Blog

Week 9 Preview

Week 9 features a few exciting games. Two aging quarterbacks go head to head when Drew Brees’ Saints head to Tampa Bay to take on Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. Garret Gilbert & the Dallas Cowboys will pull off the upset of the century if they can defeat the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers. Here’s what to look for in this week’s games.

Was Week 1 a fluke for Drew Brees?

Brees had one of his worst games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1. He got back on track with a 3 Touchdown performance against the Packers two weeks later, but critics wondered if Brees was on the decline. If Brees can put up another solid game and lead his team to a win, he can prove all the critics wrong. It won’t be easy. Tampa has one of the leagues top defenses and augmented their offense with former All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown.

Will Antonio Brown be a help or a hindrance for Tom Brady?

Antonio Brown was arguably the best receiver in the NFL. His season took a turn for the worse when he demanded a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers. After he was traded to the Oakland Raiders, Brown was sidelined due to a frostbite injury. After reports of off-field issues showed up, Brown was traded to the New England Patriots. He played just one game there before being cut by the team. Now he has a second chance. He’ll play with QB Tom Brady and one of the most potent defenses in the NFL. If he can stay on the field, this team could be tough to beat.

Can Robert Spillane keep his starting spot ?

Robert Spillane played only five games when he was called up to replace Devin Bush in Week 6. The undrafted second-year out of Central Michigan blew up last week, with 11 tackles and a pick-six. However, the Steelers did bring in Avery Williamson from the Jets. Assuming the Steelers intend on starting Williamson, either Vince Williams or Spillane will have to be benched. Spillane will need a near-flawless performance if he intends to start in the weeks to come. The good news is that the Steelers will be going up against the 2-6 Dallas Cowboys who will start 4th string QB Garret Gilbert. Look for Spillane to get lots of opportunities tackling an injured Ezekiel Elliott. Williamson is not expected to have much of an impact this week as he has not practiced with the Steelers.

That’s it for this article. Don’t forget to check back to see my analysis of these games next week. If you have any thoughts on these players, let me know in the comments section.

Week 8 Review

This week featured a slew of exciting games. The Steelers eked out a win against the Baltimore Ravens, thanks to a clean game from their QB Ben Roethlisberger, and the Niners were understandably defeated by the Seattle Seahawks due to a monster game from DK Metcalf. However, there was one big upset this week: the 1-5-1 Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Superbowl contender Titans.

Is Tua Tagovailoa better than Ryan Fitzpatrick?

Answer: We don’t know. While Tua didn’t have the greatest game from the statline, it wasn’t his fault. The Dolphins defense gave Tua great field position which meant that he didn’t have to do much. Also, two of the four touchdowns were scored by the defense and special teams which meant that Tua technically threw for 50% of the offense’s points. It’s difficult to say how Tua will fare if the defense isn’t so dominant.

Can Big Ben step up against the Ravens?

Answer: Yes. Big Ben played a very solid game against the Ravens. The offense couldn’t do much in the first half, but whatever adjustments the Steelers made at halftime seemed to work. The big point is that Ben fixed his interception problem, something that almost lost the Steelers the game against Tennessee. The Steelers lived off of their defense, scoring touchdowns after both of Lamar Jackson’s interceptions. If Ben was sloppy with those chances, the Ravens would have won that game.

Is it Brandon Aiyuk’s breakout game?

Answer: Yes and No. Aiyuk did play a nice game against the Seahawks but nothing spectacular., His impact may not be so large once George Kittle is healthy. It will be interesting to see if Aiyuk can keep up this level of involvement. If he does, then Aiyuk could be a star receiver for years to come. If he is placed in a smaller role, he could be in a situation similar to Chase Claypool, who has seen his targets diminish after Diontae Johnson came back. If Kittle is out for a large chunk of the season, Aiyuk might be able to keep his involvement and solidify his spot in the offense. However, Aiyuk was placed on the COVID/Reserve list on Wednesday, which means that he will miss his week 9 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. Expect him to be well-rested for the week 10 matchup against the Saints.

That’s it for this article. Check back before Sunday’s game to know all that you need to watch for in the week 9 matchups. 

Week 8 Preview

The NFL season is already almost halfway done. For a few teams like the New York Jets, this season is basically over. Others like the Miami Dolphins still have playoff hopes. This week features some amazing rivalry matchups, with the Steelers going to Baltimore to face the Ravens, the 49ers taking on Seattle, and of course Tua’s debut. Here’s what to look for in this week’s games.

