Marzman315 here again for this year's edition of Defending the Draft
Disclaimer:
Well here we are again. Once again I am here to talk about the Cleveland Browns offseason and draft, and this means I will be talking about Deshaun Watson. While I am a Browns fan I am completely sympathetic to the negative feelings toward this player. However I am not responsible for his actions or the team's decision to sign him so don't waste your time insulting me and distracting from the discussion of this post to address his actions, instead use that time and energy to donate to the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center using the link below, as I will not engage in any discussion regarding the QB in any off field capacity:
https://clevelandrapecrisis.org/support/donate-now/
Brief Season Review:
The Browns entered 2022 with very ill-defined expectations. On one hand the roster looked fairly solid on paper, however the bizarre QB situation left many with the knowledge that success would be an uphill battle, and that inconsistent QB play would likely be our downfall.
And it most certainly was.
During Deshaun Watson's 11 game suspension, Jacoby Brissett took over as starting QB. He immediately became a fan favorite, as the Browns won their opening week game for the first time in seventeen years, and largely played fairly well in the opening weeks. Some poor performances against beatable opponents though saw the Browns as a pretty mid-level team as Watson made his debut.
To say he was underwhelming was an understatement. While flashes of the elite play that Watson has demonstrated in the past shone through at times, he was largely mediocre to poor for most of his abridged season, completing just 58% of his passes for 1,100 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. He turned in decent games against Baltimore and Washington, and while most reasonable Browns fans expected him to have a bit of rust, it was hard not to be disappointed.
That being said there was still plenty of fun to be had during the Browns 2022 campaign as well. New receiver Amari Cooper performed as advertised, putting up an impressive 1,160 yards and 9 TDs, Nick Chubb was dominant once again rushing for over 1500 yards and 12 TDs, the offensive line continued to utterly dominate (including surprise breakout player Ethan Pocic). The defense regressed largely due to poor coaching and a down year from Denzel Ward (which could partially be blamed on said coaching) but another absolutely elite season from Myles Garrett, continued improvement from 2021 first round pick Greg Newsome and a fantastic year from third round rookie MJ Emerson kept things from being disastrous.
Coaching Staff and Front Office:
The major change to feature here was the welcome firing of defensive coordinator Joe Woods following the season. Woods' refusal to adjust his scheme to fit the skillsets of his players led to pretty poor results (hence the down year from Ward, an elite man coverage corner who played the vast majority of his snaps in zone coverage) and was replaced with veteran DC Jim Schwartz. Kevin Stefanski remains head coach and despite a few Browns fans losing faith in him, the 2020 NFL Coach of the Year remains a stable presence at a position the Browns have not had much stability in as of late.
Free Agency and Trades:
The Browns came into free agency this season with clear needs and GM Andrew Berry emphasized filling those needs immediately with the opening of free agency. Those three needs were Defensive Tackle, which the Browns basically had nobody playing, an edge defender opposite Myles Garrett, and a safety to replace the departing John Johnson.
The Browns opened free agency by signing Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, former Ram and Texan coming off two great pass rushing seasons, Dalvin Tomlinson, the solid and consistent defensive tackle from Minnesota, and Juan Thornhill, very good coverage safety from the Kansas City Chiefs. They then focused on re-signing players from their core like Ethan Pocic and Sione Takitaki, as well as rounding out their depth with more mid-level free agents at fair deals like Jordan Akins and Trysten Hill. Their final impact move before the draft was a trade for 23 year old slot specialist Elijah Moore from the New York Jets by exchanging their second round pick for the Jets third round pick. A low risk gamble for the high upside Moore who wanted to be featured in the offense a bit more and will be in the Browns offense.
Key Acquisitions/signings:
Dalvin Tomlinson, DT - Signed: 4 yrs $57 million
Juan Thornhill, DB - Signed: 3 yrs $21 million
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, DE - Signed: 3 yrs $19 million
Jordan Akins, TE - Signed: 2 yrs $3.9 million
Sione Takitaki, LB - Re-signed: $2.4 million
Marquise Goodwin, WR - Signed $1.7 million
Michael Ford, DB - Signed: $1.5 million
Elijah Moore, WR - Traded from NY Jets for draft picks
Za'Darius Smith, DE - Traded from Minnesota for draft picks
Anthony Walker, LB - Re-Signed: 1 yr, $1.2 million
Rodney McCleod, DB - Signed: 1 yr, $1.3 million
Trysten Hill, DL - Signed: 1 yr, $1.2 million
Jordan Kunaszyk, LB - Signed 1 yr, $1.2 million
Key Losses:
Jacoby Brissett, QB - Signed with Washington in FA
Greedy Williams, DB - Signed with Philadelphia in FA
D'Ernest Johnson, RB - Signed with Jacksonville in FA
Taven Bryan, DT - Signed with Indianapolis in FA
Chase Winovich, DE - Signed with Houston in FA
(The following players' deals have expired but as of now they have neither re-signed or signed elsewhere)
John Johnson, DB - Very unlikely to re-sign, replaced by Thornhill/McLeod
Jadeveon Clowney, DE - Very unlikely to re-sign, replaced by Okoronkwo/Smith
Kareem Hunt, RB - unlikely to re-sign, injuries/reduced usage in 2022
Deion Jones, LB - uncertain to resign, average play in 2022, probably redundant with healthy Anthony Walker
Draft Season:
The Browns entered the draft season without any major holes on the starting roster, although their depth at defensive tackle and wide receiver was still lacking. This was good, considering the team had no draft picks until the 74th pick. The Browns have had some mixed success in the mid rounds but ultimately most reasonable fans trust Berry to put together the best roster possible.
The Draft:
Browns trade pick 42 to NYJ for WR Elijah Moore and pick 74.
3.74 - Cedric Tillman, WR Tennessee
Receiver is an interesting position for the Browns because there are a number of guys on the roster that its easy to get excited about but also easy to write off as non-contributors. 2020 sixth round pick Donovan Peoples-Jones was a fairly solid number two with 840 yds and 3 TDs, but struggled to contribute meaningfully late in the season barring a pretty good game against Cincinnati. Third round rookie David Bell had some decent games from the slot but is limited as an outside option, and Anthony Schwartz is good for one or two huge plays a year thanks to his speed but his terrible hands and poor route running simply doesn't justify them.
Enter Cedric Tillman. The big bodied, 6'3" 220 lb outside threat was dominant for Tennessee before injuries saw him limited in his final season. Tillman has huge potential and while he may not play a ton of snaps in 2023 he is auditioning to take over at #2 if Peoples-Jones leaves in free agency following this year.
3.98 - Siaki Ika, DT Baylor
While GM Andrew Berry aggressively attacked the defensive tackle in free agency, the depth of the position was still lacking going into the draft, particularly an adept run stuffer to man the 1T.
