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Courtland Sutton

5 Landing Spots for Cam Newton

by Jermaine Lockett March 24, 2020

written by Jermaine Lockett

5 Landing Spots for Cam Newton

With the recent news about Cam Newton, I have to take a stab at where he may go. Sure there are at least three day-one-starter QBs coming out of this year’s draft, but Cam Newton still has plenty in the tank left at the age of 30 (31 before season starts). Here are five teams who could be interested in picking up the former league MVP’s services in 2020.

No 5. Las Vegas Raiders

What better way to light up the strip in Vegas in it’s first year than to have the flashy Superman signal-caller step on the scene? Cam to Tyrell Williams and Darren Waller sounds like a great combination. Add a bit of read-option with one of the up and coming running backs in the game in Josh Jacobs is enticing as well. Cam likes to run the ball in the RedZone. If the OLB/DE has to worry about more than what’s inside the “phonebooth” with Jacobs, it could be a real problem for anyone in the AFC West.

No. 4 Chicago Bears

Mitch Trubisky is just not that great at football. When fans come to see Da Bears, they come for the loyalty and to see players like Khalil Mack. This team is in desperate need of a QB makeover, and while the draft is probably the route they may turn to, it’s too tempting to take a look. Cam Newton to the newly acquired Jimmy Graham is something that rolls off the tongue as well. Allen Robinson would welcome the change.

No. 3 Miami Dolphins

According to Adam Beasley on Twitter:

“Fitzpatrick would account for $8 million on Miami’s books if he’s on their roster in 2020 and it sounds as if the team has no interest in parting ways.”

It’s no secret Ryan “Fitzmagic” Fitzpatrick is only a placeholder to whoever is the future of the Miami Dolphins. What if that future was only seven years younger than Ryan? The AFC East is wide open with the departure of Tom Brady. Why not swing for the fence with a signal-caller that will most certainly put more fans in the stands than Josh Rosen or Ryan Fitzpatrick. We know what Cam is capable of, but do we know what these rookies will bring to a team like Miami?

No. 2 Denver Broncos

John Elway has had no luck when it comes to signal-callers. Sure he brought in Peyton Manning and a Super Bowl a few years back, but how has he done in the draft? Names like Paxton Lynch, Trevor Siemian, Chad Kelly, and Zac Dysert come to mind. Elway even screwed the pooch more by bringing in Joe Flacco, who, tanked and was put on injured reserve in 2019. Noah Fant and Courtland Sutton should be beating down Elway’s door right now, trying to sell the GM on Cam Newton.

No 1. Pittsburgh Steelers

Ben Roethlisberger‘s commitment level has wavered for years. Big-time players have left because of his over-authoritative mentality when it comes to how he communicates with teammates. Cam would look odd in black and yellow, but the talent level of the 30-year-old is still there. Combine the former Heisman Trophy winner with the likes of James Connor and Eric Ebron, and you’re looking at a team that is now competitive again with the rest of the rising AFC North.

Cam Newton is not going to be out there long, as a free agent. It would be wise for these owners to see at least what his price is and how he fits with their system.

Jermaine Lockett is a Writer and CEO for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter

March 24, 2020 0 comment

AFC West Denver Broncos NFL

Why is My Team So Trash: Denver Broncos

by Jermaine Lockett January 30, 2020

written by Jermaine Lockett

Why is My Team So Trash: Denver Broncos

Here we are waiting for the last football game of the year wondering: “Why is my team so trash?” Ok, maybe not in those words. But you are wondering what your team is missing in order to take the next step? I figured I would highlight a team that truly needs to get their life together and what they are missing. The Denver Broncos are the team of focus today. What do they need to do to pull their team out of the dumps in the AFC West?

General Manager

I get it. John Elway is a staple in Broncos’ history, but the guy couldn’t hit on a QB if Joe Burrow fell in his lap and blew in his ear. Since winning the Super Bowl in 2016, and even before, the GM has not hit on a QB in the draft. Even Andres Maldonaldo of Profootballnetwork had this to say about Elway’s QB nose:

“John Elway has been the general manager of the Denver Broncos for eight years now. In those eight years, they have had seven quarterbacks start at least one game. Five of them can be directly attributed to Elway.

Besides Manning, all of the picks have been a bust. We all know Manning wasn’t a genius pick by Elway as he was already proven and headed for the Hall of Fame. But you got to credit Elway for convincing him to join the team.”

Peyton Manning came in and saved Elway’s legacy as a GM, by putting up monstrous stats for years before having one of his worst statistical seasons in which he still brought home the Lombardi. Thank goodness for his ability to build a defense. Some people are saying “give Elway another year”. I say send him packing now. There are plenty of young directors of personnel that are itching at the opportunity to build a franchise.

Wide Receiver

Dealing Emmanuel Sanders built draft stock for this beaten-down team, but at what cost? Sanders, with a serviceable QB, is a monster in this game and showed what he is capable of in his first week with the San Francisco 49ers. Sanders scored a TD in his first game with his new squad despite going 5-weeks without one in Denver. Courtland Sutton is an up and coming downfield target. Sutton’s 1112-yds and 6-TDs speak volumes to his ability just to get the job done. It does not matter to him who is throwing the ball. He still needs a speedy “Z” receiver to help him on the other side.

