A few early season behemoths within the NFL rolled the cube with home cash Friday because the San Francisco 49ers’ protection obtained scarier with the addition of edge rusher Randy Gregory, and the Miami Dolphins’ offense folded Chase Claypool right into a ridiculously proficient group of talent gamers. The 2 trades price subsequent to nothing, and each franchises obtained off like billionaires after the pandemic.
Whereas the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears every rid themselves of pointless complications after tumultuous begins, Kyle Shanahan and Mike McDaniel are stockpiling for a playoff run, and right here’s hoping each squads keep wholesome. The Dolphins’ second-year coach was plucked from Shanahan’s teaching tree, and it’s not a coincidence that among the prettiest soccer to come back out of the league this yr has originated with these two coaches.
Dolphins improve to late-stage Quick & Livid horsepower
Claypool comes over from the Bears with a 2025 seventh-round pick for the Dolphins’ 2025 sixth-round selection, and he gained’t have to fret about his function on this offense as a result of everybody will get a flip. Mixing Claypool with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle is akin to swirling nitroglycerine with plutonium, and C-4. McDaniel additionally looks as if the form of director who is aware of precisely how you can make the most of a moody character actor.
Regardless of getting pasted in Buffalo by 4 scores Sunday, Miami nonetheless leads all groups in scoring at 37.5 factors per contest, and has a +31 level differential. At 6-foot-4, 238 kilos, Chicago’s short-term rental offers Tua Tagovailoa a “possession” receiver who has the flexibility to stretch a protection as if that was a difficulty in any respect.
If the teaching workers can free Claypool from his seemingly self-created points, the Fins could have the most effective receiving corps within the NFL, and it gained’t actually be an argument. San Francisco additionally has three All-Professional stage talent gamers, however not on the identical place, or with a few observe stars leisurely, threatening standing within the backfield.
We’ll see how lengthy it takes for the novelty to put on off of McDaniel’s scheme (or if that occurs in any respect), however the optimist says this group has but to peak with nook Jalen Ramsey aiming for a December return. It doesn’t take a sports activities author to determine how Miami’s season goes awry, so I’m going to take the route of a superstitious baseball participant and never even point out hit — I imply it.
The actual impetus for this gamble? Miami doesn’t wish to play wherever with inclement climate throughout the playoffs. Maintain that offense unfastened and as far-off from Western New York or Kansas Metropolis in January, and welcome all comers.
If the 49ers protection had a weak point, it doesn’t anymore
Sure strikes have catastrophe written on them from the bounce, and often, it has extra to do with the group than the participant. At this level in his profession, Gregory is sort of a situational participant. Seeing because the 49ers’ protection is commonly in an advantageous state of affairs for an edge rusher, the veteran who’s been tasked with bailing out Russell Wilson or Dak Prescott will now get to run free reverse Nick Bosa.
All it took to amass the veteran was a 2024 sixth-round pick, and mirroring the Miami-Chicago swap, John Lynch got a seventh-rounder in return, as properly. With Denver reportedly liable for the majority of Gregory’s 2023 wage, it’s a no brainer for a Niner’s group that might use one other man to harass the quarterback, and never a nasty deal for Denver who obtained a greater return than the choice of simply releasing him.
The undefeated Niners play with a lead as a lot as any group this season, but reside within the decrease third in sack totals. Clearly, that complete doesn’t inform the entire story, however San Francisco has already seen Daniel Jones, and the Giants are half the explanation Seattle is tied for the league lead in QB takedowns.
Gregory is as expendable as Sly Stallone’s newest IP dump, but the 30-year-old theoretically might contribute much more than 65-year-old Dolph Lundgren. It doesn’t sound just like the Niners’ acquisition will swimsuit up towards Dallas on Sunday, however I’m positive there can be a return match within the playoffs, and Gregory will break Dak over his knee, Bane model.
A Miami-San Francisco Tremendous Bowl can be like that Rams-Chiefs Monday night shootout, however with Michael Bay — or whoever’s the present model of Michael Bay that’s not canceled — orchestrating the pyrotechnics.
And now, two Massive Ten West groups attempt to hump a doorknob
For these of you who didn’t sit via the practically four-hour Nebraska-Illinois sport, I’m simply going to record off the second-half drive outcomes of each groups in chronological order.
Nebraska: Punt
Illinois: Fumble
Nebraska: Subject purpose
Illinois: Punt
Nebraska: Missed subject purpose
Illinois: Downs
Nebraska: Fumble
Illinois: Punt
Nebraska: Interception
Illinois: Interception
Nebraska: Fumble
Illinois: Downs
Nebraska: Finish of sport
Matt Rhule’s group inexplicably gained this sport, 20-7, no matter its repeated makes an attempt to yack the brand new Massive Ten coach’s first convention W.
