Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Chicago

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The Miami Heat played an anticipated one on Monday night against the Chicago Bulls, and well, they came out to play.

Gabe Vincent came out firing, the team’s defense was absolutely elite, and they had production 1 through 10.

So, here are some takeaways from this one…

#1: The nightly takeaway of Bam Adebayo defensive dominance.

Another half-time evaluation of Bam Adebayo, another mesmerizing exercise. We know how good he is on the defensive end, specifically when watching a highlight reel of him locking up your favorite player on the perimeter, but it transcends that stuff. We see plenty of great perimeter defenders, and plenty of in-action defenders. Bam Adebayo, ladies and gentleman, is both. When looking at the latter, a play from the second quarter sums it up well. Coby White and Nikola Vucevic running a pick and roll, means Adebayo ends up on White. After blanketing him on the attack, White makes the correct read to lob it up to Vucevic. What happens next? Adebayo turns around fully, goes up in the air, and gets the block. It sounds simple when explaining it in these terms, but in real speed, it’s just simply not normal. But it’s just another night for Adebayo on that end of the floor.

#2: Gabe Vincent-Caleb Martin stepping up in their own ways.

Gabe Vincent had to step right up into the starting role with Kyle Lowry out due to personal reasons, and man did he come out firing. 14 points at the half, but it’s more about how he’s getting those points. We know about strong attacks or off the catch threes, but the mid-range play from him has been something to keep an eye on. Running down the lane, stopping on a dime, and flowing into a tough turnaround J. The reason I bring up Caleb Martin as well is because they come as a package deal. Literally. Defensively, these guys essentially *are* the 2-3 zone, since it’s always gone to with them headlining it at the top. Guys like DeMar DeRozan can shoot over the top of that, but do you know what he can’t shoot over the top of? Physicality. Both Vincent and Martin have a real gift to guard up due to both of their imcreased strength. That’s how good defensive players make up for their biggest weakness.

#3: Does Chicago fit the build of team’s Miami wouldn’t mind seeing?

As we inch closer to the post-season, more conversations are had about specific match-ups, or the type of team that possibly fits your scheme best. And as I’ve been saying for quite some time, inside the arc teams fit Miami’s defensive build pretty perfectly. Yet, while the Bulls only hit 1 three in the first half tonight, they’re clearly an inside the arc based unit. If they go to the DeRozan-Vucevic PnR, Miami made it known PJ Tucker will handle Vuc and Bam will take DeRozan. That leaves Jimmy Butler in free safety mode on the weak-side, waiting to make that baseline double on the entry pass. That’s the reason they fit teams in that area. This current team is one that is as crisp as it gets in terms of defensive rotations, and that’s when you can fully commit to doubling, blitzing, etc.

#4: A personal favorite offensive set from Miami.

Once again, I always have to throw in my one minor evaluation point in these pieces, and this one is something I’ve been watching all year. In terms of offensive actions, utilizing Butler-Bam-Robinson on the strong side is always a good start. With this specific set, though, Bam is running things at the top of the key, while Gabe Vincent and PJ Tucker space out on the weak-side. Robinson sets a back screen on the loop for Butler, which starts the domino effect. The lob option is there for Butler, which Bam threw up to Jimmy in the third. If that isn’t there, Robinson flows into a DHO as both flash down to Butler. And if that DHO is blitzed, it’s Bam go time. The way to defensively counter is send one of those weak-side guys across as the other splits the difference. The issue: it happens so quickly that decision can’t be made.

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#5: Tyler Herro passing down the igniter, becoming steady hand.

I’ve sat here on many occasions discussing a Tyler Herro scoring outpour, just through a pure igniter stand-point. But looking at tonight specifically, we saw that guy was Gabe Vincent. Past games it’s been Caleb Martin, Max Strus, etc. Watching Herro pass down the torch of that one dimensional spark piece, into a guy who is simply the steady hand on good efficiency, could be the most important development for this team. Early in this one, there were moments where he was thrown off his game a bit, which was a clear focus from the Bulls’ game-planning. But an ability to not only bounce back, but takeover the offense in the absence of Kyle Lowry is absolutely major. His downhill presence was felt, and I could eliminate the word downhill for the statement to still be correct.

 

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Miami Hurricanes: No. 1 2023 prospect to visit campus this weekend

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The Miami Hurricanes will get several big-time prospects on their campus in the month of March. One of them is 2023 five-star defensive lineman David Hicks. He will make a visit to Coral Gables this weekend per Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports.

