalties are called than ever before. As much as I feel player safety is important, I hope the NFL doesn't change the game too much. Although I wouldn't like it, I could deal with eliminating kickoffs if that happened. My big concern is that the NFL turns into the Pro Bowl, which is essentially glorified flag football. Or even worse, the NFL is eliminated as some have suggested. Football has always been a tough and violent game. Nobody said it was easy. Everyone now knows the effects football can have on a player's body and mind. Any current or future player in the league knows the risks, and nobody is forcing them to play.

I would like to address a comment that came out this past week from President Barack Obama. President Obama stated, "if I had a son, I’d have to think long and hard before I let him play football." The President has every right to have his own opinion. Some parents feel and will continue to feel that way. But, I don't agree. I played organized tackle football for seven years, and wish I could still play. Although I never have been diagnosed with a concussion, I am 100% positive I've had a few. I know the feeling of getting your "bell rung". Concussions are serious, and I probably shouldn't have played if I had one, but I wanted to. That may sound bad, but ten to fifteen years ago, concussions were not seen as being as serious as they are now. With that being said, if I have a son, I will not forbid him from playing football. I now know the risks, and I will inform him of the risks. But, I will let him make his own decision. If my son wants to play football, I won't be able to stop him from playing a game that he loves. Besides the x's and o's, big hits, and exciting plays, I love football because of what it can do for a kid and a man. It teaches kids many lessons and values and allows many men opportunities, careers, and financial stability in life. In addition, coaches and trainers from Pop Warner to the NFL have learned how to diagnose concussions properly and are extremely more cautious now than ever before on how to prevent one from reoccurring. The knowledge is out there and players will play if they want to play because they love the game. And because of that, football and the NFL will always exsist.

-Eric Tichelbaut

Harbaugh Bowl

After 17 weeks of regular season games, and 3 weeks of postseason action, it's finally Super Bowl week. One of the most popular days leading up to the big game is today, media day. In light of that, I have decided to take a few minutes to discuss the most talked about storyline (other than Ray Lewis).

This Super Bowl has taken on multiple new nicknames in the past week. Harbaugh Bowl, Harbowl, Bro Bowl, and Super Bro have been a few being thrown around. Once the Baltimore Ravens pulled off the upset against the New England Patriots to join the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII, America was ready to embrace the story. Brothers John and Jim Harbaugh will square off as head coaches in the Super Bowl. It's remarkable that two brothers are even head coaches in the NFL, let alone coaching in the biggest game. Although it is surprising that two brothers are in the Super Bowl, it is not surprising that either one of them made it here. In my opinion, the Harbaugh's are two of the NFL's best coaches, both in the top 5. Yes, neither one has won a Super Bowl yet, but they have only been coaching for a few years. John Harbaugh has been the Ravens head coach for 5 seasons. During that time he has won at least 1 playoff game EVERY year, making the AFC Championship game 3 times. Jim Harbaugh has only been the head coach of the 49ers for 2 seasons. All he has done is win 76 percent of his games, and make it to 2 NFC Championship games. If I were starting a NFL franchise and had the ability to pick one coach for the next decade, Jim would be my first choice, followed by John. I base this decision on their age, John (50) and Jim (49), recent success, and coaching styles.

To get their teams to the Super Bowl, both coaches made controversial decisions. Jim decided to make a change at the quarterback position by inserting Colin Kaepernick for Alex Smith. At the time, I questioned the move. Although it is hard to question it now, I still feel Alex Smith got a raw deal. Since Harbaugh arrived, Smith was 19-5-1 as a starter. Not only did Smith win, but he was playing extremely well. Smith led the NFL with a 70% completion percentage, and was third in the league with a 104.1 quarterback rating. However, Jim Harbaugh made the right choice. Kaepernick has proven to be the more dynamic and versatile player with his cannon for an arm, and elite speed for a quarterback. Smith was a very good game manager, Kaepernick is a game changer. Jim's decision has proved most valuable in the playoffs. Kaepernick had a historic performance versus Green Bay in their first playoff game, and led the 49ers to a victory at Atlanta after trailing 17-0. The 49ers trailing 17-0 with Smith at QB would not have won that game. Jim Harbaugh's decision has been validated, and will always be remembered if the 49ers can win one more game.

