JohnC

What Chris Taylor did when he coached him at the end of last year and this year before the call up was to put him in situations that he was unaccustomed to in order to make him a more all around player and more adaptable to the NHL game. Instead of playing him on the perimeter and having him shoot from the outside he emphasized playing him around the net to be in position to get the dirty goals where the majority of NHL goals are scored. He felt that he had gotten stronger and was more ready than before because of his physical development. There is no question that Tage has hockey skills that includes his skating and shooting. But those stylish/finesse skills by a tall and lean player don't necessarily translate to the more rugged and muscular NHL game. What it comes down to is that he needs to continue to work on thickening his body in order to be able to utilize his skills.

The attached WGR Instigator link is about 20 minutes long. Chris Taylor, the Amerks coach, talks about players such as Mittelstadt, Lazar and Tage from a development standpoint. His comments about Mittelstadt were encouraging. He laments the necessity to shut down the league because he felt that not only did those cancelled games hurt the development of players but also hurt the franchise's ability to know exactly where the players were in their development status to make the NHL jump. https://wgr550.radio.com/media/audio-channel/04-07-amerks-head-coach-chris-taylor

I don't want to come off as being too negative but I don't see any chance that the season or directly going into some truncated playoff format can happen this year. The players are scattered all over the world with most of them not having the ability to adequately work out to stay in acceptable game shape. If the players do get together how many practices will it take before you can get some level of cohesion to play at a decent level? What happens if a player, or coach or staff member belatedly is determined to have the coronavirus? Do you then quarantine the team and staff as recommended by the medical experts? I don't see the need yet to immediately make the official call to cancel the season or the playoffs. But as time moves on the looming issue is not about this season but next season. Will the public health situation be at a level where it is safe for the players, staff and fans be able to participate in the sport? This virus is so contagious that 5 to 15 contaminated fans in an arena holding 17,000 people can result in an infectious catastrophe in which another hot spot of contagion has started over again. This is a powerful virus. It is so frightening that until a treatment and vaccination has been developed it will continue to alter not only the sporting world but also how we all function in all areas of endeavor.

Anyone who works with Rex has their talents wasted. She is talented on the sidelines and she is very pretty. I really like Herb. He knows the college game and has a talent to cover a game in a smooth way without the hucksterism that is too prevalent in the booth.

As YOLO points out if there are no fans in the stadium for NFL games then it is likely that there will be no fans in the stadium for college games. Everyone has their own preference who they like or don't like covering games. I just think that Kirby and Chris do a terrific job covering college games. I prefer not seeing them moving to a different venue.

Herb and Chris do a good job broadcasting college games. They have a good rapport with each other and with ease complement each other. It just seems to me that the college game more so than the pro game is the best setting for them. Just as Keith Jackson was more suited to the college game over the pro game the same suitability applies to those two.

Attached is a link from the Instigator Show. It is a 43 min segment but you only need to listen to the first half of the segment where Craig Button, a former GM and current NHL analyst, talks glowingly about Dylan Cozens and a proposed trade of our first pick for a player such as Strome. He believes that Cozens will be with the Sabres next year. His thoughts about his willingness to deal a first round pick revolve around the circumstance of where you are as a team and the necessity of being more present minded than future oriented. The first 20 minutes with Button presents good hockey conversation in a period of time when it is not played. https://wgr550.radio.com/media/audio-channel/04-06-hr-2-the-instigators

The attached WGR link is a 17 min segment with Linus Ullmark on the Instigator Show. I have always been impressed with how so many foreign players speak English so well. Both Hutton and Ullmark were individually asked on their respective segments by the hosts who was the best defensive defenseman who played in front of them. Both stated McCabe noting that each goalie appreciated him blocking shots in front of them. https://wgr550.radio.com/media/audio-channel/04-06-sabres-goalie-linus-ullmark

Most of the people who cover the Redskins for the media (TV, Newspapers and Radio) all say the same thing that based on their contacts within the Skins' building they will be drafting Chase Young. It may have been true that they scanned the market to see what the return for the second round would be if they dealt the pick. They were not impressed with any offers that would come close to what they would consider a fair offer. There are no guarantees about anything but they taking the DE is very probable. It should be noted that Chase Young on most teams' boards is the highest rated player in the draft. As it stands the Skins used a first round draft pick on Haskins last year. They are currently sticking with him as their first qb option.

When I watch Herbert I see a player with impressive physical traits that don't necessarily reflected in his performances.

