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Articles by Stuart Otto
NFL WEEK 4 PICKS: Cowboys Rebound
Here are my overall season stats to date, through Week 4 Thursday Night’s game. Week 1: 11-5, Week 2: 9-7, Week 3: 9-7, Week 4: 1-0: Overall: 30-19. You can check out my previous weeks’ articles here: Got this one right on X. The Lions showed this week they have taken the next step. The defense has played very well in the last two games. Love and Ridder aren’t great by any means, but they were playing decently up until this point.
Week 3 NFL Picks: SKOL SKOL SKOL
Week 3 is upon us in the NFL. After an 11-5 start to the year in Week 1, I took a step back and went 9-7 in Week 2. Still not bad but would have liked to have done better. Overall for the year I am 20-12 on my picks and getting ready to dominate in Week 3. Thursday Night Game Pick: 1-0 Tennessee 17 Cleveland 16 To me, this is a matchup that requires Deshaun Watson to be on his A-game. The Titans pose a stellar run defense that will be difficult for the Browns to overcome.
Week 2 NFL Pick’em: Jets Soar to 2-0!
Last week I went a formidable 11-5 in my NFL Pick’em Week 1 article. Couldn’t believe the Rams beating the Seahawks and the Lions over the Chiefs. In the Philly/New England matchup I almost predicted the exact score. But now we are on for Week 2 NFL Pick’em. There are some interesting games on the schedule and I think we as prognosticators have a tendency to rely too much on the prior week’s results. This is a new week and matchups matter a lot.
Week 1 NFL Predictions: NFL is back!
Hello everyone and welcome to the very first addition of my Weekly NFL picks. I will try to provide some insight into each game every week for you all to consume. Can’t wait for tomorrow night. I am a huge Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks fan and really look forward to how they both fair this year. Let’s get this started: What an interesting match up of two potential powers in the NFL this year. The Chiefs are well established and the reigning Super Bowl Champions.
The ACC gets it right
The news came down today that the ACC voted to add Cal, Stanford, and SMU to the Conference – starting in 2024. This after the PAC 12 started falling apart last month, with the departures of over half the conference – further driving the nail in the PAC 12’s coffin. In order to approve the additions, the ACC needed 12 of 15 schools to vote it in. They didn’t have the votes two weeks ago as North Carolina, NC State, Florida State, and Clemson all rejected the idea.
What happened to the Franchise QB-to-be Kyle Trask?
The 2021 NFL Draft was littered with big QB names like Lawrence, Wilson, Lance, Fields, and Mac Jones. One name that is a little less known, Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft pick Kyle Trask. The Buccaneers took Trask with the last pick of the 2nd round, hoping to be the replacement when Brady retires. As you know, they were coming off a Super Bowl win and QB wasn’t a significant need. What Happened to Trask? Well, Brady retired this offseason and the Buccaneers are going with…..Baker Mayfield??
Top 5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Games
Looking forward to the 2023 NFL Season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren’t expected to do much. National pundits believe this team is heading toward the 1st pick in the 2024 draft. However, the local optimism is apparent. If we get solid QB play from Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask, the belief is this team can win the division. With that said, let’s take a look at the 5 games I’m most excited for.
BIG TEN EXPANSION RUMORS: REALLY? Yes!
Rumors are swirling that the Big Ten wants to expand the conference. As of now, the Big Ten has 16 schools – with USC and UCLA joining next year. However, with all the issues going on with the PAC 12, the Big Ten sees an opportunity for additional growth. Background As of this writing, we are less than 1 year away from the PAC 12’s Grant of Rights’ (“GOR”) Deal expiring. This is dangerous territory because GOR deals are typically negotiated and completed 2-3 years in advance of implementation.
NCAA Conference Realignment: PAC 12 Football
Over the past two years, we saw seismic shifts in the landscape of college sports and conference realignment. The SEC added Texas and Oklahoma from the BIG 12 and the Big Ten added USC and UCLA from the PAC 12. Both conferences will be adding their respective schools officially in 2024. This has forced the BIG 12 and PAC 12 to act. The BIG 12 schools were united in growing the conference by adding Cincinnati, BYU, Houston, and Central Florida.
Post NFL Draft Power Rankings
With the 2023 NFL Draft in the rear view mirror, it’s time to do my Post Draft NFL Power Rankings. At this time most teams are solidified with their rosters, so we can start to predict how your favorite team(s) will do. Top 10 1 Kansas City Chiefs – Standing atop my Power Rankings, the reigning Super Bowl Champions. They may not be the most talented roster in the league, but Patrick Mahomes is the best QB in the NFL.
Post-Draft Evaluation: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The 2023 NFL Draft is now in the books. After months of “who’s going where”, we finally have our answers. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted 8 players and addressed a lot of needs in this draft. Let’s take a look back and analyze this draft for the team. Round 1, Pick 19: DL Calijah Kancey image provided by steelersnation.com With OT Anton Harrison still on the board, the Bucs chose to upgrade the defensive line.
