Goldie’s Best Bets: Take the Bills over Bill

/0 Comments/in , /by

Goldie:

All Time Record: 290-144-1          

Vs. Spread: 218-216-1

 

21-22 Season:  164-89-1               

Vs. Spread: 129-127-1

 

Week 17 Record: 11-5                

Vs. Spread: 8-8

 

Guarantee Record: 17-15

Upset Record: 18-13              

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff 

All Time: 35-15              

21-22 Season: 19-14       

Week 17: 1-1

 

#5 Las Vegas Raiders (10-7) @ #4 Cincinnati Bengals (10-7)

Vegas Picks: CIN -5.5 

Goldie’s Take: Bengals Win 24-21

In the first of a very exciting slate of wildcard matchups, the red hot Raiders head to Cincy to face low-key MVP candidate Joe Burrow and the Bengals. Some fresh faces in the playoffs in this one, including both starting quarterbacks who are set to make their postseason debut’s. The forecast calls for a cold and ugly game this Saturday, which does not bode well for Raiders QB Derek Carr. Carr is 0-5 in his five career games in temperatures under 37 degrees, and in those games he’s failed to score 17 points each time. Should make for a tough day for that Raiders offense going against a defense who is used to playing in the cold. Giving Raiders a decent upset shot, but picking the home Bengals to fight their way to the divisional round. 

 

#6 New England Patriots (10-7) @ #3 Buffalo Bills (11-6)

Vegas Picks: BUF -4

Goldie’s Take: Bills Win 22-17

There’s no denying Bellichick and the Pats have owned Buffalo for the past two decades. Pats have won nine of their last ten in Buffalo, and have dominated in the process. HOWEVER, this is a different Bills team (and a different Pats team), and this is the day the Bills finally turn the tides. Buffalo enters this one winners of four straight (including one in New England) to secure the AFC East title. Meanwhile, the Pats have cooled down since that hot streak they had in the middle of the season; going 1-3 in their last four contests. Plus Buffalo will have quite the raucous crowd behind them, as this is only the third home playoff game the mafia has witnessed since 1996. Believe in Josh Allen and the loaded Bills offense to outpace rookie Mac Jones in a monumental win for Bills history. After all, nobody circles the wagons quite like the Buffalo Bills. 

 

#7 Philadelphia Eagles (9-8) @ #2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-5)

Vegas Picks: TB -9

Goldie’s Take: Bucs Win 28-16

When these teams first met in Philly during week 6, the Bucs only won by six. Philly stayed tough and hung in the game. However, the Bucs were without Gronkowski and the game was in Philly. This time the Bucs will be at home and Gronk will be healthy. Although I was a strong supporter of the Eagles all season, that was mostly because of their weak schedule; which resulted in the Birds sneaking into the playoffs. Things will be different going on the road against one of the league’s powerhouses. Brady and the Bucs cruise past the Eagles in Wildcard weekend.  

 

#6 San Francisco 49ers @ #3 Dallas Cowboys (12-5)

Vegas Picks: DAL -3

Goldie’s Take: Cowboys Win 33-27

The Cowboys offense has found its groove at the absolute right time, dropping 50+ in two of their last three games to end the regular season. Dak has been clicking with his array of weapons, not to mention the defense has held strong. The Niners offensive attack should have a tough time keeping pace, especially with QB Jimmy Garropolo still battling a thumb injury. Jerry has assembled arguably his best squad since the Aikman/Smith glory days; Home crowd boosts the Cowboys over the Niners in a classic playoff matchup. How ‘Bout Them Cowboys!

 

#7 Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7-1) @ #2 Kansas City Chiefs (12-5) 

Vegas Picks: KC -12.5

Goldie’s Take: Chiefs Win 33-23

The Steelers won their final two games to extend Big Ben’s career at least one more game. That will be all it is though. One more game. Steelers head to Arrowhead to face a fired up red hot Chiefs team. The last time these two met, KC put a 26 point hammer down on the Steelers. Although I’m expecting another Chiefs win, I do think the black and gold fight hard for Ben’s final hurrah. 

