Grey Cup 110 Preview: Montreal Alouettes vs Winnipeg Blue Bombers

By: Adamo Marinelli

Can the Montreal Alouettes pull off another miracle upset? Or can the Winnipeg Blue Bombers make it three Grey Cup Championships in four years - the first team to reach four straight finals since Edmonton appeared in six straight and won five from 1977 to 1982?

The Blue Bombers finished the season with the second-best record in the CFL at 14-4 - behind only the 16-2 Toronto Argonauts, who were upset 38-17 by the Als after committing nine turnovers in the East Final - and unsurprisingly are huge 8.5 point favourites to defeat the Alouettes on Sunday. 

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a tough team to bet against and they lead the league in both the most points per game (31.7) and the fewest points allowed per game (18.2). 

However, this Alouettes team, particularly their defense, is nothing to scoff at. They forced nine turnovers including two pick-sixes and four interceptions against an Argos’ offense that had been firing on all cylinders under the guidance of QB Chad Kelly and RB A.J. Ouellette.

The Alouettes who finished second in the East Division with an 11-7 record are well-coached, disciplined, and can score points in bunches. However, the Als lost both regular-season games against the Blue Bombers by a combined margin of 64-20; the Als will need another defensive masterclass if they hope to emerge victorious. 

The Blue Bombers’ offense is not easy to shut down. Zach Collaros becomes the first CFL player ever to start in four consecutive Grey Cups and is arguably one of the best passers in the CFL, even at 35. 

The stats don’t lie. He led all starters in efficiency rating this season while leading the CFL in touchdown passes with 33 and he tied for second in passing yards with 4252. The 2021 Grey Cup MVP and two-time regular-season Most Outstanding Player is 7-1 in the playoffs as a Blue Bomber, with a pair of championship rings to boot. 

Not to mention, the offensive weapons Winnipeg has around Collaros are just as dangerous as he is. RB Brady Olivera led the league with 1534 rushing yards and finished joint first with Ottawa Redblacks’ QB Dustin Crum with nine rushing touchdowns. Olivera finished the year with 13 total touchdowns and became the 15th payer in CFL history to amass over 2000 scrimmage yards.

Both Dalton Schoen and Nic Demski are 1000+ yard receivers for the Blue Bombers with 1222 and 1006 receiving yards respectively. Both receivers also rank top five in touchdown catches with 10 and 6 respectively. Kenny Lawler and Rasheed Bailey also have six touchdown catches each for Winnipeg. Winnipeg can beat you in a lot of ways, but they are a run-first team.

So, priority number one for the Alouettes will be to stop the run. Montreal ranked fifth in rush defense during the regular season, allowing just over 110 rush yards per game. If they can manage to stop Winnipeg’s potent rush attack and force their opponents into second and long situations, that’s when this defense can excel. They’ve allowed only 238.7 pass yards per game, the second-fewest in the CFL only behind Winnipeg who’ve allowed 229.4 pass yards per game. Interestingly, Montreal has allowed the second-fewest total points all year with 392, only 15 more than Winnipeg.

Winnipeg’s talented receivers will provide a very tough test for Montreal’s secondary, but if they can generate enough pressure to hurry up Collaros it would help their secondary out a lot. Unfortunately for Montreal, they rank sixth in the CFL with 42 sacks, only two more than the Edmonton Elks who rank dead last. That’s not ideal against a Blue Bombers’ offensive line that ranks among the best in fewest pressures and sacks allowed which gives Collaros a lot of time to find open receivers downfield. Shawn Lemon had nine sacks this season for the Als; he’ll have to be the difference-maker on the Als’ defensive line.

Meanwhile, Winnipeg finished fourth in the CFL with 50 sacks and has two superstar defensive ends in Willie Jefferson and Jackson Jeffcoat who rank in the top 10 sack leaders with 11 and eight sacks respectively. They are both excellent run stoppers, get off their blocks effectively, and relentlessly pressure the opposing QB all night; it will be a challenge for the Als’ offensive line which ranks middle of the pack in pass protection.

Unsurprisingly, the Blue Bombers are the best offense in the CFL; they lead the league in points scored (594), rush yards (2503), total scrimmage yards (7511) and rank second in passing yards (5008) only behind the BC Lions. Meanwhile, the Alouettes rank fourth in points scored (442), fifth in rush yards (1861), sixth in pass yards (4116), and sixth in total scrimmage yards (5977). 

So while the obvious advantage goes to Winnipeg, if the game remains close going into the second half, that’s when the Alouettes' defense can really step up and make a game-altering play.

On the bright side for the Alouettes, while they might be outmatched statistically, they’ve won seven straight games (five regular season and two in the playoffs) after sitting at 6-7 in mid-September. They’re catching fire at the right time and are riding high on confidence and momentum after their demolition over the Argos.

Also, the Alouettes are winning the turnover battle, a key factor in winning important football games. They’ve forced 48 turnovers this year, second most in the league only to Toronto’s 54. Last season, the Argos led the league with 48 takeaways and intercepted Collaros twice in the Grey Cup Final. If the Alouettes can turn the ball over, they have a real chance to win.

