The Road To The Show: 2016 Chicago Cubs Preview

No team felt more rejuvenated than the Chicago Cubs in 2015. After years of despair in the Windy City, then newly acquired Joe Maddon put the team into high gear. Corner infielders Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant were a formidable combination and the rise of the pitching staff were cornerstones for Chicago. Despite the fact that they came short of making a World Series appearance, a 97 win season was an extraordinary accomplishment for the Cubs. During the off-season, General Manager Theo Epstein carefully evaluated available talent, to bolster the Cubs roster.

As a persistent fan of the game, Sam Bornstein stated that immense young talent needed to be complemented with experienced veteran players. Like any complete team, veteran leadership brings promise to the locker room and is a great tool for young, talented players. Epstein hauled in veterans Ben Zobrist (Utility Man) and John Lackey (Starting Pitcher) for key postseason experience and locker room mentors. Epstein's and Maddon's familiarity with Zobrist and Lackey was a key factor to signing both respected veterans. The departure of shortstop Starlin Castro to the Yankees and the late season fatigue Jake Arrieta endured, was another key factor to the veteran signings. Epstein also cashed in big with the signing of former St. Louis Cardinal and Atlanta Brave Jason Heyward. Despite the mega contract (8 Years, $184M), Heyward's recipient of another gold glove award and more consistent approach than switch-hitting Dexter Fowler, made him a can't miss. As a unit, Chicago prevailed in the error department (111 errors: 4th in MLB), ranking a mere 25 out of 30 MLB Teams. 

Pitching was a major key to the Cubs success during the 2015 campaign and should play a key role in 2016. As a staff, the Cubs ranked third in ERA (3.36), first in strikeouts (1,431), and fifth fewest in walks (407), according to Athlon Sports. Led by Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta (22 Wins, 1.77 ERA), Chicago pummeled opponents strike zones and dealed with consistency. Lefty Jon Lester recorded more than 200 innings and looks to gain more run support from a revamped offense. The acquisition of righty Adam Warren in the Castro trade was a great move for Chicago. When being denoted as a reliever, Warren compiled a 2.29 ERA, compared to a competent 3.66 ERA. Playing in the windy city should bode well for for the former Yankee. Chicago also hopes closer Hector Rondon to follow up a stellar second half (0.96 ERA), with a strong start to the 2016 campaign. The ceiling has rose, but the competitiveness continues to linger.

As the road to the show begins, Chicago prepares to hold off their arch-nemesis, the St. Louis Cardinals. A rivalry that continues to grow stronger, St. Louis poses as Chicago's biggest threat with similar, young talent, states Bornstein. However, what sets the Cubs apart from all MLB teams, is their loaded talent. Across the diamond, Chicago poses youth that endeavors underrated talent. Off-season acquisitions have demoralized team chemistry in recent years, (2011 Miami Marlins, 2012 Toronto Blue Jays) however, the likes of veterans David Ross, John Lackey, and Ben Zobrist should help regroup this club. Undermining the critiques and holding good team moral will key on the road to the show. 

Disruptive Defense Propels Denver to Super Bowl 50 Victory

Coming into Super Bowl 50, the Denver Broncos were foreshadowed as healthy underdogs. When making their Super Bowl picks, only 19 of 74 ESPN analysts selected the Broncos. The Carolina Panthers came into this game with high expectations after dismantling the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship Game. Even though the odds to win the game were slim to none, Head Coach Gary Kubiak was prepared to roll the dice.

On the first series of the game, Denver quarterback Peyton Manning picked apart Carolina's defense, which resulted into three points from kicker Brandon McManus. After that, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips assured Broncos fans that he would limit Carolina's explosive offense. Utilizing a mix of zone, power, and speed blitzes, Phillips unit held Cam Newton to a 55.4 quarterback rating and registered six sacks. Super Bowl MVP, Von Miller, helped generate uncomfortable pressure on Newton. Miller's explosive attack on the edge allowed other Broncos to salvage the Panthers backfield. He recorded 6 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and forced two key fumbles in Denver's victory. Miller's first forced fumble set the tone for Denver's defense, as defensive end Malik Jackson scooped up the ball and score. The touchdown gave Denver a commanding 10-0 lead in the first quarter, which would be held for the rest of the game. The NFL MVP (Newton) continued to get hurried all day long and was unable to have consistent connections with his receiving core.

