Posted on

Patriots Three Round 2023 Mock Draft Predictions

The 2023 NFL Draft is three weeks away. The Patriots have several holes to fill. With Bill Obrien returning, as Offensive Coordinator, we will predict who the Patriot’s brain trust will select. With the team thin at receivers and linemen head coach, Bill Belichick will certainly be wheeling and dealing his picks.

Round 1 Pick 14 Zay Flowers/WR Boston College

All signals point to the Patriots picking a wide receiver in round one. A perfect fir would be Boston College’s Zay Flowers. Out of all the receivers in this year’s draft, Flowers is the swiftest. An elite route runner, Flowers breaks for huge gains after the catch. He has unique open- field moves.

Flowers have all the tools to be a number- one receiver on any NFL team. The knock on Flowers is his height and weight 5″ 185 pounds. He is the ideal wideout and would change the complexion of the Patriot’s offense. He rarely drops passes, which is a huge plus in New England.

Round 2//CB/Safety/Jartavious Martin/Illinois

This pick can go either way. This is where the draft gets interesting. I have the organization selecting cornerback Jartavious Martin. Martin’s trait is his versatility. He can play either corner or safety. This a trait Bill Belichick relishes.

Martin stands at 6’195 lbs. He registered 51 tackles last season and had 3 interceptions. Martin is an exceptional l tackler. A feisty player, he will depth and intensity to the defensive backfield.

Round 3 Pick 116/ Tyler Steen/OT/ Alabama

Tyler Steen is a mammoth 6′ 6″ 320lb tackle. The advantage of drafting Steen has started since his freshman year. A powerful blocker with good footwork. He takes his blocks to the next level and moves down the field well. With Bill Obrien, the offensive coordinator Steen will settle right in.

Conclusion

This is Bill Belichick’s most important draft. With no playoff wins in four years, rumors are floating around of a possible firing Patriots fans are desperate for a return to post-season. Quarterback Mack Jones and Bill Belichick are at odds Belichick did not like the way Jones sought outside help. That’s why Belichick needs to hit a grand slam in this year’s draft.

Posted on

Sloppy Defense Costing Celtics In Standings

Since the All -Star break, the Celtics have played inconsistent basketball. Embarrassing losses to the Knicks, Rockets, and Cavaliers have plummeted the Celtics to second place behind Milwaukee. Currently, the team is 2 games in front of the 76ers and 2games behind the Bucks. Any hopes of returning to game seven rest on tough defense and focus on making the right decisions. In this post, we will review three areas the Celtics need to focus on heading into the postseason.

Solid Defense

Despite, a strong first half the club needs to play tight defense and focus on mental toughness. Sloppy turnovers will not cut it against teams like Milwaukee and Golden State. Currently, the team is on a three- game winning streak and playing as a club ready for the playoffs.

Quality Rebounding

Getting to the championship will require clutch scoring, defense, and rebounding. Unfortunately, the Celtics rank near the bottom in the rebounding department. The top rebounding teams are the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks. However, the Celtics are rebounding better than the Golden State Warriors. The Celtic’s top rebounders are Jayson Tatum 8.9 rebounds per game, Robert Williams 8.7, Jaylen Browns 6.7 rebounds per game, and Al Horford 6.9 rebounds per game.

Strategic Coaching

Head coach Joe Mazzulla is under a lot of pressure. Recently named head coach, they have been criticizing how he manages the players. Namely Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Both players need to be fresh in order to win the championship. Brown suffered a serious facial injury earlier in the season. Mazzulla is the youngest coach in the NBA.

Conclusion

The Celtics are under pressure after last year’s loss to Golden State. Playing smart and solid rebounding will play a significant factor in the outcome. At 51-23, the team needs to regain its first- half form.

Posted on

Latest Bruins Moves Entice Bruins Nation

 The recent flurry of moves has enticed the Bruins nation. General manager Don Sweeney gained defenseman DimitriyOrlov and forward Garnet Hathaway. Also, swapping jerseys were Red Wing forward, Tyler Bertucci. All three players bring needed grit to the roster. In return, the Bruins gave up a slew of draft picks over the next several years. In this post, we will review three reasons why these moves will entice the Bruin nation.

