Then And Now

I believe that this year has gone by really fast. Because of all of my sports and school, I have been so busy, it hasn't even hit me that there is only three more weeks of school left. Being a freshman in high school is both a great thing, and a bad thing. I really enjoyed this year, even though I was considered the "fresh meat" of the high school. In terms of sports, my football years didn't really go as planned, but I learned a lot from it. This was the first year that a lot of my friends decided to play football, and because of that, it was really fun to travel with them and make memories in places nobody has ever heard of. I learned to deal with defeat by moving onto the next day with a positive attitude, knowing that I will succeed the next time I am out on the field. I also really learned that without friends, life is nothing. If it weren't for my guys picking me up after a tough loss, I wouldn't be able to stop thinking about what I did wrong, and just move on. Because I was a freshman, being on the football team was also a time where I could improve my ability to block out shit that people say to me. I learned really fast this year that being a freshman is the lowest of the low in terms of any high school sport. But, this made me realize that I should really try to make the incoming freshman feel welcomed.

Me during freshman year

I really believe that this school year has changed me as well. I used to think that getting straight A's was the only way I could make people proud of me. But I quickly realized that this isn't necessarily possible. I took some really hard classes this year, which unfortunately, stopped me form having that perfect 4.0. I learned that as long as you try your hardest, everyone will be proud of you. You need to stop thinking that perfect is actually perfect. To be honest, I am actually really happy that I didn't get a 4.0. I was able to release tons of stress that was just stuck inside of me. This blog was also a great way to release my stress. I learned to let my anger out in words, not with my fists.

Just Relax- Thanks to www.onwardstate,com for the pic

Most importantly, I learned to be a true teammate with my high school baseball team. With my high school team being very good, we had high expectations at the beginning of the season. We needed to practice our ass's off in order to get to where we wanted to be, and we did. We had practice every week day for over 6 months and right now are in the state playoffs. My coach, Lou Green, taught us how to play for each other and not care about our statistics, but only the outcome of the game. At the beginning of the season, I didn't know any upper class men on the team. Now, I am good friends with every person associated with the team. I would do anything to fight for a win with my team, and would die to win with my team. Overall, I am happy with the person I turned into, and I learned to be me.

49ers Complete Draft

The 2015 NFL Draft has officially ended. This years draft was full of crazy talent, with players that are bound to make an impact in the NFL. I believe that the 49ers drafted some great players that will make a big difference for the future 49er teams. They have shown to pick great players in the past, that being Aldon Smith, Colin Kaepernick, Alex Smith, Eric Reid, etc. With all of those players, you know that the 49ers will make intelligent picks in any draft, and in my opinion, very heavily in this years draft. I thought that everyone of the 49ers 2015 draft picks had great logic behind it, and were all players with appropriate backgrounds and positive teammates in their locker rooms. Here are my opinions on some of this years draft picks by the red and gold.

We all know by now that the 49ers selected Arik Armstead with their first pick in this years draft. The rest of their draft picks really got me excited. All of the players seemed like good guys that will make the football team better, and most importantly, seemed like they had a lot of talent that could be used on the 49ers team. With their second round pick, the 49ers selected strong safety, Jaquiski Tartt. This safety from Samford proved to be a force on the defensive side of the ball. He was known to be the biggest hitter on the team, and proved it in his senior season. At 6'1" and 225 pounds, Tartt is a big framed defensive back that is not scared to lay the boom on anybody on the offensive side of the ball. His highlights proved to me that he could cover the whole field, and would lay the wood on the ball carrier when they met up. I believe that the 49ers will try to convert him to a linebacker/safety hybrid defensive player. He will most likely be a special teams player for this years Niners team. The 49ers third round pick was Outside Linebacker, Eli Harold, from University of Virginia. Harold was a great pass rusher at Virginia and is most likely going to be a backup to Aaron Lynch. The 49ers then got tight end, Blake Bell, in the fourth round. A converted quarterback, Bell has great size and hands. In the fifth round, the Niners picked up running back, Mike Davis, from South Carolina. Davis will join the 49ers deep running back core. The rest of the 49ers picks consisted of another tight end, two offensive guards, a wide receiver, and a punter.

Tartt will be a great "Head Hunter" for the Niners- Thanks to www.NFL.com for the pic

Overall, I really do think that the 49ers had an extremely efficient draft this year. They fixed up most of the positions that needed depth help, and came away with some crazy talent. One thing that I would have really liked to see was the Niners select a cornerback. Even though they have players coming off the injured reserve, they still need another strong corner to help structure their secondary. But besides that, I am looking forward to seeing the rookies compete for positions, and help take this decorated franchise to another Super Bowl.

First Day of Draft- Check!

Finally! The first day of the draft is over and I can't keep my emotions in! I was looking forward to this day for so long, and now that it is finally gone, I am both happy and sad. I thought that it was a great draft, with so many young talents being selected in the first round. I want to first talk about some traditional things that I do each year during the draft. First of all, I always watch the draft with my dad and younger brother. No matter where I am, who I am with, or what I am doing, I will always be sitting next to the two of them before the first pick is made. I also will always have a good snack to accompany me through the torment of waiting for the Niners to pick. Next, I wait pick after pick until the Niners are on the clock. There is no other way to describe the NFL draft than the best three days of the whole year.

