TRIPLE THREAT CLE: Aaron Rodgers

Showing posts with label Aaron Rodgers. Show all posts

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Podcast 12/13/17: On John Dorsey's Browns, Aaron Rodgers' Return, MLB Hot Stove, Star Wars & More

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Radio Show 1/18/17: NFL Playoffs, Ex-Browns, Rodgers or Brady & More

By Raven Williams, @nevaRWilliams

You can now download the latest episodes of "TripleThreatCLE.com's Radio Show"!

Check us out every Wednesday night, 7pm EST, on NoStaticRadio.com or the Tune-In Radio app. Simply search "No Static Radio" or "Triple Threat CLE"

DOWNLOAD: On NFL Playoffs, Which Ex-Browns Could've Helped, Rodgers_Brady (1/18/17)
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DOWNLOAD: On Browns/Gregg Williams, Deshaun Watson, Cavs, DeMarcus Cousins, NBA All-Stars (1/11/17)
PLAYLIST DOWNLOAD: Show Songs 1:11:17, Randy's Mix
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DOWNLOAD: On Browns Future, NFL Playoffs, CFB Playoff & More (1/4/17)
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2016 Episodes of Triple Threat CLE Radio Show

Thursday, April 21, 2016

On The Clock 4.21.16: The Goff/Wentz Debate: What History Tells Us

By Alex Hale, @DaSportsGenius7

The great debate almost every draft has been, “Who’s the best QB in this year’s class?” This year has been no different, but unlike previous years, the Top 2 QBs are almost complete polar opposites. One is considered, “Pro ready” and technically might be one of the most technically sound QBs we’ve seen over the past decade. The other is that, “Upside” guy who has the big, projectable frame plus a strong arm to back it. When the great debate started between Jared Goff and Carson Wentz, I thought it was a pretty sure thing who the better guy was, it was Goff. Then one day I was watching NFL Network’s, “Caught In The Draft” on the 2005 NFL Draft, which most Browns fans remember for selecting Braylon Edwards. But it was the QB debate in that draft class as I watched that opened my eyes. So let’s go back to the 2005 NFL Draft to see if the past can teach us something.

The 2005 NFL Draft was headlined as a very good, but not a great draft class going in. The San Francisco 49ers held the #1 pick and were projected to select a Quarterback. In this draft class, the consensus around the league was that you had Utah QB Alex Smith and Cal QB Aaron Rodgers, take your pick on who you want. What people forget about this draft was that for most of the Pre-Draft process, Aaron Rodgers was projected to be the #1 pick by the San Francisco 49ers. He seemed to be the more “Pro ready” prospect in the class, who had a good arm, solid accuracy, and a good frame, but one that needed to be built up a little more. Then it seemed out of nowhere Utah’s Alex Smith was suddenly going to be the #1 pick. In the documentary, Aaron Rodgers says that he was told by San Francisco he was going to be the #1 pick. So what made Alex Smith the #1 pick in the 2005 NFL Draft?

Upside The #1 reason Alex Smith somehow jumped what seemed to be by most executives (one being Bill Polian) the #1 QB prospect in Rodgers was simply Smith seemed to have more upside. Coming out of Urban Meyer’s Spread system that is very QB friendly and also in a lower conference of play, Smith had put up ridiculous numbers his last year at Utah (67.5%, 2952 yards, 32 TDs, 4 INTs). Much like Rodgers, Smith had a projectable frame and some considered he was the better built of the two to take the beating he might take in the NFL. From all of this evaluation the 49ers relied on numbers and projection to take Alex Smith over a future Hall of Fame QB in Aaron Rodgers…WHOOPS!

Now let’s fast forward to 2016, we have Jared Goff and Carson Wentz as the top two QBs in this draft. Let’s now take the evaluations I had earlier for the Goff/Wentz with the evaluation of Alex Smith/Aaron Rodgers:

Aaron Rodgers/Jared Goff Both men are Pro ready QBs who don’t necessarily have the greatest arm strength out of college, but they can place the ball on a dime. Goff isn’t as built as he should be at 6’4’’, much like Aaron Rodgers was fairly skinny when he was a draft. Both were excellent leaders who were always poised in a Pac-10/12 Conference that plays at a fairly high level for the most part.

Alex Smith/Carson Wentz For the record, Wentz has a much better arm than Alex Smith. Both men came from lower level schools and dominated again lesser competition. Both men had ideal size coming out of college with the upside to build on their frame to take the beating they might take on in the NFL. Quite possibly the biggest similarity between the two is very simple… IT’S ALL ABOUT UPSIDE!