Finally, the Blue Bombers are dealing with two big injuries. Wide receiver Dalton Schoen and linebacker Adam Bighill are both questionable for the Grey Cup final. Schoen has missed the last three games; Bighill sat out the second half of the West Final after suffering a calf injury. The Bombers have a lot of depth at both positions, but playing without those two key players will be a challenge.

I predict this game to be close, within seven points. Coaching and previous experience in certain situations play a huge role in big games. The Bombers have much more experience in Grey Cups compared to the Als and Mike O’Shea is a better coach than Jason Maas, which gives Winnipeg another advantage.

But anything can happen on the gridiron; despite being heavy favourites, the Blue Bombers shouldn’t take the Als lightly.

The Als will keep it close, but they’ll fall 34-28 to Winnipeg who cement their CFL dynasty.

Atletico Ottawa vs York United preview

Atletico Ottawa (5th place) vs York United (6th place)

York Lions Stadium

Sunday, October 1, 2023; 1 p.m. EST kickoff

• Huge playoff implications are involved, the winner essentially punches their ticket, loser is all but eliminated

• Win and in the playoffs for Ottawa (9-6-11, 33 pts)

• A draw or loss favours York (9-5-12, 32 pts) for the final playoff spot as Ottawa is 0-1-2 vs York this season

• The last time these two teams played it ended in a 3-3 draw at TD Place; Haworth had two goals, Espejo found a late equalizer to steal a point in a back-and-forth game

• Ottawa is winless in its last 6 matches (2 draws, 4 losses)

• York is winless in its last 3 matches (3 losses)

• Defending CPL Player of the Season, Ottawa midfielder, Ollie Bassett is the top scorer in the CPL with 11 goals and he leads CPL Golden Boot Race. Bassett also has 3 assists.

• Atlético's second top scorer is striker Sam Salter with seven goals, along with one assist. 

• Ottawa has lost 4 of the last 5 matches by conceding a stoppage-time winner.

• Carlos Gonzalez says it's because their poor start to the season has them playing catchup; as a result, draws aren’t enough, so Ottawa presses offensively for late winners, and as a result, they are susceptible to transition attacks from their opponents. “The pressure of always needing to go for late winners leads to mental lapses,” Gonzalez said.

• Atlético striker, and Trinidad and Tobago international, Malcolm Shaw is the joint top scorer in this fixture with four goals (all-time). 

• York forward Brian Wright also has four goals in this match-up (all-time).

• Wright, the former Atleti striker, netted three goals against York before scoring his first goal for his new team against Ottawa earlier this year. 

• Gonzalez knows the team’s next game will be critical to their playoff hopes; he even called it a cup final.

• “They have the same need as us, the need to win,” he said. “The emotions of the last few games are going to be the key aspect of the game. How we deal with the emotions, how we control the details, how we can be a little bit better (especially in the game’s final stages) will be essential to the result.”

• Ottawa’s all-time head-to-head record vs. York: 1W-9D-4L (12 of 42 possible points); 25 goals scored, 27 goals conceded.

Ottawa Redblacks 2023 free agency and draft recap & 2023 season preview

Adamo Marinelli

May 10, 2023

The Ottawa Redblacks have struggled in the last mightily during the last three seasons, posting a combined record of 10-40. The Redblacks finished 0-9 at home this season, and have won only one of their last 25 home games.

There have been many reasons for the Redblacks’ recent struggles, including multiple injuries to key players, lacklustre coaching and playcalling, an inability to make in-game adjustments, poor execution by several players in multiple positions at times and consistent struggles/ a lack of depth at key positions such as offensive line. Consistent struggles on the o-line has led to the quarterback not having enough time to scan the field to find receivers before he would get hit, made it difficult to create holes in the run game, and led to receivers not having enough time to get open; by the time they did, the quarterback was already on the ground.

The Redblacks coaching staff will look a lot different this season than it did last year. Interim head coach Bob Dyce was promoted to head coach in December 2022 and is the third head coach in Redblacks’ franchise history. Dyce finished the 2022 season with a 1-3 record but coached well in the final four games, bringing structure, energy and passion to the locker room. He coached with conviction, took chances and made some bold play-calling decisions that the conservative Paul LaPolice wouldn’t. Dyce has a plethora of coaching experience including seven years in Winnipeg (2003-09) as the receivers coach, and six years with the Roughriders (2010-15) as the passing game coordinator, offensive coordinator, and special teams coordinator. He’s been with Ottawa since 2016 as the special team coordinator and has consistently led special team units ranking near the top of the league. He’s been on two Grey Cup-winning teams and knows what it takes to build a winning team. With an entire offseason of training, Dyce is sure to improve the team given his past experiences coaching at the professional level

