Naoya Inoue vs Jason Moloney Main Card Pick & Predictions

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Main Event: Naoya Inoue vs Jason Moloney for WBA WORLD, IBF WORLD Bantamweight Titles

Pick: Naoya Inoue

By: KO/TKO

Single Round: 3rd round 

Winning Group of Rounds: 1-4

Fight Goes the Distance: No                                                                                                                                                                           

Breakdown: The Monster Naoya Inoue is coming in fresh off an 8 streak of KO’s. He’s shown to have an immense amount of power and with his ability to diversify his strikes and go to both the body and the head, his opponent has to stay on their toes trying to guess which block is the right one. For Maloney, this is one of the toughest challenges of his career. It’s hard to see Maloney being able to withstand the onslaught of the monster, so more than likely, Inoue takes this one by KO and imposes his will early in the fight. 

 

Co-Main Event: Ewa Brodnicka vs. Mikaela Mayer for WBO WORLD FEMALE SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE

 

Pick: Mikaela Mayer

By: Decision

Fight Goes the Distance: Yes                                                                                                                                                                      

Breakdown: Mayer is the rising star coming out of the United States, and it seems like its time for her to rise up to becoming a champion. After holding the belt for a few years, Ewa has shown she has the skills to beat about anyone. Her skills have slowed down in the latter part of the career and Mayer is still hitting her prime. Mayer will work her down over the course of the fight and win by decision.

 

Fight #3: Robson Conceicao vs. Luis Coria

 

Pick: Robson Conceicao

By: Decision

Fight Goes the Distance: Yes                                                                                                                                                                      

Breakdown: Robson Conceicao is still building up his resume and Luis Coria is nothing more than someone standing in his way Look for Robson to take advantage of the less skilled Coria and outwork him. Robson will dictate the pace and could honestly win all 12 rounds if that’s something he wants to do. Either way, squash match for Robson and he’s going home with a win.

 

Fight #4: Jared Anderson vs. Luis Eduardo Pena

 

Pick:Jared Anderson

By: KO 

Round: 1-3

Fight Goes the Distance: No                                                                                                                                                                      

Breakdown: Jared Anderson is coming in with an undefeated record of 6-0 with 6 knockouts. For Anderson, he’s still young at only 20 years old and he can work his way up into being a contender at heavyweight if he continues to hone his skills. Luis Pena is a lower ranked prospect with not the power that Anderson has. ANderson wins this one in the first few rounds by KO

 

Fight #5: Andy Hiraoka vs. Rickey Edwards

 

Pick: Andy Hiraoka

By: Decision

Fight Goes the Distance: Yes                                                                                                                                                                    

Breakdown: At 15-0 Hiraoka is another star on the rise. While many of his wins have been against no names, he still continues to deliver. This is another fight as he builds up his record to challenge for a title. Rickey Edwards all around is less skilled and the footwork in this matchup will really be the key. Hiraoka will be able to dictate the pace and over the course of the fight, he will win a decision. 

 

Fight #6: George Acosta vs. Andres Cortes

 

Pick: Andres Cortes

By: Decision

Fight Goes the Distance: Yes                                                                                                                                                                    

Breakdown: Cortes is coming in at 13-0 at only 23 years old. He faces off against a George Acosta who at this point has a blemish on his record at 10-1. He goes up against the superior boxer in Cortez. For Cortz to win this fight, he will need to make sure that he keeps the volume high in order to outpace Acosta. Acosta wont go down easily so we see Andres Cortes winning by decision. 

 

Would Miami Consider Dennis Schroder?

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The point guard position may not be much of a worry for Miami as of right now, since they have Tyler Herro possibly switching over, a 20th pick consideration, and of course Goran Dragic. The only issue is that although it seems very likely Miami will resign Goran, there’s still a small chance it doesn’t work out.

If Miami was to go into next season without Goran Dragic, a veteran point guard would be pretty ideal.

Dennis Schroder would definitely be an option for Miami through trade, since he’s going into the last year of his deal next season.

He’s coming off of a very impressive season averaging 19 points a game off the bench. The shooting even improved this year since he hit about two threes a game, shooting 39% which was a career best.

 

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I think it’s pretty obvious what Schroder gives you offensively, but what stands out now is the other side of the ball.

Schroder probably had one of his best defensive seasons of his career this past season. He’s very feisty and energetic on the defensive side of the ball, which led to him being an absolute havoc against opposing guards.

