Essential The Official ESPN Insider Thread (ESPN+)

[Skooby]

12
DJ Hayden

Houston
CBOakland
from Miami

What he brings: Hayden has one of the best combinations of footwork and closing burst in the 2013 corner class. He is also rarely caught out of position. What separates him, though, are his playmaking instincts and ability to manufacture turnovers. He can get stronger and more consistent in run support, but overall Hayden shows a shut-down skill set in coverage.

How he fits: This was one of the worst secondaries in the NFL a year ago. Part of the problem was corners with marginal cover skills. A bigger problem might have been the lack of an upfront pass rush. As a result, it puts the defensive backs on a lot of island situations. They are forced to blitz to create pressure, which means a lot of tight man-to-man coverages. The problem is that none of their guys did it very well. This will at least be a step in the right direction to allow Oakland's coaches to get back to more aggressive cover packages. They obviously hope that Hayden can be a shutdown corner like the type of player you used to identify with this secondary.


13
Sheldon Richardson

Missouri
DTNY Jets
From Tampa Bay

What he brings: There are concerns about durability, character and an underwhelming workout, but on the other hand, tape trumps all. Richardson is a disruptive run stopper with an explosive first step and much better range than his timed speed would suggest. He needs work as a pass-rusher in terms of setting up moves and eliminating wasted motion. He has lined up at end at times, as well, and shown better ability to translate speed to power at that spot than he does inside.

How he fits: He's a good football player, but he appears to be selected at a position that has pretty good depth for the Jets. However, they are looking for versatility on their defensive front. They are a traditional 3-4 defensive line, but they can go to 4-3 looks, and it's likely they think Richardson fits as a defensive end in the 3-4 and a defensive tackle in the 4-3, which makes him a three-down player. He also has the one-gap attacking skills that Rex Ryan really likes. But they already have one ascending player in Muhammad Wilkerson and another with unrealized talent in Quinton Coples. You continue to look at the Jets and wonder where the edge pass rush comes from, but Richardson will give them more physicality.

14
Star Lotulelei

Utah
DTCarolina

What he brings: Lotulelei is a massive interior run defender with natural strength and power. He shows heavy and violent hands, is light on his feet and has above-average range to make plays outside the tackle box. He doesn't have ideal pass-rush ability, but he has the quickness and power to collapse the pocket from the inside and create disruption in the backfield. He will also occupy blockers and help protect the linebackers behind him.

How he fits: The edge of this defensive front seven is really good, with defensive ends Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy. What the Panthers are missing is a dominating inside player to not only clog against the run, but also give them inside pass-rush pressure. Lotulelei will potentially give the ends more favorable blocking matchups. The happiest guy on the Panthers should be middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, because Lotulelei will eat up blocks and allow Kuechly to fly to the football. He should also dramatically upgrade the short-yardage offense, which wasn't very good last season. Lotulelei's overall presence will upgrade a defensive line that really struggled in producing tackles for loss.

15
Kenny Vaccaro

Texas
SNew Orleans

What he brings: Vaccaro can do a lot for a defense, and do it all well. He can match up with slot receivers underneath, play a center fielder role over the top, and also match up with tight ends. Outside of some slightly inconsistent tackling, he is also an excellent run stopper who fills hard from the high slot and is big enough to hold up in the box. If he had run a better 40 time he likely would have been picked earlier, but his speed is not an issue on tape and we have no concern that he is fast enough to hold up at the next level.

How he fits: This was a horrible secondary a year ago, which gave up a ton of big plays against both the run and the pass. A lot of those came inside versus safeties who had no chance to play man-to-man or turn and run with wide receivers. Under new coordinator Rob Ryan, the Saints will be aggressive. They will blitz from all over the formation, and that requires safeties who can hold up on an island where they don't have to play soft zone schemes. Right now, it looks as if last year's starters need to be upgraded. Malcolm Jenkins has regressed, and age seems to be catching up with Roman Harper. Vaccaro will not only give the Saints an outstanding athlete on the back end of this defense, but he should also be a real asset in sub packages, because he's a guy who won't be exploited in coverage.

16
EJ Manuel

Florida State
QBBuffalo
from St. Louis

What he brings: There is no questioning Manuel's physical tools, size, mobility and leadership qualities. However, the tape reveals concerns about his ability to get through progressions and make sound decisions under pressure. He also needs to improve his spotty accuracy, because he forces his receivers to adjust too often.

How he fits: The quarterback position has been a revolving door for a while in Buffalo. You just got the feeling that this new coaching staff, under Doug Marrone, wanted to start with its own guy. The Bills already had a couple quarterbacks on their roster with Kevin Kolb and Tarvaris Jackson, and it's interesting that they passed on Geno Smith and Ryan Nassib. Manuel's upside could be very intriguing, although this coaching staff has been very secretive about its offensive philosophy. We will likely see creative personnel groupings, an up-tempo passing game with some read-option wrinkles and perhaps even see an old version of the K-Gun offense that the Bills ran years ago with Jim Kelly. This is a coaching staff which can afford the time to bring along Manuel, and it already has a potentially good run game to take some pressure off him. This selection seems to tell us this is going to be a very creative offensive package. It will be fun to watch, with a variety of exotic looks.

17
Jarvis Jones

Georgia
OLBPittsburgh

What he brings: There are concerns about his long-term durability and whether his spinal stenosis diagnosis will affect the length of his career. The 40 time he turned in at his pro day also raises some eyebrows, and sent scouts back to the film. However, he is quicker than fast around the edge with an outstanding motor. He finds and gets to the ball as a run defender, and is relentless as a pass-rusher who doesn't have to win with his first move to get to the quarterback.

How he fits: This appears to be a perfect marriage of a player that the Steelers really like who also fills their No. 1 need. Veteran James Harrison is gone, promising Jason Worilds hasn't played up to his expected potential, and this defense really needed an edge rusher to complement LaMarr Woodley. If Jones can step in immediately at right outside linebacker, it gives Pittsburgh a nice three-man rotation. What we have to keep in mind is that almost all of the Steelers' pass rush comes from the outside linebackers, with occasional blitz help from safety Troy Polamalu. But this defense, year in and year out, is only as good as its edge pressure, and Jones must give them that.

18
Eric Reid

LSU
SSan Francisco
from Dallas

What he brings: Reid's 2012 film was not quite as good as his 2011 tape, but he came on late in the season and showed how good he can be. He has great size and length, as well as excellent fluidity. He needs to clean up his angles in run support, though his range and closing burst provide him with a lot of upside both in coverage and as a run defender.

How he fits: This defense is very aggressive, and it also wants its safeties to be effective in sub packages and stay on the field for all three downs. The 49ers will play combo coverages. They are outstanding tacklers, and Reid is a guy who seems to fit the mold. San Francisco lost free safety Dashon Goldson in free agency, and strong safety Donte Whitner is entering the final year of his contract. The 49ers have a couple young guys they like as depth players, but they don't appear to be ready. So the coaching staff will likely expect Reid to step in and start at free safety. As mentioned, one of the unique qualities of the 49ers defense is to have guys that never have to come off the field. Because of that, they are tough to expose in matchup situations. That should be a strength of Reid's.

19
Justin Pugh

Syracuse
OTNY Giants


What he brings: There is some debate as to whether Pugh fits best at guard or tackle, because he has short arms at just 32 inches. There are concerns about his ability to protect the edge. But there is no debating his ability to be a starter immediately. He is an aggressive, fundamentally sound run blocker who gets in good position and sustains. And aside from his arm length, there is no reason to doubt him in pass protection. His footwork and balance, in particular, are impressive.

How he fits: While the Giants probably didn't draft Pugh because of his versatility, they have needs both inside and outside on the offensive line. There is some debate whether he belongs at offensive guard or right tackle, and either position would be welcome. They might be OK at tackle with Will Beatty and get another year out of David Diehl. They also like young James Brewer at right tackle or guard, which gives them the option of moving Diehl inside. They will likely look at Pugh in both positions and find a spot where he can step in and start immediately. This has been a very good Giants offensive line for a long time, but they started to show cracks last season. Pugh will help.


20
Kyle Long

Oregon
OGChicago


What he brings: Long is a raw prospect, but his size, strength, flexibility and athleticism give him one of the highest ceilings in the entire offensive line class. He has the versatility to play inside at guard and eventually kick outside to tackle with more experience in the league.

How he fits: The Bears addressed their struggling offensive line in free agency with two new starters on the left side in Jermon Bushrod and Matt Slauson, and they moved OT J'Marcus Webb to right offensive tackle and Gabe Carimi to guard. However, the right side of this offensive line is still not at a comfort level. As much as this new coaching staff and Jay Cutler want to throw the ball downfield, they must improve their pass protection to give them the ability for the seven-step drops and seam routes they would like to run. Long probably fits in at right guard or right tackle as a starter, and if left guard Slauson struggles, Long could even fill in there.