2023 Back Sports Page NFL Writer's Draft
With the draft looming we decided as a staff to put together our own draft. We allowed our writers to act as the general manager of certain teams and pick who they think is the best fit for their chosen teams. We go through all of the draft picks with a brief analysis included, followed by a graphic made by BSP’s own Sam Cahoy that sums up the draft.
2023 NFL 1st Round Mock Draft
Round 1 NFL Mock Draft – WITH 6 DRAFT DAY TRADES!!! For a breakdown of all the top NFL Draft prospects, please click here. 1. Carolina Panthers (from Chicago): Bryce Young QB Alabama This pick seems to be in the bag. Carolina traded up from Number 9 with Chicago to get their choice of the Top QB’s. After about a month of mixed reporting, it seems clear the Panthers are going after Bryce Young. The Panthers needed to do this since it’s clear free agent QBs aren’t interested in coming to town.
Will the Buccaneers trade Devin White?
[ GARY MCCULLOUGH | AP ] Why are we here? Contract talks between Devin White and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers appear to have stalled, to the point where White has asked the Buccaneers to trade him. Tampa Bay signed a lot of their core talent (Lavante David, Jamel Dean) while dealing with Salary Cap limitations. As of this writing, the Buccaneers have over $74M in Dead Cap money for 2023 – by far the most in the NFL. Should they trade him?
Buccaneers Mock Draft (7 round)
Courtesy of buccaneers.com The dawn of a new era is upon the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023. Tom Brady is retired and the team will be looking very different next season. The Buccaneers were able to keep a lot of their existing talent in free agency and don’t have as many needs as we thought they would. The defense is mostly intact from last year. Jamel Dean and Lavonte David re-signed with the franchise.
NFL Draft Profile: Kemore Gamble
If your team is looking for a Tight End, you are in luck. The 2023 NFL Draft is loaded with talented players at the position such as Michael Mayer, Dalton Kincaid, and Darnell Washington. The downside to that is that a lot of good prospects will get under-drafted as a result. Let’s take a look at one of those players: Kemore Gamble College Career: Gamble started his career at the University of Florida. He sat behind all-star player Kyle Pitts for a few years.
New Rule Proposal: How to Reduce Tanking in the NFL
Remember what former New York Jets coach and current ESPN Analyst Herm Edwards said: “you play to win the game”. Well, what Herm forgot to say was: “except of course when your draft spot is on the line”. For years, professional sports has had a problem with tanking (i.e. intentionally losing games for better draft position). When a team is “mathematically” eliminated from the playoffs, it benefits them to prioritize losing (under the current system).
Bucs sign Baker; free agency update
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield have agreed to terms on a 1-year deal, worth up to $8.5 Million. Baker joins Kyle Trask as the only two quarterbacks on the roster. The contract suggests that the Bucs are not handing Baker the starting job. In fact, it’s more in line with the contracts backup quarterbacks receive. The team has stated from the outset that Kyle will compete for the starting job. Do not be surprised if Tampa takes a QB early in the 2023 Draft.
Free Agency Preview: Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks 2022 Record: 9-8 Cap Space: $30,233,236 The Seahawks currently do not have a lot of needs on this team. And with a significant amount of draft capital, they could be more inclined to sit out free agency and fill needs through the NFL Draft. The team re-signed Geno Smith to a very team friendly deal. He’s only a $10M cap hit this year. They still have the option to draft a guy to study behind Geno, but aren’t in a situation where they have to do it.
Free Agency Preview: Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers 2022 Record: 8-9 Cap Space: $21,816,991 The Green Bay Packers have never been big players in Free Agency. High priced veterans are naturally inclined to choose more glamorous destinations, which is why Green Bay has always built from the draft. The big story that everyone is clamoring to is Aaron Rodgers. Will he be traded? Will he retire?
Best Buccaneers of All Time
Image courtesy of Bucsnation.com The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been in existence since 1976. And before 1997, there wasn’t much to cheer about. 3 playoff appearances in 20 years, 2 division titles, and one playoff win. Since then, 2 Super Bowls and several playoff berths. Along the way, there were some great Buccaneer legends to grace the team. When ranking the best of all time, I look for how long they played in Tampa Bay. How many All-Pros did they get during their time in Tampa Bay?
Tanking: How to “Tank” in Sports
For years, professional sports has had a problem with tanking (i.e. intentionally losing games for better draft position). This typically occurs when a team is “mathematically” eliminated from the Playoffs. In some situations, teams will even tank an entire season, knowing the next crop of talent is too good to pass up by being “competitive” or “average”. Tanking negatively impacts the quality and integrity of the game. However, until the incentive to lose is gone, teams will continue to do this.
