2017 NFL Draft: Hoover's Top 5 QB Rankings

                                                                       
The 2017 NFL draft is right around the corner, and it's time for me to weigh in (at least officially, as I have been putting my two cents in on Twitter using the handle @hoover__26) on the great quarterback debate. I will judge my top quarterbacks in the categories of physical tools, intangibles, and NFL readiness. Without further adieu, let's jump in.

1. Deshaun Watson, Junior, Clemson

Physical Tools:

Watson is listed at 6'2" and 221lbs, which is solid but not what you would call a prototype athletic quarterback in the modern day NFL. He ran a 4.66 in the forty yard dash at the combine, which is very nice, but again not quite what you would call elite athleticism (for reference, Cam Newton ran a sub-4.6 at 6'5" and nearly 250lbs). As far as arm strength, Watson again is strong but not a huge standout. From the physical tools perspective, Watson could be graded as an above average guy with nice feet, a very smooth style of play, and very large hands, despite the fact that he doesn't jump off the page in any one area. Reminds me a bit of Donovan McNabb here.

Intangibles:

Watson is a winner, plain and simple. He led his Clemson team to two straight National Championship appearances, winning the second, and lost only one game in his final season at Clemson (a one point shocker to Pitt in which Watson threw the ball 70 times for 580 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions). While he sometimes had a hard time reading the safeties (as highlighted by Jon Gruden), which led to an unusually high interception count for such a highly ranked quarterback, much of those had to do less with Watson and more with some unfortunate miscommunications or tipped balls. He makes nice reads for the most part, and appears to have a very strong grasp of the game as well as a desire to improve and know as much as possible. His intangibles really set him apart as far as this quarterback class, and his future in the NFL.

NFL Readiness:

His NFL readiness is unmatched by any quarterback in this class. Despite the fact that he is only a junior, he has had an extremely large amount of experience playing in the limelight. He has a great head on his shoulders and should be able to fix any mechanical shortcomings that coaches at the next level may find. His vision should also improve quickly, as that is one of the few things holding him back from a readiness perspective. I have no doubts that Watson is the clear #1 quarterback in this draft.

2. Mitchell Trubisky, Redshirt Junior, North Carolina

Physical Tools:

Trubisky, despite being listed at the same height and only one pound heavier than Watson, has better muscular definition and a more durable upper body. His hands are a tad smaller than Watsons, but they aren't anything to be afraid of. He ran 0.01 seconds slower on the forty at the combine than Watson, and is very similar to Watson in that he has the ability to stand in and take hits as well as get moving outside the pocket. Trubisky's arm doesn't set any records but he won't cost you on most NFL throws, and he has a very nice release. Overall, a very solid athlete who has the muscular structure to hold up in the NFL, despite not being a top tier athlete at the next level.

Intangibles:

This is where it gets a little more murky for Mitchell. He has a great completion percentage and absolutely torched some defenses that Watson had a little trouble reading (such as Florida State), but he has only made 13 starts in his entire college career. He has very little experience, and despite the fact that he showed some great eyes, doesn't have very many data points to back up an educated evaluation. In addition, UNC's scheme could have bolstered his completion stats and lack of interceptions, which nonetheless are still very impressive. In addition, he had some inconsistencies during his lone season at the helm, including a loss to Virginia Tech in which he failed to reach even 60 yards passing on 33 attempts. Granted, the weather was atrocious that day and UNC was missing it's starting tailback, but it still serves as a huge low point that most other top quarterbacks don't have on their sheet.

NFL Readiness:

Trubisky may be the most talented quarterback in this draft, drawing comparisons to players like Matthew Stafford and Brett Favre, but his lack of experience and occasional duds serve as a dark cloud over his shining numbers. Overall, I think he needs some extra time to mature, but should still see a selection in the top half of the first round.

3. Brad Kaaya, Junior, Miami

Physical Tools:

At 6'4", you would hope to see a frame with a little more weight than 214lbs, but that is where Kaaya sits. He also didn't run a forty yard dash at the combine or his pro day due to some nagging toe issues which he now says are cleared up. So, as far as physical tools, we basically have what we can see on the tapes. From what I've watched, he isn't a very fluid player, but he has tremendous feet from under center and uses his height well to survey the field from the pocket. His season high in rushing yards is 3.4, which came in a systematic destruction of Pitt in which he threw for 356 yards and 4 touchdowns. He is not a runner, and therefore doesn't have the benefits of being a duel-threat guy, but also has less of the durability concerns that come with his skinnier frame. His arm is not very strong, and he doesn't have very much zip on his passes, but his scheme made up for much of that at Miami.