Is Tua Tagovailoa actually better than Ryan Fitzpatrick?

The Dolphins made headlines when they took Tagovailoa with the 5th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The signal-caller out of Alabama could have potentially been the number one overall pick if it wasn’t for injury concerns. Tua now has additional pressure on his back as the Dolphins benched Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was arguably the best quarterback in the NFL. If Tua is able to perform better than Fitzpatrick, he could be on pace to potentially win Rookie of the Year. If not, the Dolphins might be very quick to bring back their veteran quarterback.

Can Big Ben step up against the Ravens?

Big Ben has had a shaky few years as QB. He’s struggled with interceptions and almost lost the game against Tennesse. As good as the Steeler defense is, they cannot beat the Ravens without the offense. The Ravens’ front seven is stacked with former Jaguars Calais Cambell and Yannick Ngakoue, and rookie LB Patrick Queen who I think could be the Defensive Rookie of the Year. This means that the Steelers will have to go to the air and utilize their trio of young receivers. Ben doesn’t need to do anything special in this game. He just needs to keep the ball moving and not give the ball away. If they do that, the Steelers should come out with the win.

Is it Brandon Aiyuk’s breakout game?

After gaining a lot of attention for his spectacular hurdle over Eagles’ safety Marcus Epps, Aiyuk has fallen out of the spotlight. He had a nice game against the Patriots last week, hitting the 100 yard milestone for the first time in his career. Aiyuk’s Niners will take on their division rival Seattle Seahawks this week. This is a good opportunity, as the Seahawks pass defense is horrendous. If Aiyuk can put up big numbers, he could become a sensation similar to DK Metcalf who had a monster year last year.

That’s it for this article. Don’t forget to check back to see my analysis of these games next week. If you have any thoughts on these players, let me know in the comments section.

An Odd Faucet Design

Faucet in Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport(PVR), Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

A couple of years ago, I came across an odd faucet design in Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport in Puerto Vallarta. For the water to run, you have to pull a lever in the middle of the faucet. The water will then flow onto the hand which is holding the lever. This also makes it very difficult to wash both hands at once as you will stop the flow of water when you let go of the lever. This means that you have to hold the lever, which has been held by hundreds of people while you wash your hands. This was no doubt done to prevent water wastage, but I think it ignored the primary purpose of having a faucet, which is hygiene! I wonder how this design would be viewed in a time like now (COVID19), one where hygiene protocols are of utmost importance.

Time for a Sample in Cincinnati?

Drew Sample probably thought he wasn’t going to be starting any time soon after last season. The 6’5″, 258-pound tight end out of Washington was picked up in the second round by the Bengals last year, but he had minimal impact with just five catches all of last season. This was mainly due to the presence of veteran tight ends Tyler Eifert and C.J. Uzomah.

However, this could be a breakout year for him. Eifert left for Jacksonville in Free Agency, Uzomah went down with a torn ACL last week against the Browns and is done for the season. The receiving corps of AJ Green, Tyler Boyd, and John Ross are not anything special. Additionally, the Bengals have a young QB in number one overall pick Joe Burrow. I would expect Sample to become a big part of the passing game if Burrow has trouble reading defenses. His big frame means that he could become a big target over the middle of the field. His 4.71 40-time isn’t going to cause too many matchups problems, as teams can put a faster linebacker on him, but I still think he can be a threat in the red zone and short-yardage situations. Expect him to get plenty of targets but only 3-4 yards per receptions.

The Bengals’ offensive line gave up three sacks last week, and it seemed that Burrow was in trouble on every other play. Tight ends are a quarterback’s best friend in these situations, and Samples’ could become one for Burrow if the line doesn’t improve. Sample has all the odds in his favor. His success will come down to how much trust Joe Burrow has in him. If he becomes Burrow’s go-to target similar to Mark Andrews for Lamar Jackson, he could propel himself into the top tier of tight ends. If he doesn’t he would just be another second-round bust for the Bengals.

The Worst Soccer Kit ever?

Soccer teams may have some weird kits, but the 2019-2020 SC Braga third kit is by far one of the worst I have ever seen.

Image courtesy of soccerjersey.pro

The Primeira Liga team claims the armor of Roman soldiers gave the inspiration for this jersey, but to me, it looks as if someone took a jersey, stuck blocks of styrofoam, and painted the whole thing dark grey. The red is too dark, and the logo is barely distinguishable. The font is no good either. It lacks consistency. Some letters are straighter, while others are more curved. Add on an orange and white sponsor logo, and you have one of the ugliest jerseys in soccer.

