XFAlpha Podcast - Week 3 Review

We briefly touch on week two games, but I have some extra notes below. We do dive deep into the week three slate of games in this latest episode.

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Battlehawks vs. Roughnecks

James Butler continues to be a touchdown machine with one more this week.

Cam Phillips was a slightly more prominent touchdown machine catching all three of PJ Walker’s touchdowns.

De’mornay Pierson-El and L’Dainian Washington are a pretty damn potent 1-2 combination as receivers and might be my favorite combo in the entire league.

Jordan Ta’amu’s stats look better than the performance again, but I have to give him credit that he has still been better than I expected and deserves to keep starting.

Renegades vs. Wildcats

Nelson Spruce is still a stud, not much else for LA since I’m not inspired by Josh Johnson

Fumbles killed them in this game.

Landry Jones is a huge upgrade, but he may be the slowest player in professional football history. Hell, he may just be the slowest human being in history.

Donald Parham was a guy I was very excited about heading into the season and it seems like Landry Jones liked him too as he was targeted 11 times, only came up with 5 catches, but I think he could have big production moving forward this season. Sean Price ain’t bad either outside of the fumble.

Also, I thought Cameron Artis-Payne was a fairly exciting back for this league so I was a little confused when he didn’t get a lot of play in week one, but he made up for it big time in week two. He’s the real deal, but Lance Dunbar is going to take over on third downs and the pass catching duties, so together they might be the best backfield but still might not be as valuable in fantasy due to the split in duties.

The defensive line for the Renegades is interesting. Gerald Rivers got a sack in this game, and Gelen Robinson, son of The Big Dog had two quarterback hits at defensive tackle. 

Overall, I still think this team is dangerous.

Vipers vs. Dragons

I’m a bigger fan of Taylor Cornelius than most after watching him at the East-West Shrine Game practices, but it’s Quinton Flowers time. I know he had the bad interception on the screen pass, but this team needs the dual threat quarterback to help them generate offense.

This is especially true since the Vipers seem committed to running the ball and have now been effective doing it for the first two weeks of the season. De’Veon Smith was the lead back last week, but Jacques Patrick took more carries this week, and he’s a guy out of Florida State that I could see getting a shot in the NFL as a big back.

How in the fuck can you kick a 20 yard field goal when you are down by 5 in the 4th quarter? Like, at this point, in WEEK TWO, Trestman is just trying to piss me off.

Also, Jalen Collins might be bad. Another long TD given up by him.

The Dragons won this game on defense as I’m starting to think Brandon Silvers is the worst starting quarterback in the league. 

4 sacks and three intercptions were the biggest stories this week. 

Guardians vs. Defenders

Man, the Guardians are super bad too. I think McGloin is better than he showed this week, but that offense is not going to inspire much confidence. And the defense doesn’t seem too impressive either.

For the Defenders, I still love what I’m seeing from Cardale. 

I wasn’t sure about trading away Bradley Sylve, a corner I was super high on, but Anthony Johnson seems worth it as he had 1.5 sacks in his first game with the team.

Weekly Picks

UPSET SPECIAL: Vipers (home) over Roughnecks

Renegades over Dragons (home)

Battlehawks (home) over Guardians

Defenders over Wildcats (home)

Roughnecks vs. Vipers

Cam Phillips is going to the NFL. He just consistently gets open and made some contested catches as well. Strong hands, and he’s destroying the XFL this year.

James Butler is a very good running back, and that’s not just my Hawkeye bias. He averaged over 10 yards per carry, but they only gave him seven carreis. 

DeMarquis Gates is a guy to watch out for. He led the Roughnecks in tackles and had the game clinching interception. 

Taylor Cornelius is the better passer, but Quinton Flowers is the more dangerous player. It’s going to look great at times and awful at others, but it’s time to hand the reigns over to him, especially since the Tampa crowd LOVES Flowers. A lot of Cornelius struggles were caused by miscommunication with his receivers. 