Hicks is the top player in the state of Texas and the sixth overall player nationally per the 247Sports rankings. Right now, he is predicted to go to Texas A&M via the 247Sports Crystal Ball. He took two unofficial visits to Texas A&M on September 18 and November 6. He also attended the Aggies Junior Day on January 20.

However, the Miami Hurricanes have been known to make strong recruiting pitches to prospects. They will certainly need to do that here.

What could take Hicks bring to Miami Hurricanes?

What could Hicks bring to  the Miami Hurricanes? For one, he could bring a pass-rushing presence. He is extremely strong and fast. One of the things I really liked when I was watching his highlights was his versatility. He played very well off the edge, and was able to use his size and speed to get past the offensive lineman. He used his hands and struck quickly in order to get to the quarterback.

That same athleticism was on display when he was playing on the inside as well. He was able to overpower the offensive lineman, and seal running lanes. Hicks was very good at taking proper angles on a play. It seemed like he always stayed square with the ball carrier, and was able to get a good read on the play before it fully developed.

Hicks recorded 13 sacks for Allen High School last year.

The 2023 Miami Hurricanes recruiting class is still being built. However, they do have some good athletes in the class. The class itself ranks 27th nationally and fifth overall and ACC per the 247Sports team rankings.

I’m not expecting Hicks to commit this weekend. It will be nice just to get him on campus, and let the coaching staff try to work their magic. They will have their work cut out for them, as it is difficult to get players to leave the state of Texas. Nevertheless, this coaching staff has the ability to go toe-to-toe in recruiting in even some of the toughest areas.

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Inter Miami CF

Three Observations from Inter Miami’s Draw Against The Chicago Fire

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Inter Miami kicked off their 2022 season with a 0-0 draw against the Xherdan Shaquri lead Chicago Fire.

Donned in their “Heartbeat” pink kits, Phil Neville’s men came into this game looking to turn a new leaf after their awful 2021 campaign. 

With nine debuts in starting eleven, Saturday night’s match wasn’t pleasing to the eye. But, there were plenty of positives to build upon for the Herons.

2nd Half Resurgence

2022 Inter Miami is, essentially, an expansion club. 

The sheer amount of outgoing and incoming players would make it difficult for any team to play a consistent style of play for ninety minutes.  For Inter Miami, that much was evident in the first half.

The team struggled to play out of the back and looked nervous as Chicago pressed high. At one point, the Fire had 70% of possession while Miami was pinned in their own half of the field.

Leonardo Campana had two good chances during the first 45’ but, the 21-year-old couldn’t get them on target.

In the second half, however, Miami started to look a bit more lively. The substitutions of Ariel Lassiter and Robert Taylor changed the complexion of the match. 

Once those changes were made, the Herons began to attack with pace, drive and managed to put Chicago on their back foot. Lassiter had several excellent chances to give Miami the win, but Chicago’s defense held up.

Equally as impressive, Finland international Taylor impressed in his 24-minute cameo. The 27-year-old showed his quickness, dribbling ability, and knack for finding pockets of space.

Neville mentioned in his post-match conference that last year, Miami would’ve “lost that game.” It’s a testament to the offseason work the Herons have done that they were able to fight till the end.

Need For Speed

There were numerous moments during the game where Miami needed more speed in behind.

In pre-season, Neville’s go-to strike partnership up top would be Campana and Gonzalo Higuain. While at times, the relationship between the duo worked well, neither striker is particularly quick.

Once Campana was subbed off in the 66th minute, the game started to open up a bit more with the inclusion of Lassiter and Taylor.

The 3-5-2 formation can work well when a team has runners in behind. When Lassiter came on, his speed and aptitude for running at defenders gave Higuain the perfect outlet. Taylor, on the other hand, showed that he has the potential to be a real playmaker once he gets up to fitness.

That begs the question: will either Taylor or Lassiter start when Miami takes on Austin FC later this week? 

If the second half of Saturday’s game was any indication, the answer should be: yes. 

Future is Bright

Last but not least, Saturday night’s match marked the first team debut of 17-year-old Noah Allen. Allen held his own against a tricky Chicago Fire team and seemed the least nervous out of anyone on the pitch.

He put in a solid shift and managed to find himself in decent scoring positions. Allen ended the night with two interceptions, four recoveries, and two clearances.

