CHIEFS PLAYERS FROM MICHIGAN: DE Mike Danna, OLB Josh Uche, WR Xavier Worthy*
The 15-2 Kansas City Chiefs lost to the Buffalo Bills 30-21 and then got blown out by the Denver Broncos in the final week 38-0, but that was when the Chiefs didn't care because they had their playoff spot locked up. Otherwise, it was a perfect but underwhelming season. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is undoubtedly one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL - and his Super Bowl rings say he's currently the best - but he finished 7th in passing yards (3,928), 9th in passing touchdowns (26), and 8th in QBR (67.7). Retread RB Kareem Hunt (200 carries, 728 yards, 7 TDs) led the team in rushing because Isiah Pacheco missed a big chunk of the year due to injury. Famed TE Travis Kelce grabbed 97 passes but for a mediocre 823 yards (8.5 yards/catch) and 3 touchdowns. Former Michigan commit Xavier Worthy, a 1st round pick wide receiver in 2024, caught 59 passes for 638 yards and 6 touchdowns, adding 20 carries for 104 yards and 2 scores. Former Michigan DE Mike Danna finished #4 on the team with 3.5 sacks, behind Purdue product George Karlaftis (8.0). Outside linebacker Josh Uche managed just 10 tackles across six games in his first season coming over from the Patriots.
EAGLES PLAYERS FROM MICHIGAN: DE Brandon Graham, OG Trevor Keegan, LB Ben VanSumeren*
Philadelphia QB Jalen Hurts is more involved in the running game (150 carries, 630 yards, 14 TDs), but he has had a fairly efficient year throwing the football (68.7% completions, 2907 yards, 18 TDs, 5 INTs). The offense has really been powered by RB Saquon Barkley (345 yards, 2005 yards, 13 TD), who has had the most amazing season by an NFL running back in a long time - not just with yardage, but with explosive plays and highlight reel talent. The receiving group is led by WR A.J. Brown (67 catches, 1079 yards, 7 TDs) and WR Devonta Smith (68 catches, 833 yards, 8 TDs), with TE Dallas Goedert (42 catches, 496 yards, 2 TDs) also a valuable receiving target. Former Michigan DE Brandon Graham (20 tackles, 3.5 sacks) played in eleven games this season, but an upper body injury caused him to miss the remainder of the year; he has been activated since the NFC Championship game, so he may play in the Super Bowl, which will likely be the final game of his career as he trends toward retirement. Former Michigan LB Ben VanSumeren, who finished his career at Michigan State, has played in eleven games and made 3 tackles; he has also played a little bit of fullback as a blocker in short yardage situations.
*Worthy and VanSumeren both signed with Michigan out of high school. Worthy did not get through admissions and ended up at Texas, while VanSumeren transferred to play for MSU.
PREDICTION
I don't want to pick against the best quarterback in the NFL. Mahomes always seems to make the plays - and some would say get the calls - when the game is on the line. But when I look at the rosters, I think Philadelphia has more talent. They have the best running back in the league, a great defensive line, two good receivers, a good tight end, and players up and down the roster from Georgia, along with high-level draft picks. The Chiefs of course have great players (Mahomes, Kelce, WR DeAndre Hopkins, DT Chris Jones, etc.), but top-to-bottom, I see more talent on the Eagles side. I'm excited to see what wrinkles Andy Reid has in store for the big game - he always has some fun play designs - but I think the Eagles' defensive talent will make enough plays to eke out a win. I'm going with the Eagles, 24-20.
Highlight of the game was the 12lb boston butt I smoked for 22½ hours
ReplyDeleteWife made sourdough buns, and the sammies made up for a boring NFL game
Yeah, I don't need every game to be a nail-biter, but blowouts aren't a ton of fun to watch. There was no drama with this one once it got going. Oh well.
DeleteNice to see Brandon Graham get another ring, along with a tackle and a pressure.
ReplyDeleteEagles leading rusher in the super bowl was the QB and the OL on the season produced what? an extra 1 or 2 yards above average on every play before the RB gets touched? Not so sure that Barkley is as important as he is made out to be here, even though he is one of the better RBs in the league.
ReplyDeleteSeems like he was a big winner in hopping onto the Eagles wagon as evident by his career high YPC -- jumping from 3.9 YPC in 2023 to 5.8 YPC in 2024.
Hurts proved a lot of his haters wrong again. Relatively low completion percentage but high YPA and ability to threaten on the ground....winning ingredients.
Ummm...that "relatively low completion percentage" was 77.3%. That's not low, nor relatively low. Drew Brees has the record at 74.4% for a season.
DeleteIf you don't think Barkley's dominance helped Hurts complete a high percentage of his passes - including hitting some big 1-on-1 shots to A.J. Brown, Jahan Dotson, and Devonta Smith - I have some pretty significant questions.
