#Danny is my favorite. i bounced up and down like 50 times
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
Visit Tumblr Blog
Explore Tumblr blogs with no restrictions, modern design and the best experience.
Last Seen Tumblr Blogs
Fun Fact
Tumblr is used by 21% of adults online aged 18-29 years.
Text
I'm a bit nervous to post my face on here, but here is me and my boyfriend at RCCC. (I'm Crowley/Egon/Herbert) I had the opportunity to meet both Nick Frost and Simon Pegg, and it was incredible! I had such a good fucking time. Enjoy my blog-relevant cosplays!
I GOT MY COPY OF HOT FUZZ AUTOGRAPHED.
#cosplay#gay#ship#crowley#rccc#aziraphale#ghostbusters#egon#ray stantz#nick frost#simon pegg#hot fuzz#hot fuzz is my favorite movie of all time#they were both so nice but especially Nick Frost!!#Danny is my favorite. i bounced up and down like 50 times
32 notes
·
View notes
Note
Next up for Nickelodeon era of shows, who is your favorite character from each of the early to mid 2000s Nicktoons shows you've seen like: The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius, Chalk Zone, All Grown Up, My Life as a Teenage Robot, Danny Phantom, Catscatch, The X's, and Avatar the Last Airbender?
Jimmy Neutron: This is the entry for jimmy neutron... gotta blast.. arf arf you know the rest. Faviorite character is Hugh, an easy pick I know, he was in ASB1 for a reason, but the fact the man can make any scene memorable by opening his mouth says something. Sheen is a close second. The show itself is great and having rewatched an episode recently, stay posted for that review, I was reminded how.. timeless it feels, it's 50 sci fi feel meaning that apart from some slight age on the cgi, it feels like it could slot in anywhere in time. It's got great jokes, a standout cast, and a really intresting lead who does screw up but more because he thinks he knows everything rather than being a jerk as is sometimes common in cartoons.
Chalk Zone: Hi hi hi to you all, who else could I pick i'ts gotta ne skrawl. Intriguing origin, hell of an introduction and a silky singing voice. It's concept was a tad dated even for the time, but I love chalkzone too much, from said concept allowing for endlessly creative ideas, to giving a character godlike powers in a way that isn't SUPER op. Truly great show, dearly miss it and i'm sad it probably won't be back in some form.
All Grown Up: I really wanna shout it out all grown up with you. God this block is stacked. Dil is the easy winner here. His plot lines were always funny, his weird friendship with vice principal pangborn that evolves from "He thinks their freinds" to "Actually they kinda are", and his easy charm: he gets flak from the twins for being weird as shit.. and just lets it bounce off either not noticing or more likely not carring. As for the series as a whole.. i'ts pretty good from what i remmeber. Admitley the kids ages are weird, probably should've bumped them up to all being 12, but the series itself is a lot of fun: it's neat seeing where everyone ended up, having Kimi and Dill get fleshed out more as characters, and see how they've changed and what hasn't. (I.e. Phil's still gross, but lil is growing out of it, Chucky's still anxious but ti's now more social anxiety, tommy's curosity has turned to filmaking. ) I'ts good stuff and something I should revisit , and should watch on this blog at some point.
My Life As a Teenage Robot: Her teenage robot, life. And this one was a bit hard. The series honestly has a great suply of characters but my pick is.. armagedroid. A bit left field as he basically has one appearnce.. but it's such a great concept: a giant robot designed to bring peace.. but not able to do so without destroying everything and his fight with Jenny is easily the series best as she's down to her HEAD fighting this monstrosity. The series itself is genius and one of Nick's best and how it was treated sucks hard. Jenny is a likeable, fun protaganist who will screw up, being a teen at all but in relatable ways, nicely blending slice of life teen issues with high concept robot shenanigans. I also like Brad quite a bit being a fun sidekick with extra points for not being shipped with the protaganist because 'THAT'S WHAT YOU DO I GUESS'. NOt saying it can't work (if we get to disney they had easily the best around this same time period), but god was it overdone. The series itself wasn't, having art deco style for days and is in need of a revivial stat.
Danny Phantom: Gonna catch em all because he's danny phantom gonna.. you get the bit. Vlad. Nick's best villian ever, and the perfect green goblin to danny's spider-man. His episodes tended to be the series best and martin mull, rip, was a dream as him. The series itself is a stellar superhero show, probably the best of this excellent era for them. It has some age spots (most of these shows do, you may sense a pattern), but it's a great action show with nice continuity, a killer rogues gallery and a nice sense of progression. It's top tier and reviewing a good chunk of it has only helped my opinon.
Catscratch: LALALALALALA CATSCRATTTTCHHH. This is one I need to revisit as I don't remember it well but it has an all star voice cast up front. I mean it has Wayne Knight , Kevin McDonald, and Rob Paulsen as your leads and Maurice LaMarche and Liliana Mumy as your supporting cast. What else do you need?
The X's: don't really have one. This isn't a bad one I just.. dont' remember it hardly at all other than having a great art style.
Avatar the Last Airbender; Sokka. Your faviorite jokey hot mess boy wins this one easier than he should> He was one of my faviorites as a kid, that stands now, Sokka deserved better in Korra. We deserved to see his kids if any. The show itself is one i've been meaning to revisit for years now and is one of Nick's best period: Gorgeous, has one of the best built worlds in fiction, well plotted aside from a few filler feeling episodes (Which i'm gunshy on as Steven Universe got this accusation FAR too often. You can't call every episode that's a break from the main plot filler.. but you can call some of avatar's side adventures filler for sure), including the one they outright mocked, and some shipping issues that were fine when I was a kid but now aged badly, everything else is immaculate and makes for good tv. There's a reason both this show had a second wave of popularity form netflix, and that both it's sequel and reamake have struggled to reach this level. Though Korra as we'll ge tto is still pretty good. More on that later.
#nickelodeon#jimmy neutron#danny phantom#my life as a teenager robot#chalkzone#all grown up#the x's#catscratch
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
THE CELESTIAL JUKEBOX, PRESENT TENSE - 250 SONGS
Again, some of this is personal and sentimental, linked to time and place and experience.
50 Cent, “Many Men (Wish Death)”
100 gecs, “800db cloud”
10,000 Maniacs, “Candy Everybody Wants”
Bryan Adams, “Everything I Do”
Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, “Spanish Flea”
America, “Sister Golden Hair”
Julie Andrews, “My Favorite Things”
Animal Collective, “Brother Sport”
Aphex Twin, “Tha”
Fiona Apple, “Extraordinary Machine”
Louis Armstrong, “What a Wonderful World”
Ash, “Shining Light”
Atlantic Starr, “Always”
Atlas Sound, “Washington School”
Autechre, “Vose In”
The B-52s, “Deadbeat Club”
Bananarama, “Cruel Summer”
The Beatles, “All My Loving”
Beck, “Girl”
Belle & Sebastian, “Seymour Stein”
Benoit & Sergio, “Boy Trouble”
Beyoncé, “Countdown”
Bikini Kill, “Alien She”
Bilal, “West Side Girl”
Bjork, “It’s Oh So Quiet”
Black Dice, “Pigs”
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, “Stop”
The Black-Eyed Peas, “Imma Be”
Blast Off Country Style, “Cutie Pie”
Blondie, “Heart of Glass”
The Bloodhound Gang, “Your Only Friends Are Make-Believe”
The Box Tops, “The Letter”
Brainiac, “I Am A Cracked Machine”
Michelle Branch, “Everywhere”
Laura Branigan, “Gloria”
The Breeders, “Off You”
Danny Brown, “Gremlins”
James Brown, “Get Up I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine”
Jackson Browne, “Somebody’s Baby”
Vanessa Carlton, “A Thousand Miles”
Harry Chapin, “Cat’s in the Cradle”
Tracy Chapman, “Fast Car”
The Carpenters, “Yesterday Once More”
Julian Casablancas and the Voidz, “Human Sadness”
The Chemical Brothers, “Free Yourself”
Chixdiggit!, “My Restaurant”
Cibo Matto, “Sunday, Pt. 1”
Ciara feat. Missy Elliott, “One, Two Step”
Clipse, “Dirty Money”
Jim Croce, “Operator”
Crosby, Stills, and Nash, “You Don’t Have To Cry”
Christopher Cross, “Ride Like the Wind”
Cryptacize, “Mythomania”
Crystal Castles, “Air War”
Culture Club, “Karma Chameleon”
Terrence Trent D’Arby, “Sign Your Name”
Daft Punk, “Around the World”
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, “Hold Tight”
Dead Kennedys, “Kill the Poor”
DeBarge, “The Rhythm of the Night”
Deerhoof, “+81”
Deerhunter, “Octet”
Depeche Mode, “Personal Jesus”
Dial, “Helium”
The Diplomats, “Dipset Anthem”
DMX, “Stop Being Greedy”
The Doobie Brothers, “Black Water”
Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg, “Nuthin’ But a G Thang”
The-Dream, “Love King”
Duran Duran, “Hungry Like The Wolf”
Bob Dylan, “Positively 4th Street”
The Eagles, “Lyin’ Eyes”
Eat Skull, “Cooking a Way to be Happy”
Elastica, “Connection”
The Everly Brothers, “All I Have to Do is Dream”
The Ben Folds Five, “The Battle of Who Could Care Less”
Eleanor Friedberger, “Stare at the Sun”
Eminem feat. Dido, “Stan”
Brian Eno, “Cindy Tells Me”
Eurythmics, “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)”
Extreme, “More Than Words”
The Fall, “Glam-Racket”
Roberta Flack, “Killing Me Softly With His Song”
Flipper, “Ha Ha Ha”
Dan Fogelberg, “Longer”
The Free Design, “The Proper Ornaments”
Fur, “Devil to the Lamb”
Garbage, “Only Happy When It Rains”
Judy Garland, “Over the Rainbow”
Kevin Gates, “Paper Chasers”
Ghostface Killah, “Shakey Dog”
Freddie Gibbs, “20 Karat Jesus”
Godspeed You! Black Emperor, “The Dead Flag Blues”
Gorillaz feat. De La Soul, “Feel Good Inc.”
Go Sailor, “I’m Still Crying”
Granddaddy, “A.M. 180”
Colleen Green, “I Want to Grow Up”
Green Day, “Basket Case”
Grimes, “REALITi”
Gucci Mane, “Break Ya Self (Brrrussia version)”
Guided By Voices, “Teenage FBI”
Harvey Danger, “Flagpole Sitta”
Helium, “XXX”
Keri Hilson, “Pretty Girl Rock”
Hole, “Malibu”
The Hollies, “All I Need Is The Air That I Breathe”
Michael Jackson, “Rock With You”
Jay-Z, “Hard Knock Life”
Henry Jacobs, “Guitar Lesson”
Jawbreaker, “Fireman”
Jeremih, “Oui”
Jewel, “Standing Still”
Jimmy Eat World, “Sweetness”
Billy Joel, “Uptown Girl”
Scott Joplin, “The Entertainer”
Journey, “Don’t Stop Believin’”
Juelz Santana, “Mixin’ up the Medicine”
R. Kelly feat. T.I. & T-Pain, “I’m a Flirt (Remix)”
Kool and the Gang, “Celebration”
Lana Del Rey, “Off to the Races”
Lagwagon, “May 16”
The Libertines, “Horror Show”
Limp Bizkit, “Re-Arranged”
Lindstrom, “Where You Go I Go Too”
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, “Lost in Emotion”
Lit, “My Own Worst Enemy”
The Lonely Island feat. T-Pain, “I’m on a Boat”
Lotus Plaza, “What Grows?”
Lower Dens, “Candy”
Courtney Love, “I’ll Do Anything”
Love As Laughter, “Idol Worship”
M.I.A, “Bamboo Banga”
Madonna, “Hung Up”
Madlib, “Mystic Bounce”
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, “Ramp of Death”
The Mamas and the Papas, “California Dreamin’”
John Mayer, “New Light”
Meek Mill, “Dreams and Nightmares Intro”
Men at Work, “Safety Dance”
George Michael, “Faith”
The Modern Lovers, “I’m Straight”
Modest Mouse, “Heart Cooks Brain”
The Moldy Peaches, “Nothing Came Out”
Chris Montez, “The More I See You”
Alanis Morissette, “Head Over Feet”
Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat, “Lucky”
MXPX, “Party, My House, Be There”
My Bloody Valentine, “You Never Should”
Nas, “The World Is Yours”
Johnny Nash, “I Can See Clearly Now”
Neu!, “Hallogallo”
New Order, “Subculture”
New Pornographers, “The Laws Have Changed”
Wayne Newton, “Danke Schoen”
Harry Nilsson, “Jump into the Fire”
Nine Inch Nails, “Wish”
Nirvana, “About a Girl”
The Notorious B.I.G., “Warning”
Maura O’Connell, “Summerfly”
The Orb, “Little Fluffy Clouds”
Panda Bear, “Mr Noah”
Pavement, “Harness Your Hopes (BBC Evening Session)”
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)”
Liz Phair, “Shane”
Pinhead Gunpowder, “I Am An Elephant”
The Platters, “Only You (And You Alone)”
The Pointer Sisters, “Jump”
Michael Praetorius, “Es ist ein Ros entsprungen”
Elvis Presley, “A Little Less Conversation”
Primal Scream, “Keep Your Dreams”
The Prodigy, “Breathe”
Propaghandi, “Anti-Manifesto”
Brian Protheroe, “Pinball”
Psychic Graveyard, “No”
Public Enemy, “Fight The Power”
Aileen Quinn, “Tomorrow”
Radiohead, “A Wolf at the Door”
Gerry Rafferty, “Right Down the Line”
Bonnie Raitt, “Something to Talk About”
The Ramones, “Chain Saw”
Otis Redding, “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay”
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, “In Motion”
Lou Reed and Metallica, “Junior Dad”
Rihanna feat. Jay-Z, “Umbrella”
Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, “Islands in the Stream”
The Rolling Stones, “Sympathy for the Devil”
Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram, “Somewhere Out There”
Rosemary Krust, “Private Amber”
Diana Ross, “Theme From Mahogany”
Roxy Music, “More Than This”
A Savage, “Eyeballs”
The Shangri-Las, “Leader of the Pack”
Shanice, “I Love Your Smile”
Ed Sheeran, “Thinking Out Loud”
Sightings, “Yellow”
The Silver Jews, “Blue Arrangements”
Alan Silvestri, “The Back to the Future theme”
Paul Simon, “Kodachrome”
Ashlee Simpson, “Pieces of Me”
Slade, “Cum On Feel the Noize”
The Smashing Pumpkins, “Here’s to the Atom Bomb (New Wave version)”
The Soft Pink Truth, “Do They Owe Us A Living?”
