Mock NFL Draft 2016

By: Tre Bailey

(@trebailey14)

SKSergioKosco Blogger

Mock NFL Draft 2016

(Top 10 Picks)

Let me start off by saying I am deeply sorry for the lack of content I have been producing since the end of the NCAA season, but I’m back to bring you a short draft analysis of the top 10 pick of this weekend’s draft and who I think should be drafted by each team.

Let’s Begin

 

Los Angeles Rams (Round 1 Pick 1): The Rams managed to trade up from the 15^th pick to the number one overall pick by way of the Tennessee Titans.

Team Needs: Quarterback, Wide Receiver, Center

Draft Pick: Jared Goff, Quarterback, University of California Berkeley

Analysis: With the Rams in need of a quarterback after a not so successful time with Sam Bradford calling the shots, and also requesting to be traded this off season. It only makes sense that they use their number one pick on the former University of Cal signal caller. With great size and decision making abilities Goff is hands down the best QB going into the draft and a perfect fit for the Rams

Philadelphia Eagles (Round 1 Pick 2): Trading up from the 8^th pick by way of the Cleveland Browns.

Team Needs: Running Back, Offensive Guard, Offensive Tackle

Draft Pick: Carson Wentz, Quarterback, North Dakota State University

Analysis: Although many experts say the Eagles aren’t in desperate need for a Quarterback I believe otherwise. With rather lackluster QB play over the previous years the Eagles are in serious need of a consistent signal caller. With Chip Kelley out and Doug Pederson in Carson Wentz should have an easy adjustment taking over as the signal caller.  The two time FCS national championship MVP looks to make a mark in the NFL with fantastic size and Sheer intelligence.

San Diego Chargers (Round 1 Pick 3)

Team Needs: Defensive Line, Safety, Tight End

Draft Pick: Jalen Ramsey, Cornerback, Florida State University

Analysis: Needing to re-build a rather injury ridden secondary the chargers are a perfect fit for Jalen Ramsey. With great length, physicality, and speed; his ability to change direction and jam receivers will work nicely in a pass heavy AFC West.

Dallas Cowboys (Round 1 Pick 4)

Team Needs: Corner Back, Quarter Back, Running Back

Draft Pick: Ezekiel Elliot, Running Back, Ohio State University

Analysis: After losing DeMarco Murray after a career season, the cowboys saw a significant drop off in their running attack. As a run first team the cowboys will be looking to add a dynamic playmaker to their backfield. Elliot who had an outstanding career at Ohio State Provides a dynamic similar to Marshall Faulk. His ability to run between the tackles and on the perimeter is signs of a top tier back, and his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield adds that extra threat.

Jacksonville Jaguars (Round 1 Pick 5)

Team Needs: Outside Line Backer, Safety, Center

Draft Pick: Myles Jack, Linebacker, UCLA

Analysis: The Jags are looking for a dynamic playmaker to play on the edge and Jack is their guy. With an outstanding sophomore season Jack faced adversity as he tore his ACL just 3 games into his junior year. Dedicating the last year to recovering, Jack seems to be back and better than ever, but the question remains is he 100%. The Jags may be taking a gamble but at the end of the day it is a high risk high reward situation which may ultimately pay out in their favor.

Baltimore Ravens (Round 1 Pick 6)

Team Needs: Offensive Tackle, Offensive Guard, Corner Back

Draft Pick: Laremy Tunsil, Offensive Tackle, Ole Miss

Analysis: The Ravens are in need of protection, and if Tunsil falls to the 6^th pick they will without a doubt draft him. With a massive frame and strength, Tunsil is your prototypical offensive linemen. Easily the best linemen in the draft he is a sure thing at pick number 6.

San Francisco 49ers (Round 1 Pick 7)

Team Needs: Quarter Back, Inside Linebacker, Offensive Tackle

Draft Pick: Ronnie Stanley, Offensive Tackle, Notre Dame

Analysis: Staley was a three year starter for the Fighting Irish and only improved as time passed. A top tier pass protector; Stanley is set to protect any high-end quarterback in the league. Looking to rebuild after rather disappointing seasons from their super bowl runs starting with the offensive line isn’t quite a bad Idea.

