Page 162 of 2956

      Top 5 Small-School 2012 NFL Draft Prospects

      April 2, 2012 /

      Here are my top 5 small-school prospects for the 2012 NFL Draft.

      1. Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
      Jenkins is technically a small-school prospect because he finished his collegiate career at North Alabama. But he’s a former Florida Gator that was booted from the team last April following his arrest on misdemeanor marijuana charges. Assuming he can stay out of trouble off the field, Jenkins is a solid cover corner with the ability to play in multiple schemes. At 5-foot-10 and 182 pounds, he doesn’t have the best size but receivers will have a tough time separating from Jenkins once he gets a feel for the pro game. Even despite his off-field problems, he should go somewhere in the first round.

      2. Amini Silatolu, OG, Midwestern State
      Silatolu continues to draw more and more attention as the draft nears. About a month ago he was projected to go in the late second or early third, but now he’s being projected as an early second or late first-round pick. Like most small-school prospects, Silatolu has some technique flaws to his game that need to be ironed out. But he has the size (6’3”, 324 pounds), the explosion, and the foot quickness to be a quality starting guard at the next level. I love the guard class in this year’s draft and Silatolu has as much upside as any other prospect.

      3. Josh Norman, CB, Coastal Carolina
      Norman has some character concerns that will drop him into the third or fourth round, but the kid doesn’t lack confidence and he was a playmaker in college. He had a very good performance at the East-West Shrine game and just like Jenkins, is scheme-versatile. He takes too many risks at times and he ran in the 4.5-range at his Pro Day, but that was also reportedly on wet grass. Again, there are character concerns but Norman has the talent to be a steal in the middle rounds.

      4. Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State
      Quick is a natural athlete for a big man (6-foot-3, 215 pounds), and he has some upside to his game. He’ll never be a receiver that separates because he doesn’t have great speed, but he’s highly coordinated despite not picking up the game until his senior year in high school. He’s a former prep basketball star so a team might fall in love with him in the second round. I think he’s a better value in the third, but there’s no question he’s an intriguing athlete that would be a fit for any team because of his route running ability.

      5. Trumaine Johnson, DB, Montana
      Yet another corner with some character concerns attached to his name (although he was reportedly arrested for trying to break up a fight, so I’m not sure if he’s really a concern or just a victim of some bad luck), Johnson has great size at 6-foot-2 and 204 pounds, and could turn out to be a very good press corner at the next level. What’s most attractive about Johnson is that some list him as a cornerback, while others see him as a free safety. His ability to play either position at the next level will only make him more attractive on draft day and could be a great fit for scheme-versatile teams like the Bears, Vikings or Falcons. He’ll go somewhere in the second or third round.

      College Football, NFL, NFL Draft

      Will the new-look Marlins eventually combust this season?

      April 1, 2012 /

      The Marlins have a new name, a new stadium, a new manager, and a new star, but will any of it translate into victories in 2012?

      Stare too long at the Marlins’ fruit-stripped gum logo and you might start to buy into the hype. After all, the addition of Jose Reyes should make guys like Emilio Bonifacio, Hanley Ramirez, Giancarlo Stanton, Logan Morrison and Gaby Sanchez better and it’s hard not to see the potential in this lineup. Plus, I love the addition of Heath Bell to the bullpen and Mark Buehrle should infuse some veteran leadership into a starting rotation that has often been led by youth.

      But do the Marlins not scream “combustible situation?” First and foremost, Ozzie Guillen is their manager. The man has a World Series ring and a knack of taking the pressure of his club by drawing attention to himself, but is he the right man to deal with the egos of Reyes, Ramirez and the always volatile Carlos Zambrano?

      Hey, maybe he is. Maybe Guillen is exactly the kind of skipper that his club needs and guys like Bell and Buehrle will keep the order in the clubhouse when Guillen is busy providing writing material for the media.