Renegades vs. Dragons

Battle of scrappy white receivers early on with Austin Proehl and Flynn Nagel getting the first scores for their respective teams.

I still think Seattle is the worst team in the league.

I was big on Landry Jones and Donald Parham before the game, and they both delivered as Jones had three touchdowns, with 

Parham caught two of those touchdowns and getting over 100 yards as a tight end. I think he’s already adding a decent amount of separation between him and the rest of the tight ends in the league.

Cameron Artis-Payne looked good again this week with 110 scrimmage yards.

Hau’oli Kikaha got a sack for the Renegades.

Guardians vs. Battlehawks

The Guardians are so boring that I have nothing to say. 

Jonah’s boy Christine Michael is getting outshined by former Redskin Matt Jones. I would expect this to continue.

We said it before the year, and this Battlehawks defense is living up to the hype as they are making opponents’ lives miserable. My boy Kenny Robinson had a great interception so defensive player of the year is not out of the question. 

If I could trade Tyree Jackson to any team, it would be the Battlehawks. Ta’amu has been fine, but I would love to see the outside weapons be allowed to shine with a cannon-armed QB like Tyree.

Defenders vs. Wildcats

Cardale lost a start; my whole word is shaken to the core. I don’t know what to believe in. But unless you hold Cardale accountable for four interceptions, there is no way this loss can be blamed on him. 

Tre McBride and Nelson Spruce are quite the dynamic duo, and Josh Johnson looks like a legitimate XFL QB. 

Martez Carter is a little guy with big production, three touchdowns and may have fully passed Elijah Hood on the depth chart.

I kind of thought there were four good teams and four bad teams, but I feel like the Wildcats might join the Defenders, Renegades, Battlehawks, and Roughnecks and create a fifth good team. 

PICKS

Wildcats over GUARDIANS

BATTLEHAWKS over Dragons

RENEGADES over Roughnecks

Defenders over VIPERS

XFAlpha Podcast Notes - Episode 16

Football is finally here, and the first week of the XFL delivered. My notes are below, but there are plenty more that Jonah and I get into the episode so download, subscribe, and give us a 5-star review if you have the extra three seconds.

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Vipers vs. Guardians

Matt McGloin was serviceable

The defense dominated - Ben Heeney all over the place

Marc Trestman kicking a 23-yard field goal down 17 (Note: I actually messed up on how bad this was, because 17 points is still a two-score game because you can go for 3, so it’s actually even worse than I mentioned on the podcast)

Aaron Murray sucks

FREE QUINTON FLOWERS

Dragons vs. Defenders

I think Seattle is going to struggle with Silvers at quarterback

I know everybody was freaking out about Proehl but only 5 catches on 10 targets.

Will Sutton half a sack and QB hit, is he BACK?

Cardale is DA GAWD

Bradley Sylve got a pick, a guy we were both high on coming into this.

Battlehawks vs. Renegades

Battlehawks defense is for real

I really like Demornay Pierson-El

Ta’amu is more legs than arm

Hal Mumme’s offense concerns me.

Philip Nelson is the least exciting quarterback in the league

Flynn Nagel is their scrappy wide receiver

Roughnecks vs. Wildcats

LaTroy Lewis with two sacks

PJ Walker - MVP? - I’d slow down a bit on that talk

James Butler, Iowa boy, two touchdowns and a big return (after muffing it)

Sammie Coates - two catches on nine targets

Shawn Oakman got a sack.

Nelson Spruce is probably the early favorite for offensive player of the year.

1-3, only the Defenders

My picks: Defenders over Guardians

Vipers over Dragons

Renegades over Wildcats

Roughnecks over Battlehawks

XFAlpha Podcast Notes - Episode 15

I know opening weekend already happened, but Jonah and I not only broke down our season preview where we predict who will win, who will lose, MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year. There is a lot of exciting stuff in this one, but I didn't make many notes, so just download the damn thing and listen to it for yourself.

