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Netgalley Top Reviewer

Professional Reader Reviews Published 2016 NetGalley Challenge 200 Book Reviews #BookAdvocatesUnite

25 May 2016

❤❤The Power Games by Brynley Bush New Release + Excerpt + Review❤❤

Ava Summers has been living a lie, pretending she’s fine when her stepfather’s unspeakable betrayal has left her numb, afraid to trust anyone. Now she’s about live the ultimate lie--pretending to be a submissive on a sexy new reality show called the Power Games at an opulent BDSM-themed resort in Las Vegas to ruin the man who stole everything from her.

Ava’s lies catch up with her when she’s paired with sexy but sadistic Dominant Roman Castile, a man with his own agenda and demands which tear Ava apart while exposing her to desires she never knew she had. The two come together in a collision of fear and passion that is ratings gold. But to stay on the show, Ava will have to surrender everything to him.

She’s awake but still in bed when I let myself back in the suite, and she’s the epitome of a woman who’s been well fucked and thoroughly satisfied. Her long dark hair is tangled, her lips are swollen, and her body languid. God help me for what I did last night. I’m a man with nothing to offer but pleasure mixed with pain, a man with nothing substantive left to give. But if I hadn’t already sold my soul to the devil, I would have willingly given it for that one perfect night with her. I know now that I can’t have Ava as my submissive—she’s far too inexperienced and innocent for a depraved sadist like me, but it sure as hell would have taken a stronger man than me to deny her or myself the single night of pleasure she requested.

“Hi,” she says with a shy smile.

“Hi yourself.” I smile back. “I brought you breakfast.”

She scoots herself up so she’s sitting in bed, and my cock throbs at the tantalizing glimpse of flesh that’s revealed as she pulls the sheet up to cover her breasts. I look away. Although I’ll never forget last night, I’ve got to get her and that flawless skin of hers out of my head, and the sooner, the better.

“When do we find out if we got voted off?” she asks, running her fingers through her hair self-consciously.

“I saw Logan downstairs. We’re still in the games.”

A wide grin splits her face. “That’s great!”

I sigh, cursing myself for what I’m about to do. What I have to do. If I live to be a hundred, I’m sure not a day will pass that I don’t regret giving up this opportunity. But Ava needs hearts and flowers and tenderness, or at the very least a gentle Dom like Emmett or Luke, not a ruthless sadist with a hole where his heart should be. She has no business being with me. She deserves far more than what I have to give her.

“It doesn’t matter, Ava. You don’t belong here. You should go home. There’s no doubt you’re a submissive, but I can’t be your Dom.”

“I don’t want a Dom,” she huffs. “I’m not looking for any kind of relationship past the games. But I do need a partner for the games. I want to stay, and I want to compete, and I want to compete with you. I want you to be my Dom for the games.” Her arms are crossed, and her full mouth is set in a stubborn line. It takes all my self-control not to force her to her knees right here and push my cock between those pouty lips.

“You don’t know what you’re asking, Ava,” I say firmly. “I told you once that I’m the devil in a well-cut suit, and I wasn’t kidding. There’s a dark side to me, a part of me that doesn’t just want to dominate you; it wants to hurt you.”

She pales, but she doesn’t look away.

“That morning when I whipped you with the crop? I loved seeing the fear in your eyes and knowing I put it there. If I’m your Dom, even if it’s just for the duration of the games, I will want to have you whenever and however I want, and I’ll demand that you completely submit to me. I fucking love holding you and watching you come apart, but for all the times I will want you wet and willing and begging for me, there are times I’ll want to tear you apart just so I can put you back together again piece by piece. I can’t always keep the monster inside me at bay. And that should scare the hell out of you.”

“It doesn’t,” she says, her voice low.

“Dammit, Ava, it should!” I snarl.

“It excites me.” It’s a confession, a whisper, and although I know better, hope grows wings and beats in my chest. But she doesn’t know the depth of my depravity, or what she’s saying.

I drag her out of bed and to her feet. I fist my hand in her hair, my fingers digging painfully into her scalp as I yank her head back so she’s looking at me. Tears spring into her eyes, but she returns my gaze steadily, almost challengingly. She’s still naked from our lovemaking last night, and I slide my hand over her flat stomach to her sex, unceremoniously thrusting my finger into her with no sweet foreplay or thought for her pleasure. Yet I can feel the truth of her words for myself; she’s dripping.

But she can’t want this. She may respond to me like she was made for this—and for me—but she’s completely inexperienced. She doesn’t know what she’s asking for.

I push her against the wall and curl my fingers around her wrists, holding them over her head with one hand while my other encircles her throat again. I crush my mouth against hers cruelly as my hips pin her to the wall, my hard cock pressing against her stomach. I want her to know exactly what I am, and exactly what she’ll get with me.

My teeth bruise her lips as I kiss her, stealing her very breath. My tongue spears into her mouth, roughly demanding that she acknowledge the impossibility of what she says she wants. I want to punish her, to break her and prove that she’s no match for the darkness that lives within me, but instead of turning away, she opens to me, her lips soft and yielding against my brutal attack. I break away. My resolve is weakening with each sweet stroke of her tongue against mine.

“Do you want to stay for the money? You don’t need it; you have the sixty thousand from the photo shoot. You haven’t signed anything yet. You could probably bargain for more. Hell, I’ll give you more.”

She shakes her head. “It’s not the money. Let me stay. Let me be your submissive for the show. Please.”

It’s that last word, coupled with those vulnerable green eyes, that is my undoing.

“Fuck, Avalon. You should run like hell from me, but I’m not sure I have the fortitude to make you.”

“Then don’t.”

“You have to be sure about this,” I say warningly. “There’s no going back if you agree to this.”

“I am sure. I’ve never been surer of anything before.”

“If we do this, there will be rules, and I will expect you to abide by them. I can work with your inexperience, but I won’t go easy on you or do this half-assed. It will be my way or no way. There will be no pretending. If I’m your Dom for the games, I’ll demand complete submission, and I’ll want complete control.”

“Okay,” she whispers.

Our eyes lock, and neither one of us moves for several long minutes. God, I want this. I want her. I’ll no doubt go to hell for not making her leave, but I can’t fight it anymore.

“Kneel!” I command.

She lowers herself to her knees in front of me and looks up at me with that intoxicating mix of apprehension and need in her eyes.

“Say it. Tell me what you want. I have to hear it.”

“I want to be your submissive. I want you to show me how. I want to give you control, and I want you to take what you want from me, however you want it.”

“You’ll have to trust me,” I warn. “Completely.”

“I’ll try,” she says.

“And what will you give me, Ava?”

That single word spoken with such simple guilelessness destroys me. This damn woman is going to kill me.

“I was looking for you to say your obedience,” I say with a wry smile.

She doesn’t smile back. “I want to give you everything. No limits. I want to give myself completely to you. I want you to make me yours.”

With a growl, I pull her to her feet and crush her to me. “You were mine from the day I first laid eyes on you.”

Hotness Rating 5 out of 5

Holy hotness this book is sizzling! Now, if you're like me you know that the BDSM trope has been done again and again and again in what seems every way imaginable and there is nothing new or fresh out there to read that falls into this category. The Power Games (Club Helix #1) by Brynley Bush has done it! She has found a way to make this overdone sub-genre a must read that will leave you begging for the next book.

Ava Summers is the girl that made me fall in love with BDSM again. She's a "normal, everyday girl" that has been hurt by her step-father and is left feeling lost and helpless. When her friend who just happens to be a Dom tells her about the new club opening in Vegas that just happens to be running a very interesting event it gets her thinking. The Power Games is a sexy D/s reality show that will be shot at the opulent Vegas hotel. Ava has no idea how this could even work for her. She isn't a sub nor has she even ventured into that world. Thinking that this is her chance to gain back some power of her own over her step-father and knowing that she trusts her friend she decides to go for it.

Roman Castile is hot, dark and sinful. While The Power Games isn't exactly his thing he is a Dom and a damned good one. But, one look at Ava and he's decided that being in The Power Games is now his greatest wish. Power, money and connections can do a lot for a man, but it can't buy you everything. The instant connection that Roman feels is somewhat foreign to him and has left him a little out of sorts.

Ava is shocked and a little scared when she finds out that you don't get to partner with the person you came with. However, her strength is amazing! She does it! She chooses to stay in the event even when partnered up with the darkly handsome Roman who scares her more than a little bit.

This couple sizzles as they navigate through the different challenges and events required in the games. The heat they generate is palpable and leaves your heart beating faster and your hands more than a little sweaty. The emotional obstacles they traverse have the same effect only in a very different way. My heart hurt for Ava and for Roman more than a couple times as I was reading this book.

All I can say is well done Ms. Bush on writing a sexy, intriguing book that has me impatiently waiting for the next one.

I give this book 5 out of 5 Stars

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Monday, January 26, 2015

Oliver McGee, Ph.D.  — Top Ten Policy Priorities of the State of the Union

As the president loads up his State of the Union shopping cart with policies and plans for helping the middle class at checkout, what policies do Americans want Obama and Congress to prioritize in 2015?

With hopes of putting the GOP-controlled Congress defensively on its heels, the President signaled a number of proposals he plans to put forth, while focusing on a more optimistic stance on the nation's economic growth and job creation, producing a drop in unemployment, saying last week during a trip to Iowa, ”I’m going to focus on how we can build on the progress we’ve already made and help more Americans feel that resurgence in their daily lives, with higher wages, and rising incomes and growing our middle class.”

However, a Pew Research Center survey conducted January 7-11. 2015 shows most folks in the middle continue to say they are 'falling behind' the cost of living, as 55 percent of families believe their income has diminished relative to the cost of living, compared to 57 percent a year ago in January 2014. Fewer families at 37 percent believe their income is staying about even in keeping up with the cost of living, compared to 34 percent a year ago at this time. Substantially far fewer families at 6 percent are optimistic about the economy to suggest their income is going up faster than the cost of living, compared to 7 percent of families having similar dismal sentiment about the income pinch they felt last year.

Read complete article here

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09 May 2011

The Chapter Ends with a Cliffhanger

 So I've finished my Senior year of college, however, I haven't graduated.  There's one thing holding off that degree, and that's an internship in the field of nanotechnology.  This week is going to consist of unpacking/finding homes for all my stuff and pumping my resume out to as many places as I can.
Please note I'm not an art student. Stick figures trouble me at times. Anywho...

