Post by MOnarchsRule on Mar 23, 2019 22:40:23 GMT -5
DISCLAIMER: XFL4EVER IS A SIMULATED FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NOT AN ACTUAL ONE (UNFORTUNATELY). SO ALL THE EVENTS OF THE LEAGUE ARE FICTIONAL. OF COURSE IT WOULD BE PRETTY NEAT IF THEY WERE REAL. The XFL ”Saturday Night Riot” shows on Saturday evenings on USA Network at 7:30pm….
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Liam: Hi, everyone, I'm Liam McHugh, joined by Tiki Barber and Coach Marvin Lewis and welcome to Saturday Night Riot on the USA Network. We are going into week seven. Fellas, as we are getting closer to the mid-season mark, we are going to do our own "March Madness" as we try to handicap who has the inside track to the X-Bowl. I will have a sit down with Monarchs head coach Matt Nagy, plus Josh Norris comes in to give us a preview of guys teams will be looking at in the 2019 XFL Draft. Coach, Tiki, we are approaching week 7. In honor, of College Basketball, If you were going to set your own XFL 'Final Four", regardless of conference, ..... who would be in it, and who would win it? Coach, you first, then Tiki. Coach?
Coach: My final four is actually very easy, but it includes an upset and a play-in game!.......Kansas City would be my one seed, Chicago is my 2, San Antonio is the 3 seed. Now here's where the fun begins, 'cause I have Carolina and Orlando in the play-in game and I have Carolina pulling off the upset! (groans from the others) For my money, I have Rex's Enforcers over the Stampede. In the final, some things don't change as I have Chicago beating KC, again.
Tiki: Man, I tell you Coach, you are nothing if not unconventional. My bracket isn't quite as crazy, but I'm just calling it as I'm seeing it now. KC is kicking butt and taking names, so they are easily my #1 seed, but my #2 seed is San Antonio, not Chicago,......Chicago is my 3 seed. The Rage is rocking, so they are my #4 seed. I do have Chicago taking out the Stampede, and the Rage losing to the Monarchs, with Kansas City getting the Ryan Monkey off their backs by beating Chicago.
Liam: Thanks. We’ll be right back with my interview with Monarchs head coach Matt Nagy after a word from our sponsor. This is the XFL Saturday night Riot on USA.
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Liam: Hi everyone and welcome back to Saturday Night Riot on USA. When I say names like Art Shell and Willie Brown, what do they have in common? They are among the short list of guys who won a title as a both player and coach for the same team they played for. Matt Nagy, second year head coach of the Monarchs, is trying to join that club. Recently, I sat down for an interview........ with Matt.
Liam: Coach, We had a lot of opportunities to write about what we thought about your first season at the helm. But in the meantime, I’m sure you’ve had a chance to reflect. What’s your own evaluation of how you did as a coach in Year 1?
Matt:
I like the fact record-wise (that we were 13-3), winning the XFL West. For our team, just … the way we ended it, making it to the championship (was encouraging). But for a team with X-Bowl expectations, that’s just not good enough. I know for a lot of people it might have exceeded some expectations there. In the end, that very first meeting we had together was me standing down there (One Monarch Mile at Arrowhead, team HQ) with the X-Bowl (now renamed after XFL winning-est head coach Donnie Henderson) trophies and wanting the guys to believe what we have in front of us. I loved that part of it. As for me, personally, relationship-wise with the players was very important. I thought that I probably felt a lot better at the end of the season than I thought I would, just getting to know who these guys were on an individual basis. Because it’s hard. There’s so many of them. But once you get to different times in practice while they’re stretching or in a meeting or after a meeting, you get to know who they are, what they’re about and have some individual meetings with that. That part is probably what I liked the most.
Liam: We had a chance to meet up with you a week after the X-Bowl loss — that’s a good eight days removed from it — while you sat up on that dais, anyone could see that you were still seething from that loss. How do you describe how you felt and how you properly put that in the right frame to have it be productive for you?
Matt:
To me, there’s two levels to it. The first level is how do you, individually, handle losses? Or adversity? Forget the team part and forget the head coach part. How do I handle it? I’ve grown up as one of the most competitive people around, and I hate losing just like everybody else. I was here during our "O-fer" first season. And we only had 1 win in season 2. No one likes to lose. But now you’ve got to figure out why did you lose. That’s the stuff I wanted to reflect upon once the season ended and you get by all the meetings. What’s the why part and how can we fix it? The other part is me being the head coach. How do you handle that part? We showed the team the NBA playoffs when Cleveland came back to beat Golden State after being down 3 games to 1. That’s where the maturity kicks in from the experiences with other mentors that you’ve learned from. You really do take a step back a couple days afterward, and you feel like, OK, did we at least build this thing and get this foundation set to where, as we go here each and every year, we just get better and better? I feel like we did that. Learning from Coach Henderson and talking to (Coach Andy) Reid helped me a lot. It’s not good enough, but the foundation is set. That part was the part that kept me going during that time. You could feel it from talking to our players and coaches.
