Miami Hurricanes Spring 2016 : 5 Things We Learned

Brad Kaaya
If it wasn't apparent already, the Miami Hurricanes have an "ELITE QB"! Couple that with the mind of Mark Richt and ............yeah you get the picture! The disparity between Kaaya and the other QBs on the roster is quite astounding and that is more of an indictment on Kaaya and how good he is. The strength and conditioning seemed to not only have an affect on the lineman but Kaaya as well. His throws were crisp and Mark Richt described him as "Deadly Accurate". In a matter of weeks he has already mastered the Mark Richt playbook and has a full command of the offense. To the point where he is actually correcting Coach Richt at times. If there is any hope for the 2016 Miami Hurricanes they lie clearly on the arm of Brad Kaaya. Cane Nation should be excited about a Kaaya led offense in 2016

The Defense
After the hiring of Mark Richt, next on the agenda of Hurricane fans was the Defensive Coordinator hire. That is where Manny Diaz comes in. The fans got an introduction and early glimpse of the newly implemented 4-3 one gap defense and by all accounts it was a successful transition. The hire of Coach Kool from Missouri was also a big deal for Cane fans as he is regarded as one of the best Defensive line coaches in America. Players have lamented how exciting it is to be playing for Coach Kool and this style of defense. "He's teaching us technique and aggression, just get after it. Stop guessing and get after the quarterback. That's what he likes. Get to the quarterback." said Gerald Willis.  Expectations are high for the defensive line led by Alquadin Muhammad. As we saw this spring the front seven is now attacking the line of scrimmage attempting to create negative plays and stop plays before the can develop. If this defense rises up to the occasion the 2016 Miami Hurricanes could have a big year.
 
Freshmen LBs 
 Shaq Quarterman, Miike Pickney, and Zach McCloud have been a real revelation this spring. Since their arrivals they have demolished everything in their paths! From the offseason conditioning program, to their playbooks, to their fellow counterparts on the other side of the ball. Since being elevated to the 1st and 2nd teams they have yet to relinquish their roles and have made their imprint on the defense. Shaq Quarterman in particular looks the part of a division 1 MLB. He has picked up the defense exceptionally fast and it was really a treat watching him calling the defense this spring and making plays. His forced fumble in the 1st scrimmage was a thing of beauty and shows what he brings to the table. His efforts have led to him earning a leadership award and from the look of things that might be the first of many awards he brings home for the Canes.   
 
Depth Concerns
Maybe the biggest issue this spring was the lack of depth at certain positions. Especially at the WR position. At The University of Miami, depth at the skill positions should never be an issue. Unfortunately the previous regime did not do their due diligence recruiting and that was very evident this spring. Once the second teams were on the field you could easily see a drop in performance and how devoid of scholarship players there was. Mark Richt and his staff luckily have some reinforcements arriving in the summer to help. With the help of freshmen's Sam Bruce, Ahmmon Richards,  Malik Young, Cedric Wright, and transfers Adrian Colbert and Dayall Harris the Canes should be okay for now. 
 
 
Play Calling 

Gone are the days of the infamous bubble screens and soft zone coverages and enter a fullback and lots of blitzing. One thing that was evident this spring is the flexibility of the offense and the aggressiveness of the defense. Mark Richt (taking over play calling duties) has implemented his pro style attack which has brought back the fullback and play actions passes. It was really a treat watching Kaaya play action and rolling out the pocket. The TE position really flourished this spring and the Canes appear  have one of if not the best group of TEs in the country led by David Njoku and Chris Herndon. The possibilities of the Mark Richt led offense that was on display this spring should leave Cane fans salivating. Manny Diaz has brought an aggressive style defense and has a propensity to blitz..... A lot! It really is refreshing to see the defensive line and LBs attacking the line of scrimmage getting TFLs and the DBs on the line playing press man coverage. This defense will be fun to watch at the very least which can't be said about Miami defenses the past couple of years.