Before I left school, which is on the opposite side of the state from me, I was given my Marshal Warrant, meaning that within AEthelmaerc I can hold my own practices. Unfortunately I live in the East, which means my warrant can't be used. I have to get an East Kingdom Marshal Warrant.  I plan on going to the fencing practice tonight (hopefully I can find it) and get my East warrant.

While I miss my friends and adoptive family from school, it is nice to be home again.  I just wish I had a working car.  In the mean time I have to borrow one of my mom's cars
The Audi TT Quattro is certainly more fun but requires premium petrol, something a jobless me doesn't want to pay for.  I also haven't driven stick in a while, so that should be fun. (The Audi has a 6 speed manual)  In the meantime, we're searching for another motor for my Pontiac; 2nd summer in a row where that car has been dead.

That's all I've got for now, nothing terribly exciting.

  1. On the contrary Adam, I think you have a lot of exciting things going on right now. You graduated, so you're taking the next step. You're looking for an internship so you can bring that chapter to a full close. And I'm pretty sure I would stab a hobo to drive that Audi.

    We miss you back in Cali, man. Good luck and stay in touch.

    ~Shane Pilgrim

  2. Haven't technically graduated yet.


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Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Universal Monster Party!

Happy Halloween time, everyone! Yes, it's that special time of year when monster costumes occupy every store; when little plastic skeletons and fake spider webs cover every window; when your favorite variety of candy seems to spontaneously become wrapped in orange and black. And in my particular case, it's that time of year when constantly drawing pictures of monsters doesn't seem quite so odd. So to celebrate this fact, here's a new monster drawing!

 Now to be fair, this picture isn't completely new. It's actually an alternate take on something I posted last year for a Wolfman themed art contest online. I added ink and water to this version, and I think it gives it more of a spooky feel. Hope you agree.

Anyway, have a great Halloween everybody, and save me some Reese's if you have any left over.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Batman and Superman!

Who doesn't love Batman and Superman? Certainly not me. They're two of the greatest comic characters of all time, and their "cool" factor skyrockets anytime they appear together. Hopefully that makes this new drawing cool by association.

Madman Colorized!

Here's my more refined version of the previously posted Madman sketch.

I decided to depart from my usual smooth inking style and go for a rougher, faster look. I kinda like it.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

The Flash - The Fastest Man Alive!

Here's a new picture of one of my favorite comic characters . . .

In my opinion, The Flash really has one of the greatest costumes in all of comics. I'm always all for simplicity, and I think there's something really striking about the head-to-toe red uniform with lightning bolt accents. I still have fond memories of zipping around the house as a little kid with my old "DC Comics Superheroes" Flash figure in hand. On several occasions, I broke the sound barrier. That, or I broke some of my mother's more fragile pieces of home decor. I can't remember.

Note: the figure possessed amazingly realistic "Running arm movement." Check out the sweet box art here.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Noir Women!

I've always loved black and white photos of movie starlets from the bygone era. There's alot of character to those images, and I tried to evoke that same quality in these pictures.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

The Astonishing Ant-Man!

Hi everyone! Sorry it's been so long since I've posted anything. I've been busy over the summer getting married and moving and random things like that. Anyway, I finally got to put my hand back to the drawing board and here's what I came up with.

This is a "first appearance" version of Ant-Man from "Tales to Astonish" #35. I'm sure there's only a few select people besides me who care, but I just wanted to note that fact since his costume gradually changed in later appearances from the way I drew it here; I want my sterling comic book nerd credentials to remain firmly intact.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

The Joy of Pork!

There's really no point to this drawing, but it makes me laugh.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Madman Sketch!

Here's a quick sketch I did of Mike Allred's Madman (inked version soon to follow!)
I just recently started reading the comics after years of hearing about them, and now I kinda think they're the greatest thing ever.


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Toronto Raptors: Predicting Stats for Every Player on the Team

Patrick YaghoobiansAnalyst IIAugust 6, 2012

Toronto Raptors: Predicting Stats for Every Player on the Team

0 of 14

    This season, the Toronto Raptors will look to make a statement. They have amped up the roster with some big acquisitions and a push for the playoffs is in sight.

    This article will predict what the main stats for every player who is under contract with the Toronto Raptors.

    The players are not in any particular order, but the first five are players that I believe will start for the team come the 2012-2013 season.

Kyle Lowry

1 of 14

    PPG: 15.8

    APG: 7.1

    RPG: 5.3

    SPG: 1.3

    Lowry was playing very well for the Houston Rockets in the first part of the season. He will have a better supporting cast come this season with players such as Andrea Bargnani, Demar DeRozan, etc.

Demar DeRozan

2 of 14

    PPG: 19.3

    APG: 2.2

    RPG: 4.1

    FG%: 47

    DeRozan has improved a lot compared to his rookie season, and although this past season was kind of a disappointment because of his very good sophomore season, he did improve on his jump shot.

    DeRozan has a good work ethic and it should translate to a better fourth season. He has a high vertical jump too, so rebounding numbers should be at least four for someone with his leaping ability.

Andrea Bargnani

3 of 14

    PPG: 23.3

    RPG: 6.7

    BPG: 1.1

    FG%: 48

    A healthy Bargnani is a dangerous Bargnani. Two seasons ago, Bargnani showcased how good he was at scoring.

    Bargnani has never been known as a good rebounder, but coach Dwane Casey has said he wants Bargnani to still contribute to boards, and Bargnani was much more aggressive last season compared to previous seasons.

Landry Fields

4 of 14

    PPG: 9.3

    RPG: 5.1

    APG: 2.3

    SPG: 1.3

    Fields had a better rookie year compared to his second season in the Big Apple. That may be largely in part to the fact that the ball was given to Carmelo Anthony more, and Iman Shumpert took the starting job.

    His defense was still the same, and that is Fields' forte. If he can get back to his rookie form, then Raptors' fans should be happy.

Jonas Valanciunas

5 of 14

    PPG: 8.4

    RPG: 8.6

    BPG: 2.1

    FG%: 58

    The man that every Raptors fan has been waiting for. The fans should not look at his Olympic statistics that seriously, considering the fact that he is not getting that much playing time.

    Valanciunas has been rebounding at a good pace and has been shooting efficiently, but that is mainly due to the fact that he has barely taken any shots.

    A Rookie of-the Year contender, Valanciunas will have a good rookie season as he adapts to the NBA game.

Terrence Ross

6 of 14

    PPG: 12.1

    RPG: 4.4

    SPG: 1.2

    3P%: 39

    Terrence Ross will most probably start the season coming off the bench, but he could end the season with a starting job, and the stats are based off exactly that happening.

    He will be given open looks from beyond the arc and he can hit it. Not only that, but he is very athletic, and we might be seeing some highlight-reel plays from Ross.

    He is also a good defender, but he needs to get bigger. If he does so, he can cause trouble for other guards/forwards.

    Ross has potential to be a great shooter in this league.

Ed Davis

7 of 14

    PPG: 7.7

    RPG: 8.4

    BPG: 1.7

    Ed Davis has shown he can play basketball. He is ultimately going to be a bench player to start the season.

    Last season, Davis' stats went down compared to his rookie year, but he still had some memorable games. Davis will most probably get some more playing time this season due to his development and Summer League play.

    Davis has improved his jump shot, which gives him and the team more options on offense.

    Unless Bargnani gets injured again or traded, Davis will be getting probably close to 17 minutes per game.

Linas Kleiza

8 of 14

    PPG: 9.8

    RPG: 4.2

    APG: 1.9

    Linas Kleiza has been playing amazingly for the Lithuanian national team so far in the Olympics, and he has been their leading scorer for all but one game so far.

    Unfortunately, that success has not been the same when he is wearing a Toronto Raptors uniform. He does not get as many touches on the Raptors, and there is a reason.

    Kleiza is a very good player off the bench and it is obvious that he will be a key role player for the Raptors this season.

Jose Calderon

9 of 14

    PPG: 4.4

    APG: 6.3

    SPG: 1.3

    Calderon will be coming off the bench this year with the addition of Kyle Lowry, and he might not even be on the Raptors' roster when the season starts.

    Calderon's name has been swirling in trade rumors, but should they keep him. Calderon will be the second point guard on the depth chart.

    He can score but decides not to be very aggressive, and his passing will be a huge plus off the bench, along with his leadership.

Amir Johnson

10 of 14

    PPG: 3.3

    RPG: 5.1

    BPG: 0.8

    Johnson will probably lose his starting job to Jonas Valanciunas, so along with his minutes, his stat production drops as well.

    Amir is an athletic big man whose offense will probably come from alley-oops and putbacks.

    His defense is what is he contributing to the team off the bench.

Quincy Acy

11 of 14

    PPG: 2.7

    RPG: 3.8

    BPG: 0.7

    Acy is going to bring you energy off the bench. His beard and bald head reminds many Raptors fans of a guy named Reggie Evans, one of the best energy type of players in the NBA.

    Acy has been working on his offense, and his jump shot has improved since college as showcased in Summer League.

John Lucas III

12 of 14

    PPG: 2.6

    APG: 1.9

    SPG: 0.6

    Unless Jose Calderon gets traded, John Lucas will not be getting that much playing time. Lucas is the third-string point guard and might not see the floor that much.

    Fortunately, Lucas can change the pace of a game quickly, as many fans saw in his stint with the Chicago Bulls.

Alan Anderson

13 of 14

    PPG: 3.2

    RPG: 1.4

    APG: 0.9

    Anderson was a scorer in his tenure as a Raptor last season. That will be his primary role this upcoming season.

    He is still young, so fans might see a more developed game from Anderson.

14 of 14

    The Raptors are in an interesting position this upcoming season. They might make the playoffs; they might not.

    Follow me on Twitter!!!

    Read my blog for everything sports!!


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What Will Go Down at Wrestlemania 25

Gagan SamraContributor IFebruary 23, 2009

With Wrestlemania 25 a few weeks away, many of the headlining matches are beginning to shape up with some exciting prospects for the 25th anniversary of the "greatest spectacle in sports entertainment". Here is my preview and predictions for each match, in the order of the appearance during the show:

Match 1: Money in the Bank Match

Participants : John Morrison, Rey Mysterio, MVP, Shelton Benjamin, Evan Bourne, Christian, Jack Swagger, Kofi Kingston

The MITB match will probably open the PPV as it did last year (excluding the battle royal) and should be the best one that has been contested to this date. Some of the most athletic superstars in the business today are in this match, which should produce some eye popping maneuvers.