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XFAlpha Podcast Notes - Episode 1

Jonah and I have started a podcast that takes a deep dive into the XFL, fittingly called the XFAlpha Podcast. You can follow along with everything XFAlpha @XFAlphaPod on twitter or email us at xfalphapod@gmail.com. The audio for the first episode is not the greatest, but the content makes up for it. Spoiler alert, we did get the audio fixed for future episodes. I'll be posting my raw show notes for each episode here, but make sure that you download the episode, and rate and review us if possible.

DOWNLOAD THE EPISODE HERE

The XFL Draft was such a disappointment, because it was just an awful viewing experience. Vince McMahon doesn’t know anything about football, but he does know about showmanship, and it was so cheap looking that 

They took a damn lunch break.

The big issue is that they could have given an inside look. 

I would have liked to see them have a draft, but then do an inside the draft process where they highlight discussions in the individual draft rooms so you get an idea of what they are thinking. It was such a missed opportunity.

Also, line up some player interviews. They are all about building personalities, so let these guys talk. 

1. DC Defenders - Cardale Jones and Tyree Jackson
1. Cardale Jones didn’t come to play school. He came to play football. And he led Ohio State to a National Championship. He has a big arm and is fairly accurate so there’s a lot to like about him. 
2. Tyree Jackson is legit. Big arm, threw some beautiful deep balls. I didn’t think he looked that athletic on the field, but he did test out ridiculously well. Shocked he couldn’t make a roster.
2. Tampa Vipers - Aaron Murray and Taylor Cornelius
1. He’s from a family of winners as his brother won The Bachelorette. He was a four-year starter at Georgia but just never had an impressive enough arm to actually make anything happen at the next level. 
2. Taylor Cornelius was a guy that I saw over the week at the East-West Shrine Game last year, and I thought he was the most impressive quarterback there. Now, it wasn’t the stiffest competition, but I thought he had some good tools and a nice arm, so he’s my pick to be starting for this team. He also played his biggest in big games as he balled out against Oklahoma and West Virginia, coming close to two upsets, but still getting one done against the Mountaineers.
3. Vincent Testaverde
3. New York Guardians - Matt McGloin and Marquise Williams
1. Matt McGloin is an overachiever who went from walk on to starting quarterback for Penn State and then went undrafted to starting six games for the Raiders. Now he was bestowed as one of the Great 8, so I’m guessing that he is a disappointment in his first opportunity where he is not seen as an underdog. 
2. Stopped Trubisky from starting earlier in his career. He did fairly well in relief for San Antonio of the AAF, but unless they run the option, he probably won’t beat out McGloin.
3. Garrett Fugate
4. Houston Roughnecks - Phillip Walker and Connor Cook
1. Walker played under Matt Rhule at Temple, so definitely some good coaching before sticking around the practice squad of the Colts. Interceptions were an issue.
2. Connor Cook just seems like a turd. I will admit that I have an unnatural hatred for Michigan State quarterbacks. I mean, I don’t hate Cousins, but I feel like the guy has been shoved down my throat because one time he said YOU LIKE THAT. But I just remembered Cook started a playoff game. Not sure if you remember, but it did not go well.
5. Dallas Renegades - Landry Jones and Philip Nelson
1. Landry Jones started four years for a super talented Oklahoma team, but the guy just never got better and continually threw too many interceptions. He actually started five games in the NFL, and the best thing he has going for him is his old college coach, Bob Stoops, bringing him aboard.
2. Philip Nelson gave a teammate brain damage, so not exactly a guy I’m going to be rooting for.
6. Los Angeles Wildcats - Luis Perez 
1. Luis Perez, after dominating Southwestern College, could no longer be overlooked by his dream school of Texas A+M....Commerce. He hit 70% of his throws and throwing for over 5,000 yards while leading his team to a National Title and winning the Heisman of Division 2, the Harlon Hill Trophy. His time with the Birmingham Iron left a little to be desired as he had more picks than TDs and barely completed 50% of his passes.
7. Seattle Dragons - Brandon Silvers and Joe Callahan
1. Silvers was nearly an AAF hero and completed 64% of his passes in that league which is a fairly good sign of how he might perform. Same percentage he had while throwing for over 10,000 yards at Troy.  Still, he wasn’t good enough to make a training camp even after that performance which shows he probably doesn’t have that high of a ceiling. 
2. Joe Callahan was 5-7 for 11 yards in an actual NFL game. That’s not great, but he did play in an NFL game. He’s had seven stints in the NFL, including the Packers twice. There’s a good chance Aaron Rodgers forced him out. 
8. St. Louis Battlehawks - Jordan Ta’amu and Brogan Roback
1. Jordan Ta’amu wasn’t good enough to beat out Shea Patterson and as someone who has watched more Michigan than I would like to admit, that is not a great sign. There’s just nothing that stands out about Ta’amu, so I can’t really add much more than that.
2. Brogan Roback is benefiting greatly from being on Hard Knocks. Good for him. He has a better chance of making it as a punter which he did some at Eastern Michigan than he does as a quarterback. 

