AFC West Rivals Face Off on Thursday Night Football

Written by Conner Pack

Can you believe it, week two is already here! Tonight we have a matchup of two of the leagues best young quarterbacks and two teams loaded with offensive talent. Across the board, both of the Chargers and Chiefs have multiple guys, on both sides of the ball, that can make plays! Both the Chiefs and the Chargers escaped week one with wins. The Chiefs routed the Cardinals 44-21 and the Chargers squeaked out a win over the Raiders. That said, this early season divisional matchup is sure provide us with lots of fireworks.

First up, the Kansas City Chiefs. Over the last four years, the Chiefs have been at the top of the AFC. They’ve either played in or won the Super Bowl or lost in the Conference Championship. And based on how week one went for them, I’d say they’re on track to once again be a top contender in the AFC. No Tyreek Hill, no problem said Mahomes and Andy Reid.

Next up, the Los Angles Chargers. Unfortunately, things haven’t been as nice and glamorous for the Chargers as they have been for the Chiefs. Moving cities, coaching changes, rebuilding the roster, and find a new franchise quarterback have all been things that have hampered this team from establishing itself. However, following a 9-8 season in 2021, plus a strong offseason full of new additions, and the emergence of Justin Herbert as their quarterback, the Chargers appear to be in position to challenge some the top dogs in the AFC.

Tonight’s Game:

On paper this one would look to be an offensive shootout, but I think there’s potential we might see some big defensive plays swing and determine the outcome of this game. Don’t get me wrong, there’s going to be a lot of offense tonight given the talent that will be on the field. Plus having Mahomes and Herbert out there always makes things that much more entertaining.

However, in week one the new and improved Chargers defense forced three turnovers and recorded six sacks. Linebacker Khalil Mack accounted for three of those sacks. Not to mention they only allowed a total of 64 rushing yards as well. Last season the Chargers allowed 138.9 rushing yards per game (30th). It was only one game and there’s still a lot of room for improvement, but this unit has the ability to cause problems.

As for the Chiefs, they too got after things defensively last week. For three plus quarters against the Cardinals, the Chiefs only gave up seven points and allowed just 122 yards. Late in the game the Cardinals would put together a two long scoring drives, but by that time the game was all but over. Anyways, the Chiefs defense didn’t force any turnovers but they sure were extremely disruptive and absolutely neutralized Cardinals quarterback Kylier Murray. The Chiefs sacked Murray three times but more importantly never allowed him to escape and break off any big plays with his legs. Overall, Steve Spagnuolo’s revamped defense made it clear they’re up for any challenge.

Final Thoughts and Prediction:

Just so we’re clear, I do expect quite a bit of offense tonight. I think it should be one of the more entertaining matchups of the weekend. Mahomes and Herbert are two of my favorite quarterbacks to watch play. From their athleticism to their touch on the football to how they see and react to what’s happening. It’s so fun to watch.

Tonight though I’m taking the Los Angeles Chargers to win this game. I think this team is on a mission to prove that the hype is real and that they can hang with the AFC’s best. Herbert has shown a steady improvement throughout his young career and now he has a defense he count on to help him out.

Unfortunately though the Chargers will be without their top wide receiver in Keenan Allen, but that opens the door for wide receivers Josh Palmer and Jalen Guyton as well as tight end Gerald Everett. Obviously wide receiver Mike Williams role will be expanded but the other guys along with the running game will have to step up.

Chargers 31 – Chiefs 27

Side note: Chargers are 2-2 in their last four matchups with the Chiefs. The two losses came in overtime.

Justin Herbert of the Chargers and Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs

NFL Week One Reactions

Written by Conner Pack

Week one is in the books and what a weekend it was. We saw both teams that played in the super bowl last season lose (first time that’s happened since 1999), we saw a number of close games, and lots of missed field goals. Overall it was a wild and wacky start to the NFL season. That said, let’s get to some (over) reactions and takeaways from week one.

Could the Vikings Be The Team to Beat in the NFC?

In a clash of NFC North rivals, the Minnesota Vikings absolutely dominated the Green Bay Packers, winning 23-7. Under new head coach Kevin O’Connell, the new look Vikings took care of business and looked like a completely different team on Sunday. They allowed Cousins to air the ball out downfield, the defense looked rejuvenated, and as a whole the team looked to play more inspired.

Why I think the Vikings may be the front runners in the NFC?