Khari Jones, who has had successful stints as offensive coordinator and head coach for the BC Lions and the Montreal Alouettes respectively will take over the offensive coordinator role. In two full seasons as the Alouettes’ head coach, Jones posted a record of 17-15 and made two playoff experiences. He got the best of QB Vernon Adams Jr. in the run-and-pass game and helped Adams Jr. develop into the dual-threat QB that he is now. The passion, energy and talent Jones brought to the team helped the Als to an improbable 10-8 record in 2019 to clinch their first playoff berth in five years. There was no quit on his sideline either, 10 of his 18 career wins were comeback victories. Despite a lacklustre start to the 2022 season, he will bring heart to the Ottawa offence that has been dull for several seasons. Not to mention, he is an experienced and creative play caller that takes risks, especially in the red zone, which the Redblacks want to see after settling for many field goals and punts on 3rd and shorts under LaPolice.

Barron Miles, who has extensive CFL coaching experience is taking over the defensive coordinator role. He served as a defensive backs coach and assistant defensive coach for four different teams across 11 seasons before landing the defensive coordinator role with the Alouettes in 2021. He emphasized his players being meticulous, working hard and perfecting their craft and ran a mix of zone and man schemes depending on what his opponent was running offensively. As a DC, he coached an aggressive style of defence that blitzed often and was dedicated to shutting down the run game to make opposing teams one-dimensional so he could send the hounds at the opposing QBs. His time as DC in Montreal was short-lived, but he allowed only 2849 pass yards, the second-fewest in the CFL in 2021 -thanks to his background as DB coach- and ranked middle of the pack in rush yards and points allowed. He will improve the secondary and with help from the linebackers and DL coach, mould this unit into a top defence in the CFL with time.

Other coaches include Offensive Line Coach Paul Charbonneau, Running Backs Coach Nate Taylor, Special Teams Coach Cory McDiarmid, Linebackers Coach Patrick Bourgon, and Defensive Backs Coach Alex Suber. All of these coaches have loads of experience and different ideals and tactics to help improve the team. Hopefully, the poor playcalling and inability to make proper scheme adjustments won’t be as much of a problem as it was in past seasons.

The Redblacks’ roster is facing some turnover from last season too. Notable departures include LB Avery Williams, LB Shaheed Salmon, WR Darvin Adams, S Antoine Pruneau, WR RJ Harris, RB Brendan Gillanders, RB William Powell, WR Shaq Johnson, OL Randy Richards, OL UCambre Williams, OL Sir Vincent Rogers, among others.

However, notable additions include resigning QB Jeremiah Masoli, DL Davon Coleman, DBs Sherrod Baltimore, Abdul Kanneh and Monshadrik Hunter and bringing in LBs Jovan Santos-Knox and Gary Hunter Jr., OLs Terran Vaughn, Hunter Steward and Drew Desjarlais, DLs Michael Wakefield and Keyshawn James, DE Kwaky Boateng and RB Ante Milanovic-Litre among others. 

Santos-Knox is a beast of a pass rusher who possesses an unstoppable motor, great agility off the line and excellent swim moves to shed blocks. He is also an impressive run-stopper and can play middle linebacker or on the outside. He will help fill the gap left by Avery Williams. Vaughn, Steward and Desjarlais are all excellent offensive linemen that will help Masoli stay on his feet, give him ample time to throw and help open up holes in the run game with their strong push. Milanovic-Litre will provide extra depth at running back, likely a third down and pass-catching back and Boateng will add depth on the interior of the defensive line to rush the passer alongside Lorenzo Mauldin. The Redblacks ranked near the bottom of the league in sacks and most of their sacks came from Mauldin. They need to generate pressure from multiple areas; Santos-Knox and Boateng will help with that.

The Redblacks’ biggest needs heading into the offseason included: OL, DL, S, CB, LB & WR. Between free agency, the CFL draft and the global draft, the Redblacks’ management led by GM Shawn Burke did a good job acquiring and resigning talented players to fill positions of need.

In the draft, the Redblacks mainly focused on building their offensive and defensive lines and adding depth to their secondary and linebacking core. Here’s how their draft panned out:

1) Dontae Bull, OL, Fresno State 

Bull is one of the most physically impressive players in his class, who possesses excellent size,

mass and agility for his position. He utilizes his rare length, 35-inch arms, to create a longer path to the quarterback. While he lacks foot speed, he uses his length to his advantage by attacking defenders mid-rush with his good punch timing and placement to stymie the defender. However, he struggles when facing speed rushers and rushers who utilize quick inside-out counters and will need improvement on his speed to counter that.

10) Lucas Cormier, DB, Mount Allison

A versatile defensive back, who can play corner, safety, strong and weakside linebacker and halfback, he has the speed, ball-tracking skills and talent to make plays all over the field, exactly what the Redblacks need following Pruneau’s retirement. He’s a speedy corner who can jam receivers on the line, run with the quickest opponents and can get up to break up 50/50 balls, but can also cover the run and rush the passer. An extremely beneficial piece for the defence.