Cleveland Browns (Round 1 Pick 8): from the Philadelphia Eagles

Team Needs: Quarterback, Wide Receiver, Defensive Linemen

Draft Pick: Joey Bosa, Defensive End, Ohio State University

Analysis: The Browns will be looking to increase their pass rush by drafting Bosa with the 8^th pick. Bosa carries a high motor, speed off of the edge, and good strength to pose a threat to any offensive tackle. His athleticism gives him the ability to drop in coverage, at the same time his strength and quickness allows him to beat double teams. Bosa would be a key component in the rebirth of the 

Browns defense.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Round 1 Pick 9)

Team Needs: Corner Back, Offensive Tackle, Safety

Draft Pick: Vernon Hargreaves, Corner Back, University of Florida

Analysis: With doubts in his size, some may think Hargreaves shouldn’t be a high first round pick. His stats and production in college say otherwise. His ability to disrupt passes, find the ball in the air, and his explosive nature is pure natural talent. He has the ability to run with some of the fastest there is and compete for 50/50 balls against taller receivers. Tampa Bay is in need for a new corner and they will find a consistent one in Hargreaves.

New York Giants (Round 1 Pick 10)

Team Needs: Linebacker, Wide Receiver, Offensive Line

Draft Pick: Jack Conklin, Offensive Tackle, Michigan State University

Analysis: Wanting to beef up that offensive line that allowed just only 27 sacks last year the Giants could find themselves drafting a centerpiece for their future offensive line. Conklin has great technique and strength, but lacks in quickness. His natural athleticism should make up for most of his small issues as long as he’s in the right system. The Giants would be a perfect fit for him seeing a great improvement this past year.

Tune in to the first round of the Draft this Thursday at  8pm EST 7 CST

Also stay tuned for BIG things to come regarding Sergio Kosco ... DON'T BLINK

My Spartan Race Experience

By: Dylan Smith


I recently participated in a 5-mile obstacle course race known as the Spartan Race which is known for its abundance of obstacles that include 6-10 ft high walls, cargo net climbs, and a spear throw to name a few. Oh, and there was some mud involved too.

(This is me nice and clean before the race)

There are three types of Spartan races you can do, with each one increasing in difficultly with more obstacles and a longer course. The Sprint, Super, and the Beast. Together they are known as the "Trifecta" and each include individual medals for completing the course that can be combined into one big medal when all three are attained.

(My medal)

The race in Houston was my second Spartan race, the first one I did was at AT&T stadium in Dallas, TX and I learned the hard way that there is a big difference between the arena race and the outdoor race.
The main difference being the mud, which was multiplied during the week due to the six inches of rain leading up to the race. This made the race almost un-runnable as the mud was so deep and filled with waist deep pot-holes that by trying to run you could almost guarantee a twisted ankle or other injuries.
This slowed the race down tremendously for me and the other participants as we were forced to take our time through the winding muddy trails that were flooded with water. Luckily, the obstacles on the course were able to break up the monotony of mud-wallowing and keep it fun.

(Coming out of the muddy lake)

The first obstacles were mostly walls to go up and over, then as I got deeper into the course the obstacles became increasingly difficult. There was a 60lb sandbag carry where I carried the mud soaked bag on my shoulders and completed a loop that included squatting under barbed wire while maintaining enough balance in the deep mud not to fall over. Another surprisingly tough one was the sled pull which went from relatively easy to very hard after the sled became completely stuck in the mud and it took me and another racer to pull the sled. There was also a small lake crossing which provided some entertainment just from watching the reluctance of the other racers to actually get in the cold muddy water. Other obstacles included monkey bars, a 5-gallon gravel filled bucket carry, and of course the infamous 20ft rope climb near the end of the course. I was able to complete all of the obstacles except the spear throw where I barely missed the target, and a crazy ninja-warrior type obstacle known as "the rig".

(Post-race bliss of completing the course and using the last of my energy on a victory flex pose)



Overall, I had a blast competing in the Spartan sprint and will definitely participate in more races in the future. I crossed the finish line exhausted but also proud of myself for completing the course by myself and with a respectable time. I encourage everyone to find a race near you, sign up, start training and just do it! The course was filled with people of all shapes and sizes, first time racers and veterans. The course will test your mental and physical toughness and will leave you crossing the finish line with a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction!


You can find a race near you by visiting this link to the Spartan Race website: http://www.spartan.com/en/race/find-race

"Don't Blink"

UFC 196 Recap, Questions, and Reactions

By: Dylan Smith

                                Picture via @UFC

After a night where Miesha Tate and Nate Diaz were able to turn the MMA world on its head with a pair of stunning upsets, fans around the world were reminded that victory is never guaranteed inside the octagon. 

UFC 196 will go down as one of the best events in UFC history and has the numbers to prove it. Not only did the fights provide fans with high level MMA, but the night was full of captivating drama. 

There are many questions, reactions, and opinions after UFC 196. Let's explore what happened and look ahead to what's next for the main event fighters and the UFC after one of the most successful nights in the company's history. 