Their offense isn’t just efficient, it’s explosive. O’Connell comes from the Sean McVay coaching tree so he knows a thing or two about offense and coaching. What we saw Sunday was the Vikings turning Cousins lose and letting him sling the ball down the field and actually allowing him to utilizing his talented receivers i.e. Justin Jefferson. Jefferson hauled in 9 catches for 184 yards and 2 touchdowns. He torched the Packers secondary. Cousins finished the game 23-32 for 277 yards and 2 touchdowns. Pair this new look offense up with a power house defense and that’s a recipe for success.

Vikings also rushed for 126 yards. Cook rushed for 90 of those yards on 20 carries.

**To be fair, the Packers haven’t been the greatest in week ones under LaFluer, 2-2.**

Chiefs Put on a Clinic in AZ

What’d you say? Nothing, I think the Chiefs just scored another touchdown. Sunday afternoon we saw Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs pound the Cardinals 44-21 out in the desert. At one point the Chiefs were up by as many as 30 points. There’s no doubt that Mahomes and Andy Reid wanted to make a statement in this game. And hey, I’d say they made one. Anyways, in the Chiefs blowout win, they piled up 488 yards of total offense and went 6-6 in the red zone. Mahomes threw for 360 yards and five touchdowns on 30-39 passing. It was an absolute clinic. This performance was very similar to the Bills performance in their Thursday night win over the Rams. An AFC powerhouse going west and crushing an NFC west opponent. Right now, the Chiefs and Bills look to be the class of the AFC.

Big Trouble in Big D

Sunday night was anything but pretty for the Dallas Cowboys in their 19-3 loss to the Buccaneers. And to make things worse, the Cowboys lost quarterback Dak Prescott who will be out for several weeks due to a thumb injury that requires surgery. As big of a loss as that is, this Cowboys team with Prescott looked pretty awful on Sunday night. First, they only managed to score three points that came on their opening drive. Second, they had 10 penalties for 73 yards. A major problem they struggled with last year. Third, Prescott and the offense had zero rhythm and for much of the game the entire unit looked very pedestrian.

Prescott finished the game 14-29 for 134 yards and an interception. Not the greatest numbers. Wide receiver Ceedee Lamb was targeted 11 times but only managed to haul in 2 catches for 29 yards. As out of sync as the passing game was, the rushing attack wasn’t much better. As a team, the Cowboys rushed for 71 yards on 18 attempts. Elliott led the way with 52 yards on 10 carries.

Going back to the Cowboys wildcard playoff game last season, there has been rumblings. After Sunday nights performance, I’d say those rumblings got much louder.

Bad Coaching Leads to Seahawks Spoiling Russell Wilson’s Bronco Debut

The grass isn’t always greener as they say. Monday night the Seahawks showed up and Seattle’s twelfth man let Russell Wilson have it as boo’s rang out in the Seahawks 17-16 victory over the Denver Broncos on Monday night football. In my opinion it was one of the more shocking upsets of the weekend. For Seattle, Geno Smith played his tail off. He was efficient throwing the ball (23-28 for 195 and 2 touchdowns), he didn’t turn the ball over, and he kept Seattle on schedule and in front of the chains for much of the game. They weren’t fancy, they just didn’t beat themselves.

For the Denver Broncos, they had some great moments offensively and showed just how dynamic they can be with Wilson as their quarterback. However, mistakes (turnovers and penalties) as well as having a first time head coach and play caller really showed up, especially late in the game. The turnovers, on back to back drives, the Broncos fumbled on the Seattle one yard line TWICE. That can’t happen. For the game, Denver went 0-4 in the red zone. Penalties, the Broncos had 12 for 106 yards. It’s hard to win a game like that.

Finally, coaching. I have to say it, what in the hell was Nathaniel Hackett thinking with one minute left to go in the game? Why not call a timeout? Instead, they let the clock rundown to 20 seconds and decide to attempt a 64 yard field. Historically, those kicks aren’t made. Maybe in Denver, but not Seattle. They had a fourth and five with a little under a minute and THREE timeouts. That’s plenty of time for Russell Wilson to make a play to setup a more makable field goal or even score a touchdown. All around weird time management and decisions making from Hackett and the Broncos late in this game.

Top left to bottom right: Broncos QB Russell Wilson, Cowboys QB Dak Prescott, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, Vikings WR Justin Jefferson

College Football Playoff Expansion is HAPPENING!

Written by: Conner Pack

BIG NEWs in the College Football world!