In, Dimitry Orlov, the Bruins received a scrappy defender. In his first few games, Orlov has figured in the scoring netting two along with two assists. Orlov provides significant depth to go along with Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, Brandon Carlo, Derek Forbot, and Connor Clifton.

Offensive Punch

In, Garnet Hathaway, the Bruins receive depth on their fourth line. Hathaway adds grit and toughness to the lineup. Tyler Bertuzzi, the long =time Red Wing brings added scoring. With Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno injured, Bertuzzi is a welcomed addition.

Hathaway provides grit and energy to the fourth -line. This is what the Bruins have lacked in previous playoff runs. With more physical talent, opposing teams will fear the Bruins in a seven- game series.

MVP Goaltender

The third reason the Bruins will succeed is goaltender Linus Ullmark. Ullmark signed as a free agent from Buffalo two years ago. With 17 games remaining, Ullmark’s record is an impressive 33-4 with a 938 save percentage. He scored an open net goal earlier in the season.

Many people around the NHL feel Ullmark is an MVP Goaltender Backup goalie Jeremy Swayman has been inconsistent. Look for head coach Jim Montgomery to rest Ullmark and use Swayman down the stretch.

Conclusion

Winning the Stanley Cup is a long way off. In order to win the cup, the Bruins need solid goaltending from both Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark. Counting on one goalie will put pressure on the team and coaches.

Posted on

Projecting The 2023 Red Sox Pitching Staff

With Spring training officially underway, it’s time to project the 2023 Red Sox pitching staff .General Manager Chaim Bloom began the offseason revamping the Red Sox bullpen. Overall, the team added four new relievers and signed veteran Corey Kluber to a one-year deal. Kluber spent the 2022 season with the Tampa Bay Rays. The organization had the seventh- worst bullpen in the Majors. In this post, we will review three area’s how the team improved its pitching department.

Revamped Bullpen

During the offseason, the team added five new relievers to the staff. The first signing was Joely Rodriguez spent the 2022 season with the Mets. Rodriguez had an impressive campaign finishing 2-4 with a 4.47 ERA. Used primarily as a middle reliever he will bring experience and depth to the Red Sox.

Chris Martin, Richard Bleier, Wyatt Mills, and Kenley Jansen round out the relievers. Jansen is one of the best closers in baseball and will help the team immediately. Throughout his impressive career, he has accumulated 391 saves.

Jansen brings an attitude and history of winning. Last season with the Braves he recorded 41 saves to his credit. In 2022 the Red Sox bullpen blew 28 saves out of a possible 65 opportunities. One of the worst in baseball.

Deep Starting Pitching

In 2022, the Red Sox starting pitching had 79 wins and an ERA of 4.53. With injuries to key starters, Boston added veteran Corey Kluber to the rotation. In twelve years of service, Kluber brings depth and experience to the staff. Last season as Ray, he was 10-10 with a 4.31 ERA. The former Indian has a total of 113 wins and 71 losses with a 3.31 ERA.

If Chris Sale and James Paxton can stay healthy, this should be an interesting team to watch. Rounding out the staff is second -year man Brian Bello, Garrett Whitlock, and Tanner Houck. Both Whitlock and Houck suffered a season- ending injuries in 2022.

Depth In The System

Since Chaim Bloom took over in 2021 the teams farm system is vastly improved. With young talent waiting Red Sox fans can finally see a new wave of talent names to keep an eye on are LHP Brandon Walter/Worcestor/LHP Chris Murphy/ Worcestor/and RHP Bryan Mata/Worcestor.

Conclusion

Despite a dismal 2022 season, it’s time to move on. If the pitching,is healthy, it will contend. The revamped bullpen will be exciting with the addition of Kenley Jansen closing. Payroll wise, the team is at 225 million. I predict the club to go 79-83 fourth place in the AL East.

