Mandatory Photo Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays are amidst an instant classic divisional race that will likely rely on the last few games of the season. As we all know, the Blue Jays have made several major acquisitions prior to the trade deadline with Troy Tulowitzki and David Price. As a result, they have shrunk the Yankees divisional lead, and at one point took the lead; to date, the Yankees hold a two game lead over the Blue Jays.

Odds are baseball fans could witness the Yankees and the Blue Jays go head to head annually for the American League East crown. That being said, the catching position has proved to be crucial for both teams, as they are the in-game managers. Yankees’ Brian McCann and Blue Jays’ Russell Martin have provided their organization with both offense and defense when needed, but how is the outlook for the future?

Mandatory Photo Credit: John Munson/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

New York Yankees: Gary Sanchez, 22 (Alex Covone, VP)

Gary Sanchez was at one point the Yankees top prospect in their farm system. In 2009, the Yankees signed Sanchez out of the Dominican Republic to $3 million contract; at the time Sanchez was only 16-years-old.

By 2012 the Yankees had two clear astound prospects, both catchers, in Sanchez and, now Seattle Mariners, Jesus Montero, at one point regarded as the best catching prospect in the entirety of the league. Montero’s career has deteriorated due to his motives and poor work ethic; many have believed that Sanchez was headed down the same path due to his inconsistencies.

However, Sanchez is still only 22-years-old. Spending the 2015 season in both Double-A and Triple-A, Sanchez has bounced back well from his down year. Currently batting .268 with 16 home runs and 57 RBI in 87 games between the two leagues, Sanchez would provide viewers, and Yankees fans, with the same aspirations he once held.

Most recently, the 22-year-old Yankees prospect was featured in the 2015 MLB Futures Game, along with teammate Aaron Judge.

Sanchez’s name floated around prior to the trade deadline when the Yankees were reported to be shopping the catcher. In fact, the Yankees reportedly rejected a trade that would have sent Sanchez to the Atlanta Braves for outfielder Cameron Maybin in return.

Strengths To Succeed:

Lingering around the top of the Yankees prospect list should be noted. As stated earlier, Sanchez is still only 22-years-old. It’s been proven that he has the tools succeed, but perhaps has not put it all together.

Containing great bat speed and the strength to provide pitchers with concerns. Being a force in the lineup is appealing to any organization, especially if you get the job done in dire needs. The expected force Sanchez could provide at the major league level is unknown, but should be above former catching prospects of Austin Romine and Montero.

Ultimately, although Sanchez has fallen off – to an extent – he remains persistent in terms of ranking towards the top of the Yankees top prospects. The next step would to put his talent together to finally break through.

Wary Weaknesses:

Although Sanchez has the tools to succeed and perhaps become a prominent player, Sanchez has had his fair share of difficulties. Noted, Sanchez has had off-field issues; in particular when Double-A manager Tony Franklin held Sanchez out of games due to disciplinary reasoning in 2014.

“It was disciplinary action,” Franklin said. “I needed to take care of that today, to get things clarified and cleared up. I’m not going to tell you what it was, but it was a violation of some of our guidelines and I needed to take care of it. Gary is out of there for a couple of days until we decide he deserves to play again, plain and simple” (Peruffo, Trentonia.com).

As a result, maturity, at the time, played an issue.

On the flip side of a catcher’s duty, scouts have stated that he has a strong and effective throwing arm, yet needs to put the intangibles together. A scout, referenced by the New York Post, stated the following.

“[He] needs work behind the plate and [he] needs to catch more games,” the scout said. “His receiving skills need to be refined. [He] boxes pitches, has limited lateral movement. [He] needs to play to smooth out his crudeness behind there” (DeMarzo).

Since the report, Sanchez has improved his ability to throw and looks to continue the improvement.

Although the following weakness is listed, it is not Sanchez’s ability to alter it. In the major leagues currently, the Yankees official depth chart lists the Yankees carrying two catchers in McCann and John Ryan Murphy. Starting catcher McCann is under control through the 2018 season, following his lucrative five-year, $85 million contract with the Yankees in 2013. The question remains, will Sanchez uphold to become, perhaps, the starting catcher for the Yankees one day?

Photo Credit: dugoutview.com

Toronto Blue Jays: Max Pentecost, 22 (Thomas Eurich, Editor)

The Toronto Blue Jays have made a lot of moves during the trade deadline to acquire some real talent in an effort to make a push towards the playoffs. As a reflection of that, their farm system has gone barren, however one player that they have refused to part with is catcher Max Pentecost.

The reason is simple, Russell Martin is growing older and will probably end his career at first base, leaving the Blue Jays with a hole at catcher. Pentecost, who has an estimated time of arrival of 2017, will likely fill that void easily by then.

Strength To Succeed:

Pentecost was drafted for his defense; he has a quick arm that covers a lot of ground and is freakishly athletic behind the plate. His receiving skills leave little to be desired, but young catchers usually have a tough time with that. He is far more advanced in that category than many young catchers are though.

On the offensive side, Pentecost is a good contact hitter with an ability to hit to all sides of the field and has good raw power that he has not fully utilized yet. At this point, his power has turned into more triples and doubles than actual homeruns. But, once he gets to the show, which will be more 2018 than 2017, his home turf will be the Rogers Centre, a huge hitters ballpark which may adapt better to that raw power than some minor league parks will.

Pentecost shows flashes of excellence, despite not having played this entire season thanks to a series of shoulder issues, and did well in Rookie ball and Short Season A-Ball just last year. His slash line last year was a combined .324/.330/.419 in 105 at bats.

Wary Weaknesses: 

Pentecost has looked tremendous for the Blue Jays, but does have his limitations. As stated earlier, establishing his power could provide issues.

As a catcher, Pentecost will have to work on his ability to manage the game. Receiving the ball from the pitcher and framing the pitch has proved to be extremely effective for one’s success in game. Throwing runners out comes into play as well. Working on his accuracy and delivering a smooth throw across the field is crucial to minimize any errors.

In a comparison between Blue Jays’ Pentecost and the Yankees’ Sanchez, Pentecost surely has the advantage due to already featuring similar or better receiving skills than his counterpart and having an overall better hit tool than Sanchez. Sanchez may have the higher home run potential, but Pentecost will draw more walks and less strikeouts than his counterpart and will have a higher average and on-base-percentage because of it.

Who would you take between New York Yankees’ Gary Sanchez or Toronto Blue Jays’ Max Pentecost?

The post Catcher Prospect Comparison: Yankees’ Gary Sanchez vs. Blue Jays’ Max Pentecost appeared first on Insider Sports Network.

Mandatory Photo Credit: Blogs.timesunion

Fantasy Football season is upon us. This is where the football fanatics take their skill and intense nature to settle their differences with their friends. The main objective is simple: win. Coming in first place in a Fantasy Football league is crucial to your football respect. You do not want to be the loser and suffer a tragic last place conundrum.

Below are questions provided and several analyst have answered with their opinions.

Sophomore slumps can be worrisome for fantasy owners. Are there any big name second year players that you would be worried about?