We’re finally getting College Football Playoff expansion! Four teams to twelve teams starting in 2026, maybe earlier in 2024 if the conference commissioner implement it. I’m my opinion, as fun as most Saturday’s are during the college football season, the sport at the top has become dull, less exciting, and to sum it up predictable. For the better part of the last five years, most who follow the sport can name the three to five teams (before the season starts) that will likely win or play for the championship. Which leaves very little room for excitement aside from the random Ole Miss vs. Arkansas game we see in October.

Anyways, expanding the College Football Playoff allows for more opportunity which will hopefully bring some much needed parody to the sport. In the short term I’m sure we’ll see several blowouts much like we see now in the four team playoff. However, in time I believe this will once again make the sport of college football healthier and less predictable. That said, the world of college football is continuing to grow and evolve making expansion inevitable which makes things very exciting! Ultimately, to me, allowing for more opportunity can only make things that much more interesting.

Short term likely blowouts.
Long term opportunity and parody.

Link: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/34509443/board-managers-decide-12-team-college-football-playoff-sources-say

CFB Playoff

Seminoles Face Tigers in NOLA Showdown

Written by: Conner Pack

Opening weekend of college football is finally here and boy are their some great matchups. (5) Notre Dame vs. (2) Ohio State, (11) Oregon vs. (3) Georgia, and West Virginia vs. (17) Pitt just to name a few, but a game that stands alone in prime time on Sunday night is Florida State vs. LSU from the Super Dome in New Orleans. Throughout the last thirty plus years, both Florida State and LSU have been among the best college football has had to offer. Combined, the Seminoles and Tigers have won six national championships in this modern era of college football.

However, despite both having won national championships in recent years (FSU 2013 and LSU 2019) these programs have fallen on hard times as of late. For Florida State, their downward spiral began in 2017 and it’s been a tough uphill battle to climb out of the hole they’ve been in. As for LSU, following their 15-0, 2019 national championship season, the Tigers have a record of 11-12 over the last two seasons.

That said, both teams have a lot to be optimistic about entering the 2022 season. Mike Norvell is entering his third season as head coach at Florida State and they returned a ton of players and production from last season. For LSU, they brought in former Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly and had a pretty successful offseason both in recruiting and in the transfer portal. Lots of unknowns, but tons of optimism for both programs.

Historically, Florida State is 7-2 against LSU, but the Seminoles and Tigers haven’t faced each other since 1991. Let’s just say a lot has changed since then. So, what can we expect in 2022?

First for Florida State, this is a big time opportunity to turn the page on what has been a disastrous couple years for Seminoles football (26-33 record from 2017-2021). Despite there being some unknowns surrounding LSU, they’re still a relevant and prominent program so a win for Florida State would be huge given how irrelevant the Seminoles have been nationally. As for the on the field play, the Seminoles are coming off a big 47-7 win over Duquesne in week zero. One can expect they’ll be challenged a lot more in this matchup against the Tigers.

That being said, Florida State has a strong, physical, and fast rushing attack. The Seminoles use multiple backs with Treshaun Ward, Lawrance Toafili, and Trey Benson being the three main rushers. On the opposite side of the ball, Florida State has one of the top defensive lines in the country led by guys like Robert Cooper, Fabien Lovett, and Albany transfer Jared Verse. They have depth, size, and lots of speed. This unit is poised to give many teams problems this season. Not to mention, the Seminoles also have a very experienced secondary highlighted by safety Jammie Robinson.

But the guy who holds this team together is quarterback Jordan Travis. Since transferring to Florida State in 2019, Travis has done nothing but continue to improve each season. Because of that, Travis has become the heartbeat and leader of this Florida State team. Travis also holds the Florida State record for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 1,338 yards and 18 touchdowns.

As for LSU, they too are looking to turn the page and move forward. For new head coach Brian Kelly this is a prime opportunity to make a statement. The Tigers however enter this season with lots of unknowns based on last year’s performance as well as the new coaching regime. Of course they have tons of talent across the board, but we still don’t know who their quarterback will be. Will it be Arizona State transfer Jayden Daniels or Garrett Nussmeier? Guys like wide receiver Kayshon Boutte need sound quarterback play in order to impact games.

On the opposite side of the ball, defensively the Tigers are always very tough. As a program, they take pride in their play on this side of the ball. This unit is led by defensive tackles Maason Smith and Jaqueline Roy as well as defensive end BJ Ojulari. These guys could definitely cause major problems up front for any team. Overall, LSU once again enters the season as a talented team, but there are a number of questions surrounding how well this team will perform.