2016 NFL Draft: Most Underrated Prospects

I've been busy with a variety of things lately, so I haven't produced any NFL draft related content, but I figured I should get something out before the first round happens tonight. I have some hot takes, as there are a lot of guys that I feel are greatly underrated in this draft. I will go position-by-position to show who are the most underrated prospects in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Quarterback: Cardale Jones

Had Cardale Jones come out last year after three games as a starting quarterback (and a National Title), he would have likely been a first round pick. He then proceeded to go undefeated as a starter this past season as well. Yes, he got benched because J.T. Barrett fits the scheme better, but it's not like he was having any monumental struggles, and he was never really given the opportunity to make adjustments. It seems like most people see three quarterbacks in the first round. Is there any reason Cardale Jones shouldn't be the fourth QB off the board? I mean, couldn't Cardale done at least as well as Paxton Lynch in Memphis? And, come to think of it, would North Dakota State lost anything by having Jones instead of Carson Wentz? I sure don't think so. All quarterbacks are risks, but Jones has the type of talent that makes that risk worth it.

Honorable mention to his total opposite, Vernon Adams Jr. who is small, quick, and super accurate on his throws. The guy just makes plays, and after a slow start at Oregon, he really put it together and was one of the best quarterbacks in college football by the end of the season. I know he's small, but he's worth taking a flyer on in the seventh round.

Running Back: Keith Marshall

Let's remember something about Keith Marshall. During his freshman year, there was no real difference seen between him and Todd Gurley. Now he has struggled with injuries since then and never really got things going, but his athleticism is still there, and I think he just needed an extra year to fully recover from his injuries. Although he's a different style back, he reminds me of Frank Gore as a guy who couldn't stay healthy in college, but if he does stay healthy in the pros, he's going to be one hell of a late round pick for somebody.

Honorable mention to Jordan Howard who runs through contact better than just about any back in this class. He absolutely crushed Iowa, which was sad for me but also super impressive to watch. He's big, fast, and strong. Indiana played to those strengths, so I'm not sure about the vision, but he has all of the physical tools to be successful.

Extra honorable mention to Daniel Lasco who was the best running back at the Shrine Game. I honestly didn't see much from him outside of that exhibition, but that has to count for something.

Wide Receiver: Tyler Boyd

Tyler Boyd just makes plays. He finds ways to get open, and he knows how to catch the football. Let's not make this any more complicated than it has to be. Boyd will be a good pro.

Honorable mention to Corey Coleman who is a damn freak. 

Yeah, I want that guy.

Tight End: Henry Krieger-Coble

Is this a homer pick? Hell yeah. Will it be my last? Hell no. Also, HKC had a nice ability to get open and he has good hands. He's not the most athletic guy, but I think he offers enough to be a solid #2 tight end.