Posted on

A Look At The 2023 Red Sox Opening Day Lineup

The 2023 Red Sox roster is questionable. In this post, we will review the 2023 Red Sox opening day lineup. Losing Xander Bogaerts is significant. General manager Chaim Bloom was busy but lost a major piece of the organization. Replacing him will take time. The core of the roster is past its prime.

Top half Of The Order

The Red Sox are banking on Enrique Hernandez to replace Bogaerts. Expect Hernandez to be the leadoff hitter. The knock on Hernandez is he only played 94 games in 2022. When healthy, his versatility is valuable. In 2022, he hit 222 hitting 6 home runs and knocking in 45 RBI’S. He played a stellar centerfield last season. Overall, he has played 100 games at shortstop in his career.

Rafael Devers will bat second followed by either Adam Duvall or Justin Turner. Devers had a career year batting 295 with 27 home runs and driving in 88 runs. Devers signed for eleven_ years 313,000,000 with a 20,000,000 signing bonus.

Following Devers will be Justin Turner or Adam Duvall. Both players signed one-year deals. Turner brings power and defense to the team. Duvall is overcoming wrist surgery and is still a solid center fielder. Both players bring experience and leadership to the organization.

Middle Of The Order

This is where it gets tricky. The club will miss Bogaert’s power. They signed Japanese star Masataka Yoshida to a five-year deal. Yoshida is a solid player who brings quality at- bats to the order. In seven seasons in Japan, Yoshida hit 135 home runs, drove in 400 RBIs, and batted an impressive 326.

Filling out the middle of the order will be Triston Casas and Alex Verdugo. Casas played in 27 games belting 5 home runs and driving in 12. He hit 197 but show good patience at the. Verdugo is in his third season and avoided arbitration. The team is hoping for more production from him offensively. Solid in the field, he can play both right and left field.

Lower Half Of The Order

Depending on who the designated hitter is Reese McGuire and a shortstop will round out the order. I look for JT Turner to be the DH. McGuire was gained midway through the season. In 36 games, McGuire hit 3 home runs and drove in 12 runs. He hit an impressive 337. He is a solid catcher, both defensively and offensively.

General Manager Chaim Bloom has yet to fill the shortstop position. Look for more moves before spring training.

Conclusion

This is a roster of speculation. Except for Rafael Devers, this team is questionable. Most of the players they signed are in the latter part of their careers. Looking at this roster I predict the Red Sox will finish fourth in the competitive American League East.

If Bobby Dalbec or Jarren Duran are not traded they could be in the mix for first base and a fourth outfield spot, along with RobRefsnyder.

Posted on

Bruins Need To Add Some Pieces To the 2023 Roster

The Boston Bruins are enjoying one of their most successful seasons in years. It’s time for the Bruins to add some pieces to the 2023 roster. With a comfortable lead in the Atlantic Division, the Bruins are 35-5-4. They are second in the NHL on the Penalty kill and second on the power play Plus, an amazing 92 goals against the league’s best. In this post, we will examine the Bruin’s needs heading into the second half.

Add A Physical Defenseman

With the season half over the team needs to add a physical defenseman. In two of the Bruin’s losses to the Kraken and Knights dominated, the Bruins. Adding a defenseman will take the pressure off the offense and add depth in case of injury.

One name mentioned is Vancouver’s, Bo Horvat. Horvat is having a monster season as one of the league’s top scorers. Two players I like are Arizona’s Josh Brown and Jakub ChyChrun. Chychrun will be costly. Josh Brown, is 6’5″ and a massive 225 pounds. He would be an imposing presence.

Add Organizational Depth

Injury- wise, the Bruins have been fortunate. Charlie McAvoy missed several games due to shoulder surgery. Brad Marchand missed several months Adding organizational depth veteran player, or two will make the difference come to the playoffs.

Arizona is struggling with 14 wins and 33 points in the Western Division. If the right deal can not be achieved, the club can fall back on organizational depth. In Providence, the Bruins have defenseman Mike Reilly and Jakob Zboril on defense. Young Oscar Steen has been up and down this season. s for the goaltending if Ullmark or Swayman gets injured Keith Kincaid is a reliable backup.