Steph Curry Edition

          Had to dedicate this post to Stephen Curry. That’s how he good he was last night when he had the NBA community and all of twitter talking about him. After missing a part of the game with a tweaked ankle & Golden State down 12 points in the fourth quarter against OKC, Steph pulled his team back into the game & won it in overtime with a 3-pointer from 32 feet out. He ended up finishing with 46 points, including 12-16 from 3-point range, 3 rebounds, 6 assists & 2 steals.

At this point, what Curry is doing right now, nobody else in the history of this game has done. When we think about the greatest 3-point shooters, we think about Ray Allen & Reggie Miller. But I don’t think either of them can touch Stephen Curry. I’ve been debating it in my head but this season has showed me Curry is the best shooter we’ve ever seen & the best player in the game today. I just finished watching him bury the Heat on Wednesday with 42 points. He then comes back the next day and puts up 51 points in Orlando, with 30 of those coming from 3-point range. And Saturday night, with his team down for most of the game, he goes hammertime with 46 points and 12 3’s. Since coming back from the All-Star break, he’s averaging 38 points a game. The numbers are amazing in their own right, but watching this man pull up from anywhere inside half court and drain a 3 with ease is amazing. Even beyond half court, his range is lethal. That’s the thing that separates him from other 3-point shooters. Others can only shoot 3’s consistently at center court, in the wing or corner, off the pass, off the dribble, or walk into their 3 with a pullup. Steph, on the other hand, can create his own shot & score from an assist, after pulling a crossover between 2 opponents, pullup after dribbling the ball in from back court, step back or fadeaway, while at the same time, shooting at high percentage from anywhere on the court.

Curry Game Winner

Going back to the game last night, Curry hit many accomplishments. Not only did he break his own record for most 3’s in a season with 24 games still left to play, he also tied the record for most 3’s in a single game with 12. He’s the first player in NBA history to score 10 3-point field goals in back-to-back games and is in the midst of a 3 game streak of scoring 40 or more points. Last but not least, he scored the game winning shot from just inside half court to give Golden State the game over OKC, 121-118. Crazy. The Warriors are now 53-5 and must (will?) go 20-4 in the next 24 games to beat the 72-10 record held by the 95-96 Bulls. 

"Keep The Main Thang The Main Thang" Athlete Talk Edition

1936 Long Jump Gold Medalist

"The battles that count aren't the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself--the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us--that's where it's at." - Jesse Owens (Four-time Olympic gold medalist.)

Growing up, Jesse Owens was one of the most used in school for your yearly Black History Project. Every year all the basics will be covered, he was the first African American Olympian to win 4 Gold Medals. One major detail is always glossed over; he accomplished this magnificent feat in 1936 at the start Hitler’s reign. He defeated hatred filled Nazi Germany, where Africans was portrayed as inferior to the more superior Aryans. Breaking world records on the way to four gold medals he continues to inspire generations now to aspire. Against all odds, Owens broke thru segregation and racism not just in America but miles away in Germany.

Women Tee, designed by @LSDoomGFX.

Mens Tee, designed by @LSDoomGFX.

This month Athlete Talk wants to highlight Blue Chip Collection celebration of Black History Month. In preparation, the concept “Keep The Main Thang The Main Thang” was born. The phrase was made legendary by Walt “Diesel” Frazier and resonated with his players at 

Miami Carol City High School. BCC takes this time to remind us that we have to remain focused on our dream. To push the culture forward we first have to become the best version of ourselves before we can impact the culture as a whole. At some point Jesse Owens had to do what was best for him to elevate his talents to impact Black History.

For more information, log on to BlueChipCollection.net. Use the pre-sale code "BLACKCHIP" to receive $15 percent off. 

Alabama Wins 4th National Title Under Saban

What a game, what a game. 85 points & 1,000+ yards between both teams. Big time performances from big time players, including Deshaun Watson, O.J. Howard & Derrick Henry. A clean back & forth game with both teams leaving everything they had on the field. Alabama eventually overcame Clemson for their 4th national title in 7 years. Many thought this game would be a defensive battle but both teams shook out their nerves early & came out the gates with solid execution & big plays.