Intangibles:

By all accounts, Kaaya has a strong character and a great head on his shoulders when it comes to the game. Kaaya's scouting report reads like a Tom Brady report from back in his draft year, as he has questionable accuracy and strength on deep balls and even midrange throws that require some juice to get them into a window, and plays the game like a robot. However, he is extremely comfortable progressing through reads and often makes check down throws. His team hit a bit of a skid in the middle of the season, but he doesn't have any seriously concerning goose-eggs on his sheet like Trubisky. Overall, his intangibles are excellent for a kid who considered returning for his senior season amid concerns over readiness.

NFL Readiness:

Kaaya's arm may not be the most ready one in the draft, but it's been a while since I saw a mind that was more polished coming into the draft. If he lands in a system that doesn't need him to zip throws 25 yards downfield on every play, he could be an NFL ready guy on day one. His eyes and knowledge of different offenses rarely seen in college ball bring him to the #3 spot in this draft for me.

4. Patrick Mahomes, Junior, Texas Tech

Physical Tools:

The story for Mahomes is arm strength. Yes, he's 6'2" and 225lbs with smaller hands that could contribute to some nagging accuracy problems, but nobody really cares about that. Mahomes has quick feet and powerful legs getting out of the pocket despite his sluggish forty time, and has spread offense numbers that are beyond gaudy, but the big selling point for this gun-slinging QB is his cannon arm. Whether or not he can hit the broadside of a barn with that arm remains to be seen, but the very fact that he has a weapon like that will vault him up draft boards everywhere.

Intangibles:

Mahomes played in a phantom offense at Texas Tech that gives him very little mental preparation for the game at the next level, and his tawdry numbers may not translate well to the NFL. In-game experience is not a problem, as he saw his first starts as a true freshman, and almost threw for 600 yards in one of those games, but his lack of experience running an NFL-type offense could hurt him. He doesn't have any overly concerning performances this season, his worst being an 18 for 36 game against Iowa State in which his team lost by 56 points. His completion percentage is actually quite excellent, but that may not reflect his overall accuracy going forward. He has some natural accuracy on fluid throws, but his touch in tight windows will be put to the test as those windows get smaller against NFL corners. His combine deep balls also were not always on target, but that really doesn't tell the whole story. Overall, if a team is willing to bet that Mahomes can mature into a real offense and use his exceptional arm to make up for any shortcomings in touch, they could hit the lottery here.

NFL Readiness:

Mahomes may not be ready on day one, but he could end up the best quarterback to come out of this draft. He could also end up being a massive bust, but it all depends on how well he transitions from a spread offense and hones his arm talent.

5. Deshone Kizer, Redshirt Sophomore, Notre Dame

Physical Tools:

Kizer's physical tools are off the charts when compared to the other quarterbacks in this draft. He stands at 6'4" and weighs in at 233lbs, with massive hands and incredible muscular definition. He commented about having Cam Newton's body and Tom Brady's mind, both of which I will contend, but having Cam Newton's body is easily the closer of the two. He didn't run very well at the combine, clocking in at over 4.8 on the forty, but that doesn't mean much for a bruiser like Kizer. He has the arm to make every throw an NFL team could ask him to make, and showed some flashes of accuracy, but did occasionally struggle hitting his spot. His 9 for 26 effort against NC State was marred with some of the worst conditions I can remember in a football game, but he dipped under 55% in four other games this season. His feet aren't great on the dropback, and I noticed some hitches in his footwork, but physically Kizer is probably the best in this class.

Intangibles:

There are some major league questions here for Kizer. He didn't win very many games in college, he doesn't do a great job transitioning from his first look, and as I mentioned before he doesn't have great footwork. Many coaches and analysts have gone on record saying he should have stayed for another year at least, and I can't say I disagree. He needs to work quite a bit on running NFL offenses, and despite the fact that he may have a good grasp of the game, he could be easily exploited by defenses if he plays right away.

NFL Readiness:

Not very high. He has the physical tools, and a good coach can mold him, but I don't see him getting any real playing time in the next year or two with the mechanical issues and lack of experience. It wouldn't surprise me to see him go early just because of his body and arm, and he is a very nice piece to add behind an established quarterback, but there are plenty of issues for Kizer that have to be worked out.