Miesha Tate vs Ronda Rousey III

Meisha Tate shocked the world as she pulled off a gusty last minute win by securing a rear naked choke on Holly Holm late in the fifth round. The victory earned her the women's bantamweight championship and has reignited the biggest rivalry in women's MMA history. The UFC has announced that Tate will defend her newly minted title in a rubber match against former champion Ronda Rousey. Miesha Tate is 0-2 against Rousey and hasn't lost since their last fight in 2013. Rousey hasn't fought since suffering the infamous knockout by the shin of Holly Holm. With plenty of bad blood left between the two and a built in storyline of Rousey's return with Miesha as champion, rest assured this will be one of the biggest fights of the year. 

What's next for Holly Holm?

Holly Holm claimed she is going "back to the drawing board" after failing to defend her title against Miesha Tate at UFC 196. Holm may have won the fight had it gone to a decision but a last ditch effort takedown secured by Tate was too costly of a mistake and led to her eventual submission loss. In the post-fight press conference Holm claimed she wants to fight again soon and get another shot at the title. With Ronda Rousey getting the next title shot against Tate, Holm will most likely go against another top contender like Cat Zingano or Amanda Nunes to fight the winner of Tate/Rousey. 

Conor McGregor lost, but did he really? 

After all the stare downs, smack talk, and middle fingers- Conor McGregor finally met his match against Nate Diaz. The submission loss to Diaz marks McGregor's first loss in the UFC and slows down the incredible wave of momentum he was riding before the fight. Admirable in defeat, McGregor never hesitated to lay it all on the line. From accepting the fight against a completely different style fighter on 11 days notice, to fighting at 170 pounds which is two weight classes above the featherweight division he is champion of, credit is due for never backing down from a challenge. McGregor could have easily made excuses about why he lost. Instead, he took the loss with humility and gave Diaz the respect he deserved. 

In my opinion, the loss to Diaz doesn't do much to diminish the legacy of McGregor as much as it may benefit from it. McGregor proved in defeat that he is a humble and fearless champion and will indeed fight anyone at anytime. Still, McGregor remains the ruler of the featherweight division and is it's undisputed champion and also has a realistic chance of claiming the lightweight title one day. The fight will reflect on his record as a loss, but in the eyes of many- Conor McGregor still came out a winner. 

Nate Diaz is now a UFC superstar

Nate Diaz has been fighting in the UFC for nearly ten years and finally on Saturday night the entire world found out who he was. Diaz' career may as well be attached to a rocket ship now, after defeating McGregor as a short notice opponent Diaz' popularity is at an all time high. With very few mainstream stars in the UFC besides Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey, Nate Diaz can insert himself as a household name if he is able to capitalize on the momentum on this win. That is a far cry from someone who doesn't "move the needle" as Dana White once described Nate. Now, nothing but big fights loom for the younger Diaz brother. Dana White says the idea of him getting a title shot against welterweight champion Robbie Lawler "makes sense" in the future. Also, if McGregor is able to capture the lightweight title from Rafael Dos Anjos in the future that could set up a blockbuster rematch for the title down the road.  Nobody knows exactly what's next for Nate Diaz but one thing for certain is that the UFC has a new superstar on its hands. 

If I was Joe Silva I would...

I'm going to venture into fantasy land and pretend to be Joe Silva (UFC Matchmaker) for a minute and pick the fights I would make for the main event participants of UFC 196.

McGregor vs Dos Anjos (Lightweight title)

I think this fight makes the most sense for McGregor because he was already scheduled to fight RDA and the loss to Diaz was at welterweight so it shouldn't warrant taking the title shot away. Plus, for McGregor to cut back down to 145lbs after bulking for welterweight would not be in his best interest considering he struggled mightily to make the weight before. Once McGregor fights Dos Anjos win or lose he will be able to defend the featherweight title as the cut will be easier after first fighting at lightweight. 

Robbie Lawler vs Nate Diaz

I think that Nate Diaz and the UFC should immediately capitalize on his newfound star power and slot him in as the next opponent for the welterweight title. The division is at a stand still right now as a top contender hasn't been established even though Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson make great cases for the next shot. Diaz ultimately holds the trump card though after defeating McGregor. 

Holly Holm vs Cat Zingano

Holly Holm vs Cat Zingano is a fight where the fighter that is victorious would put themselves square in line for the winner of Tate vs Rousey III. Zingano hasn't fought since she suffered the only loss of her career to Rousey at UFC 184 and remains a top contender and viable matchup to take on the former champ Holm. Holm will look to get back in the win column and set up a huge rematch down the road with either Rousey or Tate. If this fight is slated as the co-main event to Tate vs Rousey the UFC will ensure a blockbuster event that will establish the pecking order in the women's bantamweight division.