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

Seahawks Get a Boost

So, for this offseason, I have been really focusing on what the Niners have been trying to do, and haven't really though that our rival Seahawks were going to do much because of their cap space problems they have. But, They somehow just got one of the most talented offensive stars the league has seen for the in the past 5 years. His name is Jimmy Graham. The former New Orleans Saint just agreed to terms on a deal that will send the prolific tight end to the Seattle Seahawks, along with a fourth round draft pick. In exchange, the Saints will acquire center Max Unger and Seattle's 2015 first round draft pick. I believe that this was a great deal for both of the teams in this trade. Although the Saints lost their best offensive playmaker, they got a experienced center that will anchor their offensive line for the next few years. Plus, the team got another 2015 first round draft pick. This will allow them to have more flexibility during the draft, and potentially get another great player in the first round of the 2015 draft. On the Seahawks side, They just got a giant tight end, that has the hands and speed of wide receiver. Graham has had record breaking numbers the past to years, and has shown that he can make even the best defenders look silly, with his moves and strength. Graham will make the Seahawks offense much stronger, and will give the team many more options, since the big man will have the most attention on the field. Overall, both teams got the best of the deal and will be looking to upgrade even more this offseason.

Offensive power for the Seahawks? Pic from www.bleacherreport.com

More big news is the trade of Sam Bradford from the Rams for Nick Foles of the Eagles. This was a surprising trade to me, because Nick Foles has been a really solid quarterback for the Eagles the past 2 years. He had a record setting game with 7 touchdowns and a 19-2 touchdown to interceptions ratio in 2013. He has been a hell of a quarterback for a team that has really needed one. On the other hand, Sam Bradford is also a very productive quarterback. That being when he is healthy. He has torn his ACL twice, which makes me wonder why the Eagles gave up what they did to get him. He is always getting injured, with a couple of minor injuries, then a big one that ends up keeping him out for the whole year. But like I said, he is very productive when he is healthy. He has good arm strength and vision on the field, while also having the ability to roll out of the pocket and get positive yards on the scramble. So now to what I think. Personally, I would not have done this trade. The Eagles gave away a great player that has been very productive for them, for a quarterback that is injury prone and inconsistent at times. I guess that the Eagles might see a backup in Sam Bradford, that is they try to get another quarterback in the upcoming draft. But, that is really the only possibility I see. Sam Bradford has not proven to be a trusted quarterback in this league, and will need to do much more in order to gain some trust. So thats the news, two big trades, one I thought was iffy, and another great day of 2015 NFL offseason.

Around the League

For this blog, I am going to be covering all of the latest happenings throughout the league, with every team. The big news is the signing of Ndamukang Suh by the Miami Dolphins. The fins signed the big star defensive lineman to a 6 year 114 million dollar deal. With this signing, Detroit is loosing arguably their best defensive player and the anchor to their amazing defensive line. With Nick Fairley also a free agent, the lions are going to have to make some good signings in order to boost their D-line to where it was in the past. The Dolphins lost Paul Soliai in free agency and needed a defensive lineman that could control everyone up front. Suh has been a 4 time 1st team all-pro selection while also making 4 pro bowls during his career up to date. When talking about the money aspect of things, I think that the Dolphins payed him a little bit too much money. Even though Suh is one of the best defensive lineman in the league right now, 19 million dollars per year is a little bit too much for anybody on the defensive side of the ball. But, because the Dolphins had the money, I guess that they could do what they want with it, even though a chunk of it just went to one player.

Suh will be a big addition to the Fins defense- Pic from www.suh90.com

Lets also talk about the trade between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Buffalo Bills. This trade sent all-pro running back, Lesean Mccoy, to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for young and talented linebacker, Kiko Alonso. This trade was one of the most shocking in the past couple of years. It was very appalling to hear of this trade, because you never see the face of a franchise get traded for a player that has not necessarily proven himself in the league yet. I understand that the main reason for this trade was because of the cap space problems that the Eagles are facing. They didn't have much to work with before this trade, which freed up about 7 million dollars in cap room. This will allow the Eagles to sign another well known player to their roster, if they feel that it is needed. On the Bills side, I think that the decision to bring in Lesean Mccoy to their offense was a great one! they haven't had a prolific star on offense for a while, and they all of a sudden just got one of the best running backs to play in this game in the past few years. With C.J Spiller in the rotation as well, the bills will have a very deep core in the back field, and are going to need to use these tools in the right way in order to bring themselves to the top once again.

So in the first couple weeks of the offseason, there have been many signings and trades throughout the league that will be big in the upcoming season. I can't wait to see what else will happen in the next few weeks because there is definitely going to be some more big moves that will end up affecting the teams in this league in a big way. I will be posting more blogs about the rest of the league and will be up to date on the stuff that is going on around the league. 

The Good and The Bad

Good news or bad news first? Lets get to the good. Right now, there is lots trending throughout the 49ers organization. The recent news of Patrick Willis's retirement has most team executives in shock, while others are still trying to move forward in the business. I heard a rumor that the 49ers are the front runners to get the speedy receiver Torrey Smith, who is a former teammate of Anquan Boldin in Baltimore. These two receivers lit up the AFC when they were together, and now that Torrey Smith has more experience in the league, he is bound to be a big part of the Niners offense this upcoming year. With his crazy 4.43 40 yard dash time, Smith is most definitely going to be the deep threat that the niners have needed for the past few years. Since coming into the league in 2011, Smith has tallied 213 catches, adding up 3,591 receiving yards and 30 reception touchdowns. I believe that this will be a great pickup for the 49ers and will really open up the big play opportunities for their offense next year. With Michael Crabtree gone, Torrey Smith has a big spot to take. Will he be the next great wideout for the Niners? I am anticipating a lot from the former Raven and new San Francisco 49er.