He actually was fourth in Defensive Win Shares among all of the other guards in the NBA during the regular season.

And when discussing the fit on this current Heat team, I believe it’s a pretty good one.

For one, Schroder thrived most this season when playing in lineups with two other ball-handlers, like Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. And if he gets inserted into lineups with Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, and Bam Adebayo, he should be able to thrive very similarly.

I also believe he wants a starting position in this league, and that won’t happen in OKC unless Chris Paul gets traded. And he’d definitely start on this Heat team since they’re in need of a defensive guard.

Once again, I don’t believe that Miami and Goran Dragic will part ways since Pat Riley made it clear in his press conference that they’re looking to take care of him. But if they were to move on, I believe Dennis could be a guy that they consider.

UFC Fight Night: Silva vs Hall Pick & Predictions

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Main Event: Anderson Silva vs #10 Uriah Hall

 

Pick: Uriah Hall

By: KO 

Round: 3rd Round

Breakdown: Anderson Silva is making his last stand in the UFC with his fight against Uriah Hall. In his farewell match, he’s facing a knockout artist and if he isn’t careful, might get met with the same fate. Hall is coming having won 10 of his 15 by knockout. Silva is coming in having lost 5 of his last 6 dating to 2013. At 45 he isn’t the same as the champion we knew, but the fight IQ is still there. For him to win this match he would need to avoid the power of Uriah for 5 rounds and that is a tough ask for someone his age. Uriah has more of the power and I see Anderson looking as human as ever, while Hall secures a win to boost his legacy as a fighter. 

 

Co-Main Event: Bryce Mitchell vs Andre Fili 

Pick: Bryce Mitchell 

By: Submission

Round: 3rd Round

Breakdown: This fight has “Fight of the Night” written all over it. Both fighters have the ability to take it to the ground and on top of that the striking of Fili should bring out the best in Mitchell. Mitchell has a clear advantage on the ground whether it’s off his back or off the top. He does have the ability to initiate the takedown and bring the fight down himself, a weakness for many submission specialists. I see the stand-up game slightly favor Fili, but Mitchell can more than well hold his own. Although Fili outstrikes Mitchell on a 4 to 2 advantage on a per-minute basis, Mitchell is more accurate at 60% compared to 35% and absorbs less at a 1.3 to 4 shot ratio. Fili takes more than he gives and as long as Mitchell stays the course, the stand-up game could allow him to accumulate more strikes and win over the judges if this goes to a decision. Mitchell is sure to try and take this fight down and if he’s able to get respect for his stand-up game, that will make this all the more beneficial when taking a shot for a takedown. Fili has the ability to win this fight and by no means is this a cakewalk, but Mitchell is 13-0 with 9 submissions for a reason. Mitchell wears out Fili and submits him in the third. 

 

Fight #3: Kevin Holland vs Charlie Ontiveros

Pick: Kevin Holland

By: KO

Round: 2nd Round

Breakdown: Charlie Ontiveros is coming in on short notice and going up in weight. For Kevin Holland, I don’t see any way he can really lose this fight. He’s a much better striker although Ontiveros offers some fun striking ability. If he tries to make a name off Holland, we will see Kevin really in his element. He’s going to beat up on Ontiveros and then talk to him while he does it until he knocks you out. Holland is the much better wrestler as well and in this fight, he’s going to be the one who imposes his will and takes the win. 

 

Fight #4: Greg Hardy vs Maurice Greene

Pick: Greg Hardy

By: KO

Round: 1st Round

Breakdown: In this heavyweight bout, you’d have to give the power advantage to Hardy, but Greene does seem to have an advantage in technical ability. Hardy comes in fighting his 6th UFC fight, and he seems to grow in between every fight. If he comes in and catches Greene once, that’s going to be it. On the other hand, Greene has to play a very safe fight to win. If he’s been working on his wrestling, attempting to get Hardy on his back would neutralize the power and wear him out. We haven’t seen that from Greene yet and by looking at what you know in this fight, Hardy is a level above Greene in the striking department and this can be a quick night for him if he’s coming looking to make a splash in the Heavyweight division. 