That was a good defense that focused on stopping Barkley, and Hurts made them pay.
Dude doesn't understand the game
DeleteI was wrong. Hurts was at 68.7% on the season which is an above average completion percentage. My bad.
DeleteBut 68.7% in 2024 and in 2023 it was 65.4% and in 2022 it was 66.5%. Asserting that Barkley is moving the needle here is dubious. It's possible (he's a good receiver and always has been) but Hurts is still just 26 so you would expect improvement overall. If it IS true, it's incremental, as the data shows.
I challenge you to show any correlation between Barkley's lack of success (a defense focused on stopping him) and an opportunity for Hurts (increased efficiency when they do). The Chiefs shut down Barkley, unlike the Commanders but Hurts was excellent in both games (QBR was 72 and 75, Passer Rating was 110 and 120).
Barkley isn't dominating. He's just a RB. Hurts is the impact player on Philadelphia. (and that's one helluva OL too, according to the line yardage stats I've seen). Hurts and the OL are handing Barkley one of the best situations in the league. Swift left and his production went down. Barkley arrived and his production went up. Context matters for RBs more than RB ability matters for RBs.
Hurts makes $50M a year. Barkley makes $12M a year. That's a pretty good indicator of their relative value.
"I was wrong"
DeleteIn other threads, you've called being wrong a lie ... shoe fits here for sure
"I challenge you to show any correlation between Barkley's lack of success (a defense focused on stopping him) and an opportunity for Hurts"
You literally argued the opposite for months - across multiple threads - that a defense committing to one runner opens up for the other
https://touchthebanner.blogspot.com/2024/10/washington-27-michigan-17.html?m=1
#notevenLankbelievesLank
LOL.
DeleteYes jelllly you are right when I argued about the value of the QB run threat to the RB run production I was actually arguing that defenses were focused on Saquan Barkley (Thunders assertion). And now that I'm arguing that Hurts and his OL make Barkley's life easy I'm actually arguing that Barkley makes Hurts life easy. You got me.
#fantasy exposed
#too something
Always. I always win, using your own words
DeleteHere's another L: while you question what Barkley brings, his teammates disagree
https://www.si.com/nfl/cameras-caught-jalen-hurts-special-message-saquon-barkley-super-bowl-win
It's been a bad year for Lank. While coaches, video clips, portal rankings, stats, B1G media (awards), Xs & Os guys and Teammates all align with my points ... you & misrepresent, then deny & dodge
#n0tbUiLtf0rtHiS
Another W for Lank.
DeleteJelllly double posts (by his own admission/accusation a sign of an emotional meltdown) a link to feelings to argue with the inconvenient facts.
Hold it up!
"by his own admission/accusation a sign of an emotional meltdown"
DeleteBack this up Lank. I'll bet you will never produce evidence that I claimed clicking a Publish button and having the post show up twice is a meltdown. Same bet as always: $1ooo donation to TTB
#betme
Nobody agrees with your crap RB take. Not coaches, not players. It's a bad take, so you want to address glitches in an online Publish button. JEownsLank. Bet me Lank!
*you'll dodge or lie ... ⏳
#jeDub
So thirsty for lank's attention. Still just not that into you. Sorry not sorry.
DeleteI don't care enough to look it up by I do remember. Even if your brain has atrophied that you forget things like the one time we DID bet and you lost and then FORGOT so you welched on the terms.
#prove me wrong and I'll give Thunder 10K
#no substance
#all trash talk
#hold up another
holy white flag ...
DeleteShut Lank up about Barkley
Shut Lank up about RBs
Got Lank dodgin & runnin from bets
name-calling. homophobic sarcasm. Can't prove it but "remembers" Fantasizing about old bets
This is what je93 has turned Lank into
#tooeasy
#jeDub
All fantasies all the time. jelllllllly gonna jeLLLLLLLLLLy
Delete"Nobody agrees with your crap RB take"
DeleteClearly that does not bother me, but so you know NFL GMs seem to. That's why Barkley gets paid so little compared to elite talents at every other position.
"glitches in the online publish button"
LOL -- You said it was an indicator of a meltdown little fella not me. Another fantasy. Not even you believe you.
No GM agrees with you that RBs don't matter ... Bet me Lank
Delete#dodgecoming
Prove I said that about YOUR meltdowns. You can't!
YOUR meltdowns are about taking three posts in 4days to get ... THAT? Yes, I am quantifying your Ls
But let's look into your claim: I bet you can't prove I said that about glitches ... because you're lying (again)
#betme
@jellllllllllllllllly
Deletehttps://chicagopolicyreview.org/2024/04/29/bankrupt-ballcarriers-how-nfl-policy-limits-running-back-earnings/
"running back talent parity relative to other position groups has made individual production largely replaceable. Following a 2000-2004 zenith of reliance on “workhorse” running backs—players entrusted with nearly every snap at the running back position— NFL teams have increasingly leaned on a group of solid backs to carry the load on the ground. This resurgence of the “running back by committee” approach to the ground game is one piece of evidence that front offices value elite running back play only marginally more than league average play. "
A long way to say what I say more simply and hyperbolically.