Broncos on the Horizon: Why the Santa Clara Broncos Could Be Making a Splash in NCAA Basketball

NCAA Men’s Basketball is one of the nation’s favorite sports, and culminates in one of the nation’s favorite sporting sagas of the year, March Madness. Undoubtedly, March Madness will have a few teams that spring up as the “cinderellas” of that year’s tourney. In recent years, teams like the Dayton Flyers (not to brag but I predicted that one), Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors (I am honestly not bragging, but I called that one as well), and 15th seed Middle Tennessee (okay, I am not a psychic, I did not see that one coming at all), and countless more teams become, albeit for a short time, the hot team in March. However, when it comes down to the Final Four, it is generally full of familiar faces. Teams like Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Villanova, Syracuse and North Carolina are mainstays in the last few games. However, that doesn’t mean a cinderella team can’t have a meaningful run. Sometimes that meaning is all in simply getting into the tournament. But, I am getting ahead of myself. I’m talking about a team that hasn’t been to the tournament since 1996, and hasn’t been to the Final Four since 1952. What team is that, you ask? Well, I am referring to the 13-11 Santa Clara Broncos. Why would an 13-11 team be in the same breath as March Madness? They wouldn’t. The team I am talking about has not even been fully assembled. I am referring to the Santa Clara Broncos of years to come.

    Taking a look at Santa Clara’s current roster, one thing jumps out immediately.  Senior guard Jared Brownridge is putting up eye popping numbers, scoring 18.5 points per game and shooting nearly 39% from long range. However, the graduating guard could be leaving more of a negative impact than first meets the eye. Despite his strong shooting numbers, and huge scoring outbursts, Brownridge is shooting barely over 40% from the field. He attempts 14.4 shots per game, a large distance from second place Sophomore KJ Feagin with 11.7 (Feagin has only played twelve games on the season, so I give him a pass on his lower FG%). In addition, Brownridge is providing virtually nothing in other statistical categories for a playmaker in his position (3 rebounds and 2.7 assists), aside from the occasional steal. Free Hand Basketball writer Justin Hodges (@justin_hodges22 on Twitter) compared the situation to last year’s North Carolina State Wolfpack team, led by Cat Barber. Barber was an elite scorer, putting up 23.5 points per game on 43.4% from the field. Despite Barber’s amazing numbers, his team often appeared disjointed as he attempted nearly 200 more shots than anyone on the team. With his graduation to the NBA D-League, Barber was replaced with recruit Dennis Smith Jr., who has continued to put up big numbers (18.9 points per game), but his ball distribution and team play has led NC State to a much more successful season thus far. When Brownridge graduates, he will be replaced by a few very nice young players. The previously mentioned KJ Feagin, a sharpshooting guard with room to grow, as he will only be a Junior next season, will be a very nice addition to the regular rotation. Sophomores Henrik Jadersten, a Swedish stretch big man, and Emmanuel Ndumanya (who has shown flashes of being a reliable main big against opponents such as Gonzaga), a shot-blocker from Nigeria, will also be rising into greater roles. In fact, Santa Clara has even shown they can play well without Brownridge, as they held a strong position for the first eight or so minutes against Gonzaga without Brownridge scoring a single point (I understand the senior Kratch scored in that span, but he is nothing that can not be replaced, and allowed some Przemek Karnowski buckets on his poor help defense). However, the real treat with this Santa Clara team is their recruits for the next few years.

    Three players have signed letters of intent to play at Santa Clara next season, according to verbalcommits.com. The first of those being Matt Turner, a three star (rivals.com) 6’4” guard who attends Blair Academy in Blairstown, NJ. I can personally attest to Matt Turner’s talents. He has an insane work ethic, was incredibly well-coached, and was bred by his coaches to be a leader and floor general. His jump shot is very consistent, even when off balance, and he has excellent athleticism and agility when handling the ball. Trust me when I tell you, he is a serious winner. In addition, the game Turner plays is not a traditional high school game. The pace and extreme physicality of Turner’s opponents and system has primed him for the Division I college game. His coach, Joe Mantegna, is one of the best in the game, and has coached the likes of Luol Deng, Charlie Villanueva, Royal Ivey, Mike Tobey, Marial Shayok, Julius Coles, Justin Robinson, and countless more. If you do not believe me when I preach about Turner, watch this video:

