The Pies’ stark comparison to the 2022 Cats ahead of the clash between the last two AFL premiers.
The Pies’ stark comparison to the 2022 Cats ahead of the clash between the last two AFL premiers.
Injuries
2024 Opponent Preview: New York Giants, Week 12
Following a 2022 playoff campaign, the Giants faltered in 2023 but will see QB Daniel Jones return from injury and have strengthened their edge rush, offensive line, and receiving corps. With 12 weeks until the first airing of Monday Night Football in 2024, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have already started their regular season. As those dates approach, we examine each team the Buccaneers will face, focusing today on the Giants, whom Tampa Bay will play after their Week 11 bye.
In 2023, the Giants regressed to a 6-11 record, tying for the sixth worst in the NFL. Their season began poorly, highlighted by a 40-0 loss to the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in Week One. The Giants’ struggles continued with a 1-5 start, punctuated by multiple significant losses. Despite some wins, including a game led by backup QB Tyrod Taylor, the Giants’ season was marred by injuries, including a torn ACL for Daniel Jones.
The Giants made significant moves in the offseason, securing the sixth pick in the 2024 draft and adding notable players like LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers and Pro Bowl outside linebacker Brian Burns. They also revamped their offensive line, signing former Packers guard Jon Runyan and former Raiders tackle Jermaine Eluemunor. Running back Devin Singletary joined the Giants, replacing Saquon Barkley, who signed with the Eagles. Additionally, the Giants fortified their defense with former Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips and several rookies, including Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin.
Significant departures included Barkley and safety Xavier McKinney, who joined the Eagles and Packers, respectively. Tyrod Taylor moved to the Jets, while other players found new homes across the league. The Giants also saw coaching changes, bringing in Shane Bowen as the new defensive coordinator and promoting Mike Kafka to assistant head coach.
Key questions for the Giants include whether Daniel Jones can solidify his role as the long-term franchise quarterback and how the defense will perform with new additions and a new coordinator. Jones, who signed a four-year, $160 million contract, faces a crucial season to prove his worth. The defense, bolstered by Burns and other key players, aims to improve significantly under Bowen’s direction, moving away from the blitz-heavy schemes of former coordinator Wink Martindale.
SAD NEWS: A Browns player who is prone to injuries tends to another illness during minicamp.
This week, the Cleveland Browns held their required minicamp, moving on to the next phase of their summer training. Before training camp later this summer, […]
QPR concern not over despite £1m-a-year Stoke City deal: View
With two years remaining on his contract, securing him with QPR until the end of the 2025/26 season, it’s suggested that the club would demand a fee of £5-7 million for Jake Clarke-Salter’s services this summer. Despite Stoke City’s recent acquisition of center-back Ben Gibson, QPR should still be concerned about the Potters’ interest in Clarke-Salter.
Given the rigors of a full season, it would be a significant challenge for any club to manage with just three center-backs. Stoke often plays with two center-backs, leaving them with only one player to cover both positions. Considering the likelihood of injuries and suspensions throughout the season, this situation would put them at a high risk of selection issues. Hence, it would be prudent for the club to bring in another central defender to alleviate the pressure on their current options, providing more flexibility for rotation and reducing the risk of unwanted absences.
Under-the-radar Patriots defense ready to take leap forward
The New England Patriots focused on maintaining a strong defense this offseason, despite significant roster and coaching changes. They re-signed safety Kyle Dugger to a four-year extension, allowing him to concentrate solely on football. Dugger expressed optimism about the unit’s potential, saying, “If I’m being honest, I don’t really see a ceiling for the group.” The Patriots also rely on second-year players, including Christian Gonzalez and Keion White, to elevate the defense. Head coach Jerod Mayo emphasized the potential for significant improvement in their second year, stating, “We are looking for those guys to make a huge jump.” Meanwhile, cornerback Marcus Jones highlighted the importance of unity and continuous improvement during OTA’s.
MINOR LEAGUESCatcher Rafael Marchán returns to action, could be important boost to Phillies’ depth
Catcher Rafael Marchán, who had been sidelined since spring training with a back issue, returned to action in the minor leagues last week, offering a positive development for the Phillies’ depth behind the plate. Marchán began a rehab assignment with Single-A Clearwater, playing four games and recording a 3-for-11 performance with a home run, three walks, and a hit-by-pitch. More significant than his stats, however, is his presence on the field, given his history of injuries. A healthy Marchán could become crucial for the Phillies this season, especially as backup catcher Garrett Stubbs has struggled offensively and starting catcher J.T. Realmuto recently missed games due to knee soreness.
Boston Red Sox Hitters Need to Meet their Pitchers Halfway
During the past offseason, Boston Red Sox fans were primarily focused on the team’s pitching needs. The front office had hinted at the possibility of acquiring Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Jordan Montgomery seemed almost certain to join the team. However, the biggest offseason signing was Lucas Giolito, a reclamation project, which left many fans disappointed. Additionally, the acquisition of Cooper Criswell was met with skepticism and became the subject of jokes aimed at the team’s management.
Fast-forward to a quarter of the way through the season, and the Red Sox pitching staff has exceeded expectations more than any other in baseball. Despite this, the team is in third place in the American League East with a .500 winning percentage after 44 games. To avoid squandering their stellar pitching, the Red Sox’s offense needs to improve quickly.
Despite lacking big names and dealing with injuries, the Red Sox starters have performed exceptionally well. They lead the league in starter ERA at 2.62, are third in WHIP at 1.07, and have allowed the fourth-fewest hard-hit balls. This success is largely attributed to Tanner Houck, who has emerged as a top-tier starter with a 2.17 ERA and leading the league in fWAR. Kutter Crawford has also been impressive, ranking second in fWAR and 11th in ERA among starters.
Emma Raducanu opens up on boyfriend ban and why she was ‘resentful’ of parents
Emma Raducanu has revealed that she was prohibited from having boyfriends and felt “forced” into tennis during her childhood. The former US Open champion shared insights into her challenging path to professional tennis, which occasionally caused friction with her “pushy” parents. In an interview with The Times, Raducanu explained, “At the start, my dad forced me into tennis. I didn’t like it, but as I got older and tennis became more of a priority, I started pushing myself.” She described her parents as “pushy,” especially when she was younger, noting that now they advise her on what they think is best but recognize that excessive pressure leads to resistance.
Raducanu also mentioned that her rigorous training schedule left no time for boyfriends and limited her social interactions. “My parents were very much against boyfriends as it interfered with training. When I was younger, I wasn’t even allowed to hang out with my girlfriends,” she said. This led to feelings of resentment, but she believes it also made her confident and comfortable in her own company. Following her breakthrough, Raducanu experienced a series of disappointing results and endured an eight-month injury hiatus due to wrist and ankle surgeries.
Dougie Freedman planning to take Crystal Palace trio with him to Newcastle United
Manchester United’s current plight sees them positioned in eighth place within the Premier League standings following a disheartening loss last Sunday, raising concerns about their chances of securing a spot in European competitions for the upcoming season. The team has been significantly hampered by injuries to key players, compounded by tactical challenges under the leadership of manager Erik ten Hag. With the recent involvement of INEOS, significant transformations are anticipated as they prepare for the forthcoming season.
Southampton’s Flop Worth Less Than Manning.
Southampton has squandered considerable funds on this failure. Southampton heads into the playoff lottery with a sense of relief after clinching a vital victory at […]