Offensive Line

Mike Munchak is hoping to have a healthy Ja’Wuan James back at Tackle to start this season. I don’t think they can take another painful year of Elijah Wilkinson-like players as he had 10-sacks allowed on the year, according to PFF. I believe the team will try to build upon the existing line by seeking a Tackle early in the draft and see who makes it out of camp. My eye at the 15th overall pick (if John isn’t smart enough to go after any 1st round QB in this class.) is Yasir Durant. The guy is 6-7, 330lbs and has plenty of reach on him. Size is something you can’t teach. Drew Lock needs all the protection he can get. Why not get a guy who is ready on day one of the season?

Cornerback

Despite only giving up 19 passing-TDs on the season, Denver just was not bringing in the interceptions. They only had 10. There is no way Elway is content with the possibility of losing four CBs in free agency. Ronald Darby and Jimmy Smith may be two options to look at if they are seriously looking at being competitive in the 2020 season. With the extra third-rounder they brought in from San Francisco, Denver could look to take a CB there.

Quarterback

C’mon Orange Nation! Don’t look at this roster and tell me with a straight face that Drew Lock is the guy for this team going forward. His most notable game of 2019 was against the Houston Texans, who allowed the 4th most TDs in the league (33)! Jake Fromm is a guy who will not turn the ball over and can be clutch. I believe the franchise can be built around him. At the 15th overall pick should this DSGB (Dirty South Georgia Boy) be on the board, John has to pull the trigger.

There is a ton of work to be done to turn this franchise around, but it appears the options are available in both free-agency and the NFL Draft good luck Broncos Nation. I wish you all the best.

Jermaine Lockett is a Writer and CEO for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter

Also, if you have time, take a peek at a piece I did on the Baltimore Ravens’ potential pick below.

Does Xavier McKinney Fill a Need for the Ravens?

January 30, 2020 0 comment

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2018 Draft Prospects: Eugene’s Top 5 WRs

by EUGENE Holt February 24, 2018

written by EUGENE Holt

2018 Draft Prospects: Eugene’s Top 5 WRs

Draft time is here and it’s time to get to know some of the hot names coming out. It’s a fairly deep class so I’ll be throwing more names out there as time goes on. To start here are my top 5 Wide Receivers coming out of college:

Calvin Ridley Alabama 6’1 190 – Speed, route running, hands….the kid has it all. He has legit speed to beat his man deep. He ran an array of routes in college and was very precise at each route. Very good lateral quickness allows him to explode out of his breaks, creating instant separation. Very reliable catching the football. catches with his hands and doesn’t let the ball into his body. Can play outside or in the slot. The only knock on him would be his strength. Generously listed at 190, he may need to bulk up to deal with stronger defensive backs at the next level. PRO COMPARISON: Nelson Agholor

Anthony Miller Memphis 5’11 190 – Very similar to Ridley, Anthony Miller is blessed with a great combination of speed, hands, and route running ability. Add to that a special type of tenacity and fire and you’re looking at potential game-changer. Miller aggressively goes after the football in a way you wouldn’t expect from a player his size. Routes are sharp and he shows deep speed along with quickness to gain separation underneath. Again size is the only concern. He’s probably smaller than what he’s listed as and may need to add muscle. Also, there are medical concerns that must be addressed. PRO COMPARISON: Steve Smith (former Panther)

Courtland Sutton SMU 6’4 218 – A big body type Receiver. Sutton uses his height and big-body to his advantage every snap. Shields defenders from the ball with his wide frame. Goes up and gets the jump ball with his long arms and leaping ability. Not a burner, but has decent speed and offers some run after the catch ability. Doesn’t gain a ton of separation because he lacks the lateral quickness and explosiveness, but he makes up for that by making the contested catch. PRO COMPARISON: Alshon Jeffery

James Washington Oklahoma State 6’0 205 – A total deep threat. Average 20 yards per catch in college. Excellent at tracking the ball in the air and making the catch. His thickly built and muscular frame allows him to make catches with defenders hanging on him. Good strong hands when catching, doesn’t let the ball get into his body. Gets good separation on comeback routes because his speed must be respected. Didn’t run a variety of routes in school. Washington is fast, but not explosive. The OK product has more of a build up speed, not sudden explosion. Will need to work on beating press coverage and route running at the next level. PRO COMPARISON: Dez Bryant

Michael Gallup Colorado State 6’1 202 – Strong route runner, shows good speed for deep routes as well as twitchy explosiveness for underneath routes. Gains separation with precise route running. Shows good flexibility in his hips to get defenders to lean to one side then explode out of his break to create room for the catch. Strong enough to fight through press coverage and fast enough to get over top of a defender. He looks like the total package but lack of talented competition may lead him to be overrated. has some drops where he simply loses focus. PRO COMPARISON Marvin Jones

*Bonus* Some good names that could easily jump into the top 5

Christian Kirk

Daesean Hamilton

DJ Chark

J’mon Moore

DJ Moore

Dante Pettis

Auden Tate

Equanimeous St. Brown

Darren Carrington

Antonio Callaway

Eugene Holt is a Writer for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

February 24, 2018 0 comment

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2018 NFL Draft: Eric’s top 5 WR rankings

by Eric Kirschenbaum February 15, 2018

written by Eric Kirschenbaum

For the third installment of the 2018 NFL draft rankings, comes the wide receiver group which features a couple of jewels up top and plenty of depth.