      But the Marlins remind me a lot of the Dave Matthews Band: There’s just too much going on for my liking. You throw that many elements into one mixing bowl and things are bound to get a little messy.

      How long before Ramirez becomes a problem because he doesn’t want to play third base? How long before Zambrano flips his lid and attacks an umpire? How long before the organization tries to rein in Morrison again?

      Just like “Dave,” this thing could turn out to be something special. (I’m not a fan of his music but his millions of followers won’t hesitate to tell me how successful his band has been over the last couple of decades.) The Marlins have more than enough talent to outlast the Phillies and Braves in the division and be a surprise pennant contender come October. Again, let me point out that Guillen has a World Series ring and he may have already gained the respect of Reyes, Ramirez and Zambrano.

      That said, I’m betting that the Marlins implode before they reach the finish line. As I suggested earlier, there are just too many combustible elements for this thing to end well for the Fish. I just can’t picture Reyes, Ramirez, Guillen and Zambrano passing around the Commissioner’s Trophy at the end of the season while talking about what a united team they were throughout the year.

      Either way, somebody pass the popcorn because things are about to get real interesting in South Beach. It just has to.

      External Sports, MLB

      Will the American League return to dominance in 2012?

      April 1, 2012 /

      For three of the past four seasons the National League has owned Major League Baseball. But after collectively opening its wallet this past winter, the American League could see a return to dominance in 2012.

      The American League bought two of the National League’s biggest stars this offseason when the Angels signed Albert Pujols and the Tigers added slugger Prince Fielder. The Halos also kept C.J. Wilson (the top pitcher on the market) in the AL West while the Yankees beefed up their starting rotation by acquiring promising young right-hander Michael Pineda (now injured) from the Mariners and signing the underrated Hiroki Kuroda (formerly of the Dodgers).

      Granted, there are still plenty of quality teams in the National League. The Phillies, Giants, Brewers and Braves all have solid starting rotations and the Marlins bolstered their roster with the additions of Jose Reyes, Heath Bell and Mark Buehrle. The Reds and Diamondbacks have plenty going for themselves as well.

      But all of the teams listed above have significant question marks heading into the season, which includes the defending World Series champion Cardinals. Ace Chris Carpenter, outfielder Allen Craig, and second baseman Skip Schumaker will all miss significant time this offseason and there’s added pressure for guys like Matt Holliday, Lance Berkman and David Freese to produce without No. 5 in the lineup.

      When you factor in Pujols and Fielder have jumped leagues, it’s no wonder the odds currently favor AL teams like the Tigers, Yankees, Angels and Rangers when it comes to winning this year’s World Series. The American League rosters are simply more talented right now than their National League counterparts.

      Now, I’m certainly not suggesting that the American League is a shoe-in to win the Fall Classic. Get into a seven-game series when pitchers reign supreme and you cannot count teams like the Phillies, Braves and Giants out of contention. If you think offense overpowers pitching when it comes to the postseason, then you haven’t been paying attention the last two years.

      But as of April 1, there’s no question that the balance of power has tilted in the American League’s favor. There’s a lot of baseball to be played but it’s hard not to look up and down the Tigers’ roster and not think, “Wow, this is a potential World Series winner right here.”

      External Sports, MLB

      Win a Set of Sports Logo Floor Mats from AutoAnything!

      April 1, 2012 /

      The contest has ended! Congratulations to Karen Mayernick!

      We’re proud to announce that Karen Mayernick has won a set of Florida Gators NCAA floor mats! Thank you to everyone who entered and better luck next time. Check back often, as we’ll be holding another contest soon.

      No matter if your favorite team’s season just ended or is gearing up for the next round, showing support for them is a must. AutoAnything is giving you a chance to win a set of car floor mats from one of your favorite sports teams. Whether it’s carpet or vinyl mats, NFL or NHL, you have a chance to win a set (front and rear).