12) James Peter, LB, uOttawa

Deemed as undersized by many scouts, there have been some concerns about his success at the next level. While he is athletic, versatile, has a ton of potential and could play weakside in the CFL as he did in college, he is half a foot shorter than the average offensive guard which could pose a problem for a middle linebacker. He could also make a transition to offence like his former teammate Jackson Bennett (who converted from LB to RB for the Redblacks) did.

17) Daniel Oladejo, WR, uOttawa

Oladejo’s unique combination of speed, agility and strength helps him stand out in the receiver position. He is a technical route runner who can create separation in and out of his breaks. He is explosive off the line, can make plays in traffic, has a high football IQ and has strong hands and has outstanding ball-tracking ability. If a ball is thrown his way he’ll likely come down with it. He will receive mentorship from Ottawa’s veteran WRs while also filling holes left by Harris and Adams.

19) Aidan John, DL, Saint Mary’s

John impressed scouts mightily at the CFL Invitational Combine with his size, strength, speed, length, high football IQ and innate abilities to rush the passer, shed blocks and cover the run. He is a special player despite having stepped away from football for a few seasons before ex-Carleton Ravens coach Steve Sumarah who now works at St. Mary’s convinced him to return to the Huskies last season. His 29 tackles led the team in 2022.

25) Josh White, LB, Regina

White possesses great instincts and demonstrates impressive physicality, especially with his great tackling and his innate ability to shed blocks and funnel to the ball carrier to stop the run. At 6’1”, 222 pounds, he runs a 4.78-second 40-yard dash which is quite good for his size. He has the potential to be a starter but will need some work in his pass coverage, especially against faster opponents. He knows how to disrupt the backfield too, recording 19.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in his college career. He’ll have an instant impact on special teams.

37) Daniel Perry, WR, Saskatchewan

At 6’0”, 196 pounds, Perry has impressive speed for a larger receiver. He is explosive off the line, can get through press coverage, has the speed to get downfield quickly, has excellent hands, a good vertical and great ball tracking ability to locate deep balls and secure 50/50 balls. In 2022, he had 797 yards and three TDs in 12 games after 650 yards in 10 games in 2021. He’s a wideout but has experience in the slot and can play on special teams too.

46) Quintin Seguin, DL, Charleston Southern

An intimidating figure standing at 6’2”, 271 pounds, Seguin projects to be a player with the potential to become an elite run-stopping defensive tackle in the CFL despite an underwhelming performance at the CFL Combine. He has solid balance and agility for his size, can withstand pushes from offensive guards and can shed blocks to track down and stuff the runner. He recorded 118 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks over 49 career collegiate games.

55) Alexander Fedchun, DL, St. FX

Fedchun practically lived in the opponents’ backfield at St. FX. His speed, incredible timing, agility, explosiveness off the line, and his unique repertoire of swim moves to shed blocks make him a threat to any offensive lineman considering he stands at 6’4”, 226 pounds. He has a nose for the QB and recorded 31.5 tackles for loss and 17 sacks in 30 career collegiate games. The three-time AUS all-star projects to be a rotational, third-down pass rusher.

58) Amlicar Polk, RB, uOttawa

Unfortunately didn’t get much action behind J.P. Cimankinda on the depth chart but is a physical runner who can find holes in the defence and exploit them. He can also catch passes out of the backfield and contribute on special teams.

The Redblacks have signed all 10 players to entry-level contracts and all will attend training camp to try out for the final roster. Of the 10 players the Redblacks selected, four help bolster the offensive and defensive lines, two add key depth to the linebacking core to fill the hole left by Avery Williams and two are much-needed pieces at wide receiver, specifically in the slot, following the departure of Darvin Adams, Shaq Johnson, and RJ Harris.

Finally, the Redblacks also signed both of their picks in the Global Draft. They signed DL Blessman Ta’ala – who is a natural run stopper and can also contribute as a rotational pass rusher – and Swedish OL Lucas Lavin (6’5” 327 pounds) – who is a force in run and pass protection – to entry-level contracts. They’ll both contribute to the team’s depth on both lines.

The Redblacks have a lot of potential to succeed this season thanks to their free-agent acquisitions, and their draft picks in both the 2023 draft and the 2023 international draft which helped fill in their biggest positions of need. A brand new coaching staff under Bob Dyce also completely revitalized the locker room and will surely bring positive results onto the field.

However, a team with many new players and fresh coaches needs time to iron out the kinks, so don’t expect the Redblacks to be Grey Cup contenders in year one. 

This is still a rebuild and the Redblacks are entering the final stages of a four-year-long rebuild that started back in 2019. They addressed their biggest needs well in free agency and the draft; now it’s all about putting it all together. If all key players can stay healthy and the Redblacks can start the season strong, one can expect this team to be a 7-9 win team and contend for a playoff berth late into the season. 

Only time will tell how the Redblacks will do this year. Stay tuned to find out. Their first preseason game is against the Montreal Alouettes on Friday, May 26.