The sloppy field conditions did not benefit either offense and turned the game into a defensive battle. Carolina and Denver offensive tackles had a tough time finding good traction in the turf. As a result, opposing defenders were able to crash the pocket more frequently. The struggling ball movement resulted twelve sacks and six turnovers in a sloppy and defensive fest. During the game, Carolina forced seven consecutive three and outs (Super Bowl Record) and kept them in for the majority of the game. Reserve defensive end Kony Ealy made most of his opportunities, with 3 sacks, and interception, 3 tackles, and a fumble recovery in just 27 snaps. They also held Denver to the fewest yards by a Super Bowl winning team (194). However, Carolina's offense did not move the ball effectively and converted a mere three out of fifteen third downs and committed 12 penalties for 102 yards. Lack of composure and much frustration from the young Newton, permitted Carolina from finding a rythem. Carolina's third ranked rushing offense gained a respectable 118 yards, but three fumbles limited their chances of scoring. Carolina's lone touchdown came off of running back Jonathan Stewart's leaping scamper, in the second quarter.

Despite a sub-par performance (141 yards, 56.5 QB rating), veteran quarterback Peyton Manning did just enough to help Denver capture its third Super Bowl Title. His go-to receiver, Emmanuel Sanders, hauled in 6 passes for 83 yards. Sanders was a significant target in the passing game, as Demariuys Thomas was overshadowed by Carolina's physical corner Josh Norman. Manning's final pass of the game came on a successful two point conversion to reserve receiver Bennie Fowler. Whether if it is or is not his last pass of his career, Manning added to his already impressive resume with another Super Bowl title. In a 24-10 victory, the Denver Broncos dominate defensive effort brought a resilient feel to the Super Bowl and their team.

Super Bowl 50 Predictions

The stage is set for an enticing matchup between the NFL's highest scoring offense: Carolina Panthers (31.3 Points Per Game) and the NFL's best total defense: Denver Broncos (283.1 yards allowed per game). The Super Bowl will celebrate it's beloved 50th anniversary and is a tradition that everyone enjoys watching. According to NFL.com, the Carolina Panthers come into Super Bowl 50 as a fan favorite, but the Denver Broncos pose a challenging and stifling defense. From marquee matchups to bold predictions, Super Bowl 50 brings lots of energy and rising tension to the table. Will Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers dab their way to their franchise's first Super Bowl victory, or will Manning and Denver's stingy defense fend off the league's highest scoring offense?