Final Thoughts:

Both Florida State and LSU are two of the most iconic brands in college football. This is the first time these two teams have faced off since 1991. What’s not to love about a matchup like this? In my opinion, Sunday nights games is sure to be an exciting thriller.

Seminoles Rushing Attack Sets the Tone

Written by: Conner Pack

The Florida State Seminoles kicked off the 2022 season in dominant fashion beating the Duquesne Dukes 47-7 Saturday night in Tallahassee. For the Seminoles, this is their first 1-0 start since the 2016 season. Even through Florida State was taking on a lesser opponent, the Seminoles took a very business like approach in how they played against the Dukes. The Seminoles executed, finished drives, got off the field on third down, and overall looked and played like they were the more dominant team. That’s something we haven’t seen in quite some time. With that said, the highlight of Saturday’s game was their ability to run the football.

Saturday night, the Seminoles totaled 638 yards of total offense (to be expected playing a lesser opponent) with 406 of those yards coming on the ground. Of those 406 rushing yards Treshaun Ward, Lawrance Toafili, and Trey Benson combined for 333 of those yards. All three rushed for 100 plus yards: Ward 127, Benson 105, Toafili 101. It was quite the performance from those three backs.

Why was their performance so impressive and good see? Well, over the years, Florida State has had some standout running backs, the latest being Dalvin Cook and Cam Akers. Both left their stamp on the program. However, towards the tail end of Cook’s time at FSU then during Akers entire time with the program, both dealt with some historically bad offensive line play. From 2016 to 2021 Florida State year after year ranked near the bottom in offensive line play. Because of that, their quarterbacks were getting beat up and virtually had no time to throw the football. As for the running backs, they seemingly had to create their own holes or hope they got lucky. It was tough to watch at times.

Fast forward to Saturday, the Florida State offensive line looked bigger, stronger, faster and overall asserted their dominance. They created gaping holes for the running backs, held up in pass protection, and imposed their will. From guys like Robert Scott and Dillan Gibbons who’ve been with the program to transfer Bless Harris and freshman Julian Armella. This unit looked much improved compared to the last couple of years.

A ton of credit has to go to new offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, Alex Atkins. Atkins has had his finger prints all over this program since being hired in 2020. This past offseason, Atkins was able to lure in several offensive line transfers as well as land some key three and four star offensive line recruits, saving what at the time was a rough recruiting cycle for the Seminoles.

Once again, Florida State played a lesser opponent and did what was expected, but to see this offensive unit dominate like they did was a good sign plus a major confidence booster.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, the Seminoles 47-7 win went as expected, they took care of business and were even able to give their backups several reps. As well executed as the game went, both offensively and defensively, the biggest takeaway was just how well this Florida State team ran the football. 406 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns on 54 carries. Looking ahead to next weekend, the Seminoles will have their first major test of the season as they face SEC powerhouse LSU.

Left to bottom right: Treshaun Ward, Trey Benson, Lawrance Toafili

Who’s the Best 8-6 AFC Team?

Written by Conner Pack

Buffalo Bills:

Despite having struggled as of late, I still believe the Buffalo Bills are a good and competitive football team. Why I think they’re the best 8-6 team in the AFC is because one they have an extremely talented quarterback in Josh Allen. He’s an all around playmaker that can pass and run. Allan has thrown for 3,734 yards and 31 touchdowns while also running for 555 yards and 4 touchdowns. They have playmakers at receiver in Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley along with tight end Dawson Knox. On top of having a solid offense, their defense for much of the season has been very good as they rank first in yards allowed giving up just 287.9 per game and second in scoring defense allowing just 17.4 points per game. Now, the Bills major downfall has become their lack of offensive balance when it comes to pass plays vs. run plays. As of late they’ve relied solely on Allen to do both the passing and majority of the running despite having two quality backs in Devin Singletary and Zack Moss. For some reason, they’ve yet to consistently get either one of those backs rolling. Ultimately, if the Bills want to make a run, they have to get back to playing complimentary football.