Charlie DiSturco: Two players that may experience the sophomore slump are Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry and Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill.

Landry had a solid rookie campaign with 84 receptions for 758 yards and five touchdowns. The Dolphins, however, have been adding threats to compliment quarterback Ryan Tannehill including Jordan Cameron, DeVante Parker, Greg Jennings, and Kenny Stills. With a crowded receiving corp, it seems that regression is in Landry’s near future, as he will likely struggle to get as many targets as he did in a weak Dolphins receiving corp last year.

Jeremy Hill had a breakout rookie season, rushing for 1,124 yards and nine rushing touchdowns on 222 carries. He and Giovani Bernard became one of the best running back duos in the NFL, deadly in both the rushing and passing game. With defenses adjusting to the Bengals offense as well as Bernard improving each year, it will be almost impossible to replicate such a dominate backfield in 2015. Hill is a ground-and-pound type running back, which can be stopped with a smart and talented defensive line.

A sophomore year slump is common and with so many rookies having great seasons in 2014, a few will falter while the rest succeed. Expect Landry and Hill to regress in 2015, experiencing the struggle to replicate their rookie campaign.

Alex Covone: The sophomore slump exists, it’s inevitable. The question for numerous Fantasy owners is, “Who can I rely on?” Two enamored names will be put to test with the sophomore slump are St. Louis Rams’ Tre Mason and New York Giants’ Odell Beckham, Jr.

Mason exploded onto the 2014 scene with, now New York Jets’ running back Zac Stacy out of the picture. In 12 games, Mason racked up 765 rushing yards with four touchdowns. Although inconsistent, proven by his 34.4 standard league points one week, followed by his lackluster 6.6 points the next, Mason was expected to step into a larger role for the Rams; that being prior to the 2015 Draft.

As the Rams selected Georgia running back Todd Gurley, it would be safe to say that they could expect the explosive first-round pick out of Georgia to entice the dull Rams offense. Although Gurley suffered an ACL injury, Mason could still have value, especially earlier in the year, as Gurley is uneasy with a timeline thus far. All in all, Mason will have a diminished role by the end of the year.

Beckham, 22, may be an unpopular opinion due to his rapid emergence and popularity in the NFL. Most Fantasy Football players did not have Beckham drafted, if you did, kudos to you. During Week 5, the Giants were prepared to have Beckham on the field; by the end of the game, he ended with four receptions, 44 yards, and one touchdown.

As the weeks progressed, Beckham saw his fair share of looks from quarterback Eli Manning. When wide receiver Victor Cruz fell victim to a torn patellar tendon against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6, it was the 22-year-old’s time to shine. Following Cruz’s injury, Beckham Jr. went on to finish the season with 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns, a player who started his NFL career in Week 5.

The ceiling looks endless for the young Giants wide receiver, but could he destined to fall to earth? It could be proven that Beckham only gets better, but with the expected draft rate of him going in the early-mid second-round drives several Fantasy players away. With value of similarity of Dez Bryant, Julio Jones, and Jordy Nelson around the second-round, could someone pass up an established veteran for a dynamic sophomore?

In addition, Cruz is back and healthy, as well as developing wide receiver Rueben Randle in the mix; Beckham could see his workload diminished slightly, but can still be a more than capable threat. For a second-round selection and the wariness, Beckham could be a name to pass upon. Keep in mind, Beckham remains off-the-field thus far through the off-season due to hamstring injuries.

Cameron Andrews: I love last year’s rookie class, and many of them helped out my Fantasy team last season. However, some of them are bound to regress this season because that’s just the way it is. There are a couple of names being thrown around more than others when talking about sophomore slumps. Those names are Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry.

Beckham was spectacular in his rookie season, and unfortunately, that makes him a likely candidate to let people down in his sophomore campaign. Because of his ever increasing popularity, he will likely be taken very early in most Fantasy drafts and it most likely won’t be warranted. This doesn’t mean that he will post poor numbers. I expect him to surpass 1,000 yards yet again while posting good Fantasy numbers, but he will likely produce numbers that aren’t exactly worthy of his average draft position.

Jarvis Landry is an easy choice as well. He showed that he possessed a solid skill set last season, but he never proved to be an elite receiver by any means. The Dolphins also loaded up their receiving corps with lots of new talent in the likes of Greg Jennings, Kenny Stills and rookie DeVante Parker. Both of these factors make it easy to say that Landry will see a drop in production this season. However, I don’t think Landry will decline necessarily. Most of Landry’s time last season was spent in the slot catching short passes. Stills and Devante Parker will be mostly used as deep threats. Jennings is good, but he won’t take too many looks away from a young, developing receiver like Landry. In fact, I think Landry is the second most talented receiver on the Dolphins roster. He is also rumored to be having a great off-season, which leads me to believe that he will put up equal if not better numbers than he did last season.

So finally, I will reveal to you my choice for the sophomore slump this season. I expect Jordan Matthews to see a slight drop in production. Let me clarify, in terms of numbers, I’m not sure that they will dip. However, I do expect him to have less of an effect on the Eagles than he did last season. This is not because of anything that he has done, but rather the off-season moves that his team made. The Eagles acquired quite a few high caliber running backs this off-season and still have Darren Sproles. This leads me to believe that the Eagles could be looking to run the ball even more than they did with LeSean “Shady” McCoy. I believe that Jordan Matthews will develop into an incredible receiver down the line, but expectations for him next season may be too high. So even though he may give similar fantasy value when compared to last year, I see him slumping because I believe people will expect too much out of him and be disappointed by the results.

Justin Hodges: Sammy Watkins. With LeSean McCoy in Buffalo and the likely starting quarterback being Tyrod Taylor (a mostly dual threat QB) or Matt Cassel, don’t expect Watkins to have the ball come his way that much.

Rookies are often some of the best late round or free agent steals for successful fantasy football teams. Which rookie wide receiver and which rookie running back do you see making the biggest impact this season?

Charlie DiSturco: The running back that I see making the biggest impact this year is San Diego’s Melvin Gordon. He will have the most opportunities to succeed, as fellow first round pick Todd Gurley must battle Tre Mason and Benny Cunningham for carries. Yes, Gordon has some competition from Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver, but both backs have not been as reliable as St. Louis’ Mason.

However, if you’re looking for a sleeper, look at T.J. Yeldon, who will assume starting duties for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Denard Robinson did have a solid year in 2014, but Yeldon has already been named the starter and can prove to be one of the biggest steals in Fantasy.

As for wide receivers, the best rookie in the draft will be Oakland’s Amari Cooper. He is the most talented wide receiver and will be targeted a ton in the upcoming year. However, the downside to drafting Cooper is that he will be taken earlier than expected. There’s no question he’s the most NFL-ready receiver, but with that comes him being taken early in the draft.

If you want to take a low risk, high reward late in the draft, look no further than Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Breshad Perriman. Perriman is currently slated to be one of the two starting receivers, alongside Steve Smith. He will have a high amount of targets and could break away from the other rookie receivers in 2015. He is by no means the most talented of the bunch, but he can provide a reliable source of Fantasy points week in and week out in 2015.