 

#5 Arizona Cardinals (11-6) @ #4 Los Angeles Rams (12-5)

Vegas Picks: LAR -4

Goldie’s Take: Rams Win 32-26

Although the two teams’ records are similar, that does not tell the whole story. Arizona is a fools gold 11-6. After starting the season 7-0, Arizona has finished the season spirally out of control; losers of four of their last five. Now they’re faced with going on the road to face the division rival Rams, a tall task for a team who has not been playing good football of late. The Rams have both the defensive edge and the home field edge. Plus, Matt Stafford gets his first taste of playoff life outside of Detroit, he should be out to prove something in this one. Picking LA to get the home win in the NFL’s first Monday night playoff game since 1998.

 

*****

Loading
Loading...

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Atlanta

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Miami Heat take down the Atlanta Hawks in dramatic fashion. Jimmy Butler closes it out with an acrobatic finish.

Anyway, here are five takeaways from this one…

#1: Max Strus, as a starter once again, comes out scorching.

Max Strus and Duncan Robinson have been linked together for some time as another shooter was rising the charts on this Heat roster, but now it’s an either/or thing. Strus has gotten the start over the last few, and rightfully so. For one, as I’ve mentioned before, Robinson and Tyler Herro have shown to be playable together for longer stints. And secondly, there’s a specific offensive combo that has looked seamless when they share the floor: it begins with Max Strus and ends with Jimmy Butler. Aside from IG comment trolling, there’s something there with those two offensively, and combine that with an unconscious shooter at the moment who seems like he never misses his first shot. It’s something to monitor, but Strus is the reason Miami got out to an early lead.

#2: Miami finding offensive outlets against familiar themes early, but other things stall.

Talking offense in the first half is a bit interesting considering the Atlanta Hawks put up 70 points on the Heat in that span, but some things were noticeable. For starters, the Heat began adjusting to the adjustments. As Miami loves to dish out that 2-3 zone, they received it a ton tonight. They caused some mishaps to begin, but a lineup change got them out of that real quick. PJ Tucker at the five, Jimmy Butler at the four, and planting Butler right in the middle of that zone to dissect. That’s the formula. The issue was that other things were breaking down, and it begins with a good plan, but poor execution. Hunting Trae Young is great, but not when it gets in the way of the offensive game-plan. That’s what happened in that second quarter specifically.

#3: More Tyler Herro blossoming flashes?

Tyler Herro in the first half wasn’t the greatest on paper, since he had a -20 plus-minus, which is hard to read with the total score flip in that first half from starters to bench. But when focusing on the positive side of things, it’s another one of those games where the minor improvements stick out. For one, there were about three straight possessions in that second quarter where he cooked the entire Hawks defense, but the end result shot just ended up missing. The key there was that he can create for himself and others, while most of those plays weren’t even using a screen. Also, he’s bothered Trae Young over this two game stretch. This isn’t saying he is locking him up, but Herro has looked like a much improved defender when getting that match-up: moving his feet, leveraging his body, etc. Something to keep an eye on.

#4: An Omer Yurtseven third quarter push.

As Miami opened up the second half, they were looking for that next offensive push. Could Strus explode again? Would aggressive Lowry make an appearance? Does Butler enter takeover mode? Nope. Instead, they all saw what was being given, and kept feeding Omer Yurtseven in every single crevice. Post play mismatches, easy rolling lob passes, and some mid-range flip shots to round it out. 10 points in the quarter only halfway through was quite the boost to get from a player like that, but it’s great to see him taking advantage of things on that side of the floor. Time is limited with Bam Adebayo set to return on Monday, but that’s not to say opportunities won’t continue to rise. This is a very odd season, but with a fully healthy front-court, Dewayne Dedmon is in front of him in that line.

Loading
Loading...

#5: Mixing up the match-ups.

Tonight was pretty much a defensive mess aside from the first few minutes of the first quarter. But as it went down to the wire in the fourth, we saw Miami picking up on some things defensively. For one, they found the place to set-up Kyle Lowry on that end, which was guarding Danilo Gallinari. The reason that was so important is him being able to play up against bigger perimeter players, since that allows guys like Tucker or Caleb Martin to guard Trae Young. They also made the adjustment that was fully expected to place Tucker at the 5 once again, since the way they were being picked on defensively needed to be shifted. From a more big picture sense, that’s not something we will see much of since Bam Adebayo will close every game, but they will have options.