Torrey Smith is the new addition for the 49ers- Pic from www.espn.com

The bad news is that 49ers great Justin Smith is said to be retiring. I would have to say that Justin Smith is the most hard working player I have ever watched play the game of football. standing six feet four inches and 285 pounds, Justin Smith was a menacing force both in and out of the tackles. He was said to be one of the strongest men in the NFL, and his opponents only say positive things about his work ethic. You can tell that he really has a passion for the game and loved to go and kick some ass on Sundays for the sixteen years that he played in the league. Since becoming a 49er in 2008, Smith has been one of my favorite players to watch. He was able to propel the team to victories, even when they could have laid down and gotten the s**t kicked out of them. He is the perfect example of a hard working person that was born to play football, and I have loved him for the time that he has spent working on my favorite team. You are legendary, Justin Smith.

Justin Smith is retiring from the NFL- Pic from www.mizzoumag.com

Right now, I have mixed emotions for my team. They have lost three of the best players to have play for the Niners this offseason, but maybe it is a new chapter. I loved Frank Gore, but it is now Carlos Hyde's time to be the face of the 49ers and the defense is going to have to step up after losing arguably the teams two best run stoppers on defense. I Am becoming very excited to see what this upcoming season is going to hold for the red and gold. Will they still be contenders in the NFC championship race, or will they fall into rebuilding mode? This will be an interesting season for the 49ers and one that I am ready to start. Kaepernick will have to pick it up next year and get back to his MVP caliber 2013 season. So in the mean time, lets focus on what the 2015 offseason has to bring us.

Patrick Willis Retirement?

I just found out that Patrick Willis, arguably the best defensive player to ever be on the San Francisco, is strongly considering retirement. I really don't know what to say to this. Willis has been my favorite player since I really started enjoying watching the 49ers play. In my eyes, I believe that he is the best linebacker to ever play the game of football in the NFL. He is known for his attacking speed and ability to smash runners, while also drop back in coverage. With all of these attributes, he has earned a pro bowl in seven of his eight professional years, and six total all-pro appearances. These statistics are considered to be some of the best for any linebacker to ever play the game. What I am really confused about is why he is retiring at the age he is at. After just turning 30 years old, he still has many productive years of football in front of him. He has shown in past seasons that he is still at a high level of play, and capable of destroying anyone that tries to challenge him anywhere on the field. Where are these thoughts coming from?

I believe that the main reason that he is considering retirement is because of the recent research found about the human brain and damage tom football. Patrick Willis is smart enough to realize that if he decides to keep playing the game of football, his chances of severely injuring his brain rise. Plus, with the hits that he enforces, he is bound to hurt himself. But, at the same time, he still has the chance to earn a hall of fame spot if he keeps performing at the level that he has before. I realize that the 49ers still have the talented Chris Borland to start next year if he decides to retire, but Patrick Willis has been the player that gives the 49ers their image and has led the team to where they have gone in past years. 

Patrick Willis- best linebacker of all-time- Pic from www.willis52.com

I really hope that Willis doesn't decide to retire. He has been the core of the 49ers amazing linebacker core for many years, and still has a lot in him. I understand that San Francisco has Chris Borland behind Willis, but We need the leadership and player that everyone loves. You have been the face of the franchise and we can't afford you leaving. Personally, you have always been my favorite football player and gave me the idea to try and play the linebacker position in the game football. You were th inspiration to have me start playing this game and I can't think of not seeing you on the field on Sundays with the San Francisco 49ers. But, I know one thing. If you really do decide to retire, you will most definitely be put into the NFL hall of fame and be considered one of the best linebackers to ever play the game of football. Who's got it better than us, nobody!

Offseason Begins!

I have to say that my two favorite parts of the football year would have to be split between the playoffs and the beginning to the end of the offseason. The offseason is the time for teams to get there crap together for the upcoming year, no matter how the past year went for them. I always like seeing the bottom feeder of the league come up with a big signing at the beginning of the year. This always gets me excited to see a special player on a different team, both in reality and on the big screen when I decide to play the new Madden game. This offseason, I am hoping that the niners make some smart decisions, both with resigning players and not signing ones that don't deserve a spot on the team. There are also some faces in the free agency market that the niners might be willing to get if they want to spend some big money.

First of all, lets talk about the question that many fans of the team have been asking all year. Is Frank Gore going to be resigned by the team? I would have to say that the niners would be stupid not to resign the guy. He is the leader in pretty much every rushing record for the San Francisco 49ers team and has helped them get to many places that they could not have gotten to without him. His style of running is an asset that the niners depend on to have a good offense, and he has experience with the team, and how to get his job done. I know that we have a potentially great second year running back behind him in Carlos Hyde, but this guy needs at least one more year of Frank Gore being his mentor in order to be a great player for the 49ers. I believe that Carlos Hyde will be the starting running back within the next two years, but he needs much more than size and speed to be great in this league. The team also wonders about the Chris Culliver free agency. Culliver has been a productive cornerback for the past 3 years for the 49ers. He was injured for about half the season this year, but when healthy, is a force that is hard to stop. The Eagles are looking at him right now, and are strongly considering signing him to a multi-year contract. I think that the 49ers need to focus on the offensive side of the ball right now. Culliver will be asking for lots of money, and frankly, the 49ers cannot afford his asked prices.

Frank Gore is a valuable asset to the team- Pic from www.sfgate.com

Overall, the Niners have a tough offseason ahead of them. They are going to need to sign some defensive backs for the upcoming future and try to resign the franchises leading rusher. They have a tight salary cap space, and will attempt to spend every cent that they can on personnel that will affect the team in a positive way in the future. I have faith in my Niners to do the right thing with their players, and am looking forward to what the upcoming offseason will bring to the Gold Gang and the rest of the league.