Offensive Tackle: Joe Haeg

He played with Carson Wentz. I figure he must have done a good job of protecting him.

Offensive Guard: Jordan Walsh

He was really good for Iowa last year. This isn't just a homer pick. He could be a quality starter.

Center: Austin Blythe

Yes, just about everything that could go right did for Iowa so I have a soft spot for, like, everyone. Still, this is the type of guy that I like. He's undersized, which is worrisome with the rise of nose tackles, but he consistently played well against everybody that stepped in front of him, and although size may be a concern, he's worth taking a chance on.

Defensive End: Drew Ott

Okay, so not everything went well for Iowa, but let's not forget how great Drew Ott was before he got injured. This dude massacred Iowa's offensive line to the point where I thought Iowa would be garbage this year, and Kirk Ferentz could no longer turn under-recruited players into absolute studs. He's the best player Iowa has in this draft class, and he's going to make a team very happy. The dude eats raw eggs and offensive linemen for fun. He gonna get after it.

Defensive Tackle: Javon Hargrave

Hargrave was another guy who impressed at the Shrine Game, and I think he's going to be one of the standouts from a small school that surprises people.

Linebacker: Joe Schobert

Joe Schobert is one of those guys that just makes plays. He's not the most athletically gifted, but he makes up for it with his instincts. It's probably going to be stupid how far he falls, and he's going to make teams feel stupid when he has a 10-year career as a starting linebacker.

Honorable mention to Scooby Wright III who basically does the same stuff as Schobert. Like he had Heisman hype coming into this past season. People forget that. I didn't. Scooby has the skills to solve any offensive mystery.

And another honorable mention to Jaylon Smith. I'm not sure how toast that knee is, although some have compared his injuries to Marcus Lattimore which is...not ideal. Still, how far can you let a talent like this drop? I mean, he was seen at worst as a top-10 pick and maybe worthy of being in the top-5. If he's there in the third round, I'd have a really hard time passing on him when the guy has that much upside.

Final honorable mention to Eric Striker, because Oklahoma linebackers try to play the game like The Ultimate Warrior, so I ain't messing with that.

Cornerback: Kendall Fuller

An injury is the only reason he really fell. He was seen as the best cornerback in his family, and his brother was drafted in the middle of the first round. I mean, yeah, as a Bears fan, I am aware that the pick hasn't quite turned out all that well, but corners mature later than most other positions, so it's certainly not hopeless. Had he not gotten hurt, he would have easily been a first round pick, yet I haven't seen anybody with him higher than mid-second. Hell, if Kyle had only been a second round pick, Bears fans probably wouldn't be nearly as worried about him, so getting the more talented Fuller at that point should be a steal.

Honorable mention to Zack Sanchez who made a bunch of plays early on in 2014 and got on everyone's radar, and then fell off that radar. I mean, he was never as great as the hype, but he's also not not talented.

Safety: Karl Joseph

Karl Joseph gets interceptions and hits people hard enough for their grandma to be in pain. Karl Joseph is awesome, and I am super bummed that he is getting a lot of late hype and won't be there for the Bears in the second round. Love Karl Joseph, but more importantly, fear Karl Joseph.

Honorable mention to Jordan Lomax, because he's a Hawkeye, and I gots to represent. I mean, he could be a special teams player, maybe, possibly...sort of?

Kicker: Marshall Koehn

Koehn is able. I mean, even if he isn't a great kicker, that sort of marketing slogan is enough to justify using a pick on him. If teams could expand rosters to like 75 and have a kicker who specialized in 50+ yard field goals, he would have a great future in the NFL. Anything inside of that, and uh, it goes down quickly, although he may fare better with the longer distance extra points than he did with the super close college ones. Still, Koehn is able.

And that wraps things up. The draft starts tonight. I can't wait to see how the Bears screw it up.