 

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at EverythingTradeShows or call 954-791-8882

Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes getting visit from elite 2023 TE next weekend

/0 Comments/in , /by

Recruiting news is flying for the Miami Hurricanes. One particular name to watch is 2023 tight end Mac Markway. He is scheduled to visit Miami next Saturday. This news was first reported by Steve Wilfong of 247Sports.

Markway is the fifth overall tight end in the 2023 class, and the third overall player in his class from the state of Missouri per the 247Sports Composite rankings. A four-star recruit, he initially committed to Florida on July 27. He decommitted from the program on December 19.

In addition to Florida, he had 27 offers. Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, LSU, and Michigan were just some of the schools that extended one his way. He also received offers from Miami and Oregon.

What would he be able to bring to Miami Hurricanes?

Measuring in at six-foot-four, 250 pounds, Markway plays physically. When I watched some of his highlights, I was impressed with the way he was able to block. That’s not to say he lacks receiving skills, he does very well in that department. He is able to find soft spots in defensive zones, and make possession catches. He has solid hands, and relies on the combination of route running and good hands to make plays.

It seems like he functions really well as somebody that can make things happen after the catch, rather than being a big-play, stretch-the-field tight end. That is certainly not a knock on him. Blockers and intermediate route tight ends are equally as important to the offense.

There are other schools in play for Markway. One of those schools is Iowa. He is scheduled to visit Iowa next Sunday. Due to Iowa’s history of developing tight ends, the Hawkeyes may present a challenge to the Hurricanes. We will have to see how this plays out.

 

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at EverythingTradeShows or call 954-791-8882

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Hawks

/2 Comments/in , /by

The Miami Heat took down the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night in intense fashion.

So, here are some takeaways from this one…

#1: Could that have been Tyler Herro’s most impressive stint of his career?

Sixteen points, eight assists, eighteen minutes. That was Tyler Herro’s first half stat-line, and that doesn’t even almost tell the full story. For starters, the Heat were just playing some bad basketball to kick this game off, and that continued until, well, Herro trotted to the scorer’s table. His scoring popped out immediately, and you can always tell the way it’s trending with the manner he plays at. A quick split off of a double for a pull-up bank shot just put that on display in film form. His passing is another aspect that has taken a jump that can’t be described. Part of it is pure vision, but most if it is now being able to physically makes the passes. Lastly, that was the best half of defense I’ve seen him play. Not just because of a monstrous chase-down block, but the way he moved his feet on the ball. He got the switch on Trae Young and scored on one end, as Young tried to retaliate in similar fashion on the other end. Key word tried. Herro cut him off 3 times in a row, as he kicked it out for a three that bricked off the rim. Just an insane burst from Herro tonight.

#2: Duncan Robinson silently forming a bench tandem.

As I continue to talk about some of the bench notes, it must be noted that the reserves tonight were basically a second starting lineup. Gabe Vincent, Duncan Robinson, Dewayne Dedmon, and Herro all entered off the bench, just further showcasing the depth of this team. But when looking at Robinson specifically, this feels like it’s trending more toward long-term than a current rotational shift. The reason: it’s working…really well. For starters, Robinson’s looks aren’t shifting in any way. Defenses are still drenched on top of him, and a hand-off guy like PJ Tucker is usually on the floor. But what has changed my thoughts on this working all of a sudden? Well, once again, look at Tyler Herro. It was always about their ability to play together, and with Herro’s recent passing surge, it has looked flawless with a constant safety net sitting next to him. And most of all, it’s an immediate stagger for Erik Spoelstra even when starters return.

#3: Adjustment time strikes again for Erik Spoelstra.

As I talked about last game, Erik Spoelstra made a major shift in the offense. Instead of working everything through Tucker per usual, he handed the keys to Omer Yurtseven. And it worked to perfection. But as he tried a similar thing to start tonight, it was quite the opposite of the game against Phoenix. Not only were shots not falling, but actions weren’t being triggered with the jumbled up bodies in the half-court. So, as many teams in this league do already, Spo looked in a total different direction again: strictly perimeter play. It’s not the worst idea when you’re without Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler, and it’s definitely not a bad idea when you can stick defenders like Trae Young in every action. And as I keep stating, he leaned on Herro just playing off his own rhythm, and that’s how shots were generated. Less structure, more production. Sometimes rough nights call for that formula.