Alex Covone: 

“Get the best bang for your buck.” Rookies can either be undervalued, or overvalued; there is not a sense of a middle ground a majority of the time.

A wide receiver to keep tabs on throughout the draft would to be fourth overall pick in the 2015 draft, Amari Cooper. Cooper has the intangibles to become a terrific wide receiver in the league; an additional attractive aspect is that he remains to be one of the most, if not the most, ready and polished wide receiver out of college thus far. Although Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has proven to be inconsistent, there could be an upward trend for the duo come in the 2015 season. If you play points per reception (PPR) you could also hope that Cooper becomes the main target in the Raiders offense, and how could you not?

With Cooper keying in on a high draft stock, for a rookie, you could see someone take a leap of faith early on, but if Cooper were to drop, as many fall wary to the Raiders and company, take a shot on Cooper.

An additional wide receiver to keep tabs on would be Tennessee Titans’ Dorial Green-Beckham. Green-Beckham has had his fair share of off-field issues, but when on the field, he can provide a threat to any opposing defense. With newly drafted quarterback Marcus Mariota redirecting the Titans’ offense, it could prove that Green-Beckham will have a significant role. In addition, Green-Beckham has shifted his focus to football and being a father, as well as developing chemistry with Mariota.

The running back position remains a hot commodity for Fantasy players, especially early. Stocking up on running backs is crucial to one’s team, but if you find yourself in the latter part of the draft, you could take a shot on several rookie running backs. Of course, as mentioned earlier, Gurley could be expected to provide an explosive addition to the Rams’ offense, but if Gurley does go early, look towards San Diego Chargers’ Melvin Gordon.

The constant debate between Gurley and Gordon lasts no more. Gordon is in a more ideal situation pertaining to individual statistics, some may argue. With injury-prone Ryan Mathews out of San Diego, Gordon will be given the three-down back role. In addition to quarterback Philip Rivers’ aerial strike, Gordon could very well be accustomed to grinding out his fair share of yards, as well as goal line work. Keep in mind, running backs Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver remain in the back field.

An additional running back would be Jacksonville Jaguars’ T.J Yeldon, out of Alabama. Yeldon will be given opportunities in the back field due to the lack of solidity for the Jaguars. With Yeldon a low stock, it could be viable to draft him for a low value.

Cameron Andrews: Rookies are some of the biggest mysteries in fantasy football. They can be fantastic, or you can waste a draft pick on them. Some rookies won’t break onto the scene until later in the season and others may trail off as the season moves along. However, there always some who prove to be vital pieces to playoff contenders in every league.

At wide receiver I think the safest pick is Amari Cooper. I know this is a pretty boring pick, but he is in a great situation. Second year quarterback Derek Carr has shown that he possesses potential to be a quality starter in the NFL and Cooper has the most NFL ready skill set of any receiver in the draft. He will get more targets than anyone else on the Raiders and he will get them right away. It’s that simple.

As far as running backs go, I need to agree with the majority of fantasy experts. Melvin Gordon out in San Diego will be the best option when looking to draft a rookie running back. I really do think that Rams’ back Todd Gurley is the most talented, but with Tre Mason and Benny Cunningham still in St. Louis, looks will be somewhat limited. Melvin Gordon, however, will not be challenged as much. Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver will be more useful in the passing game than anything else, leaving Gordon with three down duties. Much like Cooper, Gordon is my pick simply because he will have the largest workload and he has the skill to handle it.

Now just for kicks I will talk about a low key prospect at each position that I believe will end up doing well. I didn’t talk about these guys as my main prospects because there are too many question marks surrounding their situations.

At wide receiver, my biggest boom or bust rookie is Dorial Green-Beckham of the Tennessee Titans. He is the most talented receiver in his draft class. If he can stay on good terms off the field, and Marcus Mariota can play at a starting level, Beckham should be a serious fantasy player. In terms of running backs, Ameer Abdullah is someone to keep an eye on. The Detroit Lions have Joique Bell as their starter currently, but Abdullah is undoubtedly the most diverse and talented runner on the Lions roster. If he can earn significant snaps in the Lions backfield, he will be a solid flex or primary bench option for your teams’ playoff run.

Justin Hodges: Rookie wide receiver: Chris Conley, Chiefs. Conley is a player to watch for, besides Jeremy Maclin there is virtually no second receiver for Alex Smith to throw to, giving Conley a sure fire chance next year. He showed insane athleticism at the NFL combine which greatly improved his draft stock.

Running back: Tevin Coleman, Falcons. Coleman out of Indiana has shown nothing but confidence since being drafted by Atlanta. Claiming that there’s no way he’s not gonna be starting week one. While Freeman may have something to say about that, it’ll still be split snaps with a hard working and passionate Coleman surely getting his fair share of rushing opportunities.

Defense/ST units aren’t talked about much, but which one should be the first off the board come draft day?

Charlie DiSturco: Seattle is the safest selection when it comes to defense / special teams. However, the best defense and special teams unit happens to be the New York Jets. The team already has an astounding front seven that dominates against the run. Despite Sheldon Richardson‘s suspension, the Jets have arguably the most well-rounded player in the 2015 NFL Draft in Leonard Williams to fill that role. One of the reasons the team struggled in Fantasy the year before was their defensive backs who let opposing quarterbacks walk all over them. That need was addressed with the additions of Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie, Buster Skrine, and Marcus Gilchrist.

With the hiring of new head coach and defensive specialist Todd Bowles, the Jets should improve their already talented defense and control the tempo of the game like 2009 and 2010 – where they appeared in two straight AFC Championships. This defense is scary and should not be taken lightly.

Alex Covone: 

There are two ways to approach the defense and special teams slot in fantasy football. A, drafting an elite defense who seems capable of taking on any team. Or B, streaming. If you are willing to be bold, to an extent, taking a defense earlier than expected should be labeled with caution. Of course, you cannot go wrong with the Seattle Seahawks defense, as well as special teams. But, if you are willing to step out of your comfort zone, drafting the New York Jets defense and special teams can prove to be effective.

With newly acquitted Todd Bowles at the helm, and numerous acquisitions through the off-season, the Jets have built their team off of their putrid secondary last year. Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie, Buster Skrine, and Marcus Gilchrist are all new members that look to make an impact. The front seven remains the same, but with top prospect Leonard Williams joining in, this defense can provide opposing offenses with various, and numerous, issues. Keep in mind, Sheldon Richardson will be facing a four-game suspension. This defense could potentially be the best in the league.

Cameron Andrews: You can’t go wrong with defenses like the Seahawks, Bills, or Jets, but I have someone different for you. I would be willing to take a gamble on the Arizona Cardinals’ defense. Fantasy defenses need to force turnovers in addition to shutting opposing offenses down. The Cardinals have one of the best cornerbacks in Patrick Peterson, and after a down year you can expect him to bounce back. They also play great team defense in the front seven, which will allow them to stifle opposing run games.