Remaining schedule: at New England, vs. Atlanta, vs. New York Jets

Indianapolis Colts:

From 0-3 to 8-6, the Indianapolis Colts midseason turnaround has been nothing short of impressive. Throughout this gradual turnaround, the Colts have relied heavily on their dominant rushing attack and opportunistic defense. Running back Jonathan Taylor currently leads the league in rushing with 1,518 yards and 17 touchdowns while the Colts defense is number one in turnover differential at +14 and tied with the Cowboys for most takeaways in the league with 31. Why I think the Colts are the second best 8-6 team in the AFC is because they’re one of the hottest teams in the league right now, winning five of their six games, and they’re playing efficient football. By in large Wentz has been playing mistake free football lately but really hasn’t been asked to do too much given Taylor and the run games success. Also, the Colts defense has held four of its last five opponents under 20 points. The Colts are a team that’ve really gelled, found an identity, and have really came into their own. They aren’t a team anyone wants to face right now.

Remaining schedule: at Arizona, vs Las Vegas, at Jacksonville

Cincinnati Bengals:

Talk about a team that has exploded onto the scene this season, the Cincinnati Bengals and their highflying dynamic offense have really became one of the funner teams to watch in the NFL. Led by second year quarterback Joe Burrow, the Bengals currently sit atop the AFC North. Why I think the Bengals are the third best 8-6 team in the AFC is because throughout the season the Bengals have been one of those teams that go from on fire to extremely cold week to week. When they’re clicking they’re one tough team to beat but the second there’s a hiccup things tend to go downhill quick. There’s no doubt they’re a good team, however, they’re just too erratic at times.

Remaining schedule: vs. Baltimore, vs. Kansas City, at Cleveland

Los Angeles Chargers:

Much like the Cincinnati Bengals, the Los Angeles Chargers are another one of those hot and cold teams. For instance, Herbert will have three or four games in a row where he’s setting the league on fire then he’ll have a game or two where he and the offense run into a buzzsaw. It’s strange but where the Chargers real problems lie are on the defensive side of the ball and that’s why I have Los Angeles as the fourth best 8-6 team in the AFC. Week to week, this Chargers defense can not be trusted. Currently the Los Angeles defense is ranked 27th in points allowed per game (26.4), 29th in rushing yards allowed per game (136.8), and they have the worst third down defense in the league with teams converting 49.7% of the time. There’s no doubt the Chargers have become one of the more attractive teams in the NFL, but until they get their defense sorted out they’ll never reach their potential.

Baltimore Ravens:

Having been bit by the injury bug pretty bad, the Ravens have somehow managed to stay afloat. Next man up has been the story of their season. That being said, part of the of reason why the Ravens are fifth on this list is because of their injuries but also they’re extremely inconsistent and quarterback Lamar Jackson hasn’t played like the player we’ve become accustomed to seeing. Baltimore currently has the second best rushing defense allowing just 86.2 yards per game. But on the other hand, they have the second worst pass defense allowing 264.9 yards per game. On the offensive side of the ball, the Ravens turn the ball over (twenty giveaways 14 interceptions 6 fumbles), they struggle to score at times, and they have a hard time converting third downs. The fact that Baltimore has managed to play as well as they have given their injuries has been nothing short of impressive. However, it’s become more and more apparent each week that this team is running out of steam.

Remaining schedule: at Cincinnati, vs Los Angeles Rams, vs Pittsburgh

FSU Early Signing Period Follow Up

Written by Conner Pack

With the National Early Signing Period in the books, Florida State managed to finish with the 14th ranked class nationally according to 247Sports and 2nd in the ACC behind North Carolina (8th). For Florida State, this has been a pretty big improvement from last years 23rd nationally ranked class. Now that’s not to say there weren’t a few hiccups throughout the early signing period, but we’re not going to go down that path. Instead, let’s focus in on the positives for the Seminoles.

Addressing the Offensive Line

First, probably the biggest weakness for the Seminoles over the last four to five years has been offensive line play. Anytime Florida State has played teams with a quality defense more often than not their offense tends to get overpowered and struggles due to the offensive lines inability to pass block and create holes for the backs to run. It’s been by far this programs most glaring issue as of late. Anyways, this recruiting cycle Florida State really hammered home their need for offensive line talent by landing five commits (three 4 stars and two 3 stars). Along with the five commits, the Seminoles have also landed two offensive line transfer, Kayden Lyles from Wisconsin and Bless Harris from Lamar.

The addressing of the offensive line this recruiting cycle shows me Norvell and company realize that’s where they’ve been most vulnerable and that position groups has to improve. Offensive line might not be the most flashy position group, but great teams up front on the line of scrimmage.