The WWE may go with the battle royal again this year, so Christian and Swagger may be taken out of the match.

As for the outcome, any one could come out on top, but I am looking for MVP to win this match. He has suffered for the last year with the losing streak, but he seems to have turned it around and the crowd has begun to cheer for MVP.

Winner: MVP

Match 2: Battle of the Behemoths

Participants: Big Show, Koslov, Khali

I know, this match does not seem like the type of match that would be reserved for the main PPV of the year, but we all know how much Vince loves his giants. After the MITB, this could be the type of match that helps with the transition to the next match.

As I stated before, if the WWE has the ECW Championship battle royal again this year, these guys will probably be in that match.

Winner: Vladimer Koslov

Match 3: Matt Hardy vs Jeff Hardy (possibly no DQ)

These two have had a Wrestlemania match before, but it did not really live up to expectations. This year, however, should be very different. The build up to this match will be very important, as Jeff will refuse to face Matt only to have Matt continuously punish Jeff.

Eventually, Jeff will have no choice but to accept a match against his brother.

There is no need for this match to be no disqualification, but it would not hurt to make it this type of match. That way, the tables, ladders, and chairs could be brought into the ring. The finish should have Jeff pinning Matt for the win. Hopefully, this feud continues after WM 25

Winner: Jeff Hardy

Match 4: Edge vs John Cena for the World Heavyweight Championship

These two had one of the longest feuds in recent memory and almost all of their matches were superb. At the biggest stage, these two should be able to top all of their matches (including the TLC match at Unforgiven).

The outcome of the match can be debated, but I can see Edge retaining the belt with the assistance of Vickie and having Cena drafted over the Smackdown to once again feud with Edge.

Winner: Edge

Match 5: Chris Jericho vs Mickey Rourke (with Ric Flair)

It seems as though Stone Cold will not be fighting this year, which is a real shame considering this is probably his last chance to do so. No one wants to deal with Hulk Hogan, so I am going to say that Mickey and Chris will probably square off, with Ric Flair being Rourke's trainer.

The outcome of this match would probably have Rourke somehow sneak a pin on Jericho with the help of Flair for the win. There will then be a post match beat down of Rourke and Flair by Jericho, only to have Austin come out and save the day. The usual beer fest (not sure if that is a good idea with rourke ;) with all three men celebrating in the ring.

Winner: Mickey Rourke

Match 6: The Undertaker vs Shawn Micheals

In my opinion, this match should be the one closing out Wrestlemania. The match many people want to see will probably be the most memorable match of the night. These two have feuded in the past and created some memorable moments (First HIAC match and probably the best one) and this should all come together at the biggest stage wrestling has to offer.

There is no doubt that these two will put on a terrific match and keep the audience at the edge of their seats. Each man will land their respective finishers in the match, only to have the other kick out.

As for the outcome, there should be no disputing that Undertaker will be 17-0 after this match. If Micheals had not ended Flair's career last year, then there would have been the strong possibility of him ending the streak. Post match should have a congratulatory hand shake by both men.

Winner: The Undertaker

Match 7: Beth Phoenix vs Trish Stratus

There has been rumours swirling that Trish will have one more match at WM, but against Michelle McCool. I am not to thrilled to see that, so I hope they use Beth instead. That way, you can include Santino and Rosa Mendez in the match.

Some may wonder how the rest of the divas will be involved in the match. I guess you can have the Lumberjills again this year, but it may take away from the actual match.

If Trish does return, it would be very hard for the WWE to have her take the loss. It would make sense for Beth to win so that you are not burying the current top Diva, but I guess it would not hurt to have Trish get the win.

Winner: Trish Stratus

Match 8: Triple H vs Randy Orton (with Legacy) for the WWE Championship

This match will definitely have some major heat going into it, as evident with the past few weeks on Raw. They will each get the upper hand on one another for the weeks leading up to WM 25. This allows for the match to be unpredictable and the outcome not being too obvious.

These two have feuded in the past and have put on some excellent matches, but this one should no doubt be the climax of the rivalry. Triple H and Orton will work very hard to put on a great match and Legacy should somehow get involved in the match.

Now for the outcome of the match. Triple H has not been very successful at Wrestlemania, losing out on many high profile matches. Some may say the time has come for HHH to once again leave as WWE Champion for Wrestlemania. Orton has been given a massive push lately and if he were to lose, the push would be all for nothing.

Therefore, I see Randy Orton emerging victorious with the help of Stephanie McMahon, who will cost here husband the match. Wrestlemania 25 will have the the new Legacy with there arms raised in triumph as a new dominant force leads the WWE into the next generation.

Winner: Randy Orton

Those are my predictions for this year's Wrestlemania. Other possible matches, as stated before, could have the ECW title being defended by Christian. Some may say that having two heels emerge as the champions can never happen, but the faces are winning everything else. This should be a very solid show and one that many will remember for the next 25 years.


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Inside the Numbers: Debunking the Myth of the 2012 Packers Defense

Eric EvansCorrespondent IDecember 5, 2012

Sep 24, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks receiver Golden Tate (81) catches a 24-yard touchdown pass as Green Bay Packers players Sam Shields (37), and Jarrett Bush (24), and Charles Woodson (21) and Jarrett Williams (38) defend on the final play at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Packers 14-12. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

For the better part of the last year and a half, the Green Bay Packers defense has taken the majority of the criticism for the Packers inability to get back to the Super Bowl.

While this notion may have held water in previous seasons, it is not true of the 2012 Green Bay Packers. Let's take a look at the numbers and see how this year's offense and defense are performing in comparison to each other as well as to the rest of the league.

The Green Bay offense is often viewed as having to carry the defense in terms of scoring/allowing points. A closer look at the numbers shows otherwise. The Packers offense averages 24.7 points per game, good for 12th in the league. Meanwhile, the defense allows 21.6 PPG, good for 13th in the league. Such a slim margin in terms of raw points and rank in the league makes this too close to give either side an advantage.

Strength: Even

Total yardage paints a similar picture for both sides of the ball. The offense is averaging 350.6 total yards, good for 16th in the league. The defense is allowing 349 yards per game, good for 15th in the league. Again, such a slim margin between the two sides is not enough to reward either side. The narrow margin of one and a half yards is actually quite remarkable for 12 games into the season.

Strength: Even

Rushing Yards:

Rushing yards is the first category that we come across that has a large enough discrepancy to be considered a strength for either side.

The offense is currently ranked 20th in rushing yards, averaging 105 yards per game. Meanwhile, the defense is ranked 15th in the league, giving up 115.2 rushing yards per game. By being ranked five slots higher than the offense in this category, the defense has shown that it is more than 15 percent better against the run than the offense is at producing a running game.

Strength: Defense

Passing Yards:

The statistics for the passing game are almost the exact opposite of the rushing stats. The offense averages 245.6 passing yards a game, good for 11th in the league. Meanwhile, the defense allows 233.8 passing yards a game. This ranks the defense at 17th in the league. At six slots higher in the rankings, this would put the offense about 18 percent better in the passing game than the defense. This should not come as much of a surprise considering the offense has the current league MVP throwing the ball.

Strength: Offense

In terms of turnovers, the Packers offense is one of the best in the league at holding onto the football. The offense has turned the ball over just 12 times this season, good for fifth in the league. The defense has produced 18 turnovers so far this season, good for 16th in the league. The difference in rankings puts the offense about 34 percent better than the defense in the turnover category. With the combination of the offense having one of the most efficient quarterbacks in NFL history and the defense missing two of it's captains for parts of the season, these numbers should be of little surprise.

Strength: Offense

A closer look inside the turnovers finds the two sides incredibly even. The offense has thrown eight interceptions so far this season, good for fourth best in the league. The defense has produced 14 picks so far this season, good for sixth in the league rankings. With just a six percent differential in the rankings, it is not enough to be a significant advantage for the offense. The surprising part of this category might be the ranking of the defense in interceptions. Many have viewed the defense as struggling to produce interceptions with the absence of Charles Woodson, however, this shows that they are still producing picks at a high rate.

Strength: Even

Sacks is the most lopsided of all the comparisons. The offense has struggled mightily protecting the quarterback, allowing 39 sacks, ranking 31st in the league. The defense has collected 34 sacks, good for fourth in the league. That is an 84 percent higher ranking for the defense than the offense.

While it is no secret that the offense has had trouble protecting the quarterback, many may be surprised by how high the Packers defense ranks in the sacks category. Without Clay Matthews the last few games, the Packers defense has still managed to find the quarterback pretty regularly.

Strength: Defense

While there are a couple of categories that the offense ranks higher than the defense in, the lead in those categories is so slim that it has to be considered marginal at best. The offensive and defensive statistics are actually remarkably close.

While these numbers by no means show that the defense is the strength of the team, they do show that the production of the defense is so close to the production of the offense that the defense can not possibly be viewed as a liability. If that were to be the case, the offense would have to be seen in the same light.

And no one in their right mind is going to call an Aaron Rodgers led offense a liability.


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Dallas Cowboys' Leadership More Important Than Ever Amidst Tragedy

Justin BonnemaContributor IIDecember 8, 2012

CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 21:  Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys during their game at Bank of America Stadium on October 21, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina.  (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Tragedy has once again been spotlighted on an NFL Saturday. The life of Dallas Cowboys practice squad hopeful, Jerry Brown, has been claimed after a one-car accident early Saturday morning. Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent was arrested on charges of intoxication manslaughter.

Our thoughts and prayers are of course with the family and friends of Brown. We can only hope that the silver lining in this unfortunate circumstance is awareness for athletes and fans alike. Alcohol-related crashes are the leading cause of death for young Americans. What makes this kind of tragedy so infuriating is how easily it can be avoided. It’s as simple as surrendering your keys after consumption.

But, as with all things NFL, the show must go on. The Cowboys are in a must-win road game against a very good Cincinnati Bengals team. Leadership, even more than normal, is of the utmost importance.