Sonic Youth, “Jams Run Free”
Jordan Sparks and Chris Brown, “No Air”
Spoon, “The Mystery Zone”
Starving Weirdos, “Land Lines”
Stereolab, “Plastic Mile”
The Strokes, “12:51”
Swell Maps, “Let’s Build A Car”
Taylor Swift, “Style”
Stylophonic, “R U Experienced”
Jazmine Sullivan, “Mascara”
Suicidal Tendencies, “Institutionalized”
Taco, “Puttin’ on the Ritz”
James Taylor, “You’ve Got a Friend”
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”
Throwing Muses, “Not Too Soon”
TLC, “Baby-Baby-Baby”
Tortoise, “Djed”
The Toys, “A Lover’s Concerto”
John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, “Summer Nights”
A Tribe Called Quest, “Can I Kick It?”
UB40, “Red Red Wine”
Joe Walsh, “Life’s Been Good”
Scott Weiland, “Paralysis”
Steely Dan, “Do It Again”
Stiff Little Fingers, “Suspect Device”
Stylophonic, “RU Experienced?”
T.I., “What You Know”
Mary Timony, “Blood Tree”
that dog., “I’m Gonna See You”
The Tymes, “So Much In Love”
Ultimate Painting, “Out in the Cold”
The Unicorns, “Child Star”
The Velvet Underground, “The Gift”
Waka Flocka Flame, “Hard in da Paint”
Ween, “Even If You Don’t”
Weezer, “Endless Bummer”
Kanye West, “Devil in a New Dress (G.O.O.D. Fridays version)”
WHAM!, “Wake Me Up (Before You Go-Go)”
White Hassle, “Oh, What a Feeling”
Matthew Wilder, “Break My Stride”
Bill Withers, “Lean on Me”
Wolf Eyes, “Human Animal”
Stevie Wonder, “My Cherie Amour”
Wye Oak, “Siamese”
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Maps”
Yo La Tengo, “My Heart’s Reflection”
Zaimph, “Removing Bits of History”
The Zombies, “Time of the Season”
18 notes
·
View notes
Text
Greta Van Fleet Preferences
HOW YOU MEET
——————————
Danny:
How you meet
“Ill be out here when you're ready to show me” your friend calls , knocking on your dressing room door. You give a simple “ok” as a reply and begin to undress. You're going to a wedding this weekend and your friend is helping you find something to wear, she found her dress weeks ago, you struggled in the fashion department.
Your eyes fell on the dress your friend had picked out for you. It was a very gentle pink color and came down to your mid thigh, it was tight not flowy which was far from your normal attire. It looked nice enough but the price tag frightened you. You pulled it off the hanger and shimmied into it. Honestly, you thought you looked great, perhaps you should step outside your comfort zone more often when it came to clothing. The dress hugged your curves , which made you feel insecure but it's a wedding so no one will be looking at you, all eyes on the bride, hopefully. You fix your hair and pose for yourself, it was comfortable, surprisingly. Ok time to show her.
“So what do you think of this one? I kinda like it!” you say as you swing the changing room door open, your gaze looking down at the dress.
“Yeah you look great” a man's voice responds, your heart jumps and you lift your head quickly. Your face burns red as your friend is nowhere in sight. In her place is a tall dark haired man casually looking through some belts. Your shoulders drop as you curse yourself. Idiot.
“Oh i'm sorry! My friend said she'd be waiting out here for me” you reply with a smile, trying to pretend like you didnt feel like throwing yourself off a bridge. The man chuckles “oh yeah she left , said there was a cute guy that walked by” he answered looking towards the front of the store. God that is just like her, chasing after some dude.
“It really does look nice on you” the man says again. You smile and look down at yourself “you think so? I usually don't wear this sort of thing, but i'm going to a wedding” you explain with a chuckle. He nods, his eyes have not left you.
“Yeah you look awesome, I think you should get it” he speaks reassuringly.
“Holy fuck!” you exclaim then quickly cover your mouth, you didn't mean to be that loud. The man laughs and steps closer to you as you look at the price tag hanging from the hem of the dress.
“This fuckin thing is 400$?! Jesus christ , I could make my own dress for 50$” you joke. Your shoulders sink, you really wanted this dress. The man laughs loudly.
“You're funny,” he chimes. He looks at your face, painted with disappointment.
“Hey I could - I could buy it for you” he offers. You look at him in awe.
“Its…….400 dollars….Why would you do that for me? You dont have to do that its just a stupid dress im sure I can find a cheaper one” You respond waving his idea away with your hand.
“It's ok , I can afford it, I want you to have it” he insists. You don't know what to say , you just look at him.
“On one condition though” he adds with a smile.
“Yeah what?” you ask.
“You have to take me as your date” he says shyly
———————————————————————
Jake:
Ok just breathe, you're fine , everythings fine. You tell yourself as your heart pounds in your chest. You were at an amusement park and about to go on the biggest roller coaster they had due to a dare from your friends, who were watching safely from the ground. Some random man is sitting in the seat beside you as two people had to share a cart. He didn't seem nervous and you wished you could be as relaxed as him.
“Hey are you alright?” he asks , as if he knew you were thinking about him.
“Oh um yeah im-im ok” you lied your mouth going dry. He smiles at you and watches you for a moment.
“Are you though? Cuz your leg is shaking pretty vigorously there” he points out, his eyes falling to your body. You hadn't even noticed you were bouncing your leg anxiously.
You stop.
“I'm sorry , I'm just a bit nervous I suppose, I'm kind of scared of roller coasters” you explain with a sheepish smile.
“Kinda weird to go on the biggest one here then right?” he responds you chuckle at his remark.
“Yeah my friends dared me, they are down there” you say pointing in their direction. He looks down and sees a small group of people looking up at you. The wind blew and you looked up at the clouds in search of comfort and solace.
“Well My Name is Jake, and i've been on this ride a million times, you're going to be ok” He says with a reassuring tone of voice. He could sense how scared you actually were even though you tried your hardest to shrug it off.
“Thanks Jake…..that helps. I’m (y/n) by the way its nice to meet you.” you reply smiling, feeling slightly better. Jake was a good distraction, he was gorgeous, chestnut brown hair that fell to his broad shoulders. Enticing eyes that made you wanna know more about him and his voice was sweet and soothing. You couldn't help but wonder what he thought about you. The feeling of the ride jolting under you ripped you from your daydream like state.
“Oh fuck” you mutter , feeling your heart rate rise again. Jake smiles and grabs your hand gently.
“It's gonna be ok” he smiles
———————————————————————
Sam:
Finally it was time to go to study hall, your last class of the day. You used this class to get your assignments from the day done. You headed to your desk but something catches your eye on your way. You look down at another student , you wracked your brain trying to remember his name. He was reading one of your all time favorite books, which surprised you , most people hadn’t even heard of the book before. You had to say something.
“Hey! I love that book” you say with a smile. The guy looks up at you with an equally excited facial expression.
“Oh yeah , it’s a great book, this is like the third time I’ve read it” he replies. You laugh, and nod.
“Yeah it’s such an awesome book, I’ve never met another person that likes it” you say.
“Sorry what was your name again?” You add.
“I’m Sam” he smiles.
“I’m (y/n)” you introduce , you both look in each other’s eyes and appreciate that moment. His eyes glinted with interest making you blush.
“Uh well maybe we could get together some time and talk about the book” he says stuttering slightly, moving his hair from his face gracefully, you watched it as it fell to his sides like a curtain.
“That would be awesome, here I’ll give you my number” you say quickly fishing for a piece of paper from your back pack. You jot your number down in neat hand writing and handed it to him. He looked so happy, he thanks you as he takes the paper.
“Alright class sit down” the teacher announces as she enters the room. You look to her and then back down to Sam before gesturing towards your seat, Sam nods and winks at you before you take your seat.
———————————————————————-
Josh:
Your eyes scanned the shelves looking for Almond flour, you were going to try your hand at making home made macarons. You loved to bake , you did it whenever you had free time and you never made the same thing twice. You smile when your eyes land on the last bag of almond flour , you happily pluck it from the shelf until you see the ridiculous price tag. Why is healthy shit so expensive? You shook your head at the thought and made your way down the aisle. You looked up seconds before a man was about to bump into you, neither of you saw each other.
“Oh sorry” you say taking a step to your right , you laugh as he takes a step to his left thus getting in your way again.
“Oops” he chimes stepping to the other side the same time as you.
“I’ll go left you go right” you giggle , he thinks to himself , eyes looking up to the ceiling before taking a step in the wrong direction.
“No your other right��� you laugh. He smiles “sorry” he says palming his forehead.
“No worries” you reply stepping around him.
“Oh hey!” He calls a second later.
“I think you dropped this” he adds holding out a package of frosting bags.
“Oh thanks” you smile grabbing them from him, his eyes fall to your basket of items.
“Oh thanks” you smile grabbing them from him, his eyes fall to your basket of items. You tuck your hair behind your ears and look down at your basket as well.
“Uh well I like to bake yeah - I- I don’t know if I would go as far as to say I’m a baker” you chuckle.
“Do you bake a lot?” He asks simply.
You nod.
“Well that sounds like a baker to me” he smiles with a curt nod.
“Yeah good point , you got me there” you reply , you could feel your cheeks warming , you were blushing but you weren’t sure why.
“Are you a baker as well?” You ask.
“Oh no I should not be allowed near an oven” he jokes “I’m just lost, you wouldn’t happen to know where the Oreos are would you?” He asks gesturing towards the store.
“Oh yeah they’re in Aisle 12” you chime pointing in the general direction.
“Cool thanks” he smiles.
“Ya know I actually have an event coming up for a friend, I don’t know if maybe you’d wanna bake a cake for him? It’s for his birthday , we’re having a surprise party ” he explains somewhat haphazardly.
“I’d pay you” he adds.
Sold.
“Sure I’d love to!-“ you begin.
“Ok cool, so should we like exchange info?” He asks , his pointer finger gesturing from him to you.
“Yeah that’s a good idea , that way we can over specific details like size and flavor of the cake” you nod as he pulls his phone out. You recite your number to him and his eyes flicker up to you
“What’s your name?” He asks softly.
“Oh sorry! I’m (y/n)” you answer.
“(Y/n) cool ,I’m Josh” he smiles.
Josh.
Later you’re in your apartment, the delicate scent of raspberry macarons fills the air as they cool on your counter.
Your phone beeps in your pocket and you slip it out.
“Hey it’s Josh from the baking aisle, there is no event. I think you’re super pretty...and that’s why I wanted your number but I wasn’t sure how to ask. I hope you aren’t mad , I just didn’t know how to ask” You read the message and smile, and honestly you were kind of relived he was fibbing. Catering events made you nervous.
“Thanks Josh! Of course I’m not mad, I totally understand being nervous about stuff like that” you reply.
“Oh good, if I ever do need a cake you’ll be the first person I ask” he texts back , you smile.
“Ya know I actually just took some macarons out of the oven, wanna come over and be my taste tester?” You send back. Your heart warms at the thought of making a new friend , and a cute one at that.
#greta van fleet#gvf#preferences#jake kiszka#josh kiszka#sam kiszka#danny wagner#danny gvf#jake gvf#josh gvf#sam gvf
40 notes
·
View notes
Text
Forget Me Not Jim Mason x Reader 50 First Dates AU Pt 7
@michael-langdon-appreciation
February had given way to May and long-weekend fair and picnic was nearly perfect. Local ranchers and farmers were done enough of the spring planting to take a moment and actually relax. The rest of Palos Verdes that could shut down for part of the day did, and the weather usually cooperated.
It was one of Y/N's favorite community events. Like hibernating animals crawling from their dens to discover the world had become shiny and fresh all over again. She was more like a bloated balloon than a thin blade of spring grass. The baby was taking up more and more room in the bulkhead that had become her stomach, but her changing body didn’t bother her too much. The kid needed room to grow, yet the timing for her due date meant she wouldn’t be hauling a huge belly around all hot, sweaty summer long.
Or maybe best of all? Jim didn’t seem to mind one bit. He'd been attentive and caring, and oh-my-gawd intensely involved for the last three months.