Matt Turner Blair Academy '17 Junior Year Highlight

Next on the list is 6’6” guard/forward Shaquille Walters, a two star recruit from London, England. I do not understand why Walters is only a two star recruit, because he really convinced me of his talents the very first time I saw film of him. He has a long body, is a very good leaper (even in traffic), appears to possess superior vision when passing on the move, and has the kind of range you want to see in someone with his body type. If I were to compare him to another player, I would roughly compare him to a Malcolm Brogdon-type player. He has a nice handle, but will probably thrive off the ball at the next level. He was the #6 ranked player at the Luol Deng Top 50 Camp in London, which is one of the biggest honors for a U19 player to receive. He has the physical and mental skills to be a factor as soon as he steps onto a court at Santa Clara. If you want, here is a nice tape of Walters to look at:

Shaquille Walters 6'5 Guard (Class of 2016)

    Third on the list is two star forward Josip Vrankic, a 6’9” recruit from Canada. I honestly do not have much to go on with Vrankic, but from what I can look at (which is basically a minute and a half long mixtape and a thirty six second video of him hitting one buzzer-beater), he seems like a smaller Andrea Bargnani-style player with a “high IQ”. Everywhere I’ve seen this kid, they praise his high court IQ, so that is obviously a plus. If he fills out, he could be a very nice stretch four with some solid shot blocking ability. By the way, here is the mixtape I mentioned earlier:

Josip Vrankic - Upperclassman Showcase MVP - One of the BEST big men in Canada!

    Another exciting thing about this Santa Clara team is the recruits they might get in 2018. Elijah Hardy, a three to four star southpaw point guard with transfixing ball handling and passing ability, and Riley Battin, a 6’9” four star big man who set countless records in Ventura County, California, have both shown a medium level interest in committing to Santa Clara (verbalcommits.com). Hardy has also received interest from USC and Cal, among other places, while Battin has received interest from colleges such as Utah (check out some highlights of these two). However, if Santa Clara could land even one of these two recruits, it would be the icing on a beautiful cake for the Broncos. The future looks very bright for this team, so watch out, they might just come from nowhere and surprise you.

Confessions of an Unapologetic Fantasy Baseball Champion: 3 Tips of the Trade

Hello and welcome, dear reader. I am here today to talk about fantasy baseball. Or, more specifically, how to win at fantasy baseball. Or, MORE more specifically, how I won at fantasy baseball this year. Now, everyone has a different strategy when drafting, or what type of players to target, and how many players at each position to keep, so I'm going to stay away from all that jazz. What I want to focus on is some of the other stuff that goes on in the winner's circle, some of the behind-the-scenes ideas you can put to use in your fantasy life. Now that all this introductory bunk is over, let us begin.

1. Remember Kenny Rogers

When making day to day moves in fantasy sports, specifically baseball (since it's a long season), the key is to remember Kenny Rogers. If you're from the group that's asking why you should be thinking of a country music legend when playing fantasy baseball, sit tight. If you are of the other group that's asking why you should be thinking of a former Texas Rangers starting pitcher (baseball diehards, I solute you) who retired in '08, also sit tight. I have an answer that will make all of you happy. Now, let's take a look at one of my rosters for a second. First guy on there, starting catcher, Yadier Molina. Molina was the 157th pick of that draft (I drafted from the 12th and final slot), my 14th player. In the months of May and June, Molina batted .212 and .235, respectively. His ownership rate plummeted. There I was, sitting with a team that had been average to that point, and Molina was slumping big time from his hot start (in the season's first calendar month he batted .341). Was I temped to cut ties permanently? Yes. Did I? Well, I looked at the waivers, I looked at my roster, and I heard the first line of that legendary chorus in my head. "You've got to know when to hold 'em" (ah, you say, now it's coming into focus). The Gambler can teach us many lessons, and this is the first one: don't be too quick on the trigger when it comes to cutting a player. If something tells you that a slump will end (stats, past patterns, gut feelings, whatever), don't just put that out of your mind. Molina ended up finishing the season with a batting average over .300 and a ranking of #4 on ESPN's Positional Rank. On the other side of that, let's look at a player who is no longer on my roster: the 85th pick, Ben Revere (which, going back, was a terribly stupid pick). Revere, well, let's just say he was rather poor this season. He failed to finish with a batting average over .220, and might not even make his own team's postseason roster. Revere was playing badly, and I was hopeful that a guy I took so early would turn it around, but it got to the point where I tried to trade him for something ("know when to walk away"). Nobody would give me the time of day, so I cut him ("and know when to run"). That worked out for me (it very well could have gone another way, but nobody knows that for sure), just knowing "when to fold 'em". Alright, former-pitcher-Kenny-Rogers crowd, you've been patient. It's time for your answer. If you know about Kenny Rogers (I had to look it up), you know he was decidedly "meh" for about the first decade of his career (he had one All-Star appearance, and never won 20 games). Then, at about the 11 or 12 season mark, it started to get worse. His career path was taking a predictable turn when, all of a sudden at age 39, he started throwing like he had in his younger days. He was dealing as many, if not more, innings as he was in the mid 90s, and actually was an All-Star in 2005. He had a decent season in 2006, and then boom. His 2007 campaign, in which he was over forty years old, was the stuff of legend. He was an All-Star, 5th in Cy Young voting, and 26th in the MVP race (baseball-reference.com) that year, seemingly without warning. So, when you are drafting or trading, always remember Kenny Rogers and how he tapped into the fountain of youth. For example, I drafted 37 year old Adrian Beltre 61st overall. Some people were iffy about relying on such a veteran player, but it's a risk I was willing to take. Beltre improved his home runs, RBIs, batting average, WAR, and walk totals from 2015 to this past year. I was able to luck out and catch a turn back the clock season from Beltre because I didn't strike him from my board because of age concerns. If there were injury concerns, then maybe, but straight up age is (in my opinion) not a great reason to put someone on the no-draft or emergency-draft list (sliding him down a little is fine, that'll happen). So, however you do it, make sure you remember Kenny Rogers.