And it starts with head coach Jason Garrett. It is up to him to find that delicate balance of empathy and preparation to get his team focused on the task at hand. Garrett isn’t someone that I would necessary view as a motivational speaker, however. Not to make light of the situation, but the Cowboys could use a speech from Eric Taylor now more than ever. This could be a career-defining moment for their young head coach. If they are to somehow put together an inspiring road win, which would keep their playoff hopes alive for one more week, Garrett might extinguish some of that hot seat talk.

But even if he delivers a speech of the ages and instills the unrelenting motivation required to win football games, it will ultimately be up to the players to deliver and lead the charge. One player in particular will have his leadership skills put to the biggest test of his six-year career.

That player is Tony Romo. Even in the presence of defensive warriors like DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff, it will be Romo who is faced with the tough task of pulling the locker room together. Romo knows more than anyone that the offense will have to carry a banged-up defense, one that will be playing with heavy hearts and is unfortunately light on talent.

That’s a tall order against a Bengals defense that has allowed only one passing touchdown in their four-game winning streak. What makes this situation even worse is the Cowboys’ paper-thin offensive line. Thankfully, left guard Nate Livings returned to practice Friday. It will be up to him to stop Geno Atkins, whose 11 sacks and 37 quarterback hurries have him ranked by Pro Football Focus as the best defensive tackle in the league.

But there is hope. If the Cowboys offensive line can somehow manage to give Romo a steady pocket, Dez Bryant and Miles Austin should have no trouble exploiting the Bengals’ undersized secondary.

We all remember Terence Newman, right? The guy that was a quarterback favorite and couldn’t cover an ant with a blanket last year? Now it’s the Cowboys' turn. Bryant and Austin need to be physical against these cornerbacks, especially Newman, and find the soft spot in the coverage.

With a defense that’s likely to surrender a lot of points, the offense will be required to make up the deficit. Romo can absolutely not afford to turn the ball over. And he has to find his receivers even as the pocket collapses.

His leadership, along with team unity and efficient execution, are the keys to carving out an emotional road win. It is in the face of adversity that champions are born. A win against a good team could very well spark the playoff run that this team so desperately needs.


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Los Angeles Dodgers: Breaking Down the Blueprint for Winning the Division

Jeremy DornAnalyst IIIMarch 18, 2013

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 18: Kenley Jansen #74 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on August 18, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

Dodger fans everywhere, rejoice! Official projections on MLB Network placed the Dodgers not only winning the West, but with a comfortable eight-game gap over the defending champion and rival Giants

Okay, now calm down. While many experts view the NL West as a two-horse race between the aforementioned, forgetting about the Diamondbacks, ignoring the Padres, and overlooking that offense in Colorado would be absolutely foolish.

Even with all the offseason additions, the Dodgers will not have an easy road to the division crown. Forget the natural bad breaks all teams need to avoid over the course of a season (injuries, slumps, etc.), and let's focus on the actual on-field performance.

The pitching staff will have to be at least as good, if not better, than it was in 2012. The offense, on paper, is the most dangerous lineup in the league. And manager Don Mattingly will have to juggle a lot of star power on any given day.

Here is a blueprint for winning the West and returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2009:

1. Rotate the Rotation

We know the top three, when healthy, will be Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Josh Beckett. And Hyun-Jin Ryu will get the first shot at the fourth slot in the rotation. Based on his spring performance, Ryu will probably strike out a lot of hitters, but also struggle in the ERA and WHIP departments. Unless he gets completely rocked in regular season play, Ryu will likely spend most of the season in the rotation.

But, there are some other options in the wings just in case. Chad Billingsley, Ted Lilly, Chris Capuano and Aaron Harang have all proven in the past that they can be more than serviceable starters. As a number four or five, the Dodgers should be happy to get any of these guys. But it would behoove Mattingly to give all of them an occasional string of starts until a fifth starter is officially determined.

Not only does this allow them to play the match ups in certain series, but it will keep the four pitchers happy. We already know that Harang doesn't want to come out of the bullpen (though his spring performance has probably landed him a spot there or on another pitching staff altogether).

With the tenuous health of a couple starters on this staff, keeping the rest of the candidates fresh would be a smart move. Even if Lilly and Billingsley each get a couple starts with extra rest in April, it could give the team an idea of who they want where for the duration of the season.

2. Righty-Adrian Gonzalez-Righty-Andre Ethier

I don't even care what spots they hit in, as long as they are penciled in order this way. There is the obvious benefit of alternating the right-handed and left-handed hitters in the heart of the order, but it also makes life difficult on managers who want to kill rallies by matching up a southpaw reliever with Ethier.

To get to that point, a manager has to roll with facing the other three, or just matching up a lefty with a few of them. Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez crush left-handed pitching, and Gonzalez is a .299 career hitter against his pitching counterparts.

Personally, I'd prefer to see Ramirez in the two-hole, followed by Gonzalez and Kemp. Even though it takes away the guarantee of a first-inning Kemp at-bat, the idea of a guy who can crush and run setting the table for the rest of the guys is exciting to me.

Chances are, Mark Ellis and Carl Crawford will hit first and second, followed by Kemp. I'm totally fine with that too, and truly believe that will be a dynamic leadoff duo. Kemp, Gonzaelz, Ramirez and Ethier should have plenty of RBI opportunities with this lineup in 2013.

3. Hand Kenley Jansen the Keys

Brandon League signed on to be the closer for three years this winter. He was vastly overpaid, but that is no issue in Los Angeles these days. The problem I had with the move was the "closer" label that was immediately stuck to him.

League has had a season and a half or so of good results in that position, and the rest of his relieving career has just been average. I think he has all the tools to be a dominant closer (he might be the only pitcher in the bullpen whose fastball has more movement than Ronald Belisario), and the mental make up to boot.

But Kenley Jansen is a strikeout machine who makes less killer mistakes with location (when Jansen misses, he walks people -- when League misses, the ball lands in the bleachers). I'd prefer having the young Jansen and his dynamite cutter on the bump in the ninth inning.

I've been saying since the League signing that Jansen would supplant him as the closer by the All-Star break this year. I sincerely hope I'm incorrect, because that means League would have been botching games for us in the first half. But when all is said and done, I expect Jansen to be the one throwing the final, clinching pitch for the Dodgers when they win the division in 2013.

You can follow Jeremy on Twitter @Jamblinman.


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Good Riddance, Lloydball!

Ross WenkContributor IMay 16, 2009

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 13: Head coach Rich Rodriguez of the Michigan Wolverines yells from the sideline in the first quarter while playing the Notre Dame Fighting Irishon September 13, 2008 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won the game 35-17. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

1. A slow-paced, low-risk, low-reward style of play in American football where the coach plays to the strength of the team which is always said to be the defense, even if the offense is obviously stronger.

2. The attempt to defend a three-point lead for the entirety of the fourth quarter, often against an inferior team, while shutting down the offense.

3. An exclamation screamed prior to throwing a brick through a TV.

Have you seen them yet? Have you seen the off-season articles about Michigan's 3-9 season stating fans now miss Lloyd Carr and his style of play?

Do you know any such Michigan fans? No? Neither do I.

Sure I've run across several disappointed fans, many who didn't quite know what to do with themselves on a New Years Day without Michigan Football but not one has expressed a desire for a return to the Lloyd Carr era and/or his style of play.

That would probably surprise an outsider or a casual observer but for the fans, the real hardcore fans, Lloydball was like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Better yet, it was the Velveeta of college football; a consistent and predictable processed football product.

No one who has ever had good cheese would ever confuse Velveeta with such a food. Likewise, no one who has ever been exposed to good football would ever confuse Lloydball with such a thing.

Michigan fans, as a whole, have well-developed palates.

I, for one, started to lose interest in Lloydball circa 2000. With each passing year, it became harder and harder to watch when I already knew the outcome.

Michigan would keep things close up to the fourth quarter, letting the opponent, often even a clearly out-matched opponent, hang around with a chance to win up to the final moments.

Sure, it was exciting the first few times I saw it, but as the years passed, I thought I was watching a rerun. I could have had the same experience popping in a VCR tape from seasons past.

Even though we often won these contests, it lacked any real satisfaction. What surprised me the most about 2008 was just how interested I was again!

Yes, we stank. We really stank badly like never before in my lifetime, yet I was drawn in. I had to watch again. It was all different and lacked all the things I'd grown to hate, YES HATE, about Michigan Football.

Gone are the days of “playing to the defense” (even when nearly all the players on offense are future NFL starters...see 1999)

No longer do we ride a singular tailback into the ground, without even a thought of a change-of-pace, while several other capable players warm the bench.

Never again will we watch players grow slower and less explosive over the years while the effects of H.I.T. (High Intensity Training) take hold.

Gone are the days we (and every defensive coordinator on Earth) can call the play just from the backfield alignment.

Everything was new and unpredictable. The outcome once again unknown.

The victories were few, but ever so sweet. Rarely had I celebrated a victory with the emotion I did in the crisp air outside the HHH Metrodome where I sang The Victors time and time again with groups of rabid fans, all knowing we had a glimpse of things to come.

The future is bright.

We have the right man in Rich Rodriguez.

Hail to thy Victors Valiant,

Hail to thy conquering heroes,

Hail, hail! to Michigan the Champions of the West.


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Kevin Harvick vs Ty Dillon Feud Boils over with Crash at Martinsville Truck Race

Joseph ZuckerFeatured ColumnistOctober 26, 2013

MARTINSVILLE, VA - OCTOBER 26:  Ty Dillon, driver of the #3 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet, and Kevin Harvick, driver of the #14 Anderson's Maple Syrup/Kroger Chevrolet, collide after an incident during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway on October 26, 2013 in Martinsville, Virginia.  (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

The Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway was a veritable potpourri of everything that could ever happen on a race track. There was an accident, a driver trying to purposefully spin another off the track and feuding between a driver and his owner.

What more could you ask for?

The drama began when Kevin Harvick and Ty Dillon made contact with 13 laps to go in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. Dillon tried a risky move on the first turn in order to take over second place from Harvick. He bumped Harvick in the side, and both drivers spun out.

That was only the first part of the story.

The two drivers immediately went back at it after the caution, and Dillon tried to spin Harvick out, but to no avail. Then, when Harvick was in pit row, he stopped his truck in Dillon's box so that Dillon wouldn't be able to enter his pit stall.

Harvick's day on the track was done, but he still had plenty on his mind.