Derrick Henry got it started with a 50 yard touchdown run. Clemson came back to score 14 straight
 with 2 touchdowns from Watson to freshman walk-on tight end, Hunter Renfrow. And Henry scored the lone touchdown of the 2nd quarter to go into halftime with a tied score at 14 a piece. By the end of the 3rd quarter, Clemson was up 24-21. Bama scored a field goal a few minutes into the 4th quarter & stole momentum from Clemson after recovering an onside kick and a 51 yard touchdown pass from Jake Coker to O.J. Howard two plays later. Clemson responded with a field goal but made the mistake of kicking off to Kenyan Drake, who returned it 95 yards for another score. At this point, Clemson was down 27-38. Deshaun Watson did a great job of leading 2 scoring drives late in the 4th quarter but eventually ran out of time as Bama held on for a 45-40 win.

Clemson, who was in their first national title game since winning it back in 1981, really held their own against Alabama. They made big plays when they needed it, did a great job stuffing Derrick Henry despite his 3 touchdowns, pressured Jake Coker all night with 5 sacks but I feel like there were two instances in the game that altered the outcome in the Crimson Tide’s favor. First, Mackensie Alexander aggravated his hamstring injury in the 2nd quarter, which forced him to sit out the rest of the game. After he went out, that is when O.J. Howard (record 208 receiving yards in title game) arrived to the scene with 2 huge touchdown catches after blown coverages from the Clemson secondary. Second, two 4th quarter plays from the special teams unit swung the momentum to Bama’s side. Nick Saban, probably realizing that his defense was having a difficult time stopping Deshaun Watson & Clemson’s up-tempo spread attack, called a “bring your own guts” play when he decided to kick an onside kick in which the kicker executed perfectly. Then came the big kickoff return touchdown from Kenyan Drake that put Bama up 11 points on the Tigers with about 7:30 left in the game. In my opinion, those 2 special teams plays won the game for Alabama. There were questions regarding Alabama & their dynasty status after their 3rd title win against Notre Dame; but now with 4 in 7 years, they are officially a dynasty and one of the best in college football history. Nick Saban wins his fifth national title and will go down as one of the best coaches ever at the college football level.

Despite the loss, Deshaun Watson upped his stock after this game. 405 yards through the air (championship record), 73 yards on the ground including a few amazing elusive scrambles that reminded you of Johnny Football, and 4 touchdowns. Even more impressive was his composure, leadership & clutch ability to come up big on 3rd down & late 4th quarter drives to keep Clemson in the game. I believe Watson will bring Clemson back to the playoffs next year. The other quarterback in this game, Jake Coker, struggled a bit in the first half. The former Florida State backup to Jameis Winston had poor pocket presence & good play from the Clemson defensive line & secondary let to him taking a number of unnecessary sacks. He came back strong in the 2nd half with 253 passing yards & 2 touchdowns.

All in all, it was one of the best championship games ever. Alabama & Clemson will reload with plenty of talent coming back and will be right back in the playoff race next season. Nick Saban cemented his legacy as one of the best ever and Dabo Swinney is on the cusp of starting his own legacy and leading his team to greatness.

Culture Change for the Phins

          “We have to change the culture.” “We need to breed a culture of competitiveness, finish and intensity.” “We need to become a more aggressive front, team in general.” “You want to get the most out of them, you have to challenge them…they have to be pushed and they have to be worked.” “…we are going to scratch and claw and do whatever it takes to win your one on one.” “I want us pulling the trigger, I don’t want us playing conservative.”

These are direct quotes taken from Dan Campbell’s introductory press conference about two weeks ago. Dan Campbell, tight ends coach promoted to interim head coach after Joe Philbin was fired, talked the talk & definitely walked the walk. The Dolphins were pretty much sleep-walking through the first four games of the season, on to a 1-3 record. Everybody in South Florida had questions about why we were struggling and even performing worse than last season after all the moves that were made in the offseason. Campbell took over during the bye week & was like a 4 a.m. alarm clock and an ocean of freezing cold water in the Navy Seals that woke the players up.  From the 38-10 win against the Titans yesterday, the Dolphins appeared to be a completely different team & he implemented the culture change he kept stressing two weeks ago.