And then the 6'3" 335 lb monster Siaki Ika just falls into their laps. Ika was widely considered a first round prospect going into the season, however some reduction in his production in 2022 as well as a disappointing combine saw him fall out of favor a bit, plus the natural lack of value of the nose tackle position he plays. However his good tape is astounding, as it features a very nimble big man who can not only absorb double teams and disrupt run lanes, but positively contribute to pass rushing as well. He will have a role on the Browns from day one, even if he cannot replicate his pass rushing from college, he will be an effective presence on run downs immediately.
4.111 - Dawand Jones, OT Ohio State
The fall of Dawand Jones on draft day was shocking to some and expected by others. He is a prospect of very distinct strengths and weaknesses.
His strengths are obvious from looking at him. Dude's big. At over 6'8" and weighing in at 375 lbs with monstrous 36" arms he's the premier 'first off the bus' guy and has inherent advantages at the position. His tape was very impressive in 2022 and 21, albeit a bit inconsistent at times.
Jones started rubbing people the wrong way at the senior bowl, after an impressive first day he quit on the rest of the program, then showed up seeming a bit out of shape at the Combine. In the fourth round however he is a no-brainer. With Jedrick Wills approaching the last year of his contract and Jack Conklin (despite his recent extension) being somewhat injury prone, Jones has a path to the field early and is in the hands of one of the very best position coaches in the NFL in o-line coach Bill Callahan. A gamble to be sure, but a very worthwhile one.
4.126 - Isaiah McGuire, DE Missouri
The Browns have certainly had a type with their edge rushers as of late. With the exception of Okoronkwo the physical profile of our EDGE rushers is often very similar and McGuire fits that mold exactly. Highly productive at Missouri, McGuire logged over 20 QB hurries in 2021 and 2022 according to PFF. While he did get shut down at times against top level opponents like Georgia, he was a very effective pass rusher and run stopper with a tremendous physical profile, even if his athletic testing was a bit more modest. He will settle in as a rotational edge rusher immediately and compete with Alex Wright for snaps.
5.140 - Dorian Thompson-Robinson , QB UCLA
There have been few QBs in college football over the past five years as modestly dependable and effective as DTR. Passing for over 10,000 yds and 86 TD to 33 INTs over his long college career, with an additional 1800 yds and 27 TDs on the ground, DTR has a pro level arm, excellent mobility, and is a very intelligent passer with good instincts and the ability to progress through his reads. With a QB that has baggage, a dependable backup QB is a necessity.
5.142 - Cameron Mitchell, DB Northwestern
There was a scandal at one point this offseason where one of Cleveland's many dumbass media personalities pushed a rumor that Greg Newsome was unhappy and was demanding a trade. This was immediately rebuked by follow reporters, sources with the team, and Newsome himself, citing a charity program he launched in Cleveland within the few months prior while reiterating his love for the Browns. The reporter was justifiably made a fool of and issued a half-hearted apology soon after.
However just in case, the Browns went ahead and drafted Newsome's best friend just to make him a bit happier. Mitchell was a solid coverage presence at Northwestern, who had some great games against good passing teams including Ohio State. However his tendency to disappear at times as well as his being a better tackler than coverage player (not exactly what you want in a cornerback) saw him fall to the fifth round. He brings solid size and athleticism to the position, and is certainly a worthwhile project.
6.190 - Luke Wypler, IOL Ohio State
A real curiosity of the 2023 NFL draft was the fall of Luke Wypler. The number 54 player on PFF's big board and considered a solid day two choice by most, Wypler found himself falling all the way to the sixth round where he was a welcome addition by the Browns. Perhaps a bit undersized for his frame, he brings solid athleticism and two very good years of production to the position at one of the top programs in the nation. With the team having signed Ethan Pocic to an extension and Wypler's profile locking him to Center pretty much exclusively, his path to the field is not exactly clear (barring injuries) but a player of Wypler's caliber is not often available in the sixth round so that seems like a good problem to have.
Undrafted Free Agents:
Lonnie Phelps, DE Kansas
Mohamoud Diabate, LB Utah
Ronnie Hickman, DB Ohio State
Jeremiah Marin, DE Washington
Hassan Hall, RB Georgia Tech
Tanner McCalister, DB Ohio State
Charlie Thomas III, LB Georgia Tech
Thomas Greaney, TE Albany
Caleb Biggers, DB Boise State
I don't see anyone from this list contributing meaningfully in 2023 barring injury. The days of the Browns depending on starting snaps from UDFAs is thankfully over. That said I can see Phelps and Hickman potentially making the team, perhaps Hassan Hall as well due largely to the lack of depth running backs on the roster.
It was also following the draft that the Browns traded two fifth round picks for Za'Darius Smith, a sixth round pick and a seventh round pick. Smith is an excellent pass rusher who will provide the critical third veteran presence after Okoronkwo and Garrett, allowing the young, more raw guys like Alex Wright and Isaiah McGuire to be more rotational.
Going Forward:
Browns fans that I've spoken to are largely extremely pleased with this draft and offseason as a whole. We came in with clear needs, addressed them definitively in free agency, drafted with a clear BPA approach, and came out of draft season a better team on paper than going in. The depth of the receiving corps is still a bit uncertain, and while most Browns fans may wish we upgraded at DT a bit more I think that the guys that have been starting are better suited as backups anyway.
The season is hard to predict however for much the same reason last year's was; the massive uncertainty at QB. While Deshaun Watson played quite poorly last year it is impossible to predict how he will play with a full offseason with his teammates and coaching staff.
The division and conference is brutally hard but if this team plays to its full potential it is easily a contender for a deep playoff run. If Watson struggles and the defense doesn't improve with the new coaching it could be a long few years ahead. Only time will tell and most Browns fans are approaching the year with a familiar cautious optimism.
Projected 53 Man Roster:
OFFENSE:
QB - Deshaun Watson, Joshua Dobbs, Dorian Thompson-Robinson (3)
RB - Nick Chubb, Jerome Ford, John Kelly, Hassan Hall, (7)
WR - Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Elijah Moore, Cedric Tillman, David Bell, Marquise Goodwin (13)
TE - David Njoku, Harrison Bryant, Jordan Akins (16)
OT - Jedrick Wills Jr. (LT), Jack Conklin (RT), Dawand Jones, James Hudson, (20)
OG - Joel Bitonio (LG), Wyatt Teller (RG), Colby Gossett (23)
C - Ethan Pocic, Luke Wypler (25)
DEFENSE:
DE - Myles Garrett, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Za'Darius Smith, Alex Wright, Isaiah McGuire (30)
DT - Dalvin Tomlinson, Sikai Ika, Perrion Winfrey, Jordan Elliot, Trysten Hill (35)
LB - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Anthony Walker, Sione Takitaki, Tony Fields, Jordan Kunaszyk (40)
CB - Denzel Ward, Martin Emerson, Greg Newsome, Mike Ford, AJ Green, Cameron Mitchell (46)
SFTY - Grant Delpit, Juan Thornhill, Rodney McCleod, D'Anthony Bell (50)
SPECIALISTS
K - Cade York (51)
P - Corey Bojorquez (52)
LS - Charley Hughlett (53)