Quarterback

Second, the Seminoles landed a four star quarterback, A.J. Duffy from Florida’s IMG Academy. Duffy, originally from Arizona, is the eighth ranked quarterback in the class and was one of the major pillars for this Florida State 2022 recruiting class. Norvell through three recruiting cycles has managed to land three quarterbacks, two (Chubba Purdy and Tate Rodemaker) in the 2020 class and Duffy in the 2022 class. Unfortunately, Purdy decided to enter the transfer portal this year making room for Duffy and Rodemaker to battle for QB2 behind Jordan Travis.

Adding another quarterback means depth, competition, and grooming for the future. Also, the job Norvell and company have done with current quarterback Jordan Travis has been extremely impressive. When Travis joined the Florida State program in 2019 he was a very limited quarterback who was more a runner than a passer. This offensive staff has developed him into more of an all around dual threat quarterback over the last two and a half years. So with Duffy joining the program as one of the top quarterbacks in the class my hopes are high for the future give his talent plus Novell and the offensive staffs ability to develop and utilize talent.

Five Star and Athletes

Third, Florida State landed their first five star since the 2017 recruiting class with safety Sam McCall (31st ranked player in the nation and 3rd ranked safety in the nation). Now stars aren’t all that matter, but for a program that has been in the dumps lately, this is a big get and shows the Seminoles are heading in the right direction. On top of McCall, Florida State also landed a highly touted athlete (likely a defensive back) Azareyeh Thomas.

For the Seminoles to fully get back to where they were, the addition of top notch athletes is what is needed. Norvell may be 8-13 as Florida States head coach, but based on what I watched this season I believe a foundation has been laid for the future of the program. With that said, developing and getting the most out of what they’ve had is great and all, but ultimately more talent and athletes are needed in order to get back on top.

Transfer Portal

Fourth and finally, the transfer portal. Last year, Norvell and company dominated the transfer portal landing twelve transfers including some very impactful players, one being edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II. Since taking over, Norvell has had great success in the transfer portal by adding guys like Johnson II, Jashaun Corbin, Keir Thomas, Jammie Robinson, Andrew Parchment, and several others. Adding experienced players through the transfer portal has really helped add depth, build competition, and bring an added since of confidence to the program.

So far, Florida State has added three players through the transfer portal. Two offensive line men as I mentioned earlier in the piece and late Sunday night added Mycah Pittman, a wide receiver from Oregon. All three are poised to be instant impact players.

Final Thoughts:

Florida State still has work to do both in recruiting and in the transfer portal as they look to finish the 2022 cycle strong. Currently, there are still a handful of players who haven’t committed that the Seminoles are still in play for. If they could reel in a few more prospects and add another couple of transfers that would be great. With all this said, recruiting is a crazy thing. I wish all these guys nothing but the best and hope they’re able to succeed here at the next level.

Cheers and Go Noles!

Head Coach Mike Norvell leading the 2021 Florida State Seminoles onto the field.

Always Approach with a Glass Half Full Mentality

Written by Conner Pack

If you didn’t know, today marked the first day of the 2022 early national signing period for high school football players. It’s a huge day for these young athletes as they take the next step in their athletic journey. So first and foremost, hats off to all the high school kids that put pen to paper and signed with their program of choice today.

With that said, as a Florida State fan, today really didn’t go as expected. Entering today, Florida State had the eleventh ranked recruiting class in the country (according to 247 sports) with I believe 16 commits and a handful of potential flips and players that were uncommitted. The stage was set for a massive day for the Seminoles football program as they continue to build towards the future. However, that wasn’t the case.

To start things off, offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham announced this morning that he would be leaving to take the same position at the Oregon. Awful timing to say the least. Then a couple hours later, number one recruit and potential college football superstar Travis Hunter (long-time FSU commit) shocked the world by decommiting from Florida State and signing with HBCU Jackson State, currently coached by Seminole legend Deion Sanders. The move sent shockwaves throughout the sports world completely blindsiding Florida State.

However, as the day progressed Florida State managed to keep most of its remaining class intact with the exception of Hunter and four star wide receiver Devaughn Mortimer who signed with Louisville. Now there were a couple of uncommitted players that unfortunately for Florida State opted in another direction, but again, the good news was Norvell and his staff were able to keep most of the class intact.

Going forward, there are still a handful of players the Seminoles still have a shot at getting. So fingers crossed Norvell and company can bounce back and close out the 2022 class strong.

In the meantime, I’m still extremely optimistic about the future of the Florida State football program. Yes, once again we suffered some big time gut punches but that’s part of it. But if you chose to look at the glass half full, the Seminoles did land some players in key positions like offensive line, edge rush, quarterback, and safety with five star Sam McCall.