With Neville confirming that Inter Miami will be able to call up MLS Next Pro players for a certain amount of games this season, expect Noah Allen to get meaningful playing time with the first team.

Phil Neville: “It was a little bit of nerve and panic, but we expected that” (+Video)

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Inter Miami tied 0-0 in its MLS Opening Day against the Chicago Fire at DRV PNK Stadium.

Head coach Phil Neville talked about the team’s “nervous” first half, and the adjustments they did to play a better second half:

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Spurs

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The Miami Heat faced the San Antonio Spurs, and man did it fade far away from expectations.

A close game was not expected whatsoever, but some big performances came out of it as Miami closed it out late.

Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro were big, but Bam Adebayo was the storyline as he completely took over this game on both ends.

So, here are some takeaways from this one…

#1: Rough beginnings for starting group yet again.

There’s been a trend at the start of games recently for this Heat team, and it’s something to keep track of. A 10-0 start for the Knicks occurred on Friday night, and a 10-2 run for the Spurs on Saturday night followed that right up. Except this time around, the opposing team just kept piling it on, putting Miami in an awkward position. They were switching absolutely everything on and off the ball, which led to plenty of miscues for a copy and pasted free lane for San Antonio’s offense. Now, looking forward, it definitely is something to take note of. It almost feels like they’re looking around for that Tyler Herro spark to save them, which he kind of did again in this one as soon as he entered. They may have put up 40 in the first, but the starting group’s defense isn’t the worry. Instead, it’s the stagnant and lost looking offense that appears way too often than it should.

#2: Jimmy Butler’s first half offensive takeover.

There were some ugly things offensively for Miami early on, as I mentioned, but Jimmy Butler mitigated pretty much all of it. For starters, he kicked off his scoring display with quite the route on the low block. And it wasn’t like he was getting a smaller match-up so he went to it, because that really wasn’t the case. He brought a plethora of moves down there, and had some great touch around the rim whenever he got the chance. Secondly, it was another display of clock work in terms of getting to the free throw line. Strong attacks one-on-one, side pick and rolls to perfection, etc. He simply took-over on that end for Miami to race their way back in it, and that quickly leads into other things. After that hot start, we see them go into a Duncan Robinson back screen for Butler, as Duncan raises up for a potential DHO with Bam Adebayo. The thing is that wasn’t the first option. The only reason Robinson got that three off was the entire Spurs defense collapsed at the thought of a wide open Butler cut. We often discuss Robinson’s gravity, but Butler’s gravity is right there with him in an opposite fashion.

#3: Another Bam Adebayo DPOY case?

Watching Bam Adebayo in that second quarter specifically, some takeaways were clear. For one, the things Adebayo was doing to finish off that second quarter not only spearheaded Miami’s first half come-back, but a portrayed the pure dominance he can provide on that end. We saw the individual stuff at times, but nothing stands out to me more than when Adebayo is lined up on that weak-side dunker spot, as the ball-handler simultaneously comes steamrolling down the lane on the attack. For about three possessions in a row, it either ended in a Bam block, or him just mucking things up enough to lead to an awful shot attempt. As much as I discuss Butler’s ability to take over offensively, it’s equally impressive to see what Bam did on the defensive end. While it must be stated, his offensive turnaround after the rough start was crucial in the Heat’s comeback, as we saw him continuing to both attack and run the floor with great pace.

#4: One minor evaluation: Tyler Herro disguising his floater/lob pass.

In many of my post-game takeaway pieces, I like to take one section to highlight a minor piece of the game that may hold high importance moving forward. And well, that one tonight involves a very active Tyler Herro inside the lane. Something he has gotten to a ton over the last two nights is his floater out of the normal pick and roll, but there’s an interesting twist to that. One of the major elements to a player’s floater game is how similar it may look to a lob pass when your big is running right alongside you on a 2-on-1. With that said, Herro seems to have really improved recently in that category. And for a player who goes to it as frequently as him, that is quite the addition moving forward if he can master it even further. His lob passes have been a focus in general to clean up a bit, and that definitely will do the job.

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#5: Bam Adebayo again? Yes, Bam Adebayo again.