Yesterday I came across fanduel's NFL future bet for the comeback player of the year award. The current favorite is Damar Hamlin at -250. This should come as no shock to anyone that follows the NFL. I don't know if I am crazy, but this seems like a surefire hit if he plays just one snap. When he collapsed on the field it was the largest talking point in sports for weeks. He has already announced his intentions to play football as he has been cleared by multiple doctors to do so. OTAs have started and they are easing him into practices. Is this a lock? -250 is a 40% ROI and I have roughly $3k of profits sitting in my fanduel account that I will not be betting (I use prize picks now ever since fan duel changed promo money from bonus cash to bonus bets). Does this seem like a sound idea? Considering the severity of the situation and the publicity of what happened to him last season, I don't see a scenario where they would give this award to anyone else (obviously assuming he plays).

Title
To provide the optimal lineup for the starting offense of the Minnesota Vikings for a single season of all time, I will consider individual performances and contributions during that particular season. Here's the lineup for the optimal single-season offense:

1. Left Tackle: Gary Zimmerman (1986) - Zimmerman had an outstanding season in 1986 when he played for the Vikings. He was named a First-Team All-Pro and earned a Pro Bowl selection that year.
2. Left Guard: Steve Hutchinson (2009) - Hutchinson had a remarkable season in 2009. He provided excellent pass protection and run blocking, earning a First-Team All-Pro selection and a Pro Bowl nod.
3. Center: Mick Tingelhoff (1974) - Tingelhoff had an exceptional season in 1974. He displayed consistent performance and was named a First-Team All-Pro while earning a Pro Bowl selection.
4. Right Guard: Randall McDaniel (1998) - McDaniel had a dominant season in 1998, contributing significantly to the Vikings' high-powered offense. He was selected as a First-Team All-Pro and earned a Pro Bowl appearance.
5. Right Tackle: Ron Yary (1974) - Yary had a stellar season in 1974, anchoring the Vikings' offensive line. He was named a First-Team All-Pro and received a Pro Bowl selection for his outstanding performance.
6. Wide Receiver 1: Randy Moss (2003) - Moss had an electrifying season in 2003, establishing himself as one of the most dominant receivers in the league. He recorded 1,632 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns, earning a First-Team All-Pro selection and a Pro Bowl nod.
7. Wide Receiver 2: Cris Carter (1995) - Carter had a phenomenal season in 1995, showcasing his exceptional receiving skills. He racked up 1,371 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns, earning First-Team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection.
8. Slot Receiver: Jake Reed (1994) - Reed had an outstanding season in 1994, providing a reliable target in the slot for the Vikings' offense. He recorded 1,320 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns, earning a Pro Bowl nod.
9. Running Back: Adrian Peterson (2012) - Peterson had a historic season in 2012, coming back from a major knee injury and rushing for 2,097 yards, falling just short of breaking the single-season rushing record. He was named the NFL MVP, earned First-Team All-Pro honors, and made the Pro Bowl.
10. Quarterback: Daunte Culpepper (2004) - Culpepper had a phenomenal season in 2004, putting up incredible numbers. He passed for 4,717 yards and 39 touchdowns while adding 406 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground. He earned First-Team All-Pro honors and made the Pro Bowl.
11. Tight End: Visanthe Shiancoe (2009) - Shiancoe had a productive season in 2009, serving as a reliable receiving option for the Vikings. He recorded 56 receptions for 566 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning a spot on the All-Pro Second Team.

This lineup represents the optimal starting offense for a single season in Minnesota Vikings history, considering individual performances and contributions during that specific year.
To provide the optimal lineup for the starting defense of the Minnesota Vikings for a single season of all time, I will consider individual performances and contributions during that particular season. Here's the lineup for the optimal single-season defense:

1. Defensive End: Jared Allen (2011) - Allen had a phenomenal season in 2011, wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks. He recorded 22 sacks, just half a sack shy of the single-season record. Allen was named a First-Team All-Pro and earned a Pro Bowl selection.
2. Defensive Tackle: John Randle (1997) - Randle had an exceptional season in 1997, consistently disrupting opposing offenses. He recorded 11 sacks from the interior defensive line, earning First-Team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection.
3. Defensive Tackle: Alan Page (1971) - Page had a dominant season in 1971, showcasing his disruptive skills and playmaking ability. He recorded 18 sacks, an impressive feat for an interior defensive lineman. Page was named a First-Team All-Pro and earned a Pro Bowl nod.
4. Defensive End: Carl Eller (1969) - Eller had a standout season in 1969, anchoring the Vikings' formidable defensive line. He displayed excellent pass-rushing skills and run-stopping ability. Eller was named a First-Team All-Pro and earned a Pro Bowl selection.
5. Linebacker: Chris Doleman (1989) - Doleman had a dominant season in 1989, terrorizing opposing offenses. He recorded 21 sacks, showcasing his pass-rushing prowess. Doleman was named a First-Team All-Pro and earned a Pro Bowl nod.
6. Linebacker: Scott Studwell (1984) - Studwell had an outstanding season in 1984, leading the Vikings' defense with his tackling and instincts. He recorded 230 tackles, establishing a team record that still stands today. Studwell earned a Pro Bowl selection that year.
7. Linebacker: Chad Greenway (2012) - Greenway had an excellent season in 2012, displaying his versatility and leadership on the field. He recorded 148 tackles, two interceptions, and three sacks. Greenway was named a Second-Team All-Pro and earned a Pro Bowl nod.
8. Cornerback: Antoine Winfield (2008) - Winfield had a fantastic season in 2008, shutting down receivers and making impactful plays. He recorded 95 tackles, 2 sacks, and 9 pass deflections. Winfield was named a First-Team All-Pro and earned a Pro Bowl selection.
9. Cornerback: Bobby Bryant (1970) - Bryant had a standout season in 1970, displaying excellent coverage skills and playmaking ability. He recorded 10 interceptions, leading the league that year. Bryant was named a First-Team All-Pro and earned a Pro Bowl nod.
10. Safety: Paul Krause (1975) - Krause had an outstanding season in 1975, showcasing his ball-hawking skills and playmaking ability. He recorded 10 interceptions, earning a spot on the All-Pro First Team and a Pro Bowl selection.
11. Safety: Harrison Smith (2017) - Smith had a phenomenal season in 2017, making impactful plays and providing leadership for the Vikings' defense. He recorded 78 tackles, 5 interceptions, and 1.5 sacks. Smith was named a First-Team All-Pro and earned a Pro Bowl nod.

This lineup represents the optimal starting defense for a single season in Minnesota Vikings history, considering individual performances and contributions during that specific year.

Linebackers are expected to be multi talented players in today's NFL.
They are expected to cover, rush and of course stuff!
Having "niche" linebackers is important for game day.
Linebackers are also useful tools on special teams.
DQ has a tendency to mix and match specific players to achieve optimal situational defense.
For this exercise we will consider Micah Parsons part of the linebacker group as DQ has classified him as a LB recently.
The Contenders for 53 Roster Spot
LB's - Micah, LVE, Damone Clark, DeMarvion Overshown, Jabril Cox, Devin Harper, Malik Jefferson, Isaiah Land
Let's assume they are all healthy by the end of preseason.
How many do you keep?
View Poll

I've been watching some of the more "behind the scenes" Sumo content lately and I was a bit shocked with how archaic the training methods seem to be, even in the top stables.
Combat sports in the West, such as MMA in the modern UFC era, has advanced leaps and bounds. People like Canadian Georges St-Pierre took the sport to a whole other level by having complete control over ever aspect of training, all the way down to optimizing one's diet.
Don't get me wrong: Rikishi of past and present, and all the traditions they have perfected, are doing something right. But I can't help but wonder what would happen if Sumo training incorporated aspects of NFL linebacker regiments (as one example). Even in sports like hockey and football (soccer), the youth coming up through the system are better than today's veterans thanks to fine-tuned and hyper-specific training methods.
Hell, modern Sumo training doesn't even seem to incorporate state-of-the-art weight training facilities or equipment.
Am I way off base here or is there something that modern Sumo could tap into?

NOTE: I asked ChatGPT to write me a short article on how the Lions will win the 2024 Superbowl. Here it is.
Introduction: The Detroit Lions, a team long known for their resilience and unwavering spirit, defied all odds in 2024 to capture their first-ever Super Bowl championship. Overcoming years of adversity and building upon a strong foundation, the Lions showcased a remarkable display of skill, determination, and teamwork on their path to gridiron glory.
A Revitalized Franchise: Under the leadership of a new head coach and a revamped front office, the Lions underwent a transformative period leading up to the 2024 season. Recognizing the need for change, the organization made bold moves to improve player personnel, optimize their coaching staff, and implement a progressive game plan.
Stellar Quarterback Performance: Central to the Lions' success was the stellar performance of their quarterback, who blossomed into one of the league's most elite signal-callers. With a combination of poise, accuracy, and unmatched leadership, the quarterback orchestrated a dynamic offense that consistently outperformed expectations throughout the season.
Dominant Defense: The Lions' rise to Super Bowl prominence was equally attributable to their dominant defense. Anchored by a formidable front seven and an opportunistic secondary, the team boasted a suffocating defense that disrupted opposing offenses and forced crucial turnovers. Their ability to shut down opponents, particularly in critical moments, played a pivotal role in the team's march to the championship game.
Team Unity and Resilience: Beyond the Xs and Os, the Lions exhibited a remarkable sense of unity and resilience. Faced with adversity and close contests, they rallied together, displaying an unwavering commitment to each other and the pursuit of victory. This unbreakable bond among teammates fueled their relentless drive to succeed and became a defining characteristic of their championship-winning campaign.
Coaching and Strategic Brilliance: The Lions' success can be attributed in no small part to the astute coaching and strategic brilliance of their head coach and coaching staff. They devised innovative game plans that capitalized on the strengths of their players while exploiting the weaknesses of their opponents. Their ability to make crucial adjustments throughout the season, adapting to different opponents and situations, proved instrumental in securing their Super Bowl triumph.
A Triumph for the City of Detroit: The Lions' Super Bowl victory in 2024 was not just a triumph for the team, but also for the city of Detroit. A city long associated with perseverance and hard work, Detroit rallied behind its team, creating an electric atmosphere and a renewed sense of community pride. The Lions' achievement revitalized the city, providing a beacon of hope and inspiration to its residents, while cementing their place in the annals of Detroit's storied sporting history.
Conclusion: The Detroit Lions' remarkable journey to winning the Super Bowl in 2024 serves as a testament to the power of determination, teamwork, and resilience. Overcoming years of struggle, the Lions transformed into a force to be reckoned with, showcasing exceptional skill and unwavering dedication. Their triumph not only etches their name into football lore but also ignites a renewed sense of optimism for the franchise and its loyal fanbase, solidifying their place in the rich tapestry of NFL history.

