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mike tomlin

49ers’ QB answer on another roster?

by Jermaine Lockett September 25, 2018

49ers’ QB answer on another roster?

Niners Nation. I know yall are in peril right now. The guy yall just paid 137.5 Million dollars just went down with an ACL injury on what appeared to be the simplest of plays. Coach is saying “next man up” but is Mr. Beathard the answer? I was entirely off on my post about C.J. Beathard in the past (I even got the guy’s name wrong on my podcast).

Knee in Knee out…

The Iowa product was not a complete disappointment in the 2017 season as he got the team their first win in week 10 after taking over the reigns in week 9. I find it ironic that the one thing that may have caused his exit and Jimmy Garoppolo’s insertion to the offense was a knee injury. Now the tables have turned, and Jimmy G is on the receiving end of the knee injury causing former 3rd round pick to take the stage once again. So the reason I have called you all here today is not to bore you with a wild Superbowl prediction with the change. I am here to talk about a guy that is not on the roster that could help this team win now.

AFC North has plenty

Let’s take a mental flight over to the AFC North where there are a few options at QB on the bench or inactive altogether.
Tyrod Taylor just had the worst game of his career and has been benched for Baker Mayfield. “T-mobile” may never see the light of day or will he? I’m sure Tyrod is comfortable supporting the Cleveland Browns‘ organization currently and to be honest, will be waiting on a slop performance from Baker before he emerges once again as the starter. This theory may not be of popular opinion, but it’s mine so suck it! Yes, I’m a Tyrod fan. Now back to the matter at hand. Cleveland may be crazy about their first overall pick, but I believe they have no intention of sending the former Buffalo Bill elsewhere.

We won’t even take a look at Pittsburgh Steelers’ QB trio due to Josh Dobbs’ value; he’s not even worth the look. Why add more trash to the pile in SF? The Mayor is already allowing citizens to poop in the street. Let’s not make matters worse. Mason Rudolph was drafted this year and is going nowhere because secretly I believe Mike Tomlin and the Rooney Family actually enjoy pissing off Big Ben.

I’m being lazy today and could care less about the Bengals’ QB situation. If there were anything of value there, someone would be talking about it.

Time for a reunion?

The final team I think is worth looking at is the Baltimore Ravens for their solution. NO, H*** NO! I’m not referring to Lamar Jackson. That young man is the Ravens’ future no matter what the rest of Raven Nation happens to think about the young speedster at the moment. The guy I believe who can help the Niners right now is none other than Robert Griffin III. RGIII is not even active on game days and is only an insurance policy at the moment, should Joe Flacco get hurt.

The former first-round pick is wasting a roster spot and looking for the right caller to come help him revive his career. That caller needs to be the San Francisco 49ers. Griffin already has chemistry with Pierre Garcon and is used to playing with burners like Marquise Goodwin. Head coach Kyle Shanahan is already familiar with RGIII’s playing style as he coached him in 2012 when RGIII was rookie of the year.

From what the former Redskin and Brown was able to showcase during the preseason against the 1’s at times was very impressive. One could see the growth of the signal caller from a guy who just scrambled his life away until Haloti Ngata destroyed his career on a scramble that went wrong to an acceptable game manager who makes smart plays.

I’ve been wrong a lot, I mean like a ton, but I truly believe RGIII in Kyle Shanahan’s offense once again would actually be a great fit and would still keep the team alive in the 2018 NFC West.

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

September 25, 2018 0 comment

AFC North NFL Pittsburgh Steelers Uncategorized

Do the Steelers have a starting TE yet?

by Jermaine Lockett July 30, 2016

written by Jermaine Lockett

TE-Steelers-Jeffrey Beal-Flickr

It’s easy to look at the Pittsburgh Steelers and celebrate one of the most talented WRs in the league, but what of their TE corps? “Big” Ben Roethlisberger is honoring Heath Miller at training camp, but the big guy can’t play both positions. Who will be the top TE coming out of training camp now that Ladarius Green is on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list? I have heard grumblings from Steelers’ Nation of Paul Lang, Jesse James or Xavier Grimble. Let us examine the three potential starters.

Anyone showing up to camp at 6-7, 261lbs is going to turn some heads. It does not matter if Jesse James is a second-year player or not. Not only is this player’s size a factor, sharing the name of one of America’s most notorious outlaws may put some people on notice as well. Can you imagine Jim Nantz from CBS saying “Big Ben hooks up with ‘the Outlaw’ for another 20-yd gain?” I couldn’t or at least I would not want to, being a Baltimore Ravens’ fan and all. However, I could vision the sea of yellow in Hines Stadium falling in love and erupting from the repeated connection of the two.