Word is coming out that he will never play again. He is working hard in his rehab but the injury was so devastating that he will not regain enough to play pro ball.

I don't see the Phins bypassing Tua if he is there when their turn comes up to pick. Although I don't think it is going to happen I wouldn't be surprised if they throw in some picks to Detroit to move up to the three spot in order to ensure that no team jumps the line to get him. The more interesting qb for me is how soon will Herbert (maybe Chargers??) and Utah's Love go? I would be interested in your thoughts on Herbert? I have watched him a few times. There are times when he is scintillating and make wow plays, and then their are times when this man with impressive tools vanishes for large stretches of the game.

@Bill from NYC is a devoted Bama football fan who has a reservoir of knowledge about the program and its players. An indication of his toughness is that he has a pronounced Bama drawl while living in Gotham City (NYC). ? Although he is an avid fan of the Crimson Tide with admitted biases he is an objective evaluator of their players and pro prospects. He has an unparalleled record in accurately predicting their chances for success in the pro game. NYC Bill has steadfastly stated that Tua is going to be a special player in the pros. I very often disagree with personable Bill on many football issues. When it comes to evaluating Bama players I jump on his back and ride with him.

I live in the DC/MD metro area where there was a lot of reporting on the qb issue. Washington is going to take Chase Young, the highest rated player in the draft. The rumors that they were interested in Tua were a smokescreen to see what potential offers were on the market. The reality is that topic was mostly sports talk show fodder. Recently, the Skins traded with Carolina to get qb Kyle Allen. Their hope is that Haskins will be pushed more with some competition for the position and if need be provide an option if he can't measure up or isn't ready yet. So far in the offseason on his own initiative (outside of team facilities) he has put in the work.

We have discussed this before but the maturation on and off the ice is so apparent. Some posters were worried that Jack would get demoralized with the struggles and disappointments of the past couple of season. From the number of clips and reporting that I have read my sense is that as a captain and with his good relationship and belief in the coach he is invested in the team and its future success.

The Redskins really wanted Cooper. He was the only player on the market that they were willing to offer a premium contract to. Apparently, they believed that he was a playmaker who could boost the offense and put Haskins in a better position to succeed. The players that they did secure in free agency fell in the mid-range and bargain type purchases.

Why do you think that flak jackets are made for? ?

It's my sense that Allen will never have the consistent accuracy that Watson has. That is the deciding factor for me over JA. I'm confident that the Buffalo qb will get better as time goes by. He is a hard worker and dedicated to his craft. But as a passer compared to Watson he will be more inconsistent.

I am a fan of Josh Allen and do believe he has upside. However, if I could do the draft over I would take Watson over Allen. And if I had the choice now between Watson and Allen, even with his upside, I would prefer Watson over JA. That's not a criticism of Allen but a statement of preference.

The below Buffalo News link is about the furloughs and cuts due to the coronavirus. It states that Paul Hamilton is one of the employees being furloughed. This link was taken from the TBD hockey side. It's sad to see anyone lose their job for reasons that they have no control over. I'm hoping that Marty Biron doesn't get laid off because I consider him to be the best local Sabre and NHL analyst. He also has a likeable personality that makes him enjoyable to listen to. https://buffalonews.com/2020/04/02/local-entercom-radio-stations-facing-furloughs-layoffs-salary-cuts/

It was widely reported that the Redskins offered Cooper more money than the Cowboys. He still signed with the Cowboys. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2020-nfl-free-agency-amari-cooper-shuns-bigger-offer-from-redskins-to-remain-with-cowboys/

In negotiations there are two parties. If you can't get a deal done then you can't get a deal done. Zeke and his representatives recognized that in the long run time was on their side just as it was with Cousins and the Redskins. So they weren't afraid to use their leverage to get a highball deal. You can have all the strategic planning you want but the other side of the table also has a say. When all is said and done a deal will get done.

That's what Cousins did with the Redskins. It worked out for him. However, Dak is in a good situation with the Cowboys from a football and business standpoint associated with endorsements. I believe they will get a deal done because it is in the interest of both sides.

The Dak contract was going to be a lot more complicated and richer than the Amari contract. It was going to take more time to work out a deal. So they got the simpler contract done first. Do you really believe that the Jerry Jones and the Cowboys are not going to get a deal done with their qb? I don't.

The Cowboys can tag Dak this season. Whether they tag him or not should be able to come to a contract deal fairly soon. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/cowboys-reportedly-offer-dak-prescott-a-monster-contract-with-105-million-guaranteed/