21
Tyler Eifert

Notre Dame
TECincinnati

What he brings: Eifert is a versatile weapon who can line up in-line, in the slot or flexed wide. There is no receiver or tight end in this class in terms of attacking jump balls, and Eifert almost never loses 50-50 balls downfield. He also has the speed to work the seam and can pick up some yards after the catch. And while he will never be elite as a blocker, he can be an effective positional blocker.

How he fits: Because this didn't appear to be a high need, it certainly looks as if the Bengals were picking the best athlete left on their board. They already have two decent tight ends in Jermaine Gresham and newly acquired Alex Smith. While neither are difference-makers, it's not a bad tandem. However, Eifert is an excellent matchup tight end. He can play in-line or flex, and what makes him interesting is that the Bengals have been looking for a quality No. 2 wide receiver to complement A.J. Green. Eifert may give them some of those matchup plays. Where he will really help this offense is in the red zone. In this new era of multiple tight-end sets, Eifert will allow the Bengals to get creative.

22
Desmond Trufant

Washington
CBAtlanta
from St. Louis via Washington

What he brings: Trufant has an above-average blend of size, speed and foot quickness for a corner prospect. Add in his ability to anticipate breaks, and receivers have a tough time separating from him. He can also bump inside and match up with quicker slot receivers. There is also a lot to like about his willingness to cover the opponent's top receiver and compete on every snap. It also doesn't hurt that his older brother, Marcus, has had some success in the NFL. The two knocks on him are that he is not an elite playmaker, and could get stronger against the run.

How he fits: This is a secondary that prefers to play nickel/sub packages almost 50 percent of the time. That requires multiple defensive backs. Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes are gone. That leaves the Falcons with veteran Asante Samuel and young Robert McClain as starters, which makes this secondary a bit unsettled. They are very good inside at safety, but their ability to play with at least three corners in their base package is important, and Trufant gives them the flexibility to do that, which they didn't always have in 2012 because of injuries.

 

[Skooby]

23
Sharrif Floyd

Florida
DTMinnesota


What he brings: Floyd was one of the most improved prospects from 2011 to 2012. In particular, he was stronger in the lower body and more explosive up top. He lacks ideal length, but he has a quick first step and extremely strong hands to cause disruption. He found a home inside as a one-gap, penetrating 3-technique after playing end earlier in his career, and he should make an impact there at the next level.

How he fits: He's a perfect fit in this Minnesota 4-3 under defense, where he can either play under tackle or nose tackle. With an aging Kevin Williams, the Vikings need to continue to add depth to maintain the four-man defensive-tackle rotation they had a year ago. Philosophically, they prefer to rush four and drop seven into coverage without a lot of blitzes, but they are very creative with movement and stunts up front. They love their defensive linemen to be one-gap penetrators, and that's exactly what Floyd can be. Minnesota never could have dreamed that he would still be on the board at this point.

24
Bjoern Werner

Florida State
DEIndianapolis

What he brings: Werner lacks ideal size and length, but is one of the more polished prospects we evaluated on tape. His quick, active hands stand out, and he does a great job playing with leverage to set the edge against the run, and can disengage and redirect to make the tackle. As a pass-rusher, he has a quick initial get-off and flashes a wide variety of moves. He lacks ideal athleticism in space, but he should hold up in underneath zone coverage.

How he fits: As the Colts continue to make the transition from their old 4-3 defense to a 3-4 look, the only quality edge player they still have is Robert Mathis, although they did pick up Erik Walden in free agency from Green Bay. But what they get out of Walden, and age concerns about Mathis, give them some concerns. Werner has a chance to start as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the Colts' base package, and he's a sound player who will also upgrade them versus the run. In the Colts' sub packages, when they go to a four-man front, he can line up at left defensive end. For years, this organization has produced pass-rushers with a variety of moves and great hand use, and Werner fits perfectly in that category.

25
Xavier Rhodes

Florida State
CBMinnesota
From Seattle

What he brings: You just don't find many corners who run a 4.43 in the 40 at 6-foot-1½ and 210 pounds, and his length amplifies his range because he gets his hands on balls a lot of other corners won't. He is also effective against the run with his size. You'd like to see some improvement in terms of instincts and ability to anticipate breaks in front of him. Still, it's tough to deny his potential.

How he fits: While Rhodes has good physical man-to-man skills, at first glance you might think he doesn't with this Tampa-2 defensive scheme. But he's actually perfect for it, because he can be effective against the run. He can certainly play zone coverages, and if they play man, he's very effective. Another wrinkle that they like to show is "cat" blitzes by their corners off the edge. That's something he does very well. This defense will stay in the nickel package more than you think. With veteran Antoine Winfield gone, and starter Chris Cook continuing to fight injuries, he should be able to step in and start immediately and be their third corner in sub packages.

26
Datone Jones

UCLA
DEGreen Bay

What he brings: Jones blew up at the Senior Bowl and has risen quickly since then. He is a little light, but he plays with leverage and has very active hands. He can win with first-step quickness in the run game and disrupt in the backfield, but Jones must play with better pad level as a pass-rusher. However, he flashes the quickness to win inside and outside as a pass-rusher.

How he fits: The Packers really need physical defense ends in this base 3-4 front to set the edge against the run. It seems as if they are playing more nickel and dime schemes with four-man fronts. That requires a player with versatility. Jones is a natural fit at defensive end in the 3-4 and would probably move inside in the four-man front as that one-gap penetrator that they really like. With defensive linemen Ryan Pickett and B.J. Raji in the last year of their contracts, and inconsistency and injury concerns behind them, this unit needs that depth and versatility that Jones brings.

27
DeAndre Hopkins

Clemson
WRHouston


What he brings: The first thing that jumps out about Hopkins is his hands. He has big mitts and snatches the ball out of the air. Hopkins also has the body control to adjust to passes outside his frame. He could do a better job streamlining his routes, but he has the quick feet to improve in that area. He's not a burner and won't consistently take the top off coverage, but his size and ball skills allow him to compete down the field.

How he fits: Houston has been looking for a complementary wide receiver for Andre Johnson for as long as we remember, and they might have found their man. With limited weapons a year ago, Johnson was targeted almost 60 percent of the time in the passing game -- the highest rate in the NFL. Veteran Kevin Walter is gone, promising DeVier Posey is coming off an Achilles injury and Lestar Jean has promise but isn't yet ready. In all likelihood, expect Hopkins to step in and start and take away some coverage from Johnson. Hopkins isn't that ultimate deep threat who stretches the field, but he should be an effective third-down option.

28
Sylvester Williams

North Carolina
DTDenver


What he brings: There are some concerns about Williams' true playing weight. However, he is a disruptive interior run stopper with quick hands and feet. He can shoot gaps and get off blocks, and he has the pass-rush skills to stay on the field on third down. Williams might not have a lot of sacks, but he can disrupt and force quarterbacks to move off the spot in the pocket and make some tough throws.

How he fits: The Broncos have done a terrific job of upgrading the interior of this defense, and they have a philosophy of building from the inside out. They have a nice inside trio of Kevin Vickerson, Mitch Unrein and Derek Wolfe, who can play inside and outside. Williams can give them a nice four-man rotation and create depth. When this inside group is playing well, it forces offenses to attack the edge, which allows pursuit to catch up. Denver has some slight concerns about age and durability at this position, so this looks like a bit of an insurance pick.

29
Cordarrelle Patterson

Tennessee
WRMinnesota
from New England

What he brings: Patterson ranks with Tavon Austin as one of the most electric players in this class with the ball in his hands. However, he is a one-year FBS player and is extremely raw as a receiver in terms of route-running and reading coverages on the fly. There are questions about how much of an offense he can absorb right away, and his hands have been inconsistent on tape. He can immediately make an impact as a return man, and if the Vikings can find creative ways to get him touches, Patterson can still make a difference as he develops as a receiver.

How he fits: With the departure of Percy Harvin, this was obviously a strong need. He will now team with new free-agent acquisition Greg Jennings to potentially give the Vikings a nice duo. But with the combination of injuries and inconsistency, the rest of Minnesota's receivers are huge questions marks -- although Jarius Wright looks like he could give them a nice three-receiver package out of the slot. The problem for the Vikings might be that they have a young quarterback with two new receivers. How quickly those receivers can pick up the offense will be critical to the Vikings' success.

30
Alec Ogletree

Georgia
ILBSt. Louis
from Atlanta
What he brings: Ogletree is a freakish athlete who on tape looked like a top-15 prospect, but off-field issues caused him to fall. He has sideline-to-sideline range and holds up well in space. He will never be an elite take-on linebacker and needs to use his hands better when shedding blocks, but there is no denying his playmaking upside. He can be an impact blitzer and has the fluidity and length to hold up against athletic, pass-catching tight ends in man coverage.


