The scheme isn’t changing. At least not drastically. Ed Orgeron wanted an attacking 4-3 defense last year under Bo Pelini, and new LSU defensive coordinator Daronte Jones clarified in his media debut Tuesday he will operate primarily out of a four-man front again. This information comes well-timed for a new defensive depth chart projection, where […]
By now you’ve probably scanned the traditional NFL stats compiled by the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Maybe you’ve even perused Pro Football Focus’ grades, or tried to dig in on the NFL’s Next Gen Stats site. We’re all trying to understand, first, how it is that these teams emerged from the […]
Andrelton Simmons is one of the best defensive shortstops ever, a four-time Gold Glove winner whose plus-191 Defensive Runs Saved rank third in MLB history behind Ozzie Smith and Mark Belanger. However, last year’s DRS was negative for the first time in his career, naturally leading to questions about whether he’s lost a step at […]
Say this for the Phillies: They kept the band together. Two months ago, the idea of the Phillies’ re-signing J.T. Realmuto or Didi Gregorius and certainly both seemed as likely as bipartisanship in Congress and, well, $143.5 million later, here they are. Seven weeks after getting hired as president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski did […]
It’ll probably be best for opposing hitters to avoid the left side of Minnesota’s infield in 2021. The Twins have their new starting shortstop after signing free agent Andrelton Simmons to a one-year, $10.5 million deal on Sunday. It’s an addition that figures to benefit Minnesota in several different ways, as Simmons not only provides a steep […]
Will Josh Allen be nerfed in the name of traditionalist tactics? Or is McDermott onto something? After all, the Bills’ running game was one of the team’s biggest weaknesses in 2021. Let’s push past the analytics pearl-clutching, take a deep dive into the data, and determine what McDermott, offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, and the Bills can do […]
The Reds have considered a run at Indians shortstop Amed Rosario as an alternative to spending on the free-agent market, reports Mike Puma of the New York Post (Twitter link). MLB Network’s Jon Heyman hears the same, tweeting that while Cincinnati has maintained interest in Didi Gregorius, he might prove too expensive an option. Cincinnati has rampantly slashed payroll this […]
Penn State returns plenty of familiar faces, but its roster will look different next season. The Nittany Lions will continue being more active than ever in the transfer portal, and they begin the offseason with a third offensive coordinator in as many seasons. A lot can happen between now and late April, assuming spring practice […]
What is the saying: If you don’t fail, you don’t learn? Well, if that is true, Niko Goodrum learned a ton last season. Even though his 38.6 percent strikeout rate in 179 plate appearances probably should be viewed more as a slump than a binding indictment of his offensive talent, it was enough to cost […]
At his introductory press conference in November, incoming Mets owner Steve Cohen offered a dose of reality. Cohen, a multibillionaire many times over, pledged liberal funds to the Mets’ 2021 roster. But he warned that his primary goal was to create a sustainable winner, which meant administering restraint when needed. The Mets, Cohen said, would […]