Bold Predictions: Panthers 27 - Broncos 20

Super Bowl MVP: Luke Kuechly, Middle Linebacker, Carolina Panthers

• According to espn.com, this Super Bowl matchup will mark the seventh time where the NFL's number one scoring offense faces the NFL's best total defense. In six of seven matchups, the defense has won. When the defensive team won the game, five of those six contests resulted lopsided games. Denver has the NFL's best total defense, but can the keep pace with the versatile Cam Newton. When playing Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers, containing Cam Newton and winning the battle at the line of scrimmage are two top priorities. Acording to Pro Football Reference, Newton ran for 632 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns this season and revolves his game around the read option. Denver runs a base 3-4 defense and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips does a good job at containing running quarterbacks. Outside linebackers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware faced one team that uses the read option (Kansas City Chiefs), but allowed more than 100 yards rushing on both occassions. In order to contain Cam Newton, Miller and Ware need to win the battle off the edge. Rather it's a swim, spin, or bull rush move, hurrying Cam Newton throws freezes Carolina's offense. Newton ran more than half of his rushing yards from the pistol and is big enough to run in between the tackles and elusive enough to win the edge. QB Contain, QB Spy, and zone blitzes are plays to stop a running quarterback. (Newton: 9 Att, 50 yards, 1 TD/237 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT )(Miller: 3 Tackles, 1.5 Sacks)(Ware: 5 QB Pressures, 1 Sack, 2 Tackles for Loss, 4 Tackles)
• Drops have been a killer for Ted Ginn Jr. and Demariuys Thomas this season. According to sportingcharts.com, Ginn Jr. (10) and Thomas (9) rank top five in dropped passes this season. Most dropped passes have come from the go route, which means both Manning and Newton love to attack the seams of the defense. If Ginn Jr. can use his blazing speed against Harris Jr. and Talib, he cannot drop it. Harris Jr. and Talib love to bump and run and be physical at the line of scrimmage. As with Ginn Jr, Thomas has had consistent drop issues with Peyton and faces a great corner in Josh Norman. Norman also plays bigger than his listed height and can control the game at any moment.  Dropping key passes on the big stage sometimes throws a players game off rythem. The Fly, Go, Post, Stutter Post, Slant N Go, and Fade routes are going to be tested with both teams talented corners. (Thomas: 4 Rec 34 yards 0 TD, 1 Drop)   (Ginn Jr.: 3 Rec 59 yards, 2 drops)(Harris Jr.: 3 Tackles)(Roby: 2 Tackles, 1 INT)(Norman: 4 Tackles, 2 Passes Defended)
• Denver's inside linebackers and safties face another tough tight end test in Greg Olson. Olson is not as physical as Rob Gronkowski, but exhibits similar traits. He's a box out tight end and is a receiving threat in the middle of the field. Last week, Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan had difficulties guarding Gronk, who recorded 8 Rec, 145 yards, and a TD. Greg Olson has caught at least 6 passes for 70 yards in each playoff contest, and is bound to get involved early and often. Look for Olson to be split wide or slotted against Marshall/Nickel Corner with zone coverage. Olson is great at reading defenses, but Marshall and Trevathan are just as stingy at the line. Olson is also one of the worst blocking tight ends in the NFL, which helps Miller/Ware/Barrett/Wolfe/Jackson to provide pressure. (Olson: 6 Rec 71 yards 1 TD)(Marshall: 7 Tackles, Tackle for Loss)
• With the loss of Charles Tillman, look for Peyton Manning to test the vulnerbable Robert McClain. McClain did a solid job against the Cardinals speedy recievers, but showed struggles in coverage, even if the pass was overthrown. Look for Manning to use slants, comebacks, crosses, motion posts, screens, and fly routes with wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. A lot of defenses tend to underestimate how fast Emmanuel Sanders is, but McClain could end up being a Super Bowl hero, However, Tre Boston plays on the same side as McClain and is not as strong of a pass defender as Kurt Coleman. If Sanders starts to heat up, look for Norman to prance behind him. (Sanders: 8 Rec, 101 yards, 0 TD)(Robert McClain: 6 Tackles, 1 Pass Defended)(Boston: 2 Tackles, 1 Sack)
• Peyton Manning's opponent in the Super Bowl compares similary to the last team he played, the 2013 Seattle Seahawks. Each team had a rising, young quarterback, a good defense, a breakout cornerback, an underrated receiving core, a bulky running back, and a solid interior offensive line. If Manning struggles as poorly as his last Super Bowl performance, the game could get out of hand. Manning is familiar with the big game and might even play conservative with his backfield duo of C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman, during the first part of the game. Sustaining long drives is something that Manning does well. Keeping Cam off the field as much as possible gives Denver's defense rest to pressure Newton. Peyton should also use play action in order to keep Carolina's defense off balance. Manning is also an audible machine and an expert at reading defenses too. Key on Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, who has been a quarterback's nightmare in this year's playoffs. Kuechly is an excellent run defender and has tremendous recovery speed too. (Manning: 231 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT/sacked 3 times) (Hillman: 15 Att, 36 yards/Anderson: 11 Att, 61 yards)(Kuechly: 9 Tackles, 1 INT)
• According to CBS Sports, Carolina Panthers Head Coach Ron Rivera played Peyton Manning in Super Bowl 41, as a member of the Chicago Bears Defensive Coordinator. Manning beat Rivera and the Chicago Bears 29-17 and was named Super Bowl 41 MVP. 
• The ground game is the glue to the Carolina Panthers offense and running back Jonathan Stewart gets the bulk of the carries. According to espn.com, Stewart's best opportunity to break one open is when Newton hands him the ball to the left, in singleback formations, with three recievers, and when someone is motioned to the right. Wade Phillips has watched a lot of tape and knows the advantages and disadvantages of running to the left. In order to prevent Stewart from breaking one open, Phillips will need to use a 46 defense or shift his defensive line to the right and linebackers to the left. When doing a counter or strech to the left, the right guard pulls and that allows free stuffing space for defensive lineman. Look for those types of formations in Stewart's successful formations.Stewart also loves to run up the a and b gaps and is a good cutback runner when he has just enough room. Broncos linebackers need to manuever quick and need Sylvester Williams and company to win the line of scrimmage. (Stewart: 23 Att,  75 yards, 0 TD)
• The Carolina Panthers offensive line is a young and talented group. The have been consistent throughout this season and feature a phenominal guard tandem of Andrew Norwell and Trai Turner. The Denver Broncos own two very underrated defensive lineman in Malik Jackson and Derek Wolfe. Both have benefited from the arrival of Phillips and continue to pave paths for blizting Broncos. The matchup at the line of scrimmage between these two lines is going to be very entertaining.
• In last week's victory over the Patriots, tight end Owen Daniels caught both of Manning's touchdown passes and sometimes known as his security blanket. When Denver is victorious, Daniels is a huge part of the offense. However, when Daniels is mirrored in Denver's game plan, Denver usually falters. Look for Daniels to get open looks. Look for him to be slotted in the backfield sometimes when Manning goes bootleg. He has caught 28 out of 46 passes when catching a pass inside a ten yard radius. Kubiak loves using two tight end sets and will usually utilize Daniels in formations that include two tight ends. Keep an eye on Thomas Davis, who will look to punish the veteran. Davis is a converted saftey to linebacker like Arizona's Deone Buchanon and has familiarity with several coverage schemes too. (Daniels: 7 Rec 57 yards 0 TD)(Davis: 11 Tackles, 3 Tackles for Loss, 1 FF)