Defense/ST units are also responsible for putting up good special teams numbers. The Arizona Cardinals have one of the best special team players in football. Justin Bethel is a perennial pro-bowler and will give a big boost to your special teams unit as not only a return man but as a rusher on field goals and punts.

Justin Hodges: First defense off the board has to be Buffalo. That front seven is just purely scary, with some playmakers that can surely get some turnovers.

Quarterback is a very important position. They score the most points but they can also be hard to predict if they’re outside of the NFL’s elite. Which quarterback do you think could be drafted too high for the value that he will give?

Charlie DiSturco: To me, the most important strategy come draft day is to address the biggest needs first: running back and wide receiver. The top tier running backs and wide receivers are limited, especially with many of the low-end options losing their job in the middle of the year. After filling those needs, focus should shift towards finding a quarterback.

Each year there are many quarterbacks that fall into the later rounds and turn out to be gems; these quarterbacks are usually on the championship teams – especially deeper leagues. Two years ago, I snagged Tony Romo in the seventh round and just last year, Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger fell to around 100+ overall. These are the type of players that should be targeted. Any quarterback taken in the first three rounds is too high. Yes, Andrew Luck and other top tier quarterbacks put up monstrous numbers, but the RB2, WR2, and FLEX options are usually weak and struggle to put up double digits week in and week out.

Alex Covone: 

The answer is simple, any quarterback taken early. Yes, Aaron Rodgers will provide your team with significant fantasy points. Yes, Andrew Luck will be taken in the first three rounds, unlike last year. The best advice would be to wait on a quarterback. Unlike at the running back position, the quarterback position has immense depth. As you look towards the latter, drafting quarterback New England Patriots’ Tom Brady, expecting a full season, Carolina Panthers’ Cam Newton, San Diego Chargers Philip Rivers, or Dallas Cowboys’ Tony Romo come at immense bargains.

Rodgers, likely to be the first quarterback off the boards, will provide fantasy owners with plenty of trust; Luck could prove to fair the same. Shooting for Atlanta Falcons Matt Ryan or New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees can be inconsistent, especially following both of their seasons, expecting better.

Cameron Andrews: While I agree that no quarterback should be drafted too early, they will be. The big names will always be drafted early by fans of their team or people who don’t really pay too much attention to fantasy football. Unless you draft them in a ridiculously early round, Aaron Rodgers and Andrew Luck will never be that bad of a pick.

However, I will warn you that you should be very wary of Peyton Manning. Yes, he is an all-time great that still puts up good fantasy numbers. However, he is getting older and over the last couple of years he had shown that he begins to decline in the latter half of the season. Considering that Peyton is one year older, I don’t see any reason why Peyton Manning would have a year better than last. Due to his greatness he will always be overrated by some. Just know what you’re getting with him.

Justin Hodges: Cam Newton: the wide receiver core is still not very strong in Carolina, and with his numbers dropping steadily year by year, I doubt Newton gets that many yards up.

Now that Demaryius Thomas and Dez Bryant have signed their new deals, which one would you draft first if given the chance to choose between the two?

Charlie DiSturco: No question, Dez Bryant. Personally, I think Bryant may be the best receiver in the NFL. He can separate from receivers and is a deadly red zone target. He had 16 touchdowns and 1,320 yards while Thomas put up 11 touchdowns and 1,619 yards. Though Thomas is faster than Bryant, the size, physicality, and athletic prowess that Bryant boasts is incomparable.

Not only that, but Peyton Manning is on the downfall of his career with a weaker offensive line, while Tony Romo is entering his prime with arguably the best o-line. Protection will play a huge factor in opening up opportunities for these receivers to thrive and with multiple Pro Bowlers protecting Romo, Bryant will have more time to get open and convert down the field.

Alex Covone: 

What a glorious opportunity to have. Assuming this would be in the second round of most fantasy draft, drafting either would prove to be luxurious, but inching towards Dallas Cowboys’ Dez Bryant is hard not to do. Bryant is a proven threat, as well in the red-zone. Catching the most touchdowns since 2011, Bryant provided fantasy owners with production at the wide receiver position.

Following his career-high in touchdowns in 2014, could we see Bryant replicate, or go beyond? It’s tough to say; losing DeMarco Murray will be more evident than people think. Sure, the Cowboys’ offensive line is potentially the best in the league, but without an established running game (Darren McFadden?) you could expect teams to load up the box, and/or double cover Bryant.

Given Demaryius Thomas’ abilities to do wonders in the open field, having quarterback Peyton Manning by your side has proved to work to perfection. Manning had played through extensive injuries for one month in the 2014 season, specifically a torn right quadriceps. Perhaps age is gaining on Manning quicker than we had expected, but this is no knock to the Manning himself.

Overall, Bryant would prove to work in fantasy players’ favors.

Cameron Andrews: Let’s just be clear. Neither of these options is bad one. Both are phenomenal receivers that will bring plenty to your fantasy team. They both have their own advantages and disadvantages, but in my mind one is better than the other.

First we will talk about Demaryius Thomas. He plays with one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time in Peyton Manning. His team is also very successful. Thomas isn’t a huge deep ball threat, but he is incredible on shorter routes. Once he gets the ball in his hands, he becomes one of the most dangerous players in all of football. His open field ability is rivaled by few.

Dez Bryant on the other hand is more of a boom or bust player. He is known as a deep threat as well as a redzone threat. He will score more touchdowns than anyone else in the league but won’t get as many yards as Demaryius Thomas. His team and quarterback are also not quite as high quality as those of Demaryius Thomas.

All in all, since touchdowns get you the most points in fantasy football, I would draft Dez Bryant. His yard differential compared to Demaryius Thomas isn’t large enough to warrant picking Thomas first.

Justin Hodges: There’s no question you choose Bryant. I had him on my fantasy team that started 8-0 last year and he was a huge part of that. Touchdowns are where you score the most points and Dez has the most of those in recent years.

Sometimes NFL veterans can be shortchanged in favor of younger players. Which NFL Veteran over 30 years of age do you think could provide the best fantasy value this season?

Charlie DiSturco: Antonio Gates has been given low expectations for this upcoming season and would be a very nice pick up in Fantasy. His low expectations stem from his four game suspension due to performance enhancing drugs (PEDs), but in reality, he should return to his normal self in Week 5. Gates ages like fine wine and at 35, he still is among the league’s best tight ends. He accumulated 821 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns last year, and while his stats will take a dip because of a four game absence, he’ll still be a huge part to a Fantasy team’s success, especially come playoff time. If you can find a four week replacement, I highly suggest drafting Gates. He is one of the most reliable red zone receivers and should be a constant contributor in San Diego’s offense.

Alex Covone: Given New England Patriots’ Tom Brady’s suspension, and the concern of it lingering, Brady would be an absolute steal in the latter ends of the draft. Brady, turning 38 in August, has provided Fantasy owners with consistency following the Kansas City Chiefs game in 2014. Knowing that this is Fantasy value, Manning would be opposed due to his higher draft stock.