HOW HE FITS
The Rams have two solid starters, strong-side linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar and middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, but their biggest need was at weak-side linebacker, where they just don't have a quality starter or adequate depth. Ogletree should be able to step in immediately, even though he's moving from inside to outside. The Rams will ask their linebackers to be involved in coverage. They will be on the move at all times, and this linebacker trio now has a chance to develop as a strong unit. Ogletree also gives them insurance if they lose Dunbar in free agency a year from now, but hopefully this trio can grow together.

31
Travis Frederick

Wisconsin
OCDallas
from San Francisco
What he brings: Frederick is a nasty, versatile interior lineman who also has experience at guard. He is an effective hand-fighter who locks on and has the power base to create movement once in position. In terms of pass protection, he can anchor against power and masks his athletic limitations with sound footwork. It should also come as no surprise that a Wisconsin offensive lineman who can play multiple positions has great football IQ and rarely loses because of mental mistakes.

How he fits: This was obviously a need pick to fill the biggest weakness of this offense from a year ago. The only quality offensive lineman the Cowboys can count on right now is left tackle Tyron Smith. A combination of injuries and inconsistency devastated this group a year ago, which is really disappointing, considering they thought they had fixed their interior problems. What's even more alarming about this offensive line is the fact that Tony Romo's agility allows him to take fewer sacks and hits than most quarterbacks. Frederick will have a chance to step in and start at any of the three interior positions.

32
Matt Elam

Florida
SBaltimore

What he brings: The biggest knock on Elam is his lack of ideal height and length, but he plays with an aggressive demeanor that fits well with the Ravens' makeup. He makes a quick diagnosis in the run game, and his fluidity is comparable to that of a cornerback. In addition, he has a knack for making big plays, both in terms of delivering big hits as a run defender and relentlessly attacking the ball in coverage.

How he fits: With the offseason loss of both starting safeties, Ed Reed and Bernard Pollard, this became a glaring need for the Ravens, although they tried to patch the secondary with a couple midlevel free-agent acquisitions. This is a defense that expects a lot of range out of its corners, and the Ravens want a skill package that includes the ability to play both man and zone schemes. A year ago, Baltimore played a lot of dollar coverages, with six defensive backs on the field at times. They obviously hope to get center-field range from Elam, and he should be an immediate starter because of need.

 

[Jplaya2023]

2013 NBA playoffs - Scouting four playoff first timers - ESPN

 

[Skooby]

2013 NBA playoffs - Scouting four playoff first timers - ESPN

Scouting four playoff first timers
Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, Patrick Beverley among top postseason players

The NBA postseason brings with it an escalated level of intensity and physicality that most players can't fathom, let alone match, in their first go-around. For the players who can adapt and elevate their performance, a newfound notoriety follows them, as well as respect and (quite often) added leverage in future contract negotiations.

This is the NBA's biggest audition, where legacies are made (or tarnished) and everyone is watching. But one of the things that I look forward to the most is seeing guys playing in their first playoff experience and flourishing.

Here are four players who caught my attention with auspicious playoff debuts in 2013:


Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | PG
Regular Season: 22.9 PPG, 6.9 APG, 45.1 FG% 45.3 3P%
Playoffs: 24.5 PPG, 11.0 APG, 46.5 FG%, 40.0 3P%

It should come as no shock that Curry leads this list, as he has been sensational thus far, catapulting himself into the stratosphere of stardom. He's not only incredibly productive, but he also makes his teammates better and helps his team win. About a month ago, I wrote about Curry being one of the most indispensable guards in the NBA and featured an incredible stat: In his career, the Warriors are 20-8 in games in which Curry has 10-plus assists. Since that article, Curry has posted 10-plus assists six more times, and the Warriors have gone 5-1, including Tuesday's Game 2 victory at Denver, which boasted a 38-3 home record in the regular season.

Curry's quick release and ability to make a variety of difficult shots (off one leg, off wrong leg, etc.) make him an extremely tough cover in one-on-one situations, which necessitates help defense, opening up a world of passing opportunities. That's what makes him special, his willingness to move the ball to open teammates despite the fact that he can confidently know that he has a good chance of making a "bad" shot. When I was with the Phoenix Suns and scouted Curry at Davidson, I posed the question: If you could shoot like that, would you ever pass the ball?

The Game 2 demolition all started with Curry getting loose with his shot, sending the Nuggets into scramble mode, which lit the fuse of Golden State's supporting cast. I still have Denver winning in six games, but we'll remember 2013 as the year Curry finally "got it." Let's hope his most recent ankle injury will not derail that.


Klay Thompson | Golden State Warriors | SG
Regular season: 16.6 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 42.2 FG% 40.1 3P%
Playoffs: 21.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 60.0 FG% 63.6 3P%

When Warriors coach Mark Jackson proclaimed that Curry and Thompson were the greatest shooting backcourt in NBA history, many shrugged it off as hyperbole by a man known to make bold claims. With all due respect to Jerry West/Gail Goodrich and Walt Frazier/Earl Monroe, Jackson might have a point, as Thompson has sizzled from deep this postseason, drilling seven of his 11 3-point attempts in his first two games.

What makes Thompson such an incredible threat is the fact that he is (unbelievably) the lesser shooter of that backcourt tandem. As such, his presence on the court alongside Curry forces defenders trying to zone up the weak side to make the toughest decision in basketball: Do I lean a step closer to Curry or Thompson? Even a nanosecond wasted by the defender deciding which way to angle increases the lag time, giving either shooter the advantage in getting a shot off.

Thompson always has reminded me of former Knicks sharpshooter Allan Houston in size and skill, but also in demeanor. He's even-keeled, with a quiet confidence in his ability to shoot the ball.

And thus far, Thompson resembles Houston in another way: His quiet calm and confidence has transferred smoothly into the postseason, and he's outperforming his regular-season numbers by a good margin. In all six of his playoff seasons, Houston surpassed his regular-season scoring average and exceeded his shooting efficiency number in all but one. Thompson's first two games have followed in that same vein, and the hope is he'll keep it up for the rest of this postseason and beyond.


Patrick Beverley | Houston Rockets | PG
Regular season: 5.6 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.9 APG, 41.8 FG% 37.5 3P%
Playoffs: 13.5 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, 47.8 FG% 44.4 3P%

At the end of the regular season, I wrote that Beverley might be a cap casualty this summer that the Lakers might be able to pluck. Sorry, Lakers fans, I think it's safe to say we can strike that option off the list.

While I predicted before the series that Beverley would see plenty of time guarding Russell Westbrook, I don't think anyone expected him to be playing such a prominent role two games into the playoffs.

Beverley is an excellent defensive guard, with the quickness, length and tenacity to pester opposing point guards as they bring the ball up the court. He brings great toughness and energy and has a way of getting under opponents' skin. Nothing better exemplifies this trait than him going for a steal while Westbrook dribbled to the sideline to call a timeout -- a play that routinely causes all 10 players on court to relax (and sometimes bench players begin to walk out on the court) before the ref even blows the whistle. Westbrook took umbrage, and while his talent and athletic ability allowed him to take over, Beverley did not back down.

Offensively, he's not your prototypical set-the-table point guard. Rather, Beverley wants to use his quickness and athleticism to get to the front of the rim and make the kickout pass as the defense collapses. He did a good job of this in Game 2, as Houston went with an extremely small lineup in an effort to pick up the pace offensively and dropped back in zone coverage defensively -- another advantage for Beverley's skill set, as he has played extensively in Europe and is accustomed to zone defense. When he has gotten open looks from the perimeter, he's knocked them down efficiently, which was a knock on him when he came out of college four years ago.

Beverley's stellar playoff debut has all but guaranteed that the Rockets won't waive his nonguaranteed deal this summer, which probably works against his favor as he would stand to cash in if he were a free agent.


Jimmy Butler | Chicago Bulls | SF
Regular season: 8.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 46.7 FG% 38.1 3P%
Playoffs: 7.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 41.2 FG% 20.0 3P%

Grantland's Zach Lowe wrote a terrific piece about the Toronto Raptors' simulation software that takes SportVu data and creates full-motion play diagrams breaking down what happened on each play. These moving diagrams include icons showing what defenders should be doing on each play in real time. These "ghost" defenders make all the correct hedges, help for just the right amount of time and recover to the proper spots, all while taking into account the varied skills and efficiencies of their opponents.

Watching Butler on defense in this series has been like watching one of those ghost defenders operate. While his main defensive assignment has been Joe Johnson (on whom Butler's done a tremendous job), Butler has played the Bulls' team defensive scheme perfectly -- sitting on the "nail" (middle of the free throw line) as a weakside defender, helping the helper by picking up rolling bigs and cutting wingers and recovering back to his man with excellent footwork and closeout technique. Moreover, when defending in isolation situations, he rarely hand checks; rather he's defending chest to chest and moving his feet. Finally, when he's switched onto Deron Williams, he does a great job of keeping a cushion of space while remaining able to close and contest the shot should Williams pull up for a jumper.