Back in November, it was announced that Harvick would be leaving Richard Childress Racing for Stewart-Haas Racing. That deal won't go through until 2014, so Harvick is in a bit of a lame-duck period with his current team. But because he's on the way out, he didn't mind unloading on RCR and Dillon, the grandson of RCR namesake Richard Childress, via USA Today's Jeff Gluck:

Nate Ryan of USA Today has the transcript of what Harvick said during his interview in the infield:

(Dillon) just dumped me. Exactly the reason why I'm leaving RCR because you've got those kids coming up, and they've got no respect for what they do in this sport and they've had everything fed to them with a spoon.

So I cut him slack all day, and he just dive-bombs me in there, dumps me. It's a shame you've got to get taken out by some rich kid like that.

As a result of that fiery interview, David Caraviello of pointed out that Harvick and RCR are unlikely to have an amicable end.

Dillon had his own take on what went down with Harvick on the racetrack, via Ryan:

I can't believe that happened. To tear a truck up after the race and totally take us out, and then to not stick around after the race—to walk off and not even want to say anything to me—I'm sure he's tweeting something now about it.

So he can't even face me afterward. I'm pretty disappointed in the things that went down. I used to look up to that guy. I guess he doesn't understand the circumstances of what's going on ... To tear a truck up and act like a punk on pit road—and stopping by my pit stall when my guys are coming out—that was pretty ridiculous. I'm not happy with him. And for him to not even stick around, that's pretty sad, too.

In terms of the race itself, Dillon was able to stay on the track and eventually finished 22nd. Harvick, on the other hand, couldn't and ended up 30th.

This is unlikely to be the last act in this ongoing saga. Although Harvick still has time left on his deal, the relationship between him and Richard Childress Racing has almost grown to be untenable.

Childress remained diplomatic after the race, via Sporting News' Bob Pockrass. He said, "I’m very disappointed—that’s all I can say. I’ve got too much class to say what I want to say right now. When I say it, I will say it to his face."

Harvick will be racing in the Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 on Sunday, starting in the 10th position and under the RCR banner. The two sides will have to bury the hatchet for at least a few hours, as neither will want to sacrifice results in order to satisfy a personal grudge.


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A Manifest Destiny: Lacrosse's Success Rides on Non-Traditional Areas

David SanchiricoCorrespondent IMay 27, 2009

FOXBOROUGH, MA - MAY 23:  Jake Moulton #8 of the Syracuse University Orange battles  am Payton #32 of the Duke University Blue Devils during the semifinal round of NCAA Division I Lacrosse Championship at Gillette Stadium May 23, 2009 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.  Syracuse won 17-7. (Jim Rogash/Getty Images for Reebok)

A highly underground—something like a cult—movement has taken a hold of the sport of college lacrosse in recent years.

Despite a lack of extensive coverage and support from universities, NCAA lacrosse is becoming a fan favorite. The Final Four of men's lacrosse, which takes place on Memorial Day Weekend, is always one of the most attended college championships annually. 41,935 witnessed Monday's classic championship between winner Syracuse and Cornell.

Viewership is increasing, the amount of teams is rising, and the number of high school students choosing to play lacrosse over the traditional sports is surging upward.

These followers believe lacrosse is an up-and-coming sport destined to reach the popularity level of college basketball.

This will not happen if the sport can now show success in unfamiliar territories.

More and more kids are playing for high school lacrosse teams in the spring. Despite this, only few recruiting grounds remain fertile. Long Island, Upstate New York and the Virginia/Baltimore areas provide the majority of talent in Division I lacrosse.

Not surprisingly, the only teams that play on a consistent championship level come from these areas. Only four teams—Syracuse, Virginia, Princeton, and Johns Hopkins—have won a National Championship in the last 17 years.

As it is right now, the talent level for lacrosse is not deep enough to have a highly- competitive 57-team league. The traditional champions will continue to win and the NCAA Tournament will continue to be filled by the regular teams.

It is fun to see rivals duke it out for the top spot, but it's variability that provides more storylines and increased viewership. It's hard for fans outside of Durham, Charlottesville and Central NY to get committed to following the sport if they know it'll be the same old story year after year.

It's even harder if you live out west or down south and have absolutely no team to root for. Efforts have been made to increase the amount of teams and players in these areas rich in football and baseball competition. Nonetheless, the only two Division I teams out west are Air Force and Denver.

So a Manifest Destiny of sorts needs to take place. The leaders of lacrosse should make it their duty to spread their exciting sport to untapped areas. It is a tough time to convince schools, many of which are eliminating teams, to add a new one.

But to become a sport with national prominence, it needs to migrate from it's comfortable home-states of New York, Maryland, and Virginia. There are now many high schoolers playing lacrosse in California, especially in the northern part of the state.

A powerful college program would do wonders in an area like this. No one in California wants to root for Syracuse do they? Hell, I am tired of seeing seeing the same Orange win championship after championship.

Give me new blood.


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Stock Up, Stock Down for Atlanta Braves' Top 10 Prospects for Week 3

Martin GandyFeatured ColumnistApril 21, 2014

Stock Up, Stock Down for Atlanta Braves' Top 10 Prospects for Week 3

0 of 10

    Starting pitching J.R. Graham is off to a hot start in 2014.
    Starting pitching J.R. Graham is off to a hot start in 2014.Matt Slocum

    Welcome back to the Atlanta Braves weekly top 10 prospect stock watch, where every week, we'll check in on the organization's next generation of players. You can find last week's Braves prospect watch here.

    All of the starting pitchers on this list had just one start each, and all of them continue to improve and post good numbers. Starting pitchers are by far the strength of the Braves system.

    Meanwhile, the batters on this list all have some big holes in their games, and each of them need more time in the minor leagues. Luckily, none of these hitting prospects should be needed by the major league club any time soon.

    With the starting pitching in Atlanta leading all of baseball, and Mike Minor and Gavin Floyd nearing their returns, there is no need for any of the starting pitchers on this list to be rushed. That will help the Braves develop these pitchers properly and get them ready for when they might be needed next season in Atlanta.

    Season stats through the games of 4/19 are taken from FanGraphs. Weekly stats run from 4/13 to 4/19 and are taken from Minor League Central.

No. 10 Prospect: SP Wes Parsons, High-A Lynchburg

1 of 10

    CB Wilkins

    Last Week’s Stats: 0-1 in one start, 5.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 7 K.

    Parsons’ start last week looks bad, but all of the damage happened in his last inning of work, and his bullpen didn’t help him out at all.

    Parsons continues to put up numbers that rival those of his rotation mates, Lucas Sims and Mauricio Cabrera—both discussed later on this list. He just needs to keep up the good work, and he’ll find himself moving up this list.

    2014 Stats: 1-1 in three starts, 3.45 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 1.99 FIP, .233 BAA

    Stock: Even

No. 9 Prospect: SP Cody Martin, Triple-A Gwinnett

2 of 10

    Elsa/Getty Images

    Last Week’s Stats: 1-0 in one fantastic start, 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K.

    Cody must have read my lukewarm review of his early-season results last week because he delivered a terrific start this week. This is the Cody Martin who’s a top-10 prospect—the pitcher who can strike hitters out and keep runners off base.

    2014 Stats: 1-1 in two starts, 3.55 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 1.54 FIP, .220 BAA

    Stock: Up

No. 8 Prospect: C/3B Victor Caratini, Low-A Rome

3 of 10

    CB Wilkins

    Last Week’s Stats: 4-for-17 (.235) with two doubles.

    Caratini’s slow start to his 2014 campaign continues, but there are a lot of moving parts. He’s a switch-hitter, so he’s got to work on two swings instead of one. The Braves are also moving him between two of the most demanding defensive positions on the diamond—third base and catcher.

    He’s played eight games at catcher this season and six games at third base. At some point, the organization should probably decide what his permanent position will be, but for now, stringing him between two spots on the field shouldn’t be overloading him too much. When looking at his stats, just remember he’s juggling a lot on the field and at the plate.

    2014 Stats: .224/.273/.367, .238 BABIP, 14.3 K%, 7.1 BB%

    Stock: Even

No. 7 Prospect: 2B Tommy La Stella, Triple-A Gwinnett

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    Stacy Revere/Getty Images

    Last Week’s Stats: 7-for-23 (.304) with three walks.

    La Stella is starting to push his average to the .300 level. He’s also maintained his on-base ability while moving up to Triple-A, but his power has not yet arrived.

    La Stella has slugged above .460 at every stop in the minor leagues, so the hope is that his power will show up eventually. But as he is a smaller player, it’s worth keeping an eye on, as he needs to at least produce doubles power to have above-average value in the major leagues.

    2014 Stats: .295/.370/.318, .295 BABIP, 5.6 K%, 13 BB%

    Stock: Even

No. 6 Prospect: 2B Jose Peraza, High-A Lynchburg

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    Stacy Revere/Getty Images

    Last Week’s Stats: 9-for-31 (.290) with five stolen bases in seven attempts.

    All of Peraza’s hits this week were singles, but he made it beyond first on his own five times, thanks to his stolen base speed. He now has nine steals in 12 attempts this season.

    Peraza ranks second in the organization in stolen bases to his teammate, OF Kyle Wren, who has 12 steals in 13 attempts. Wren and Peraza are the dynamic duo at the top of the Lynchburg Hillcats batting order.

    2014 Stats: .309/.333/.353, .350 BABIP, 12.5 K%, 4.2 BB%

    Stock: Even

No. 5 Prospect: SP Mauricio Cabrera, High-A Lynchburg

6 of 10

    CB Wilkins

    Last Week’s Stats: No record in one start, 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K.

    According to Damien Sordelett of The News & Advance of Lynchburg, Va., Cabrera labored through his only start this week after having been pushed back. The Braves continue to protect their top international pitching prospect by limiting his innings.

    A tweeted report from his previous start had Cabrera’s fastball at 96-99 mph, his changeup at 86-88 mph and his slider at 80-83 mph.  You can see from that fastball velocity why the Braves want to protect Cabrera’s arm.

    As he climbs the minor league ladder, that fastball velocity mixed with the separation in speeds to his offspeed pitches will be in incredibly effective arsenal to deploy against hitters. The opposing pitcher the Atlanta Braves faced on Sunday, Zack Wheeler of the Mets, is a good example of this separation.