I felt it was necessary to devote an entire section to the greatness of Bam Adebayo defensively, and more specifically the impact he had in that second quarter, but I need to address some more, because this wasn’t a one-sided affair. Actually, it was quite the opposite. To think that he started this game out a bit non-aggressive and inefficient is just wild. He started taking that face-up on the Spurs rotating bigs time and time again, realizing they couldn’t stay in front of him. That spiraled into an increase in pace, which led to easy basket after easy basket with about 19 seconds left on that shot clock. And of course, he still dominated as a roller. Kyle Lowry’s double digit assists deserve major credit, but he was getting the ball in the gaps and just going. When he’s attacking the rim like that and making defenders pay for that deep drop with big time slams, it’s something to discuss. Bam Adebayo was absolutely elite in this one.

 

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Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Knicks

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The Miami Heat faced off against the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden on Friday night, and fought through some adversity to exit with the win.

Tyler Herro offensive domination, Bam Adebayo defensive control, and trying to balance the RJ Barrett showcase.

So, here are some takeaways from this one…

#1: Tyler Herro is back? Oh yeah, Tyler Herro is definitely back.

It feels like we haven’t seen Tyler Herro play in quite some time as he was healing from that knee bruise before the All Star Break. But he returned tonight, and man did he provide something offensively as he entered early into Miami’s awful offensive start. I’m going to talk about the team’s pick and roll attack in a second, but Herro was making plays in the lane in a way that was needed majorly. High pick and roll, pauses as he awaits his screened defender to recover, and loops in front of him to hold him off. He then bursts forward into his floater with absolutely no-one in sight to contest. That summed up his hot start early with 15 first half points, but he was also 3 of 4 from deep, taking advantage of what came his way off the catch, while mixing in his pull-up comfort zone against drop coverage.

#2: The need for the screen, and the PnR effective spam from Miami.

Speaking of Herro’s control inside the lane, that was the Heat’s game-plan early as nothing was being generated from the deep mid-range or three-point line. The Knicks did a good job of blocking off the paint, as the Heat continued to plummet inside into contact, while consequently not receiving a friendly whistle. But one change in the set shifts the entire outcome: the need for the screen. Eliminating that initial defender and running 2-on-1’s against drop bigs is always the outlet that should be looked at first. Kyle Lowry began to get to it, which led to Bam Adebayo and Omer Yurtseven finding themselves on the positive end as rollers. We’ve seen nights where three-point shooting keeps them in a game, but pure pick and roll spam is what got them back into this one in that first half.

#3: Miami’s view of their defensive structure tonight.

When reflecting at halftime about Miami’s defensive game-plan, it was slightly different from what we’re used to against this team. For one, it should be said that this Knicks offense falls right into the Heat’s biggest defensive strengths. Swarming guys like Julius Randle in that high post is what they basically live for, leaving him with a 1 for 9 first half. But the issue was that in the meantime, RJ Barrett was gliding into a 30 point half himself. And well, it almost felt like Miami was okay with that. Essentially the opposite of their game-plan against Dallas. My issue with them on that end tonight wasn’t the way they were defending Barrett, but the reason he got hot. Poor transition defense kept feeding New York good looks on the break on kick-outs, sparking that run. That’ll need to be cleaned up.

#4: Jimmy Butler’s inside play the third quarter go-to as Barrett and the Knicks chip away.

It was an up and down matter for Jimmy Butler’s scoring throughout this one, and the reason I say that is he was a bit inefficient to start. But once the third quarter arrived and Miami’s starting group still wasn’t generating enough offense, Butler began to turn it up. It felt like the isolation possessions were seen a little too frequently, but they began finding outlets to free him up, and attack certain match-ups right back. One major element that was found was using Butler as the product of screening back-door, as guys like Adebayo scan from the top of the offense. Then he continued taking it into the body of the scorching Barrett, getting him his fourth foul late in the third quarter. Butler ended up scoring 8 straight for Miami in that span, just through his physical attack, which once again aligns with their offensive game-plan I discussed prior.

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#5: Pure Bam Adebayo dominance on the defensive end.

Julius Randle gets into the deep mid-range late in the shot clock mid-way through the second quarter. Only Bam Adebayo stands in his way, as he throws him up a pump-fake to get him up in the air. The issue: once you picked up your dribble with Adebayo defending, it doesn’t matter what comes next. Bam lands, turns, and still finds a way to absolutely blanket the Randle shot attempt. That’s why he’s the best defender in this league. While some may question his urge to create shots for himself in those one, it was pure defensive dominance all the way through. Aside from the one-on-one match-up with Randle, he was everywhere in the passing lanes, recovered on pick and rolls at such a high level for big time blocks, and most importantly, shined as the weak-side threat all night to both deter and send shots back. Offense is obviously the primary side of the ball in this sport for most, but man will you value the defensive end much more when watching these masterclasses.