At wide receiver, Indianapolis Colts’ Andre Johnson will be utilized with a prolific quarterback in Andrew Luck. Many are aware of Johnson’s new surroundings, thus providing an increase on his draft stock, but if he slips, as he did last year, be prepared to pull the trigger. Johnson, 34, will lead the receivers with skill, but also veteran leadership, especially with first-round selection Phillip Dorsett around.

Lastly, at the running back position you could keep your eyes on the Colts again. Frank Gore, newly acquired, is an upgrade over Trent Richardson, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Daniel Herron. Fantasy value for Gore is similar to Johnson, that being his draft stock trending upwards. Gore will not be the workhouse he was in San Francisco, but will provide the Colts offense with additional needs, as well as leading the pack behind the offensive line.

Cameron Andrews: This one is easy. Andre Johnson is sure to far outplay his average draft position. I’ve always believed that he is one of the most talented veterans in the NFL. Now he will be playing with Pro-Bowler Andrew Luck which should finally give him a chance to showcase his true skill. Luck and Johnson will surely make a lot of fantasy owners happy when they decide to use a late round draft pick on Johnson.

Justin Hodges: I think Roddy White has a big comeback season next year. Injuries may be an issue, but I have a feeling that he’ll be able to put up big numbers once again.

Running backs are the most vital position in Fantasy Football. Who is the #1 running back on your draft board going into the season?

Charlie DiSturco: Each year the first overall pick for me is Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles. He is one of the best dual-threat running backs in the NFL. Whether it be storming out of the backfield and evading defenders with ease or curling and looking for a short pass, Charles can do it all. Last year, the 28-year-old accumulated 1,033 and nine touchdowns on the ground, missing just one game all season. He also posted 291 receiving yards and five touchdowns, showing he is a threat in both the run and passing game.

Of course Adrian Peterson, Le’Veon Bell, and Eddie Lacy are all other viable candidates. But with Peterson missing time from the domestic violence case, he may not be in the best shape entering the year. Bell will serve a suspension from the marijuana case back in 2014, lowering his projections and adp (average draft position). Lastly, Lacy, the power back from Green Bay. Both running backs are talented and though Lacy posted 106 more rushing and 136 more receiving yards, I trust the more reliable back here: Jamaal Charles.

Alex Covone: Minnesota Vikings’ Adrian Peterson would be my, personal, running back off the boards first. You could make the argument that Kansas City Chiefs’ Jamaal Charles earns that right, especially in PPR leagues.

When was the last time Peterson returned from an extensive absence? The answer is following his ACL injury. The following year Peterson would provide NFL fans with something that has not been witnessed for an excessive time; that being threatening Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record. Of course, the situations are not the same, as Peterson was, first, placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, followed by a suspension due to, what the league specified as, “an incident of abusive discipline.” You can secure your top tier running back position, if granted, with Peterson with no worries.

Charles, on the other hand, has been consistent over the past several years. Aside from a few injuries, Charles has been a fan-favorite in PPR leagues, as well as standard. Being capable of catching passes in the backfield and having a nose for the endzone bodes well for the 28-year-old. Adding wide receiver Jeremy Maclin to the Chiefs’ offense increases the dynamic level of the offense as a whole; keep in mind, Travis Kelce is developing into a tremendous tight end for the Chiefs as well.

In ends meet, you cannot go wrong with either running backs with the first selection.

Cameron Andrews: The answer is Adrian Peterson. He missed last season, but he’s missed time before and he came back better than ever. If AP is even close to the player he was before he was suspended then he will be the best all-around running back in the NFL.

Sure, there are plenty of other players that should be considered, but I believe that Adrian Peterson will have the best season. Some are making a case for Le’Veon Bell as the #1 pick in the draft, but to those people I say, suspension. Bell will be a spectacular player, but missing some games early in the year will hurt his production and there’s no arguing with that.

Some could argue Eddie Lacy, but I am wary of his experience. He has shown that he can be an elite NFL running back. However, what has he done to prove that he is worthy of the #1 overall pick in fantasy? Having the first pick is a spectacular opportunity to have, I just don’t see why you would use it on someone who hasn’t earned it yet.

The only player that I would consider choosing first besides Peterson is Kansas City’s Jamal Charles. Charles is supremely talented and is much better at receiving out of the backfield than Adrian Peterson. However, Charles also has more problems with staying healthy than Peterson and simply isn’t the all-around runner that Peterson is. AP brings a rare mix of speed, agility and strength that no one else in the NFL can. That is why he should go first overall.

Justin Hodges: There is no clear cut favorite to choose from IMO. AP hasn’t played in a year, Le’Veon Bell is suspended two games, Eddie Lacy is debatable. McCoy and Charles started off extremely slow last year. Murray in Philly is a big question mark. If I have the number one pick, I have no idea who I’m picking.

The post 2015 Fantasy Football Roundtable appeared first on Insider Sports Network.

Photo Credit: lvms.com

What can anyone say about Kyle Busch? He had been racing full-time since 2005 and has 29 career Sprint Cup wins. He has broken several records since his arrival in NASCAR.

He won the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship. He ran his own Nationwide Series team for three years and has currently run his own Camping World Truck Series team for five years, including two straight owner’s championships in truck. Busch has about done everything you could think of. He did sweep a weekend series at Bristol in 2010, being the first driver ever to do so. One thing that remains which has eluded him since 2005: a Sprint Cup Championship.

What are some of the things that prevented him from winning his first Sprint Cup title? It appears to be mostly bad luck and overzealousness. When he first started at Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008, he won a career high eight races in the regular season before everything fell apart quickly.

After finishing out of the top 15 for the first three Chase races, he never recovered and finished 10th in the standings. He appeared to be the one to prevent Jimmie Johnson from winning his third straight Sprint Cup title at the time, but never really had the chance in the postseason. He was the number one seed when the Chase began.

Then in 2009, he tried to pick up where he left off, but narrowly missed the Chase. Busch did however become the second Sprint Cup driver to win on his birthday. It was in 2010 where he won three races which was the weekend sweep at Bristol, which was the first time any driver has won a Camping World, Nationwide and Sprint Cup race on the same weekend.

He did however have his bad side show when he had a few on-and-off incidents with officials and drivers. He had a racing incident with Brad Keselowski where he claimed Busch intentionally wrecked him at Bristol during a Nationwide race. During the Chase at Texas, he spun while he was changing his tires on pit road. When he was serving his penalty, he was caught flipping off the officials and was penalized two more laps. He was later fined $25,000 and put on probation the rest of the year.

It was 2011 that served as a wake up call for Kyle Busch. He got into a season long feud with Kevin Harvick when they collided in the Southern 500. He was also reportedly in a physical incident with Richard Childress where it was reported that they were engaged in a scuffle after the Truck Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 250.

Busch had bumped Joey Coulter in the 22 owned by Childress after Coulter won the race, which was said to be a congratulatory bump. It appeared that Childress took it personal due to minor damage and was reportedly fined $150,000. Busch claimed he did intend to damage the truck. It was Texas, however that nearly could’ve cost him his ride with Joe Gibbs Racing.

