EL BARRIO, EL FALLS – Happy Monday. This was a fun weekend for me, as I played in my Niagara University Alumni rugby game. It was good fun, I even made a great play that led to a score. I was busy with that and I didn’t get to watch the games and events I will cover today live but when did that ever stop me. The topics for today are Jets Draft Review, Ranger Force Game 7 and Knicks lose Game 1.
Jets Draft Review
I give the Jets a draft grade of a B+. This because kt seemed they averaged a B+ to a C so their grade should be a B but I am homer and decided ti give them the plus. Here are the picks and my thoughts.
Round 1 (15th overall) Will McDonald IV, Edge Rusher, Iowa State – not quite a strech, but selected from a group of edge rusher that were expected tongo later but came do GM Joe Douglas just liked more rhan his counterparts.
Round 2 (43rd overall) Joe Tippmann, Center, Wisconsin – Jets need help at tackle and center and Joe T is projected as a rookie backup and second year starter.
Round 4 (120th overall) Carter Warren, Offensive Tackle, Pittsburgh – The Jets need an OT and though Warren is believed to need seasoning he has a high upside.
Round 5 (143rd overall) Israel Abanikanda, Running Back, Pittsburgh – James Robinson as a replacement to Breece Hall didnt work out. Abanikanda is expected to be an option so Hall cam ease himself back in.
Round 6 (184th overall) Zaire Barnes, Linebacker, Western Michigan – Jets are thin on inside linebackers so a depth pick with hopes he may breakout.
Round 6 (204th overall) Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Cornerback, LSU – Vertile DB that can olay safety or corner. Late pick with potential to be on roster as he covers 2 spots.
Round 7 (220th overall) Zack Kuntz, Tight End, Old Dominion – he is 6’7, 260 and runs a 4.5 40. He was selected due to his combine stats. not sure where he ends up on the final roster but he has a chance.
Rangers Force Game 7
After the Rangers went up 2-0, people were thinking sweep. Jersey shocked all – except their fans and maybe Angry Ward – by winning 3 straight. I mean, even Ben Whitney believed it would be a dogfight… but not like this. In each of their wins, the Rangers have scored 5 goals. They have scored but 1 in their losses. That is beyond inconsistent, but the one positive is that the most recent game was the breakthrough against the new Devil goalie (after game 2, the Devils switched goalie). Going into game 7, if the Blueshirts can keep the newly-rejigged power play units working, stay disciplined so they aren’t in the box, and take advantage of the goalie’s “not quite as good” lateral movements, they should make it to the next round.
Knicks Lose Game 1
The New York Knicks’ first playoff series win since 2013 cost them Julius Randle – likely the first two games of the second round. They will already be without back-up big man Jericho Sims, who wasn’t seeing any playoff minutes anyway. But the loss of starting 2-guard Quentin Grimes hurts. With these losses, Josh Hart and Obi Toppin have been asked to pick up the slack. This didn’t work in the first game against Miami. Everyone thought the Knicks would be facing the Bucks but the Heat knocked them off behind the play of Jimmy “Buckets” Butler. Butler didn’t cool off in game one and was helped by Gabe Vincent, Kevin Love and Kyle Lowrie off the bench. I think going forward Tom Thibodeau needs to look to add Derek Rose to the second team rotation so Hart plays less first team minutes. Maybe find a way to rotate Obi Toppin with RJ Barrett and maybe even Deuce McBride a bit to try cut done minutes played by the starters.
Thanks for reading and feel free to comment below. Check out Ben Whitney, who will give thoughts on Rangers-Devils Game 7.