John Harbaugh's decision was made within his coaching staff, and has proved to be just as successful. On December 10th, John fired offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, and promoted quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell to the position. Caldwell, the former Indianapolis head coach, has had an big impact on the Ravens offense. Since the change, quarterback Joe Flacco has thrown 12 touchdowns and only one interception. For someone who has been labeled as inconsistent throughout his career, Flacco has been the complete opposite under Caldwell. Besides the on the field impact, the change of coordinators appears to have sent a wake-up call to the rest of the Ravens organization. The Ravens look different, and are playing their best at the right time.

Super Bowl XLVII is going to be exciting to watch for many reasons, but seeing Jim versus John on the biggest stage is the main one for me. I find their family story to be fascinating. Both John and Jim were groomed to be coaches at an early age by their father, Jack. Jack taught them how to watch film, and taught them everything they know about the game. Jim and John took different paths to become NFL coaches, but the root of their success is evident. The fact that both coaches still send their father game films every week so how much football means to that family. Jack breaks down both films, and still gives his sons coaching advice. I can only imagine how tough it will be for Jack and the rest of the family to watch on Sunday. They can root for both teams to play well, but only one can win. With that being said, Sunday night will be a special moment for the Harbaugh family, no matter who wins.

-Eric Tichelbaut

Chicago Bears New Head Coach Marc Trestman

I realize this news is a week late, but with the Te'o hoax and Championship Sunday, I was not able to sit back and think about the Chicago Bears decision to hire Marc Trestman as their new Head Coach. I just wanted to share my thoughts real quick. Replacing Lovie Smith after nine seasons will not be easy. While Lovie had a ton of success in Chicago, I was not his biggest fan because of his failure to develop an offense. The Bears were only ranked in the top half of total offense once during the Lovie Era. Personally, I wanted Bruce Arians over Trestman based on what he did with the Colts this season, and his recent NFL success. But, one thing we know about Trestman, he knows offense. It remains to be seen how his CFL success will translate, but Trestman also has an impressive College and NFL coaching resume of over 20 years.

Here are a few of his career highlights courtesy of Wikipedia. In 1983, Trestman was named quarterbacks coach at the University of Miami where quarterback Bernie Kosar passed for 2,329 yards and Miami won the national championship. The following season, Kosar threw for 3,642 yards, a school record. In 1988, while quarterbacks coach in Cleveland, he again coached Kosar and the team finished 10–6 and made the playoffs. Trestman was then promoted to offensive coordinator in 1989 and Kosar passed for 3,533 yards and 18 TDs that season. In 1995 as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator with San Francisco, the 49ers led the NFL with 457 points scored, 644 pass attempts and 4,779 passing yards. In 1997, Trestman served as quarterbacks coach for the Detroit Lions where, Scott Mitchell passed for 3,484 yards, fourth most in team history. In 1998, Trestman was the Arizona Cardinals quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. That year quarterback Jake Plummer threw for 3,737 yards, and the Cardinals made the playoffs for the first time since 1982 while winning their first post-season game in 51 years. In 2001, Trestman served as the Oakland Raiders quarterbacks coach. The following year he was promoted to offensive coordinator and the Raiders led the NFL in total offense with 389.8 yards per game and passing yards with 279.7 per game. Under Trestman's guidance, Raiders QB Rich Gannon also won the 2002 NFL MVP.

If Marc Trestman can make Bernie Kosar, Scott Mitchell, Jake Plummer, and Rich Gannon have career years, then why not Jay Cutler? I don't know how successful Trestman will be, nobody does. All I know is that based on his track record, I am excited to see what he can do. The offensive line still needs to be revamped, and we need a legitimate option a Tight End (Hello, Tyler Eifert?), but there is hope. Lastly, I am willing to give Trestman, and GM Phil Emery the benefit of doubt until they give me a reason not to.