It was in another Truck Series in November where he tangled with four-time champion Ron Hornaday, Jr. After the caution waved, he deliberately ran Hornaday into the wall knocking him out of the race. The wreck also ended Hornaday’s title hopes.

NASCAR immediately parked Busch for the remainder of the race and the entire Texas weekend. It also mathematically eliminated Busch in the Chase. The incident was so damaging, he nearly lost his primary sponsor M&M’s. There was also talk that he was nearly fired by Joe Gibbs himself for the incident. This is perhaps the turning point where everything changed for him.

Ever since the incident, he appeared to stay out of the NASCAR doghouse. He had since married his longtime girlfriend Samantha and are expecting their first child in May 2015.

Although he has won only six races in the last three years, his maturity had began to show. He continues to run his Truck team which is Kyle Busch Motorsports and dominate both the Nationwide and the Truck series. It was perhaps his attitude and his immaturity that kept Kyle from winning his first Sprint Cup Championship.

After Joe Gibbs Racing won only two races last season, they added Carl Edwards as a fourth driver during the offseason. It is interesting to see whether adding Carl could boost his chances of winning his first title. Yes he is in fact overdue for a title, as is all other notable drivers. It took Kevin Harvick 13 years after making a switch. Although Kyle has changed crew chiefs, perhaps Edwards’ presence could enhance that. Maybe not immediately, but most likely down the road.

The post Kyle Busch’s Time To Be Sprint Cup Champion Is Overdue appeared first on Insider Sports Network.

Source: Rob Foldy/Getty Images

Ever since Florida hired Jim McElwain from Colorado State, there have seem to be a fair buzz around the Gainesville area. Since the Gator offense could never find any kind of rhythm under Will Muschamp, the fans and many others demanded they find an offensive minded coach. The fans and boosters got their wish. Since he had turned Colorado State around the last couple of years, he seems to give them plenty of hope that they will turn around soon. But how soon are we talking about? Being at Colorado State for three years, he had only two winning seasons. He has an overall record of 22-16 and 14-10 in the Mountain West Conference. Although he started out at 4-8 his first year in 2012, he slowly began to improve his win column to 8-6 in 2013 and 10-2 just last season.

He has pretty much overhauled the entire coaching staff including bringing those from inside and formerly from the SEC. Geoff Collins was defensive coordinator at Mississippi State and took the same position at Florida. Doug Nussmeier who was once offensive coordinator at Alabama, took the reins at Michigan before he, former head coach Brady Hoke and the entire staff were sent packing. Randy Shannon, who is a Florida native, was linebackers coach under Bret Beliema at Arkansas the last two seasons before heading home. I can’t help but think that maybe he will turn things around the first year. The main question would be how fast can he get the Gator offense going? The Gator Nation grew quickly impatient when the offense and mounting injuries took to building over Muschamp’s head. Even the hiring of offensive coordinator Kurt Roper from Duke never seemed to help much.

Source: Rob Foldy/Getty Images

The main question is will Treon Harris be the starting quarterback next season? McElwain helped develop a solid quarterback in Garrett Grayson and made Rashard Higgins the top wide receiver for Colorado State. Several players who came in with Muschamp pretty much left with him, leaving pretty much a whole new slate for Jim McElwain to start over on, but this time with experienced players. The defense wasn’t much of a problem, but with a new defensive coordinator, it remains to be seen how they will perform. He will have five quarterbacks heading into their Spring game on April 11th along with 13 wide receivers. With RB Matt Jones headed to the NFL Draft, Kelvin Taylor will lead the rushing attack at the start of the Spring. Adam Lane and Brandon Powell look to be number two and three on the depth chart.

With Jeff Driskel headed to Louisiana Tech for graduate school, Treon Harris is most likely the front runner to be starting quarterback, just so he stays out of trouble this season. Wide receiver  Demarcus Robinson is most likely the main go to guy at wide receiver with 810 yards and seven touchdowns last season. If I’m looking at the 2014 stats right, not a single tight end caught one ball this year, which is extremely disturbing. Jake McGee earned a sixth year of eligibility after suffering a broken leg at the start of last season, which gives him one last chance to make an impact and stay totally healthy. The way he started his first year at Colorado State makes me wonder if he won’t start over that way again, even with a new team. Florida is used to winning and winning quickly. it would be extremely hard to ask the Florida faithful to be patient. It would be like asking a bull to wait his turn to gore you. Even if he don’t deliver the first year, he should have all that he needs in place to content for the SEC East. I sense that he will get them on top of the their division again. It just leaves one simple question. When?

The post How Soon Will Jim McElwain Turn Florida Around? appeared first on Insider Sports Network.

Source: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

What was anticipated since Jeff Gordon announced he will retire after 2015 was officially announced. Chase Elliott, son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, will take over the number 24 car in 2016 full time. Elliott is the defending NASCAR Xfinity Champion, formerly Nationwide. He had only been in NASCAR overall for four years. He had runs in the NASCAR K&N Pro East and West Series. Elliott raced there in 2011 and 2012 beginning at the age of 15. He combined for one win, 11 Top 5 and 17 Top 10 finishes, mostly in the East series. His best finish in the East series is fourth in 2012.

There was also a 3-year run in the ARCA series for 12 years. Winning one race, six Top 5, 11 Top 10 finishes and one pole throughout his teenage years of racing helped raise some eyebrows in the racing community. Being the son of a Hall of Famer really has opened some opportunities for him. Spending 2013 in the Camping World Truck Series, Elliott had one win with one pole, including five Top 5 and seven Top 10 finishes with an overall rank of 22nd in the series. He moved to Xfinity the following year, winning three races and two poles. Elliott also had a strong 16 Top 5 and 26 Top 10 finishes in 33 races winning the title. Elliott has raced for Hendrick for the first three years of his young NASCAR career. He raced for Jr. Motorsports the entire Xfinity season which is owned by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. through Rick Hendrick.

Here are a couple of stories I heard about Chase when he moved up to Xfinity. When the night of his senior prom came up, he went racing. Yes, he had a date with a race car. This is something I admire from this young man. If I had a full time job to go to while I was still in high school, and I loved my job, that’s being happy. When his high school graduation ended, he immediately headed to the track. Knowing you already have a full time job when you get out of high school has to be mind blowing. This makes me wish I had the connections that Chase did when he was in school.

He will run the Xfinity Series for one more full season to defend his title. He will run five Sprint Car races to get a feel of what to look for next year. I’m sure the one reason he’s replacing Gordon is his zealous dedication and determination, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. I know Bill must be proud right now that his son will carry on the racing tradition. If he continues his success in Xfinity this year, he will be a sure bet to win Rookie of the Year the next coming year in Sprint Cup.