Fight #5: Bobby Green vs Thiago Moises

Pick: Bobby Green

By: Decision

Breakdown: Bobby Green is having a career resurrection. He’s going for his 4th win this year and is working his way up the rankings. He’s seemed to put it all together with his wrestling and his striking. Moises is still young at 25 and he still has a lot of room to grow. Bobby Green has the technical advantage on the feet and also has the ability to dictate the takedowns. If this fight gets into the clinch, we could see Green get those knees to the body working and he also does a good job of digging underhooks into a body lock takedown. If he decides to keep it standing, he will have an edge on the feet and has a 75% takedown defense if he decides to keep it standing. Moises best shot is to try to submit Green but it is unlikely that we see Green end up on his back, thus we are taking Green by decision.

 

You can follow Johnathan @ThreePieceCombo on Twitter. 

Dolphins Rams

5 Keys to Dolphins vs Rams in Tua’s debut

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The Miami Dolphins (3-3) made headline news during the bye week. The switch to Tua Tagovailoa initiated a cascade of national coverage. Football pundits fell on either side of the fence. A heated debate over the Dolphins offensive line unfolded on Twitter. And all of this amped up the excitement of Dolphins fans as the game versus the Ram (5-2) approaches.

The matchup of a Brian Flores defense versus a Sean McVay offense last happened in Super Bowl LII. New England shut down the Jared Goff-led Rams in the lowest scoring Super Bowl of all-time. Flores’s defense frustrated Goff by alternating looks. That might be something seen in Week 8, especially considering Kyle Van Noy, a key player in Patriot’s defensive effort then, will be on the field for Miami.

At 3-3, Miami is one game out of first place in the AFC East. A win here would be the team’s third in a row and keep them in the thick of the playoff race. The Rams, meanwhile, travel east for an early game on a short week.

Here’s a look at five keys to the Dolphins versus the Rams in Week 8.

Dolphins vs Rams: Be Patient

The Rams defense allows for short completions in the passing game, so be patient. The defense doesn’t disguise coverages often and tends to play straight-up. The deployment of Aaron Donald remains fairly consistent.

LA occasionally tries to disguise their backend coverages through alignment. They hide their 2-deep coverage with an initial Quarters look. Sometimes, they lineup in Quarters then play man-to-man with two deep safeties.

These are approaches that Tagovailoa had success against while at Alabama. These coverages can leave openings in the defense while the defenders flex into the different positions. But the key will be Tagovailoa’s ability to recognize the coverage and deliver the ball to the appropriate place, even if it’s short.

 

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Attack Darius Williams

LA paid a high price for All-Pro corner Jalen Ramsey. He tends to travel from the outside to the slot. Ramsey occasionally mirrors the opponent’s best receiver. He allows just 53.5 percent of passes completed, giving up 5.33 yards per target. While he can be challenged, the Dolphins might look elsewhere.

Ramsey may draw the DeVante Parker assignment for the Rams. Parker’s been the focal point of Miami’s passing attack thus far. He’s seen 40 targets and made 29 catches for 364 yards and two touchdowns, but all of that was with Ryan Fitzpatrick.

The Rams other wide corner is Darius Williams. He’s 5-foot-9, 187-pounds. Williams will likely matchup against Preston Williams, who stands at 6-foot-5 and has caught a touchdown in three of the last four weeks.

Dolphins vs Rams: Use RPO

Next Gen Stats indicated this week that the Dolphins deploy the widest formations in the league (30.1 yards). These wide formations afford space to the receivers and the runners as they move in and out of their routes and cuts. This also spreads out the defense and makes disguising blitz packages somewhat more difficult for some teams.

This wide set up also allows for the offense to use run-pass option, and the switch to Tagovailoa might make that even more likely to happen.

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said on his ‘Move the Sticks’ podcast that an anonymous GM called Tagovailoa “the best RPO quarterback he’s ever seen … ball-handling, he’ll hit that slant a million times over.”

Dolphins offensive coordinator, Chan Gailey, was one of the first coaches in the NFL to integrate the run-pass option.

“Chan was a little bit ahead in the RPO game early on before it became I guess, ‘in-style’ for the league,” Dolphins GM Chris Grier said of Gailey back in February.

In his media availability this week, Gailey revealed the team regularly used pre-snap RPOs. He also said Tagovailoa was “good at reading and seeing” when using the option. This could be an element to play on Tagovailoa’s strengths and to mitigate LA’s pass rush.

Attack Jared Goff

The Dolphins have struggled against mobile quarterbacks, but Goff isn’t one of those. He works in the pocket with a strict timing in mind. Goff likes to hit his backfoot and make the throw. If the Dolphins can pressure him off his spot, he’s far less effective.