Arsenal defeat West London rivals to move back up atop Premier League, but no longer have the title in their hands

Adamo Marinelli

May 2nd, 2023

Arsenal cruised to a comfortable 3-1 home win against Chelsea - to get their first win in over a month after three draws and a loss in their last four matches ahead of today’s London derby - thanks to a dominant first half that saw Martin Odegaard score a brace and Gabriel Jesus to extend Arsenal’s lead to 3-0 inside 35 minutes. 

With their win today, Arsenal moves back atop the Premier League table and are two points above Manchester City (24-4-4, 76 points), but have played two more games. 

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal - who wasn’t supposed to be in a title race at the start of the season - sit at 78 points with a record of 24 wins, six draws, and four losses. Arsenal have reached 24 league wins in a single season for the first time since 2013/14 and they still have four games left to play.

Tonight marks the 248th day Arsenal has been atop the Premier League, Manchester City has been atop the table for 16 days, including for three days in mid-February after Arsenal’s 3-1 home defeat to City and for three days in late April/early May following Arsenal’s 4-1 away defeat to City and City’s 2-1 win over Fulham on April 30. 

Arsenal has been atop the Premier League for 92 percent of the season, and since before the World Cup break the title was in Arsenal’s hands, they controlled their own destiny. However, after their 4-1 defeat to Man City, they no longer have the upper hand. If Arsenal win their remaining four matches, they’d finish on 90 points, if City win their remaining six, they’d finish on 94. Arsenal would have to win out and hope City drop points, which is unlikely despite their congested fixture list because of how much depth City’s squad has. Manchester City is so good, its second team could likely finish mid-table in the Premier League on its own.

Their immense amount of talent and depth at every position is why City have won eight consecutive league matches and haven’t lost a match in their last 18 fixtures in all competitions. City dropping points is very unlikely, and relying on them to drop points is silly.

If City wins both games in hand, which is very likely given their excellent form recently, they’d be four points above Arsenal and would firmly be in the driver’s seat to win their fifth title in six years. They’d also have the chance at the treble; they’re up against Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinals (a rematch of last year’s semifinal) and are in the FA Cup Final against city rival Manchester United.

Arsenal have finally regained their winning ways against Chelsea; but aside from a 4-1 win over Leeds on April 1st, they had a tough month of April, drawing three matches and losing one. Arguably, it was not the loss against City that sealed the nail in the coffin, it was the three consecutive draws, in which Arsenal blew a 2-0 lead twice against Liverpool and West Ham United and was down 3-1 to 20th place Southampton before scoring two late goals to earn a late draw in a match that felt like a loss. 

Arsenal should’ve beaten West Ham and Southampton, if they would’ve won those matches, they’d be on 82 points, six points ahead of City who’d have two games in hand. If City wins both games in hand, they’d be ahead solely on goal difference and it would make for a closer title race. But you can’t cry over spilled milk. 

Notably, it was three consecutive losses in April last season that took Arsenal out of the Champions League race, so April and Arsenal have an interesting history as of late.

Why has Arsenal dropped so many points recently? There are plenty of reasons one can point to for Arsenal’s struggles: center back William Saliba’s injury has caused him to be out since March 16. Arsenal has not recorded a single clean sheet in any of the 7 matches without Saliba and conceded a whopping 14 goals (two goals against per game) in his absence. With Saliba, Arsenal has 12 clean sheets and conceded only 25 goals, for a goals-against average of 0.9 in 27 games. 

Rob Holding hasn’t been bad per se, but he is not as good as Saliba, and the rest of Arsenal’s back four has to compensate for the skill difference. To protect Holding, their backline moved back more than 1.5 meters with Holding in the lineup compared to with Saliba, which took their back four out of the attack and created more space in the midfield for opponents to operate in, leaving them especially vulnerable in transition with Holding’s lack of pace.

In addition, individual player mistakes, the team getting complacent with the lead and making unforced errors with the lead, or poor managerial decisions from Arteta such as waiting too long to make subs, bringing on the wrong players, using the wrong formation, refusing to change the formation or adapt at halftime, refusing to change the starting 11 and sit a player who’s been struggling (Saka) for a fresh/fit bench player (Trossard), etc.

These issues are appearing clearly now, however, they’ve been happening since the league restarted after the World Cup break. Most notably, Arsenal’s set-piece defence has gotten much worse and Arsenal have conceded too many early goals, unlike them.

In 21 games in all competitions before the World Cup break, Arsenal conceded only seven shots and chances worth 1.2 xG from inside the six-yard box and allowed zero goals on those chances. In 24 matches in all competitions since the season resumed after the World Cup break, they’ve conceded 32 shots from inside the six-yard box, allowed an xG of 9.6 from those shots and they’ve conceded 10 goals from inside the six-yard box.

In addition, Arsenal only allowed 7.9 shots per game before the World Cup with an xG against of 0.7; after the World Cup, Arsenal allow 9.5 shots per game that carry an xG against if 1.2. So, not only are Arsenal allowing more shots from dangerous areas, but they are allowing more higher quality chances from dangerous areas.