She'd been surprised when her interest in sex hadn’t decreased as her girth widened, but maybe the nonstop caresses and massages had something to do with that. He'd all but moved in with her. Fixed the damages caused by Rick then they'd both set out to ignore the other man. The restraining order had been a sad but necessary step.
Jim paced beside her, his fingers linked through hers as they strolled the fairgrounds, the scent of buttery popcorn and new-mown grass mixing into a sort of holiday-themed perfume.
"Move over, dude." Medina shoved her way between them, linking her hands over both their elbows. "I take it we won't be attempting any ride records on the Zipper this year, hey, Y/N?"
Oh, lord, no. "I can only imagine what that would do to the kid. If you want to challenge your stomach, sweet-talk someone else into riding with you."
Medina squeezed her arm. "Perfect. That's what I hoped you'd say." She stepped forward, boldly tugging Jim with her. "Hey."
He resisted her takeover. "Not me."
Y/N laughed. "Go on if you want to. I'll wander for a bit."
"Nope. I'm here with you,” Jim insisted. His eyes lit with mischief. "Hey, Alex. You still scared of heights?"
Her brother sauntered into view, corndog in one hand, burger in the other. "You smoke something funny over here? I'm not afraid of heights."
"Good to hear." Jim darted a quick glance at Y/N. "Then you can take Medina on the Zipper."
Medina dug her fingers into Jim’s side briefly, and Y/N attempted not to laugh out loud. She joined him in the tease, complete seriousness in her voice. "That’s a good idea. I usually ride with her, but this year the poor girl is simply lost without me."
"With friends like you two, who needs enemies?" Medina muttered. Then she turned her bright smile on Viserys. "So, whad'ya say? Shall we go flip ourselves around and show the teenagers how it's done?"
Alex gave them a dirty look before gesturing Medina ahead of him toward the fair rides set up in the corner of the grounds. Y/N and Jim managed to wait until the other two were out of hearing range before bursting into laughter. "That was sheer brilliance," Y/N praised him.
Jim caught her fingers in his. “Alex likes her. I don't know what his problem is."
“Medina's a bit ...exuberant at times. Bet they'll figure it out eventually." Y/N got sidetracked by the sight of an art display. "Come on, I want to look closer at this." One of the locals who had an art studio had displays of her work set up on easels, and Y/N slipped in closer to chat with Sandy for a while. The other woman had far more experience, with an art show or two under her belt. Y/N loved that there were people she could turn to for help as her new interests continued to grow.
Jim let her go, striding over to the next tent where a group of guys had gathered to shoot the breeze.
Sandy smiled. "Hey, good to see you again. Name is Sandy if you've lost it."
Y/N accepted a brief hug. "You're so lovely. Also, thank you for not saying,‘haven’t you had that baby yet?' People should have to give me a quarter every time they mutter that phrase."
"You're not ready to pop," Sandy teased.
"Four weeks left." Y/N admired the painting in front of her, with two cowboys sitting easily on the backs of their horses. "Your work is amazing."
The woman grinned harder. "I have great inspiration." They both turned without a word to stare across the yard. Y/N took a moment to admire Sandy’s men, Rolando and Jack, but her gaze moved quickly to Jim. "I'll say. I think I need to suggest another practice session of nude sketches. To work on my anatomy lines."
Sandy chuckled. "Dirty girl. I knew I liked you for a reason." They exchanged smiles then visited for a bit longer before Y/N wandered off. Jim was still busy talking to his friends, so she waited outside the cookhouse and chatted with the ladies there. Familiar faces-at times names eluded her, but her problem didn't bother her nearly so much anymore.
The people who mattered knew how to help her, and the people who didn't know, she got around. Life had changed a lot since the previous fall. The kid rolling awkwardly inside her was only part of it as elbows or knees dug into her bladder at the most inopportune moments.
It was bigger things. She was more confident than she used to be. More determined to do what was right for her and the baby. More in tune with the man who had come into her life in a powerful way.
HE WATCHED HER. All the time Jim laughed and joked with his friends, he kept an eye on Y/N. Loving the moments where she smiled in response to a comment, her entire face shining with happiness and joy. He got to see her like that more often these days, and her enthusiasm thrilled him.
A hand clamped down on his shoulder. "You're obsessed with my sister," Chad poked.
"Not even going to deny it."
Chad grumbled. "No fun to tease you anymore. You're all Y/N all the time."
"Tease Adrian instead," Danny suggested. "He's got a cop on his tail. One more ticket, bro, and she’s going to impound your bike and slap your ass in jail for a couple nights."
Adrian didn't answer, just eyed Eli as she strolled through the crowd patrolling the fairgrounds, her uniform far more wrinkled than usual. Jim wondered briefly if something was going on he wasn't aware of.
He'd been so focused on Y/N and his conversation that he almost missed it. A familiar face popped out briefly from behind the corner of the cookhouse. "Was that Rick?" he snapped.
Chad twirled. "Where? He's not supposed to be anywhere near Y/N."
There was no one there. "I'm seeing things," Jim mumbled. Only he still left the tent, glancing around closely. He passed Alex and Medina returning from the rides.
Medina's cheeks flushed from excitement. She slowed as he passed her. "Jim? What's up?"
He ignored her, pacing forward. Fucker. It was Rick, now leaning on the outside of the cookhouse and staring intently at Y/N. The expression on Rick’s face suggested his attention wasn’t a good thing.
"Oh my God, that’s Rick." Medina slapped Jim on the shoulder rapidly a dozen times, her voice shaking as she ran along beside him. "What's he doing here? What's he doing?"
Jim wasn’t going to wait for something bad to happen. He stormed across the clearing between tents, headed straight for the troublemaker. He grabbed Rick by the back of the shirt and jerked him off his feet. "What the hell? You're not welcome here."
Rick scrambled to free himself from Jim's grip, seams shredding as he broke free and stumbled into the crowd. He used the people around him to pull himself upright and whirl toward Jon. "Bastard,” he snarled. "You think you’re so much better than me, but you're the biggest loser here. A liar and a killer, and you don't deserve to be with someone like Y/N."
Jim lifted his fists and widened his stance. Rick wanted a fight? Bring it on. Medina slipped into his peripheral vision, standing well back from them both. "Jim. I called the police and they'll be"
"Police? Why the fuck did you do that for?" Panic streaked across Rick’s face, and he surged forward, only this time toward Y/N, one hand raised threateningly in the air.
“Y/N watch out," Medina shouted.
Jim lost it. He threw himself in front of Y/N as a protective wall, and Rick bounced off him. "Back off," Jim warned.
Rick exploded, punishing Jim with a flurry of fists. He wrapped an arm around Jim and jolted forward, the two of them staggering into the crowd as people screamed and attempted to run away. Y/N cried out, his name escaping her in pained gasp. The sound barreled through him, a terrifying echo from his past when he'd been too late to make a difference.
Jim went numb. Y/N. He had to protect Y/N.
Rick wasn’t supposed to be here, not this close to Y/N, but the man obviously didn't care about the law. Jim ignored the fist smashing against his face, instead pushed forward and did his best to move Rick farther from his target. Pain ignored, the shimmer of stars floating past his eyes ignored. All that mattered was keeping Y/N safe.
Around them people continued to shout, but Jim didn't stop. Didn't stop until he was on the ground, and even then he clutched Rick tightly, refusing to allow the man to escape. He didn’t swing his fists-didn't attack. Just held on and took the assault as he kept Rick away from Y/N.
"Jim, you ass, let him go," Chad shouted from somewhere close by.
The shouting and noise seemed to be dropping, but the adrenaline racing through him kept his grip firm. "No, he'll hurt Y/N."
"No one is going to hurt Y/N." Chad’s big hands pushed down on his shoulders. "Jeez, man. The PVPD are right here. Let him go so they don’t rip off his arms."
Jim relaxed. Rick was lifted off him, rapidly pulled to his feet and away from where Jim remained on the ground.
Chad offered a hand and pulled him upright, bracing him for a moment as everything spun. Jim's eyes wouldn't focus for a minute, and he blinked hard. “Y/N. Where's Y/N?" he demanded.
"Settle down,” Chad ordered. "She’s over there."
Jim whipped his head to check she was okay, nearly falling over he moved so fast. "Thank God, you're safe. You okay?"
Her face had gone white, and her hands were draped protectively around her belly. She nodded, leaning against Medina as her friend pulled her into a hug.
A few feet away Eli stood guarding a handcuffed Rick. Her partner Trace stood beside Jim, while other PVPD worked to calm the crowd. "I’ll be back in a minute." Eli spoke softly.
"Jim, don’t leave before we talk to you, understand?"
Jim nodded, and Eli turned to lead Rick to the police car.
Trace interrupted her departure. "Wait. I hate to do this in light of what just happened, but I have no choice." He reached into his jacket and pulled out a long envelope, passing it to Jim.
This wasn’t the time. "I need to see Y/N," Jim protested. Trace forced the paper into his hand. "Read it, now,” he ordered.
"You had it coming," Rick gloated. "Stay away from my woman, Mason."
Oh shit. That couldn't be good. Jim ripped the top off the envelope and frantically opened the paper. The words made no sense, though. "This... This can't be right."
He had to be seeing things.
"What is it?" Y/N asked, stepping closer.
Trace held up a hand, undeniable reluctance twisting his expression. "I'm sorry, Y/N. You can’t come any closer than that, I'm afraid."
Jim held the papers to Chad. "Did Rick hit me harder than I thought? How can this be legal?"
It was Trace who answered. "They were delivered this morning."
"It's for your own safety, Y/N." Rick had put on the act again; all calm and mature, as if he hadn't just tried to attack her. "For our baby."
Trace motioned to Eli. "Take him away, I'll deal with this."
Everyone fell silent as a laughing Rick was guided off the fairgrounds, Eli's firm grip on his shoulder.
Jim's gaze met Y/N's-her panic and upset so clear he nearly ignored everyone around them and stomped across the space separating them, papers be damned. "Jim? What's going on?" she asked.
Chad walked over to give his sister the papers, wrapping an arm around her. The expression on Y/N’s face as she read them scared him more than the sight of Rick stalking her had.
"It's a restraining order against Jim," Trace explained to Y/N. "Using Jim's history, Rick went in front of a judge and filed a complaint. He said he had concerns that you and your baby might be in danger, especially if it’s discovered that the baby is actually his."
"That’s bullshit,” Medina snapped. "How can Rick get a restraining order on Jim? That’s up to Y/N, not anyone else."
Trace shook his head. "Except in special circumstances. Here in PV, this is a civil-court matter. If there's a reasonable belief that a claim is valid, exceptions can be made. The judge agreed there was a possibility of danger considering Jim was involved in a violent incident as a youth."
"Violent incident ...? He was trying to save his mom." Y/N shook the papers. "This is wrong, and the only reason Rick did it was to control me and hurt Jim."
Trace sighed. “There’s nothing I can do. Jim can go in front of a judge to protest, but until it's overruled, the order stands until the baby is born and the paternity test is complete."
Chad was back by Jim’s side, offering support. Jim rested a hand on his friend’s shoulder, the world swirling between pain and frustration.
Fear still shone in Y/N's eyes, and Jim felt it to his very soul. "I can't be with Y/N?"
"I’m sorry, no. No contact over the phone or Internet either. No communication. It’s a full restriction, and if you break it, you can be arrested."
Jim wanted to shout in rage even though that was the worst possible idea at the moment. Fury against Rick shot through him like living flames, but his hands were tied.
He was trapped.
Across from him, Y/N faced Trace. "I need to talk to you for a minute." The PVPD looked confused, but he nodded. "Go on." She spoke clearly, her voice the only sound as everyone around them hushed to silence once more. “Rick went too far. I'm going to do everything possible to make sure he gets no contact with my baby, even if he is the biological dad. He's dangerous."
Sweet relief poured through Jim. Her voice quivered for a second, those beautiful eyes of hers filling with tears, but she still lifted her chin and continued. "Tell Jim not to break the order. Contact the judge to see if he can get it lifted, but if he can't, I want him to wait it out. It's only for a little while. It sucks and it's wrong, and if Rick were still here I'd be the first one to knock him on his ass for doing this to us, but it's not worth going to jail for. I'll be fine, and within a month we'll be past this and we'll go on with our lives."
Such strength and power in her small frame, Jim was nearly overwhelmed by the display. "Hey, Trace?" he called. The PVPD turned his way. "Yes?"
Jim followed Y/N’s lead. "Tell Y/N I’m going to do everything I can."
"I know ..." she answered, not looking away from Trace. He shook his head. "Guys, you have to stop this. It's time to move on."
They faced each other across the distance that before had seemed like nothing but was now as large a barrier as the Narrow Sea. Tears streaked down her cheeks as she gazed sorrowfully one final time before walking toward the parking lot.
Jim's soul crumbled into dust. "How could this happen?" he whispered. "It's not right, to leave her all alone. I wanted to protect her. I need to protect her ..."
The murmur of voices rose as Medina stepped to his side. She laid her hand on his arm. "I'll go with her. I know it's not what you really want, but somehow we'll get through this."
"Go-” he urged.
Medina quick-stepped across the field to rejoin Y/N, slipping an arm around her. Y/N leaned her head on her friend’s shoulder, and they walked slowly, disappearing from sight around the corner.
All the happiness and joy Jim had finally allowed himself to grasp slipped away like ashes being blown from an abandoned fire pit.
5 notes
·
View notes
Text
THE GREAT CRUNCHYROLL NARUTO REWATCH Begins with Episodes 1-7!