While Miami features the league’s widest offense, the Rams sport the NFL’s most closed. The closed-in formation could lead to quick option looks and receivers coming free after rub routes. Miami’s secondary will need to maintain discipline and communicate well.

Don’t be surprised if Byron Jones travels with Cooper Kupp, even to the slot. Xavien Howard could pair with Robert Woods on the outside.

Jones and Howard have been targeted a combined 22 times since Jones’s return in Week 5, but they’ve allowed just six receptions for 69 yards. For the season, Miami’s pass defense allows 62.2 percent completion percentage and their 86.3 QB-rating against is ninth best.

Goff enjoys operating out of the play-action, both straight and with a bootleg. His 93 play-action drop backs lead the league and he’s completed 68.8 percent of those attempts. Miami will need to limit the Rams’ effective running game in order to attack Goff.

Dolphins vs Rams: Protect Tua

Obviously.

Last week against the Bears, the Rams registered four sacks and eight quarterback hits. Their 24 sacks are third-most this season and they’ve piled up 86 pressures. Donald has tallied 45 of those pressures on his own. Michael Brockers has 15.

The Dolphins offensive line, meanwhile, has allowed just 10 sacks this season, ninth-fewest in the NFL.

The interior line will be particularly important, and they’ve played well thus far. Ereck Flowers, Ted Karras and rookie Solomon Kindley have surrendered just 21 pressures in 717 combined pass-blocking snaps. Of those 21 pressures, only seven have resulted in quarterback hits.

Tagovailoa can protect himself by not holding the ball for more than about 2.5 seconds. If he does, Donald and the Rams will find him. LA tends to get home with their four-man rush, blitzing only 28 percent of the time (14th-lowest rate).

Would the Marlins have made the playoffs in a full season? A statistical argument

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We watched the Miami Marlins overcome all of the odds and make the playoffs for the first time in 17 years. Along the way, we had two Gold Glove nominees (Brian Anderson and Miguel Rojas) and the *soon to be NL Manager of the Year (Don Mattingly). This run by the Marlins sparked a lot of questions. Can we do it again? Would this have been a reality in a 162 game season? Are we actually this good?

 

At this point, there is no point in meticulously analyzing how the Marlins did what they did; rather, I find it useful to use the information available to us in order to look ahead to what they can do next year. This team had a completely different look from the Marlins teams of previous years. This means that our sample size of stats is extremely small. That’s not good for predicting anything, let alone an entire team’s future. So instead of predicting the unpredictable based on internal Marlins stats, I will compare this Marlins team and their statistical rankings to teams of the past 5 years. In order to grasp how good the Marlins actually were, we can compare them to other teams who were similarly statistically through 60 games. Then, by extrapolating the most relevant data, we can show where the Marlins most likely would have ended up had the season gone 162. We will look at the main statistics that drive team success: wRC+, x-FIP, and team WAA.

 

wRC+ (True batting stat)

 

Weighted runs created plus is a major stat that influences team success. It is a statistic very similar to runs created, although it accounts for ballparks and era. A wRC+ of 100 is league average, whereas 150 is 50% above that average.

 

Through the Marlins 60 games, they had a wRC+ of 95. This was good enough for 18th in all of baseball (and 5th in the NL East). We will use this statistic to compare the offensive output of this Marlins team to other teams that draw parallels.

 

Teams that we will compare this Marlins team wRC+ to:

 

  1. 2019 Nationals

I know. This is quite a bold comparison. But you guessed it, through half of the 2019 season the World Series champs had a wRC+ of 95 (the same as the Marlins, but good enough for 16th place in all of baseball). 

 

It is important to note that the Nationals finished the regular season with a second-half wRC+ of 113 which was good enough for 4th in all of baseball. This turn around is unprecedented and one that may have been the rare outlier. The Nationals fell back to their statistical mean in 2020, however, finishing in the last place in the NL East. An interesting observation can be made here. The Marlins may have slipped from their statistical mean in these 60 games, allowing themselves to propel into the playoffs. It would not be a shocking revelation that they, like the Nats, could fall back into their true average. 

 

Result: 93-69, 2nd in NL East, World Series Champions

  1. 2018 Pirates

This one may make a little more sense. Through the first half of the 2018 season, the Pittsburgh Pirates had a wRC+ of 95 good enough for 14th in all of baseball. They followed a much more similar path to this Marlins team.