-Eric Tichelbaut

Championship Sunday Preview

Alright, time for some more playoff football! In my opinion, Championship Sunday is the single best day of football. Yes, Super Bowl Sunday is like a national holiday, but Championship Sunday is all about football. None of the pregame festivities, none of the overrated commercials, and no boring halftime show. Up first, the NFC Championship. The San Francisco 49ers are making their second straight conference championship appearance visiting the number one seed Atlanta Falcons. After that, Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens are making a trip to play Tom Brady and New England Patriots for the second year in a row. So who's going to the Super Bowl?

NFC Championship: San Francisco 49ers vs Atlanta Falcons

San Francisco is coming off a very impressive performance last Saturday night, at home, when they beat Green Bay Packers 45-31. Colin Kaepernick overcame an early "pick-six" and fueled the 45 point outburst with one of the greatest quarterback performances of all-time. Kaepernick threw for 263 yards and rushed for a quarterback-record 181 yards while accounting for 4 total touchdowns. Can he do it again? While the 49ers put up 45 points, their defense surrendered 31 points. Aaron Rodgers was able to throw pretty effectively on the Niners secondary with 257 yards and 2 TDs.

Atlanta retained their home-field advantage by holding off a valiant comeback from the Seattle Seahawks and advancing by a score of 30-28. For the first three quarters Atlanta seemed to be in cruise control. Matt Ryan was having his best playoff performance to date by throwing 3 TDs. Then, Russell Wilson simply took over. Doing his best Colin Kaepernick imitation, Wilson scrambled, threw, and ran the Seahawks to a 28-27 lead with 31 seconds remaining. Wilson finished with 3 total TDs while throwing for 385 yards and adding another 60 on the ground. With 31 seconds left, Matty Ice was able to lead the Falcons to a 49 yard game-winning field goal by Matt Bryant.

Colin Kaepernick will be making just his 9th career start on Sunday. This will also be his first playoff start on the road, in a dome. Falcons' fans figure to be extremely loud hoping to help push their team to their 2nd Super Bowl appearance. It should be interesting to see how, if at all, this will affect him. I expect Atlanta to key on Kaepernick's run game and force him to beat them with his arm. Kaepernick has the arm to do that, but in my opinion he sometimes lacks the "touch" to make every throw. As a result, he has failed to complete 58% of his passes for four consecutive weeks. Other than an almost costly 4th quarter interception, Matt Ryan was able to shake off his three poor playoff performances with an overall solid game last Sunday. Ryan will need to continue to do that on Sunday. I do not expect Michael Turner or Jacquizz Rodgers to do much against the Niners run defense. If Atlanta's offensive line can hold of the pass rush from Justin and Aldon Smith, then Matt Ryan could be in for another big day. I expect this one to be very close, but in the end the 49ers will have a more balanced attack on offense, and more playmakers on defense.

Prediction: San Francisco 27 Atlanta 24

AFC Championship: Baltimore vs New England

This marks the third time in a year that these two teams will be playing on Sunday. They split the first two, but the Patriots won the one that counted in last season's AFC Championship. Baltimore pulled off a huge upset over the number one seed Denver Broncos in double overtime last Saturday by a score of 38-35. It was a classic game with a shocking ending. Baltimore converted a miracle 70 yard bomb to Jacoby Jones with 31 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game to overtime. After a crucial Peyton Manning INT, Justin Tucker hit a 47 yard field goal to win it. Joe Flacco had a great game with 331 yards and 3 TDs with no interceptions. The Ravens defense was able to hold Peyton Manning in check, keeping him under 300 yards and forcing two interceptions. If it wasn't for Trindon Holliday's two return TDs, the Ravens would have won much easier.

New England was able to defeat the Houston Texans pretty handily for the 2nd time this season, 41-28. Tom Brady was practically flawless, throwing for 344 yards and 3 TDs. Shane Vereen also broke out with 124 total yards and 3 TDs. During the victory, the Patriots lost star Tight End Rob Gronkowski and versatile tailback Danny Woodhead to injury. Gronk is done for the season, but Woodhead could still play. Either way, New England has depth at both positions and should still be able to move the ball. When the Patriots spread defenses out, like last Sunday, they are extremely tough to beat because they can pass or run at will. I expect more of that on Sunday vs Baltimore.