It’s not only Arsenal’s general defence that’s conceding more chances and more goals, whether it be from individual errors, tactical errors, or lapses in concentration or judgment, their defence from set pieces has also gotten worse. 

In 14 league matches before the World Cup, Arsenal faced 30 shots directly from set pieces, conceded only one goal, and had an xG against of 2.36. In 17 league games since the World Cup, Arsenal has faced 41 shots directly off set pieces and conceded five goals from those shots, which totaled an xG against of 5.51. 

Tactics analyst Adrian Clarke, who used to play for Arsenal, said that the way Arsenal set up their set piece defence is relatively unchanged. They run a zonal arc around goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale which means three or four players cover zones in a semi-circle shape between both goalposts, everyone else acts as man-to-man blockers around the penalty spot. Clarke said it feels like other teams have found and exploited weaknesses in Arsenal’s set piece defence.

Many goals that Arsenal has conceded are near-post tap-ins or flicks to an open man in the six-yard box, so whoever is responsible for marking that zone hasn’t done his job as well as earlier in the campaign. The previous two goals Arsenal have conceded from corners, against West Ham and Southampton resulted because Arsenal failed to win the first header at the near post. Clarke attributes less aggressive marking and less focus and concentration as the reason why.

 

Clarke also said experience and composure in difficult situations play an enormous role. Man City has competed in the last six title races, this is the first title race Arsenal’s young squad is competing for. Pep Guardiola is also a much more experienced manager than Mikel Arteta. Man City have been able to go on extremely long win streaks because their players are composed in difficult situations and have the experience to deal with tough situations. Arsenal’s players have never been in this situation (barring Oleksander Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus) which causes them to tense up, overthink, hesitate, and make a mistake in difficult situations that a City player wouldn’t. 

Arsenal remain atop the table but City have two games in hand and if they win both, they’ll have the title in their hands. 

Arsenal not winning the title would be disappointing given they led the league for the vast majority of the season, but this team wasn’t even supposed to compete for a title this season, they were just supposed to return to the Champions League which they have. 

NFL 2023 Mock Draft - Version 1

Adamo Marinelli

April 11, 2023

The 2023 NFL draft is just over two weeks away. Here is the first version of my 2023 mock draft that's based on each team's biggest needs and also on the best player available basis.

1. Carolina Panthers (via Bears) - C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State (biggest needs: QB, Edge, WR)

The 2022 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, who threw for 3,688 yards and ranked second in the FBS with 41 touchdowns to only six interceptions, Stroud has all the intangibles including a strong arm, elite deep-ball accuracy, mobility, and the ability to escape pressure with his legs.  

2. Houston Texans - Bryce Young, QB, Alabama (biggest needs: QB, WR, Edge)

Despite being slightly undersized, his high football IQ, ability to scan the field efficiently, use his eyes to manipulate defenders to create easier throws, avoid turning the ball over and his high confidence level on the field and in the film room make him a franchise-altering talent.

3. Arizona Cardinals - Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia (biggest needs: DL, CB, OL)

Arguably the best defensive prospect in the draft, if his off-field problems get sorted before the season, he checks off all the intangibles for any pass rusher: explosiveness, toughness, talent, and potential to grow and develop. He’s quick off the line and can shed blocks efficiently with clean step and swim moves, but he can use a bit more mass to compete against the biggest guards.

4. Indianapolis Colts - Will Levis, QB, Kentucky (biggest needs: QB, CB, OL)

Levis is one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in the draft. He is an athletic passer with a strong release that can get the ball to virtually anywhere on the field with high velocity, however, his accuracy issues have led to many uncatchable passes. He has the prototypical QB build but has struggled to consistently play well and will need a strong offensive-minded coach as a mentor to develop.

5. Seattle Seahawks (via Broncos) - Will Anderson Jr., Edge, Alabama (needs: DL, WR, OG)

Anderson is an impact player off the edge who is well-built. He possesses excellent footwork and long arms and has the talent and explosiveness to get off the line. He can shave edges or open holes in the offensive line with his excellent swim moves and block-shedding ability. He has a nose for the QB and can get there quickly but he needs to ensure his energy doesn’t wane.

6. Detroit Lions (via Rams) - Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech (needs: DL, DB, TE)

With a stout build, strong core, and long arms, he has the skill to engage and beat blockers and has the motor to be a three-down player. He is agile, flexible, and quick enough to get around the edge but his adequate ability to change direction makes him a threat when he counters back inside. He is savvy, versatile, and rarely misses tackles but needs to develop a wider repertoire of pass-rush and swim moves to succeed in the NFL.

7. Chicago Bears (via Raiders) - Peter Skoronski, G/T, Northwestern (needs: DL, OL, CB)

An extremely versatile specimen with a big, strong frame, he has the skill set to play at left tackle and protect the QBs’ blindside but he can also play guard with his strong balance, upper body, and core. He has a clear understanding of positioning and angles at the point of attack and has excellent footwork and hand movement to counter-rush moves. He excels as a run blocker but needs to alter his hand placement in pass sets to be less predictable.