 

The reason that this team provides such a good comparison is because of who was on it. Corey Dickerson, Starling Marte, and Francisco Cervelli all were Pirates in 2018. These 3 guys accounted for a bulk of our offense, especially the former two. I’ll take this moment to shoutout and congratulate Francisco Cervelli on an amazing career: Thank you! This Pirates team stayed consistent, posting a 96 wRC+ in the second half. Had we done this as well, especially with the tough NL East, we may have ended in a similar spot.

 

Result: 82-79, 4th in NL East, Missed Playoffs

 

  1. 2017 Diamondbacks

 

The Arizona Diamondbacks in 2017 had a wRC+ of 94 through the first half of the season. Their below average wRC+ is comparable to the Marlins, and unlike the 2019 Nats, this team did not propel forward afterward. They finished the season with a 96 wRC+, leaving them in 2nd place in the NL West, which was good enough for a Wild Card Birth. This shows that if the Marlins would have kept this pace going, they could have found themselves in a playoff spot after a 162 game season.

 

Result: 93-69, 2nd in NL West, Lost in NLDS (Hmmm… Sounds familiar)

 

Based off of wRC+, the Marlins were most likely good enough this year to at worst end .500 and whiff the playoffs due to the larger sample size of games that would have allowed teams like the Mets and Phillies (both top 10 in wRC+) to heat up and surpass them. Likewise, you could make the case they could have won the World Series as well, although the mean implies that their offensive output most likely would have led to a similar route to that of the 2018 Diamondbacks and lead to a loss in the NLDS. 

x-FIP (true pitching statistic)

 

So, basically, x-FIP can be applied almost the same way we do ERA. Inherently, it is the same statistic as ERA, but it factors out defensive errors and other aspects that pitchers cannot control. A 5.00 x-FIP is awful and a 2.70 x-FIP is fantastic. Apply the same structure of thought to x-FIP as to ERA. Say a pitcher has a 3.10 ERA and a 2.65 x-FIP. We can conclude he will probably lower his ERA eventually as he works back to his statistical mean.

 

This is where things start to look bad. The Marlins had a whoppingly high 4.90 x-FIP. This was bad enough for 26th in the entire league this season. In order to maintain consistency, we will compare the Marlins x-FIP to the same teams we did before, to see if they differed in any way.

 

  1. 2019 Washington Nationals

 

This is most likely the reason that the Marlins would not have experienced a similar run to that of the Washington Nationals. The Nats had an x-FIP of 4.29, good enough for 6th in the league their first half of play. Surprisingly, it rose during their stupendous 2nd half run to 4.38 and 11th in the league. It looks like their hitting turnaround carried them in the 2nd half. The Marlins don’t have that luxury. Also, to be completely frank, the difference between the Nationals and Marlins x-FIP is staggering. Because of this, we could probably eliminate a World Series run.

 

  1. 2018 Pittsburgh Pirates

 

The Pirates had an even better x-FIP than the Nats, putting up a 4.14 in the first half of the season in 2018 that was good enough for 16th in the league. They were 13th in the league to finish it off, showing that they were in fact the middle of the road team. This Pirates team was good, but just not good enough due to an extremely tough division in 2018. This sounds quite familiar and is the most accurate comparison to this Marlins team through 60 games when it comes to pitching ability.

 

  1. 2017 Arizona Diamondbacks

 

In the first half of their NLDS run, the Diamondbacks were 3rd in the league in x-FIP at 3.81. In the 2nd half, they were just as good, finishing 5th with an x-FIP of 3.94. The Marlins are nowhere near this reality, and because of that, their similarities on the offensive end are completely overshadowed. Because of the Marlins division being extremely strong, and through 60 we got lucky they played well below their statistical average, we can assume that this Marlins team’s pitching would have struggled later on, as they regressed to their statistical average.

 

Team WAA (WAR but team-based)

 

By looking at pitching and hitting statistics individually, it shows that our hitting was just good enough for a Wild Card/NLDS appearance and our pitching was good enough to get dead last in the division. Between those two statistics alone, it is clear through 162 that we would not have been a playoff team. Let’s take a look at one final cumulative stat (WAA – wins above average) in order to solidify these observations.

 

The Marlins were 20th in WAA at -1.5. This means that on average they., as a team, would have produced 1.5 less wins than the league average. Doesn’t look too optimal if you ask me.