    2014 Stats: 0-0 in three starts, 2.61 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 4.36 FIP, .189 BAA

    Stock: Even

No. 4 Prospect: SP Jason Hursh, Double-A Mississippi

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    Alex Brandon

    Last Week’s Stats: 0-1 in one start, 4 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K.

    Hursh is cruising so far this season, and his numbers are pretty much where we want them to be.

    In an article by Guy Curtright of, Hursh discusses his sinking fastball and his approach to pitching:

    "I just try to be the pitcher I was in college," the Atlanta Braves' first-round pick in the 2013 draft said. "It's the same game. If you keep the ball down and hit your spots, you'll have a chance to be successful."

    2014 Stats: 1-1 in three starts, 2.57 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 3.27 FIP, .235 BAA

    Stock: Even

No. 3 Prospect: SP J.R. Graham, Double-A Mississippi

8 of 10

    Alex Brandon

    Last Week’s Stats: 0-1 in one start, 3.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K.

    Graham took a tough-luck loss in his only start last week and has yet to allow an earned run this season. All of his stats are right where we want them to be, as Graham looks to make a successful comeback from last year’s injury.

    M-Braves broadcaster Kyle Tait spoke with Graham before his start this week. You can listen to the interview here and learn all about his rehab from a shoulder injury last season, including the "table of terror."

    2014 Stats: 0-1 in three starts, 0.00 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 3.28 FIP, .178 BAA

    Stock: Up, as he continues his successful injury-free season.

No. 2 Prospect: C Christian Bethancourt, Triple-A Gwinnett

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    USA TODAY Sports

    Last Week’s Stats: 4-for-14 (.286) with his first two walks of the season.

    One of the big things to watch with Bethancourt is his walk total. Throughout his minor league career, he’s had a very impatient approach at the plate, with his highest walk percentage in any full-season league coming last year (4.1 percent).

    He added his first free passes of the year last week, as his entire approach at the plate continues to be a work in progress.

    2014 Stats: .211/.250/.237, .296 BABIP, 27.5 K%, 5 BB%

    Stock: Even

No. 1 Prospect: SP Lucas Sims, High-A Lynchburg

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    Dave Tulis

    Last Week’s Stats: No decision in one start, 6 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 4 K (two home runs allowed)

    Sims has been bitten by the home run ball this season, which is why his ERA and FIP are elevated. He gave up three homers all of last season in 116.2 innings, and this year, he’s already surrendered three in just 15 innings.

    We’ll have to keep an eye on those home runs allowed and hope that this is just an aberration and not a trend. All of his other season stats are right where we want them to be for the organization’s top prospect. He’s making batters miss with a .182 batting average against, and his WHIP is below one. If those good numbers continue, then his ERA will start to come down.

    2014 Stats: 1-1 in three starts, 4.20 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 5.13 FIP, .182 BAA

    Stock: Even


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San Francisco 49ers Day 3 2014 NFL Draft Primer

Peter PanacyCorrespondent IMay 10, 2014

San Francisco 49ers Day 3 2014 NFL Draft Primer

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    The San Francisco 49ers were highly active on Day 2 of the 2014 NFL draft.
    The San Francisco 49ers were highly active on Day 2 of the 2014 NFL draft.Jason DeCrow/Associated Press

    If the San Francisco 49ers were content with sitting at No. 30 in Round 1, while Rounds 2 and 3 on Day 2 of the 2014 NFL draft saw the 49ers execute a plethora of moves that totaled four picks over the course of the combined rounds.

    The 49ers still have a total of seven picks remaining in this year's draft, per

    Coming into the draft, speculation pointed toward San Francisco targeting a wide receiver and a cornerback early and, perhaps, often.

    With five selections now in the books, the 49ers have drafted neither. Instead, the team has made a number of different moves—some of which make sense, while others can be perceived as a bit of a stretch.

    Considering all that transpired in San Francisco's camp on Day 2, what should we expect from general manager Trent Baalke and the 49ers' front office on the third and final day of the NFL draft?

    There are still a number of plausible wide receiver and cornerback prospects remaining if San Francisco elects to go that route. The seven remaining picks give Baalke the means necessary to continue trading up—or down—as he desires.

    Or should the 49ers continue to go with the theory of selecting the best available player on the board when their number is called?

    While Days 1 and 2 often provide the biggest names and hype found during the draft, the proverbial "diamonds in the rough" can be found later on on Day 3.

    With Rounds 4, 5, 6 and 7 looming, let us prepare ourselves for the 49ers' plan of attack as they look to put the finishing pieces on what has already been one of the more intriguing drafts in recent memory.

    Statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.comand unless otherwise indicated. Contractual information courtesy of

Day 2 Recap & Analysis

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    Perhaps the biggest news that came out of the 49ers' camp on Day 2 was not something that took place on the 2014 draft board.

    The 49ers acquired Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson in exchange for a 2015 conditional fourth-round pick per Adam Schefter of ESPN (h/t ABC News).

    THIS JUST IN: Bills trade WR Stevie Johnson to 49ers for conditional 4th-round pick in 2015. (via @AdamSchefter)

    — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 9, 2014

    The 27-year-old, San Francisco-born wideout has totaled 1,000-plus yards in three of the last four seasons. Johnson possesses a combination of both size and speed—elements the 49ers were unquestionably looking for in a collegiate prospect this year.

    The move makes sense considering general manager Trent Baalke's track record with collegiate wideouts in recent years. The memory of 2012 first-round draftee A.J. Jenkins still looms large in the minds of many a 49ers fan.

    With the inclusion of Johnson on San Francisco's roster, the 49ers need to target a wide receiver in Rounds 2 and 3 suddenly became less important.

    If the 49ers' acquisition of Johnson turned some heads, the multitude of moves made by Baalke over the course of Day 2 was enough to confuse plenty of analysts—this author included.

    I think that's five trades by the 49ers today, including the Steve Johnson deal. That's a lot.

    — Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) May 10, 2014

    The 49ers back-to-back trades with DEN/MIA was beautiful. Really robbed the Broncos, getting a 2015 4th in the process.

    — Football Perspective (@fbgchase) May 10, 2014

    Simply put, the 49ers were aggressive with their Day 2 draft moves. They had the means to make almost any move they wanted and it showed.

    Yet none of these moves—aside from the Johnson trade—involved a cornerback or wide receiver. Odd perhaps, but after some close examination of the 49ers' moves, San Francisco appears comfortable drafting for future investments opposed to immediate needs.

    The Picks

    Here's the third-round wrap-up for the 49ers. They tap center, linebacker, guard ...

    — Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) May 10, 2014

    For a full rundown of 49ers draft picks, visit this author's analysis and grades here.

    Round 2, Pick No. 57 Overall: Carlos Hyde, RB, Ohio State

    The 49ers love to run the ball with powerful, downhill running backs. Carlos Hyde fits that mold, even though he will be moving into a crowded backfield with the aging Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter, LaMichael James and Marcus Lattimore.

    This is a decent idea considering Gore is nearing the end of his career and the fact that Lattimore is yet to take the field, but at No. 57?

    Round 3, Pick No. 70 Overall: Marcus Martin, C, USC

    San Francisco's coaching staff does not typically just give jobs to players on the roster.

    Such would have been the case had the 49ers not tabbed a safety before training camp. Daniel Kilgore looks to be the initial favorite to take over for Jonathan Goodwin, but Martin changes all of that. He has the potential to start his rookie season.

    Round 3, Pick No. 77 Overall: Chris Borland, LB, Wisconsin

    Adding Borland solves an immediate depth problem in the wake of NaVorro Bowman's injury. With Bowman looking to return towards the middle of the 2014 season, adding some depth at this position alongside Michael Wilhoite became a priority.

    Borland may be a bit undersized and perhaps San Francisco could have waited, but the need was there and they wasted no time in picking up the Wisconsin linebacker.

    Round 3, Pick No. 100 Overall: Brandon Thomas, OL, Clemson

    Coming off an ACL tear, Clemson's Brandon Thomas will assuredly spend his rookie season on injured reserve—redshirting his first NFL season. Thomas was certainly a much higher-ranked pick before the injury, so the 49ers will get some value here if Thomas fully recovers.

    In the bigger picture, Thomas could be a potential favorite to take over for Pro Bowler Mike Iupati if he proves too difficult to re-sign after his 2014 contract year.

Updated Needs for 49ers

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    Trent Baalke has been able to cross off a number of needs from San Francisco's list two days into the 2014 draft.

    While some of these needs—primarily wide receiver—were not picked up in the draft, the 49ers have to be feeling pretty good about their situation as they move into the final day.

    Rounds 4 through 7 can still provide a number of viable options for San Francisco, supplementing the remaining needs Baalke and Co. have as they look to put the finishing touches on this year's draft class.

    Starting off with NBC Sports analyst Curtis Crabtree's assessment of 49ers' needs, the team can cross off three of the five needs he points out—wide receiver, center and linebacker.

    Two needs remain solely based on Crabtree's opinion—cornerback and quarterback.

    The cornerback position has been addressed to a point by San Francisco's first-round acquisition of Jimmie Ward, who can line up as a safety or as a slot corner.

    Interesting pick by 49ers. We all thought corner, but not nickel safety/corner type.

    — Mike Sando, (@SandoESPN) May 9, 2014

    Let's take a look at some remaining needs of our own.

    The 49ers may have passed on all the corners in this draft thus far, banking on Ward becoming the slot option.

    Yet this position still remains relatively thin, even with the addition of Ward in Round 1. A number of prospects still remain to be had in Round 4 and beyond, so perhaps we should predict San Francisco nabbing a corner if he is the best available player on the board.

    Baalke said 2014 CB draft class "hasn't been what's it been in past years." #49ers open to drafting CB if he's highest rated when they pick.

    — Taylor Price (@TaylorPrice49) May 10, 2014

    Corners like Lindenwood's Pierre Desire are still available and may entice another 49ers move.

    Wide Receiver

    Perhaps adding another wideout at this point is not so much of a need as it is a luxury.

    If a talented receiver falls to the 49ers at whichever pick moving forward, Baalke may elect to draft a prospect to his liking—much like how he did with Quinton Patton in the fourth round last year.

    Heading into 2015, San Francisco's depth chart at the position is looking pretty crowded. Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree hold the No. 1 and 2 slots. Quinton Patton and Stevie Johnson will compete for the third receiver, while Brandon Lloyd will offer some veteran competition. There is Jon Baldwin in the mix as well.