Obviously landing Hunter would’ve been a monumental step forward in the rebuild of Florida State but he’s just one player, now be it an extremely talented one player, but still just one player. Today Florida State landed 15 players with the possibility of landing four or maybe five more players not including the transfer portal. However, I will say that going forward though, Norvell and his staff need sharpen up and possibly adjust their recruiting strategy given the uncommitted misses they had today.

Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Norvell and company took over a broken and battered Florida State football program. Based on what I saw this season, I believe the foundation has been laid. There’s a revived and renewed culture surrounding Florida State football. So let’s keep CLIMBing and remain optimistic.

Cheers and Go Noles!

Tennessee Titans Fall Flat in Week One

Written by Conner Pack

After an exciting 2020 season and an eventful offseason headlined by the free agent signings of edge rushers Bud Dupree and Denico Autry along with the trade for all-pro wide receiver Julio Jones, there was a lot of excitement to be had for the people of Nashville. Coming off 2020’s 11-5 division winning season, the Titans entered the 2021 season looking to build off their success with what on paper looked to be an improved roster top to bottom on both sides of the ball. However, that wasn’t the case Sunday afternoon as the Titans fell 38-13 in what was a disastrous performance from one of the most talked about teams leading up to the season.

So what happened Sunday? Here’s my take on beat down that took place at Nissan stadium Sunday afternoon.

From the start, the Tennessee Titans were behind the eight ball following an early three and out and a Ryan Tannehill fumble on their opening two possessions. Both would led to scores and a early 10-0 Cardinals lead. It was evident the Cardinals defense was selling out to shut down Derrick Henry given his lackluster performance that featured just 58 yards rushing on 17 carries. That being said, Titans offensive coordinator, Todd Downing, never seemed to adjust his game plan. I say that because for much of the game, especially the first half, the Titans ran Henry on every first down hoping he would break off a big run. Unfortunately, that never happened and Downing never once changed up his play calling therefore the Titans offense became extremely predictable.

So with Henry getting stuffed on first down, the Titans more often than not found themselves in a number of second and long and third and longs, ideal and known passing situations which defenses love. In those passing situations one, the offensive line rarely gave Tannehill any time to throw the football and two, the lack of continuity between Tannehill and his receivers was evident given the number of dropped/batted balls and just the overall inconsistencies throughout possessions. It looked as though there was zero chemistry on the offensive side of the. All.

On to the other side of the football. For as atrocious as the offense was, the defense didn’t do much to offset things. To be fair though, the lack of offensive production led to the defense fighting a losing battle that by in large showed little to no resistance. The Titans defense had no answer for Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray as he threw for 289 yards and 4 touchdowns on 21-32 passing. Murray also rushed for another touchdown giving him 5 total for the day. Cardinals wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Christian Kirk both torched the Titans secondary combing for 11 catches for 153 yards and 4 touchdowns. Overall, the Titans defense just looked out worked and lost at times.

Final Thoughts:

This was a bad loss, and it was a horrible way to kick off one of the most anticipated seasons the Titans have ever had. However, it’s just one game and it was against an NFC opponent. Now I’m not diminishing the godawful play by any means, but week one games can go many different ways and obviously this one definitely went the wrong way.

Going forward, this team I believe has a lot of work to do on both sides of the ball. Offensively they can’t be so predictable, the offensive line has to be better, and continuity has to be established between Tannehill and his receivers. Defensively they have to be more aggressive, they can’t be soft, and getting off the field on third down has to be a priority.

As for the coordinators, personally I was extremely skeptical of both of the coordinator hires, Todd Downing (OC) Shane Bowen (DC). As the season goes on we’ll learn more and see if they are up for the challenge. As of right now I’m not a believer in either one of them and that honestly reflects poorly on head coach Mike Vrabel and general manager Jon Robinson.

All that being said, week one is in the books. Time to look towards week two and the Seattle Seahawks. The Titans can only go up from here.

Week 1 Rundown + Good, Bad, and Ugly

Written by Conner Pack

– Hurts and the Eagles Roll Falcons in
Impressive Week One Victory

Following sweeping offseason changes, the Philadelphia Eagles entered the 2021 season relatively unknown. With lots of young talent on the offensive side of the ball, optimism was high. On Sunday, the Eagles dominated the Atlanta falcons winning 32-6. Second year Quarterback Jalen Hurts showed why he was the Eagles choice at quarterback as he threw for 264 and yards 3 touchdowns on 27-35 passing while also rushing for 62 yards on 7 carries. Rookie wide receiver Devonta Smith made his presence felt as he led the Eagles in receiving with 6 receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown. All in all Philadelphia with new head coach Nick Siriani got off to a great start.