 

Let’s make our final comparisons:

  1. 2019 Washington Nationals

 

The Nationals WAA was 14.8, good enough for 5th place. We would not have gone on their type of run in a 162 game season.

 

  1. 2018 Pittsburgh Pirates

 

The Pirates had a WAA of -.9. This was good enough for 18th place in the league, and we can draw similarities to this Marlins team just as the two previous stats have.

 

  1. 2017 Arizona Diamondbacks

 

The D-Backs topped all 4 of these teams with a WAA of 15.7 in 2017, good enough for 6th in the league. The Marlins would most likely not have been able to maintain a level of play anywhere near this.

 

In Conclusion

 

The Miami Marlins played above their statistical average in 2020. Yes, it was an amazing ride, but sadly it may not be sustainable. Their true means lie closest to the Pittsburgh Pirates of 2018, a team that went 82-79 and missed the playoffs in a tough division. Making rough estimates, we could have probably expected a 76-86 2020 season had it gone full. I know using these stats may seem irrelevant, but stats like x-FIP are most likely the reason the Miami Marlins will not resign Brandon Kintzler (he had a 2.22 ERA, but an x-FIP in the 5s meaning he is due for regression). Hopefully, this was informative as it provides a baseline for what the Marlins truly were this year. It shows us that there is room for growth. And that’s all we can ask for.

 

Could De’Aaron Fox Take His Talents To South Beach?

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Another player has emerged into some talks about possibly joining the Miami Heat in the near future, and his name is De’Aaron Fox.

The plan has continually been to go after Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2021 free agency, but it’s never a bad idea to have a back-up plan.

It honestly seems to be the best possible fit you can think of.

Kentucky Wildcat, defensive oriented, emerging player, relationship with Bam Adebayo.

All of these things will play a part in this possibly happening, but how would this fit look exactly?

Around that time, Miami will officially be searching for that Goran Dragic replacement. Some hope that Tyler Herro can become the starting point guard of the Miami Heat eventually, which could still possibly happen, but doesn’t it seem ideal to have De’Aaron as the starting point guard instead?

The answer is yes. As mentioned previously he’s a guy that you can trust to guard opposing point guards, which is what Miami is looking for.

And that’s not the only thing that he brings, since he’s a player that you can trust to run your offense and get guys in the right spots. He has continued to become a better passer year after year, averaging seven assists a game this past season.

Miami wouldn’t mind to have a guy with that pacing run the offense, since I don’t think there’s anybody faster than him with the ball in their hands. That’s the type of guy that not only Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra would want to have, but especially Jimmy Butler.

The relationship with Bam Adebayo could potentially play a part as well, since De’Aaron has continued to be very supportive of Bam and the Miami Heat during their playoff run.

Obviously right now Miami is focused on what they have at hand for this upcoming season, but I’m 100% certain this De’Aaron Fox idea will continue to heat up as we get closer to that 2021 free agency.

It may be considered a back-up plan, but it should be considered the perfect fit.

Kentucky Wildcats All Over Miami Heat’s Draft Board Once Again

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It’s absolutely no surprise that Miami will be giving a Kentucky guy a look with the 20th pick. But this year, they have multiple Kentucky options.

For starters, there is optimism that Tyrese Maxey could potentially fall to Miami at 20, but ultimately there’s a good chance somebody grabs him earlier.

I’ve discussed why Tyrese Maxey makes sense for this Heat team, mostly due to the fact that he’s a talented two-way player.

Tyrese had a Pro Day on ESPN 2 on Thursday night, which Coach John Calipari spoke about him possibly getting overlooked like past Kentucky players. I think other teams recognize that, and if they do make yet another draft mistake, Pat Riley will be waiting to make that selection.

Greg Sylvander reported that the Miami Heat interviewed another Kentucky guard Immanuel Quickley.

His offensive package actually reminds me a lot of Tyler Herro’s game. Many have talked about his ability to play off the ball as a catch and shoot guy, like they said about Herro, but ultimately I believe he will emerge into more than that. He showed this past season that he’s pretty comfortable shooting shots off the dribble.

It would be an interesting back-court in Miami for the future. If they were to make this selection, it would definitely mean that they plan on making Tyler Herro the team’s point guard going forward, since ball-handling isn’t Quickley’s best attribute.

He also is another player who can be trusted on the defensive side of the ball. That hasn’t always been the case for Immanuel Quickley, but he really grew on that side of the ball this past season which showcases his work ethic.