Due diligence literally never ends with this monster. The uses and applications seem endless and based on all of this information I believe we are dealing with a stock that is in the same stage google and apple were in before they made it big. This thing has so many applications with so many companies, in so many industries, that we may have struck gold. Personally, 100 percent of my capital is sitting in movella stock right now. Its the definition of a "no brainer." have fun getting rich yall.
Game Development: Movella revolutionized the gaming industry with its advanced motion capture technology, partnering with leading game developers such as Electronic Arts (EA), Ubisoft, Epic Games, Rockstar Games, and Naughty Dog to deliver immersive and realistic gaming experiences.
VFX & Cinematic Production: Movella's cutting-edge solutions elevated visual effects and cinematic production, seamlessly integrating live-action movements with digital environments. Their collaborations include studios like Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Weta Digital, Framestore, Double Negative, and MPC.
Virtual Live Shows: Movella brought avatars to life in virtual live performances through partnerships with innovative companies such as Epic Games' Unreal Engine, Unity Technologies, Magic Leap, and VRChat, captivating audiences with synchronized and lifelike movements.
Virtual Production: Movella's motion capture technology found favor among filmmakers, collaborating with renowned studios like Weta Digital, Digital Domain, Framestore, Method Studios, and The Third Floor, streamlining virtual production processes and enabling the creation of digital characters with real-world movements.
VTubing & Streaming: Content creators leveraged Movella's solutions to embody virtual avatars, engaging audiences through interactive and personalized experiences. Collaborations include companies like Hololive Production, Nijisanji, VShojo, Kizuna AI, and Projekt Melody.
Workplace Ergonomics: Movella's expertise in movement analysis contributed to designing ergonomic workspaces, attracting collaborations with companies like Herman Miller, Steelcase, Humanscale, Ergotron, and Haworth to promote employee well-being and productivity.
Sports Performance: Movella's motion capture technology played a pivotal role in optimizing sports performance, collaborating with sports brands and organizations like Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the National Football League (NFL) to provide insights into athletes' movements for training and injury prevention.
Rehabilitation & Injury Prevention: Movella's accurate movement data aided healthcare professionals in developing personalized rehabilitation programs and preventing injuries. Collaborations include companies like Rehab Guru, Physitrack, MedBridge, MeyerPT, and Hocoma.
Sports Science: Movella collaborated with prominent sports organizations, including FIFA, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), World Athletics, and USA Swimming, leveraging motion capture technology to unlock valuable insights into human movement and athletic performance.
Metaverse: Movella embraced the emergence of the metaverse, collaborating with Ready Player Me, VRChat, Decentraland, Cryptovoxels, and Somnium Space to enhance virtual experiences by integrating real-time movement into avatars.
Biomechanics Research: Researchers in the field of biomechanics leveraged Movella's solutions for detailed analysis and understanding of human movement. Collaborations include universities and research institutions worldwide, such as Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), ETH Zurich, Oxford University, and Seoul National University.
Product Innovations: Movella's range of cutting-edge products, such as MVN Analyze, MVN Animate, and MVN Reports, transformed motion capture and analysis. Collaborations include companies like Xsens, Manus, OptiTrack, Vicon, and Qualisys, providing comprehensive solutions for various industries.
TLDR: MVLA EQUALS RICH

I am 28 years old. I am aware that many OG Raider fans are well into their 50’s. What I mean by OG is those fans that got to live through and witness the glory days. The days that brought this franchise nothing but wins, championships, and legendary Hall of Famers.
Most of my life has brought the absolute opposite. After the heartbreaking 2002 season (that I barely even remember), and a fluke 2016, the Raiders have known nothing but bottom feeding and disappointment. I am so ready for that to change.
I know that today many fans are salty, skeptical, and traumatized. We’ve endured 2 decades of brutal drafts and free agent bust after free agent bust. I strongly believe that the current regime is completely turning the ship around. We still have to wait and see what comes from this draft class, but I see no reason to expect anything other than success from them.
Looking up and down the class, I see a group of ballers that with solid coaching (which we have) will be NFL ready in no time. I know optimism isn’t usually welcomed in this sub, but damnit I’m so stoked for this season.
See y’all in September 😎

As fun as this has been and there have been some laughs, we all need to stfu and see how the show is on ESPN before we lose our shit. Pat is 1 of 1 and just because others have changed when they joined ESPN doesn't mean he will. The fanduel deal shows he's not afraid to cut his loses if he realizes he doesn't want to do something anymore. He didn't change himself at WVU, in the NFL, at Barstool, and with every step of his own show. Weve seen him at the draft, on football broadcast shows, and hes still himself. Lets see how it is before you grab the fucking pitchforks. Even if he does change some, Pat on ESPN>>>>>>regular ESPN.
So everyone pour a full cup, get a lid, and the shut the full cup

It's common to hear it can 3-4 years to actually judge a draft. Yet expert analysts can't help themselves from coming up with post-draft grades immediately after the draft. Football Oustiders has a yearly article where they combine post-draft grades from the industry's top analysts and various blogs and websites and provide a GPA. Here is a look back at the highest and lowest graded teams after the 2019 draft.
Highest Draft Grades

• New England Patriots, 3.80 GPA
  

  With five picks made in the first three rounds, every analyst seemed to love the selection of the big-bodied playmaking wide receiver N'Keal Harry out of Arizona State. Prisco, who gave the Patriots the ever-elusive A+, loved the selection of Vanderbilt cornerback Joejuan Williams in the second round. Almost every analyst identified Michigan edge rusher Chase Winovich as the prototypical player that Bill Belichick seems to manufacture in a lab every year on Draft Night. New England's offensive line addition Yodny Cajuste seemed to be a universally praised selection, while Hjalte Froholdt was met with mixed reviews. The only selection that seems to be frowned upon is the trade-up for Stanford punter Jake Bailey in the fifth round. When New England identifies a punter as the best-value selection in the fifth round, maybe it's time to turn off your television and return to your loved ones.
  

• Arizona Cardinals, 3.63 GPA
  

  Yes, the selection of Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray seemed relatively polarizing just a few weeks ago with second-year quarterback Josh Rosen still on the roster, but draft analysts have begun to warm up to the former Sooners passer. Many cite the relationship between Murray and rookie head coach Kliff Kingsbury as a sign that the Cardinals at the very least have a plan. Prisco, who gave the Cardinals an A, cited the Murray selection as the team's worst pick of the draft only because he prefers Rosen. With the number of holes on this roster on both sides of the ball, Arizona really couldn't help but address needs. The selection of cornerback Byron Murphy drew a lot of praise, as did that of defensive lineman Zach Allen. The Cardinals also managed to surround Murray with weapons outside of running back David Johnson and aging wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Wide receivers Andy Isabella, Hakeem Butler, and KeeSean Johnson will all hopefully be able to give the rookie quarterback some good options downfield. While this draft class will certainly hinge on the success of Murray, the Cardinals were able to make solid additions on both sides of the ball.
  