            Before Dan Campbell, the Dolphins were starting out slow, couldn’t run the ball, couldn’t score, couldn’t block, couldn’t set the tempo of the game, couldn’t stop the run, couldn’t get pressure on the quarterback, just couldn’t do anything right. After Dan Campbell, they scored their first touchdowns of the first quarter all season, we ran the ball and ran it successfully, pass & run blocking was improved, the game plan & play-calling was executed to the T, and the Titans were playing to catch up with us instead of the other way around. Lamar Miller got his feet back and looked like the running back that averaged 5 yards a carry last year. 

            Best of all was the defense, the constant pressure and the many big plays they made all game. The defensive line under Philbin was nonexistent and only had one sack coming into the game. Under Campbell, they totaled 6 sacks & Cameron Wake had 4 of them by himself. The whole d-line was getting after Mariota all game and he lost two fumbles & threw two picks. Linebackers held their own & the secondary was legendary, led by the huge pick-6 from Reshad Jones & the momentum-killing interception by Brent Grimes. All in all, the Titans finished the game with four turnovers, only 63 yards on the ground and only 4.6 yards a play. Not only did the Dolphins play an all-around solid game, but individually and as a unit, it was a great performance from everybody. Even the coaching staff had great moments. After what appeared to be an incomplete pass that nobody questioned from Mariota after he was pressured and hit, Darren Rizzi told Campbell to throw a red flag on the play. As it turns out, we got the ball back after it was reviewed to be a fumble. Even small decisions like being aggressive to try & score right before the half with under 2 minutes to go or when we were up by 14 points in the 4^th quarter, pinned down against our endzone inside the 5 and coming out the shotgun, Ryan Tannehill tossed a 38 yard bomb to Kenny Stills to get us out of that heat.

The season is still young and if the Dolphins continue to play like this, we might be able to salvage that 1-3 start and get ourselves back into the playoff picture. I was hesitant to get overly excited about Dan Campbell and his words in the press conference because I didn’t want to hear any more talking, I just wanted to see how they were going to come out and play. After one game, I saw the culture change, the intensity and the aggressiveness that he was talking about. Game ball definitely goes to Dan Campbell. But still, it’s only 1 game. Now we’ll see if they can follow up that performance with another win against the Texans. 

2015 NFL Season Preview

            They should’ve handed it to Beast Mode. But nevermind that, we made it through another offseason & football is finally here. As always, there are many interesting headlines, questions & situations around the league so I’ll enlighten you all & do a division-by-division breakdown, including predictions on division winners and conclude with my playoff & Super Bowl picks.

Starting off with the AFC East:

1st) Patriots 11-5. Tom Brady da Don will be on the field in week 1 after his suspension was lifted. I had them winning 10 games with the suspension but Tom Brady is worth a few more wins by himself. They won’t repeat as Super Bowl champs but as long as they have Brady & Belichick, they’ll always be a winning team primed for the playoffs but my biggest concern is their defensive secondary. After losing Darrelle Revis & Brandon Browner, there are big holes back there.   

2^nd) Dolphins 9-7. As much as I want to say the Dolphins will top the Patriots & finish as the division winner for the first time since 2008, I don’t trust them. Miami had golden opportunities the last two years to get into the playoffs late but couldn’t finish the season off right and ended up with 8-8 records. I definitely like them to be a playoff team, they got too much talent not to be one. Ndamukong Suh, the biggest offseason prize in the league, will have a huge impact on the rest of the defense and will be vital in improving our run defense & pass rush. The offense is looking like the most dangerous Miami has had since the Ricky Williams & Chris Chambers days. The receiver unit is revamped with Kenny Stills, Greg Jennings, DeVante Parker & Cameron Jordan joining Rishard Matthews & Jarvis Landry. Ryan Tannehill will have a lot to work with. My biggest concerns are the depth & coaching, and can they stay consistent throughout the season?