He also has a close relationship with Tyler Herro, since they played together in college. He clearly fits the mold of a guy that Miami will consider in this draft.

Another name that I believe could get a look is Ashton Hagans. And what do you know, another Kentucky Wildcat.

His game definitely differs from Immanuel Quickley’s game, but they still both could fit this Heat team.

Hagans is a true point guard, who has good size and an outstanding ability to pass the ball. His shooting definitely isn’t his best attribute like Quickley, but he still has a pretty decent jumper that is evolving. He also has a great ability to get to the basket, and is most comfortable when he gets in transition.

His defense has also shown to be pretty dominant at Kentucky, but mostly off the ball when going for steals and things of that nature.

All three of these guys are 6’3 guards coming out of Kentucky the same year. Although those similarities are clear, they all have their own strengths that can all help this team right now.

If there was ever a year for Miami to draft a Kentucky Wildcat, it would be this year with all of these intriguing options.

Are the Miami Dolphins on the Cusp of National Relevancy?

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It is time for Tua Tagovailoa to start at quarterback for the Miami Dolphins.

 

October 20th, 2020. The day came and Coach Flores decision to insert Tua into the starting lineup created shockwaves through the entire NFL and in a sense has created a paradigm shift that has it feeling like we are on cusp of being talked about on a regular basis. I know someone read that and are thinking the immense pressure being put on Tua is unfair for his first start, but the pressure was already there since April 23rd, 2020 when we drafted him higher than any other QB in Miami Dolphins history. After draft night we were universally received in the media as having made the right decision to draft him and that the next step was to get him healthy. Unfortunately, the decision to start Tua has not been as accepted as the decision to draft him.

 

Every and this is no exaggeration, every analyst has had an opinion on this decision. From how it was handled, to how Tua isn’t a complete year removed from his injury, how Our weapons aren’t good enough to help Tua and finally how our horrendous Oline will get Tua injured like in college. Having followed the Dolphins since 2004 I can firmly say that no singular player has had the media buzzing the way Tua has. Go down the line, Ricky Williams retiring and unretiring, Dante Culppeper being picked over Brees, Chad Pennington division championship year, Bradon Marshall being traded here and even the signing of Suh. None of the players or stories has created the type of national media frenzy the way the announcement to start Tua has.

 

Everyone from Collin Cowherd, Skip & Shannon, and all of ESPN (looking at you Mina, Dan, and Marcus) have all had a variety of opinions with most if not all being of the negative variety where they only focus on Tua’s injuries, the old perception of the Miami Dolphins having a terrible Oline, and the handling of the change of QB with regards to Fitzpatrick. I have to be frank that the overall lack of attention and knowledge to what truly is going on down here is appalling as this are people getting paid to make opinions without them even taking the time to find out the truth. Which leads me to post these 2 clips. One from Kyle Brandt and the other from Rich Eisen. The reason I chose these 2 clips is because they encompass my feelings toward Tua and what I feel like they are real expectations for what we can expect from him in first start.

 

 

Ultimately as Kyle mentioned, Tua is going to become Mr. 7a, where he will be discussed and analyzed every Monday morning at 7 am. I will take it a step forward and say that I believe Tua will be Mr. 7a for the next decade. After almost 2 weeks having passed from the decision to start to Tua, I can clearly see that this is what it means to be nationally relevant. Maybe not to the level of the Big 3 with the Heat but there has not been a more buzz worthy QB in Miami since Dan Marino and with that comes scrutiny which we have only just begun to see. Welcome guys, this new era of Miami Dolphins football begins now, let’s enjoy the ride.

Could Miami Take A Chance on Josh Jackson?

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Josh Jackson is another one of those young prospects who have yet to truly prove themselves, but are searching for that one opportunity.

Not many teams need a player like Josh Jackson due to the fact that he’s a liability on offense, but Miami seems like they could take a chance on him.

For starters, there’s a chance that Derrick Jones Jr could walk in free agency this off-season, and Josh seems like he could be the type of player to replicate some of the things he did.

He could be used as a spark for certain stretches when they’re having trouble defensively, since he’s fairly capable of guarding opposing wings and guards.

And I actually believe some of his offensive limitations could be opened up. He seems to be most comfortable when working downhill on the break, and has shown to be a pretty decent passer. Obviously the shooting just isn’t there, but once again I don’t believe it entirely needs to be when you have Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro.