2. Overreaction=Reaction

Hey, everyone overreacts sometimes. Maybe a player you took early on is really having a rough week, maybe he's not quite as healthy as you would have liked, and you have just had enough. You just don't feel like stashing him for brighter days anymore, and he finds himself on waivers or the trade block. For everyone else in the league, that's a golden opportunity for a possible steal in the cheapest way possible. However, often times a guy who's in that boat ends up not being that highly sought after once he hits the open market. That's often because many of your league mates would have done the exact same thing had the player been on their roster. That's how I added Corey Kluber and Yu Darvish in one of my leagues (also how I ended up with C.J. Anderson in fantasy football last year). When someone overreacts a little (it's bound to happen), try to capitalize. Guys who are bigger names, or higher draft picks, are usually worth stashing unless something really bad happens (like a big injury or benching). Don't follow the crowd and stay away from a situation like that. Remember, regardless of a slump or minor/moderate injury or stuff like that, somebody drafted that player high for a reason. When an owner overreacts, it almost always works in your favor to react.

3. Stash and Grab

Time to be honest. Who do you wish you could roster because you're such a big fan (or have a great feeling about), but just don't feel like you should? Everybody has players like that. For me, it's Jonathan Villar. I am a huge Villar fan, but I didn't know if drafting him over certain others was such a good idea. However, what's great about fantasy baseball (especially larger roster size leagues) is nabbing a guy you have a feeling about isn't going to hurt you at all. I owned Villar in every league I won this year, and he was a vital part of each of my rosters. However, I would not have owned him at all had I not decided to follow my gut and give him a spot on my bench. On average, Villar was taken with the 222nd pick in espn.com drafts. However, Villar ended up 5th overall (!!!!) in ESPN's Player Rater (only Mookie Betts, Jose Altuve, Mike Trout, and Max Scherzer eclipsed Villar on that list). The moral of this story is, stash that guy you really want to stash. Sometimes he ends up in the top 8 in DK-style fantasy points for each of the three positions he's eligible in (like Villar), and sometimes he ends up a dud. Regardless, what damage does it do? Maybe you catch a look from a fellow owner, at the absolute most. So go ahead, do it. You know you want to.


I will not be wearing any fantasy loser tattoos this season. However, if you didn't fare as well, get your fantasy loser tattoos on Twitter or Amazon from @Fantasylosertat!

If you have any comments, concerns, questions, wisecracks, ideas, theories, or you have anything at all to add, hit me up in the comment box or on Twitter @hoover__26! Thanks and fantasy on!

Disaster on Flatbush Ave? Why The Brooklyn Nets Aren't As Bad As They Look

Want to hear a joke? The Brooklyn Nets. Yes, yes, we've heard it all before. From the outside looking in, this roster looks like a dumpster fire rolling down a cliff into a radioactive volcano. I mean, who is even going to start for them? They paid Jeremy Lin 38 million dollars just so they could say they drew a free agent, and couldn't even keep the likes of Allen Crabbe and Tyler Johnson on the roster for more than fifteen minutes. They ended up with a team of NBA misfits, outcasts, rookies, and Brook Lopez. Now, how on earth could they be better than they look? Well, here goes nothing...