Stay Healthy

Staying healthy is the key to going deep in the postseason. So far, the Bruins have been healthy enough to stay on their torrid pace. Personally, the organization needs to add a defenseman. Giving up a number – one pick is risky.

Conclusion

With, the season half over, the Bruins have a way to go. So far, they haven’t experienced a long losing streak. Head coach Jim Montgomery has done a remarkable job with both the veterans and young players. It’s been twelve years since the Bruins won the cup.

Posted on

Celtics Need To Reclaim Their Identity

The Celtics need to reclaim their identity. In the last sixteen games, they are 8-8. Poor passing is creating turnovers. With the All-Star game around the corner, the team needs to regroup and focus on defense. In this post, we will evaluate three categories the club needs to focus on.

Focus On Defense

The Celtics have failed miserably on defense. In their latest loss to the Thunder, they gave up a franchise= high 150 points. It was 1979 when the Celtics suffered such a humiliating defeat.

With the second half approaching, the organization has to toughen up. Losing close games, the Celtics will slip further and further in the standings. With the Nets red hot, it’s time to play smart.

Solid Coaching

First-year head coach Joe Mazzulla is learning fast. Being a top seed, the team needs solid coaching. Managing Jayson Tatum’s minutes along with Jaylen Brown is crucial.

Getting balanced scoring is essential not only in winning but in preventing injury. The Celtics have one of the deepest benches in the league. Depth was the key to the early season success.

Contributions from Peyton Pritchard, Blake Griffin, and Sam Hauser need to continue. If the Nets continue their torrid winning streak, the organization will need help from the whole bench.

Strong Communication Amongst Each Other

History has shown that the Celtics win through teamwork. Communicating with each other is important down the stretch. Although it’s still early, the team is making costly turnovers. Sloppy passing has been too obvious this season. Closing out games is the difference between success and losing.

Conclusion

If the Celtics learned anything from the finals, playing tough defense is one example of winning. The club needs to work together and improve on its decision -making. They are still making the same mistakes as they did last spring in the finals against Golden State.

Posted on

Evaluating the 2022 Red Sox Offseason

The 2022 Red Sox offseason has been porous at best. In this post, we will evaluate the Red Sox off -season. Starting with the pitching, the organization has no real stopper. Let us take a look at the latest moves and compare them to other clubs.

Starting Pitching

Beginning with the starting pitching, Red Sox fans do not have much to cheer about. The Rangers added Jacob Degroom and Nate Eovaldi. Boston said goodbye to Rich Hill. If anything, the club is holding on to life support.

If there is anything positive, the bullpen improved significantly. Starting with a new closer Kenley Jansen, and adding Chris Martin and Joely Rodriguez. This makes Matt Barnes’s job a lot easier. Reliever Garrett Whitlock can move into the rotation. Also, Tanner Houck can rotate between starting and relieving.

Last season, the Red Sox had one of the worst bullpens in baseball. With more depth, the club has one of the better pitching departments in the American league. If Tanner Houck and Chris Sale can stay healthy, the Red Sox will make things interesting.

Weak Offensively

With the shocking departure of Xander Bogaerts, the organization lacks offense. Third baseman Rafael Devers appears to be on the move. The club lacks a minimal power threat in the middle of the order.

Last season, the club hit 258 fifth best in the league, and led the league in runs scored. Power wise they hit 155. This year the power is worse. Japanese free agent Masataka Yoshida signed a five-year deal with the team. Known for his patient at-bats Yoshida can fill in as the DH and outfield. In seven seasons in Japan, Yoshida belted 135 career home runs while posting a 326 Batting Average.

Catching Department Thin

If the season started today, Reese McGuire and Connor Wong are your catchers. McGuire was acquired in July and hit 3 home runs. Wong has only two partial seasons under his belt. The club has no one in the farm system ready to step in and contribute.