• Washington Redskins, 3.57 GPA
  

  When Redskins owner Dan Snyder announced that he would be in control of selections on Day 1 of the NFL Draft, Washington fans must have been terrified. This was, after all, the same Dan Snyder who infamously traded three firsts and a second for quarterback Robert Griffin III. Well, now you can sleep soundly, Redskins fans. Your guys nailed it. Washington was able to address their dire need for a quarterback when Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins fell into their lap at 15 overall. Washington then made a move that was praised by many analysts in trading two second-round selections to move up for pass-rusher Montez Sweat. Sweat was some people's top defensive player behind the likes of Nick Bosa and Ed Oliver, so snagging him at 26 overall has been praised as a steal by many. Pairing Haskins with speedy wide receiver and college teammate Terry McLaurin isn't just a great story, it has also been a highly celebrated selection. Washington has needed someone to take the top off of defenses, and McLaurin will be able to do just that. The lone blemish in some people's eyes seems to come from the selection of Stanford running back Bryce Love. While Love was a Heisman runner-up in 2017, the back tore his ACL on the last play of his 2018 regular season. Some analysts are scratching their head as to why Washington would back up injury-prone running back Derrius Guice with a back coming off his own massive knee injury.
  

• Buffalo Bills, 3.41 GPA
  

  Many of the draft graders identified Buffalo's selection of defensive tackle Ed Oliver at nine overall to be the steal of the draft. The Houston Cougars lineman addresses a big need on the defensive line for Buffalo and may be a potential All-Pro player once developed. The Bills made another great selection while addressing need when they selected Oklahoma lineman Cody Ford in the second round. The Bills placed a first-round grade on Ford in their pre-draft process, so chalk that up as the second steal in as many rounds for the Bills. The selection of Florida Atlantic running back David Singletary seems to be the point of divergence for graders. While some think that Buffalo faltered in drafting a new face into an already crowded running back room, others have Singletary's pro comp as LeSean McCoy. Seeing as McCoy's production dropped considerably in 2018, Singletary may get featured early and often during the 2019 season. Ole Miss tight end Dawson Knox is also seen as a bit of a controversial selection, seeing as he played only 18 college games at Ole Miss and never found the end zone. However, others see Knox as a high-ceiling project with an already-established ability to block well.
  

• Denver Broncos, 3.40 GPA
  

  Iowa tight end Noah Fant may not be the all-around player that former teammate T.J. Hockenson is touted as, but he will certainly make his name known in the Mile High City. Fant is going to be a strong pass-catching option for veteran quarterback Joe Flacco on a team whose offensive weapons have slowly dissipated since their Super Bowl run only three seasons ago. The Broncos were even able to get their guy after landing a considerable haul trading down with the Pittsburgh Steelers, adding even more draft picks to their stable. With back-to-back selections in the second round, the Broncos continued to address the offense with Kansas State lineman Dalton Risner and Missouri quarterback Drew Lock. These two selections have been the source of consistent praise across draft report cards, with Reuter citing it as potentially being "the team's battery for a decade." Davis, Denver's biggest detractor, thinks moving up for Lock was a move done solely because of John Elway's penchant for quarterbacks. He may be right, but I can't see Flacco being the man in Denver for the long-term.
  

Lowest Grades

• New York Giants, 1.92 GPA
  

  h boy. Nearly everybody has been extremely critical of the selection of Duke quarterback Daniel Jones at six overall. Prisco is the lone analyst with a cautious optimism in Jones' abilities. Despite general manager Dave Gettleman's claims that multiple teams were interested in selecting Jones, most believe that New York could have selected him at 17 with the pick they acquired in the Odell Beckham trade. This draft class will be staked on the success of the quarterback that many have dubbed Eli Manning with a worse arm. While some consider later first-round selections Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and Georgia cornerback DeAndre Baker to be immediate contributors, Davis panned the Giants for reaching three times in the first round. Many of the Giants' later picks, such as Old Dominion defensive end Oshane Ximines and Notre Dame cornerback Julian Love, seem like projects that will be thrown to the wolves very early.
  

• Houston Texans, 1.98 GPA
  

  According to many of our draft gurus, a lot of the picks the Houston Texans made in this draft were reaches. After the Philadelphia Eagles leapfrogged the Texans in the first round to select Andre Dillard, Houston went on to select Alabama State tackle Tytus Howard. While many cite Howard's potentially high ceiling, most consider the selection a massive reach. Kiper had Howard and Houston's second-round selection, Illinois tackle Max Scharping, as third-round linemen. Addressing the offensive line was a necessity for Houston, seeing as they surrendered a league-leading 62 sacks last year. They just happened to address the need in the wrong way. Kentucky cornerback Lonnie Johnson was brought on to address needs in a depleted secondary; it may be the lone praised selection for Houston this offseason. Many also like the selection of Texas defensive end Charles Omenihu, who was considered a Day 2 selection. However, the Texans failed to address wide receiver, their second-biggest need, altogether.
  

• Atlanta Falcons, 2.31 GPA
  

  The biggest failure of the Atlanta Falcons in this draft was not addressing their needs in the front seven until the 111th overall pick in the draft. Atlanta went with offensive line help twice in earlier rounds, with Boston College guard Chris Lindstrom at 14 overall and Washington tackle Kaleb McGary at 31. Lindstrom feels like a safe pick that borders on tepid, and trading up for McGary feels like a reach to many. The selections are especially interesting when thinking about all the money Atlanta dedicated to their offensive line in free agency. One of the biggest criticisms lobbed at Atlanta is that they managed to waste draft capital. The Falcons traded up three times, sacrificing a handful of picks over this year and the next in doing so. With no picks on Day 2, one would think that Atlanta would be more careful with their selections. Yet Silva has already labeled their last three picks (Pittsburgh running back Qadree Ollison, Washington cornerback Jordan Miller, and Louisiana-Monroe wide receiver Marcus Green) as "throwaways." It just didn't seem like the Falcons had much of a plan coming into a draft praised for its massive depth. "Overall, this draft had the Falcons taking developmental and low-ceiling players," Farrar writes, "when they needed to hit home runs to stay competitive in the NFC South."
  

• Tampa Bay Buccs, 2.33 GPA
  

  What a rough showing for the NFC South in this draft, huh? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected what graders believe is a longtime starter in LSU linebacker Devin White, but have received criticism for passing up on both Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen and Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver after they slid down from the top of the draft. The rest of the Buccaneers' selections can be labeled as question marks. Central Michigan's Sean Bunting is labeled a reach at 39, while Auburn's Jamel Dean has been considered incredibly inconsistent on film. While the Bucs did need a kicker, Utah's Matt Gay wasn't considered the best in the draft and was drafted way too high. Have you learned nothing from Roberto Aguayo?
  

• New Orleans Saints, 2.34
  

  The New Orleans Saints had limited resources in this draft, with only five picks made in seven rounds. Trading up for a Day 1 starter in center Erik McCoy was a highly regarded move after the retirement of Max Unger, yet criticism came from the team's continued pattern of mortgaging the future for present success. (The Saints traded a second to get McCoy and didn't have a first to begin with after trading up for Marcus Davenport last year). The team's later selections, like Florida safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, are good additions in addressing need, but we have to wonder if the trading track record of New Orleans will come back to bite them down the road.
  