*guitar*
*shadows*
COME ON!
Welcome to The Great Crunchyroll Naruto Rewatch! I'm Nate, and I'll be your host this week as we make our way through all 220 episodes of the original Naruto. Last week, I told you how all this worked, but everybody who's new I'll go over things one more time.
Each week, we'll be watching SEVEN EPISODES of the original Naruto, and sharing our thoughts on them interview-style every Friday at 5pm PST.
This week, we're starting things off with episodes 1-7, featuring an introduction to everyone's favorite super-loud orange ninja, the rest of our main cast, and this world of ninja that they inhabit. Things move pretty quickly--it's not long before Naruto's assigned to Team 7, they have their first real test against their teacher and commander Kakashi, and they face their first life-or-death fights against the Demon Brothers and Zabuza!
But, before we discuss these episodes, let's take a look at the comments and questions that you had from our last installment!
The number one question we got last week was a simple one: ARE WE GOING TO SKIP THE FILLER?
No. We are not skipping the filler.
You may skip the filler, but be sure to tune in to see our reactions to it... there's gonna be a lot down the road.
Now, let's see what the Crunchyroll Features team thought of this week's episodes!
Alright, this is where it all starts--I know a bunch of you are new to Naruto. How did actually watching it compare to your expectations?
Paul: Judging from my previous experiences with the fans, I was expecting Naruto (both the show and the titular character) to be a little more meat-headed and hyper-masculine. Instead, the show sets a laser focus on evoking sympathy with a protagonist who wants to be the best in the world simply so people will recognize him. I didn't anticipate such feelings of internalized inadequacy from the shouty, fighty shonen hero.
Peter: I’m rewatching and also decided to read the manga alongside. So far I’m really impressed by how strong Kishimoto’s aesthetic was from the outset. The environments and character designs are all unmistakeable and his action is like this perfect combination of piece-by-piece panels and splashes. I like the anime’s additions, especially some extra Naruto/Konohamaru scenes which drive home the difference in how they’re treated and an early Ino intro that sets up her rivalry with Sakura.
Kevin: I was one of the people watching the original Cartoon Network run of the show’s dub back somewhere around 2003 or 2004. Going back and rewatching, I forgot how much the early parts of the show focus on Naruto’s emotional struggle, first of not being accepted by anyone and just trying to get attention, then how he feels about his various failings as a ninja. As a result, the stakes aren’t as high, but it feels like a much more personal story.
Jared: I completely missed out on Naruto after dropping off anime around 2003, but going in I was more expecting it to follow a similar structure to other shonen shows I’ve seen. From the start, the opening episode completely shattered any expectations I had with how tight the entire episode was woven together with regards to its narrative, characterizations, and how much info it packed into 24 minutes. Outside of that, I think I’d missed out on knowing that Naruto can act like a brat early on in the series.
Joseph: I’m in an interesting position, because I watched maybe 40 episodes of this a decade ago and I’ve read around 50 volumes of the manga. I will say I was surprised at how nostalgic it felt to watch this compared to, say, Shippuden, which has a much different vibe. It’s also impressive how much groundwork is laid for the entire series via Kishimoto’s designs and world and the way the anime adapted it.
Carolyn: I was very surprised at how quickly they dove into Naruto’s backstory. I have seen the show many years ago and didn’t seem to remember that such a “big reveal” occurred so quickly. I… honestly find the story quite boring and hard to keep my attention focused on, I guess I’m just not super invested in the characters. However, I can absolutely see seeds of how this show has affected and inspired many that came after it. I hadn’t really noticed that when watching other anime, but going back and rewatching Naruto makes that pretty clear. Also, I am cracking up at the totally rad ‘80s Breakfast Club-esque opening sequence. I didn’t remember that music at all.
Noelle: Naruto was one of my first encounters with manga when I first really started getting into it, but it’s been a long time since I touched it. I read the whole thing, but I never reread it, so a lot of instances I completely forgot about. For example, I forgot how kind of gruesome it was at the start, focusing on serious injuries instead of just fantasy violence. At the same time, I’m impressed how strong the characters are established, along with themes such as kindness and proving yourself that will resonate throughout the entire series.
Kara: I was five years out of college when Naruto started, and I remember in the circles I ran in it was Not The Done Thing to be into it. I can’t remember if it was because it was considered a “casual’s anime” or if it was based on run-ins with cosplayers at conventions. Likely a little of both. Watching it has been a lot more chill than I expected, and while I see a lot of the tropes I figured I’d see, it looks like it’s leading somewhere interesting.
David: I basically grew up with Naruto, but I fell off of it in high school so it’s been more than a decade since the last time I actually watched an episode or read a chapter. Comparing it to my expectations, it’s much more focused than I recall--the first episode could stand alone as a very emotionally effective short story, for example. Kakashi is still the only side character who seems to have a lot of thought put into their long-term character arc, though.
Daniel: I like it, though Naruto has always kind of been a blind spot for me. I’ve seen a decent chunk of it, but it’s always kind of been background noise, something to have on so that when people ask me “Do you only watch One Piece?”, I can say “NUH UH. I ALSO WATCH THIS ONE ABOUT ANOTHER LOUD BOY.” That said, actually paying attention to it, it’s pretty fun. I dig Kishimoto’s world building, and the environment that he’s set up. I’m really interested in finally figuring out why so many people adopted this show as their gospel.
Danni W: I actually did watch the first dozen or so episodes of Naruto around six or seven years ago, so this was more of a refresher than anything. It never quite clicked with me the first time, so I was surprised to find I enjoyed it more this time around. I think it helped that the show gets real pretty immediately. We’re only seven episodes in and Naruto has already had to face real combat three separate times. The characters aren’t enough to hook me yet, so the early doses of action have made for a good on ramp for me.
I've always enjoyed how Naruto hangs on to its emotional core, and we see that very strongly in the first few episodes. What did you all think of this part of the story?
Paul: I'm not fully invested yet in the emotional stakes of the series, mostly because I don't really know the scope and scale of the world that Naruto inhabits. Why are these children being trained to be spies and assassins from such a young age? What dangers does the outside world present such that it prompts entire villages to weaponize their kids?
Peter: I feel like I never gave Iruka enough credit in retrospect, maybe because his act was the first in what later emerged as the series core. Without him, Naruto probably would have been another Gaara. I also never realized that Naruto is wearing Iruka’s headband the entire damn story. After Naruto’s hand stab I’m trying to remember if grand masculine gestures are regularly mocked as an inverse toward the important compassionate gestures, so I’m planning to track that moving forward.
Kevin: While I like seeing the cool techniques and fights from later in the show, going back to the beginning and seeing much more of a focus on each character’s internal conflicts is an interesting change, giving each of their actions a bit more personal weight. It’s not inherently better or worse, just a different focus on the same story.
Jared: It really seemed like a great way to start the series and let people know from the onset that this is a story that deals heavily with empathy. I figured eventually the series would go that route, but to do it immediately sets a tone that allows for these characters like Naruto to instantly have layers that otherwise might take a long time to see. With the show really bouncing between emotional moments and comedy pretty frequently, I’m curious whether it’ll continue that or try and lean more in one direction or the other.
Joseph: Naruto is the most three-dimensional character in these first episodes, mostly because we haven’t had much time to delve into the stories that drive Sakura and Sasuke. I think they do a great job of making Naruto sympathetic, which makes up for his brattiness. One other thing I appreciate is that they make it clear from the outset that being a ninja isn’t just cartoonishly huge shuriken fun and games. People die on the regular here, and Naruto and the rest of his upstart era would do well do remember that before taking the next steps.
Carolyn: Just let Naruto live! Everyone is so mean to the poor kid. Again, I was surprised at how quickly they jump into this and I have a feeling it is what kept me watching the first time around. They do a good job of making you feel empathy for Naruto even when he is being totally obnoxious.
Noelle: While I remember pretty vividly the general plot, I don’t remember a lot of the small moments that make up a scene. Naruto is set up really well, and I to this day really enjoy that he’s not just cast as a quirky problem child with no future, but someone who genuinely wants to be acknowledged, and acting out is the easiest way to get attention. Knowing how things end up, seeing everyone at the start and how they are introduced is a good refresher and sets up a lot later on. At its heart, this really is a story about teamwork, empathy, and growing up.
Kara: It’s been all right—some cute and funny bits, and I like what action scenes we’ve had. From a writing standpoint, it feels like (except for Naruto himself) everyone’s categorized largely by wanting to be the Hokage, wanting to kill someone, or having a crush on someone. But I can also see that we’re quickly moving forward from that. Being on the News team means educating myself fast about unfamiliar shows, and the wildest thing to me has been seeing Hinata in the background crushing on Naruto when I just recently posted an article about her wedding figure.
David: Iruka and Naruto’s relationship has to be my favorite single part from this section. Iruka is given every reason to not like or just give up on this kid, yet he sticks up for him the whole time (while also never letting him slack--no free pass on the exams for Naruto!). Kakashi is setting up to be a good role model, too, but I’ll definitely miss how intimate Iruka’s care for Naruto is.
Daniel: You can really sympathize with Naruto because he’s the “chosen one” character without being a prodigy. He isn’t impressive right out of the gate, but he has the potential to be impressive. I think you can relate to him easier than, say, Goku, who is ready to dropkick most of the world the first time you meet him. That feeling of being meant for bigger things, but still struggling to even get on the path to those bigger things is pretty powerful.
Danni: I think it’s showing some promise. I really appreciate the lengths it goes to explain why Naruto is a troublemaker in the first place. He can be pretty annoying, but the reasons for that are mostly justified. In the end, he’s a victim. I like that Sasuke can already see that and identify with him in that respect. They both have a lot of trauma to work though in the next *checks notes* few hundred episodes.
I know we're really early in, but have there been any standout moments or characters so far?
Paul: I know everybody else is probably going to go with Kakashi as the standout character, but also cool as Kakashi may be, my heart goes out to Akimichi Choji, the chubby ninja who is stuffing his face with potato chips in Episode 3. I also like the design of the oversized shurikens and other exaggerated weapons, and I dig the visual aesthetic of the Village Hidden in the Leaves.
Peter: This question is kind of hard to answer since I’m retracing old ground but I definitely did not recall Sakura being such a little shithead. Completely forgot her putting her foot in her mouth with Sasuke saying Naruto’s a troublemaker because he’s an orphan. Funnily enough, I think her hating Naruto for who he is rather than what he represents is a really important connection between the two.
Kevin: Naruto freezing up in his first real fight and then stabbing himself, swearing that he’ll never be a burden again was a scene that I feel is an exemplar of how the early story focuses more on Naruto’s emotional journey, rather than just trying to fight increasingly strong bad guys, but still has the kind of payoffs that the audience can rally behind.
Jared: Iruka is a good dude who really wants what’s best for Naruto, even if it means taking an oversized shuriken to the back. Naruto stabbing himself in episode 6 was an immediate “YO” moment from me. The entire atmosphere of the fight in the back half of episode 7 was incredibly good. I really hope that Konohamaru continues to show up with either worse and worse stealth or continuously better ways to try and fight Naruto.
Carolyn: Glad to see Shikamaru show up so early. Love him. As I mentioned before, I’m not sure I’m fully invested in these characters. I am quite disappointed in Sakura. I remember loving her when I was younger and she is not the strong female character I remembered. She’s kind of desperately boy-crazy. Which is fine! But it feels like it comes on strong and the first several episodes don’t give her many traits beyond that. She must grow throughout the series, or my memories were warped? Kakashi Sensei feels sooooo much like a Shoto Aizawa (My Hero Academia’s Eraserhead) prototype. The mystery, the aloof manner, but secretly a big softie that just wants his student to do well. Similarly, Naruto has a lot of traits that seem to overlap with Bakugo and Soul Eater’s Black Star. More evidence of the show’s reach. Sexy Jutsu has not aged well. Also, the ending theme song is beautiful.
Noelle: Kakashi’s great, and knowing that he’s pretty close to my age puts a lot of things into context now that I’m an adult. Kakashi’s got a lot on his plate with these three problem children under his wing, but he’s still a pretty laid back guy personality-wise. Someone who stood out to me more in my rewatch was Iruka. Iruka’s presence means so much to Naruto, being the father figure he never really had. If Iruka wasn’t kind to Naruto, and he really was the only person to treat Naruto like a kid and not just a monster container, this would’ve been a very different series. Naruto truly did need someone to be there for him, and seeing their relationship really does make my heart warm. Iruka’s a good guy!
Kara: I actually cannot believe how much I associate with Naruto, and 12-years-ago me would faint at hearing that. The absolute need to prove himself, the feeling that he’s sliding backwards the harder he works, all that is something I (and others, I’m sure) can relate to. Obviously he goes a little harder than most people would in his situation—seriously, if you’re wearing Safety Orange constantly, you’ve gotta think really highly of yourself as a ninja—but it’s really something to see how much of his attitude is couched in fear of failure.
Joseph: Kakashi’s kancho, obviously.
David: Konohamaru only gets his one episode here, but I actually thought his bit was the most emotionally effective. He largely has the same issues as Naruto but in reverse. Konohamaru isn’t necessarily "royalty" but treated as such, infantilizing him from his perspective. Even his name is a point of contention for him, putting a burden on his very existence that others can’t relate to. To these ends, he looks up to Naruto for being a free spirit, but as the viewers we understand that they are more similar than they know. Naruto is the main character--we see his troubles garnering respect and even love from his peers and mentors in these episodes--but Konohamaru grounds that conflict by mirroring it.