#4: The Caleb Martin-Max Strus experiment.

Max Strus and Caleb Martin always seem to be grouped together on this team. Both are next up on the starter filler list when guys go down. Both have elevated their play this season in ways that it’s hard to imagine eliminating them from the rotation. But as much as similarities strike in that sense, their overall play hits me as so drastically different, in a good way. And not just one is a shooter and the other is an explosive attacker. As the second half opens up, Strus goes on a run to really put the score out of reach right out the gate. In the blink of an eye, he hits you with a couple threes before you can react. But Martin on the other hand is the marathon guy. He slowly chips away in the scoring column, with feisty tip-ins when shots don’t drop, an occasional three when offense isn’t flowing, and can take you in isolation in a broken possession. And both are equally important. They need both that instinctive spark and that long distance runner who will chip away, and they’ve gotten each of those things at an extremely high level this season.

Loading
Loading...

#5: Dewayne Dedmon is back, and he’s not leaving.

Omer Yurtseven has been incredible for this Heat team in this recent stretch, but I think some of it needs to end there. The record rebound nights are fantastic, but when talking rotation roles with a healthy roster, he has some spots to jump. Seeing Dewayne Dedmon return tonight just felt like a healthy reminder of what it’s like to have a big of pure solidity and consistency. He gets you enough boards, provides some of the most picture perfect “role” type offensive play with the surrounding pieces, and has generally been extremely available. Plus, as the Herro conversation continues in this piece, the pick and roll combo with Dedmon seems as crisp as any two man game on the roster. Like I said, Yurtseven has been great, and can continue to be plugged in when needed, but right now, he’s a developmental piece of this team while Dedmon is the big man lock.

 

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at EverythingTradeShows or call 954-791-8882

5 Takeaways from the Heat’s Second Quarter of the Season

/1 Comment/in , /by

40 games into the NBA season and at the time of writing, the Miami Heat are currently sitting at 3rd in the eastern conference, despite losing Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo for a combined 39 games.

The focal point of these “Quarterly Takeaways” articles is ultimately to find trends that are valuable for the Heat in the regular season and somewhat predictive of the Heat’s potential success or shortcomings when the playoffs come around. Unfortunately, due to injuries and COVID, some of the trends found might not have any bearing on playoff success but will absolutely impact the Heat in this regular season and continue into the 2022-23’ season.

Here are some takeaways from the Heat’s second quarter of the season…

(A 21 game sample size was used ranging from 11/26/21 until 1/12/22)

1. Kyle F****** Lowry

When Butler and Adebayo went down, it was a foregone conclusion that the Heat would freefall down the Eastern Conference standings. A top-heavy team losing it’s two best players for a prolonged period of time is a potential death sentence for a team like Miami. But then we got to see Kyle Lowry, in his purest form, he doesn’t need to score 30 points every night, he doesn’t need to shoot hyper-efficiently (although it does help), all Lowry needs is the ball in his hands and the trust from his coaches and teammates that he will make the right play and put the team in a position to succeed. The offense, now built around Kyle Lowry, has changed into a solar system where Kyle Lowry is the sun and the other 4 players are planets in perpetual motion. The emphasis on motion around Lowry and Lowry finding the open man has led the Heat to the 5th most assists over the last 21 games

In the absence of other stars, many have stepped up in terms of production, but Lowry has been the one to take a step forward in nearly every individual advanced metric for the point guard position.

As shown in the chart above, Lowry has improved across the board in Usage %, Assist % and TS%. When called upon to be “the guy” Lowry has had the ball in his hands more, increased his assist production by about 20% and gone from “league average” to “Standard Kyle Lowry” as a scorer, from an efficiency perspective.

Lowry is a player who’s impact goes far beyond the box score, however, seeing notable statistical improvements from a shaky start is a breath of fresh air for Heat fans who might’ve been worried about the 85 million dollar commitment the Heat made to the soon-to-be 36 year old. A Lowry-centric offense means a ton of movement, both on and off the ball, which brings me to the next takeaway.