      To enter the contest, simply fill out the form below with your name, email address, and the sports league your team plays in (NCAA, MLB, NBA, etc.). One lucky winner will be chosen at random when the contest ends. AutoAnything will not use your contact information for promotional purposes, nor will they sell your information to any third parties. Only the winner will be contacted. The contest runs from April 1, 2012 to May 2, 2012 and is applicable to U.S. residents only.

      Carpet Sports Floor Mats

      Support your favorite team, whether professional or collegiate, and protect your vehicle from the elements with carpet mats. Read more about these mats here.

      Vinyl Sports Floor Mats

      Easy to clean and full of team pride, vinyl car mats are a must for anyone looking to keep their vehicle’s interior clean. Find out more about the mats here.

      Enter to Win

      As the internet leader for aftermarket auto accessories and parts, AutoAnything is committed to providing the best in customer service for all their products, whether it’s for ride control or for a comfortable driving experience. They offer a 1-year, lower-price guarantee for engine upgrades or a way to protect your front bumper. Find your next truck mod or protective car accessory on their site today.

      Disclaimer: No purchase necessary. Limit one entry per household. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. All fields above must be completely filled out to enter the giveaway. Submissions will be accepted until 12am EST on May 2, 2012. Winners will be chosen at random from all eligible submissions on May 3, 2012 and notified via email and announced on this page. Winner must reply to the email within 7 days of the end of the contest otherwise the prize is forfeited and a second winner is chosen. Prizes: One (1) of the following floor mats – FANMATS floor mats for any applicable vehicle. By participating in the giveaway you agree to release Scoresreport.com and AutoAnything.com from any and all losses, damages, rights, claims, and actions of any kind in connection with the giveaway, including from the use of any prize. The Scores Report makes no representations or warranties, expressed or implied, about this giveaway or any prizes awarded. Any or all entries can be disqualified at the sole discretion of The Scores Report due to any attempts to manipulate the giveaway.

      Contests

      The Nationals are finally poised to compete

      March 30, 2012 /

      In the entire history of the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals, they’ve made just one playoff appearance, which happened so long ago that Mark McGwire probably doesn’t even remember being drafted by the organization that year. (1981 for those scoring at home.)

      Since then, the Expos/Nationals have been a study in failure. Sure, there were those few years in the early 90s when the team was competitive under Felipe Alou, but for the most part the organization has been riddled with bad luck and underperformance.

      Until now, that is.

      Am I ready to crown the Nationals as my pre-season pick to win the NL East? No, but I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if they earned a Wild Card bid – especially with a playoff team being added in each league this year. Their starting rotation is excellent, their bullpen is solid, and their offense should be improved from what it was a year ago. Assuming their core players stay healthy, there’s no reason to think the Nats can’t challenge an aging Philadelphia squad and a club in Atlanta that has managed to choke in pressure situations the past two seasons.

      It’s hard not to love Washington’s starting rotation. Stephen Strasburg is coming off Tommy John surgery but he and Jordan Zimmermann flat out throw gas. Gio Gonzalez was one of the more underrated pickups from this offseason and Edwin Jackson helped the Cardinals win a World Series title last season. Assuming he isn’t traded at some point, John Lannan is a pretty damn good fifth starter. In fact, all five of Washington’s starting pitchers could finish with ERAs south of 4.0.

      That said, the offense will make or break this club in 2012. Outside of Ryan Zimmerman, not one hitter in the Nats’ projected 2012 lineup will hit for average. There also isn’t a 100-RBI man on the roster, unless Zimmerman and Jayson Werth (who had a brutal debut last year with the Nationals) overachieve.

      But the 2010 Giants showed that offense isn’t everything, especially if you can make it into the postseason. Plus, it’s a pitcher’s game now and the Nationals aren’t short on arms this season. We’ll just have to see if they have enough offense to give themselves a shot to play past October 3.

      Either way, this isn’t the same Nationals’ club that finished fifth, fifth, fourth, fifth, fifth, fifth and third since moving to Washington in 2005. This team appears ready to compete.

      External Sports, MLB

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