The Pieces Are In Place: The Story of the 2015 Denver Broncos

After another disasterous playoff fiasco, general manager John Elway continues to look for new pieces in order to complete the puzzle. Domination in the regular season has been Denver's forte for the past couple of years, but finishing the next journey has yet to be completed. After deciding to let tight end Julius Thomas walk to Jacksonville, lose nose tackle Terrance Knighton to the Washington Redskins, and watch two key offensive lineman find new homes, Elway searches for the next corresponding option. He brought in former Baltimore Raven and St. Louis Ram Darian Stewart and veteran tight end Owen Daniels to upgrade some positions. He reconstructed his coordinator and coaching expierement after losing head coach John Fox and offensive coordinator Adam Gase to the Chicago Bears, and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio to the Oakland Raiders. Elway brought in Gary Kubiak as head coach, Rick Denninson as offensive coordinator, and Wade Phillips as defensive coordinator. The three have been a key part to Denver's adventerous ride this season and hope to succeed in Super Bowl 50.

Denver started the regular season off with a bang as they raced out to a 7-0 start. After losing a nail biter against Indianapolis the following week and being trounched by the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver lost a key member to their offense, quarterback Peyton Manning. Despite struggling all season, Manning endured a planter fasciiitis and rib injury. Backup Brock Osweiler engineered a 5-2 record with the Denver Broncos and posted an 86.4 passer rating. Denver finished with a 12-4 record at the end of the regular season, but decided to ride the sheriff (Peyton Manning) in the playoffs. Manning guided Denver to victories over the Steelers and Patriots. According to Pro Football Reference, however, Osweiler ended up outperforming Peyton Manning during the 2015 regular season. Despite Manning's struggles, Denver had even bigger offensive problems. With an offensive line that allowed the twentieth most sacks in the NFL (39) and a very sub-par running game early in the year, Denver leaned on Manning's arm. Manning needed to learn and adjust to Kubiak's balanced attack and struggled to grasp the new system early. Pass protecting weakened Manning's pocket presence and forced Manning to run out of the pocket. This created ill advised throws and costly turnovers. According to espn.com, Manning had statistically the second worst year of his career. He had TD:INT ratio of 9:17 and was doomed by dropped passes. Despite inconsistent production, Denver still managed to produce two 1,000 yard recievers: Demariuys Thomas (1,304 yards) and Emmanuel Sanders (1,135 yards).

The key focal point behind Denver's success has been their defense. All facets of Denver's defense has depth and is strong on all cylinders. Denver finished first in total defense (283.1 yards allowed per game) and fourth in scoring defense. On the defensive line, Denver has two top fifteen interior (Derek Wolfe and Malik Jackson) lineman according to pro football focus. Both Jackson and Wolfe have been trench nightmares at the line of scrimmage and create havic in the backfield. When trying to hit the second level of Denver's defense, it's usually not going to bode well for any opposing running back. Denver yielded a stingy 83.6 rushing yards per game and were led by two underrated and instinctive linebackers: Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan. Both played extremley well against the run and pass and allowed very few big players in the middle of the field. One of the most important aspects to Wade Phillips game is having two great edge rushers. During the 2015 NFL season, DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller played to their potential despite limited action. Both recieved Pro Bowl nods and were a quarterback nightmare. Rookies Shane Ray and Shaquill Barrett also put the rock on opposing quarterbacks. As a unit, Denver's secondary played at a high and intense level. Anchored by three great cornerbacks, (Aquib Talib, Chris Harris Jr. and Bradley Roby) Denver was the only team in the NFL to surrender only one 300 yard passer. Despite not having the biggest corner's in the league, Denver utilized a zone press scheme that made it tough for opponents to go over the top or underneath. Safties T.J. Ward and Darian Stewart brought a hard hitting mentality and help Denver feast off of batted and poor passes.