Now I’m not saying Carson Wentz is going to be Alex Smith and I’m sure not saying Jared Goff will be Aaron Rodgers. What I’m suggesting when you evaluate talent, sometimes you look too much into the prospect and not stick to the basics of finding a QB. The keys to finding a QB are Ball Placement, Poise and Leadership. Arm strength and speed are bonuses in QBs, all the great QBs have those 3 things. As I evaluated the QBs in the 2016 NFL Draft, I kept coming back to this. There is only 1 QUARTERBACK in this draft that has all of these traits, that man is California QB Jared Goff. On Draft Night it’s going to be interesting to see what the Rams and Browns scouting departments will tell us in those first two picks. If the Rams take Goff #1, they value the key traits in a QB. If the Rams select Wentz and the Browns select Goff, it shows the Rams are going on projection and not the key traits in a QB. If the Rams and Browns both pass on Goff, whoever trades up or drafts him will get a guy with a huge chip on his shoulder and mark my words, Goff would become another Aaron Rodgers. The bottom line is this, there is absolutely no debate for me who the top QB in this draft is because I’ve seen this story play out in the 2005 NFL Draft.

As the saying goes, “History always finds a way to repeat itself”, and we’re seeing it repeat in front of our eyes.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Leadoff with Lee 1.12.15 #Packers #Colts #Bills #RexRyan #CBJ

By @cleeverizon

- From East Rutherford, New Jersey to Orchard Park, New York? The Buffalo Bills have hired former Jets head coach Rex Ryan to become their next head man.

The Bills signed Rex Ryan to a 5-year $27.5 million deal which will have him stay in the AFC East. A few things concern me though. Who will Rex hire to fill out his coaching staff? After sending out some tweets and text messages early yesterday morning, this is what I found out. The offensive coordinator will be Greg Roman from San Francisco while the defensive coordinator will be Dennis Thurman, from the Jets. The Bills also have said they would like to keep Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator. Ryan already has spoken to Schwartz about staying with Buffalo, but Schwartz runs a 4-3 defensive scheme with a wide-9 front while Ryan prefers a hybrid 3-4 scheme.
Also, if Roman does accept the job in Buffalo, that means back to the drawing board for the Browns and Trestman moves ahead of the pack. I personally am intrigued by Raiders QB coach John DeFlippo.

- Ohio State are in discussions to hire former Nebraska offensive coordinator Tim Beck to replace Tom Herman. Beck was not retained after the Huskers fired head coach Bo Pelini. The Ohio native is a Cardinal Mooney grad and will serve as the Buckeyes quarterbacks coach and will be the primary recruiter in Texas. Beck is a former Texas high school coach in the Dallas area who had been recruiting the state for Nebraska.

- The Green Bay Packers rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat the Dallas Cowboys 26-21. Aaron Rodgers threw 316 yards and 3 touchdowns. Green Bay receiver Davante Adams caught 7 balls for 117 yards and a touchdown and Randall Cobb added 116 yards on 8 grabs. The Cowboys running game was on "Fleek" as DeMarco Murray rushed for 123 yards on 25 carries and 1 touchdown. Tony Romo was sacked 4 times in the game while going 15/19 for 191 yards and 2 TDs. Dez Bryant scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but only had 38 yards and 3 catches. Bryant would've had another big time catch down the field, BUT after further review the officials said he did not maintain control of the ball as he crossed the goal line.

Without getting into depth about the rule, here is what the V.P of officiating Dean Blandino had to say about it:

Bryant going to the ground. By rule he must hold onto it throughout entire process of contacting the ground. He didn't so it is incomplete.
— Dean Blandino (@DeanBlandino) January 11, 2015

-Andrew Luck took the horseshoes off the Colts for a 24-13 upset of the Broncos. Peyton Manning had a extremely quiet game, throwing only 211 yards, 1 touchdown and was sacked twice. Andrew Luck threw for 265 yards, 2 touchdowns but also threw 2 interceptions. The Broncos weren't able to capitalize on the turnovers. Manning didn't have his magic in the fourth quarter and had two "3 and out" series. Will Manning return for his 18th NFL season? Will John Fox return as head coach next season? Will offensive coordinator Adam Gase get a head coaching job elsewhere or in Denver if John Fox is canned? Only time will tell, but this next month of the coaching carousel will be interesting.

- Three Columbus Blue Jackets were named to the NHL All-Star team. Forwards Nick Foligno, Ryan Johansen and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. The game will be played January 25th at Nationwide arena in Columbus.