Rebounding-

This team ranked 23rd last year in rebounding, so that wasn't a bright spot. And, they lost their best rebounder Thaddeus Young to the new-look Pacers. But, I have hope. They still have Brook Lopez, who can be a dominant center in the NBA when he isn't surrounded by total scrubs, but that's it when it comes to big name rebounders. However, consider this: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and the newly signed Trevor Booker both  averaged at least 12 rebounds per 100 possessions (Booker averaged over 14, both more than Brook Lopez), and Hollis-Jefferson will only be in his second season in the league next year (basketball-reference.com). Also, Chris McCullough (the team's youngest player last year) averaged nearly 10 boards per 100 possessions to go along with shooting 38% from long range. With Hollis-Jefferson finally healthy, the possible emergence of the still young Booker in the lineup, and the additions of Luis Scola (whose career rebounding percentage is higher than Marc Gasol's and on par with that of Pau Gasol), Anthony Bennett, and Egidijus Mockevicious (who led the NCAA in rebounding his senior year at Evansville), the Nets' rebounding situation could be sneakily on the rise. Concerning Egidijus, you would be perfectly correct in pointing out how poor his competition was in college. However, try comparing him to first round pick of the Raptors, Pascal Siakam (for the record, I love Siakam as a prospect, just using him as an example). Egidijus averaged 15.7 points and 13.9 rebounds per game in his senior year on a .637 FG%. In Siakam's sophomore year with New Mexico State, he averaged 20.2 points and 11.6 rebounds on a .538 FG%. According to the SOS rating (a strength of schedule stat used by sports-reference.com where 0 is NCAA normal), Egidijus' schedule was a strength of -0.39. In contrast, Siakam's SOS rating his sophomore year was -3.54 (to add a third factor, Skal Labissiere's SOS rating was 8.84). So, the undrafted Mockevicious might just give the Nets some good minutes off the boards. Mix in what they already have, and I think they may have made up for their losses on this front.


Field Goal Percentage-

Little known fact here, the Nets were in the top half of the league in field goal percentage last season. They got rid of three of their top four shot takers from last year (Young, Jarrett Jack, and Joe Johnson), and that made a big ripple in their balance of power on the offensive end. However, when you average the field goal percentage of the three, it comes out to a number under 44%. If they can get newer players to step up and take those shots, like Sean Kilpatrick (46.2%), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (45.7%), or Trevor Booker (49%), they might be in even better shape. If you toss in their change in point guard from Jarrett Jack (39.1%) to Jeremy Lin (41.2%), the numbers get a little better. Honestly, with what this team has already, coupled with what they changed, they could be a top half team in field goal percentage again this season, if not sneaking into the top 12 or 10. From long range, this team might be sneaky good as well. Jeremy Lin has been a way better shooter when he gets big minutes, and guys like Bojan Bogdanovic and Randy Foye being on the roster will only help your jump shot as a team.


Guard Play-

Last year, Brooklyn played three point guards for consistent minutes at one point or another (injuries didn't help). Jarrett Jack, Shane Larkin, and Donald Sloan manned the point for the team's 21 win season, and it wasn't the prettiest thing in the world. However, not one of those three is on the roster this season. Now, they have a new committee to oversee the 1 spot, consisting of rookies Isaiah Whitehead, Caris LeVert, and Yogi Ferrell, along with signees Jeremy Lin and Greivis Vasquez. Those three rookies may be the finest group of rookie point guards in the league, from Whitehead the athletic volume scorer to LeVert the sometimes injured star (reminds me of a kid who came out of Memphis a few years back, what was his name again?), and Ferrell who has more experience than most NBA point guards without ever stepping on the floor. Lin is the projected starter (and historically better at stuffing the stat sheet when he starts as opposed to a bench role), and nobody knows who is going to be on the main roster from that rookie trio (or how many minutes Vasquez sees, if any), but I think it's safe to say that the point guard spot has improved from generally depressing to slightly optimistic.