I hope you never buy from big chain stores. I hope all the food you buy is grown and sourced direct from your local farmer. I hope your employed by a small business or are a small business owner. He talks about the NFL the biggest fucking company. Not as big as ESPN but pretty fucking big. Taylor Swift fans have more grit then you crybabies.
Edit: He has every right to be pissed off and mock his fans. He made a move to elevate his company, which his fan base celebrated once before with Fanduel, a billion dollar company. Then without even seeing a second of the new show you all bash him. Yeah like you all aren't sucking corpo daddies dick. Using a reddit app on your Apple product most likely. Sheep who like to be anrgy for the sake of being angry.

The optimism at this time of year is refreshing, but let’s not get carried away, at least not yet. We’re not talking about an embarrassment of riches. Beckham didn’t play at all last year as he recovered from a major knee injury. He’s 30 and hasn’t had more than 537 receiving yards in a single season since 2019. Bateman has flashed No. 1 receiver ability, but he’s essentially missed half of his team’s games over his first two seasons.
Agholor will have to rebound after back-to-back subpar seasons with the New England Patriots. Flowers is an exciting and dynamic playmaker, but he’s still a 5-foot-9, 182-pound rookie who will have to adjust to the speed and physicality of the NFL game. Duvernay and Likely haven’t yet established themselves as consistent offensive threats, although that probably has more to do with a lack of regular opportunities.

Don't get me wrong, I'm jazzed as fuck about this season, but reading these two paragraphs really made it stick that the only proven receiver we have is Andrews (OBJ is unproven in the sense of remaining healthy and/or what he will look like post ACL). Bateman, Flowers, Likely are all unproven talents. Monken's most successful stint as an OC in the NFL is the 30Td/30Int season Winston had. He was not the playcaller in Cleveland. Also, no matter how bad he performs, we do not have another offensive staff member with playcalling experience at the NFL level. So we are as all in on Monken this year as any new addition. We will go as far as this unproven OC can take us. A little concerning.
I understand there are no guarantees, but off-season hype has me thinking 14 wins, division champs, and SB appearance. Now I know to lower my expectations to 12 wins, division Champs (happening regardless), and AFCCG appearance at the minimum.

Every May when the NFL schedule comes out, I do a mental exercise to see if it is theoretically possible to attend a full NFL game at each of the 30 NFL stadiums to watch a home game by all 32 teams in the regular season (18 weeks) but only allowing driving from stadium to stadium (no flying!). The date and time of all home games are obviously fixed by the schedule, but games could be attended in any order. There are likely numerous solutions (but not infinite ones), and the only other rule is you must be attend the entirety of the game (app. 3 hours) before driving again.
I'm not a programmer nor have any knowledge of Python, but if someone wants to try to optimize a 2023 driving route for shortest total distance, you only need this data:

1. The 2023 NFL schedule - here: https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2023/reg1/
2. The distance matrix for all 30 stadiums - Using Google Maps

Anyone up for it? There was a NFL analyst named Max Kaplan who did something similar in 2014 (optimizing shortest # of days to see all 32 teams play; it's still posted on NFL.com). This task is similar but for optimizing shortest driving distance to see all 32 teams play a home game. That means 2 games at the Meadowlands Sports Complex (Jets, Giants) and 2 games at SoFi Stadium (Chargers, Rams).
I have two solutions I already worked out - but are they the shortest? And does the shortest route require all 18 weeks?

What’s up gang,
So I did a post earlier about what it’s like betting full-time / for a living. It received a ton of responses & hopefully I answered some questions! This is simply me building off of that post, since most people asked for particular information regarding amounts, percentages, etc.
I use Action App (Action Network App) & have been using their premium service for about 2.5 years now. I love it & HIGHLY recommend for any US-based bettors! I used to post my picks as “verified,” but they changed their system to where you can’t do live-betting when verified…? Considering that a good majority of my plays are done via live-betting, I had to revert back to the classic / custom. Some people see someone as “unverified” & assume the numbers are modified, but mine are not. I’m not here to show-off or impress anyone, it’s a tracking system for MY personal history of bets. I use BetMGM, Stations, Caesar’s, & all major Vegas books for my sports bets. In Vegas we cannot access FanDuel or Draftkings, so I have to have friends bet those for me out of state…
As of now, my best sport was NFL. Finished the season with a record of 244-151-3 (includes props & parlays) for a profit of $52K USD. I’m in the green in ALL sports except for soccer, as of now (I rarely touch soccer). NBA is my 2nd-best, but NCAAB is probably my favorite to handicap (because it’s haaaard).
My all-time #s (since tracked on Action) are 1520-1194-29… 56% for a profit of $132.8K. That’s with a strict unit-system & the occasional big play. Remember, your % doesn’t really matter! It’s your ROI & how often you can avoid juicy lines! The goal is to take dogs at plus-money & master live-betting / hedging. I don’t care if I go 1-5 on any given day… As long as the 1 winner is the larger-unit play, that’s all I care about! Don’t get sucked into handicappers telling you that they’ll “pick 70% and guarantee you wins.” They’re lying to you. The best cappers operate between 50-60% but can get you a good return-on-investment.
Outside of that, I live in Vegas, I bet full-time, also have hobbies like poker & table games, & offer gambling insight to everyone! If you’re interested in learning more about betting, gambling, etc my brand is solely based around making people “better bettors.” So feel free to drop any questions or follow me on any platform!
IG: @ theoddsgoddcapper (I post to the story) Action App: theoddsgoddcapper
BOL!

The Houston Texans will be in development mode this year but are finally building toward something. Ever since Bill O'Brien depleted the franchise's assets before he was unceremoniously fired during the 2020 campaign, the Texans have been listless. The team cycled through two head coaches in David Culley and Lovie Smith and never did anything productive during the past two campaigns, bumbled to a 7-26-1 record. Progress began this offseason, starting with the hire of DeMeco Ryans as head coach. Ryans is one of the game's premier defensive minds and provided instant credibility with his playing experience, including six seasons with Houston. A good staff only goes so far, though. The Texans need quality players, and they didn't enter this offseason with many building blocks. Offensive tackles Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard were basically it. Last year's draft class brought cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., guard Kenyon Green, safety Jalen Pitre, wide receiver John Metchie III, linebacker Christian Harris and running back Dameon Pierce. These half-dozen inclusions formed the bedrock of what the Texans could be. And this year's draft class can create a foundation The Nos. 2 and 3 picks—quarterback C.J. Stroud and edge-defender Will Anderson Jr.—provide centerpieces on offense and defense. The Day 2 selections of center Juice Scruggs and wide receiver Tank Dell can be instant contributors, too. The overall talent level of the team is improving, and quickly. Despite this reason for optimism, Houston is still a long way away from being a cohesive unit, especially with so much youth at key positions. The Texans need to grow together while the front office continues to look for better receivers, a long-term answer at tight end, someone to bookend Anderson and a second solid outside corner. Houston may be trending positively, but the franchise started so far behind others that the squad is still significantly back of the pack and playing catch-up, especially in a loaded AFC.
Below is my opinion on the outlook.
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, but it’s not doom and gloom either. Texans are trending in a positive manner, but growing pains are coming. In my opinion we are setting a nice young squad up to acquire some veteran presence in a couple years to really compete for at least the AFC south.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10075830-ranking-the-5-worst-nfl-rosters-ahead-of-2023-otas

For example, I'm trying to parlay some NFL futures such as total wins, total TDs for various players, etc. Both Fanduel and DK won't let me parlay these. Any that will?