The Ravens should come out highly motivated once again in what could be Ray Lewis' final game. But, I believe it won't matter. I feel that Tom Brady is determined to "finally" win his fourth Super Bowl. Like their previous match ups this will be tighter than most people think, but in the end the Patriots are better. The Ravens' defense is getting a little long in the tooth, and Brady will expose them. The Patriots running game is better than expected, and balance will be a key. Joe Flacco has proven to be a very solid postseason performer in the past. In last year's AFC Championship, Flacco outplayed Brady. If the Ravens want to pull off the upset, Flacco will have to do It again. I don't think he will.

Prediction: New England 31 Baltimore 23

-Eric Tichelbaut

My Take on Manti Te'o Hoax

Over the last few days, the legacy of Manti Te'o has drastically changed. Te'o went from being the most beloved Notre Dame Football icon since Lou Holtz, to being a national punchline. This year, Te'o helped spark Notre Dame to a dream regular season that ended abruptly on January 7th. Nearly ten days later, what seemed like just a bad dream for Notre Dame fans has turned in a nightmare. Two days have passed since the news broke that the heartbreaking and inspirational story surrounding Te'o's "girlfriend", Lennay Kekua, was all a giant hoax. During this time, I have tried to wrap my mind around this troubling situation. Before I begin addressing certain angles and questions of this case, let's establish a few facts. Here is what we know. Lennay Kekua was not a real person. This fake persona was created by Ronaiah Tuiasosopo in 2008.

At some point Manti Te'o has lied, but to what extent? If you have not read the article on Deadspin, please do so. The facts surrounding the non-existence of Lennay Kekua can not be disputed. However, exactly who played a role in the hoax is very debatable. Was Manti Te'o in on the whole thing? It is possible. Was Manti Te'o completely duped? Also possible. I do not know whether or not Manti Te'o is innocent or guilty. Neither does anyone else not named Manti Te'o or Ronaiah Tuiasosopo. Let’s let all the facts, angles, and stories surface before we make any snap judgments on people. To help examine this bizarre story, I will attempt to provide potential answers to some of the questions being asked. I am not taking a side, at least not yet. I am merely trying to understand what may have or may not have happened.

First Question: What are we to make of the alleged face to face meetings between Te'o and Kekua? There are only two instances in which Te'o and Kekua allegedly met in person. The first story suggests that Te'o first "met" Kekua on November 28, 2009 after the Notre Dame vs. Stanford game in Palo Alto, California. Manti has always said he "met" Kekua after the game, but has been vague about it ever since her alleged death. Brian Te'o, Manti's father, told the South Bend Tribune in an interview this Fall that the two met in the parking lot after the game and sparked a friendship. Obviously, this is not true since Notre Dame and Manti have since stated they never met in person. Those statements also squash the theory that Manti had actually met a woman in person that falsely claimed she was Lennay Kekua that night in California. The case against Manti Te'o would argue that Te'o lied about meeting Kekua because Te'o was in on the hoax and felt this was an ideal place to start a fake relationship with Kekua being a supposed Stanford student. The case for Manti Te'o could suggest two things. First, Te'o was "introduced" to Kekua either via telephone or Internet by one of the perpetrators, possibly Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, and that is how their friendship began. Secondly, Te'o had established a more emotional "online relationship" with Kekua at a later date. Fearing his solely online relationship would be questioned, Te'o created the story of meeting Kekua in-person after the Stanford game to embellish his relationship with Kekua so that it would appear to be more than just an online relationship. The second story involves both Manti and Brian Te'o stating that Lennay Kekua visited Manti in Hawaii a couple of times. I say visiting Manti because contrary to public belief, Kekua never "met" Te'o's parents. People automatically assumed that since Kekua "visited" Hawaii, she must have met Te'o's family. The fact is, Brian Te'o told the South Bend Tribune after Kekua "died" that Lennay was suppose to visit Notre Dame for the first time in late November for Manti's Senior Day game vs. Wake Forest. Brian mentioned that he and his family were looking forward to meeting Lennay, because they thought she could be their future daughter in law. As Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick mentioned, Te'o and Kekua planned to meet up in Hawaii on a few occasions. Obviously, Kekua never showed up. The case against Te'o would claim he lied about these meetings because he was behind the hoax the whole time. The case for Te'o would argue that Te'o believed Kekua was going to visit him in Hawaii. When she never showed up, Te'o lied by claiming she did to avoid being embarrassed and having his relationship questioned. Either way, for or against, can explain why Kekua never met Te'o's family.