3^rd) Bills 9-7. One thing I love about the Bills is their defense & new head coach, Rex Ryan. With Marcell Dareus & Mario Williams, they probably have the best defensive line in the league. Sammy Watkins, Percy Harvin, Charles Clay & LeSean McCoy are great weapons on the offensive side but just like last year, the quarterback position will make or break this team. Rex believes this team will have the most success with Tyrod Taylor under center.

4^th) Jets 5-11.  Defense will carry this team once again. They do have a few capable running backs that can carry the load on offense. Brandon Marshall fell off but can he return to being one of the best receivers in the league? Offensive line is a major issue & the quarterback situation is a clown show.

          AFC North

1^st) Steelers 11-5. Pittsburgh has 2 of the best weapons in the game. A majority of the offense will run through Antonio Brown & Le’Veon Bell. They’ll finish in first place once again in the strongest division in the league but can the defense keep up with the offense?

2^nd) Bengals 10-6. Ahh the Bengals. Great in the regular season but fold in the playoffs. Great on local tv but fold in national games. Made it into the playoffs each of the last 4 years but lost in the wildcard round each of the last 4 years. They’re a very strong team offensively & defensively and I believe they’ll make it into the playoffs for a 5^th straight year but if they don’t finish top 2 in the conference, can they finally make it of the wildcard round?

3^rd) Ravens 9-7. With Jim Harbaugh & Joe Flacco, the Ravens will always be contenders. Last year they finished with a 10-6 record but barely got in the playoffs despite a 3^rd place finish in a strong division. Facing a strong schedule, they’ll end up in 3^rd place again this year but will miss the playoffs. They’ll have to beat the Steelers & Bengals to have a chance.

4^th) Browns 6-10. My gut feeling is that the Browns will regress from last year. Can’t even lie, they have the talent. They can compete week in & week out and the defense is solid but they have major inconsistencies at quarterback. Gordon is suspended for the year so receiver depth is weak. I believe the offense should run through the running backs to have success.

          AFC South

1^st) Colts 12-4. One of the best quarterbacks in one of the best offenses in the league. T.Y. Hilton, Andre Johnson, Phillip Dorsett, Frank Gore, Dwayne Allen, Coby Fleener. Sheesh. Defense & the offensive line has to improve if they’re going to go back to the AFC championship game.

2^nd) Texans 7-9. The Texans went 9-7 last year while winning just 2 games the year before. That’s a huge improvement but they’ll regress this year due to injuries & the quarterback situation. Andre Johnson is gone but DeAndre Hopkins is good enough to hold it down. Arian Foster will miss some time & Brian Hoyer was just named the starter at QB. Defensive line will be the strong point of this team with JJ Watt, Vince Wilfork & a healthy Jadeveon Clowney.

3^rd) Jaguars 5-11. The Jaguars have been stuck in mediocrity for a long time now but I got them improving to win 2 more games than their 2014 season. The offense is taking strides in the right direction with newcomers TJ Yeldon & Julius Thomas. Add that with the Allen receivers & Blake Bortles and they should make some noise. Defense should be improved also but the biggest thing holding this team back is their offensive line, leading the league in sacks allowed last year with 71.

4^th) Titans 4-12. Marcus Mariota will make a difference in Tennessee but not enough to save one of the worst defenses in the NFL. They have an underrated WR core that can make plays, the running back position still has question marks and the offensive line must protect their rookie QB.

          AFC West

1^st) Broncos 11-5. The Broncos remind me of the L.A. Clippers. Successful in the regular season but underachievers in the playoffs. With Gary Kubiak on board as the new coach, will things change? The Broncos are one of the most talented teams in the league and it is a given that they will reach double-digits in wins, but will they achieve postseason success?

2^nd) Chiefs 9-7. The Chiefs are a good team with talent on both sides of the ball. Jamaal Charles is the focal point on offense & the defense is top-notch against the pass. But to be a playoff team, the wide receivers must get involved in the passing game and the defense has to apply more pressure against the run

3^rd) Chargers 8-8. Another good team in the West that could be a playoff team. Biggest concern about San Diego is their running backs, as they were among the worst in rushing yardage last year. Defense is solid & Phillip Rivers still has it in him for another playoff run.