So with that out of the way, lets talk about the picks in the draft. With the first pick in the NFL draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select, Jameis Winston, Florida State quarterback. I really don't think that it was a big surprise to see the 2013 Heisman Trophy taken first in the draft. Winston was a hell of a quarterback for the Seminoles while he played there. He made game winning plays, week after week, and proved to the nation that he was the best player in college football. I understand that he didn't have the best combine this year, but he showed that he could make the plays that he needed to make, and can lead a team anywhere. I mean, he won twenty four straight games as a starting quarterback, with most of those wins being come form behind. He pretty much showed that he can perform well at any level and lead any team to a potential championship. The second pick of the draft came from the Tennessee Titans, selecting Marcus Mariota with the second overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. There really isn't much to say about Mariota. I believe that he was the most electrifying player in college football for the three years he was at Oregon, and showed that he was also one of the most athletic in the country. He was a very efficient, dual threat quarterback with a gun for an arm. He showed that he was smart, throwing only four interceptions all of last year. He also threw forty two touchdown passes, while also running for fifteen. These stats are just the beginning to who Mariota is. He was highly respected by all of his teammates, and had the best attitude in the locker room according to his coaches. I think that with time, he will turn into an amazing quarterback in the NFL.

Will Marcus Mariota be efficient?- Thanks to www.http://cdn.fansided.com for the pic.

Based on the first two picks of the draft, I believe that all of the teams picked intelligent players that fit their schemes perfectly. The talent in this draft was crazy and all teams got at least one player capable of changing their team. The Niners ended up taking Arik Armstead form Oregon, which left me dying to see who they would take tomorrow. I am so excited for what is next, and guarantee that the second day of the draft will be just as good as the first!

49ers Draft Preview-Updated!

Right now, all that I can think about is the National Football League's draft that will be going on in a few days. To me, the NFL draft is one of my favorite events of the entire football year. You get to watch the best players in college get the opportunity to make a name for themselves in a league that is hard to strive in. From the number one pick down to the last pick, the anticipation of who will pick who is always sitting in the back of your mind. But when you see the reactions on players faces when their long time dream comes true, you truly feel for them and can't wait to see what they will be able to do in their professional football tenure. I truly believe that this years draft class is one of the best there has ever been. There is so much depth in every position group in this draft, and every team will be very happy with every player that they decide to select to play for their team. For the Niners, there are specific positions that need to be filled this year, and the draft is their best chances to get players that will perform for them in the future. Lets get into their many options in the 2015 NFL draft.

At this point, there are a few guys that I really think would perform well as the 49ers first round draft pick in this years draft. First, I believe that Arik Armstead is the top candidate for the 49ers to select. The defensive tackle out of the University of Oregon is a massive player that would be great to plug up gaps on the line, while also bringing significant pressure to the quarterback. At 6'8" and 290 pounds, Armstead definitely has the size and athleticism to be an NFL defensive tackle and playmaker for the 49ers. Although, he needs to be more aggressive off the ball. He tends to stay back on the snap and sometimes will get driven when the offensive lineman gets under his pads. Plus, his sack productivity was below par for a college player at his position, racking up only six sacks in his college career at Oregon. Despite the negatives, he is a hell of a player, and would be a great addition for the San Francisco 49ers.

Top prospect for the Niners?- Thanks to www.NFL.com for the pic

The second prospect I have been looking at is Marcus Peters out of the University of Washington. At 6'0" and 198 pounds, Peters has good size for the cornerback position and the speed to stay with the elites wide receivers in the NFL. He had a great career as a Washington Husky and has proven himself to be a top defensive prospect. One thing that I really like about him is the way that he defends the run. Most college cornerbacks are not good at tackling big running backs that take it to the outside. Peters was one of the most efficient tackling corners in the country last year and fits perfectly with the 49ers defensive scheme that is short on cornerbacks.

Those are my top candidates for the 49ers first round draft pick in this years NFL draft. Like I said, the talent in this draft outweighs most in the past. I will be writing another post on how I think others teams will fare in the draft as well. But until then, go Niners!

Draft Preview #1

So here it is, my first draft preview for the 2015 NFL draft coming up in late April. I have to say that the NFL draft is one of my favorite sports events. Teams in the league are giving these athletes the potential to be great players in the most prolific sports league in the world. I can't imagine what it would be like to get your name called by the NFL commissioner at the podium, and have you walk up to officially be named a player in the National Football League. So today I am going to talk about the top draft picks in the 2015 draft and what the teams need safe around the league. So lets get into it!

First of all, Lets talk about the 49ers draft options this year. So because of the free agent loses like Michael Crabtree and Stevie Johnson, The Niners are bound to pick a wide receiver early in the draft. There are some crazy receiver options in this years draft, which names include Amari Cooper, Kevin White, Devante Parker, etc. I think that the Niners have a very good chance of getting Devante Parker. Although it would be really nice to get the very physical, 6 foot 3 inch, 215 pound wide receiver that also has some blazing speed. Unfortunately, Kevin White is bound to be taken much earlier than the Niners will be able to pick. Another option that the 49ers can take would be to get a linebacker in the draft. Because of the recent word of Patrick Willis retiring, the Niners are really going to need another linebacker to be able to stop the run and cover in the passing game. Patrick Willis was an extremely versatile player that will be very hard to replace, but with Borland behind him, there is still potential to have another great linebacker by the side of Navarro Bowman.