The Taste of Redemption: The Story of the 2015 Carolina Panthers

Another NFC playoff hearbreaker ended another run at a championship for the Carolina Panthers. Since losing to the New England Patriots 32-29, in Super Bowl 38, Carolina has failed to return to the big stage. After squeezing into the playoffs with a 7-8-1 recod and despatching the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina fell flat on their face against Seattle, in the divisional round. The Panthers came into the 2015 off-season with lots of redemption, and were fueled by Head Coach Ron Rivera's enthusiasm. However, after wide reciever Kelvin Benjamin tore his ACL in preseason, a treacherous incident with defensive end Greg Hardy, and the depature of veteran running back DeAngalo Williams, Carolina seemed like it was in panic mode. Despite off-season obstacles, quarterback Cam Newton progressed well through training camp, and Carolina's ferocious defense looked impenetrable. In their opening day clash with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina smothered quarterback Blake Bortles, forcing three key turnovers. Cornerback Josh Norman took one to the house, as the Panthers earned a 20-9 victory at EverBank Field. Following a week one victory, the Cardiac Cats remained unstoppable for fourteen consecutive weeks. In their only game where they failed to amount at least twenty points, Carolina lost their lone game against the Atlanta Falcons. Despite that, Carolina finished with the league's best record (15-1). They steamrolled past the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals to advance to the big stage. Carolina's breakout year on offense, put less pressure on their defense. With the emergence of entertaining quarterback Cam Newton, Carolina feasted off opponents defenses. The league's highest scoring offense (31.3 points per game) demonstrated a combination of speed and power. While Newton led the NFL with 45 total touchdowns and utilized a flashy playing style, running back Jonathan Stewart's trucking attack made him a great compliment in the backfield. The re-construction of the offensive line elevated Carolina's offense, as they provided gaping holes for the league's second best rushing attack. Carolina's phenominal interior offensive line helped Newton improve as a pocket passer and show his impressive arm strength.  Newton's cannon arm helped Carolina's receiving core average 12.9 yards per catch and create favorable matchups against vulnerable defenses. While Pro Bowl Tight End Greg Olson (77 REC/1,104 Yards/7TD) was Newton's security blanket, speedsters Corey Brown, Ted Ginn Jr., and the lengthy Devin Funchess gave Newton plenty of options.

Despite the enchacement in offensive passing attacks, Carolina's defense would not let up. Anchored by middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, Carolina yielded the sixth fewest yards (322.9 per game) and the fifth fewest points (19.3 per game). Having expierence with Jim Johnson (former Eagles defensive coordinator), defensive coordinator Sean McDermott enjoyed dialing up blitzes. Putting pressure on the quarterback was consistent with Carolina, as they took down the opposition 44 times (6th in the NFL). Despite losing a disruptive pass rusher in Hardy, Carolina utilized every defensive player to pressure the quarterback. McDermott enjoyed using the bread and butter defense, while utilizing his fast and athletic linebackers in coverage. Linebacker Luke Kuechly played near perfect and set Pro Football Focus rating record for linebackers. Kuechly's recovery speed and coverage skills complemented his great tackling techniques. Outside linebacker Thomas Davis continues to be the x-factor on Carolina's defense, who allowed the fourth fewest rushing yards in the NFL. A key to Carolina's success was the presence of third year pro Kawann Short. Short was ranked as the eighth best defensive tackle by Pro Football Focus, and registered a career high 11 sacks. A dominating pass rush forced unfortunate passers to heave the ball towards cornerback Josh Norman. In his true breakout season, Norman allowed a mere 54.7 passer rating when quarterbacks dared to throw his way. His physical bump and run style helped him play bigger than his 6'0 stature. Opposite of Norman is veteran Charles Tillman. Prior to tearing his ACL, Tillman showed that age wasn't just a number, as he held quarterbacks to a 72.7 quarterback rating. When trying to avoid Carolina's corners, Free agent saftey Kurt Coleman and saftey Tre Boston swoop in for the interception. Coleman was another Carolina defender who enjoyed a breakout season (7 interceptions).