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Leadoff with Lee 1.10.15

By @cleeverizon

- It's unknown if Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will practice today. Earlier this week, it was discovered that the Green Bay starter has a torn and strained calf muscle. Despite his injury, he will make the start Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. One team official said Rodgers won't be 100%, the bigger question is whether he will be 50% or 95% on game day. I expect the Cowboys to blitz more in this game than any other because of Rogers limited mobility.

- The NFL is investigating the Browns for allegations of using electronic devices on the sidelines for play calling. The rules prohibit smartphones and cellphones from being used in team areas, including sidelines and coaching booths from 90 minutes before kickoff and in locker rooms after kickoff. The restrictions on the devices end after games end.

"We are reviewing internally and will fully cooperate with the NFL on this matter.”, said a Browns spokesman on Friday.

- Former Browns head coach and current 49ers tight ends coach Eric Mangini will interview with the Washington Redskins for their open defensive coordinator position. Mangini was the Patriots’ defensive coordinator in 2005 after several years as a defensive backs coach and then was hired as the Jets head coach the next year. Randy Lerner then hired Mangini in 2009 after the firing of Romeo Crennel. Mangini spent time with ESPN a few years then, he joined the 49ers staff in 2013 as an offensive assistant and then moved to the tight ends job for the 2014 season.

- Oregon wide receiver Darren Carrington has reportedly been suspended for failing a drug test, and he will miss the National Championship Game against Ohio State, Carrington reportedly tested positive for marijuana. In the voice of Stephen A. Smith, "Stay off da weeeeeeeda!" The Ducks will be missing their number 1 and 2 receivers for the game as Devon Allen is out with a knee injury.

- NCAA basketball official Karl Hess has resigned as a official in the ACC after allegations the official used an ethnic slur during a game between Wake Forest and Louisville. Hess' removal from ACC basketball games will not affect his ability to officiate games for other conferences, including the Southeastern Conference, American Athletic Conference and Colonial Conference.

Here is a copy of the tweet that Hess used to Mit Shah who is a former chairman at Wake Forest board of trustees and now a hotel mogul: Karl Hess to me at the Wake-Louisville game tonight..."When I'm older, I want to sit in your seat & watch your Egyptian ass ref a game" #Wow

- Texas A&M quarterback Kenny Hill has requested and been granted his release from the program and can transfer to any school of his choice. Hill replaced former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel and was a early Heisman hopeful with a 511-yard, three-touchdown victory of fellow SEC opponent South Carolina to open the 2014 season. Hill started off the season 5-0 then was benched and suspended from the team for two-games for a violation of team rules and athletic department policy. Prior to the season beginning Hill also was suspended for the final part of spring practice in 2014 after an alcohol-related arrest.

 

- Former Dallas Mavericks center Roy Tarpley, whose star fizzled due to drug and alcohol problems, died Friday afternoon. He was 50. Cause of death was not immediately known although when the Mavericks arrived in Los Angeles for their game Saturday against the Clippers, several members of the traveling party had been informed that liver failure was at least partly to blame.

The 6'11" Tarpley was the seventh pick in the 1986 draft by the Mavericks out of Michigan. In his second season, he was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, before drugs and controversy clouded the rest of his six seasons in the league. Tarpley would spend most of his career battling personal problems. He was suspended by the NBA after five games in the 1989-90 season after being arrested for driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest. In 1991, he drew another suspension after a second DWI arrest and, a few months later, had a third violation and was banned from the league for violating the NBA’s drug-use policies. He returned to the Mavericks briefly in 1994 but then was permanently barred in December, 1995, for violating terms of his aftercare program. Tarpley’s abilities on the court were never a problem. In 280 games, he averaged 12.6 points and 10 rebounds. In the 1987-88 season, he averaged 17.9 points and 12.9 rebounds in 17 playoff games before the Mavericks lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the conference finals in seven games.

And last but not least the inductees of the 2015 College Football Hall of Fame were announced yesterday, led by former Ohio State couch Jim Tressel.

 Here is a full list of inductees: 

Youngstown State and Ohio State coach Jim Tressel
Oklahoma linebacker Brian Bosworth
Kansas State coach Bill Snyder
Nebraska linebacker Trev Alberts
Arizona State linebacker Bob Breunig
Millsaps defensive end Sean Brewer from Division III
Pittsburgh offensive tackle Rugen Brown
Florida split end Wes Chandler
Notre Dame split end Thom Gatewood
Yale running back Dick Jauron
Michigan state halfback Clinton Jones
Washington offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy
Michigan running back Rob Lytle
Marshall quarterback Michael Payton
Texas Tech linebacker Zach Thomas
Kentucky defensive lineman Art Still