There is still a lot of uncertainty as well with the exact numbers in this situation on both sides. But Josh Jackson definitely should be in their money range.

All he needs is one opportunity to prove that he is a valuable role player in this league, and all Miami needs is a guy that will accept his role and can help them out defensively.

People have mentioned that it would be in his best interest to join a team with a strong culture and established veterans. And well, I don’t know a better place than Miami.

He definitely won’t be the first person on their list, since they have some guys to re-sign and other needs, but it definitely could happen.

If the numbers were to work out perfectly for both sides, I could see it happening since he can fill the role of Derrick Jones Jr and possibly Soloman Hill, if he was to walk as well.

Miami usually leans towards players who have a chip on their shoulders with something to prove, and that’s exactly what Josh Jackson has.

JR’s Picks on the Davis vs. Santa Cruz boxing card

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Main Event: Gervonta Davis vs Leo Santa Cruz for WBA World Championships

Pick: Gervonta Davis
By: KO/TKO
Single Round: 7th round
Winning Group of Rounds: (7-12
Fight Goes the Distance: No
Breakdown: Leo Santa Cruz is coming in as the biggest challenge of Gervonta Davis so far in his career. He has the pace and the volume to throw him off as much as anyone he has faced so far. With that being said Gervonta is coming in the much bigger fighter and the much stronger fighter. The power of his punches has ended all but one of his opponents and that’s when he’s fighting men his own size. Leo Santa Cruz fights mostly at 122lbs and 118lb and is moving up to challenge someone who is much bigger. The fighters in the bantamweight divisions don’t have the same strength and pop in their punches as the 135ers. In this fight, Santa Cruz is going to have to be perfect to win. His defense is going to need to be on point at all times and he needs to be throwing volume to win rounds. The difference is that Davis only needs to be perfect for a few seconds to put Santa Cruz out and have his hand raised at the end of the night. Santa Cruz keeps a high guard so this fight may end up playing out with Davis working the body until those hands fall and then in a later round get those knockdowns that put Santa Cruz out.

Co-Main Event: Mario Barrios (C) vs. Ryan Karl, 12 rounds, WBA super lightweight title
Pick: Mario Barrios
By: Decision
Fight Goes the Distance: Yes
Breakdown: Mario Barrios comes in with what seems to be a much better feel inside the ring than Ryan Karl. This is shown throughout Mario’s fights where he dictates the pace, moves in and out of boxing range and does a good job of cornering his opponents and putting them in the danger zone. Karl allows himself a lot of the time to get backed up into the corner and edges of the ring and then starts to swing from there. His swinging is the most accurate and crisp strikes so it will leave himself open to counterpunches which Barrios is more than capable of doing. Ryan Karl will be able to stand in there for all 12 rounds but he will lose the majority of them, therefore Mario Barrios will pick up a decision win.

Fight #3: Regis Prograis vs. Juan Heraldez, 10 rounds, super lightweight

Pick: Regis Prograis
By: TKO
Round: 8-10
Fight Goes the Distance: No
Breakdown: Former WBA World and WBC Diamond Super Junior Welterweight Champion Regis Prograis is finally making his return to the ring after taking his first loss to IBF Champion Josh Taylor. Looking to avenge his first loss, he is going to be taking on the unbeaten Juan Heraldez. For Juan, this is the toughest competition of his career taking on a former champ. 20 of 24 wins for Prograis came by knockout, with 10 of those being in the first two rounds. His power is going to keep Juan at bay and even though both fighters might be coming in with a little ring rust, Prograis should be able to put combinations together later in the fight as he gets more comfortable. Prograis by a late TKO to get this one done.

Fight #4: Isaac Cruz vs. Diego Magdaleno, 12 rounds, IBF lightweight title eliminator

Pick: Magdaleno
By: Decision
Fight Goes the Distance: Yes
Breakdown: We will get a challenger for the IBF lightweight title after this fight is over when Two-time world title challenger Diego Magdaleno takes on Isaac Cruz Gonzalez. Cruz has reportedly been working against southpaws in this camp to better prepare him for the stance of Diego Magdaleno. For Magdaleno, this is a step down in competition in comparison to the world title fights that he has had previously. His ring IQ is good enough to be able to control the pace of the fight and keep Isaac Cruz uncomfortable. It’s unlikely we see Cruz impose his will in this fight and thus Diego Magdaleno gets it done by Decision.

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