Liam: How do you balance appreciating how far you’ve come, but also understanding you’ve got to find a way to get that one final win to end the season. Earlier when we heard from you at on the podium, you talked about motivation and monotony. What has been your thinking about how to push the right buttons on a team that has come a long way but obviously needs to go further?
Matt:
Our players are all different, and we coach different. One of the things is almost like a continuing-education-type deal for all of us. How do you do that? What is it? Well, for me it’s leadership books. It’s just finding different avenues to reach your players and your teammates. Now, I know our team individually way better than what I did last year at this time. So how do I reach certain guys? How do I lead them? How do they lead themselves? That’s very important for us. The first part of the question in regards to goals, the ultimate goal is to win the X-Bowl. That’s the (easily identifiable) goal that everybody has. Those 3 trophies over there aren't just there for show. But how do you get to that? That’s where, if I self-reflect, one way to do that is let’s make the playoffs. How do you do that? Then, let's win the Conference. How do you do that? That’s where I think I can be more detailed in saying the importance of making, No. 1, Arrowhead next to impossible to come here and win, and No. 2, Win the X-Bowl ourselves. So every chance you get, it’s important to make sure you maximize those chances.
Liam: You talked about the exit interviews, feeling a hunger and belief from players. Is there an example or two that resonates with you where you say, “Man, when that guy came into my office and left, I felt really, really excited”? about what that felt like?”
Matt; It wasn’t like there were three or four or five guys that just did it. It was literally every one of those guys. Some of them I had one-on-one conversations with. Others, there were groups of two or three that came in, and we talked. But the one thing that was neat was their response to me of saying, “Coach, we don't care if we have to keep going through Chicago,....we are going to win the X-Bowl.” So, they believed it. They really did. But now they also realize it’s not easy. OK, well, why didn’t we didn’t win the X-Bowl? It’s not because of one play. It’s not because of one person. It’s all of us collectively. So how are you going to use that (mantra) “Obsess to be the best,” that we talked about last year — how are you going to use that this year? If we all get a little bit better, we’re going to be back in this situation.
Liam: Was that feeling stronger than you thought it was going to be from those guys?
Matt: I think so. I wasn’t sure after a loss like that how they’re going to handle it because they are young. Are they upset and deflated and disappointed? Yeah, they are. But they were actually more positive and more anxious to get back here, which fired me up. Because in that game, the way we lost, there’s a natural reaction to almost feel sorry for yourself as players and coaches, that, “Man, we were so close.” But, no, we’re going to use this now as a motivation.
That’s what’s fun to me, knowing that we have guys on this team that truly care. They’re going to come back here, and they’re going to be firing away. We....will....be......back.
Liam: And we’ll be right back after a word from our sponsor. This is Saturday night Riot on USA.
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Liam: Hi everyone and welcome back to Saturday Night Riot on USA. I’m Liam McHugh in the studio with Tiki Barber, and Coach Marvin Lewis. This week on XFL Livewire, we have Josh Norris at the desk. Josh, as the Combine and Pro Days are upon us, who are some of the guys teams have on their radar in the upcoming 2019 XFL Draft?
Josh: This is my list of 8 guys GMs have their eyes on this draft.
#1, RB Bryce Love, Stanford - Had he declared for the 2018 NFL draft, running back Bryce Love might have been a NFL first-round pick. One injury-riddled season later, he's looking like his career might be de-railed. Love dealt with a nagging ankle injury throughout the 2018 campaign and tore his ACL in Stanford's final regular-season contest with California. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller slotted him in the seventh round in his post-Super Bowl mock draft, but he views the elusive tailback as a big-play asset. "Forgot how much I liked Bryce Love in 2017," Miller tweeted. "Master of the chunk play. Hope he can get back to that level of play." In 2017, Love earned the Doak Walker Award for college football's most outstanding running back and took home Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year honors because of his 2,118 rushing yards and 19 scores on the ground. This past year, injuries limited him to 166 carries, 739 yards and six touchdowns in 10 contests. Love's recovery from a torn ACL figures to scare teams away early in the draft. He couldn't take part in drills during the NFL Scouting Combine, and it's unclear if he'll participate at his pro day. But if Love fully recovers, he could turn into a beast once he's healthy.
#2, RB Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M - Trayveon Williams eclipsed 200 carries once during his three-year career at Texas A&M. Teams may wonder if he's equipped to handle a workhorse role at 5'8" and 206 pounds. In 2018, Williams racked up 1,760 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground while adding 27 receptions for 278 yards and a score through the air. His soft hands out of the backfield bode well for his transition to the NFL, as teams typically want running backs to boast an expanded skill set. Williams also isn't afraid to use his compact frame to protect the quarterback in a pass-blocking role, which gives coaches another reason to keep him on the field for all three downs. If given the opportunity, the former Aggie could develop into a lead running back and reliable pass-catcher.