He will succeed Jeff Gordon by learning from his father. By having the heart and dedication that very few ever have these days in racing. It’s just a shame that he actually won’t get to race against Gordon, but he will against the likes of Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch. It could well be time for new blood to enter the NASCAR Sprint Cup arena. It’s like graduating high school. Once the senior gets his diploma, the junior behind him takes his place if he passes. So far Hendrick feels Chase has passed his test to advance. Is he ready to take on the top level? A part of me says yes. Though I’m always skittish on how long a driver should wait to move up, it’s experience, not years that show that you’re ready. Let’s hope we, the NASCAR Nation is ready for Chase Elliott.

The post How Will Chase Elliott Succeed Jeff Gordon? appeared first on Insider Sports Network.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Carl Edwards was added as the fourth member of Joe Gibbs Racing just at the end of last
season. He enters this year with two wins which is what JGR had combined.

Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin each won one while Matt Kenseth went winless. This is what Joe Gibbs needed to do for a long time. Although his limit is four teams, adding Carl Edwards will still help strengthen the entire organization. As much as all three had struggled, it was most definitely time for a change. Getting a new number and now having Darian Grubb as his crew chief could be a good combination. Grubb has already won a Sprint Cup title with former boss Tony Stewart in 2011.

Edwards brings 23 career wins to Joe Gibbs Racing and is also starting his 12th year in Sprint Cup after driving for Jack Roush. Edwards came close twice before finally winning the Sprint Cup Championship. He lost to Jimmie Johnson in 2008 and to Tony Stewart in 2011 via tiebreaker.

Grubb has 21 career wins as a crew chief and has been with Joe Gibbs Racing since 2012. He was previously Denny Hamlin’s when they won 7 races. JGR made the crew chief switch giving Hamlin Dave Rogers, who was Kyle Busch’s last year.

Will bringing Carl Edwards on board add momentum to Joe Gibbs Racing? It has to. There’s usually nothing stronger than having a four-team crew under your watch just as long as they work together.

With the years of experience he brings, they are sure to feed off what he knows from Roush-Fenway. If you look at it, it almost seems like a dream team. When Dale Earnhardt Jr. joined Hendrick in 2008, being paired with Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson seemed unreal. Seeing Carl Edwards with a different number and chief is as unreal as it gets.

As Joe Gibbs has only one Sprint Cup title from Bobby Labonte, he would love to see Edwards finally win his first with JGR. As Kevin Harvick won his first with an new team last year, the same trend could happen again. Sometimes change is good, and so far it is good for Carl Edwards.

The post Will Carl Edwards Add Momentum For Joe Gibbs Racing? appeared first on Insider Sports Network.

Photo Credit: Noah Graham – Getty Images

The NBA has hit its midway point and the year has definitely been filled with surprises. The much expected domination of the Cleveland Cavaliers has not happened, instead the Atlanta Hawks are taking over the Eastern Conference. Kobe Bryant and Derrick Rose returned to the court (though Kobe just reinjured himself) and many players are having breakout seasons. With that, six of the members on the ISN Staff presents its 2014 midseason NBA awards:

Most Valuable Player: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (5)

Most Improved Player: Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls (5)

The obvious choice for the Most Improved Player of the Year is Jimmy Butler. The young forward has finally made the step up from good to elite. He is currently shooting 46 percent from the field with 20.5 points, six rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, all of which are career highs. Butler struggled shooting the ball last season and only put up 13 points per game in 38.7 minutes. He was relied on heavily for his defensive ability as well as his short spurts of offense, but he fell short of expectations. However, this year, he is doing much better in 39.4 minutes per game, doing it all: score, rebound, pass, and play defense.

Other vote(s): Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans (1)

Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans (5)

Anthony Davis should be Defensive Player of the Year for several reasons. For starters, he is averaging 2.9 blocks and a steal a game. That alone gives a great impact for the New Orleans Pelicans. Then you have to factor in the fear he puts into offensive players. Not even the NBA’s brightest stars can take on Davis without getting swatted or forced into a bad shot. He’s also averaging 7.8 defensive boards per contest. That is good production. This award is between Davis and Deandre Jordan in my mind, and A.D.’s total dominance over Jordan puts this away for him. Marc Gasol is also known for his dominance on the defensive side of the ball, always being a contender for the award, but Davis should win unanimously.

Other vote(s): Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies (1)

Rookie of the Year: Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves (6)

Coach of the Year: Mike Budenholzer, Atlanta Hawks (6)

Mike Budenholzer is an easy choice for Coach of the Year right now, transforming a Hawks team that went 38-44 last season to an Eastern Conference best 36-8 this year. He spent 17 seasons behind Spurs legend Gregg Poppovich, and has brought the Spurs way of play to Atlanta. The Hawks lead the NBA in opponents points per game and assists percentage on made shots. Budenholzer has done a remarkable job.

Comeback Player of the Year: Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls (3)

There are a lot of people that made a good comeback this season from a completely awful last season, ranging from Kobe Bryant to Al Horford to Derrick Rose, but my pick to win comeback player of the year is Derrick Rose. Last season, analysts said that it was going to a break out season for the Chicago Bulls that was until Rose suffered another injury. In a game versus Portland Trail Blazers, MRIs showed that Rose had a torn meniscus in his right knee shutting him down for the entire season. Adding to the injury history he has been dealing with ever since 2011-2012 season. This season for Rose has been a great one bouncing back from all of his injuries and silencing all his critics, who were saying that he was done and he was too injury prone to ever come back to the form he was at during the 2010 season. In 33 games this season, he averaged 18.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. Rose has been impressive this season and has his scoring touch back. Rose is the perfect option, as he has returned with dominance, playing almost every game unlike the runner-up Kobe Bryant.

Other vote(s): Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (2), Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks (1)

The post NBA: Midseason Awards appeared first on Insider Sports Network.

Photo Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

It seems obvious that finishing 12-2 and even after letting the Sugar Bowl slip away is not enough to let some coaches stick around. Three coaches and one director have, thus far, left for other opportunities, mostly inside the SEC.

They’ve either got better offers or someone/something is telling them to move on. Which leaves one question. Is Nick Saban quietly cleaning house? There hasn’t been any indication on the offensive side, mainly defense. However OC Lane Kiffin is considered a leading candidate for the same position with the San Francisco 49ers. Keep in mind that Kiffin is from California and everyone is sure he would likely take an immediate leap back to the NFL. This won’t be the first time he came to the SEC to bolt one year later. Best advice for Alabama fans: this is Lane Kiffin, don’t get your hopes up for any reason. Here’s who all has left so far:

Mark Hocke: Hocke served as a co-associate football strength and conditioning coach under Scott Cochran for six years. He was hired by Mark Richt to become Director of Strength and Conditioning at Georgia on December 21st. He worked under Cochran during their run of SEC and BCS titles. He was said to be responsible for helping former players like Mark Ingram and Julio Jones get into the NFL based on their strength conditions. I don’t imagine there was much to read into this. Hocke saw an opportunity to run his own program and Georgia opened the door for him. Hopefully he has learned well when 2015 starts.