Butler's numbers offensively won't wow you, but to play defense as soundly and with as much savvy as he has in his first playoff appearance deserves an incredible amount of respect and credit.

 

[HarlemUSA]

19
Justin Pugh

Syracuse
OTNY Giants


What he brings: There is some debate as to whether Pugh fits best at guard or tackle, because he has short arms at just 32 inches. There are concerns about his ability to protect the edge. But there is no debating his ability to be a starter immediately. He is an aggressive, fundamentally sound run blocker who gets in good position and sustains. And aside from his arm length, there is no reason to doubt him in pass protection. His footwork and balance, in particular, are impressive.

How he fits: While the Giants probably didn't draft Pugh because of his versatility, they have needs both inside and outside on the offensive line. There is some debate whether he belongs at offensive guard or right tackle, and either position would be welcome. They might be OK at tackle with Will Beatty and get another year out of David Diehl. They also like young James Brewer at right tackle or guard, which gives them the option of moving Diehl inside. They will likely look at Pugh in both positions and find a spot where he can step in and start immediately. This has been a very good Giants offensive line for a long time, but they started to show cracks last season. Pugh will help.

But they did. Diehl at G wasn't an option with Boothe re-signed. Last season, these nikkas been showing cracks since 2009.

 

[hood b. goode]

@Skooby

Departing seniors believe Michigan Wolverines in good hands - ESPN

thanks man

 

[Skooby]

@Skooby

Departing seniors believe Michigan Wolverines in good hands - ESPN

thanks man

Gardner, Gallon take the reins

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Who do Michigan's departing seniors believe will break out next season? Who impressed them the most among the redshirts? Would they do all of this again?

These questions and more are part of what is answered in Part I of the WolverineNation anonymous survey of 19 of the players on Michigan's football team who finished their eligibility in 2012. The seniors were granted anonymity for the survey so they could be as honest as possible about their time at Michigan and what they saw from those who will follow them.

This survey was taken with the 19 seniors who responded to our queries from January through March, before and during Jerry Montgomery's departure for Oklahoma and before the ACL injury to Jake Ryan.

Part II of the survey will run on Thursday.

Who is going to be the breakout player of 2013? (Editor's note: Some players gave more than one answer)

Devin Gardner: 8
Jeremy Gallon: 3
Thomas Gordon: 2
Joe Kerridge: 2
James Ross III: 2
Jake Ryan: 2
Joe Bolden: 1
Blake Countess: 1
Willie Henry: 1
Ondre Pipkins: 1
Joe Reynolds: 1
Fitzgerald Toussaint: 1
Quinton Washington: 1


On Gardner
"He showed a lot of poise and composure and confidence in himself. He was making decisions and led our team back when Denard [Robinson] got hurt. A lot of people thought we were going to be done and Devin stepped in after Nebraska and propelled our team to a great end of the season."

"You've only seen the tip of the iceberg with Devin. Just him being tossed into the starting lineup didn't do him justice. He played great for us, and having this whole offseason to work as a quarterback is going to be huge for him."

On Gardner and Gallon
"I got two. Devin and Jeremy Gallon, by far. The way they came in during the offseason, they do things people probably wouldn't expect. The way Devin is throwing the ball now. I told Gallon, if you look at the stats, he [Gallon] had 100 [receiving yards] against Alabama, a hundred-something against South Carolina. Nobody in the Big Ten can stop you two next year."

"Jeremy Gallon and Devin Gardner. They are both hard workers. When we were sleeping during the summer on Saturdays, they were up, throwing the ball. They are a great combination together and both competitive and both smart players."

On Thomas Gordon
"Thomas Gordon is going to have a really good year next year. He's motivated, understands the system. He gets the defensive system just as well as Jordan Kovacs. He's a great communicator and a guy I expect is going to pretty much take the senior leadership role in the defensive backfield and have some success."

On Kerridge
"Joe Kerridge is going to be a monster at fullback. Playing with him, I got to know him and he is definitely committed. He is determined to get bigger and faster and stronger in the offseason. Like most fullbacks, he's a little messed up in the head."

On Ross III
"He showed flashes of it last year. The guy has a nose for the ball and he is just a freshman and was a little bit raw. An entire offseason is huge for most of those freshmen. Most of them come in during the summer, like he did, so he'll have an entire year to work. The spring will be huge for him working with Coach Smith and Coach Mattison. Once he puts more pieces together, he'll be a really good starter for us next year."

"Joe Bolden and James Ross, those guys are going to be huge for the team. As freshmen, those guys, the way they practiced and the way they prepared for games, they didn't seem like freshmen sometimes. They communicated and the way they flew to the ball. James Ross, a lot of times, the way he hit people, I don't know. I'm just excited about those guys."

On Henry
"This is going just off observation, but Willie Henry. He's a guy I went up against every day in practice, didn't get to play this year but a really, really talented kid. I'd venture to say as talented as some of the guys I played against this year. There is huge potential there and I feel he can have a great career at Michigan."

Who is the best freshman who redshirted? (Editor's note: Some players gave more than one answer)
Willie Henry: 6
Ben Braden: 4
Jehu Chesson: 3
Jeremy Clark: 3
Kyle Kalis: 2
Matt Godin: 1
Drake Johnson: 1
Chris Wormley: 1


On Willie Henry
"He's strong as an ox and he's a good football player."

"He's an animal. It just wasn't his time last year. But this year to come, you'll see."

"Willie is so talented. He's got a motor every down. If he can motivate himself to play every down as hard as he can, he'll be very successful."

On Braden
"He reminds me of what Taylor Lewan looked like when he was a freshman. He just seems to have a knack for playing football really well. He still has a lot to learn on the mental part of it but that's why I say he can be a really good player. He's got the tools and it's almost like he is still learning so much of the physical part. He just kind of does whatever he's coached to do and hits whoever you point to. He's naturally good at it."

"He's aggressive. He's fast. He's 6-5, 315 and has only, I think, 14- or 15-percent body fat. You could see why, right? And he's fast. I guarantee you, he'll be a player you'll be talking to a lot in years to come and you'll hear his name a lot. He reminds me of a Taylor [Lewan], if not better. He only has 14 or 15 percent body fat and he's 6-6, 315. Do you know how hard that is? And he played hockey, so he is going to be an aggressive kid."

"I watch this kid and I'm like, 'He only played football in high school?' We have guys who played football their whole life who don't have the potential he has.' Imagine if he played his whole life. He'd be amazing. With a great offensive line coach like Coach Funk, he'll make a lot of guys proud. He's a sleeper everybody is sleeping on but he can make a good impression."

On Clark
"He's got good potential, nice size. A 6-6 safety and I know he can do some things back there. He won't be scared to stick his nose down when the run comes. He's good in coverage, too, when he puts his mind to it. He's going to gain a little weight and they're going to work him. He's got a lot of potential to do some things."

"Even though he was on scout team, he'd make plays where after you'd go up to him and be like, 'Calm it down, man, this is where the offense is supposed to look good.' And his closing speed in the run game. The dude is so tall, the next thing you know he takes a couple of strides and he's at the line of scrimmage."

"He's a safety, a rangy guy and a guy who is coming in for extra work as a freshman even though he knew he wasn't going to play. He is going to be somebody that will be a dark horse. He's mature for a freshman. He's a guy who gets it. He wants to work, wants to get better. Any time you get a guy with talent and work ethic, the sky is the limit."

On Chesson
"He's really fast and he's progressed in the playbook this year. When he first got here, he did a lot of thinking, but now that he's more comfortable and knows how to play at a college-level speed, he'll be able to do that. He'll also be the one to stretch the field because he has track speed."

"Jehu is going to be good. He's very fast. He likes to play and is competitive, too. He worked on scout and it could be easy for people to just go down there and you have to try hard but you don't have to give your all every play. But Jehu did a good job of working hard trying to get better."

On Kalis
"He probably could have started this year but it's good he has another year of eligibility left because the O-line is going to need it next year. He's clearly a huge talent and has all the intangibles you can ask for out of an offensive lineman. He's strong as hell. Sometimes he can't put it all together mentally, but the offseason is going to be huge for him."

On Braden and Kalis
"They were on our scout team and some weeks when we were playing and they were giving me looks, I went into the game just killing the opposing team's offensive line because of those two, how they played. They were better than the guys I was going against half the time."

If you had to do it over again, would you have gone to Michigan?

Yes: 19
No: 0

"I would have paid $250,000 to go here. I was willing to. ... I would have paid a hell of a lot more."