    But one has to consider that veterans like Boldin and Lloyd are not going to be around forever. Crabtree, entering a contract year, may be difficult to retain. Baldwin may be cast off if he fails to perform.

    That leaves Patton as the only long-term option.

    Perhaps San Francisco looks at a third-round sleeper like Kevin Norwood out of Alabama.

    What Norwood does here is quite amazing too. Take heed @49ers /Baalke. Late round value! :)

    — Miguel Evangelista (@YouGoMango) April 8, 2014

    Outside Linebacker

    The 49ers have tabbed an inside linebacker to provide the depth necessary behind NaVorro Bowman as he continues his rehabilitation from knee surgery.

    On the outside, San Francisco may also be without Aldon Smith—suspended potentially for as many as eight games, per Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee when he was a recent guest on the 49ers' flagship radio station KNBR 680.

    At the outset, the 49ers would probably tab Corey Lemonier and Dan Skuta on the outside to fill in Smith's stead.

    This scenario should be fine for most 49ers fans, but the addition of another pass-rushing linebacker late in the draft would not be the worst idea here.

    Defensive Line

    San Francisco's offensive line received two reinforcements in Round 3, one of which—center Marcus Martin—may be able to start in Week 1 if he wins the competition over veteran Daniel Kilgore.

    Having completed the bulking up on the O-line, the 49ers can now look to the defensive front.

    Justin Smith is not getting any younger and should be kept fresh. Tank Carradine—while very promising—has yet to take the field in an NFL game. Until his impact is felt, we cannot say how deep the 49ers' D-line truly is.

    At any rate, a multitude of talented pass-rushers along the front seven can prove to be a huge bonus for defensive-minded teams. The 49ers are one such franchise and adding such elements may be the route taken.

    Just for the continued sake of argument, the 49ers are probably not ruling out the addition of a late-round quarterback prospect.

    McLeod Bethel-Thompson currently holds down the third-string quarterback position, but that does not indicate that quarterback guru Jim Harbaugh would be against drafting another protege at some point deep in the draft.

    Does it happen? Perhaps.

    Will it? Who knows.

Top Day 3 Targets

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    We touched on a couple of potential targets San Francisco could be eyeballing in Rounds 4 through 7.

    While we should expect San Francisco to add a limited amount of prospects in spite of their seven remaining picks, which top targets will the 49ers consider adding on Day 3?

    Let's take a look.

    Pierre Desir, CB, Lindenwood

    CBS Sports Profile

    Even though the 49ers have likely picked up their slot cornerback of the future in Jimmie Ward, San Francisco's secondary could still use a little bit of work moving forward.

    Tramaine Brock figures to be atop the depth chart. Chris Culliver is returning from a season-long injury and Eric Wright is looking to have a more prominent role with the 49ers. Chris Cook was added during the offseason. There is Perrish Cox on the roster too.

    Aside from Ward, most of those names do not necessarily inspire a ton of confidence when evaluating the 49ers' secondary. With that in mind, should the 49ers target a promising corner like Pierre Desir?

    Pierre Desir is still available. Someone's gonna get a steal tomorrow.

    — SI_DougFarrar (@SI_DougFarrar) May 10, 2014

    Desir would add further depth to San Francisco's secondary and, as noted by Sports Illustrated's Doug Farrar's aforementioned tweet, he would be a steal in Round 4.

    Keith McGill, CB, Utah

    College Statistics

    With the same backdrop as Desir, the 49ers may also look to add a sizable corner by drafting Utah cornerback Keith McGill.

    McGill, who is 6'3" and 211 pounds, was listed by CBS Sports as a late second- or early third-round pick. His slip is a bit of a mystery considering his combination of size and speed, although injuries have possibly deterred some teams.

    Still, a player like McGill could be the viable addition to San Francisco's secondary that would put them on a similar level to other elite secondaries in the NFL.

    Kevin Norwood, WR, Alabama

    College Statistics

    The addition of Stevie Johnson takes a lot of pressure off the 49ers when it comes to adding a receiver with the desired combination of speed and size.

    Yet, as we've covered, San Francisco's receiving corps could be vastly different in a couple of years pending what happens with players like Michael Crabtree, Anquan Boldin and Brandon Lloyd.

    Therefore, the addition of a receiver like Kevin Norwood from Alabama would be a smart option for the 49ers if they were looking to bulk up the wideout depth chart for years to come.

    At 6'2" and 198 pounds, Norwood could still bulk up to compete with some of the more physical defensive backs he will face at the NFL level. Yet one cannot overlook his excellent hands and desired speed—both of which are suggested by his draft profile on CBS Sports.

    In a deep WR class, Alabama WR Kevin Norwood will make some team look very smart for waiting. My feature: #NFLDraft

    — BJ Kissel (@bkissel7) May 7, 2014

    Norwood may take a year or so to be coached and bulked up, but the potential is there. At this point in the draft, selecting a player like Norwood would be a steal.

    Taylor Hart, DE, Oregon

    College Statistics

    San Francisco has already addressed the future of its offensive line by this point in the draft.

    But adding some more bulk to the defensive line could be a route taken by Trent Baalke in the later rounds of the draft.

    Oregon defensive end Taylor Hart (6'6 and 281 pounds) is a beast of a specimen who totaled 16 sacks during his four years with the Ducks.

    While his pass-rushing skills are not necessarily elite, he does offer the prowess on the field which could help relieve some of the better-known 49ers D-linemen.

    Rotating defensive lines is becoming a more popular option in today's NFL, and adding a player like Hart could be a means to ensure the line stays fresh over the duration of a season.

What Are the Experts Saying?

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    Trent Baalke continues to stockpile picks in 2014 and beyond.
    Trent Baalke continues to stockpile picks in 2014 and beyond.Paul Sakuma/Associated Press

    Following the multitude of 49ers trades in Day 2, it is safe to assume that many experts and analysts were thrown for a whirlwind when it came to their predictions in Rounds 2 and 3.

    These obviously offset what many initially predicted San Francisco to do moving into the third day of the 2014 draft.

    With all of this in mind, what are the experts saying closing in on the final day of the draft?

    Taylor Price,

    Baalke has darts alright, seven to be exact. The GM’s draft-day trades earned San Francisco extra Saturday picks. Now the 49ers will have two picks in the fourth round, two picks in the fifth round, one pick in the sixth round and two picks in the seventh round. Assume Baalke will continue to take the best player available regardless of position when San Francisco is on the clock. With a talented roster comprising of veteran players, the 49ers are also in position to acquire more selections in 2015, so Baalke can continue his draft-day stranglehold of draft picks.

    Price is absolutely correct when it comes to Baalke's approach for the remainder of the draft. He will assuredly take the best player available when the 49ers' number is called in these remaining rounds.

    This is, of course, if San Francisco elects not to make even more trades on Day 3.

    Matt Barrows, The Sacramento Bee:

    Now the 49ers have seven picks on Saturday. Do they have that many roster spots? Or lockers? Or helmets?

    — Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) May 10, 2014

    Barrows' tweet may be humorous to a certain extent, but he does bring up a notable point. The 49ers are running not out of picks, but rather out of roster spots.

    There are simply not enough holes on the roster to utilize each of the remaining picks San Francisco has.

    With this in mind, do we expect a trade-off with the hopes of bulking up for 2015?

    Tim Kawakami, The San Jose Mercury News:

    It's everything for the 49ers, just like it was everything for the Seahawks last year, and the Seahawks won the Super Bowl because of it. It's all about one game in Seattle, one game in Santa Clara, and probably one game in the playoffs, and the 49ers are loading up for them, wisely and unabashedly.

    In this conclusion, Kawakami has hit the nail on the head. The Seahawks are not only the 49ers' chief rival, but the primary mark by which San Francisco needs to measure itself in order to reach that elusive sixth Super Bowl.

    Most of the 49ers' picks up to this point have appeared to have Seattle in mind. The 49ers want to be able to exceed what Seattle has done thus far, and their picks so far are evidence.

4 Predictions for Day 3

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    Unless you are a tremendous genius, you probably predicted few-to-none of the 49ers' actions—especially on Day 2.

    San Francisco certainly threw plenty of experts through a loop with their trades and transactions throughout the day. Perhaps we'll see some more surprises.

    Here are four of them.

    49ers Hold Onto LaMichael James... For Now

    Running back LaMichael James must be fuming with San Francisco's selection of Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde.

    He was already counting on competing with Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter and Marcus Lattimore for playing time in 2014. Now, another back has been added to the mix.

    While James' primary value remains in the return game, the thought of him getting his touches on offense becomes even more bleak.

    For most of this author's coverage, moving James as part of a trade-up package appeared to be the most plausible option.

    Now, thus far in the draft, San Francisco has yet to target a return man. Unless the 49ers have something unforeseen up their sleeves, James appears to be staying put.

    According to Taylor Price of, general manager Trent Baalke appears comfortable with retaining James as San Francisco's return man moving forward.

    Unless something changes in Rounds 4 through 7, James will probably remain part of the 49ers.

    More Picks Are Traded Off

    San Francisco did this plenty of times on Day 2. Why would anything change on Day 3?

    As we have covered, the 49ers have seven remaining picks throughout the rest of the draft. At this rate, San Francisco is running out of roster spots for these new prospects.

    There may still be a handful of targets that Baalke and Co. are eyeballing, but certainly not seven of them.

    We have seen Baalke get creative with late-round picks before, and perhaps he elects to move some of these picks for future considerations—perhaps draft picks in 2015 and beyond.

    49ers Target a Cornerback

    Regarding some of the Day 3 targets, the 49ers may be able to make a steal for one of the top-remaining corners left on the board.

    We've mentioned players like Pierre Desir and Keith McGill, so it is not far from truth that the 49ers would look to add some more muscle to their evolving secondary.

    With the 49ers picking sixth in Round 4, trading up wouldn't be necessary. Grabbing a player like Desir or McGill at this point would be a steal.

    Jim Harbaugh Wants a Quarterback

    Last season, head coach Jim Harbaugh grabbed B.J. Daniels late in the draft.

    Daniels had some promising moments during the preseason before eventually winding up with the Seattle Seahawks.

    During that phase, Harbaugh and Co. had their fair share of quarterbacks on the roster. Daniels, Scott Tolzien, Colt McCoy and Seneca Wallace were among those vying for backup positions behind Colin Kaepernick.