Other notable stats: Eagles (3-3 in red zone and 6-13 on third down,

– Browns and Chiefs Go Down to the Wire

In a battle of AFC heavy weights, Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns went toe-to-toe with the back to back AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs. Ultimately, Mahomes and the Chiefs were too much for the Browns winning 33-29, but it was one very exciting game. It wouldn’t shock me if these two teams meet later on in the playoffs.

– Rookie Quarterback’s winless in Week One

Of the five first round quarterbacks drafted, three Mac Jones, Trevor Lawrence, & Zach Wilson, all started and all came up empty handed. However, all had their moments of success despite losing the game.

Mac Jones and the New England Patriots fell to the Miami Dolphins 17-16. Jones though showed poise and didn’t falter as he threw for 281 yards and a touchdown on 29-39 passing.

Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars really struggled in their 37-21 loss to the Houston Texans. Despite throwing 3 interceptions, Lawrence threw for 332 yards and 3 touchdowns on 28-51 passing. As talented as Lawrence is, odds are it’s going to be a long season down in Duvall.

Zach Wilson and the New York Jets showed some life late in their game against the Carolina Panthers, but ultimately it was too little too late as the Jets fell 19-14. Wilson showed flashes of what could be as he threw for 258 yards and 2 touchdowns on 20-37 passing, but he was sacked 6 times and threw one interception.

– Pittsburgh Defense Shuts Down Allen & Bills

In what was one of the more shocking outcomes of the day, the Pittsburgh Steelers put the clamps down on what many expected to an even more dynamic and explosive Buffalo Bills offense in 2021. Sunday afternoon, Pittsburgh found themselves down and shut out in the first half. However, things would change drastically in the second half as Pittsburgh outscored Buffalo 23-6 in the second half in what was a dominant defensive and special teams performance.

– NFC West Dominance

Sunday afternoon, the NFC west (Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks) went 4-0 showing why they are best division in the NFL. All four teams won their games with relative ease, especially the Cardinals (38-13 over Titans) and Rams (34-14 over Bears). San Francisco got off to a fast start but allowed the Detroit Lions make a late second half come back while Seattle on the other hand, controlled their game against the Indianapolis Colts but didn’t do anything that drastically stood out. Ultimately, this division is going to be tough because all four have playoff potential.

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Good: Jameis Winston and the Saints

Following a year of sitting behind future hall of famer Drew Brees, the former number one overall pick Jameis Winston finally got his opportunity to start again and let’s just say he didn’t disappoint. In a dominating 38-3 victory over the Green Bay Packers, Jameis Winston threw 5 touchdowns ZERO interceptions on 14-20 passing finishing with 148 passing yards. It was without a doubt one of Winston’s most efficient game as a pro. Winston looked comfortable, poised, and didn’t look to force plays that weren’t there. Now it’s only one game, but this looked like a revitalized Winston.

Bad: Buffalo Bills

Buffalo jumped out to a somewhat fast start but plateaued early and couldn’t recover. After having one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL in 2020, the Bills on Sunday really looked out of sync. Allen had a number of missed throws (30-51 passing), they had a number of penalties (8-81 yards) , and they were unable to capitalize on red zone opportunities (1-4). I think Buffalo will get it together because they’re too good of a team not to, but yesterday was a rough one for this Super Bowl hopeful team.

Ugly: Tennessee Titans

Lastly, the UGLY and yesterday was very ugly for the Tennessee Titans. With lots of offseason hype, the Tennessee Titans completely laid an egg against the Arizona Cardinals losing 38-13 in a game that was never close. Offensively, the Titans offensive line could not block the Cardinals defensive front. Cardinals edge rusher Chandler Jones had himself a day as he racked up 5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. The Titans offense was also extremely bland and lacked continuity and creativity. Defensively, the Titans defense had zero answers for Kyler Murray and this dynamic Cardinals offense. Murray threw for 289 yards and 4 touchdowns on 21-32 passing. Also, Murray’s ability to keep plays alive was on full display. At the end of the day,, this Titans team has a lot to figure out. Neither the offensive coordinator or defensive coordinator were able to make the necessary adjustments throughout the course of the game.

Other notable stats: (Hopkins & Kirk combined for 11 catches for 153 yards and 4 touchdowns)