If Michigan wasn't an option, where would you have gone (Editor's note: Some players mentioned more than one school)

Alabama: 1
Calvin: 1
Central Michigan: 1
Cincinnati: 1
Colorado: 1
Florida: 1
Harvard: 1
Kentucky: 1
LSU: 1
Marquette: 1
Miami (Fla.): 1
Michigan State: 1
Nebraska: 1
San Diego: 1
Somewhere in the Carolinas: 1
Stanford: 1
Tennessee: 1
Toledo: 1
UCLA: 1
Wayne State: 1
Wisconsin: 1


Which Michigan teammate did you trust the most? (Editor's note: Some players gave more than one answer)

Jordan Kovacs: 3
Brandon Moore: 2
Martavious Odoms: 2
Patrick Omameh: 2
Seth Broekhuizen: 1
Will Campbell: 1
Matt Cavanaugh: 1
Jareth Glanda: 1
Thomas Gordon: 1
Erik Gunderson: 1
Will Heininger: 1
Kevin Koger: 1
Taylor Lewan: 1
Elliott Mealer: 1
Tim North: 1
Joe Reynolds: 1
Denard Robinson: 1
Roy Roundtree: 1
Michael Shaw: 1
Vincent Smith: 1
I trusted them all: 1


On Kovacs
"[Kovacs] is one of the most passionate players I've ever been around and selfless as well. He's just a guy that's a loyal friend on and off the field. His work ethic is so apparent in everything he does. He's a smart kid, too, so you can trust him with just about anything."

"[Kovacs] is one of those guys who is a trustworthy guy. He's always there for his teammates and he's just a good, honest man."

On Omameh
"If my life was on the line, I feel I'd trust him to do what he needed to do.

 

[hood b. goode]

@Skooby thanks man, and there is a part 2 as well

Departing seniors enjoyed experience with Michigan Wolverines - ESPN

 

[Skooby]

@Skooby thanks man, and there is a part 2 as well

Departing seniors enjoyed experience with Michigan Wolverines - ESPN

People, coaches make Michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- What did Michigan's seniors like and dislike about Ann Arbor? What assistant coach would make the best head coach and, if Devin Gardner had been the team's quarterback all year, how do they believe the Wolverines would have fared?

These questions and more are answered during Part II of our anonymous survey. We spoke with 19 of Michigan's departing seniors and granted them anonymity so they would be more compelled to answer questions honestly.

What was the one thing you liked the most about Michigan, and this doesn't have to be about football?

"The passion that everybody has for it. You can see it on game day. After a game, you have hundreds of people lined up just to get an autograph or photo with you. When you go to a bowl game and you have such a feeling down there because of the passionate fans. Back home, all the fans see you wearing a Michigan shirt and it's an automatic conversation starter, because I guarantee you, you'll see someone during that day who went to Michigan or is a big Michigan fan."

"Man, the people. They are so welcoming. You play football, so you already have entitlement on you, but they don't see you as that. They see you as a student, and the fan base in general, it's really a college town. People will start a conversation with you like you've known them forever."

"Clam chowder. Man, I would be thinking about that during the week before we go to the hotel. It's the best thing in Michigan."

"My teammates. I tried out because I loved football and I wanted to play football. I don't think I ever expected to make so many great friends. A lot of these guys I could see myself sitting down with and chilling with in the future. To me, that's a big deal. The past three years, the teams I've been on, we've had a lot of camaraderie. I don't think I'd trade anything for the guys I've been around."

"Being a student-athlete and being part of the Michigan football tradition. All that it gives you, being a part of Michigan football and being an alumni of Michigan. Ever since I told people I was going there, they said, 'Oh, you'll find a job with ease.' I hope that pays off."

"The people here are what makes Michigan, Michigan. There's a sense, I don't want to say arrogance or entitlement, but we have to hold ourselves to a higher standard. Dave Brandon embodies that, as well. Yes, it might be cutthroat, but winning is what Michigan is all about, the tradition that goes along with that, that Coach Hoke preaches. Winning championships, that's what it is all about. That's our goal. If we don't reach our goal, we failed. Keeping that our goal, constantly striving for Michigan, is what I love about it."

"Just running out of that tunnel, to be honest, and touching that banner. That's priceless. It is something I wish I could get back."

What was the one thing you disliked the most about Michigan?

"I would have to say the people that were negative toward Coach Rod [Rich Rodriguez]. Obviously when you're not winning, people are negative. But I mean the people that the second he took the job were like, 'I don't like you.' I saw him every day in a totally different light than other people, so I thought that was a little unfair. That was my least favorite thing."

"The hippies of Ann Arbor. My least favorite aspect is how incredibly liberal this town is."

"Waking up at 5 a.m. every day to work out."
"How hard classes are sometimes. I don't really have complaints. The one thing that bugged me the most was some of the advising through the athletic department when I was here. They didn't really mislead me, but they didn't give me guidance until I kind of grew up after my freshman year. That I needed to be more confident, a go-getter by myself and needed to find stuff out on my own instead of relying on other people to guide me in that aspect. Other than that, I didn't have dislikes about the school or football program."

"Some of the people. I'm not someone that's super conservative or anything, but some people in Ann Arbor are way too liberal. Way too, whenever something bad happens it is, 'We need to forgive them, because it is not their fault. Or it's society's fault.' I don't know, some of the liberalism and liberal professors here rub me the wrong way."

"I really don't know. I guess the first thing that comes to my head is I hate how expensive it is to live here."

"How hard the classes were. Some of the classes were ridiculous. Yeah, it was way too hard. Organic chemistry was the death of me."

"The weather. I'm from the South. The snow and I didn't coincide so well. Just the whole experience. Driving in the snow was new to me. It was scary. I got a lot of honks at me. Definitely was a grandma on the road, no doubt. I didn't care. I just told them, 'Go around me. Go around me.' "

If Devin Gardner had started the season at quarterback and Denard Robinson had been used as a slash-type player in the offense you were running at the end of the year, how many games do you think you would have won (Michigan was 8-5 last season)?

Won 2 more: 6
No number given: 4
Same record: 4
Won 4 more: 2
Won 1 more: 1
No number given but more: 1 Won every game (qualifier with Devin or Denard at quarterback): 1

"I hate that question so much because people always ask that. Ten. We would have beat Notre Dame and Nebraska for sure."

"Nebraska game, we had no chance, so that's thrown out the window. Alabama, we had turnovers and that killed us. They aren't the same quarterback but Denard, he's got history, so he's going to have a threat on any defense. Devin, he has a threat, too, but he's a pass-first type of guy. I would probably say two more games. Probably two more than what we were. We probably would have won 10."

"The same. I'm going politically correct. It's so hard for me to say. Maybe one more but Denard, maybe we don't beat State then. I am going to go with the same because there were a couple we might have won but others that I don't know. Just the offense was so different with either one of them in there."

"If we had Devin at quarterback, you never know what ends up happening at Nebraska. Nebraska was really pivotal to the season. But outside of that, I don't think having Devin at quarterback would have helped us at Alabama or any of the other games. Potentially just that Nebraska game so one additional victory."

"Nothing against Denard, he did a great job and I had full confidence in him to play every game. If he would have come back at the end of the season, I would have been just as excited to go back and play as having Devin in, but the Notre Dame game with all the turnovers, we could have controlled the ball a little bit. That would have turned out a little different, because we beat them in every aspect except for turnovers that ended up killing us. I'm sure there's another game in there that was close. Nebraska could have been one."

"I know Devin is an extremely talented quarterback, but Denard did things for this team nobody else is capable of, just being the athlete that he is. It's hard to judge. I'd say it wouldn't be any different."

"Some of the games at the beginning of the year, we wouldn't have gotten out of those games if we didn't have Denard's big-play ability. So I have no idea."

"I would preface it by saying I love Denard and I think hindsight is always 20/20. I think we would have won a couple more games, because we would have had Devin prepared as our quarterback with the injury that did happen to Denard. I think we'd have played in the Big Ten championship. I think we would have."

"I'm not sure how much would have changed. I'm a believer that if Denard stayed healthy the entire year, why couldn't we have went to another Sugar Bowl, another BCS game? I definitely say if Denard stayed healthy and at quarterback, we would have had a real good year. Devin is a talented guy, but I'm a big believer in Denard. Just his threat. Playing against dual-threat quarterbacks throughout my career and knowing what Denard was able to do when he was healthy and locked in. There was not another guy I would rather have behind center in college."

Which Michigan assistant coach from this past season do you feel is the best candidate to be a college head coach on this staff? (Editor's note: Some players gave more than one answer)

Greg Mattison: 8
Curt Mallory: 4
Jeff Hecklinski: 3
Darrell Funk: 2
Fred Jackson: 2
Jerry Montgomery: 1
All of them: 1

On Greg Mattison
"He has a lot of experience in college and the NFL, so I feel like he knows not about just the defensive side but the offensive side just by preparing and planning for the longest, through all those generations of football. I wouldn't be surprised if he was a head coach anywhere."