4^th. Raiders 5-11. Baby steps. The Raiders are finally making good moves in the offseason and that is a good thing. 5 wins will be an improvement from last year. The offense was among the worst last year in total yards & points. They do have solid pieces in place on the defensive side but were last in points allowed in 2014.

          NFC East

1^st) Eagles 10-6. I see another 10 win season for Philly. Chip Kelly has made a ton of moves in the offseason to tailor the team to his liking. The Eagles look different, but might be even better than last year. Defense is solid…scary run game with 3 quality backs…will Sam Bradford stay healthy & be productive on his new squad?

2^nd) Cowboys 10-6. Was it DeMarco Murray or was it the offensive line? With Murray gone, the running backs unit is crowded but somebody will have to step up. Passing game is still potent, defense is average. Tony Romo is playing the best football of his career & should be able to lead his team to the playoffs again.

3^rd) Giants 9-7. Good on offense, bad on defense. That pretty much sums up this team. Defense has the talent so they must produce when it counts. Running backs as a whole are better than average in my opinion, I believe they’re good enough to get the job done. Which Eli Manning will they get this season?

4^th) Redskins 4-12. The Redskins are bad & that offensive line is looking even worse. One of the worst teams regarding turnover margin. They have talent on offense but they have to keep RGIII on his feet & RGIII (I don’t know if it’s his confidence, locker room issues, or lingering injuries) has to perform like a 1^st round pick. RGIII has been benched & Kirk Cousins was announced the starter. It was a make or break year for Robert Griffin but it looks like he won’t get the chance to prove himself. Whether it was truly the concussion or the perfect excuse to bench him, they have lost their patience & his time with the Redskins might be over.

          NFC North

1^st) Packers 13-3. They’ll finish the regular season with the best record. An all-around solid, talented team with not many weaknesses. Even though they lost Jordy Nelson for the year, I believe they’ll be able to overcome that setback & go deep into the playoffs.

2^nd) Vikings 9-7 I like Teddy Bridgewater & the Vikings this year. Teddy is a natural at QB with poise under pressure & a big arm. Team him up with AP, who he was missing last year, and they can do big things. The defense is solid and they’ll improve from last year’s 7-9 record. Borderline playoff team.

3^rd) Lions 8-8 They’re not reaching 11 W’s again this year. Still solid but missing a big piece of their defense, as Suh took off for Miami. So we’ll see how the defense responds without him. They still have Stafford & Megatron and Bell & Abdullah taking over the backfield so they can score better than the majority of teams in the NFL.

4^th) Bears 5-11 Chicago fell off bad (shouldn’t have fired Lovie Smith) after hiring Marc Trestman to take over last year. Issues with Jay Cutler & one of the worst defenses in the league got him fired and now John Fox is in charge. He has a tough job in fixing the defense & getting Cutler back to where he used to be. The talent is there on offense but moves will have to be made on the other side of the ball.

          NFC South

1^st) Falcons 10-6 With new coach, Dan Quinn, coming over from the Seahawks, the Dirty Birds will be one of the most improved teams in the NFL. His specialty is defense & I believe the defense will be a lot better than last year’s. Look for Julio Jones to put up another monster year.

2^nd) Saints 8-8 What did the Saints in last year was their defense. I believe this year will be more of the same. They also lost many key weapons on offense so Brandin Cooks & Mark Ingram will be more of a focal point on that side. Another average year.

3^rd) Panthers 7-9 Best defense in the division but, that offense will be their downfall. Holes in the offensive line, weak wide receiver depth, & major questions at running back (I don’t believe they can rely on Johnathan Stewart all season long.) Even worse is Kelvin Benjamin being out for the year.

4^th) Buccaneers 6-10 On paper, the Bucs are a good team. They have talent on both sides of the ball. Doug Martin had a great preseason, Vincent Jackson & Mike Evans will be clutch for Jameis, and Lovie Smith’s defense should be much better than last year. It all depends on how well Jameis Winston can transition to the NFL game in his rookie season.