Second Question: What exactly is the relationship between Manti Te'o and Ronaiah Tuiasosopo? This is probably the most complicated and important aspect to discovering the entire truth of the hoax. The article on Deadspin goes into great detail on who Ronaiah Tuiasosopo is, who his family is, and what role he played in the hoax. I will not argue or reiterate that information. However, the details of the Te'o and Tuiasosopo relationship are extremely foggy. Deadspin goes onto explain that the Te'o and Tuiasosopo families are familiar with each other. Deadspin also states that Te'o and Tuiasosopo have had a few conversations on Twitter. Anyone that is familiar with how Twitter works understands that anyone can have a conversation with a celebrity like Te'o if he obliges. So take that information with a grain a salt. A few twitter messages back and forth doesn't mean that the two were great friends. At the very least, the two are acquaintances. They may be closer friends, or they may not. We don't have enough information to make that assumption. I think Deadspin made a mistake by leaving people to believe their friendship was greater than it may be. By doing this, people are also believing an unnamed friend of Tuiasosopo that claims to believe he was 80% sure Manti was involved. This may be true, but I think Deadspin failed by concluding Manti was involved based on a small amount of questionable evidence. If Tuiasosopo acted without Manti Te'o's involvement it is hard to know what the motive would be. It could have been for money, an attempt to taint Manti's image, or it could have been just for fun. Nobody knows right now. One final note that I would like to mention is that Tuiasosopo has been rumored to have tried this exact hoax on a few others, most notably a family member.

Third Question: Why didn't Te'o try to visit Kekua while she was in the hospital or go to her "funeral"? The story suggests that Lennay Kekua was involved in a car accident in April of 2012, badly injured and in a coma for nearly two months. Kekua awoke from the coma in June and was getting better. Before being released from the hospital in June, Kekua was diagnosed with Leukemia. Kekua later died six hours after Te'o's grandmother passed away in September. If you believe Te'o was in on the hoax from the beginning, there is no reason to explain why he didn't visit. If Te'o was duped by this hoax, then he still has some explaining to do. With Kekua living in California and Te'o spending his time in either Hawaii or South Bend during the Summer and Fall months, it would not be easy for him to visit frequently while Lennay was in the hospital. She may have asked him not to come visit, but if Te'o loved her as he said he did, it is hard to believe he could not find a way to visit for a couple of days. As far as not attending the funeral, Te'o claimed she made him promise not to miss a game if anything happened to her. This certainly doesn't make missing a "loved" ones funeral seem right, but it does provide a reason as to why he wouldn't. If Te'o loved her, he may have felt more obligated to honor Kekua by playing in the Michigan game rather than attending the funeral. My biggest issue with this question is this: Why is Te'o not visiting Kekua now an issue? Anyone that was familiar with the situation after Kekua "died" knew that Te'o didn't visit her, knew that Te'o didn't attend the "funeral", and knew Te'o and Kekua's relationship was long-distance. But, that was not a problem in September. No, in fact Te'o was praised for being able to play with this "tragedy". If Te'o not visiting Kekua and not attending the "funeral" wasn't an issue then, it certainly shouldn't be now.