Kevin White would be a great player for the 49ers- Pic from www.usatoday,com

A big question going on around the league, is who will be the number one draft pick? I believe that Jameis Winston is going to be the top pick in the draft. He is an amazing quarterback with great arm strength and the ability to roll out of the pocket. Although he ran just under a 5 flat 40 yard dash, he has the in game speed and quickness to compete at the next level. Plus, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in desperate need of a franchise quarterback that will take them to big places in the future. Another option would be for the Bucs to pick Leonard Williams. Williams is a giant in the gaps and has the quickness of a linebacker. His strength is unmatchable and he is a beast all over the field. His presence on the football field is one that all teams would like to have.

2015 Offseason Overview

So far, there has been a ton of stuff happen this offseason. Big signings my teams like the Dolphins and a bunch of trades between teams. I think that it has been very exciting to keep up with all that is happening. This has been the first year that I have really been into checking on ESPN and seeing what signings and trades have happened during the day. I usually don't care about the other teams in the league besides the 49ers, but I am learning to really love what all the teams are doing with their teams. You can really start to understand the strategy that other teams take with rebuilding their teams during the precious time of the offseason. Its also great watching the reactions by people in the country about what has happened with their teams. There are always the ones that are really happy and satisfied with what has happened, then there are the people that are fuming on camera. You feel like you are apart of the team because you know that the people talking are just like you, rooting for teams that they like, and hoping for the obliteration of the teams that they don't like. One more thing that really enjoy about the offseason, is reading about what teams are thinking of doing, strategy wise, for the upcoming season.

Secondly, I would like to talk about the upcoming Madden game. I understand that I may seem very geeky when I talk about Madden, But I think that it is one of the best game franchises that has every been developed. Since starting up in 1995, it has become amazing! It used to be 22 dots on the field all moving around, and the defensive dots would have to run into the dot with the ball. Now, the graphics are almost real life and the physics of the tackling and the other parts of the game are amazing. I mean, the game pretty much makes up new tackles every play, just like it happens on the field. The part that I love most about the Madden games is seeing the new players for all of the teams.  I always look forward to seeing the rookies play on the field, and the traded and signed players play for their new squads. Plus, just waiting for the game is great, too! The anticipation is just as good as holding the game in your hands, about to put it into your console. What I am looking forward to in this years Madden is the My player mode. I want the mode to have cut scenes like the NBA 2K15 game does. This would make you feel like you are a part of the league, and just make the game that much better. So lets see what it turns out to be.

Looking forward to Madden 16! Pic from www.forbes.com

Finally, I would like to have my viewers post a comment of what they think the best signing or trade in the offseason has been. I want to know what you guys think, and who you are looking forward to watching next year. I believe that the trade between the Seahawks has been the best trade to happen this offseason. Both teams got great players, while also gaining ground in this years draft with acquired Draft picks. Let me know what you think!

Thank You Everyone!

Hey guys, I just wanted to write a blog totally dedicated to you. I have to say that you, the people that are reading my blogs, are the reason that I keep writing. I have to say that it is nice just letting my thoughts about the sport I love, spill out of my mouth, But I would't want to share it with anyone if it wasn't for you. I get the motivation to write more every time I see another page view and want to keep making you guys happy. I started the blog to only write for the grade that I get in the class, but now, I really enjoy doing it. it is like I get to be able to share my thoughts with anyone who wants to deal with what I am saying. I will try to post a new post every week from now on, so that I can give you guys more regular updates. I apologize for the inconsistency that I have had the past month, But I have been really busy with sports and my other classes.

Thank You! - Pic from www.manliusfire.com

I also want to let you guys know that you should leave me comments on any of my posts, about anything you want related to my blog. If you feel that I am not doing a good job explaining a certain  aspect of the topic, just let me know and I will definitely fix it. Plus, if you think that I should talk more in depth about one of my topics, just do the same. One thing that I really want you guys to do, is comment other blogs like mine or articles concerning my blog. this would really help me learn more about the art of blogging and get me to interact with fellow people that are into blogging.



I also would like to talk about what else I can do to get you, the readers, more into my blog. Should I try to do shout outs for other blogs or social media? I want to make it so that you feel like you really are a part of my blog, and that I know individually who the people are that really like to follow my blog. This would make the blog feel much more personal for me, and hopefully for some of you who plan on following and keeping up to date with my blog. So overall, Thank you so much for what the viewers have done for me. You make it so that I really enjoy writing this stuff. I feel like I am helping you out with figuring out what is going in the NFL. So anyways, because the draft is coming up, I will be giving updates on what the draft is looking like and how teams are going at it so far. So thank you, and keep up to date with The Gold Gang.

It's Coming Up! - Pic from www.NFL.com