2. Analytic Ball?

An offense where the players are constantly moving and the ball mirrors player movement, pass then screen away, set hammer screens for corner 3’s, run Spain Pick-and-Roll (Occasionally), make good entry passes, drive and kick, put emphasis on moving the ball inside and out on nearly every possession, all of the things that you want to see an offense do, the Heat are doing.In spite of all of those great things, The Heat’s success is being chalked up to “analytic ball” by Eddie Johnson, former NBA standout and current color analyst for the Phoenix Suns.

Some salty announcer may foolishly attribute the Heat’s improved style of play to analytics, I will attribute it to coach Spo and general common sense. Butler, Adebayo, and Morris are all players who operate in the Mid-Post and do a lot of their scoring in the mid-range area or at the rim. Does it make sense for an offense led by Lowry, Herro, Tucker, Robinson, Vincent, Martin and Strus to play a physical “grind you down” offense? Absolutely not. Coach Spo understands this as well and has used movement to mitigate the lack of self-creating talent, while maximizing the level of complementary shooting talent with the playmakers that are Lowry, Herro and Tucker.

Since November 26th, the Heat have averaged 26.8 assists per game (5th most) and have completely changed their shot diet.

The Heat have limited their shots that the defense is comfortable with, Mid-range and short touch shots in the paint, and traded them in for a more methodical approach that might take more time and effort every possession, but fits the 3-point shooting skill set of the current talent on the roster.

This season might be Erik Spoelstra’s masterpiece for a multitude of reasons, but one of the reasons why almost any player has been able to come in and contribute is Spo isn’t asking them to do what the other guys do, he tells them to do what they are good at. Yes, very simple, but it’s something that some NBA coaches struggle with because they want to win their way. Spo simply just wants to win.

3. We got shooters… again.

Part of what made the Heat’s ceiling so frightening early in the season is the ability to win without the 3-point shot falling. The main reason that the Heat have been able to win games recently is the simple fact that the shots are falling, at an elite level. The emphasis on the 3-point shot has paid off in a big way as Miami has shot 39.9% on 38.8 3PA per game.

Of course the team shooting is reflective of the individual shooting, so here are some individual performances from 3 over the last 21 games.

Dewayne Dedmon: 56.3% on 1.1 Attempts per game

PJ Tucker: 48% on 3.3 Attempts per game

KZ Okpala: 44.4% on 1.4 attempts per game

Caleb Martin: 44.2% on 3.7 attempts per game

Max Strus: 42.9% on 7.8 attempts per game

Gabe Vincent: 39.2% on 6.4 attempts per game

Duncan Robinson: 38.4% on 8.4 attempts per game

Tyler Herro: 37.5% on 6.5 attempts per game

Kyle Lowry: 34.6% on 6.7 attempts per game

Will this hot shooting continue for the remaining 42 games of the season? Doubtful. Quite frankly, I expect the return of Butler, Adebayo, and eventual re-integrations of Oladipo and Morris to give the Heat a bit of a shooting slump.

Over the last 21 games the unwritten mantra of the Heat from the 3 point line has been “Solid shooters should only take good shots, Great shooters should take any shot” and it has worked out nearly perfectly. The most important takeaway from this shooting stretch is the Heat surrounding their non-shooting stars with a plethora of solid-to-great shooters that can do more than just shoot… well, most of them. These elite percentages will inevitably drop, but as long as the process remains the same, the Heat should be in great shape offensively.

4. The Defense Firm of Vincent & Martin.*

In terms of production over expectation, Gabe Vincent and Caleb Martin have easily been the most surprising players on the Heat. While we could easily gush over their offensive contributions, what they bring on the defensive end has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Loading
Loading...

Starting with Gabe, an aggressive PoA defender who doesn’t allow ball-handlers to comfortably get to their spots and has a combination of strength and quickness that allows him to fight through screens routinely, making him a tough matchup for any team that runs their offense through their guard. Gabe also has a willingness to switch onto forwards and centers and make them work to get positioning on mismatches, a valuable tool considering the Heat’s defensive scheme. While I do believe defense is more dependent on the eye test than anything else, the numbers do support Gabe’s case to not only be a good defender, but one of the best on the team. Over the course of the season the Heat have 15 3-man lineups that have played over 100 minutes together and posted a defensive rating of 100 or less, 9 of those 15 lineups include Gabe Vincent. The next closest is Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro with 6.