    With Blaine Gabbert on the roster, and McLeod Bethel-Thompson competing for the third-string quarterback role, it is plausible that Harbaugh wants to get his hands on a quarterback that he feels could be turned into something useful.

Updated San Francisco 49ers Mock Draft

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    With Rounds 1 through 3 complete, the San Francisco 49ers now turn their attention to the final phases of the 2014 NFL draft.

    For a complete breakdown of the 49ers' actions during the first two days of the draft, check out this author's detailed analysis.

    Round 4, Pick No. 106 Overall: Keith McGill, CB, Utah

    A corner like McGill is not going to be sitting around for long, so the 49ers pounce on this pick when they have the sixth pick in the round.

    Having already added a potential slot corner in the first round with Jimmie Ward, San Francisco looks to add some bulk into the backfield. McGill provides that at a bargain rate.

    Round 4, Pick No. 129 Overall: 49ers trade remaining fourth-round pick for future considerations.

    Trent Baalke is at it again—he finds a team wanting to jump on some of the sleeper picks the 49ers have no use for.

    San Francisco's roster has quickly filled up and there is more benefit from trading this pick than there is using it.

    Round 5, Pick No. 150 Overall: Brandon Coleman, WR, Rutgers

    At 6'6" and 225 pounds, the 49ers look at Rutgers wideout Brandon Coleman as a potential solution to the team's red-zone problems.

    Coleman is extremely raw, and there are reasons why his physical stature did not do enough to place him higher in the draft.

    Rob Rang of CBS Sports compares him to Jon Baldwin, which would probably turn most 49ers fans' heads.

    Round 5, Pick No. 170 Overall: Adrian Hubbard, OLB, Alabama

    The 49ers have taken care of their need for an inside linebacker already by drafting Chris Borland from Wisconsin.

    With Aldon Smith's suspension looming, adding an SEC defender is a nice stop-gap option behind likely replacements Corey Lemonier and Dan Skuta.

    Hubbard gives San Francisco some added depth and perhaps offers some enticing possibilities on special teams.

    Round 6, Pick No. 180 Overall: 49ers trade early sixth-round pick for future considerations.

    With the fourth pick in Round 6, Baalke finds some team out there that is willing to trade up, either for later picks in subsequent rounds or low picks in 2015.

    A number of teams still have a lot of pressing needs and one can bank that a few GMs are going to be desperate enough to try and land this early pick in the round.

    Round 7, Pick No. 243 Overall: Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson

    Rob Rang of CBS Sports compared Boyd to Seattle's Russell Wilson at one point and we all know how the 49ers are enamored with beating the Seahawks.

    Head coach Jim Harbaugh looks to mold another young quarterback that was once a promising prospect. Given how far Boyd has fallen since his senior year at Clemson, the 49ers figure they can try and turn him into something worthwhile.

    At worst, Boyd becomes another member on the growing list of 49ers' quarterback castoffs.

    Round 7, Pick No. 245 Overall: LaDarius Perkins, RB, Mississippi State

    With the final pick on the 49ers' board, Baalke attempts to signal the end of LaMichael James' tenure in San Francisco by drafting Mississippi State running back LaDarius Perkins.

    At 5'7" and 195 pounds, Perkins has zero chance of ever becoming a part of San Francisco's ground game.

    Yet he does possess return abilities—having averaged 21.1 yards per return at the collegiate level.

    As always, be sure to stay tuned to this author's coverage and analysis of each 49ers pick in the 2014 NFL draft. Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers. Follow him@PeterMcShots on Twitter.


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World Cup 2014 Opening Game: Fixture Info and Prediction for Brazil vs. Croatia

Timothy RappFeatured ColumnistJune 12, 2014

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JUNE 30:  Thiago Silva of Brazil points during the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 Final match between Brazil and Spain at Maracana on June 30, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

You just couldn't ask for a better team to open the World Cup than Brazil. Yes, as the host nation, they are given the honor of kicking off the event, but few teams have the capability of opening the tournament with more flash and sizzle than the Brazilians.

Croatia, on the other hand, probably isn't so thrilled with the excitement and talent the Brazilians bring to the table. The European side is strong, no doubt, but playing in front of a Sao Paulo crowd will make a difficult task all the less enviable in their opening match.

It's a heck of a contest to open the proceedings; that much is for certain. Let's break it down.

When: Thursday, June 12 at 4 p.m. ET

Where: Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Watch: ESPN

Streaming: WatchESPN

The immediate concern for Croatia in this match will simply be where the goals come from. The country scored a modest 14 goals in 12 European qualifiers (including the 2-0 aggregate win over Iceland in the playoff) and will be without Mario Mandzukic against Brazil after he was sent off against Iceland.

That puts added pressure on Wolfsburg forward Ivan Perisic to find the net, and although he scored two goals in a 2-1 win over Mali in a pre-World Cup friendly, the going will surely be much tougher against mighty Brazil.

Perisic did net 10 goals in 33 Bundesliga appearances this year, so he's no slouch, but Mandzukic would have given the Brazilian defense a more dangerous target to concern itself with.

As for Brazil, well, scoring goals is generally not an issue. Led by Barcelona's Neymar and Chelsea's Oscar, the Brazilians have a fluid and fast attack that punishes teams lax enough to be caught on their heels. The host side will swarm Croatia in the midfield and look to quickly win the ball back before pushing the ball forward in the attack, so Croatia must be poised in that area if they are to slow down the game and stifle Brazil.

The key man in that role, then, is Real Madrid's Luka Modric—Croatia's best player and the key facilitator from his position in the midfield. A maestro of the pass and a player capable of quarterbacking Croatia through peril, he'll need to be sturdy against Brazil's pressing tactics.

If Croatia can solve the press, they may find opportunities to nick a goal or two. For all of the talent Brazil have in defense, they can at times be vulnerable in the back, especially when fullbacks Marcelo or Dani Alves are caught forward after their excursions down the wing in the attack.

In general, however, Brazil should control possession and the pace of this game. They are the more talented side by leaps and bounds and should have the added boost of the home crowd behind them. If the pressure of the moment doesn't overtake them—and this is a roster full of players from top European clubs, so pressure is nothing new—the Brazilians should control this match throughout.

Even if Mandzukic were playing, Brazil would be heavy favorites. This is a balanced, talented team that keeps opponents out of any rhythm by swarming the ball—just ask the Spain team that lost to them in the Confederations Cup final, 3-0—but can also kill you with individual moments of brilliance from their cadre of superstars.

Croatia will not make things easy on the Brazilians, but they won't be beating them, either. In fact, it seems unlikely this result will ever be in doubt. They'll likely sink into a defensive shell, occasionally flow forward on the counter-attack and play for a point.

They won't get it. Brazil wins, 2-0.

Follow TRappaRT on Twitter


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The Head Coaches of the UFL

Joshua LobdellCorrespondent ISeptember 12, 2009

For hard core football fans all the names on this list should be somewhat familiar. The UFL has gone with heavy NFL experience in hiring their Head Coaches. While all four of these men could, and really should be, on the short list for NFL gigs, they are the men who will start to define what this new league will be. With that being said here is a look at the Head Coaches for each UFL team:

California Redwoods- Dennis Green- Dennis is a great football coach, and is usually a great sound bite. Most of us will remember his famous “They are who what we though they were” blast while Head Coach of the Arizona Cardinals. However many forget that Denny was also the coach of the Minnesota Vikings team that went 15-1 and came within a missed field goal of appearing in the Super Bowl. He is also a disciple of Bill Walsh and the West Coast offense.

Many fans think that Denny should be the head guy for the Oakland Raiders, or the Detroit Lions, and while he is certainly talented enough for those positions, those are really too bad jobs with a low rate of success. In the UFL, Denny will have the chance to write the next chapter of his legacy himself. Expect the Redwoods to run some variation of the Walsh West Coast offense with Green at the helm.

Las Vegas Locomotives- Jim Fassel- Of the four coaches of the UFL none of as much experience in new leagues as Jim Fassel. Fassel was a QB for the Hawaii Hawaiians of the World Football League when he was cut then rehired as an Assistant Coach. Then after completing a few years as an assistant Coach at Stanford, he was hired as the offensive coordinator of the New Orleans Breakers of the USFL.

However it is his work with a few great NFL QB’s that has made Fassel’s career. While QB’s coach with the New York Giants he worked with Phil Simms, wile offensive coordinator with the Denver Broncos he worked with John Elway, and while Head Coach of the Giants he mentored Kerry Collins to a Super Bowl birth.

Look for Fassel to help revitalize the career of former Buffalo Bill’s QB JP Losman. Much like Green, Fassel was rumored to be in line for many NFL head coach jobs including those of the Washington Redskins and the Oakland Raiders. However he to will look to write the next chapter of his legacy with this new league.

Florida Tuskers-Jim Haslett- Unlike the other already mentioned Haslett has made his name in pro football for his defense acumen. Haslet was the defensive rookie of the year in 1979 playing for the Buffalo Bills and has served on the staff’s of the Oakland Raiders, New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams, and Pittsburgh Steelers. He has been the Head man for the Saints, and the interim head man for the St. Louis Rams.

Haslett was the NFL Coach of the year in 2000 and led the Saints to their first ever post season win. However, after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and the unusual circumstances his Saints team was put into following that storm he was fired from the Saints.

Haslett’s NFL career was further hurt by the Rooney Rule, after the Rams fired Scott Linehan they gave Haslett a contract as interim coach that promised him the permanent job if the team could win six games. The NFL ruled that was a violation of the Rooney Rule, not that it really mattered since the Rams won only two games. Haslett now enters the UFL with something to prove, and this is always good motivation.

New York Sentinels- Todd Cotrell-Ted may be the most unknown of these four men, but football fans should know who this guy is. He is the main innovator of the 3-4 defensive scheme that is all the rage in the NFL right now. For the last two years he has been the master of the San Diego Chargers defense that led the leauge in take aways, interceptions, and Pass defense. This guy is a defensive guru and he will have Simeon Rice on his defense with the Sentinels.

Before coming to the Chargers Cotrell served on the staffs of the Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and Kansas City Chiefs. Like the other on this list is, has been rumored for many head NFL gigs with the San Francisco 49ers and the Minnesota Vikings.