Or you can just look at the salaries.
Hold it up!
--------------------------------------------------
What do I win with this bet?
Oh you have nothing to offer?
I'm shocked!
#not that into you
#fantasy
#thirsty
-------------------------------
I can't prove to you everytime you are wrong because you are wrong about everything. Futile anyway. Even when I do it, you will duck dodge and deny because you're such a c0mPe1itOr! LOL. More like a fulltime fantasizer tap tap taping away on his phone. Emoji time!
--------------------------------------------------------------
But in this case I'll play along....
Here you go, at your request, since you have once again forgotten the things you say in the rush to fantasize about dubs that don't exist.
https://touchthebanner.blogspot.com/2021/02/joe-milton-ex-wolverine.html
"je93February 24, 2021 at 7:58 PM
This is correct. Two signs of Lank losing his mind: moving the target; and double posts (triple & quadruple = meltdown)"
This accusation/confession was stated many times. Some people just can't squeeze memories into their little delusional brains. Too busy with fantasies.
#quotes
#links
#facts aren't your friend
Hold it up!
-------------------------------------
Keep counting the posts and checking those time stamps. Just remember to never check your own LOLOLOL
#obsessed
#fantasizing
#telling on yourself
Hold it up!
Of interest to those who are interested in positional value and understanding how overrated RBs are in popular narratives.
Deletehttps://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/37985469/why-star-nfl-running-backs-devalued-next-2023-free-agency-future
"draft capital used on running backs continues to fall"
"It's reasonable to wonder whether star high school and college players should even consider playing running back when other positions offer more professional upside and stability."
"the idea of a team landing a star back without much of a pedigree for much less than market value dates back a long time. The same with replacing a dominant back with someone untested or less notable and thriving anyway."
"It would be naive to pretend the offensive infrastructure surrounding those players didn't have something to do with their success, even if it shouldn't be used to explain away ALL of their success"
"There are simply more good running backs than there are opportunities for those players to succeed."
"Teams also recognize that quarterbacks have an element of gravity in terms of creating efficiency for their running backs, which has depressed the value of those backs on the open market. Take Philadelphia, where the threat of Hurts as a runner creates numerical advantages in the box and freezes defenders whose responsibilities might otherwise be to target the running back."
"the idea of the back who carries the ball 20 times per game has mostly gone out the window."
"teams are rotating their backs more than ever. That would be a bad idea if offenses were suffering as a result, but rushing attacks have mostly grown more efficient by spreading rushing responsibilities around to multiple players, not less efficient. Quarterbacks routinely rank among the league leaders in expected points added on the ground because their runs average more yards per carry and convert third downs with scrambles."
"Yards per carry can be a noisy metric, but the league has averaged 4.38 yards per carry over the past five seasons, up from 4.17 yards per carry between 2006 and 2010 and 4.11 yards per carry between 1980 and 2005. Lead backs carrying the ball less and running games getting more efficient in the process doesn't make a strong case for valuing top backs as being worth significant money."
"the running back market has stayed stagnant while other positions have grown along with (or faster than) the rise in the salary"
"The evidence provided from looking at data and history, like what we've seen here, strongly points toward not valuing all but the best running backs as being worth significant investments, with a first-round pick or with a large second contract."
"the NFL is a zero-sum proposition. There's a pool of money to go around. If you think running backs should be paid more, that's fine. Which position are you paying less to get running backs a bigger piece of the pie? Which spot on the field is getting paid too much? Safety? Guard? Defensive tackle? Wide receiver? I would argue extensions at those positions have been more successful than similar deals for running backs and that it's been harder to find starters at those spots in the later rounds than it has been at halfback."
"The reality is we have a soft spot for players who touch the football. It's fine! Running backs are more fun than offensive linemen or safeties. I understand. The outsize importance of running backs in fantasy football is always going to make them a bigger piece of the puzzle than those players impact actual wins and losses."
*two essays, an hour and a half apart, because not even Lank believes Lank
Delete#quantifyingLs
"A long way to say what I say more simply and hyperbolically"
So you have no statement from a GM that mirrors your claim "RBs don't matter" ... another Lank interpretation spun into falsehood
#iwasright
Double posts are when you post twice, minutes (sometimes hours) apart. Sometimes three times. Sometimes four. Nothing there about glitches that post the same thing twice
#obsessed
#LankLiesExposed
I can see why you'd avoid taking a bet. I own you, despite the silly name changes and essays
Your Ls are stacked above. The facts are inconvenient, as always. Da Nile isn't just a river it's jellllllly's native state.
Delete