8. Atlanta Falcons - Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa (needs: Edge, CB, WR)

Van Ness is a well-developed defensive end who uses his strength and agility to be a proficient run-defender and pass-rusher. His long arms generate a good push and his agility and excellent timing help him corral mobile QBs but he needs to diversify his rush repertoire beyond bull-rush challenges and his arsenal of hand attacks to shed blocks quicker to succeed in the NFL.

9. Las Vegas Raiders (via Bears): Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon (needs: CB, OL, DL)

Gonzalez possesses a rare blend of athletic and physical traits and is arguably the best cornerback prospect after a great college career and an excellent combine. He plays with an elite speed that allows him to match up with top-end receivers, can press receivers on the line or match their footwork to follow them and shadow their routes in man coverage. He has average instincts to jump routes, and challenge catches and his ball-tracking skills will need improvement.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (via Saints): Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson (needs: S, DL, RB)

He is an athletic interior defensive lineman who excels at stuffing the run but possesses an ongoing motor that allows him to get past blocks and can even overpower some double teams. He is able to understand opposing blocking schemes and operates with smart hand placement and movement to put pressure on and engage blockers, but needs to develop his block-shedding technique to have more of an impact pass rushing in the backfield.

11. Tennessee Titans: Paris Johnson Jr., OL, Ohio State (needs: OL, WR, DB)

Johnson Jr. is a versatile prospect with the skillset, hands, and footwork to play at guard or tackle. He has a big frame but is only going to fill it out more and get stronger. His agility will be key in keeping up with agile edge defenders. He’s a much better-moving blocker than man-blocking.

12. Houston Texans (via Browns): Quentin Johnson, WR, TCU (needs: QB, WR, Edge)

Despite some glaring inconsistencies on tape that can be fixed with coaching and experience, he has the height, weight, speed, and hands to cement himself as a future WR1. He excels in the slot but is better outside in space and his long strides and agility create lots of separation. He is proficient at making late adjustments to haul in deep throws and is explosive off the line.

13. New York Jets: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia (needs: OL, DT, S)

A freakily athletic prospect with the size, agility, length, and potential to develop into a starter at left tackle, Jones is talented at working into space and landing a block to propel the running game. He has nimble feet to mirror opposing rushers or recover after a mistake. Jones’ frame and technique both are in the developmental phase but will improve with time development. 

14. New England Patriots: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois (needs: DB, OT, WR)

He is a high-octane prospect but his strengths are dependent on the scheme he’s in. The Patriots’ 4-3 zone coverage scheme will help Witherspoon excel. He plays with urgency, and anticipation, and has great route recognition with a unique ability to break up passes. He is a tremendous ball-hawk and can cover space very quick in zone schemes, but his coverage can be handsy after five yards in man, he’s sluggish to match route breaks from his backpedal and his top-end speed could be an issue.

15. Green Bay Packers: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State (needs: S, WR, TE)

The Packers need to surround their young QB with pass-catching talent. Smith-Njigba provides that. While he lacks the speed to run past outside cornerbacks and the shake to separate underneath, but is tough in the middle of the defense and can make catches in traffic. If he can fine-tune his route running, and speed and develops a burst after the catch, he’s a great slot receiver. 

16. Washington Commanders: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida (needs: CB, OL, TE)

The Commanders have other needs and Howell is at QB already, but a rebuilding team with no aspirations to compete for at least a few years, Richardson should be a project they’re willing to take on. While most of his production came from one season, Richardson is a physical specimen who had an excellent combine. He is a dual-threat QB but needs a lot of experience and coaching to reach his extremely high ceiling. Can Washington do it?

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma (needs: OL, CB, DL)

He’s not the most athletic and agile left tackle of the bunch but has the size, length, and potential to be a starting left tackle with time and proper development. He has a feel for pocket depth, is agile and has great balance for his size, and has elite footwork and hand placement to keep up with defenders. He struggles to recover when beaten, has average speed, and can fail to get a strong initial push.

18. Detroit Lions: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas (needs: DL, DB, TE, RB)

Arguably the best RB in his class, Bijan Robinson will immediately fill the hole left by Jamaal Williams and will fit nicely with D’Andre Swift. Robinson is agile and well-built with a compact frame. He is a three down-back with elite footwork and agility to alter his pace and direction, he runs hard and low to the ground and can break through contact while finding gaps to split. 

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Siaki Ika, DL, Baylor (needs: OL, S, DL)

Possessing solid athleticism for his size, Ika is a huge body who will be able to eat up blocks on the interior of the defensive line, stuff the run, and occasionally rush the passer. He has the power and quickness to recognize a play and penetrate the line to blow it up and has the agility & lateral quickness to create multiple rush angles. His balance and taking on double teams need work.