Kevin Steele: Steele served as defensive coordinator for one year in 2007 under Nick Saban’s first year, then moved to linebacker coach the following year. After a 7-6 campaign, he moved on to Clemson for four years holding both positions. Steele then returned to Alabama in 2013 as Director of Player Personnel and last year, once again became LB coach. He was recently hired to become DC at LSU after John Chavis departed for Texas A&M. Steele’s only known meltdowns was with Greene while coaching for the Carolina Panthers and his humiliating performance against West Virginia in the Orange Bowl. There’s been no known indication as to why Steele left.

Lance Thompson: Thompson served as outside linebackers coach in his fifth year under Nick Saban. Believe it or not, this was his third stint at Alabama, and possibly his last. He was first defensive line coach from 1999-2000 under Mike DuBose. After stops at Georgia Tech, LSU and Central Florida, he returned to Tuscaloosa as LB coach under Nick Saban in 2007-08. He headed north to Tennessee as LB and DL coach from 2009-2011. He made one more stop at Alabama as LB coach for his final three years there before taking a gig to work under Will Muschamp at Auburn. There had been reports that he was told to go elsewhere. It looks as if they got fed up with Thompson under unknown circumstances.

Tyler Siskey: Siskey became Associate Director of Player Personnel in 2013 and was elevated as Head Director last season. He was mostly responsible for Alabama’s recruiting efforts. He had mostly been an assistant coach working with wide receivers and tight ends, but has at one point coached the offensive line. Siskey was a wide receivers coach at Arkansas for four years before taking a player personnel job at Ole Miss, then Alabama. His reason for taking the WR job was because he wanted to return to the field and coach again. Saban wanted him to stay, but Siskey reported that he wanted to follow his heart.

Housecleaning at Alabama? Not quite plausible enough with only Thompson being the possible bad apple from the four who left. Siskey indicated that there was zero truth that Saban was cleaning house. They are also in no hurry to fill the vacant positions, so they may have people lined up.

Will whoever fills the shoes help improve some weaknesses they have? The one main question would be will Lane Kiffin stay at Alabama? Saban says he’s still committed. How long is anyone’s guess. Saban just better hope he won’t have to fill five spots instead of four. The defense for some parts of the year had suffered enough. No need to let the offense suffer even when you won’t know for two years in a row who their starting QB is.

The post Is Nick Saban Cleaning House At Alabama? appeared first on Insider Sports Network.

Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw – Getty Images

The first official move before the 57th running of the Daytona 500 has been laid upon us. Jeff Gordon announced that this will be his final full-time season.

This wasn’t expected after Gordon had his best season in several years despite falling short of the Championship Round at Homestead. The new format had seemed to renew a new fire inside him which may have inspired him to race harder than he has since Jimmie Johnson came on board. This can’t be all bad for someone who raced alongside Dale Earnhardt, Mark Martin and many other greats. This will be a bittersweet year.

When Gordon came on board to Sprint Cup, he became popular almost immediately. His red number 24 DuPont car who was his primary sponsor at the time earned him the nickname “The Rainbow Warrior”.  After only three full seasons, he won his first Sprint Cup Championship winning seven races in 1995. After falling short to Terry Labonte in 1996, he won two more titles in a row winning 10 races in 1997 and 13 in 1998. Even when wins dropped off towards 2001, he was able to win his fourth title. Gordon was already at the height of his career when he reached this level.

Even though his consistency dropped off the last several years, he was still able to maintain a level of competition through 2007. He went through a dry spell from 2008 to 2010 with only one win which began to fuel whether or not he still had enough in him to win. He was still able to rack up 10 more wins up to last year when he won four races in 2014. With a total of 92 wins, 77 poles and four championships, is it all good enough to become a first ballot Hall Of Famer? I say it’s possible. I would’ve though he would push it at least two more years to make it 25 full years.

A lot can be said about Jeff Gordon. You hated him at first, but over the years begin to respect him more. He went from winning his first title in his third year to a hardened veteran who solidified his place in NASCAR immortality. Even there’s a point where you’re on top, you feel it’s time to walk away. It’s hard to predict whether or not he will win his fifth title in his final full year in NASCAR. Although it was announced as a retirement, he says he will only race in selected tracks. Mainly still places like Daytona, Talladega or Indianapolis. He feels time to give his back a rest and spend more time with his family.

You seem to want to add more, but don’t want to overload. Perhaps he’s finally felt he’s added enough to his resume. Is he headed to the analyst table? Maybe, but as of now he has one more year to finish. I’m sure he wants to finish it with a bang and hopefully one more Sprint Cup title. There would be nothing finer than retiring and walking away with the trophy and never having to defend it again. But after 2015, Jeff Gordon………the Hall is waiting for you!

The post Jeff Gordon Calling It Quits After 2015 appeared first on Insider Sports Network.

Photo Credit: Chris Graythen – Getty Images

This NASCAR season is very unpredictable. The new Chase has really got a lot of fans and drivers wondering what to expect next. Kevin Harvick is the first driver to win the Sprint Cup Championship in the new format. Will he repeat?  The “win and you’re in” scenario has played into a lot of driver’s hands.

Those who had multiple wins never even made to Homestead except Harvick and Joey Logano. One driver who I thought would take advantage is Jimmie Johnson. What looked to be a dominant summer by Hendrick Motorsports throughout May and June gave Johnson some promise even with Dale Earnhardt Jr. winning last year’s Daytona 500.

From Kansas to Michigan in five races, Hendrick owned the start of the summer. Johnson won three of those which were Charlotte, Dover and Michigan. Jeff Gordon won Kansas when Earnhardt Jr. took Pocono. Johnson appeared to be on his way to tie Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt with seven Sprint Cup titles. He so far has six. Throughout the remaining 11 races before the Chase, he finished with only two Top 5 and six Top 10 wins. His best finish was fourth at Bristol and Atlanta. In the first six Chase races, he only came up with two Top 5 finishes only to be eliminated after Talladega. He won his fourth race of the year in Texas after being eliminated.

Johnson finished a dismal 11th, possibly his worst finish since winning five straight titles. Jeff Gordon was the only Hendrick driver to win a Chase race while still alive. Dale Jr. and Johnson won after they were out.  Only one thing can explain why Johnson couldn’t do it.

There had been talk of new pressures building since the new “win and you’re in” format was introduced, including expanding the field to 16 and splitting them into rounds. Has he and Chad Knaus learned from this new experience? It seems possible. They had learned to adjust when they were no longer able to win another title. They managed to win the 2013 Championship after a two year hiatus from the podium. I’m not certain if they will have it all figured out with the no testing rule and what not.

After the summer, Hendrick just couldn’t hold it together. Gordon was almost close to clinching number five before falling one race short. Even with three wins, Dale Jr. only managed to finish eighth and Gordon sixth.

Surely the Lowe’s Chevrolet will have all this sorted out by the time they wave the green flag at the Daytona 500. Jimmie Johnson is one step closer to joining the all-time ranks.  It’s now time for the number 48 to win number seven. Honestly I want to see it happen since Harvick finally won his title. It will happen, it’s just a matter of when.

The post It’s Time For Jimmie Johnson To Win Sprint Cup Title Number Seven appeared first on Insider Sports Network.