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Mac Jones: Insider’s Look

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Mac Jones, QB, Alabama – New England Patriots

  • 6-2. 214 lbs
  • 40 time: 4.90
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Often overshadowed by the presence of Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa on the Alabama roster, Jones finally got his opportunity to shine in 2019 after an injury to Tagovailoa opened the door for starting opportunities.

Jones entered 2020 with a quarterback competition against the highly recruited Bryce Young, but he held onto the starting job. He performed admirably throughout the year while directing Alabama to another national championship and putting his name in the Heisman race.

Despite only having a year and a half as a starter, Jones enters the NFL as a highly decorated passer with a dominant string of performances behind him.

STRENGTHS

  • Jones has a good feel for attacking with accuracy at all three levels of the field, and his ball placement regardless of the distance stands out.
  • Mechanically sound, possessing a good base as a thrower and delivering passes with a clean stroke.
  • Smart with his decisions and won’t force passes if he doesn’t have ideal leverage for the throw.
  • Control over the Alabama offense stands out, and he has a great command over the system.

WEAKNESSES

  • Unable to extend plays much with his legs, and he shouldn’t be trusted to make things happen as a scrambler.
  • Arm is relatively average, and he isn’t able to make a ton of high velocity throws when working off platform.
  • Will need to improve his quickness working through progressions as a pro.

PRO COMPARISON

Can be compared favorably to Jared Goff, Detroit Lions: Goff gets his fair share of criticism for being more of a game manager than a dynamic passer, but he has conducted some well-oiled machines with good accuracy, timing, and decision-making as a pro.

Jones brings a lot of the same traits with his timing and control, and he should be able to drive the bus with enough efficiency to start at the pro level.

 

NFL Draft: A Return to Normalcy & Uncertainty

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CLEVELAND – Although it seems like a century ago, it was just a year back when we were welcomed into NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s basement man-cave to watch the NFL Draft unfold pick-by-pick. The surreal feeling of disconnection to the normal man-hugs and NFL Draft-niks reaction was lost to the pandemic we were just beginning to understand.

Tonight?

It’ll be like Mardi Gras in Cleveland, if that would ever be a thing.

NFL Draft pundits are predicting a quarterback class like none other. The focus on the more well-known position of QB could shift a more deserved spotlight away from the amazing Alabama Crimson Tide football program when the 2021 NFL Draft begins tonight.

The defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide Class of 2021 (and their young peers) will challenge the record for first-round picks in a single year. ‘Bama Quarterback Mac Jones, Heisman Trophy winner in WR DeVonta Smith,  his fellow WR Jaylen Waddle and RB Najee Harris lead the talented departing crew of Alabama Coach Nick Saban‘s vast resourced expected to be gobbled-up by NFL player personnel departments from Miami to Seattle.  All will be among the first-rounders.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have the No. 1 overall pick and awaiting for selection are five quarterbacks projected to be selected in the top half of the first round. The Jags seem set on Trevor Lawrence of Clemson, but Zach Wilson (BYU), Alabama’s Jones, Trey Lance (North Dakota State) and Justin Fields (Ohio State) are likely to be part of a record QB haul in Round one.

If the Jaguars select Lawrence first overall, he’ll be the 26th quarterback to go No. 1 since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Quarterbacks have gone first each of the past three drafts and Lawrence is listed as a -10000 favorite to go No. 1 and make it four in a row. Only twice in NFL draft history quarterbacks have gone 1-2-3, most recently in 1999 when Tim Couch (Browns), Donovan McNabb (Eagles) and Akili Smith (Bengals) were the top players drafted.

Only one time in draft history (2018), were four quarterbacks selected in the top 10, and never with picks 1-4. The Falcons hold the fourth overall pick and choosing an heir apparent to Matt Ryan is under consideration. That No. 4 overall pick is the crossroad of the 2021 NFL Draft as Atlanta could trade down and gather additional picks by dealing the No. 4 pick to a QB-needy team such as the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos or Chicago Bears.

The Patriots lost Tom Brady and his Super Bowl winning ways to reigning NFL champion Tampa Bay and Brady’s replacement in New England, Cam Newton, didn’t pan-out to be a playoff-bound QB for Bill Belichick and the Pats.

The record for quarterbacks drafted in the first round is six, set in 1983 with a class of John Elway, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino, Todd Blackledge, Tony Eason and Ken O’Brien. Of course, the poor New York Jets came away with O’Brien that year.

Those same J-E-T-S will be selecting at No. 2 this season and they recently dealt their “franchise QB” of the 2018 NFL Draft, Sam Darnold, to the Carolina Panthers who are coming off a QB trade of their own, having dealt Teddy Bridgewater to Denver on April 28.

To say uncertainty is the name of the NFL Draft in 2021 is an understatement for all draft.