"It's not like, when you're the head coach, you can't just be a coach. You have to be a father figure, someone to look up to. You have to be social. Have to be able to talk. I feel like Coach Mattison has it all."

"Coach Mattison, he knows how to command respect. You respect him because he'll get after you and rip you in meetings but at the end of the day, he lets you know he cares about you. And he can have fun, too. That goes a long ways. If you're a leader and your followers know you really care about them, that goes a long way."

On Curt Mallory
"He knows more about the game than anybody I've been around. He was my defensive backs coach and being in a meeting room with that guy is just like going to a highly regarded professor's lecture. He has so much good information that I learned over my years with him."

"Mallory, that guy is so high energy and so well-spoken. If I was an AD he is someone I would hire because he is so passionate."

On Jeff Hecklinski
"He seems to be a guy with a lot of passion and young, so he still has that potential in his career. I think about the rest of the guys on the staff and I think of guys like Coach Funk, they all have the capabilities of doing it, but I think they are pretty happy being at Michigan. It's a place that they like to coach. I see Hecklinski, being young and having a passion for the game, wanting to pursue higher opportunities."

On Darrell Funk
"He's extremely thorough and he watches a play and throughout that play, he can see what all five offensive linemen did. It's crazy and I don't know how he can do it but just watching a play live, he understands and has the vision to see what happened the entire play. I don't know if he would be the best coach to manage all the bureaucratic stuff that comes with being a head coach, but he knows football as well as anybody."

"He's a great teacher of the game. All of our assistants are, but he stands out to me. ... The way he teaches the game, and he knows the medium between keeping guys confident and also coming down hard on them at the same time. He knows a very good medium there. He's a very competent guy in general. A very intelligent man."

On all of them
"They all have that head coach mentality, head coach persona. This is what we always said, what the players always said. You could tell who was a head coach and who was not. When every one of those coaches walked in, the whole room got quiet. Nine out of 10 times, teams only do that when the head coach walks into the room. But when each one of those coaches walked in there, it got quiet and all eyes were on them. It wasn't something they broke us into. It was their persona, and they have a great leader."

 

[CarolinaKing]

http://insider.espn.go.com/college-...st-spring-sleeper-teams-2013-college-football

http://insider.espn.go.com/college-...on-eybl-notes-more-basketball-recruiting-buzz


@Skooby appreciate it bruh

 

[Skooby]

http://insider.espn.go.com/college-...st-spring-sleeper-teams-2013-college-football

http://insider.espn.go.com/college-...on-eybl-notes-more-basketball-recruiting-buzz


@Skooby appreciate it bruh

UNC tops spring 'sleeper' teams for 2013

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- After visiting seven schools from the ACC, Big Ten and SEC in the past three weeks, I came to a few conclusions. Here's one: Coaches are rarely pleased with how their teams look in the spring.

You can follow the logic as to why. It's a season for motivation, of poor-mouthing to leave a message with players that can last through the coach-free summer months and into preseason camp.

North Carolina's Larry Fedora is no different.

"There are a lot of questions," the second-year coach said. "We're an average team coming out of spring. That's what we are, is average."

So we thank Fedora's tone for helping us fit his squad snugly into our classification of spring sleeper teams, those that are not being widely talked about, but could be dangerous by the fall.

Based on that current assessment of mediocrity, I asked Fedora whether he felt his team could compete this fall in the ACC. Suddenly, he perked up.

"No doubt. No doubt," Fedora said. "Just because I say we're average now, that's not to say where we'll be. We don't have to play now. I don't want to be peaking now, in April.

"It's about building it. We don't have to win today."

Other coaches I have talked with about North Carolina are well aware of the Tar Heels. One noted that everyone seems fixated on Ohio State as the again-eligible team to watch, but UNC could make some noise in the ACC and contend for a BCS bowl berth.

Fedora said it begins with a focus on the Coastal Division, now that winning it can again return to the team's list of goals. A division title means you're a single win away from a BCS bowl, Fedora said.

I also spoke with Fedora about the challenges facing new coaches in high-profile programs. He made mention of peers going to schools with talent already in place, and what an advantage that is when expectations begin to mount by Years 2 and 3.

Fedora did not say this, but I will: He entered one of those fortunate, stable situations. Former UNC coach Butch Davis was not let go for his inability to recruit, or even coach.

Just look at this past weekend's draft. The Tar Heels had an offensive lineman, a defensive lineman and a running back taken in the first 37 picks.

The cupboard is not bare, either. Fedora was the only coach on my recent trip to voluntarily give me a position-by-position breakdown of what is returning. He highlighted some strengths and was unafraid to single out a few players who must emerge in order for UNC to fulfill the sleeper destiny. Here are some of the highlights:

• Fedora credited quarterback Bryn Renner for really understanding his role in the tempo system by the final four games of the 2012 season. The team won three of those games, scoring an average of 43.8 points. And Renner completed 71 percent of his throws at a very efficient 8.4 yards per attempt (332 yards a game) and 11 touchdowns to only two interceptions.

Fedora's system, which has been in place since he was an offensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee State in 1999, is all about timing. Renner and his receivers got a better handle on that as time progressed, and he also understood that check-downs were a vital part of the offense -- as opposed to forcing something downfield.

• I was most intrigued to hear Fedora talk about junior tight end Eric Ebron, who went from 10 catches as a freshman to 40 as a sophomore in his first year in the new offense. Fedora coached 2009 first-round pick Brandon Pettigrew at Oklahoma State, and he said Ebron is "like Pettigrew, but more athletic. There's no reason why he shouldn't catch 55, 65 passes and have 10 touchdowns" in 2012.

Ebron seems like the perfect complement to No. 1 receiver Quinshad Davis, who caught 61 passes as a freshman and, as he grew comfortable with Renner, finished the season with three consecutive 100-plus-yard games.

• Running back has been the position of intrigue for the Heels after the loss of second-round pick Gio Bernard, who averaged 6.67 yards per touch. It will be a collective effort. Fedora called senior A.J. Blue a "big, thick runner." Fedora said sophomore Romar Morris "can go goal line to goal line. He has that big-play ability." And early enrolling freshman Khris Francis, from nearby Durham, showed signs in the spring that he could contribute -- and maybe even star -- in the offense.

Francis had 101 yards in the team's spring game. Fedora said he still has work to do in terms of pass protection, but that's a common refrain from coaches about freshman backs. If Francis is dynamic enough, and it appears that he might be, the staff will get him into games.

• Fedora seemed to really like a secondary that returns three pieces and has some depth. Corners Tim Scott and Jabari Price and safety Tre Boston were the veteran players he mentioned from a unit that helped the team post a solid 5.21 yards per play against a season ago.

• Fedora mentioned that 6-foot-5, 260-pound senior defensive end Kareem Martin "has a chance to be really good. He's got to have a big year for us." He will be asked to replace the leadership of tackle Sylvester Williams, the 28th overall pick in the draft.

Fedora spurned a few overtures to leave after a season. And why not? There's talent in Chapel Hill, a wide-open division -- and the Heels are again eligible.

Here are five other programs flying under the radar this spring, along with an examination of why they could -- or couldn't -- emerge at the top of their divisions and/or conferences in 2013.

Big East

South Florida Bulls

Why: Coach Willie Taggart is incredibly well respected by his peers. When he left Jim Harbaugh's fold at Stanford to take over at Western Kentucky, some people told me it was the worst job in America. Taggart went from two wins in 2010 to seven in each of the next two seasons, leaving the job for USF and being replaced by ... Bobby Petrino. That's raising the bar.

So believing he could get USF going with Florida kids is not very far-fetched, regardless of what happens to the crumbling football league.

Why not: It's still Louisville's conference to win, so USF can only climb so high. Still, getting back to a bowl from a three-win season would demonstrate what many in the game already firmly believe: Taggart can coach and run a program. He might not be long for Tampa, either.


Big Ten

Northwestern Wildcats

Why: I was recently talking with a Big Ten defensive coordinator about Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller. I wanted to know the specific challenges of facing him. The assistant answered to some extent, and then branched off in an excited tangent about Northwestern QB Kain Colter.

Miller might get the national pub heading into the season, and rightfully so, but Colter is well known in the circles of those tasked with stopping Northwestern's do-it-all offensive talent. Getting matchups for Colter, regardless of where he lines up, is why the Wildcats are a concern to those in the Big Ten.

Why not: Ten wins in 2012 or not -- with or without Colter's versatility -- Northwestern will have to be more efficient on both sides of the ball in 2013. It ranked eighth in the league in yards per play on offense, and seventh in the Big Ten in yards per play against. It would be something for Northwestern to leap either Michigan or Nebraska in the division, but both could be a lot to ask. I, for one, am high on the Wolverines this fall.