There isn’t a statistical case to be made for Martin to be a top defender on the Heat, but anyone who’s watched him this season knows defense is clearly his forte. The ability to guard 1-3 and be able to match the strength and or quickness of the players in front of him is a marvel to watch. Martin, like Vincent, is willing to pick up the primary ball-handler before halfcourt and slows the actions the opponents want to run. Martin’s been able to successfully contain multiple primary shot creators like Khris Middleton to a 1 of 7 shooting, Bradley Beal to 0 for 4, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan to a combined 1 of 4 night and most recently holding Steph Curry to 1 of 7 shooting and De’aaron Fox to 0 of 3. Having a defender get up for challenges like those and then win the matchup is something that is an absolute luxury to have when the all-defense level player in JImmy Butler is missing time.

*This takeaway is from the entire season, the sample size of Vincent and Martin being good on defense is not exclusive to the last 21 games.

* For a more in-depth break down on Caleb Martin’s defense, read this article from Brady Hawk

5. Top 10 ROTY Candidate: Ömer Yurtseven

When the Heat signed Yurtseven to a standard multi-year deal, there was a belief that in a perfect world, this would be a redshirt year and he ultimately would not see much run until the 2022-2023 season. Then came the injury bug. With Adebayo, Morris and Dedmon out, it was time to see what the 23 year old rookie had to offer. The production the big man has been able to give the Heat is nothing short of incredible. In his 11 games where he’s played 20 or more minutes, Yurtseven is averaging 9.9 points, 13.45 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.2 steals. The ability to dominate on the boards against top tier rebounders such as Sabonis, Nurkic and Ayton has shown that Yurtseven has an elite trait in rebounding, and a rapidly growing game elsewhere.

While Yurtseven has had amazing moments, there still are areas that need to be worked on, specifically going into next season where he projects to have a larger role. The defense has been a concern since his Olympic qualifying games with Turkey, while there have been improvements, there needs to be a specific defensive coverage for Yurtseven to specialize in (Drop coverage makes the most sense). As for the offensive side, Yurtseven needs to work on his touch. He is currently shooting 46.8% from the field, a way below average mark for a center who takes 90% of his shots inside the paint. Once the shots around the rim begin to fall, there should be an emphasis on fine tuning the mid-range shot that Yurtseven weaponized in the summer league as a pick-and-pop big.

The last 11 games where Yurtseven has been heavily relied upon and played winning basketball has instilled confidence in fans that the Heat have a clear pathway to develop Yurtseven into a rock solid rotational player down the road with potential to be a starter if the Heat ever decide to size-up in the frontcourt.

 

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at EverythingTradeShows or call 954-791-8882

Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes hire Kevin Smith as running backs coach

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Miami Hurricanes have a new running backs coach. Tuesday, it was announced that the program hired former Ole Miss running backs coach Kevin Smith for the position. This news was first reported by Five Reasons Sports.

Smith bring an extensive amount of experience. He Joined Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss for two seasons, making the jump from FAU. In 2020, Ole Miss averaged 210.6 rushing yards per game. The Rebels scored 19 touchdowns on the ground.

One of the things that I really like about this hire is that running backs under Smith have had recent success. Devin Singletary had 32 touchdowns in the 2017 season to go along with the 1,918 rushing yards. That 2017 season was fruitful for Florida Atlantic. Singletary ended up accumulating  185.3 yards per game.

Smith was a good running back in his own right, setting tons of records at UCF.

A smart hire for Miami Hurricanes

I like this get for a couple of reasons. For one, Smith has a recent track record of success both as a coach and as a player. For example, Devin Singletary was a successful player at the collegiate level. He is now with the Buffalo Bills in the NFL. In that respect, Smith fits the same type of blueprint as the other coaches on the staff. He has a proven track record of identifying, developing, and getting talent prepared for the next level.

There is also another interesting thing about this higher. Smith landed a commitment from TCU transfer Zach Evans. He officially transferred on January 6. Projected as a second-round running back, Evans ran for 1,063 yards and nine touchdowns in two seasons at TCU. With Smith now in the fold for the Miami Hurricanes, could Evans come along? The latter would certainly be a big boost to the Miami Hurricanes running game.

In any event, this is a big hire by the Miami Hurricanes. Smith brings experience as well as developmental ability to this coaching staff. For those reasons among others, I think he will be a great fit.