Daniel: In my high school band class in Freshman year, a kid asked the teacher to be referred to as “Sasuke.” He also had a ninja headband that he’d wear around some time, and while I thought it was goofy then, I think it’s ABSOLUTELY DOPE now. So, while I still figure out the characters, I’m gonna nominate broody ol’ Sasuke in honor of that kid.
Danni: Kakashi covers like 75% of his face with ninja gear and to show how badass he is fought one-handed while reading a book called Makeout Paradise. I want to be that cool someday.
The action escalated pretty quickly--we started with Team 7 having to take the bells from Kakashi for the first full-on action scene (even if it wasn't "for keeps"), and then we have to worry about Hidden Mist assassins and our first real villain, Zabuza. Any thoughts on the action?
Paul: I like all of the action that I've seen so far, but the resolution to Kakashi's test wasn't dramatically satisfying for me. The payoff didn't match the build-up. I wanted to see Team 7 put up more of a show of resistance than simply refusing to obey Kakashi's instructions not to feed Naruto. The scene plays more like everyone being recalcitrant teenagers and less like anyone taking a principled stand.
Peter: I can’t believe the action is so sick even this early on. I always thought of Sasuke’s style as the most orthodox and the intricacy of some of his combos and the shots are so damn satisfying to look. Kishimoto made it super easy for the animators to make some stylish shots and they ran with it. The series is already building its vocabulary with a Sasuke attack that obviously builds into the Lion Combo and some underground shenanigans.
Kevin: I feel like this is the show’s action at its weakest. None of the Genin know how to fight yet, so once the actually dangerous fighting begins, they’re relegated to standing around watching Kakashi and Zabuza fight, and even that hasn’t gotten to the more impressive techniques. It’s not bad since at least there is still a fight between two experienced combatants to watch, it’s just weaker than what the show delivers on later when the protagonist and major characters are experienced enough to contribute.
Jared: I was surprised how subdued the action had felt before Team 7 took on Kakashi with there being pretty minimal fight scenes until that point. Kakashi messing around with Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura gave a good baseline of the complete difference in skill between all of them, but it wasn’t until Zabuza and his ridiculous cow print sleeves showed up that we truly get a sense of how much of a gap there is between Kakashi and Team 7. The beginnings of that fight truly gave the feeling of their being stakes involved which had been missing elsewhere.
Carolyn: Again, surprised at how quickly the show turns on a dime. They can go from goofy to serious in a heartbeat and it is very reminiscent of how things often progress on My Hero Academia. But I still find it hard to really get into the peril. I’m not sure why, exactly, I’m not very invested in the characters, but it’s early. I’m sure that will change.
Noelle: Since this series came out where it did, Jump was still very much comfortable with keeping pacing slow. As a result, the fights are a lot slower than what I’m used to, even if that was the norm back then. At the same time, the action itself isn’t bad--it’s pretty clever, and introduces the rules of the world in a way that anyone can pick up with ease.
Kara: I have a feeling a lot of my appreciation for the fighting will come as I start learning the different abilities in play. There have definitely been some cool moves, but I think we’re still in that exposition phase where we’re learning the types of things ninjas can do (and what our main cast’s strong and weak points are). A couple weeks from now when I’ve seen more of how this universe operates, I’ll probably be all in.
David: Sure, the action isn’t flashy, but the Kakashi training fight was much better than I remember it being for two reasons. One, it’s just funny. Kakashi doesn’t do anything truly harsh to the kids (well, aside from starve them, but that’s part of the plan), and what little physical combat he does with them is either light or just plain comedic. Two, it serves as a small show-don’t-tell of the show’s combat mechanics. For example, he calls out at the beginning that he’s going to use taijutsu, leading to his infamous kancho when he could have done a million other things; Sakura even believes he is using a more fancy technique before it happens. From there more involved strategies are used and by the end we have a basic primer of Naruto combat simultaneously serving as a team-building exercise for our heroes. Very efficient storytelling.
Joseph: The action is really clear and well-handled in these early episodes. I’m not sure how it gets later on, but I know in the manga I found some of Kishimoto’s action layouts much harder to follow than they should be. His designs and the intention behind his action translate nicely to animation, thankfully. Naruto is also really good at suddenly showing just how powerful a character really is within action, which is a total must-have shonen staple.
Danni: It’s not very flashy so far, but it is pretty tense. The high-level combat so far seems to entirely be a contest of clones and substitutions. The substitution jutsu seems way too broken. That being said, it’s a pretty cool technique. I hope we get to start seeing some good hand-to-hand soon.
For this batch of episodes, what were the highest and lowest points, respectively?
Paul: High point: Naruto getting caught in Kakashi's rope trap, grumbling about not getting tricked again while he frees himself, and then immediately getting caught in another rope trap. I love those kind of gags. Low point: ninja diarrhea.
Peter: In both cases probably the information reveals. Purely narratively speaking, a lot of the info that comes at the characters feels like common knowledge in retrospect. Kakashi is famous for having the Sharingan, how the village and mission systems work, and Sakura not knowing about her crush’s family being murdered seem like they should things the kids know. On the other hand, I’m super impressed with how much of a foundation Sasuke and Kakashi’s backstory have so early on and foreshadowing for both.
Kevin: The lowest point for me was the repeated use of the “Sexy Jutsu.” Once made sense to show Naruto as a troublemaker who could invent new techniques if he tried, and the Harem Jutsu showed that he can be creative and combine techniques for new tactics, but the other 2-3 times just feel like a joke being overplayed. The best moment was the fight against the Hidden Mist Chunin, since each of the kids’ personalities show through clearly. Sakura is terrified but keeps to her main duty, Sasuke starts retaliating to get rid of the threat, and Naruto freezes in place and needs to be saved, leading to an excellent emotional payoff when the fight is over.
Jared: The high points for me were Kakashi vs. Zabuza, Naruto’s hand stab, and Sakura and Ino’s incredibly ridiculous power walk competition in episode 3. Sexy Jutsu really beats you over the head with how many times they use that gag and Naruto’s stomach issues from episode 3 were just strange, so those would be my low points.
Carolyn: The music is a definite high! The emotional moments and humanizing of Naruto is nice to see. Using ninja skills to save a lost cat is completely adorable and feels like something All Might would do. Did the My Hero peeps grow up on Naruto? It feels like it. I also like how positive Naruto is in the face of adversity. He can make any situation a positive one. Laughing at the clunky exposition, “It’s going to take someone who is highly skilled.” Low point, again, definitely Sexy Jutsu (and teaching Sexy Jutsu to a little kid, WTF, these were different times) and Sakura’s desperate crush.
Noelle: Sexy Jutsu got old really fast. It was interesting to see Naruto expand it, as that showed he was learning, but aside from that, it’s an overdone gag. Glad they cut down on it. For good points, the Zabuza fight for sure, and each one of the kids standing up for themselves in the face of danger. And of course, Naruto stabbing himself in the hand to show his resolve!
Kara: Low point was absolutely the diarrhea episode—add to that the weird middle school comedy of errors surrounding it. I only had so much tolerance for Sakura’s crush and Naruto’s willingness to either mess with or take advantage of it. High point for me was Konohamaru’s desire to be called by his name and not his function or association. It was such a goofy little episode, but something really resonated for me about being willing to go to ridiculous lengths just to be recognized for who he is.
David: The bizarre ‘love triangle’ dynamic as a whole is the low point--this is notably represented well in the “diarrhea episode,” but comes across everywhere else too in how obviously undercooked Sasuke and Sakura’s characters are at this point. On the other hand, the high point is how obviously fully developed Kakashi is despite us knowing so little about him at this point. Unlike the rest of the side characters, there is clearly a lot going on in both what we see him doing here and what is implied to be happening in his background, and that’s as exciting a hook as it was when I was in middle school.
Joseph: The gags are hit or miss, but mostly decent. For me, the low point is any time an information dump rears its head. Zabuza standing on top of his sword for an eternity while he and Kakashi trade off exposition about the Sharingan is sloppy. I dig most everything else, and the high point is how the story handles this early-stage version of Naruto. He is just straight up a bad ninja, and it shows. He’s loud, brash, and obnoxious in an all orange jumpsuit. He’s the anti-ninja. Best of all, he’s terrified, and he totally should be.
Daniel: I really like the show’s tone, usually. But the high point and low point were within five seconds of one another. In the first episode, it’s so rad when Naruto finally reveals his Shadow Clone Jutsu against Mizuki. And then they all beat up Mizuki, and you get these “BONK BOOP SCHWWWWOOOP” sound effects, which takes all of the power of the scene and kicks it out the door.
Danni: For me, the highest point of this batch was in the first episode when Naruto overhears Iruka defending him against Mizuki. That’s a potentially life-changing moment for Naruto, finally learning why so many in the village hate him. Had it been anyone but Iruka who had found Naruto, he likely would’ve ended up turning against the entire village in anger. It’s a touching moment of understanding not just between teacher and student, but also between a pair of orphans linked by the same tragic event.
The lowest point is anytime I‘m reminded the sexy jutsu exists.
COUNTERS
Ramen consumed so far: 2 bowls, 1 cup
"I'm gonna be Hokage!" count: 8
Number of Shadow Clones summoned: 46
And that's everything for this week! Remember that you're always welcome to join us for this rewatch, especially if you haven't watched the original Naruto!
Here's our upcoming schedule!
-Next week, on JANUARY 25th, we'll be discussing EPISODES 8-14, hosted by KARA DENNISON! The mission in the Land of Waves continues! THIS IS THE ONLY INSTALLMENT WE'RE ACCEPTING QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR THIS WEEK!
-Then, on FEBRUARY 1st, we discuss EPISODES 15-21, with KEVIN MATYI hosting! Not only do we start the Chunin Exam arc, but we get our first FILLER EPISODE!
-On FEBRUARY 8th,we'll discuss EPISODES 22-28, with JARED CLEMONS as host! The Chunin Exam kicks into high gear!
Thank you for joining us for the Great Crunchyroll Naruto Rewatch! Have a great weekend, and we'll see you all next time!
Have any comments or questions about episodes 1-7? What about our upcoming installment, featuring episodes 8-14?
-----
Nate Ming is the Features Editor for Crunchyroll News and creator of the long-running Fanart Friday column. You can follow him on Twitter at @NateMing. Check out his comic, Shaw City Strikers!
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
The 2017 Badgers might be the most Wisconsin football team ever
Another 10-win season and Big Ten West title, powered by in-house strength? The goal could be even higher.
[Barry Alvarez] always used to say there's always going to be big people in Wisconsin. ... I'll never forget, I hired a defensive line coach. He came to me and he goes, 'Coach, you're right. There are big people in Wisconsin.' He goes, 'I went to the grocery store last night, and there was a 6-10 kid sacking groceries.'"
— Former Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema
When Alabama wins, it’s with a suffocating defense and an offense that’s reacted to trends, from Bear Bryant adopting the Wishbone in the 1970s to Nick Saban tinkering with the spread in the 2010s.
When Florida State wins, it’s with the most recent version of the pro-style offense, a prolific quarterback, and a terrifying stable of receivers and defensive backs.
When Wisconsin wins, it’s with big people.
There are two steps in staking out a recruiting strategy:
Figure out if you can land blue-chippers.
If you can’t, figure out who you can get.
When Alvarez was named head coach at Wisconsin nearly 30 years ago, he figured out that blue-chippers were only going to be so much of an option, but that he could land all the strong guys he wanted if he developed relationships in-state. He could go out of state to find workhorse running backs and speed guys on the perimeter, and he could build a style that relied on physical play. It wouldn’t always work, but it usually would.
We are a year away from the 25-year anniversary of Wisconsin’s first Rose Bowl under Alvarez. The 1993 Badgers made it into my 50 Best* College Football Teams of All Time book and capped what had been a four-year overhaul.
Chryst barely missed out at the time. He was a backup UW quarterback and switched to tight end, catching 12 passes in 1988. Alvarez got hired a year after he left. But after coaching stints at UW-Platteville, Illinois State, Oregon State, and the CFL, Chryst assumed a role on Alvarez’s staff in 2002. He was Bielema’s offensive coordinator in 2006, held the Pitt job for three years, and assumed the throne from Bielema’s successor, Gary Andersen, in 2015.
Chryst’s Pitt tenure was disappointing. He brought stability to a program that was seemingly churning through a new coach every year, but went 6-7, 7-6, and 6-6, improving on paper (the Panthers were 34th in S&P+ his final year) but falling victim to bad bounces and iffy close-game execution.
Apparently the problem was that he was trying to Wisconsin somewhere other than Wisconsin. After 19 wins in three years at Pitt, he has 21 in two in Madison. He was 5-10 in one-possession games in the land of Yinzers; he’s 8-5 at UW. His offense hasn’t hit its stride yet, but his defense has been dynamite.
The Badgers run on standard downs, throw 330-pound linemen and 220-pound running backs at you, and play with pride on defense. They defined this style under Alvarez and maintained it through Bielema (9.7 wins per year), Andersen (10), and Chryst (10.5).
The veterans define terms for recruits, the Wisconsin grads on the staff — offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph, defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, tight ends coach Mickey Turner, strength coach Ross Kolodziej, etc. — serve as proof of concept, and the ship keeps sailing.