Back for a third year, it's the Ultimate NFL Tour itinerary! We're answering the question: what's the most efficient route to attend a home game for all 32 NFL teams this season?
Rules of the schedule:

1. Every team must be visited at home exactly once. This means two games at SoFi and two games at MetLife. Fortunately for us, the turnaround times for games at those facilities is extremely short this year.
2. Flights are allowed, but rarely necessary in practice. It's theoretically possible to drive every leg of this tour, but a couple wouldn't be very fun (20 hours to get from New England to Carolina, or 27 hours to get from Washington DC to Kansas City).
3. New for this year, not every week of the season has to be used. Seattle is the most remote city in the league which means it's a great place to start or end the trip - and although they do start the season at home, the rest of the West Coast teams line up better in December. So we'll race around the league faster than ever and finish in Seattle during their final home game of the regular season, Week 17.

Week 1 9/10 SNF, Dallas @ NY Giants 9/11 MNF, Buffalo @ NY Jets
Week 2 9/14 TNF, Minnesota @ Philadelphia (98 miles from NYJ) 9/17 SNF, Miami @ New England (308 miles from PHI) 9/18 MNF, New Orleans @ Carolina (870 miles from NE)
Week 3 9/24, Denver @ Miami (715 miles from CAR) 9/25 MNF, Philadelphia @ Tampa Bay (271 miles from CAR)
Week 4 10/1, Cincinnati @ Tennessee (705 miles from TB)
Week 5 10/8, Houston @ Atlanta (246 miles from TEN)
Week 6 10/15, Indianapolis @ Jacksonville (348 miles from ATL)
Week 7 10/19 TNF, Jacksonville @ New Orleans (547 miles from JAX) 10/22, Cleveland @ Indianapolis (819 miles from NO) 10/23 MNF, San Francisco @ Minnesota (595 miles from IND)
Week 8 10/29, Minnesota @ Green Bay (277 miles from MIN) 10/30 MNF, Las Vegas @ Detroit (496 miles from GB)
Week 9 11/2 TNF, Tennessee @ Pittsburgh (285 miles from DET) 11/5, Arizona @ Cleveland (137 miles from PIT)
Week 10 11/9 TNF, Carolina @ Chicago (346 miles from CLE) 11/12, Houston @ Cincinnati (297 miles from CHI) 11/13 MNF, Denver @ Buffalo (426 miles from CIN)
Week 11 11/16 TNF, Cincinnati @ Baltimore (356 miles from BUF) 11/19, NY Giants @ Washington (33 miles from BAL) 11/20 MNF, Philadelphia @ Kansas City (1,057 miles from WAS)
Week 12 11/26, Cleveland @ Denver (610 miles from KC)
Week 13 11/30 TNF, Seattle @ Dallas (779 miles from DEN) 12/3, Denver @ Houston (265 miles from DAL)
Week 14 12/10, Minnesota @ Las Vegas (1,465 miles from HOU)
Week 15 12/17, San Francisco @ Arizona (284 miles from LV)
Week 16 12/21 TNF, New Orleans @ LA Rams (378 miles from ARI) 12/23 Sat, Buffalo @ LA Chargers 12/25 MNF, Baltimore @ San Francisco (351 miles from LAC)
Week 17 12/31, Pittsburgh @ Seattle (834 miles from SF)

MCU Cap with Mjolnir, armor and shield
Vs
An optimally armed and armored Spartan II (Halo), a Space Marine (WH40K) and the Doom Slayer
They face off 100 yards away in an empty American NFL Foot Ball stadium

Main hub thread with the full 131 rankings
Finally, the first power 5 team.
If you’re a Duke, Indiana, Kansas, Rutgers fan; hold your loved ones close tonight. It could’ve been you. It wasn’t you. And for that, be thankful. Vanderbilt fans, you aren’t as lucky. I’m not going to beat up on you too much, but you’re the worst P5 team of the last 40 years, and the 9th worst team overall from those who played Division 1-A from 1983-2022. These are the facts, and they are indisputable.

Best Seasons and Highlights

1. 2012: 28. Vanderbilt: 9-4 (13.749) 2. 2013: 37. Vanderbilt: 9-4 (9.635) 3. 2008: 46. Vanderbilt: 7-6 (2.290) 4. 2016: 60. Vanderbilt: 6-7 (-5.951) 5. 1984: 56. Vanderbilt: 5-6 (-7.282) 6. 2018: 67. Vanderbilt: 6-7 (-7.966) 7. 2011: 63. Vanderbilt: 6-7 (-8.387) 8. 1999: 60. Vanderbilt: 5-6 (-10.710) 9. 1991: 53. Vanderbilt: 5-6 (-10.757) 10. 2005: 73. Vanderbilt: 5-6 (-14.971) 11. 2007: 73. Vanderbilt: 5-7 (-15.122) 12. 1992: 65. Vanderbilt: 4-7 (-16.353) 13. 1994: 66. Vanderbilt: 5-6 (-17.783) 14. 1987: 65. Vanderbilt: 4-7 (-19.543) 15. 2017: 89. Vanderbilt: 5-7 (-20.230) 16. 2022: 88. Vanderbilt: 5-7 (-20.638) 17. 2006: 75. Vanderbilt: 4-8 (-21.683) 18. 2015: 86. Vanderbilt: 4-8 (-22.093) 19. 1993: 76. Vanderbilt: 4-7 (-24.360) 20. 1985: 78. Vanderbilt: 3-7-1 (-27.792) 21. 1988: 81. Vanderbilt: 3-8 (-28.272) 22. 1997: 83. Vanderbilt: 3-8 (-31.977) 23. 2000: 88. Vanderbilt: 3-8 (-32.365) 24. 1983: 89. Vanderbilt: 2-9 (-36.045) 25. 1996: 93. Vanderbilt: 2-9 (-36.213) 26. 1995: 90. Vanderbilt: 2-9 (-38.215) 27. 2004: 101. Vanderbilt: 2-9 (-39.055) 28. 2014: 111. Vanderbilt: 3-9 (-40.424) 29. 2019: 118. Vanderbilt: 3-9 (-40.936) 30. 2009: 107. Vanderbilt: 2-10 (-43.508) 31. 1998: 100. Vanderbilt: 2-9 (-43.699) 32. 2003: 101. Vanderbilt: 2-10 (-43.834) 33. 2001: 99. Vanderbilt: 2-9 (-44.034) 34. 2002: 102. Vanderbilt: 2-10 (-45.145) 35. 1986: 101. Vanderbilt: 1-10 (-47.816) 36. 2010: 110. Vanderbilt: 2-10 (-49.100) 37. 1989: 95. Vanderbilt: 1-10 (-50.915) 38. 2021: 122. Vanderbilt: 2-10 (-52.341) 39. 1990: 100. Vanderbilt: 1-10 (-55.786) 40. 2020: 128. Vanderbilt: 0-9 (-58.482) Overall Score: 1935 (106th) 

• 146-315-1 record
• 0 conference titles
• 3-3 bowl record
• 2 consensus All-Americans
• 48 NFL players drafted

If Vandy is 146-315-1 overall, I don’t want to know what their SEC record is. I do know they’re 145-435-17 since joining the conference in 1932. Despite their struggles, they do have by far the most players drafted of any team we’ve seen so far with 48, one of the benefits of being a P5 program. 3 bowl wins in 40 years is a tough scene for a P5 program, but there are a few P5 teams above Vandy with less. The 2 All-Americans were P Ricky Anderson in 1984, and LB Zach Cunningham in 2016.

