With opening day coming up we've decided to take a look at Buster Olney's projections for the inaguaral season of JCS Baseball. These are totally ESPN analyst Buster Olney's projections and not Kyler's.
NL West:
Padres take the divsion with the D-Backs and Dodgers fighting for a wildcard opportunity
NL Central:
The Cubs win the division carried by their young star power
NL East:
The Marlins edge out both the Nats and the Braves. The young outfield in Miami is prepared to anchor the middle of their lineup for years to come
AL West:
Trout's Angels take the division but the Mariners follow close behind in the hunt for a wildcard spot
AL East:
The Bronx Bombers take the division this year but the Red Sox and Orioles could pose a serious threat and are both expected to be in the hunt for a playoff spot
AL Central:
Toss up here but I'm going Royals though I think any team has a chance to win this division
There you have it folks, Buster Olney's JCS preview (not Kyler's). Enjoy the season and play ball!
Only a season ago young cornerback Darveon Lockett of the Eagles was popping sparkling cider as a young 20 year old rookie while his team was celebrating their division title with beer and champagne. Now he has the whole city of Philadelphia offering to buy him a drink.
Lockette, who just recently turned 21 to begin the season is in the second year of his NFL career and also his second year as a starter.
"Yeah being thrown into the fire is something you kinda expect when you are a first round pick. You know the team needs you if they drafted you that high so chances are you are gonna be getting some playing time right away."
The second year player out of Nebraska was indeed thrown into the fire matching up with big time receivers like Dez Bryant and Odell Beckham Jr. twice a year. I asked him what he took away from his rookie year:
"The only thing I remember is getting torched by Dez in the playoffs, that's what stuck with me that's what matters. I let my team down and I wont let it happen again."
I also asked his new teammate Brandon Browner what the young corner opposite of him is like off the field. He said and I quote "That boy is a dawg off the field, he does nothing but grind everyday. Doesn't talk much just keeps his head down and grinds. When he gets on the field though that's a different dude. I can't find a play where he isn't talking to his matchup, I heard him tell OBJ one week that he's about to get "Locketted down" and I couldn't help laugh on the field."
After a 6 interception rookie campaign he now has 11 interceptions through 10 weeks of the season including 3 for touchdowns. 2 of those interceptions coming in his first matchup against Dez Bryant and the Cowboys. If the kid keeps playing this way he's gonna be able to buy drinks for the whole team soon enough.
The Philidelphia Eagles are currently 8-1 and sitting at the top of the NFC East. Not many people would have had them there after looking at their schedule at the beginning of the season. And while Shady McCoy is leading the offense once again putting up an incredible season it is the Eagles young defense that has been impressing the league all year. After losing starters Trent Cole, DeMeco Ryans, Fletcher Cox, Bradley Fletcher, and Cary Williams many overlooked the Eagles defense thinking it could cost them any chance they had at making the playoffs. Veteran Conor Barwin thought differently, he took it upon himself to become the emotional leader of the defense often seen leading the hudde during pregame and beating himself over the head with his helmet to get the team pumped. Unfortunately in week 8 Barwin broke his collarbone and is going to miss most of the rest of the season. That means the next man has to step up. That next man happened to be rookie OLB Mark Milton. Many questioned the pick saying that he doesnt fit the Eagles scheme and no one was sure what his role would be. Some thought he would be moved at the trade deadline. The Eagles decided to hold onto him and in his first start against the Giants he stepped up in a big way. Milton tallied up a sack, and interception, and all in one play he forced a fumble, recovered it, and returned it for a touchdown shedding a tackle on his way to the endzone. The Eagles finished the game winning 38-7 against their division rivals. Fellow rookies Darveon Lockett and Serderius Reedy also tallied interceptions while second year safety Rashawn Raymond forced a fumble. These talented young players have led the Eagles to having the 10th ranked defense in the league and have been a key part in the Eagles success this season. With a difficult schedule coming up that includes games against the Bears, Ravens, Browns, Lions, and hated Cowboys, the Eagles have to be liking what they are seeing from their young defense.
After a season marred by injury Philidelphia Eagles QB Nick Foles seems ready for a big (and hopefully injury free season). Foles was injured 3 separte times last season after signing a huge 7 year, 96 million dollar contract. He ended up missing most of the season and watched his team miss the playoffs with a 10-6 record. In order to help Foles get back on track the Eagles GM brought back a close friend of Foles' in QB Mike Vick. Yes former Eagles QB Mike Vick is back with the team and was reportedly brought in to help Foles bring his game to the next level. When asked how it felt to be back with the team who let him go in order to make Foles the franchise QB Vick said "I'm glad to be back in Philly. I fully supported the move to start Foles at the time and I still think he has the potential to be a hall of famer." Vick was then asked about his unlikely friendship with the Eagles starting QB, "We hang out all the time in the offseason. Doing normal stuff like golfing, working out, and going to the dog park together." So far Vick's presence seems to be helping this year as Foles threw for 294 yards and 4 TDs in a week 1 victory against a tough Bengals secondary led by former Seahawk Richard Sherman. With Foles off to a hot start this season it looks like this could be the year he leads Philly into the playoffs.