 

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at EverythingTradeShows or call 954-791-8882

Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes still in play for five-star WR Brandon Inniss

/3 Comments/in /by

As the Miami Hurricanes continue to recruit, Mario Cristobal is in contact frequently with five-star wide receiver Brandon Inniss. This news was first reported by Steve Wilfong of 247Sports.

Inniss is the top wide receiver in the 2023 class, and the third overall player in his class from the state of Florida per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. Right now, most 247Sports Crystal Balls have him going to Oklahoma.

He is being offered by all of the major schools. Oklahoma, Alabama, Arizona State, Florida State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, and USC are just some of the schools that have extended an offer his way.

Right now, it seems like the Miami Hurricanes have a long shot at landing him. However, in this day and age of recruiting you can never count anything out. The fact that Cristobal is talking to him is encouraging. As we all know, he is one of the best recruiters in the country. Can he work his magic here?

What would he bring to Miami Hurricanes?

Inniss is a very good outside receiver, and he is the quintessential deep threat. He uses his speed to get down the field and make things happen offensively. He measures in add 6 feet, 190 pounds. That may seem a bit small for an outside receiver, but his speed makes up for his lack of height.

It’s very easy to see why Oklahoma is recruiting him. He would fit well in their wide-open offense, and he would be a big-time playmaker. His ability to slip by defensive backs is one of his best assets. Once he gets the ball, he can make things happen after the catch.

It’s going to be fascinating to see where the Miami Hurricanes fall in Inniss’s  recruitment. Although he is favorite to go to Oklahoma at the moment, things can change. Cristobal is known for his recruiting prowess. He may have to pull out some stops if he wants to bring Inniss to Miami.

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at EverythingTradeShows or call 954-791-8882

Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores has been fired

BREAKING: Miami Dolphins fire coach Brian Flores

/0 Comments/in , /by

In a stunning turn of events, the Miami Dolphins fired head coach Brian Flores one day after the franchise secured back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2002-2003. Jay Glazer of Fox Sports speculated that Flores could be on the hot seat after failing to make the playoffs. He also stated that the franchise would be very short-sighted to do so.

Now, they have done so.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, the firing has nothing to do with the recent availability of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. In fact, Darlington claims the Dolphins aren’t even looking at Harbaugh to be Flores’s replacement. Instead, the firing has much more to do with the fact that Flores’s relationship with owner Stephen Ross and GM Chris Grier rapidly deteriorated over the course of the season.

Reports did periodically arise from various sources that Flores was difficult to work with. He has a tendency to come across as the smartest guy in the room, and that attitude sometimes grated on people. Also, reports indicate Flores was fired after refusing to comply with a request to make changes to his coaching staff.

On the other hand, Flores knew how to motivate his players. After going on a 7-game losing streak, he managed to turn the team around and put them on a 7-game winning streak. Unfortunately, he couldn’t lead them over the must-win game against the Tennessee Titans. That knocked them out of the playoffs.

Darlington also reports that the relationship between Tua Tagovailoa and Brian Flores had deteriorated. It got so bad, they did not speak to each other. It was obvious that Flores did not trust Tagovailoa. So, essentially, the decision to fire Flores is an implied commitment to Tagovailoa.

Brian Flores went 24-25 as Miami’s head coach, and he will likely be a very strong candidate for one of the other openings around the league. If he doesn’t become a head coach, he will definitely be a defensive coordinator. Now, the Dolphins will spend the beginning of this offseason looking for someone to fill that void.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for seven years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

******

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at everythingtradeshows.com or call 954-791-8882

Essential Sports Equipment To Heal Injuries

/2 Comments/in /by

Some people don’t like wearing specialist sports equipment. They think it looks unfashionable, or they find it cumbersome to move around in. However, it’s far better to wear these things, no matter how you might feel about them, than to run the risk of sustaining an injury or making a current injury even worse. With that in mind, here are some of the most essential pieces of sports equipment to heal injuries – once you know what they are and why they are important, you’ll be much more willing to wear them. Read on to find out more. 

 

Support Braces 

If you have been injured in the gym or out on the sports field, you’ll know that the injury can put you out of action for a number of days and perhaps even longer. If you want to reduce this time, you need to support the injured area so that if you were to move – often, although rest is a useful tool, it’s not always possible to stay entirely still, if at all – there would be no further damage. 