 

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Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes: WVU transfer Daryl Porter Jr. adds to ‘Canes secondary

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Late Friday night, the Miami Hurricanes landed a commitment from former West Virginia cornerback Daryl Porter Jr.

Porter will have three years of eligibility left, as he becomes the sixth transfer to come to Miami. He brings with him a bunch of experience. He played 716 overall snaps, allowing 34 receptions recorded 16 yards and three touchdowns in 2021. Porter did have an interception on the year.

The move to Miami from Porter’s perspective makes sense to me. For one, he gets to reunite with Jahmile Addae. Addae recruited Porter to West Virginia, so it is no surprise the two have reunited at Miami.

Many times, recruits will stay in touch with their position coach if the coach goes to a different school. With how much movement there is in college football nowadays, a situation like that is not surprising. One has to wonder if Porter and Addae stayed in touch.

What can he bring to Miami Hurricanes?

Porter has a quick reaction time, and is able to use it to make plays. Measuring in at five-foot-10, his speed is his biggest asset. In addition to being a cover corner, he is also not afraid to come down and make a play. He had five games with at least five tackles in 2021, and was fourth on the team in that category. His five pass deflections led the team.

Porter’s versatility will be able to help the Miami Hurricanes. They already have a strong secondary, and now, he adds to it. Between his ability to cover, and ability to make tackles, this is another big get for Miami.

He is the highest-rated transfer and Miami’s 2022 class. The class itself ranks 15th nationally and third overall in ACC per the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

Overall, this is another big addition for the Miami Hurricanes. They are adding to what is already a strong secondary, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top at the position.

 

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Five Takeaways from Panthers loss to Predators

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After 24 days away from FLA Live Arena, the Florida Panthers returned home, riding a three-game road winning streak. The first place team in the East faced off against a Nashville Predators side that dropped their last four games heading into Tuesday night’s matchup. 

 Nashville was able to spoil the homecoming and snap their losing streak, handing Florida their fourth loss at home this season.

Here are the takeaways. 

 

Sam Reinhart adds to his point streak 

Sam Reinhart entered tonight with points in his last six games and the Panthers forward wasted no time adding to his hot streak against Nashville. 6:45 into the first, Reinhart scored his 18th goal of the season and sixth on the powerplay to put the Cats up 1-0.

On Florida’s first powerplay unit, Reinhart is usually the low guy, sitting just around the goal line. His playmaking and goal scoring abilities make him extremely valuable to the Cats PP  because he can feed his teammates in front of goal or power himself to the front of the net and shoot himself. Once again he found an opportunity from below the goal and buried the puck past Rittich. 

Bill Zito reeled in a big fish this offseason and it continues to look like a steal of a trade. 

 

Huby for Hart continues

Every edition of this season’s takeaways could include Jonathan Huberdeau and that’s not a bad thing. He extended both his assist and point streak to eight games. He picked up his 71st and 72nd point of the year, putting him back atop the NHL scoring race. Himself and the Edmonton Oilers duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Drasaitl have been trading places all season for the point lead.

Over his eight game point streak, Huberdeau has 14 points, 13 of those being assists. 

 

Two Norris Trophy front runners battled in Sunrise

The tale of the tape for tonight’s game highlighted Nashville’s Roman Josi and Florida’s Aaron Ekblad. The two defensemen have been tearing it up this season and are constantly in the discussion for the Norris Trophy, which is awarded to the best defenseman in the NHL. 

Both Ekblad and Josi came into the matchup with five game point streaks and 13 goals. By the end of the second period, their goal totals and point streak totals were at 14 and six respectively. 

Nashville’s captain already has one Norris Trophy to his name and has been one of the best defenseman in the league for years. Ekblad is still looking for his first career Norris, but the 26-year-old is sure to get some votes at the end of this season. 

Watching tonight’s game it was clear how important both players are to their team. Josi leads his team in points, is the captain and the most noticeable Predator on the ice. Likewise for Ekblad, he is the lone D on the powerplay, kills penalties and is the bonafide NO.1 defenseman on the Panthers. 