Wisconsin is an obvious Big Ten West favorite, though there will be tests. Last year’s top two running backs are gone, as are All-American left tackle Ryan Ramczyk, all-conference defensive backs Leo Musso and Sojourn Shelton, and security-blanket quarterback Bart Houston. The Badgers are on their third defensive coordinator in three years (the price of success), and Chryst promoted Leonhard despite the former UW star having just one year of coaching experience.
A new backfield for a run-heavy team and green leadership for a defense that has had to carry significant weight? That has to make you a little nervous, right?
2016 in review
2016 Wisconsin statistical profile.
In last year’s Wisconsin preview, I noted that the Badgers would improve on paper but almost certainly regress in the win column thanks to a brutal schedule. Whoops.
Indeed, the Badgers faced four of the top eight teams in the country, per S&P+, but the rest of the schedule didn’t shape up as tough as expected — Michigan State and Nebraska weren’t nearly as good as projected — and the Badgers’ ability to play Badgerball against non-elite competition led to yet another huge season.
Wisconsin vs. S&P+ top 10 (1-3): Avg. percentile performance: 76% | Avg. yards per play: Opp 5.6, UW 5.0 (minus-0.6) | Avg. postgame win expectancy: 37%
Wisconsin vs. everyone else (10-0): Avg. percentile performance: 85% | Avg. yards per play: UW 5.6, Opp 4.6 (plus-1.0) | Avg. postgame win expectancy: 89%
The Badgers proved the benefits of a high floor. Their percentile performance never fell below 60 percent in any game; they were one of only three teams to pull that off, and the other two faced each other in the title game.
A high floor doesn’t necessarily allow you to beat top teams, but it’s good for avoiding upsets. Wisconsin dealt with dreadful turnovers luck against Georgia State and needed longer than expected to get by the Panthers, but they otherwise handled business. That won them the Big Ten West and got them within a touchdown (a 38-31 loss to Penn State) of winning the Big Ten.
If they can replicate that, expect another huge season. The Badgers miss Ohio State and Penn State and don’t play LSU in non-conference, so there’s only one projected top-10 team on the schedule.
Offense
Full advanced stats glossary.
Wisconsin forgot how to run in 2015. Corey Clement, the heir apparent, missed most of the season, and most of the carries went to a former walk-on (Dare Ogunbowale) and a freshman (Taiwan Deal). The Badgers fell to 97th in Rushing S&P+ and leaned far too heavily on Joel Stave’s arm; it worked because the defense was so good, but the Badgers were 83rd in Off. S&P+, only the second time since 2005 (the first year of S&P+ data) they had ranked lower than 34th.
2016 saw a couple of steps in the right direction. The Badgers still had their third-worst offense of the S&P+ era, but they rose to 49th in Off. S&P+ and 48th in Rushing S&P+. Clement returned (though he played inconsistent ball), Ogunbowale took a step, and a freshman, Bradrick Shaw, showed efficiency potential.
Despite serious shuffling at quarterback, Wisconsin improved on passing downs. The duo of receiver Jazz Peavy and tight end Troy Fumagalli kept the chains moving.
Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images
Chris James
There’s little reason to think the improvement will stop. The production from Clement and Ogunbowale (4.6 yards per carry) was replaceable, especially if Shaw can build on the potential he showed last year. He rushed for at least five yards on 43 percent of his carries, more than Ogunbowale (40 percent) or Clement (a paltry 31 percent), and he has a fun new battery mate in Pitt transfer Chris James.
James finished his 2014 freshman campaign under Chryst strong; in his last four games, he rushed 39 times for 233 yards (6 yards per carry), but he fell out of favor under Pat Narduzzi. He had a nice spring, and it appears he and Shaw will split carries. And they’ll be doing so behind a line that returns seven players with 91 career starts between them.
Ramczyk pulled the ultimate Wisconsin move, transferring from UW-Stevens Point for one season, starting all 14 games at left tackle, and earning All-American honors. Losing him will hurt, but there’s a very Wisconsin line in place.
Size? Those seven players average 6’6, 321.
Honors? Guard Beau Benzschawel was all-conference last year.
Locals? Four of the seven are from Wisconsin.
Walk-on stories? See Brett Connors, a utility man and potential starter.
A smattering of star recruits? Redshirt freshman and left tackle of the future Cole Van Lanen was a four-star, as is incoming freshman Kayden Lyles.
By the way, I haven’t mentioned any senior RBs or linemen. Whatever growth happens in 2017, expect even more in 2018.
Wisconsin should be able to do the thing it most wants to do. That’s good, but the Badgers will still have to pass occasionally. They haven’t been particularly good at that since Russell Wilson left.
In the last five years, UW has not produced a team passer rating over 135.9. The good news: they produced that last year. The bad news is that Bart Houston (149.7) was more of a reason than Alex Hornibrook (125.8). Houston struggled early and got benched in favor of the lefty redshirt freshman; Hornibrook held on for a while, but the two began splitting time in November, and Hornibrook suffered a head injury against Minnesota. Then Houston thrived.
In Peavy and Fumagalli, Hornibrook’s got two of the most proven weapons in the Big Ten West, and athletic sophomores like receivers A.J. Taylor and Quintez Cephus and tight end Kyle Penniston (plus freshman receiver Danny Davis) might be ready to handle more of a load. But if Hornibrook struggles or gets hurt, the job will fall to either a redshirt freshman (Karé Lyles) or a true freshman (Jack Coan). That’s scary.
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Alex Hornibrook
Defense
Trust me, I know the Leonhard story well. He is the embodiment of Wisconsin football. A walk-on from Tony, Wisc., he was a three-time All-American and Wisconsin hall of fame inductee, and despite his 5’8 stature, he spent a decade in the pros, starting for about four seasons and picking off 14 passes.
Leonhard retired after 2014, spent a year as basically a staff volunteer for UW in 2015, then landed his first official gig — Wisconsin DBs coach — last fall. And now he’s the coordinator for a defense that has ranked in the Def. S&P+ top 10 for back-to-back years. After Aranda left for LSU and replacement Justin Wilcox left for the Cal head coaching job, Chryst stayed in-house.
I’m not going to question Leonhard’s aptitude or potential as a teacher, but ... this is all rather quick, isn’t it?
This feels like the ultimate “Screw it, we’re Wisconsin” move. And because of the experience elsewhere on the coaching staff and the experience littering the two-deep, it might work. But consider this a red flag. If, in six months, we’re looking back at a disappointing 2017, I’m thinking “glitchier-than-expected defense” lands behind “QB injuries” on the list of reasons.
With the experience, though, this unit could almost coordinate itself. Wisconsin returns every lineman, three dynamic, proven linebackers (T.J. Edwards, Jack Cichy, Ryan Connelly), and a wealth of experience in the backfield.
Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images
T.J. Edwards
Wisconsin’s biggest strength in 2016 was big-play prevention. The Badgers swarmed to the ball against the run and only struggled in pass defense a couple of times. Georgia State and Penn State combined to complete 69 percent at 15.5 yards per completion; everybody else: 50 percent completion rate, 11.7 yards per completion.
They did this despite dealing with injury issues. Only one of the four primary linemen (end Chikwe Obasih) played in all 14 games, and only two of the top five linebackers did. But with a different lineup on the field nearly every game, the front seven powered a No. 18 ranking in Rushing S&P+.
There’s a little bit of a hole at outside linebacker, where T.J. Watt and Vince Biegel departed after combining for 21.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks last year. But senior Garret Dooley and sophomore Zack Baun combined for 10 and 3.5, respectively, in reserve duty, and transfer Andrew Van Ginkel went from unrated recruit to nearly four-star prospect after recording 18 TFLs at South Dakota in 2015, then dominating at Iowa Western CC.
Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images
D'Cota Dixon (14)
It’s hard to imagine the front seven regressing much, and despite two key losses, the secondary still boasts more experience than most.
Musso and Shelton are gone after combining for nine interceptions, 13 breakups, and four TFLs, but the senior foursome of safeties D’Cota Dixon and Natrell Jamerson and corners Derrick Tindal and Lubern Figaro returns. They’re joined by Hawaii transfer Nick Nelson (15 breakups in 2015).
Few defenses boast this level of continuity. Maybe that’s enough to overcome inexperience in the coaching booth. Screw it, this is Wisconsin; it’ll probably be fine.
Special Teams
This unit was all over the map. P.J. Rosowski’s kickoffs and their coverage were great, Natrell Jamerson and Ogunbowale were fine in kick returns, and Andrew Endicott, filling in for injured Rafael Gaglianone, was solid in the place-kicking department.
Punts, however, are huge parts of Wisconsin games, and the Badgers lost ground in both punts and returns. Peavy didn’t do much with the latter, and while Anthony Lotti’s punt were rarely returnable, they were also short.
That everybody but Endicott returns is good (and Gaglianone returns to solve that issue), but until punting improves, it will be hard for UW to top last year’s No. 44 Special Teams S&P+ ranking.
2017 outlook
2017 Schedule & Projection Factors
Date Opponent Proj. S&P+ Rk Proj. Margin Win Probability 1-Sep Utah State 73 22.8 91% 9-Sep Florida Atlantic 99 30.1 96% 16-Sep at BYU 46 11.3 74% 30-Sep Northwestern 37 14.5 80% 7-Oct at Nebraska 42 10.5 73% 14-Oct Purdue 87 27.7 95% 21-Oct Maryland 72 22.5 90% 28-Oct at Illinois 85 22.1 90% 4-Nov at Indiana 39 9.6 71% 11-Nov Iowa 48 16.7 83% 18-Nov Michigan 10 1.3 53% 25-Nov at Minnesota 47 11.7 75%
Projected S&P+ Rk 11 Proj. Off. / Def. Rk 45 / 6 Projected wins 9.7 Five-Year S&P+ Rk 14.0 (13) 2- and 5-Year Recruiting Rk 36 / 34 2016 TO Margin / Adj. TO Margin* 12 / 10.7 2016 TO Luck/Game +0.5 Returning Production (Off. / Def.) 67% (66%, 68%) 2016 Second-order wins (difference) 10.3 (0.7)
This should be one of the most Wisconsin Wisconsin teams of all time, and I’m not talking about the fact that UW grads hold the head coaching job and both coordinator positions. Wisconsin has an interesting stable of running backs, a great tight end, a huge offensive line, a seasoned defense (replete with a couple of transfers from smaller schools), and a size advantage in nearly every matchup.
Leonhard’s inexperience does concern me, but that might mean more in 2018, when the defense isn’t loaded with seniors.
For now, it’s easy to assume UW will maintain at least a top-20 defense and improve again on offense.
With a schedule much lighter than last year’s — not only is Michigan the only projected top-10 team on the slate, the Wolverines are the only projected top-35 team — Wisconsin is your easy Big Ten West favorite. Road trips to Nebraska and Minnesota loom, but S&P+ projects the Badgers as the favorite in every single game and gives them a less than 71 percent chance in just one game. That’s a good recipe for a trip to the conference title game.
Team preview stats
All power conference preview data to date.
0 notes
Text
Time is right to deal for Danny Salazar in fantasy leagues
yahoo
Mostly MLB Notes: Talking Danny Salazar and a look around the league
I’ve always been a huge Danny Salazar fan, but we are now dealing with a pitcher who’s not only one of the more injury-prone arms in baseball but also one who currently sports a 1.49 WHIP. Salazar’s average fastball velocity (95.0 mph) is as good as ever (and ranks top-10 among all starters in baseball), and his SwStr% (16.6) ranks first. To give perspective, Max Scherzer led all starters last season with a 15.3 SwStr%. Salazar has no doubt been unlucky with a .385 BABIP (his career mark is .308), and while that’s sure to regress, it’s worth pointing out Cleveland’s defense has the fourth-worst UZR (-8.1) right now. It’s probably just noise in a small sample, as the Indians were a very good defensive team last season. Put differently, Salazar’s hit rate is the second highest in MLB (Adam Wainwright has an insane .446 BABIP right now), and that’s somehow occurred while producing a bunch of pop outs (16.1 IFFB%) and a lot of weak contact (28.1 Hard%). Salazar remains a health risk, but only Chris Sale has a higher K% than his 32.9, so if you’re looking for a buy-low candidate with the upside of being a top-10 fantasy pitcher from here on out, he’s your target.
This “thumb trick” is next level.
This is a legit way to bypass traffic.
In case you missed it, here’s my MLB Stock Watch column.
Quick Hits: I’ll predict Aaron Judge finishes with 45 homers. His current 2.2 WAR is the second highest among hitters in all of baseball. The rookie record for homers is Mark McGwire with 49…I recently spent about 30 percent of my FAAB on Brad Brach in a high stakes league, as it sure seems like Zach Britton may be out a significant amount of time. Hitters are batting .138 against Brach this season, and he could easily be a top-10 type fantasy closer moving forward. He’s still available in a quarter of Yahoo leagues…The Cubs and Yankees combined for an MLB-record 48 strikeouts during their game Sunday…After walking 30 batters over 53.0 innings last season, there was some concern Craig Kimbrel was in the decline phase (myself included), but he’s arguably been the most dominant pitcher so far in 2017. He’s allowed seven baserunners in 14.0 innings, when he’s produced a silly 52.0 K% and 22.1 SwStr%.
TV Talk: I love “Better Call Saul,” which had the tough task of being a prequel. It’s my favorite show right now, and you all should be watching it…”American Crime” was terrific, and that’s not easy to say with shows on regular network TV these days…”The Leftovers” is so good. Episode two in which they used this intro and then called back the Mark Linn-Baker story was incredible. I loved “Perfect Strangers” as a kid…I binged “13 Reasons Why” and really liked it but have no idea why they are now making a second season. That won’t work…Good to hear David Milch is joining the team for season three of “True Detective,” as “Deadwood” is easily one of my favorite shows of all time…I’m really into “Fargo” too. Bizarre recent episode but this too is a must watch.