Big 12

TCU Horned Frogs

Why: Just picture it after the first weekend: We're digesting Clemson-Georgia, Alabama-Virginia Tech -- and maybe, TCU's upset of LSU in the Cowboys Classic.

If you watched the draft, you know how much LSU lost on defense. So it seems conceivable that a TCU team returning 10 defensive starters and quarterback Casey Pachall could pull the upset. Nebraska transfer Aaron Green is also now eligible at running back.

By the end of the summer, the Frogs could be discussed as a Big 12 contender. And some in the region already seem to recognize that. For now, though, they're still a sleeper. Beat LSU, and they wouldn't be any longer.

Why not: We surmised that the grind of the Big 12 might require some acclimation time. Granted, Pachall's suspension played a part, but TCU did go 2-4 down the stretch and then lost its bowl game. The Frogs were close in most of those games, but can they win some of those close games in 2013?


Pac-12

Arizona State Sun Devils

Why: Everybody's back. That includes defensive tackle Will Sutton, who was expected (by some) to skip his senior season. He led a surprisingly efficient ASU defense, which ranked second in the Pac-12 in yards per play against (4.78). Think about the way Stanford inched into the league race: by playing better defense than most of the conference. Why couldn't ASU be this season's version of Stanford?

Or perhaps ASU could rise in the South Division like UCLA did last season. The Sun Devils, with quarterback Taylor Kelly (8.4 yards per attempt, 29-9 TD-INT ratio), could steal votes from the Bruins for the preseason pick in the division.

A big moment for the Sun Devils could come when they meet Notre Dame on Oct. 5 in Dallas. The school's AD recently expressed frustration with the Irish for pulling out of a later series; stinging Notre Dame in 2013 could vault ASU into the national spotlight.

Why not: Frankly, it's difficult coming up with a reason why ASU wouldn't rise this season. It's an experienced team in a division -- and conference -- that's relatively open.


SEC

Auburn Tigers

Why: Gus Malzahn fits what Fedora was talking about in terms of inheriting talent. A coach outside the SEC made that suggestion -- and then some.

"It reminds me of when Bob [Stoops] got to Oklahoma," he said. "John Blake could recruit. Gene [Chizik] could recruit. Bob won a national title in his second year. Auburn could do that."

My jaw dropped when I heard that, given that the Tigers play in the SEC West, but the relative talent level is the reason why the coach said it. Just getting back to a seven- or eight-win, bowl-bid level -- and again competing in the Iron Bowl -- would be palatable for Auburn fans after enduring a three-win season in 2012.

Why not: That division. You have to really start looking at where the wins will come from. The Tigers will have a number of 50-50 games, particularly those against the bottom of the West (Arkansas, the two Mississippi schools); it's just a matter of how they come together in Malzahn's returned system. The familiarity they have with Malzahn should limit some of the learning curve.

 

[Skooby]

Starting 5: EYBL news & notes

Editor's note: Every week in "Starting 5," we'll roll out five stories, themes and nuggets from the basketball recruiting world to set the table with the stories that need to be told and give you a leg up on the watercooler conversations around the office.

This week's EYBL-heavy edition of Starting 5 includes a breakdown of No. 1 junior point guard Tyus Jones, why freshman Harry Giles is already attracting elite attention, six top performers from this past weekend's Hampton EYBL, six players to buy stock in and the semantics of a scholarship offer.


1. The beauty of Tyus Jones

The stat line, for a player of his stature, blew no one away: 22 points, 7-for-13 field goals, 1-for-4 on 3-pointers, 7-for-8 from the line, four rebounds, four assists and two turnovers. Having seen No. 1 junior point guard Tyus Jones (Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley) dozens of times before, those numbers from one of Jones' games this past weekend at the Nike EYBL in Hampton, Va., don't move me.

But I was there for the game, and what I saw was amazing. And that's the difference with Jones.

I've said this before so it's nothing new, yet it bears repeating. I can't think of another high school point guard who has impacted games from a team perspective more since Chris Paul. Others have been better scorers, athletes or brought better individual skills, but they didn't bring the four other guys along with them the way Jones can and does on a game-by-game basis.

Saturday night, in front of every college head coach on his short list, Jones chopped up Team Penny and capped another win by a Howard Pulley team with otherwise mediocre EYBL talent. Jones' squad would go on to finish the weekend with a 5-0 record.

What was so special about this particular game was that Jones put it all together in one half. The game followed his maestro performance from earlier in the day when he made back-to-back 3-pointers in an overtime win.

A smallish point guard, Jones on Saturday night went to the goal with an attitude, looked defenders in the eye and finished like a man. There is not another player in the 2014 class -- or all of high school ball for that matter -- who has command of his game and his team the way Jones does. On Saturday night, he passed the ball the same way CP did in 2002 when he helped orchestrate a scholarship offer for teammate Reyshawn Terry to North Carolina.

Jones doesn't have another All-American on his team. Instead, he has good players whom he instills confidence in and sets up for success. When he puts a jump shot on a tee for sophomore guard Jarvis Johnson, he expects a made 3. Jones' passes helped sophomore forward Sam Neumann, who no doubt looked better in Hampton with Jones on his team.

This kid is special, and the guys in the gym on Saturday knew it. There isn't another recruit in the country with Jones' skill set. If Team USA snaps its two-game losing streak against the World squad in the Nike Hoop Summit next year, it'll no doubt be because of his leadership.

It's not a coincidence that fellow top-10 juniors Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow want to play with him. Why wouldn't they? They can play to their strengths, win and know that Jones has their best interests at heart. Jones doesn't have a selfish bone in his body, and he takes pride in passing the ball and using his weapons -- and those guys know it. Credit them for being ahead of the curve in seeing what he can do for their standing and stock.

We've made a big deal out of the relationship among this trio, especially the one between Okafor and Jones. Recruits in other classes have talked about being friends, and I've seen it amount to nothing more than inauthentic lip service. With Okafor and Jones, I've consistently watched them gravitate toward each other.

At an event like the EYBL, they spend real time together. These kids are friends, and they're young men of character. They are, in a sense, kindred spirits, and that's why I believe they'll be attending the same college. I'd toss Winslow into that conversation as well. In my mind, the school that recruits them as a trio has the best chance heading into the summer.


2. Hall of Fame early crowd for Giles

It was 6:45 a.m. on Saturday morning when my alarm went off. At that point, I'm figuring I'll be watching freshman forward Harry Giles (Winston-Salem, N.C./Wesleyan Christian) with a few assistant coaches in what was going to be a sparse 8 a.m. crowd. On Saturday mornings at events like the EYBL, event directors schedule 16- or 15-and-under games first before turning the main court over to the older kids for the rest of the day. Usually, big-time college head coaches skip that first game involving the younger players.

But Saturday morning was different. I wasn't the first or only person at Giles' early morning game. Roy Williams, Mike Krzyzewski and John Calipari beat me there. Granted, there were other assistants in attendance, and Virginia Tech head coach James Johnson was there too, but the palpable buzz was for the national championship coaches.

Here they were courtside watching a kid who turned 15 just five days earlier. Each has offered -- and in North Carolina's case, Giles is the first freshman Williams has ever extended a scholarship offer to. In my opinion, everyone else should stop recruiting Giles. If he goes anywhere but UNC, Duke or Kentucky, I'd be shocked. Shocked.

The coaches were there because they know. They know Giles could be that once-in-a-decade type of talent. They know he's not going to wait until his senior year to decide because in getting to know the young man, you can tell he'd be uncomfortable taking the process out that long. He won't seek the spotlight and won't crave the intense attention, though his signature would warrant it.

Yes, I know we're talking about a freshman. Yes, I'm aware he's three years from signing scholarship papers. What I'm alluding to here is the chance that Giles is that special player -- a phenom, if you will. He's a unique person equipped with the talent, humility, and big-picture view of his game and impact.

If I had one scholarship and could give it to anyone in high school basketball, like Coach K, Roy and Cal, I'd give mine to Giles. Believe that.


3. Prospects I'd offer scholarships to

The cool part about being a recruiting analyst is that you don't have any scholarships and never lose a game. The bad part about being a recruiting analyst is that you don't have any scholarships and never lose a game. I'm competitive, I want to win but I don't have an outlet. That's why playing armchair general manager or fantasy basketball is fun.

With that in mind, if I were a college coach, here are the six guys (not counting the aforementioned Giles) I'd offer scholarships to based on last weekend's EYBL.

Guard: Tyus Jones, 2014. This is a no-brainer. He's the best point guard in high school basketball.

Guard: JaQuan Lyle, 2014. When he posted up, I fell in love. He's a dynamic guard.

Forward: Justise Winslow, 2014. Last week I felt like Namon Wright was the best defensive wing in the country. This week I'm convinced it's Winslow. (You like how I'm not ashamed to flip-flop? Politicians taught me this.)