 

Red Sox Take Two from Mets

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FLUSHING – Boston Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta out-pitched Mets Cy Young Award winner and MVP candidate Jacob deGrom Wednesday night, when the Boston pitching staff combined for a two-hit shut-out and earned the win as the visiting Red Sox edged the New York Mets, 1-0.

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Sox Backstop Christian Vazquez had an RBI double in the second inning for the Red Sox, who swept the two-game interleague series against the National League New Yorkers.

Three runs in two games were enough for the Boston Red Sox to defeat the Mets often-anemic offense but the Red Sox will need to generate more offense when they continue their short six-game road trip, visiting Arlington, Texas and the Texas Rangers Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series.

Left-hander Martin Perez (0-1, 5.71 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound for the Red Sox against right-hander Kyle Gibson (2-0, 2.30).

The Sox two wins over the Mets improved Boston’s surprising record to an AL East-leading, 16-9. The Sox started the season 0-3, but have now won three straight and four of their last five games. Boston next 11 games against a combination of Texas (10-15, .400), Detroit (8-16, .333) and Baltimore (10-14, .417) will be a key indicator for the rest of their 2021 season.

Boston, AL East last place finishers a season ago, recorded a disappointing (24-36, .400) record and finished 16 games back of Tampa Bay in the COVID-19 shortened 60-game 2020 season.

Bruins Notch Key Win vs. Penguins

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PITTSBURGH – The Boston Bruins bought another ticket for their roller coaster ride and used it to get back in the win column with a key, 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Boston goals by David Krejci, Brad Marchand and newly-acquired Taylor Hall helped the Bruins bounce back from a shutout loss to Pittsburgh last Sunday.

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Bruins goalkeeper Tuukka Rask made 25 saves as Boston crept within six points of NHL East-leading Washington and one point of the New York Islanders who stand at No. 3 in a competitive the playoff race in the East Division. The Bruins’ win followed a two-game losing streak which was preceded by six-game win streak (April 13-22).

Boston has eight games remaining in the NHL regular season and their next two games – starting tonight – are against the cellar-dwelling Buffalo Sabres. The following two games are against the New Jersey Devils, a team only two wins ahead of the lowly Sabres.

 

Celtics Back in Win Column

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BOSTON – Boston’s All-Star forward Jaylen Brown scored 38 points and his fellow All-Star Jayson Tatum added 35 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as the Celtics bounced back from a three-game losing streak with a 120-111 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. Brown has scored 30 points or more in three of his last five games for the Celtics.

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Boston is currently teetering between the fourth Eastern Conference Playoff slot and home court advantage and the seventh slot which would force the Celtics into a new NBA Play-In” tournament to begin the postseason. The NBA regular season ends May 16th for Boston.

The coming weekend schedule pits the Celtics against the San Antonio Spurs (31-30, .508) and the Portland Trail Blazers (34-28, .548) in two tough home games against Western Conference competition. After the weekend, the Celtics play Eastern opponents in six of their remaining seven games.

Boston is a mediocre (20-12) at home this season.

 

 

Red Sox End Home-stand with a “W”

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BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox concluded their season-long 10-game home stand with a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners Sunday at Fenway Park. Boston finished a season-long 10 game stretch at Fenway with a disappointing 5-5 record but are 14-6 in their last 20 games and 3-0-3 in their last six series.

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Trailing 1-0 after the first half of the 1st inning, utility man Marwin Gonzalez and right fielder Hunter Renfroe each worked bases-loaded walks in the Sox’ half of the 1st inning and 2B Christian Arroyo was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. It marked the time the Red Sox have scored four (or more) runs on two hits or fewer in the 1st inning since August 11, 2018 vs. TB (4 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 1 E).

Boston starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R) struck-out a season-high eight over his season-high 7.0 innings. Rodriguez retired his final nine batters faced on 29 pitches after allowing 3 straight hits and two runs to begin the 5th inning. It was Rodriguez third career start with no walks over 7.0+ innings pitched.

Boston begins a six-game road trip in New York on Tuesday when they face the Mets in a pair of night games before heading to Arlington, Texas to take-on the Texas Rangers in a four-game set. The Sox return to Fenway Park on May 4th to start a three-game series against Detroit.

Inconsistency Plagues the Red Sox

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BOSTON – It’s nowhere near as bad as Scripture’s calling “idle hands being the Devil’s work shop, but for a Major League Baseball team, inconsistency – especially at home – can lead a club to places even worse than hell. Inconsistency can lead to idle time in October.

Here’s a snapshot at the 2021 Boston Red Sox season:

  • April 1 – Boston hosted Baltimore for Opening Day – Postponed
  • April 2-4 – Boston lost three straight to the Orioles – (0-3)
  • April 5-14 – The Red Sox strike back and won nine in a row (vs. combo of TB, Balt, and Minn) – (9-3)
  • April 15-18 – Sox lost three-of-four (Chicago White Sox)
  • April 19-20 – Boston took two straight games (CWS and Toronto)
  • April 21-24 – Boston dropped three-of-four (Toronto and Seattle) – (13-9)
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In Spring Training, Red Sox Manager Alex Cora hoped for a better record (and some consistency), at least at Fenway Park. Boston is 4-5 through the first nine games of the current home stand, but maintain a 13-6 record in their last 19 games. Entering Sunday’s series finale against the Seattle Mariners, the Red Sox are (7-8) at Fenway but (6-1) on the road.