I wouldn’t be surprised to see one of these guys as a Norris finalist this year.

 

Two goal lead turns into quick collapse 

Midway through the second, Florida looked to be in the driver’s seat. Radko Gudas scored his first goal of the season and Aaron Ekblad tucked a highlight worthy goal eight minutes later, propelling Florida to a 3-1 lead. About 90 seconds after Ekblad’s goal, Nashville put two past Bobrovsky, tying the game in the blink of an eye.

Seeing a two goal lead disappear in under two minutes isn’t something that helped the Panthers as they lost multiple leads tonight in the loss. 

 

Does Bob need a break?

Sergei Bobrovsky has been playing lots of hockey. He’s started every game since the Panthers returned to play against Carolina on Feb. 16. That’s four games in six days. 

This game isn’t on him, but that’s a lot of minutes for a goalie, especially after a road trip. Spencer Knight is still in the AHL with Charlotte and the Cats backup goalie Jonas Johansson has yet to play a game with Florida. 

Who gets the net next game?

Under 25 NFL Players: Best Up and Coming Stars in 2022

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The NFL is constantly changing and evolving, with new players emerging as the best. This season is no different, with some great young players set to take the league by storm. Here is our view of the best players under 25 who will be entering the 2021 season.

 

If NFL spread records are anything to go by, these players could take their teams to the Super Bowl. Let’s take a peek at each player in turn. Starting with Saquon, Barkley had a phenomenal rookie season in 2018.

 

Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants – Age 24

 

Saquon Barkley was, without a doubt, one of the most exciting players in the NFL last season. He ran for 2,723 yards and 19 touchdowns while catching 91 passes for 1,443 receiving yards. Barkley is incredibly elusive and has excellent speed and power. He is a genuine triple threat who will be one of the top players in the league for years to come.

 

Derek Barnett, DE, Philadelphia Eagles – Age 25

 

Barnett, born in 1996, is almost too old for this post, but he played well for Philly last season after being taken with the 14th overall pick in the 2017 draft.

 

He has a total of 21.5 sacks and showed his potential throughout the year even though it was hard to get into the starting lineup because of all Philly’s defensive line talent.

 

Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills – Age 25

 

Allen had an awe-inspiring rookie season. He showed that he could be a franchise quarterback for years to come after throwing for 13,231 yards and getting one receiving touchdown. He also threw 15 interceptions, which needs to improve, but there is no doubt that with his big arm and many plays ability, he will continue to impress this upcoming season.

 

Marcus Davenport, DE, New Orleans Saints – Age 25

 

Davenport is one of those players who has made incredible plays in college. He was drafted by the Saints with the 14th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and had 17.5 sacks to date.

 

He is still raw, but with his potential, don’t be surprised if he becomes one of the top players in the NFL very soon.

 

 

Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens – Age 24

 

Jackson was signed with the 32nd overall pick in last year’s draft by the Ravens and had an outstanding rookie year. He is an athletic quarterback who can run the ball very well and has a solid arm to play downfield, whether using his arm or legs. Jackson will be one of the best quarterbacks in the league very soon.

 

Jaire Alexander, CB, Green Bay Packers – Age 24

 

Alexander was taken with the 18th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He had a great rookie season despite being placed on injured reserve after week 8 due to a groin injury and then spending most of the 2018 season on the bench. He has been awarded a second-team ‘All-Pro’ player 2020 award for his abilities.

 

He will get even better as game time goes on and could become one of the top defensive backs in football if he stays healthy.

 

Derwin James, S, Los Angeles Chargers – Age 25

 

James was taken in the 17th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and has been one of the best players on the Chargers since then. He had 219 tackles, five sacks, four interceptions, and 17 pass deflections this year and is a true playmaker on defense. 

 

Derwin James is still young and has a lot of unexplored ability to become one of the top players in the NFL very soon.

 

Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers – Age 25

 

McCaffrey was drafted with the 8th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and has been one of the most on-the-ball productive players in the league since then. So far this year, he’s run for 3,587 yards, and 3,015 receiving yards last year while scoring 17 touchdowns.

 

Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals – Age 25

 

Burrow was drafted with the 1st overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and will likely be the starting quarterback for the Bengals this upcoming season. He is a 2019 Heisman Trophy winner from LSU, and has a lot of talent, and could become a great NFL quarterback. 

 

Joe Burrow will have some struggles early on, but he could develop into one of the best quarterbacks in the league with time.