Top 5 Seasons

Worst Season: 2020 (0-9 overall, 0-9 SEC)
Ah yes, the 2020 Vanderbilt Commodores. Where to even begin? Youtuber BurgerSmooth described their record as 0-9-2-1-1-1. That’s 0 wins, 9 losses, 2 postponements, 1 cancellation, 1 publicity stunt, and 1 head coach firing. Vandy was ranked as my 3rd worst team of 2020, what made them so bad? A 12-17 season opening loss to Texas A&M, who finished the year ranked #4, wasn’t bad at all. Then the blowouts came. 7-41 to LSU, 7-41 to South Carolina, 21-54 to Ole Miss. LSU’s defense had just given up 623 passing yards to Mississippi State, but Vandy could only muster 113. Ole Miss QB Matt Corral had 6 passing TD and 0 INT in their game. Had they played a regular 12 game schedule with 8 SEC games, Vanderbilt likely would’ve been at least 2-10 or 3-9, as they had one-possession losses to Texas A&M, Mississippi State, and Kentucky. 0-41 and 17-42 losses to 5-5 Missouri and 3-7 Tennessee was a rough end to the season though.
The lone bright spot, or final nail in the season’s coffin, depending on how you view it, was kicker Sarah Fuller becoming the first woman to play in a Power 5 game. She handled kickoffs against Missouri and made 2 XPs against Tennessee. While many thought her addition to the roster was a publicity stunt, Vanderbilt’s on-field results in 2020 suggest that maybe she really was just the best they had to offer. Some players had respectable years: DE Dayo Odeyingbo was 2nd Team All-SEC with 5.5 sacks and 2.5 TFL, and was a 2nd round pick by the Indianapolis Colts after the season. This team’s legacy is being really really bad, and Sarah Fuller breaking the Power 5 gender barrier.
5. 1984 (5-6 overall, 2-4 SEC)
Yes, we’re going all the way back to 1984 to get one of Vanderbilt’s top 5 seasons. And it’s not even a winning record. Vandy only had 3 winning seasons in 40 years, so bear with me.
But this team had a very good start. Led by coach George MacIntyre, father of recent Colorado head coach Mike, Vandy opened with a W 26-14 over Kansas State, W 23-14 over Maryland (who finished #12), W 41-6 over Kansas, and to top it off, a 30-21 W over Alabama in Tuscaloosa. This is still the only time Vanderbilt’s ever beaten Alabama on their home turf. Unfortunately, like many seasons to come, an inexplicable loss derailed the season. #19 Vanderbilt hosted 0-4 Tulane, and thanks to QB Kurt Page throwing 4 of his 9 INTs on the year, lost 23-27 in a heartbreaking upset. The season ended with a thud as Vandy lost 6 of their last 7 to finish 5-6 and miss a bowl. 4 players, including Page, made the All-SEC team on offense, and 2 players made it on defense. P Ricky Anderson was the team MVP, earning consensus All-American honors with a staggering 48.2 yards per punt. 7 players were drafted to the NFL over the next 2 years, so this was a pretty good team who just never recovered after the Tulane loss.
4. 2016 (6-7 overall, 3-5 SEC)
There was actually some optimism in 2016. HC Derek Mason was entering his 3rd year after going 3-9 and 4-8 the previous two, and Vanderbilt was picked 5th out of 7 teams in the SEC East, with 2 1st-place votes. It turned out to be a better year than expected, making just their 5th bowl since 1982. And this was a damn solid team. Going 6-6 in the regular season, 5 of their losses came by just 9 points or less. An underrated non-conference slate included a 47-24 win over 8-5 Middle Tennessee and a 31-30 OT win over C-USA champ Western Kentucky. The Commodores spoiled Georgia’s homecoming with a 17-16 win in Athens, their first win there since 2006. Sitting at 4-6 and needing to win out to make a bowl, Vandy knocked off Shea Patterson’s Ole Miss, and #24 Tennessee 45-34, just their 6th win over Tennessee in 42 years! LB Zach Cunningham was a force, leading a defense that gave up just 24.0 PPG. He led the team in tackles (125), TFL (16.5), fumble recoveries (4), and forced fumbles (2). RB Ralph Webb was 2nd Team All-SEC with 1283 rush yards and 13 TD. QB Kyle Shurmur threw more INT than TD on the year, but would develop into one of Vanderbilt’s best all-time QBs the following 2 years, combining for 50 TD to just 16 INT from 2017-18.
3. 2008 (7-6 overall, 4-4 SEC)
Bit of a magical year for Vanderbilt fans. After a 4-0 start which included wins over #24 South Carolina, Rice (who finished 10-3), and Ole Miss (who finished #14), Vanderbilt entered the AP Rankings at #19 and was chosen to host College Gameday against #13 Auburn. The Commies were looking for their first 5-0 start since 1943, and to end a 13 game losing streak to Auburn. Thanks to a standout team defensive performance, Vandy held Auburn to just 208 yards and 13 points in a 14-13 win. After being picked as the worst SEC team coming into the year, Vanderbilt was suddenly #13 and had a legitimate possible top 10 matchup brewing with Georgia in 2 weeks. Unfortunately, they lost a trap game in Starkville to Mississippi State 14-17, and wouldn’t recover. Vanderbilt’s defense carried them throughout the year, but the offense never got going, and 4 game losing streak ended with a 14-24 loss to #10 Georgia, 7-10 loss to Duke, and finally 14-42 to #4 Florida and Tim Tebow. At 5-4, the season wasn’t over yet, and an impressive performance from QB Chris Nickson (3 passing TD, 118 rushing yards) helped Vanderbilt beat Kentucky (who’s QB was Randall Cobb) 31-24 and clinch a bowl game. In a game of vaunted defenses between 9-4 Boston College and 6-6 Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt did just enough with a defensive TD and 3 FGs to win 16-14 and clinch their first winning record in a season since 1982.
CB DJ Moore was a 2nd Team All-American. DE Tim Fugger had 14 tackles on the year.
2. 2013 (9-4 overall, 4-4 SEC)
James Franklin good. If you had any questions about his coaching ability, compare these top 2 seasons with the rest of Vanderbilt’s recent history. This was the 2nd year of Vandy’s great 2-year stretch, and they actually finished in the AP Top 25 (#24). A weird year for the SEC East saw Missouri and South Carolina finish top 5 in the nation, Florida and Tennessee have losing records, and Georgia finish just 8-5. Vanderbilt took advantage of that and a non-conference schedule of Austin Peay, UAB, UMass, and Wake Forest to finish 4-0 out of conference and 8-4 overall in the regular season. Notable SEC wins included 31-27 over #15 Georgia, 34-17 over Florida in Gainesville, and 14-10 over Tennessee in Knoxville. The season was capped with a 41-24 bowl win over 8-4 Houston. WR Jordan Matthews was BY FAR the MVP with 112 catches for 1477 receiving yards and 7 TD. He earned 1st Team All-American honors by the AP and set the SEC record for career receiving yards with 3759.
1. 2012 (9-4 overall, 5-3 SEC)
And this was the best nerd team of them all. It was a year of record setting: the first time winning 5 SEC games in a year since 1935, the first win at home against Tennessee in 30 years, the first time since 1948 they finished in the Top 25 (#23), the first 9-win season since 1915, and they ended the year with the longest win streak in the SEC (5 games). It started like any other Vanderbilt year: 2-4, with losses to Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. After that, everything changed. A win over Auburn (who was 2 years removed from a national title, but in the middle of a miserable 3-9 year) kickstarted a 7 game win streak with results such as 40-0 over Kentucky, 41-18 over Tennessee, 55-21 over Wake Forest, and 38-24 over NC State in the bowl. QB Mike Glennon was the talk of the game for NC State, many thinking he was a future 1st round pick, but Vandy’s defense held him to just 1 TD 3 INT on 5.1 YPA. There weren’t a lot of holes on this team. QB Jordan Rodgers (brother of Aaron) put up a respectable statline of 2539 passing yards 15 TD 5 INT, RB Zac Stacy was 2nd Team All-SEC with 1346 yards and 10 TD from scrimmage, and WR Jordan Matthews was 1st Team All-SEC with 94 catches for 1323 yards and 8 TD. Defensively no players made the All-SEC 1st/2nd Team, but as a team they ranked 15th in the nation with 18.7 PPG allowed.

5th Quarter

Thoughts on Vanderbilt being the worst Power 5 team of the last 40 years? Who’s next, and how soon?
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