Coaching-

Brooklyn was coached by Lionel Hollins and Tony Brown last season, and that didn't work out too well. Brown won more games than Hollins, but only finished with a record of 11-34. Now, they have a newly inked head coach named Kenny Atkinson who is not only a Long Island native, but a product of the Mike Budenholzer system. Now, that might just work for this team. Kenny has also worked as a player development director for many years, another big selling point if a good part of your roster hasn't even had their official NBA pictures taken yet. Guys like  Egidijus, LeVert, and Beau Beech (not to mention Anthony Bennett, everybody knows he needs some development BAD), who will need refining early in their careers, might be better off playing for a coach that knows player development like the back of his hand. Especially when that coach will have to be playing guys like that on a consistent basis. A defensive mind doesn't hurt either, as Kenny will be stepping in a role where he has to put guys like Vasquez and Randy Foye on the court to play both ends.


Final Thoughts-

Hey, I did my best. If we're being honest, this team is not good at all. We all know that. But, in all fairness to Brooklyn, they have a decent ceiling. It is my opinion that this team could win 30-35ish games, if they bite the bullet and play their young guns as opposed to playing it ridiculously safe and sending guys like Chase Budinger and Joe Harris out for 20 minutes a game. Regardless, this dumpster fire may have a leg to stand on after all. Look out for some of these younger players Brooklyn has gotten their hands on lately as well, a few of them could be superstars in the making. So, that's what I think. But I want to hear what YOU think!!! Hit me up on my off-the-chain Twitter account @hoover__26, or in the comments button directly below the words you are currently reading!

Thanks for coming!

Hoover's NFL Week One Predictions

Hello #HooverSportsTalk readers! Quickly today, on the day of the NFL opener, I wanted to share my final Week 1 predictions. Here they are, in a handy photo:

Wish me luck! I would love to hear your comments, and your own predictions, in the comment box below or on Twitter @hoover__26. Also, go ahead and ask me whatever questions you want about sports, fantasy football, more predictions (spoiler alert: Tajae Sharpe OROY and Nick Chubb Heisman), or whatever! Thanks!

Zhou Qi- The Houston Rockets' Chinese Mystery Man

Before the NBA Draft, I was doing my yearly prospect research and film study when I tripped across a name I hadn't heard before. I usually have a pretty good understanding of the games of guys projected down into the late first and early second (or at least have some idea of who the heck they are), so I was eager to learn more about this Chinese big man named Zhou Qi. As soon as I saw him, I knew I was intrigued. Normally, when I think of a Chinese player in the NBA, I think of someone like Yao Ming or Yi Jianlian. Tall, powerful shot blockers and rebounders, without a huge amount of perimeter skill (you may think of Jeremy Lin, but Qi is 7'2", so that image didn't really pop into my head). However, this super young big man is of a breed that is only in it's infancy in the NBA, the long and thin jump shooter. With the drafting of Kristaps Porzingis, who could also be classified as tall, skinny and an elite shooter, we can clearly see that there is a place for players like this in the league. However, just looking at Zhou Qi certainly wasn't close to enough to evaluate his game. So, I have made a post-draft scouting report for all of you who are still unsure of the Houston Rockets' 43rd overall pick.

OFFENSIVE SKILL SET

Qi is a very talented player for his age (we will touch upon his age later) on the offensive side of the ball. I have rarely seen players as tall as Qi as fluid and smooth with the ball as he is (besides perhaps top college prospect Deng Gak, and Milwaukee Bucks' draft pick Thon Maker, who we will touch upon again later). While he may sometimes seem lost when he is moving without the ball (I attribute this in part to a lack of tactical coaching), once he does get himself open and make the catch, he looks like a guard. He has strong ball handling, and makes some of the smoothest moves attacking the basket off the dribble that I have ever seen a 7'2" player make. He has a nice set of moves in the post, and while he hasn't quite mastered them yet, the potential is obvious. He is a really ready player on the offensive end, if he can hold his position at only about 215lbs.