1 Calvin Ridley, Alabama

Ridley is an electric receiver with smooth route running abilities, top-end speed, and reliable hands. Ridley has a knack for creating separation and is a real threat after the catch. He has fluid hips and can make up for a bad throw by his quarterback. The Alabama product possesses a small frame and is soft when on man coverage. He has had quite a few concentration drops that will not fly in the NFL. He is the top WR in the 2018 NFL draft.

2 James Washington, Oklahoma State

Washington catches everything you throw at him, something he reassured at the senior bowl. Possessing a pair of the best hands in the draft, he consistently bailed out Mason Rudolph during the season. The reigning Biletnikoff Award winner, which honors the nation’s top wide receiver each season is an amazing deep threat having averaged over 20 yards per catch and has solid route running abilities. Like many other receivers coming from spread offenses, Washington hasn’t been able to work the full route tree, which means he won’t be able to handle WR1 duties from day 1.

3 Courtland Sutton, SMU

Sutton is a big bodied receiver with downfield physicality and strong reliable hands who is great at winning the 50/50 ball. Sutton is a matchup nightmare in the red zone. He easily boxes out defenders, times his jump and catches the ball at the highest point. The SMU star has the potential to be a great possession receiver. Sutton lacks elite speed, hasn’t played a lot of elite competition and was shut down by TCU. An underrated part of a wide receiver is his ability to block and he does that very well. When asked to block, he does a great job at driving smaller defenders backward.

4 Equanimeous St. Brown, Notre Dame

St Brown’s decline in production this year has him falling all the way to number 4. He showcased his 6’5 205lb frame last year with explosive speed and solid route running that will outweigh his lack of production from this year. The Notre Dame product is not only a redzone target but also a very effective deep threat. He still needs to use his body better to high point the ball and win those 50/50 balls that he should win given his size and athleticism.

5 Christian Kirk, Texas A&M

Kirk brings value not only as a receiver but also as a returner. He played a lot in the slot this year, but he has potential to play outside too. Kirk is a crisp route runner and electric after the catch. The Texas A&M speedster lacked elite production this year due to shaky play at the QB position.

6 ) Deon Cain, Clemson

7) Auden Tate, FSU

8) Simmie Cobbs Jr, Indiana

9) Dante Pettis, Washington

10) Anthony Miller, Memphis

Honorable mention: D.J. Charke, LSU

Here is also my top 5 quarterback rankings: https://www.couchriderreport.net/2018-nfl-draft-quarterback-rankings-scouting-reports-top-prospects/

Eric Kirschenbaum is a Writer for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

February 15, 2018 0 comment

NCAA Football NFL NFL Draft

Draft Profile: Courtland Sutton

by Damian Parson November 5, 2017

written by Damian Parson

College Football is the clear and only pipeline to the NFL. It is filled with thousands of talented young men that dream of playing at the next level. Only 1.5% of those players become pro football players. Every draft has positions that are deeper than others, some believe this is a quarterback class and others believes it is a running back class. Let’s not forget about those “DIVAS” the pretty boy receivers. They are loaded with depth and talent, I want to shine the light on some of these pass catchers. Here is my scouting report!!

Courtland Sutton, Wide receiver, SMU

Height-Weight: 6’4 216 lbs.

Film reviewed: North Texas (2017), Connecticut (2017), and Tulsa (2017)

The Good: An explosive big play wide receiver. Courtland possesses the prototypical size for an X receiver in a pro-style system. He has the build and length that will create immediate migraines for defenses in the red zone. He contains the speed necessary to be a reliable down field threat. His speed is buildup rather than immediate separation. The mustang receiver is a solid route runner considering his size, but his route tree is limited due to the offense. Sutton has a great feel for contested throws and he suddenly becomes Andre Drummond with the ball in the air. He is physically imposing with a knack for gaining yards after the catch.

The Bad: As stated above, Sutton’s speed has to buildup and that hurts his effectiveness vs press coverage. He needs to improve hand usage and release techniques to overcome that issue. A quicker release can definitely help create separation and allow his explosive ability to shine. He will need to work on and become comfortable with the pro style route tree. There are more routes besides, screens, hitches, go and crossing patterns.

Pro Comparison: Demaryius Thomas is the ideal comp for Sutton, The former Georgia Tech receiver has a similar build and traits. Like Sutton, Thomas is very capable of running screen plays with great effectiveness and has the ability to take them the distance. Both players have buildup speed and takes time working off press coverage. Thomas has elevated his game since college and is a Super bowl champion. Sutton definitely has a high ceiling at the next level, but it will take some hard work and patience.

November 5, 2017 0 comment