20. Seattle Seahawks: O’Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida (needs: DL, WR, OG)

After addressing their defensive line earlier, they bolster their interior offensive line to provide Geno Smith with extra protection. His large size helps to generate movement as a drive blocker, his wide build makes life difficult for interior rushers, he has good balance for his size and is well disciplined, taking very few penalties in 2022, but is somewhat indecisive and struggles to mirror athletic rushers due to physical/athletic limitations.

Miami Dolphins: pick forfeited

21. Los Angeles Chargers: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College (needs: WR, DL, TE)

After an excellent combine and a great college career, Flowers is exactly what the Chargers need to surround Herbert with another weapon. He is very athletic, with great speed off the line, great hands & ball-tracking skills. He’s an elite deep-ball threat, is slippery in the open field and his routes are quick and maintain momentum through turns. He does have smaller hands and he often rushes his routes, which occasionally needs more attention to detail and salesmanship.

22. Baltimore Ravens: Jordan Addison, WR, USC (needs: WR, CB, QB)

A dynamic route runner who is agile, shifty, and possesses excellent acceleration, he has the speed and technical ability to excel on all three levels of the field. His elite footwork helps him beat coverage especially close to the line of scrimmage, but he lacks the size and catch strength generally possessed by elite NFL receivers. He will be an extra weapon for Lamar if he resigns. 

23. Minnesota Vikings: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland (needs: CB, DL, WR)

Banks is a perimeter CB with a desired blend of size, strength, and athleticism that is seen in his college tapes and excellent performance at the combine and he excels in multiple different schemes. He has the speed and agility to run with the opponent and mirror the receivers’ cuts. His arm length allows him to contest catches but he needs to improve his route anticipation and discipline.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State (needs: CB, OT, DE)

An ascending CB with CB1 potential if he’s developed and utilized properly, Porter Jr. is one of the most physical corners in the draft and has the frame to close catch windows in man coverage against bigger receivers. His smart hand usage helps bail him out when his feet are late and he has great recovery and length to swat away underthrows, but his sluggish change of direction generates a lot of penalties so his success will be dependent on his team's scheme.

25. New York Giants: Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina (WR, OL, CB)

The Giants need all the offensive weapons they can get to aid Daniel Jones. Downs has dynamic footwork, agility, and a sixth sense of how to elude opponents with his athleticism. His tempo changes make it difficult to be covered or pressed in man and his sharp turns & cuts create loads of separation. He can be slowed by a bigger press corner and he needs to be more disciplined in his route running, sometimes he leaves routes unfinished or ends them prematurely.

26. Dallas Cowboys: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah (needs: DL, OL, TE)

Kincaid is by far the best tight end in the draft and will fit right into a dynamic passing attack that lost Dalton Schultz. Kincaid runs fluid routes and has the athleticism, speed, and agility to create mismatches against weaker coverage. He has excellent ball-tracking skills and solid hands that allow him to scoop up 50-50 balls. He is not the best run blocker, his balance is average, and struggles to block for extended periods of time.

27. Buffalo Bills: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh (needs: WR, DT, LB)

He is a nightmare for offences as a speedy pass rusher, who possesses a strong motor and elite leverage - often too much for guards to handle alone. He posted 14.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss in two years as a starter and has a nose for the QB. He is strong and determined, but his lack of mass and length make him hit or miss as a run defender and he will be pushed around a decent amount. He’ll be most effective as a three-down pass rusher & a rotational run defender.

28. Cincinnati Bengals: Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State (needs: OT, TE, RB)

Jones is a massive right tackle with rare length who has the size and strength to hold up pass rushers and will help protect Joe Burrow. However, his limited athleticism can impact his consistency. His massive wingspan overwhelms rushers when his hands are set properly, is balanced and agile for his size, and can follow and mirror edge rushers effectively. 

29. New Orleans Saints (via 49ers): Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan (needs: DL, TE, OL)

Smith possesses a rare blend of size and quickness and is incredibly mobile for his size. He is a solid run blocker, can pull guards off balance easily, and can control and shed base blocks with relative ease, but he needs to become more effective at beating double teams, securing his gap, and matching the initial movement of interior offensive linemen to be more effective.

30. Philadelphia Eagles: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama (needs: S, DL, RB)

Gibbs is a fierce running back who can stretch defenses wide and has the agility, and ability to cut and change direction to elude tacklers in space. While he may not be the offence’s main engine or a three-down back, he can definitely add juice to any offence thanks to his versatility and pass-catching ability & will slot in nicely in the Eagles’ potent rushing attack that includes Jalen Hurts.

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Drew Sanders, OLB, Arkansas (needs: WR, OT, Edge)

He has the physical traits, athleticism, and versatility to be used as an inside linebacker or a stand-up edge rusher. He has a large arsenal of pass-rush moves and wickedly fluid slide-and-swim moves as an A, B, or C gap rusher. He has the strength to beat guards on the inside & the athleticism and balance to beat tackles around the edge. He upgrades the Chiefs' defense automatically.