ESPN had this to say about the outlaw,

“…James to work with the starters. At 6’7/261, he’s a behemoth of a man and could be a dark horse for a handful of touchdowns.”

His 8-recs for 56-yds and a touch in 2015 are nothing to write home to mom about, but that was when Heath Miller ran the show. Look for his numbers to increase in 2016 as the team has no clear designation for the number one TE. With that said, let’s speak to another candidate competing for the position.

I’d mention David Johnson, but he’s a blocking TE at best. Apparently picking up blocking TEs is a trend, since the team collected another in Paul Lang. This former Spartan has super hands and feet. A tactician in blocking. While you may be impressed with him doing Oklahoma drills since he was in the second grade, he is also a non-factor in the passing-attack, with only 136 receiving yds total in college. Let’s get back to the receiving TEs.

Xavier Grimble is another intriguing name for this roster. This former USC player had pedestrian numbers from college, with 69 total catches for 731-yards and 11-TDs over his 3-year span at USC. There is tons of upside with this guy, as he does most of his damage after the catch. He also has decent route running ability and soft hands.

TE Coach James Daniel and Mike Tomlin obviously see some potential in all of the players mentioned above. Upon reviewing all of this information, one thing is evident. Ladarius Green’s job is not at all safe with these hungry grinders getting extra reps with the ones. My money is on the Outlaw. Who you got? Leave a comment!

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

July 30, 2016 0 comment

AFC East AFC North New England Patriots NFL Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers: Tomlin missing Dick already

by Jermaine Lockett September 11, 2015

written by Jermaine Lockett

View image | gettyimages.com

I have had it with the school yard snitching. The “they cheated” is getting old. Yahoo news reported this morning that there were reported problems with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ headsets being interrupted by the New England Patriots’ radio broadcast. This caused a communication issue with the Steelers’ coaching staff. If it is true, so what?

This the year 2015 and if the military has contention plans in place for communication issues, why doesn’t the NFL?

Head Coach, Mike Tomlin relayed that this has been an issue for years when he has come into Foxboro saying

“It’s stuff that ALWAYS happens in Gillette stadium.”

Why is it coming up now after what appeared to be a display of sheer dominance by the New England Patriots in the 21-28 loss? Sure the score appears to be close but what happened on the field was not. The Steelers were dominated on the field convincingly by the “Brady bunch”.

If it was a problem in the past, maybe it should have been addressed with the league prior to them even traveling to the game and not griped about after the game to the media. According to around the NFL Writer Connor Orr, the NFL released a statement regarding the matter, via NFL spokesman Michael Signora:

“Technological and stadium infrastructure issues of this type happen at many stadiums around the league and whenever there are issues of this nature, we do a thorough review.”

I’ll admit from some of the formations that left Rob Gronkowkski wide open appeared to be communication issues but on the field, not from the sidelines. Back in the day before headsets, teams used hand signals or huge signs to push out their signals to their units. There was no green dot audio helmet designation and the MLB would have to look to the D-coordinator to get their play-call. Now Philadelphia Eagles head coach, Chip Kelly in his time in Oregon had a strategy to confuse the opposition by using a combination of this.

The information is there but clearly the intelligence is not. Teams need to plan for contingencies so that when unfortunate stuff like this happens they can react accordingly, so that there is no whining to media after the game. Had the Steelers won the game, would Tomlin have voiced such a grievous complaint to the media? NO! Because he would have begun his 24 hour celebration before moving on to the next game to prepare for.

Am I saying the former SB winning coach is bitter? Yes, emphatically yes he was whining. Am I a Patriots’ fan? Heck no! But I think we’re all tired of this game being ruined by accusations of cheating, true or not.

Here is my thing. If you are a competitor, strap on a helmet, get your gameplan together, expect the best and plan for the worst.

Tomlin should be more worried about the impact of the loss of Dick Lebeau has on this organization long-term. Losing one of the best defensive minds in NFL history to the Tennessee Titans proved to be a huge blow for the black and yellow in last night’s loss. New D-Coordinator Keith Butler has some big shoes to fill and after last night, a lot of adjustments to make in order to get this once vaunted defensed back to the level they normally operate in.

Let’s look at the numbers

With LeBeau and a solid defense back in 2013, the D only allowed 222.1-yards via air. Last night the defense gave 281-yards and 4-touchdowns. 191-yards and three of those TDs were compliments of the “air-raid” duo of Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman.

The numbers don’t lie. Tomlin misses Dick. Sounds dirty but ask him and see what he says about losing one of the best defensive minds to ever come through the Steel City. Mr. Butler you have work to do. It’s been 24 hours time to move on to San Francisco and maybe on to a new kicker as well. Bye Josh Scobee!

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

September 11, 2015 0 comment