Forward: Skal Labissiere, 2015. From Haiti to the United States to the top of every high-major wish list. That escalated quickly!

Post: Cliff Alexander, 2014. No one in Hampton was capable of handling him. That works for me.

Sixth Man: Stanley Johnson, 2014. When he was a freshman and sophomore, I was worried that he'd topped out. Wrong. He's more athletic and an even better player than he was a year ago.


4. Six EYBL players to buy stock in

These six players aren't on the level of the guys mentioned above, but here's a half-dozen prospects whose stock should be on the rise after the Hampton EYBL.

Guard: Edmond Sumner, 2014. This kid is Steph Curry skinny but has more toughness than guys who think they can muscle him around.

Guard: Sandy Cohen, 2014. Talk about an intriguing player. He has size, OK shooting skills and is a small-town kid from Green Bay.

Forward: James Palmer, 2014. I hadn't heard of him before this weekend. My guess is that he ultimately signs with a major college program.

Forward: Mikal Bridges, 2014. You can't go wrong with a bouncy, semi-skilled, late-blooming small forward. He's this year's B.J. Johnson for Team Final.

Forward: T.J. Maston, 2014. He's grown a few inches since the end of the high school season and, voilà, he's arrived!

Sixth Man: Robert Johnson, 2014. This reclassified point guard for Boo Williams injected himself into the upper-tier mid-major conversation.


5. The semantics of an offer

Personally, my feeling on the spring is that there's a lot of disinformation out there. After a big AAU weekend, you hear about how School X offered Player Y.

Here's a common scenario. The kid will tweet out that he received an offer and naturally he's excited. He just got off the phone with an assistant coach from the school who said, "We want you to come be part of our team." The kid hangs up, texts his buddies, tells his parents and gets on Twitter to announce his new offer.

One problem: The head coach never offered. The player heard an assistant coach tell him he'd like him to be a part of the team, but there's a big difference. The prospect may not understand the difference, but to a big-time head coach there's a major difference. And therein lies the problem.

Players need to be careful. The person ultimately in charge of their future at any school is the head coach. Wouldn't you want to hear the words "You have a scholarship offer" from the head coach? I know I would.

I also know that if I were a 17-year-old kid who just talked to an assistant coach, I'd come away thinking I had an offer -- and that's what the coach wants the recruit to think. An assistant's job with most of the guys on his list is to keep them warm so he can work on the top-tier choice while keeping his options open in case of a miss. There's nothing wrong with that. It's part of the recruiting process, and everyone from the coach to the prospect is playing his part.

My point is, the prospect should take the opportunity to ask the next question, which is the only one that means anything: When will the head coach call and offer me the scholarship?

 

[trick]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2013/story/_/id/9231011/2013-nba-playoffs-next-phil-jackson

Thanks @Skooby

 

[Jplaya2023]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2013/story/_/page/PerDiem-130503/kevin-durant-doing-too-much

 

[Skooby]

2013 NBA Playoffs - What's next for Phil Jackson? - ESPN

Thanks @Skooby

I totally missed this. My bad.

Landing spots for Phil Jackson

There is cachet, and then there's what one might call "to heck with you" cachet. Phil Jackson has the latter. Thirteen NBA championship rings will do that. If, as rumored, the Zen Master is looking to get back into the league, fans in every NBA city will be paying attention.

While Jackson has never been in charge of acquiring the personnel he's coached, his teams have always been a reflection of his on-and-off court philosophies, and it's not a stretch to believe that he'll have a knack for roster- and organization-building. As for the more technical matters of being a general manager, there are plenty of smart people whom Jackson can hire for things like salary cap management and quantitative analysis.

It's widely believed that Jackson, 67, is interested only in an executive role and not a return to the bench. Of course, he reportedly was seriously considering a return to coaching as recently as November. Jackson told the San Francisco Chronicle that "there are some interesting situations that are presenting themselves, but I really haven't made up my mind yet what I'm going to do. None of it involves coaching."

Let's face it, no one knows what Jackson wants to do, probably even himself. What we can safely assume is that if Jackson is intent on returning to the league, he's going to have plenty of opportunities to do so. He is one of the great basketball minds in league history, but it's more than that -- he's a man of clear vision with deeply rooted notions on everything from offensive structure to interpersonal relationships in the locker room.

Jackson also told the Chronicle that what intrigues him is the idea of implanting a top-to-bottom "culture" into an organization -- everything from the players to the coaching staff to the trainers. That doesn't necessarily mean he'd lean toward a currently struggling team, but you can't rule those teams out, either. Also, since Jackson has called Montana, North Dakota, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles home, you can't rule a team out based on geography or market size.

Here are the 11 teams -- ranked in order of likelihood -- that need to be mentioned as possible Jackson landing spots. The other 19 have management staffs in place whom I simply don't see being replaced, either because of their current level of success or because of poor timing.


1. Toronto Raptors

This has been the hot rumor, but even if it weren't, the Raptors would make a lot of sense. They have a young, talented roster, though not one that is necessarily fitted with Jacksonian-type players. Toronto's cap situation isn't the best, and that remains true even if you use the amnesty tag on Andrea Bargnani.

However, Jackson is pals with Tim Leiweke, who was recently named CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which counts the Raptors as one of its numerous sports holdings. Leiweke is on the short list of the most powerful people in sports, and if he and Jackson want to get together, the presence of Ed Stefanski, Bryan Colangelo and Dwane Casey -- all capable people -- is not going to stand in his way.

And not for nothing, Jackson is a huge fan of Alex McKechnie, Toronto's director of sports science. Jackson knows how valuable a capable training staff is in the NBA, and worked with McKechnie in L.A.


2. Sacramento Kings/Seattle SuperSonics

Even if the Kings don't move north, the geography makes sense in this scenario. The franchise needs a kick in the pants, and longtime general manager Geoff Petrie is rumored to be on his way out, as is coach Keith Smart. Sacramento has talent on hand, but because the Maloofs have kept the payroll so low, the Kings also have all kinds of flexibility moving forward.


3. Charlotte Bobcats

The Bobcats are in the market for a coach, and it's not going to be Jackson. In addition, Charlotte has a capable basketball executive in place in Rich Cho, who has barely been given time to allow his rebuilding plan to take root. However, the questionable hire of outgoing coach Mike Dunlap doesn't speak well to the direction of that plan. But we don't know how much of that was Cho and how much of it was Michael Jordan pal Rod Higgins.

And that element of cronyism is exactly what makes Jackson an intriguing possibility for Charlotte. Jordan, who won six titles as a player under Jackson, would have to turn the entire operation over to his old coach and stand aside. All things considered, that might be exactly what the Bobcats need.


4. Los Angeles Lakers

Here's the only possible scenario where I could see this happening: if Mitch Kupchak, who has worked in the Lakers' front office since 1986 but has one year left on his contract, decided to step away after next season. I have no reason to believe this to be the case, and if Kupchak leaves, it would be entirely of his own volition. In that case. though, perhaps he could persuade Jackson to coach next year's talented, capped-out, aging team for one more season before moving upstairs to oversee L.A.'s post-Kobe era.


5. Phoenix Suns

The Suns have an opening and are in need of a major franchise reset. There are some bad contracts on the books, but also a bit of cap flexibility to play with. Also, the geography makes sense. Unfortunately, the reputation of Suns owner Robert Sarver isn't the best, and it's unlikely Jackson would want to work for someone with a reputation for being cheap.


6. Brooklyn Nets

At this time last week, I would have placed the Nets first on this list, but then Mikhail Prokhorov gave general manager Billy King a multiyear contract extension, so Jackson would have to join the Nets as a coach.


7. Washington Wizards

The Wizards have to try something different eventually, right?


8. Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers have the kind of personnel that seems easily adaptable to the triangle offense and a coaching vacancy that could be filled by Brian Shaw. However, for Jackson to take over the basketball operations department, that would mean shoving both Tony DiLeo and Doug Collins to the side. It can't happen to Collins again, can it?


9. Minnesota Timberwolves

There may be openings for both a general manager and a coach if Rick Adelman retires. There is also a lot of talent on hand in Minnesota. However, the Wolves tried the triangle under Kurt Rambis and it didn't go well. Also, it's difficult to imagine Ricky Rubio playing in that system, but you can't trade the team's most marketable player.


10. Los Angeles Clippers

You have to mention the Clippers because Jackson lives in L.A., but it's hard to imagine Jackson working for Donald Sterling. Also, let's not forget that current general manager Gary Sacks did an awfully nice job putting this season's roster together.


11. New York Knicks

The Knicks get a blurb because Jackson played there, but you can't replace either general manager Glen Grunwald or coach Mike Woodson when both might win awards for being the best at their respective jobs this season. Also, Jackson has been pretty critical of Carmelo Anthony in the past.