          NFC West

1^st) Seahawks 12-4 I see another 12 win season for the Seahawks. I don’t see no reason why they shouldn’t make another deep playoff run. The nucleus of the team is still there, add the best tight end in the league after Gronk with Beast Mode & Russell Wilson, and you have a more potent offense than last season. Defense from the d-line to the secondary is the best in the NFL, but how will they respond after losing Dan Quinn?

2^nd) Cardinals 10-6 Another double-digit win season for Arizona. Defense will be among the best in the league and they excel in forcing turnovers. Biggest concern is Carson Palmer & if he can stay on the field to lead his team to another playoff run. Andre Ellington will also need to stay healthy. 

3^rd) Rams 7-9 I like the Rams this year & believe they will finish 3^rd in the division. A defensive line that can control the momentum of the game. Offensive line will need some work after allowing 40 sacks last year but they do have weapons on that side of the ball. Biggest factor for success is Nick Foles & Todd Gurley. Is Foles the real deal or can we just attribute his success in Philly to Chip Kelly? How much will Gurley be able to contribute in his rookie year?

4^th) 49ers 4-12 The worst offseason I can remember will bleed into the new season. The 49ers lost so much talent, including head coach Jim Harbaugh, I don’t think they’ll recover. They will finish last in the division. Now the biggest question is whether Colin Kaepernick will perform up to his $100 million contract after having a down year.

Playoff Predictions

AFC: 1) Indianapolis Colts 2) Pittsburgh Steelers 3) New England Patriots 4) Denver Broncos 5) Cincinnati Bengals 6) Kansas City Chiefs

On The Bubble: Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers

NFC: 1) Green Bay Packers 2) Seattle Seahawks 3) Philadelphia Eagles 4) Atlanta Falcons 5) Dallas Cowboys 6) Arizona Cardinals

On The Bubble: Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints

Super Bowl 50

Indianapolis Colts over the Green Bay Packers

Back to Back Univeristy

           With all the championships the University of Florida has won in recent years, they might as well adopt a new moniker: Back to Back University. Along with the gymnastics squad that just won their 3^rd straight title, UF softball soon followed by beating Michigan in the Women’s College World Series to win their 2^nd consecutive title. There are 6 other Gator athletic teams that have won 2 or more consecutive championships including Men’s Outdoor & Indoor Track & Field, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Golf, Women’s Tennis & Men’s Swimming. 

            Led by USA Collegiate Player of the Year, Lauren
Haeger & a #1 preseason ranking, the Gators finished the regular season with a 49-5 record (18-5 in SEC play) & the regular season title. The Gators came up short in the SEC tournament but then ran through the NCAA tournament on its way to a World Series title, outscoring opponents 41-8. Other key players that were vital to this year’s championship run are junior second baseman Kelsey Stewart, freshman left fielder Nicole DeWitt, junior center fielder Kristi Merritt, sophomore right fielder Justine McLean, outfielder Bailey Castro & Taylore Fuller (3^rd on the team in home runs & 2^nd in runs batted in). On top of being named WCWS Most Outstanding Player, Lauren Haeger also finished the year with the 2015 Honda Award & SEC Female Athlete of the Year. She is also the only player, college & pro baseball or softball, besides legend Babe Ruth with 70 home runs & 70 wins during their career. 

            On the other side of campus, the men’s baseball team were close to winning their 1^st title before losing to eventual champion, Virginia, in the World Series. They finished the regular season with a 52-18 record (19-11 SEC) & a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Florida had an easy test in the Regionals, defeating FAMU, South Florida & Florida Atlantic to advance to the Super Regionals where they swept Florida State. They then moved on to the World Series where they eliminated the Miami Hurricanes but fell short against Virginia. Gators baseball were led by JJ Schwarz & Harrison Bader, who have led the team in home runs & runs batted in. Also important were Josh Tobias, Buddy Reed, Richie Martin Dalton Guthrie & Mike Rivera.