The Doors of Santorini

Click here to check out these photos and more

Santorini is one of the most popular tourist spots in Greece. I visited Santorini in the winter of 2019, and I noticed that there was a striking difference between the touristy areas which are more upscale and the more run-down areas populated by locals. Through this collection of doors, I hope to highlight this difference. Have you ever noticed this in your travels? Let me know in the comments section.

Don’t make this mistake when using Muthead

Those who play Madden know that Muthead is a handy tool to track players and find a player’s value before you sell them or make a bid. I personally have used Muthead when auctioning off unwanted players whom I pull in packs. Despite all the useful data, do not use the market gainers and market losers right away.

For example, as of Jun 7, 2020, Muthead claimed that Colts’ right tackle, J’Marcus Webb, is a gainer thanks to one 2,100 coin sale. If you go ahead and try to sell Webb for 2,100 coins, it’s probably not going to sell. Before that lucky sale, the highest Webb had ever sold for was 800 coins, and that was in late August when the number of cards was probably much less. The average selling price for the last month was around 575 coins. Losers shouldn’t scare you either. As of June 7, 2020, Muthead lists Titans’ free safety Dane Cruikshank as a market loser. Similar to the Webb example, this is due to a single 3,500 coin sale. After that sale, he sold for a more reasonable 650 coins. In fact, Cruikshank is probably a gainer, since he has been selling for anywhere between 650-900 coins in late May, compared to around 600 in early May. 

When selling a player, it is best to look at the 30-day graph of that player. This will give you the average sales for each day. While it is not good to sell cards for the highest ever sold, it is just as bad to sell the card for the lowest amount. Muthead shows you the median price, lower quartile, and upper quartile. If you have very little competition or the card is highly rated (>87 OVR), you should sell for somewhere in between the median and upper quartile, depending on the card and how long you’re willing to wait for it to sell. If the card is decent (78-86 OVR), you should sell for slightly less than the median. If the card is bad (<78 OVR), you should sell for somewhat more than the lower quartile, unless the cards in the auction house are selling for considerably less, in which case it would be better to wait a few hours.

The Nation of Fortnite?

With the level of detail that Fortnite put into the creation of its map, it isn’t hard to think of how Fortnite would function if it were a nation. I will explain what I think would happen if Fortnite was a real nation, ten years into its existence. Note: For the Shadow or Ghost points of interest, I am assuming that the henchmen are gone, but the places are still intact.
Lazy Lake is the main city center, it has a lot of shops and apartments and many big businesses. Steamy Stacks is the cutting edge lab of Kevolution Energy, now an essential employer in the region. Slurp Co., located in Slurpy Swamp, is another significant employer. The government has attempted to stop them from dumping slurp into the swamp. Slurp Co. claims that since it makes the swamp more beneficial, it should be allowed to dump slurp and be given a corporate tax reduction of 25%. The Rig hasn’t changed much, it is still an offshore drilling site owned by the business mogul, TNTina. Dirty Docks is the primary international harbor. Since the nation is an island, a large number of imports come by sea.
The new government has put a great deal of money into transport. There is a new airport at the old Race Track, north of Frenzy Farms. Helicopters are viral, thanks to Choppa Co., who agreed to a three-billion-dollar contract, which brought 30 heliports and 90 helicopters to the island. Helicopter trips range from $10 – $100 per person, depending on the destination. The helicopters run on a subway line system making transportation extremely quick and easy. The entire width of the island can be traversed in less than 3 minutes.
Additionally, buses and speedboats have also increased in popularity as the government has built 13 more bus stops and 15 more ports and has begun a one-billion-dollar renovation of their older bus stops. Bus rides range from 95 cents to $6, and speedboat rides range from $3 to $7. There are few cars, and only hydrogen or electric-powered cars are allowed due to the excellent public transport system. However, some people have purchased Driftboards, which are personal transportation units. They can range from $200,000 to $700,000, so they aren’t as cost-effective. Golf carts are useful for those who are not close to a bus stop or port, and in Holly Hedges, Pleasant Park, and Misty Meadows, there is a fleet to take you to and from the bus stop to your house.
Misty Meadows is a country club, thanks to its village feel and its close proximity to the water. It’s also very remote, which gives it an added feel of exclusiveness. The CEOs and executives of Slurp Co, Kevolution Energy, and TNTina, reside here. Holly Hedges, Pleasant Park, and Salty Springs are average housing districts, as they have a park, green space, and beautiful yards. Retail Row is a cheaper housing district. The presence of chain-link fences and the water tank take away from its appeal. Frenzy Farms is still an agricultural area, despite attempts by both Kevolution Energy and Slurp Co. to acquire the land.
Sweaty Sands and Weeping Woods have become top tourist spots. Sweaty Sands has become similar to Cancun, Mexico, with its resorts and beaches. The Shark is now a war museum with many exhibits from the Great Civil War between Shadow and Ghost. Weeping Woods has a lot of nature and a state of the art resort. The Durr Burger and Tomato Head are top tourist attractions in the area. Craggy Cliffs is a boardwalk area which is populated by both tourists and locals alike. Here, you can find the world-famous seafood restaurant, Fishticks. The yacht is a former battleship converted into a maritime museum.
Finally, the Agency and Grotto have become government buildings. The Agency serves as the Parliament Building, as it has a central location. This also caused Salty Springs to house a lot of government officials. Additionally, it is also home to the nation’s police headquarters. The Grotto is the military headquarters as there is easy boat access to the ocean and Dirty Docks. Additionally, there are missile silos that can be useful in case of an invasion.
This is my idea of what a Fortnite nation could look like. However, there are many logistical problems. There would be a significant housing shortage, as there are no more than 10 houses in each location. Also, there are no utilities or emergency services other than a small police force. Despite this, it is not entirely impossible to create a miniature Fortnite nation tantamount to The World, Dubai. So perhaps in the next year or so, someone could be living in Misty Meadows or Lazy Lake. We can only wait and see.