 

Photo by Anelale Nájera on Unsplash

 

Josh Jacobs, RB, Oakland Raiders – Age 23

 

Jacobs was drafted with the 24th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and is the Raiders’ starting back this upcoming season. 

 

He is a multi-faceted team player who can run between the tackles or catch passes out of the backfield. He is also a good blocker which will help him stay on the field for all three downs. Jacobs has a lot of early embryonic talent and could be one of the best running backs in the NFL very soon.

 

Under 25 player of the year – Prediction

 

Our prediction for the Under 25 player of the year is Washington State, DE Chase Young, age 22, one of the youngest players, and here’s why:

 

Chase Young is one of the most talented young players in football and will get even better this season. The Washington State defensive end was named to the All-Pac 12 First Team last year and won all-conference honors after his sophomore year. 

 

He is a disruptive player with great speed and agility and dominated at the college level (116 tackles, 32 for loss, 16 sacks in two seasons). This ex Ohio State player has the potential to be one of the best defensive players in the NFL very soon and we think he’ll win the title of ‘Under 25 Player of the Year.’

 

Inter Miami CF

Three Standout Players From Inter Miami’s Carolina Challenge Cup Run

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New kit, new players, new season; Inter Miami has started all over.

If their win at the Carolina Challenge Cup is anything to go by, expect to see significant improvements from the South Florida side this year. 

Offloading a whopping 16+ players in the off-season, Miami’s Sporting Director Chris Henderson had his work cut out for him looking to find suitable replacements that fit Phil Neville’s vision. 

At the Carolina Challenge Cup, most of those players Henderson brought in were on display.

Let’s take a look at the three who stood out the most.

Jean Mota

Described by Henderson as a “Designated Player without actually being a Designated Player,” Jean Mota has proved to be an important piece for Inter Miami.

During the tournament, Mota demonstrated that he can be the glue that links Miami’s defense and attack. The Brazilian is a crafty player and the perfect complement to a more ‘defensive-minded’ midfielder like Gregore.

Mota’s box-to-box tendencies and attacking flair give Miami a different dynamic at a spot they’ve struggled with since the club’s inception.

For example, take a look at Miami’s second goal vs Charlotte FC. 

Mota’s vision and ability to switch the play at the right moment gave left-wingback Noah Allen a perfect entry pass which then led to a cutback that Gonzalo Higuain finished off:

As the season kicks off, Mota will without a doubt be one of Miami’s most important players in 2022.

Noah Allen

Though not necessarily a ‘new’ player, Noah Allen has been on Inter Miami’s first-team radar for a while. The 17-year-old seriously impressed during Miami’s cup run and has garnered strong praises from the coaching staff:

Despite his young age, Allen displayed that he has the talent, composure, and tools to play against MLS opponents.

He held his own against a very tough Columbus Crew side, played well versus the Charleston Battery, and provided an assist during Miami’s win against Charlotte FC.

With the MLS Roster Compliance deadline coming up on Friday, February 25th, fingers are crossed that Allen makes the cut. 

Ariel Lassiter

Ariel Lassiter’s arrival in South Florida was met with mixed reviews. However, the Costa-Rican has shown how important he will be to the team. 

Lassiter provides the pace and verticality that Miami has been desperately missing.

The 27-year-old showed his versatility as Neville deployed him in two different positions during Miami’s time in Charleston. Whether it be as a center forward or a winger, expect Lassiter to give Miami’s attack some real speed and pace on the counter.

Special Mentions

DeAndre Yedlin: Yedlin’s acquisition has proved vital. The 28-year-old has slotted in perfectly at right wing-back. His speed, work rate has been an upgrade over previous right-backs Miami has had in the past. He will be another key player in Neville’s system.

Gonzalo Higuain: Another year older, but that doesn’t mean he’s lost his touch. The 3-5-2 formation suits the 34-year-old’s skill set. He’s able to drop deep to play as a more creative center forward, while players like Ariel Lassiter, Robbie Robinson, or Leonardo Campana get in behind. 

Leonardo Campana: Standing at 6’3”, Leonardo Campana got off to a slow start at the Carolina Challenge Cup, but he made amends. Although he’s still working his way to full fitness, the Ecuador international was able to get his first goal in Inter Miami colors:

His size, soft first touch, and tactical intelligence will give Miami a nice complimentary striker option to Gonzalo Higuain.