#3, WR, Jalen Hurd, Baylor - Jalen Hurd didn't just switch schools. He left Tennessee as a running back and converted to wide receiver at Baylor, as the 6'5", 226-pounder would've been a questionable fit in an XFL backfield. Hurd couldn't take advantage of an invite to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, because of his recovery from December knee surgery. He also skipped the 40-yard dash and position drills at the combine but recorded 23 reps on the bench press. Hurd comes into the XFL with a high ceiling because of his size and his smooth transition from running back to wide receiver. He posted 946 receiving yards and four touchdowns in his one year at the position. However, clubs may not spend an early-round pick on him because of his inexperience on the perimeter. If Hurd continues to grow at his new position, he's a capable starter and No. 2 receiving option. Quarterbacks figure to lock on to him in the red zone because of his height advantage.
#4, OT Max Scharping, Northern Illinois - Since Northern Illinois isn't a football factory, Max Scharping doesn't rank among top offensive tackles in this draft class. His tape says otherwise. At 6'6" and 327 pounds, Scharping can engulf smaller pass-rushers off the edge, but he could also match power with bull-rushers. The big-bodied perimeter blocker has lined up on both sides of the line, although he figures to play right tackle in the NFL because of his ability to seal the end on outside runs. Scharping isn't short on collegiate experience, having started 53 consecutive games for the Huskies. He reminds me of Detroit Lions offensive tackle Ricky Wagner, who's started 75 games since the Baltimore Ravens selected him in the fifth round of the 2013 draft. Because of his versatility, Scharping will likely see training camp reps at both left and right tackle. He may not have a pathway to a starting role without an injury knocking out an entrenched option, but the Northern Illinois product could nevertheless emerge as a steal with his solid blocking in run and pass situations.
#5, DL L.J. Collier, TCU - TCU defensive end L.J. Collier can play in even- and odd-man fronts. He's a stout 6'2", 283-pounder who's equipped to set the edge or push the pocket. However, Collier wasn't a full-time starter until his senior year, which may knock him down several notches on draft boards. Collier's tape suggests he could produce a number of sacks in an expanded role. He attacks offensive linemen with a quick step and a powerful initial punch. Teams will appreciate his tough demeanor in the trenches. The former Horned Frog would fare well in a system that allows him to use his attacking style at the line of scrimmage. Collier tallied 14.5 sacks over his final three seasons with TCU, with at least four sacks each year. Despite his experience in a rotation on the interior of the defensive line, he will likely post his best numbers as a strong-side defensive end in a four-man front. A coaching staff could unlock his true potential at that position.
#6, LB T.J. Edwards, Wisconsin - Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Edwards played at 242 pounds during his senior year. But in the NFL, teams have leaned toward athletic defenders to counter the short passing attack and defend tight ends in the seam areas. As a result, the former Badger slimmed down to 230 pounds before the combine.Some XFL teams may not feel comfortable rolling out a 6'0", 230-pound linebacker on early downs against the run, but Edwards' skill set translates to the pros. He's a reliable tackler with exceptional coverage ability in the middle of the defense. Edwards finds the football when it's in the air. The four-year collegian logged 10 interceptions over his final three seasons at Wisconsin. He isn't quite a ball hawk, but quarterbacks must account for his whereabouts in the passing game. The now-svelte linebacker can carve out a role in nickel packages and grow into a starter at the position.
#7, CB Derrick Baity, Kentucky - Based on his collegiate production, Kentucky cornerback Derrick Baity doesn't LOOK like a big-time prospect. At 6'2" and 197 pounds, he also didn't consistently play to his size with the Wildcats. The former Wildcat isn't the most reliable tackler in the open field, and he struggled with his positioning while the ball was in the air last year. Front offices will have to see past Baity's warts to visualize his potential. Coaching staffs may covet his size and envision him in a press cornerback mold. He flashed some potential on the collegiate level, logging three interceptions during his sophomore year and notching at least seven pass breakups in each of his final three seasons. Baity possesses tremendous upside, and his physical stature will put him on the radar as a high-end Day 3 prospect. If he receives good coaching in the NFL, he could have a lengthy career on the perimeter. Regardless of scheme, zone or man, Baity has a shot at a starting role.
#8, S Amani Hooker, Iowa - For teams looking for a safety/linebacker hybrid, look no further. Amani Hooker is a jack-of-all trades defender. He didn't have a full-time starting role until his junior year, and he lacked impact plays on his collegiate reel. However, the versatile defensive back proved he's able to put his stamp on a game in multiple positions during his collegiate career. He can line up at strong or free safety and fill the hybrid linebacker-safety role. "When the Hawkeyes go to a quirky 4-2-5 defense, Hooker is the one who moves into that hybrid role," John Bohnenkamp of The Hawk Eye wrote. "It gives Iowa five defensive backs, but with the skill of three linebackers." Hooker's experience at a position in demand bodes well for his growth potential in the NFL. More importantly, he showed the ability to produce in that spot. In 2018, the Iowa product recorded four interceptions, 11 pass breakups and 3.5 tackles for loss.
Hooker could earn a starting spot at safety and adjust to the needs of a pass defense in base or nickel schemes. This is shaping up to be a fun early set of rounds come draft time......
Liam: That’s all the time we have for this week, folks. This is Liam McHugh with Tiki Barber, Marvin Lewis. From all of us in the studio to all of you at home, enjoy the games everybody. Don't forget the wrap-up show. This has been the XFL Saturday Night Riot on the USA Network.
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