Pittsburgh Steelers Draft Review

Pick 49 – Chase Claypool WR, Notre Dame – Grade B-

I understand that the Steelers want depth in the injury-stricken receiving core, but we have a crisis here. Ben Roethlisberger is not Big Ben anymore. He has been injured and probably only has a few more years ahead of him. Mason Rudolph and Delvin Hodges have got their chances, its time to move on. Jalen Hurts is a boom or bust type of player, and this is the time for Pittsburgh to take a risk. If it doesn’t work, you have a strong QB class next year led by Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields. If the Steelers wanted a safer option, I would have gone with J.K. Dobbins from Ohio State. He’s a big, physical guy who could give the Steelers a bruising run game when combined with James Conner. 

Pick 102 – Alex Highsmith OLB, Charlotte – Grade A

I was initially confused about this pick, but now it makes sense. The Steelers are going back to the ’70s and playing physical, smashmouth football; the linebacker core will be scary good with Watt, Bush, Williams, and now Highsmith. Combine that with an offense of Juju-Smith-Shuster, Vance McDonald, and James Conner, this could be a Steeler team that really wears you down. I would have maybe looked at Jacob Eason, or one of the D-linemen in the draft.

Pick 124 – Anthony McFarland RB, Maryland – Grade A-

I absolutely love this pick, McFarland is an absolute steal at this point of the draft. He does have some injury concerns, which do worry me, but when I look at the upside, this is an excellent pick. McFarland has the potential to be a Chris Johnson-like player. He will be an excellent complement to James Conner. The other prospect I would have considered is the Nigerian O-lineman from Auburn, Prince Tega Wanogho, who is an outstanding player. 

Pick 135 – Kevin Dotson G, Nebraska – Grade C+

This pick might be more necessity than talent, but Dotson has a chance to be a starter very soon. This could be a situation similar to what the Steelers did with Chucks Okorafor. He will be a backup for the first season or two and will presumably see his snaps go way up if Stefen Wisniewski is having a difficult time. However, I think that Prince Tega Wanogho should have gotten a call here.

Pick 198 – Antonie Brooks Jr SS, Maryland – Grade B-

Another pick where I see more necessity than talent, but Jennings is a reliable backup at the safety position. I think he could be a 3rd safety similar to Kameron Kelly last season. He will compete with Marcus Allen for the spot. I think the Steelers should have taken a defensive tackle with this pick. 

Pick 232 – Carlos Davis DT – Grade A-

Finally, the Steelers get Javon Hargrave’s replacement. The big fella out of Nebraska is well, big. I don’t think he is very athletic, but he can chew up blockers. He will probably be Chris Wormley’s backup in a 3-4 scheme.