[Fantasy Football is open! Sign up now and start winning season early]
Headlines of the Week: Hungry Man Divorces Wife For Sharing Food On Snapchat…Flying Catfish Lands In Florida Man’s Swimming Pool...Meet The Baseball Fan Who’s Been Flushing His Buddy’s Ashes Down Ballpark Toilets…Woman Eats Life Savings To Spite Cheating Husband…Ukraine Bans Steven Seagal As Threat To National Security.
Quick Hits Part Deux: If Kimbrel hasn’t been the best pitcher this year, it’s because that’s been his teammate Chris Sale, who currently leads MLB in WAR (2.4). He recently became one of four pitchers in baseball history with multiple 6+ game streaks with 10+ Ks. He’s sporting a 1.92 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP while pitching in Fenway Park and the AL East. Can you imagine if Sale pitched in the NL West? Would he have a negative ERA?…The Nationals have scored 194 runs this season. The Royals (who have a DH) have scored 82…Marcell Ozuna is 26 years old and has a .975 OPS. He was clearly playing injured over the second half of last season. He’s a budding star and should be treated as such…Speaking of budding stars, Miguel Sano has bounced back from a disappointing 2016 campaign, as he’s hitting .300/.431/.640. The BA will come down, but the power is legit. He’s going to hit 40 homers this year.
Police Blotter: Chinese Groom Arrested Over Fake Wedding Guests…Oregon Cops Issue “Verbal Warning” To Armed Cat In A Tree…Man Kept Stolen Brain Beneath Porch, Used It To Get High, Police Say…Parents Charged With Trying To Sell Their Baby On Craigslist.
Song of the Week: Nirvana – Where Did You Sleep Last Night
Longread of the Week: Why I Gave My Kidney To A Stranger – And Why You Should Consider Doing It Too
Quick Hits Part Tres: Over his first 64 at bats, Brett Gardner had zero RBI. He has 10 over his next 35 ABs…Justin Turner is batting .377 with just one home run this season. He’s done so without hitting a single pop out while producing one of the lowest GB% (31.5) in all of baseball. An odd start to Turner’s year for sure…Billy Hamilton is on pace to steal 99 bases with a .307 OBP…Dee Gordon had four steals over his first 98 at bats. He has five over his next 25 ABs...Buster Posey is batting .356 (with a .434 OBP), yet he’s on pace to finish with 10 homers and 25 RBI…Speaking of catchers, a usually thin position has been as weak as ever, with Gary Sanchez getting injured and Kyle Schwarber batting .198. There’s just one catcher who ranks inside the top-230 fantasy players so far, and that’s Brian McCann (No. 136). Ugly stuff. Alex Avila has 50 at bats this year, and he ranks 130 spots ahead of Posey…What a dismantling by Canelo Alvarez over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (12 rounds to none on all judges’ cards), and as boring as that fight was (and not worth the PPV), it does set up the most anticipated match in a long time with him finally facing GGG in September. I can’t wait…LeBron James now has 11 sweeps in the postseason. No other player in history has more than nine (and round one used to be five games).
Follow Dalton Del Don on Twitter.
#_author:Dalton Del Don#_uuid:356291cf-1356-366b-af65-035efd5e5476#_category:yct:001000854#_lmsid:a077000000CFoGyAAL#_revsp:54edcaf7-cdbb-43d7-a41b-bffdcc37fb56
0 notes
Text
The 2017 Badgers might be the most Wisconsin football team ever
Another 10-win season and Big Ten West title, all powered by in-house strength? If Wisconsin answers a couple questions, the goal could be even higher.
[Barry Alvarez] always used to say there's always going to be big people in Wisconsin. ... I'll never forget, I hired a defensive line coach. He came to me and he goes, 'Coach, you're right. There are big people in Wisconsin.' He goes, 'I went to the grocery store last night, and there was a 6-10 kid sacking groceries.'"
— Former Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema
When Alabama wins, it’s with a suffocating defense and an offense that has reacted to trends, from Bear Bryant adopting the Wishbone in the 1970s to Nick Saban tinkering with the spread in the 2010s.
When Florida State wins, it’s with the most recent version of the pro-style offense, a prolific quarterback, and a terrifying stable of receivers and defensive backs.
When Wisconsin wins, it’s with big people.
There are two steps in staking out a recruiting strategy:
Figure out if you can land blue-chippers.
If you can’t, figure out who you can get.
When Alvarez was named head coach at Wisconsin nearly 30 years ago, he figured out that blue-chippers were only going to be so much of an option — good luck attracting a kid to that climate when he’s got offers from everywhere else in the country — but that he could land all the strong guys he wanted if he developed the right relationships in-state. He could go out of state to find workhorse running backs and speed guys on the perimeter, and he could build a style that relied on physical play. It wouldn’t always work, but it usually would.
We are a year away from the 25-year anniversary of Wisconsin’s first Rose Bowl under Alvarez. The 1993 Badgers made it into my 50 Best* College Football Teams of All Time book and capped what had been a four-year program overhaul.
Chryst barely missed out on the run. He was a backup quarterback for the Badgers and switched to tight end, catching 12 passes in 1988. Alvarez got hired a year after he left. But after coaching stints at UW-Platteville, Illinois State, Oregon State, and the CFL, Chryst assumed a role on Alvarez’s staff in 2002. He was Bielema’s offensive coordinator in 2006, held the Pitt job for three years, and assumed the throne from Bielema’s successor, Gary Andersen, in 2015.
Chryst’s Pitt tenure was disappointing. He brought stability to a program that was seemingly churning through a new coach every year, but went 6-7, 7-6, and 6-6, improving on paper (the Panthers were 34th in S&P+ his final year) but falling victim to bad bounces and iffy close-game execution.
Apparently the problem was that he was trying to Wisconsin somewhere other than Wisconsin. After 19 wins in three years at Pitt, he has 21 in two back in Madison. He was 5-10 in one-possession games in the land of Yinzers; he’s 8-5 at UW. His offense hasn’t hit its stride yet, but his defense has been dynamite.
The Badgers run on standard downs, throw 330-pound linemen and 220-pound running backs at you, and play with pride on defense. They defined this style under Alvarez and maintained it through Bielema (9.7 wins per year), Andersen (10), and Chryst (10.5).
The veterans define the terms for the new recruits, the Wisconsin grads on the staff — offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph, defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, tight ends coach Mickey Turner, strength coach Ross Kolodziej, etc. — serve as proof of concept, and the ship keeps sailing.
Wisconsin is an obvious Big Ten West favorite, though there will be tests. Last year’s top two running backs are gone, as are All-American left tackle Ryan Ramczyk, all-conference defensive backs Leo Musso and Sojourn Shelton, and security-blanket quarterback Bart Houston. The Badgers are on their third defensive coordinator in three years (the price of success), and Chryst promoted Leonhard despite the former UW star having just one year of coaching experience.
A new backfield for a run-heavy team and green leadership for a defense that has had to carry significant weight? That has to make you a little nervous, right?
2016 in review
2016 Wisconsin statistical profile.
In last year’s Wisconsin preview, I noted that the Badgers would improve on paper but almost certainly regress in the win column thanks to a brutal schedule. Whoops.
Indeed, the Badgers faced four of the top eight teams in the country, per S&P+, but the rest of the schedule didn’t shape up as tough as expected — Michigan State and Nebraska weren’t nearly as good as projected — and the Badgers’ ability to play Badgerball against non-elite competition led to yet another huge season.
Wisconsin vs. S&P+ top 10 (1-3): Avg. percentile performance: 76% | Avg. yards per play: Opp 5.6, UW 5.0 (minus-0.6) | Avg. postgame win expectancy: 37%
Wisconsin vs. everyone else (10-0): Avg. percentile performance: 85% | Avg. yards per play: UW 5.6, Opp 4.6 (plus-1.0) | Avg. postgame win expectancy: 89%
The Badgers proved the benefits of a high floor. Their percentile performance never fell below 60 percent in any game; they were one of only three teams to pull that off, and the other two faced each other in the title game.
A high floor doesn’t necessarily allow you to beat top teams, but it’s good for avoiding upsets. Wisconsin dealt with dreadful turnovers luck against Georgia State and needed longer than expected to get by the Panthers, but they otherwise handled business. That won them the Big Ten West and got them within a touchdown (a 38-31 loss to Penn State) of winning the Big Ten.
If they can replicate that, expect another huge season. The Badgers miss Ohio State and Penn State and don’t play LSU in non-conference, so there’s only one projected top-10 team on the schedule.
Offense
Full advanced stats glossary.
Wisconsin forgot how to run in 2015. Corey Clement, the heir apparent, missed most of the season, and most of the carries went to a former walk-on (Dare Ogunbowale) and a freshman (Taiwan Deal). The Badgers fell to 97th in Rushing S&P+ and leaned far too heavily on Joel Stave’s arm; it worked because the defense was so good, but the Badgers were 83rd in Off. S&P+, only the second time since 2005 (the first year of S&P+ data) they had ranked lower than 34th.
2016 saw a couple of steps in the right direction. The Badgers still had their third-worst offense of the S&P+ era, but they rose to 49th in Off. S&P+ and 48th in Rushing S&P+. Clement returned (though he played inconsistent ball), Ogunbowale took a step, and a freshman, Bradrick Shaw, showed efficiency potential.
Despite serious shuffling at quarterback, Wisconsin improved on passing downs. The duo of receiver Jazz Peavy and tight end Troy Fumagalli kept the chains moving.
Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images
Chris James
There’s little reason to think the improvement will stop. The production from Clement and Ogunbowale (4.6 yards per carry) was replaceable, especially if Shaw can build on the potential he showed last year. He rushed for at least five yards on 43 percent of his carries, more than Ogunbowale (40 percent) or Clement (a paltry 31 percent), and he has a fun new battery mate in Pitt transfer Chris James.
James finished his 2014 freshman campaign under Chryst strong; in his last four games, he rushed 39 times for 233 yards (6 yards per carry), but he fell out of favor under Pat Narduzzi. He had a nice spring, and it appears he and Shaw will split carries. And they’ll be doing so behind a line that returns seven players with 91 career starts between them.
Ramczyk pulled the ultimate Wisconsin move, transferring from UW-Stevens Point for one season, starting all 14 games at left tackle, and earning All-American honors. Losing him will hurt, but there’s a very Wisconsin line in place.
Size? Those seven players average 6’6, 321.
Honors? Guard Beau Benzschawel was all-conference last year.
Locals? Four of the seven are from Wisconsin.
Walk-on stories? See Brett Connors, a utility man and potential starter.
A smattering of star recruits? Redshirt freshman and left tackle of the future Cole Van Lanen was a four-star, as is incoming freshman Kayden Lyles.
By the way, I haven’t mentioned any senior RBs or linemen. Whatever growth happens in 2017, expect even more in 2018.
Wisconsin should be able to do the thing it most wants to do. That’s good, but the Badgers will still have to pass occasionally. They haven’t been particularly good at that since Russell Wilson left.
In the last five years, UW has not produced a team passer rating over 135.9. The good news: they produced that last year. The bad news is that Bart Houston (149.7) was more of a reason than Alex Hornibrook (125.8). Houston struggled early and got benched in favor of the lefty redshirt freshman; Hornibrook held on for a while, but the two began splitting time in November, and Hornibrook suffered a head injury against Minnesota. Then Houston thrived.
In Peavy and Fumagalli, Hornibrook’s got two of the most proven weapons in the Big Ten West, and athletic sophomores like receivers A.J. Taylor and Quintez Cephus and tight end Kyle Penniston (plus freshman receiver Danny Davis) might be ready to handle more of a load. But if Hornibrook struggles or gets hurt, the job will fall to either a redshirt freshman (Karé Lyles) or a true freshman (Jack Coan). That’s scary.
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Alex Hornibrook
Defense
Trust me, I know the Leonhard story well. He is the embodiment of Wisconsin football. A walk-on from Tony, Wisc., he was a three-time All-American and Wisconsin hall of fame inductee, and despite his 5’8 stature, he spent a decade in the pros, starting for about four seasons and picking off 14 passes.
Leonhard retired after 2014, spent a year as basically a staff volunteer for UW in 2015, then landed his first official gig — Wisconsin DBs coach — last fall. And now he’s the coordinator for a defense that has ranked in the Def. S&P+ top 10 for back-to-back years. After Aranda left for LSU and replacement Justin Wilcox left for the Cal head coaching job, Chryst stayed in-house.
I’m not going to question Leonhard’s aptitude or potential as a teacher, but ... this is all rather quick, isn’t it?
This feels like the ultimate “Screw it, we’re Wisconsin” move. And because of the experience elsewhere on the coaching staff and the experience littering the two-deep, it might work. But consider this a red flag. If, in six months, we’re looking back at a disappointing 2017, I’m thinking “glitchier-than-expected defense” lands behind “QB injuries” on the list of reasons.
With the experience, though, this unit could almost coordinate itself. Wisconsin returns every lineman, three dynamic, proven linebackers (T.J. Edwards, Jack Cichy, Ryan Connelly), and a wealth of experience in the backfield.
Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images
T.J. Edwards
Wisconsin’s biggest strength in 2016 was big-play prevention. The Badgers swarmed to the ball against the run and only struggled in pass defense a couple of times. Georgia State and Penn State combined to complete 69 percent at 15.5 yards per completion; everybody else: 50 percent completion rate, 11.7 yards per completion.
They did this despite dealing with injury issues. Only one of the four primary linemen (end Chikwe Obasih) played in all 14 games, and only two of the top five linebackers did. But with a different lineup on the field nearly every game, the front seven powered a No. 18 ranking in Rushing S&P+.
There’s a little bit of a hole at outside linebacker, where T.J. Watt and Vince Biegel departed after combining for 21.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks last year. But senior Garret Dooley and sophomore Zack Baun combined for 10 and 3.5, respectively, in reserve duty, and transfer Andrew Van Ginkel went from unrated recruit to nearly four-star prospect after recording 18 TFLs at South Dakota in 2015, then dominating at Iowa Western CC.
Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images
D'Cota Dixon (14)
It’s hard to imagine the front seven regressing much, and despite two key losses, the secondary still boasts more experience than most.
Musso and Shelton are gone after combining for nine interceptions, 13 breakups, and four TFLs, but the senior foursome of safeties D’Cota Dixon and Natrell Jamerson and corners Derrick Tindal and Lubern Figaro returns. They’re joined by Hawaii transfer Nick Nelson (15 breakups in 2015), and it’s not too late for junior and former star recruit Arrington Farrar to carve out a niche.
Few defenses boast this level of continuity. Maybe that’s enough to overcome inexperience in the coaching booth. Screw it, this is Wisconsin; it’ll probably be fine.
Special Teams
This unit was all over the map. P.J. Rosowski’s kickoffs and their coverage were great, Natrell Jamerson and Ogunbowale were fine in kick returns, and Andrew Endicott was solid in the place-kicking department.
Punts, however, are huge parts of Wisconsin games, and the Badgers lost ground in both punts and returns. Peavy didn’t do much with the latter, and while Anthony Lotti’s punt were rarely returnable, they were also short.
That everybody but Endicott returns is good, but until punting improves, it will be hard for UW to top last year’s No. 44 Special Teams S&P+ ranking.
2017 outlook
2017 Schedule & Projection Factors
Date Opponent Proj. S&P+ Rk Proj. Margin Win Probability 1-Sep Utah State 73 22.8 91% 9-Sep Florida Atlantic 99 30.1 96% 16-Sep at BYU 46 11.3 74% 30-Sep Northwestern 37 14.5 80% 7-Oct at Nebraska 42 10.5 73% 14-Oct Purdue 87 27.7 95% 21-Oct Maryland 72 22.5 90% 28-Oct at Illinois 85 22.1 90% 4-Nov at Indiana 39 9.6 71% 11-Nov Iowa 48 16.7 83% 18-Nov Michigan 10 1.3 53% 25-Nov at Minnesota 47 11.7 75%
Projected S&P+ Rk 11 Proj. Off. / Def. Rk 45 / 6 Projected wins 9.7 Five-Year S&P+ Rk 14.0 (13) 2- and 5-Year Recruiting Rk 36 / 34 2016 TO Margin / Adj. TO Margin* 12 / 10.7 2016 TO Luck/Game +0.5 Returning Production (Off. / Def.) 67% (66%, 68%) 2016 Second-order wins (difference) 10.3 (0.7)
This should be one of the most Wisconsin Wisconsin teams of all time, and I’m not talking about the fact that UW grads hold the head coaching job and both coordinator positions. Wisconsin has an interesting stable of running backs, a great tight end, a huge offensive line, a seasoned defense (replete with a couple of transfers from smaller schools), and a size advantage in nearly every matchup.
Leonhard’s inexperience does concern me, but that might mean more in 2018, when the defense isn’t loaded with seniors.
For now, it’s easy to assume UW will maintain at least a top-20 defense and improve again on offense.
With a schedule much lighter than last year’s — not only is Michigan the only projected top-10 team on the slate, the Wolverines are the only projected top-35 team — Wisconsin is your easy Big Ten West favorite. Road trips to Nebraska and Minnesota loom, but S&P+ projects the Badgers as the favorite in every single game and gives them a less than 71 percent chance in just one game. That’s a good recipe for a trip to the conference title game.
Team preview stats
All power conference preview data to date.
0 notes
Text
2017 Senior Bowl rosters: Which players bolstered their draft stock this week?
In Mobile this week, the good players were good.
A crucial week of Senior Bowl practices has concluded and, well, not much has changed for the players auditioning for the 2017 NFL Draft.
Going into today’s Senior Bowl game, which is at 2:30 p.m. ET on NFL Network, Alabama tight end O.J. Howard was widely considered to be the top player. That didn’t change after a series of three practices where Howard flashed with one-handed catches, good size and athleticism.
Howard could have easily sat out the all-star game and it wouldn’t negatively impact his draft status. Instead, he wanted to prove he was the top tight end prospect and that he could be utilized more than he was at Alabama.
“I know some people out there might say I’m the top tight end in the class, but nothing is certain and I want to prove my case that I’m the guy,” Howard said to Emily Kaplan Sports Illustrated.
If Howard didn’t put in the best week of practice then Temple defender Haason Reddick most certainly did. Reddick’s NFL position is still somewhat ambiguous, but it doesn’t matter. He played end and rush linebacker at Temple, but got shifted to inside linebacker in Mobile, Ala. Wherever he lined up, he starred thanks to his pure athleticism and first step quickness.
NFL Network’s Mike Mayock tabbed Reddick as the star of practices, saying “(Reddick) showed he can do a bunch of things and do them well.” It’s impossible to say that Reddick has for sure locked down a top 64 pick, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise if he goes that high in April.
Another player who looked to cement his draft status was Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp. The question about him entering the week was whether or not he could hang in a week of practices against FBS competition. Most suspected he would be fine after he had 12 catches for 206 yards and three touchdowns against Washington State to start last season. Still, the questions lingered and he quickly put them to rest.
Even just watching the televised practices it was clear that Kupp is a smooth route runner who gets open with ease. His hands are good, as is his size. Teams will want to see how he tests next month at the NFL Scouting Combine, but he’s another player who should carry a second round grade, at worst.
Some of the other wide receivers in attendance – particularly East Carolina’s Zay Jones and Louisiana Tech’s Trent Taylor – performed exactly as expected. They should be solid Day 3 draft picks who pull in plenty of catches out of the slot. No receiver at practices helped himself more than Chad Williams of Grambling State. Like Kupp, he had to show he could keep up. He kept up catching passes just fine, and he grabbed headlines for getting into a fight on Wednesday.
If the momentum for Williams is starting to snow ball, it’s completely out of control in a good way for Connecticut safety Obi Melifonwu. Again, his play shouldn’t come as a surprise after a season in which he had 118 tackles and four interceptions. But what stood out for Melifonwu was his range and athleticism. An all-star game setting is often unkind to safeties because they’re not utilized much in full team drills. Still, Melifonwu was covering tight end and receivers with ease and closing on the ball in a hurry. With a good combine showing, the stock might just keep going up and up for him.
Toledo’s Kareem Hunt was the top running back going into practices and it showed every day. He’s advanced as a pass catcher, asserted himself in blocking drills and has a solid combination of power and speed running the ball.
Western Kentucky offensive lineman Forrest Lamp got off to a strong start at practice before suffering a high ankle sprain. With Lamp out of the picture, Indiana’s Dan Feeney looked liked the best blocker participating. His versatility helped him as he proved to be adept playing both guard and center. He’s this year’s version of Cody Whitehair, a second-round pick of the Chicago Bears who started all 16 games as a rookie.
Much like Feeney on the offensive line, Auburn’s Montravius Adams separated himself on the defensive line. That’s saying something on a South roster that also included UCLA’s Eddie Vanderdoes, Alabama’s Dalvin Tomlinson and Clemson’s Carlos Watkins. Adams’ first step quickness stood out compared to his teammates for the week, and could help him land in the top 50 of the draft. Vanderdoes had an uneven week. At times he looked dominant, but there were a few plays where he was on the ground. Tomlinson looked good as well, but teams will heavily scrutinize his health because he’s had ACL surgery in both knees.
Teams will look heavily at the medical report for Tennessee defensive back Cameron Sutton as well. He missed several games last season, but had a nice bounce back at practices playing corner and safety. Iowa’s Desmond King will probably move to safety in the NFL, he also had a good week.
None of the quarterbacks stood out at practices. Here’s a sentence scouting report on each:
C.J. Beathard, Iowa: Everyone’s favorite to be the next Kirk Cousins, aka out of college he projects as a backup with average natural tools.
Sefo Liufau, Colorado: Tough with good size, but placement on his passes was off frequently.
Nate Peterman, Pittsburgh: Has much of what a team will want in a quarterback but doesn’t have much of an arm, which isn’t a good thing for a quarterback.
Josh Dobbs, Tennessee: He sure is athletic, and some team will probably want to stash him on their practice squad.
Antonio Pipkin, Tiffin: The small school George Whitfield pupil could only help himself, which he probably did, but it’s an uphill battle for him.
Davis Webb, California: He looks the part and could have stole the show at practices but seemed to be in a holding pattern all week.
Below are the players in this year’s Senior Bowl:
Quarterback
North: C.J. Beathard (Iowa), Sefo Liufau (Colorado), Nate Peterman (Pittsburgh)
South: Josh Dobbs (Tennessee), Antonio Pipkin (Tiffin), Davis Webb (California)
Running back
North: Corey Clement (Wisconsin), Kareem Hunt (Toledo), De'Veon Smith (Michigan)
South: Matt Dayes (North Carolina State), Donnel Pumphrey (San Diego State), Jamaal Williams (Brigham Young)
Fullback
North: Sam Rogers (Virginia Tech)
South: Freddie Stevenson (Florida)
Wide receiver
North: Amara Darboh (Michigan), Amba Etta-Tawo (Syracuse), Zay Jones (East Carolina), Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington), Jalen Robinette (Air Force), Jamari Staples (Louisville), Trent Taylor (Louisiana Tech)
South: Travin Dural (LSU), Josh Reynolds (Texas), Fred Ross (Mississippi State), Artavis Scott (Clemson), Ryan Switzer (North Carolina), Taywan Taylor (Western Kentucky), Chad Williams (Grambling State)
Tight end
North: Mike Roberts (Toledo), Jonnu Smith (Florida International), Jeremy Sprinkle (Arkansas)
South: Evan Engram (Ole Miss), Gerald Everett (South Alabama), O.J. Howard (Alabama), Blake Jarwin (Oklahoma), Eric Saubert (Drake)
Offensive tackle
North: Zach Banner (USC), Adam Bisnowaty (Pittsburgh), Julie’n Davenport (Bucknell), Taylor Moton (Western Michigan)
South: Antonio Garcia (Troy), Will Holden (Vanderbilt), Robert Leff (Auburn), Conor McDermott (UCLA), Justin Senior (Mississippi State), Eric Smith (Virginia)
Guard
North: Dion Dawkins (Temple), Dan Feeney (Indiana), Kyle Kalis (Michigan), Jordan Morgan (Kutztown)
South: Jessamen Dunker (Tennessee), Danny Isidora (Miami)
Center
North: Kyle Fuller (Baylor), Tyler Orlosky (West Virginia)
South: Ethan Pocic (LSU), Jon Toth (Kentucky)
Defensive end
North: Tarell Basham (Ohio), Isaac Rochell (Notre Dame), Dawuane Smoot (Illinois), Chris Wormley (Michigan)
South: Keionta Davis (UT-Chattanooga), Daeshon Hall (Texas A&M), Tanoh Kpassagnon (Villanova), Jordan Willis (Kansas State)
Defensive tackle
North: Ryan Glasgow (Michigan), Jaleel Johnson (Iowa), Larry Ogunjobi (Charlotte), Stevie Tu'ikolovatu (USC)
South: Montravius Adams (Auburn), Tanzel Smart (Tulane), Dalvin Tomlinson (Alabama), Carlos Watkins (Clemson), Eddie Vanderdoes (UCLA)
Inside linebacker
North: Ben Gedeon (Michigan), Connor Harris (Lindenwood), Jordan Herdman (Simon Fraser), Haason Reddick (Temple)
South: Alex Anzalone (Florida), Ben Boulware (Clemson), Harvey Langi (Brigham Young), Duke Riley (LSU)
Outside linebacker
North: Vince Biegel (Wisconsin), Carroll Phillips (Illinois), Derek Rivers (Youngstown State)
South: Ryan Anderson (Alabama), Tyus Bowser (Houston), Eligwe Marcus (Georgia)
Cornerback
North: Rasul Douglas (West Virginia), Desmond King (Iowa), Brendan Langley (Lamar), Jourdan Lewis (Michigan), Aarion Penton (Missouri)
South: Corn Elder (Miami), Thomas Justin (Georgia Tech), Damontae Kazee (San Diego State), Arthur Maulet (Memphis), Ezra Robinson (Tennessee State), Cameron Sutton (Tennessee), Dwayne Thomas (LSU), Marquez White (Florida State), Tre'Davious White (LSU)
Safety
North: Nate Gerry (Nebraska), Lorenzo Jerome (Saint Francis), John Johnson (Boston College), Obi Melifonwu, (Connecticut)
South: Justin Evans (Texas A&M), Rayshawn Jenkins (Miami), Jordan Sterns (Oklahoma State), Damarius Travis (Minnesota)
0 notes