Free Agency Preview: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After a disappointing 2022 campaign, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will try to get back to their winning ways. However, that will prove to be very difficult this offseason. Tom Brady retired and the team is $57M over the cap for 2023. While the team will stop short of calling this offseason a rebuild, the Buccaneers will look a lot different next season. Before Tampa can move forward, they need to get under the cap. That is going to require some adjustments to their existing roster.
Lions Cut Brockers; More To Come?Lions Cut Brockers; More To Come?Lions Cut Brockers; More To Come?Lions Cut Brockers; More To Come?
According to the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit Lions will officially release Defensive Lineman Michael Brockers today. This move saves Detroit roughly $10M in cap space for next year. With that said, they are losing a Team Captain and leader in the Lions’ Locker Room. Brockers on the field production dipped significantly due to injuries during his 2-year stint in Detroit. With the Brockers release, the Lions now have $25.9M in cap space. But is this the end of the salary dumps for Detroit?
Buccaneers Offseason QB Options
For the first time in 3 years, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be looking for a new quarterback. That is because Tom Brady decided to retire this offseason. The Buccaneers have the worst cap situation in the league, being $55M in the red. Additionally, Ryan Canales was hired as the new Offensive Coordinator of the Buccaneers and comes from Seattle where he served as the QB Coach. The biggest challenge in forecasting these moves is how will Canales mesh with the old regime.
Green Bay Packers Defensive Report Card
Defensive Report Card This report card will evaluate each defensive position group and assign them a grade. These grades should give insight for what your team’s needs are entering the off-season. Defensive Line A talented unit on paper, the defensive line really struggled this year. The Packers were a disappointing 26th in the league against the run, despite having Kenny Clark on the roster. Clark is one of the best tackles in the league and is outstanding against the run.
Top 5 Destinations For Derek Carr
Quite possibly the worst kept secret in the league, the Las Vegas Raiders will not be bringing Derek Carr back for 2023. The Raiders have until February 14th to pick up a $32.9M option on Carr for this year and $7.5M for next year. If they don’t pick it up, he will be a free agent. If they do pick it up, they are on the hook for $40M for 2023 and 2024. There is an outside chance of the Raiders trading Carr, but Derek has a no trade clause in his contract.
Seattle Seahawks Defensive Report Card
Defensive Report Card This report card will feature each defensive position group featuring starters and depth of the Seattle Seahawks roster and giving them a grade. These grades should give insight for what the team needs to upgrade over the off-season. Defensive Line One of the worst units in the league statistically last season, the Seahawks were 30th against the run. With that said, there is talent with Poona Ford (free agent), Shelby Harris, Quinten Jefferson, and Bryan Mone.
Detroit Lions Defensive Report Card
Defensive Report Card This report card will feature each defensive position group featuring starters and depth of the Detroit Lions roster and giving them a grade. These grades should give insight for what the team needs to upgrade over the off-season. Defensive Line The Detroit Lions struggled against the run this past year (29th in the league). However, as the season went on, this unit definitely improved.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive Report Card
This report card will assign grades to each defensive position of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster. These grades should give insight for what the team needs to upgrade over the off-season. Defensive Line When healthy, this was one of the best units in the league. Akeem Hicks was a great pick up and Vita Vea is a beast in the middle. When they are both playing, it is very hard to run the ball. But Vea appeared in only 14 games, and Hicks for 11.
Green Bay Packers Offensive Report Card
Offensive Report Card This offensive report card will feature each offensive position group featuring starters and depth of the Green Bay Packers roster and giving them a grade. These grades should give insight for what the team needs to upgrade over the off-season. Season Summary The Packers have to look at the season as a disappointment.
Seattle Seahawks Offensive Report Card
Seattle Seahawks Offensive Report Card This offensive report card will feature each offensive position group featuring starters and depth of the Seattle Seahawks roster and giving them a grade. These grades should give insight for what the team needs to upgrade over the off-season. Season Summary One of the popular picks for Tank City, USA this year, the Seattle Seahawks proved to be anything but that.
Detroit Lions Offensive Report Card
Detroit Lions Offensive Report Card This offensive report card will feature each offensive position group featuring starters and depth of the Detroit Lions roster and giving them a grade. These grades should give insight for what the team needs to upgrade over the off-season. Season Summary For the first time in a long time, the Detroit Lions have a lot to be excited about heading into next season. They finished the year winning 8 of their last 10 games, and an overall record of 9-8.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive Report Card
Offensive Report Card This offensive report card will feature each offensive position group featuring starters and depth of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster and giving them a grade. These grades should give insight for what the team needs to upgrade over the off-season. Season Summary For the third consecutive year, Tampa Bay made the playoffs and won the NFC South the last two years. Despite the recent success, this past season didn’t have the same mojo from the 2020-21 seasons.
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