Fourth Question: Why did Te'o and Notre Dame wait to release information? Notre Dame and Manti Te'o claim that Te'o received a phone call on December 6th. The phone number and voice were both what Manti had believed to be Lennay's. Te'o was unsure if someone was playing a prank on him by pretending to be his dead girlfriend. Te'o continued to get calls from this person for 10 days and determined that the person calling him now was the same person playing the part of Kekua. It was at this time, around December 16th, that Te'o was convinced he had been played. Wanting to wait to talk to his parents first, Te'o decided to wait until he was home in Hawaii for Christmas. Te'o told his parents on Dec 26th, and then proceeded to call Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick, Head Coach Brian Kelly, and Defensive Coordinator Bob Diaco and explain that he was hoaxed. Te'o met with Swarbrick the following day to discuss the situation more in-depth. Notre Dame officials discussed releasing the story, but decided to hire a private investigator to help discover the truth before making any announcement. Notre Dame received the results on the investigation on January 4th, and discussed them with the Te'o's the following day. Before the Deadspin story broke on January 16th, Te'o was reportedly going to make an announcement on January 21st to break the story. Regardless if Te'o is found to be behind the hoax or a victim, this was Notre Dame and Te'o's biggest mistake. I understand and agree with Te'o wanting to speak with his parents first. I also can understand wanting to have the private investigators discover the truth first, but at the very least a statement should have been released when Notre Dame found out. Notre Dame should have not let the story of Kekua's death be played several times a day in the week leading up to the BCS National Championship. By choosing to allow the story to continue, Notre Dame and Manti Te'o lied by omission. Regardless of what happens, that will never change. At the very least, Notre Dame and Te'o's image has been bruised. For Notre Dame and Manti Te'o's sake, I hope they are telling the truth. If either one of them knew about the hoax any time before December 6th, most notably before or when Kekua "died", then Notre Dame and Te'o's image will be scared forever.

New Information: Ever since the Deadspin article broke on Wednesday afternoon, several related stories have surfaced. Arizona Cardinal Fullback Reagan Mauia released this head scratcher. Could he also be in on the hoax? Is he sticking up for Te'o? Or did Tuiasosopo have a woman pretend to be Lennay Kekua at this party to help build up his fake persona? Then there is this. A series of tweets indicating that two people knew about Lennay Kekua being fake. These same two people appear to be the same two people that ESPN's Shelley Smith interviewed on Friday during an episode of ESPN's Outside the Lines. The two claim their cousin was a victim of this same hoax by Tuiasosopo back in 2008-2009. On Friday, this story also broke along with the OTL video. An alleged confession by Ronaiah Tuiasosopo to a friend stating he created the hoax, and that Te’o was not involved. Needless to say, this story is far from over. More information is likely to come.

Final Thoughts: This is the most bizarre sports related story that I have ever witnessed in my life. And, it appears that it will continue to get stranger. I hope people can wait for the whole story to surface before they make any more judgments. Unfortunately for Te'o, he is already guilty in the court of public opinion. He may never be seen as innocent again. For Notre Dame's sake, they better hope Te'o told them the truth. I believe that AD Jack Swarbrick believed Manti Te'o when they met on December 27th. That is why Jack Swarbrick stuck his neck out on the line for Te'o. If Te'o lied to Swarbrick, he and a cast of other Notre Dame officials may soon be jobless. I can see this story playing out three different ways. One, Te'o was complicit with Tuiasosopo in creating the hoax. This is the worst case scenario. Te'o's legacy would forever be tainted, and Notre Dame's image would be severely damaged. Two, Te'o was completely duped and did not know it was a hoax until he received that phone call on December 6th. This is the best case scenario. Te'o's image would still be damaged for lying by omission from December 6th until now. However, Te'o would likely be forgiven over time. Three, at some point after Kekua "died" and before December 6th, Te'o found out Lennay did not exist. Instead of coming clean, Te'o continued to lie and embellish the truth by going along with the story due to embarrassment, confusion, or fear of people finding out. Either way Manti Te'o has lied at some point during this hoax. Depending on what happens next, Te'o will either be able to restore his reputation, image, and legacy, or it will forever be tainted. What a story. What a mess. What a shame.

-Eric Tichelbaut