 

Rather than being uncomfortable or difficult to use, the supports and braces from Podobrace are designed with comfort and movement in mind, as well as healing. Using one of these braces and having one or two in your gym bag just in case is an excellent idea. 

 

 

Protective Eyewear

Protective eyewear such as goggles or specially designed sunglasses might be considered a way to prevent injury, and as such, they are extremely important to use. However, they can also be useful when healing an injury. This is because if you have already sustained any kind of eye injury, wearing protective glasses or goggles will prevent any dust, debris, or other potentially harmful elements from getting into your eye. Although this is not good in any circumstance, if you are trying to heal from an injury, it’s even more important to keep germs out. It also means that you are less likely to run your eye, causing you more pain and potentially a longer healing time. 

 

On top of this, your healing eye will be highly sensitive to light. By wearing polarized lenses, you can protect your eyes from this issue, feel more comfortable, and be able to exercise without any issues. 

 

First Aid Kit 

Although a first aid kit is not specifically a piece of sporting equipment, it should certainly be part of your essential list of items that will help you heal after an injury. Of course, you’ll hope you never have to use it, but as ever, it’s better to have a first aid kit and not need it than to need one and not have it. 

 

Within your first aid kit, you should include bandages, alcohol wipes, soothing creams, pain and inflammation-reducing medication, and the brace or compression bandage we mentioned above. If you have all of this in your bag at all times, you can be sure that, no matter what injury you sustain, you can at least start the healing process, even if it’s serious enough to need a doctor’s care. 

Duke Johnson has a decision to make about being in Miami

Dolphins hoping to retain former Miami Hurricanes star Duke Johnson

/0 Comments/in /by

Back in 2012-2014, the Miami Hurricanes found a superstar running back by the name of Duke Johnson. He lit up the University of Miami, made fans chant out his first name in dramatic fashion as he ran for 1,652 yards in his final season there.

It took seven years, but Johnson finally found his way back home. After being drafted in the 3rd round of the 2015 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns, Johnson was used mostly as a scatback, more valued for his ability to catch passes than running the ball. Eventually he wound up in Houston, and after two seasons there, he agreed to sign on with the Dolphins.

It didn’t take long for him to pick up where he left off.

He ran for 107 yards in Week 15 against the New York Jets, his first time playing in Hard Rock Stadium as the home team since his UM days, and the crowd again chanted his name.

“It just reminded me of college,” he said after that game. “It felt like my college days again. Definitely enjoyed it.”

Johnson repeated the performance in the final week of the season against the New England Patriots, rushing 22 times for 117 yards and a touchdown. Again the chants rang out, and now the Miami Dolphins have a decision to make.

Do they keep Duke Johnson home in Miami?

“Me staying here? Like you said, it’s my home,” Johnson said after the game. “If I didn’t have to leave home, I wouldn’t.”

Naturally, after the performances he’s put together wearing aqua and orange, it seems a no-brainer that the Miami Dolphins should try to keep Johnson around. He’s looked far and away like the best running back on the team.

“I’m hoping that it does.” Johnson said about getting to come back next season. “How confident I am? I really don’t know. I really can’t say because again, it’s above my pay grade. But for me just having an opportunity to come back and play.”

According to Five Reasons Sports Network sources, the Miami Dolphins want to keep Duke Johnson around for at least another one more season, and have already expressed that to him. But Johnson, while staying in Miami would be an ideal situation, hasn’t committed to doing so just yet. Those sources say that Johnson is expecting interest elsewhere, and intends to explore all his options before he simply decides to return to Miami.

Again, his desire to stay home is genuine. But Johnson wants to explore his options to find a situation that will allow him the best chance for success. If he decides that’s in Miami, expect him back. If he sees a better opportunity elsewhere, Miami may have to throw a little extra incentive at him.

Miami still has Myles Gaskin and Gerrid Doaks on the roster. They can also try to retain Phillip Lindsay if Johnson opts to leave. Miami should also heavily consider finally addressing the position in a meaningful way in the draft.

Loading
Loading...

Make no mistake, the Dolphins want to keep Johnson, and they should. But Johnson wants to see what options he has available before he plants his roots back in Miami.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for seven years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

******

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at everythingtradeshows.com or call 954-791-8882