2023 Outlook

With a questionable starting pitching staff, this team has too many holes to fill. Replacing Xander Bogaerts will be an arduous task. Bogaerts was homegrown and a clubhouse leader.With no power hitter in the lineup, Red Sox fans will be in for a disappointing summer.

Posted on

Looking At The Revolutions Glaring Offseason Needs

No doubt the New England Revolution had a disappointing 2022 campaign. In this post, we will look at the glaring off-season needs. The Revolution had some positive stretches in 2022 but came up short. Finishing tenth in the MLS’ Eastern Conference, it’s time for the organization to regroup for 2023.

Game Time Strategy

Mostly the team simply did not execute in 2022. Many fans are criticizing head coach Bruce Arena. But the formation Arena put out on the field was competitive. Simply the team lacks a true center back. Lack of scoring seems to be the norm in Foxborough.

Unlike other Bruce Arena teams, this club could not pull out a win. Still, with a pretty decent defensive group, there is hope for the team in 2023.

Need To Capitalize In Super Draft

With the MLS Super draft, the Revolution needs to focus on scoring. Three names to watch are Andreas Ueland Virginia, Hamady Diop, Clemson, and Daniel Muncie, Indiana. Muncie will most likely be gone by the time the Revolution pick. Andreas Ueland is my personal favorite. A capable scorer and defender.

The Revolution does not have an elite scorer. Names like Sebastian Drivussiof Austin, Josef Martinez of Atlanta, or a Diego Rubio. Colorado. Players of this caliber are not on the Revolutions roster.

During the season the club showed flashes of playoff aspiration. At midseason, the Revolution were 4-3-1 but failed to make up ground. Failing in fundamentals such as getting back in transition the club took two steps backward.

The Future

As for the roster, the organization has the talent to advance to the playoffs. Outside of a 3-0 win against Orlando on August 6th, Revolution fans had little to celebrate. They have five players to build around. Goalkeeping and defense is their strength. Adding depth to the draft is key. With six open roster spots and 24 players under contract 2023 looks bright for the Revolution.

Posted on

Resigning Pastrnak Is A Priority For The Bruins

The Boston Bruins are enjoying early season success. And resigning David Pastrnak is a priority. Pastrnak has been an integral facet of the Bruins since 2014. Outside of William Nylander, ofToronto Pastrnak has been the most productive player in his 2014 draft class. In eight seasons, he has an impressive 282 goals. 600 assists and a plus -minus of 96 rank him as an elite player. In this post, we will review three reasons why the Bruins must sign David Pastrnak as soon as possible.

Team Leader

Since being drafted in 2014, Pastrnak has been special. Night in and night out Pastrnak figures in the scoring. At this juncture, Pastrnak is on the verge of leaving. If the team does not come to terms the organization will be dealt a severe blow.

Not resigning Pastrnak will be a public relations fiasco for the Bruins. With one blunder in the Mitch Miller signing the team needs to rebound. Getting a deal done is imperative. With Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci retiring after the season time s of the essence. The organization cannot afford to lose h

Bergeron And Krejci Retiting

When the 2022/23 season ends Bruins fans will severely miss Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. The two have been the face of the club for many years. As of now, Pastrnak is the team’s leading scorer with 14 goals and 19 assists, and a plus-minus of 10.

New head coach Jim Montgomery has Pastrnak skating on the second line. Pairing with Taylor Hall the two have been clicking. With Bergeron and Krejci at the end of their careers, the Bruins need his goal- scoring.

Time Is Running Out

Time is running out for the club to resign David Pastrnak. The deal should of gotten done long before now. The longer the team drags their feet the more Pastrnak and his agent get impatient. Bruins fans will suffer and be disappointed. general Manager Don Sweeney is facing backlash after the Mitch Miller deal. Losing Sweeney will be disastrous to the fan base.

Conclusion

With the Bruins making history with their home unbeaten streak management must sign Pastrnak. He is an elite NHL player with a special skill set. With the loss of Bergeron and Krejci, the Bruins will suffer immensely.