On Saturday, the Sox fell victim to Seattle’s starter Chris Flexen (2-1) – (7.0 IP, 4 H, R, BB, 7 SO) who pitched a career-high 7.0 innings, the Mariners’ longest road start of the season. Flexen’s pitching was backed up by Mariners’ 3B Kyle Seager’s bat as Seager went 3-for-5, with two runs scored, a double, triple and three RBI). He came a HR shy of the cycle but his RBI single in the 1st, a 2=two-run triple in the 2nd and a double in the 5th inning made the difference in Seattle’s 8-7 victory.

Boston starter Nathan Eovaldi (3-2) took the loss. He pitched five innings, allowing, seven hits, five runs (four earned), with a walk and three strike-outs. Eovaldi had extended his streak of consecutive batters faced without a walk to 73 before issuing the four ball pass to Evan White with two outs in the 5th inning.

 

Bogaerts, Martinez Lead Sox to 6-5 Win

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BOSTON – Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts went 2-for-4, with a run scored, a home run and  3 RBI to match his season high in RBI with his  2-run homer in the 1st to lead the Red Sox to a 6-5 win over the Seattle Mariners. Bogaerts has homered in three of the last four games and the Sox are 4-4 in their current eight-game home stand.

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J.D. Martinez followed for Boston and hit a solo home run down the right field line in the 3rd inning. to extend the Sox’ lead to 3-1. It was Martinez’ seventh homer of the season, matching his (60-game) 2020 season total.

Boston reliever Hirokazu Sawamura earned his first MLB win after entering in the 4th inning, leading 3-2 with two outs and runners on 1st and 2nd. Sawamura struck out Seattle OF Mitch Haniger to strand both runners. Overall, Sawamura has stranded each of his four inherited runners this season and seven of his nine appearances have been scoreless (1.80 ERA, 2 ER/10.0 IP).

Garrett Whitlock spelled Sawamura and extended a streak of 25 consecutive batters retired before allowing a two-out single to Sam Haggerty in the 6th inning. The string of scoreless innings marks the longest streak by a Red Sox pitcher since Chris Sale retired 25 consecutive batters in June 2019. Whitlock was credited with a hold.

The Mariners allowed six runs after holding opponents to five runs or fewer in each of their previous eight games, including 3 runs or fewer in 7 of those 8 games. Tonight’s 6-5 loss was their 10th one-run game of the season, the most in the majors.

The teams meet again at 1:10pm on Saturday at Fenway Park.

 

Seattle Defeats Boston in 10th Inning

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BOSTON – Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning and the Seattle Mariners rallied to defeat the Boston Red Sox in the first game of a four-game series at Fenway Park.

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The Mariners managed only three hits, including doubles by Ty France and Sam Haggerty, but capitalized despite only one hit through the first nine innings. Mariners right-hander Rafael Montero (2-0) earned the victory after retiring the side in order in the ninth.

Red Sox right-hand pitcher Nick Pivetta didn’t allow a hit until the sixth inning, when France tied the game with a two-run double with two outs. Pivetta went six innings, allowing the two runs on one hit with three walks and four strikeouts. Boston’s Rafael Devers had two hits and a homer.

Boston Takes Key Game vs Phoenix Suns

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BOSTON – Celtics All-Star guard Kemba Walker tied his season-high with 32 points to lead Boston to a key victory over the visiting Phoenix Suns, 99-86, Thursday night at TD Garden. Walker shot 11 of 17 from the field for the Celtics (32-27), who won for the ninth time in their last 11 games. All-Star forward Jayson Tatum had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Boston as he returned from a left ankle injury.

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Boston played without its All-Star forward Jaylen Brown (shoulder), newly acquired forward Evan Fournier (health and safety) and center Robert Williams III (knee).

Veteran Phoenix guard Chris Paul had 22 points with eight rebounds and eight assists to lead the Suns (42-17), who lost for just the third time in their last 16 games. Suns guard Devin Booker had 15 points before fouling out.

The Celtics grabbed their largest lead of the game, 66-45, on a Tatum pull-up jumper with 7:13 left in the third quarter. A 10-2 Suns run prompted a Boston timeout, after which Mikal Bridges and Paul made short buckets to cut Phoenix’s deficit to single digits, 68-59.

Boston ended the period up 77-65. Later in the game, the Suns cut the deficit to nine, 90-81, but could not close the gap any further down the stretch.

Both Brown and Walker will be out tonight when the Celtics face Brooklyn.