DEFENSIVE SKILL SET

This is where it gets a little more murky for Qi. You may look at his numbers and see that he has led the Chinese Basketball Association in blocked shots for two years running and draw the conclusion that he's a fine low post defender. However, in reality, Qi relied heavily on a wingspan that is nearly 7'8" to block a majority of his shots, without using very many low post positioning skills required to block NBA shots. When forced to make a decision in the post, he didn't always react quick enough to cover a driving player or get in the right position to block a shot. I think that's the kind of thing that Houston can remedy by "locking him in a room with Hakeem Olajuwon". He has all the length he needs to be a shot blocker in the NBA, he just needs to add muscle and muscle memory. If he can be taught to make better and faster choices and movements on the interior, he could be a dominant defender. When, say, the shot clock is winding down and the ball handler can only shoot, Qi times his jumps well and does a very good job contesting. It's only when a player is threatening to do multiple things that Qi has a hard time finding himself in the right place defensively. On the ball defense on the perimeter is never really a strong suit for someone of Qi's size and position, but he shows flashes of guard-like man defense on the outside. This is detailed in an excellent piece you can find here: https://onebasketblog.wordpress.com/2016/06/21/zhou-qi-scouting-report/. Overall, I think if he adds muscle and gets a little more versed in the subtleties of playing defense, he could be a more than passable defender in the NBA. Because, as he is now, he is nearly useless in the paint against someone like Boogie Cousins or Andre Drummond. Rebounding is another issue, as he relies on his size and reach to snatch rebounds over less talented players. While that's surely going to be a learning curve, I think it's something he can learn to improve at. It's the kind of thing where he needs to be told how to do it right, and focus on it until he fully grasps it (it's difficult to break a habit at 19 or 20 years old, which is why I knocked Dragan Bender down to 10 on my pre-draft board).

BODY EVALUATION

Two words: get bigger. Normally I go against the grain when it comes to gaining weight and muscle, as I was against Porzingis picking up too much and losing some of what got him to the NBA in the first place. However, Qi is going to be in a position where he will be matched up against some of the NBA's biggest and best, and he needs to be bulkier if he wants any chance at success. His height and length obviously are tremendous, and he doesn't seem to have much of an injury history, so he has that going for him. But, honestly, all he needs on this front is to just get bigger. Once he does that, he should be good as far as matching up against some of the stronger players in the NBA.

CONTROVERSY

Ah, here we go. You know I love a little controversy (I mean, it feels so empty without it), so I have to talk about the questions swirling around Zhou Qi's age. Supposedly, Qi is in fact closer to 22, which was suggested because of normal rules about Chinese players not declaring for the draft until that age. I don't know if I believe that, as the examples that are being used were quite a a few years ago. CBA and NBA alumni Bobby Brown's translator has also alleged that Qi is possibly even closer to 25, which is not corroborated and frankly even harder to believe. However, even if Qi IS in fact 22, there is even more evidence on 10th overall pick Thon Maker being as old as 23. Even if both are in their twenties, there is more evidence proving Maker than Qi, and Maker still was taken in the lottery (if you haven't already, check this out on Maker- http://bit.ly/29hQXEY) So, this really doesn't bother me, but I would have been missing an opportunity to talk about conspiracy theories if I didn't mention it.

CONCLUSION

After watching Qi intently during the Olympics so far, I am able to come up with the following conclusion. Qi is a very fluid and NBA ready offensive player who needs to add muscle mass and work on a better feel for the game defensively and when positioning for rebounds. He has a great amount of potential, but he needs work on understanding more complicated principles of being an NBA center. Houston is a great place for him with the history of Chinese players having success, and the different training available for an interior player. Qi is a great value in the mid second round, and might just be the next big thing you've never heard of.

Cleveland Browns NFL Record Prediction 2016

Recently I got into a debate with some NFL writers and podcasters about the Cleveland Browns' record for next season. So, I decided to post a prediction. There won't be too much glamour in this post, I'm mostly just announcing my thoughts on how many wins Cleveland will have next year.

Week 1- Win vs. Eagles
Week 2- Loss vs. Ravens
Week 3- Loss vs. Dolphins
Week 4- Win vs. Redskins
Week 5- Loss vs. Patriots
Week 6- Loss vs. Titans
Week 7- Win vs. Bengals
Week 8- Win vs. Jets
Week 9- Win vs. Cowboys
Week 10- Win vs. Ravens
Week 11- Loss vs. Steelers
Week 12- Loss vs. Giants
Week 13- BYE
Week 14- Loss vs. Bengals
Week 15- Win vs. Bills
Week 16- Loss vs. Chargers
Week 17- Win vs. Steelers

So, 8-8. I know many people don't think they can win more than 4 (the Vegas over/under is 4.5), even @DownWithDamon (Browns fan extraordinaire) puts them at 6 wins. But, I love to be bold (if you have read anything of mine, especially my last post, you knew that), and I think RG3 has Pro-Bowl potential in Cleveland. Duke Johnson is a very versatile running back (and a great PPR fantasy option), and the return of Josh Gordon in week five coupled with a great rookie in Corey Coleman and a proven tight end in Gary Barnidge, that's a scary offense. This Browns team can be very solid in my opinion, but I want to hear yours as well! Tweet me @hoover__26, and comment below!