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Week 3: Building Off Of Momentum



Editor's Note: This piece is taken directly from contributor Matt Barbato's website: Jet Fuel.

By: Matt Barbato (@RealMattBarbato)

The New York Jets and Chicago Bears enter their Monday night matchup on completely different sides of the momentum spectrum. The Jets are coming off a major collapse in all phases against Chicago's rival, the Green Bay Packers. The Bears rallied back from a 17-point deficit on the road against the San Francisco 49ers and won a much-needed game.

Both teams enter the game at 1-1, but are vastly different teams. The Jets will focus on winning the game in the trenches. The Jets took a 21-3 lead against Green Bay because of a strong ground game, but went away from it as the Packers started their comeback. Chicago has all-purpose running back Matt Forte, but prefer to throw the ball often.

The Jets lead the league in running the ball and stopping the run. New York's timeshare of Chris Johnson and Chris Ivory has averaged 179 yards in two contests, while the fearsome front seven has stifled opponents to just 52.5 yards through two games.

Chicago is 30th in the running game, averaging only 66 yards per game on the ground, while allowing an average of 160 yards in two contests.

The difference will be in the passing game. The Jets' secondary was exposed by Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson, who had a career-high 209 receiving yards last Sunday. Expect similar results on Sunday, as Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey march into MetLife Stadium.

Cutler is coming off of an inspirational second half against San Francisco, but struggles to string together gaudy performances. Cutler is 57-of-83 on the season for 525 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. Despite Chicago's talent on the perimeter, it's tight end Martellus Bennett, leads the team with 15 receptions. Forte might be at his most dangerous when he's receiving out of the backfield, as he's tied with Marshall for second on the team with 13 catches.

While Nelson is more of a possession receiver who runs clean routes and has great hands, Marshall and Jeffrey present size mismatches, as both are listed as six-foot-four. That will be a problem for New York, whose tallest cornerback is six-foot-one converted safety Antonio Allen.

The other key storyline of Monday's matchup is Santonio Holmes' return to New York. Holmes had a tumultuous four seasons with New York that was filled with injuries and attitude issues. This is why he sat on the free agent market for months before Chicago picked him up just before the preseason. Holmes is learning Chicago's offense and will have an extra bit of motivation going to face the team that cut him after the 2013 season.

If the Jets want to knock off Chicago, they'll need to do what they did in the first half against Green Bay: Run the ball.

 

Geno Smith has been solid at times, but has had a couple of crippling turnovers in two games. His interception inside Packers' territory that led to Green Bay's 97-yard drive to close out the first half, marked the beginning of the demise for the Jets. The Bears' front seven stepped up their run defense against San Francisco, but this still a unit that can be controlled in the ground game.

Muhammad Wilkerson will need to have an impressive showing after getting ejected in the third quarter of Sunday's game for throwing a punch. The Jets defense was ripped to shreds by Green Bay in the second half and completely lost its poise. A better showing will be crucial for a unit that has claimed to be one of the best in the NFL.

The Jets will have to mask their awful secondary with a strong pass rush. Cutler is pretty good at evading pressure in the pocket, but his mechanics suffer when under duress and his decision making skills diminish. When he's on, Cutler can be a top-10 quarterback, but if enough pressure is applied, it tends to result in an interception.

A group to watch in Monday's game is the tight ends. With Eric Decker's status uncertain due to a hamstring injury, Jeff Cumberland, Jace Amaro and Zach Sudfeld will need to remove their invisibility cloak and try to get open against a beatable Bears' defense. Cumberland and Amaro have combined for just eight catches and 87 yards in two games, a number that needs to improve.

The Bears are riding high into MetLife, but don't expect a defensive struggle with the Monsters of the Midway. The new monsters are on the perimeter of the offense and although Chicago's offensive line is banged up, Roberto Garza and former Jet Matt Slauson both missed last week's game, the Jets won't be able to contain Chicago's arsenal of weapons.

Score Prediction: Bears 27 Jets 16 

Be sure to follow Matt on Twitter (@RealMattBarbato)

 

Read more of Matt's work on his site, Jet Fuel.

The Sports ReKap, hosted by Nick Kapetan and DJ Vogt, airs every Tuesday from 6:00PM-7:30PM CT on MarquetteWire.org

Follow Us On Twitter

Nick- @KapN93

DJ- @DvJ14

Like Us On Facebook

Be sure to visit Sobelman's this summer, the official sponsor of The Sports ReKap, and try their array of mouthwatering burgers. Visit their website: http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/

It is still over 7 months away but please start considering joining a Relay For Life team at your school next year. For more information on how to join a team at Marquette please contact Kristen Krawczyk at kristen.krawczyk@marquette.edu

The Sports ReKap is happy to announce the additions of Matt Barbato, Michael Felish, Chris Linskens, Kevin Saad, Kevin Clancy, and Brendan Garrity as full-time contributors to the show. If you want to be a part of the show this year email Nick at nicholas.kapetan@marquette.edu.

 
 

A Voice of Reason

By: Nick Kapetan (@KapN93)

Most athletes utilize the platform they are handed, thanks to their ability to master the craft of playing a professional sport, for their own benefit.

As humans begin to worship them for the athletic successes and follow their every move, they take the opportunity to sell any product that a company is willing to pay them to talk about. These individuals get paid millions of dollars to speak out about how a certain insurance is on their side or how a particular soup is so delicious that you have to get your hands on it right away. They want the money, and they will do whatever it takes to get it.

Nowadays, we rarely see an athlete use the stage given, as a forum to discuss an important issue that plagues our nation.

Due to the recent events surrounding the Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson, Greg Hardy, Ray McDonald, and Jonathan Dwyer sagas, the issue of abuse has made its way to the forefront of society’s minds.

Abuse has always been there. It is not like men started beating women and children just last week. However, due to the increase in media outlets, it becomes more prevalent when athletes that are idolized, undertake in the action. Dirt that has been dusted on the rug is brought out. It does not matter if it has been six days, six weeks, or two years since the incident, the allegations will see the light of day.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall has had a troubled past. This is not news. When the team traded for the elite talent, people questioned whether he had put his past behind him.

To Marshall’s credit he has always been ahead of the issues that have plagued his past. Naturally, with the media spotlight now focused on football players who have a history of allegedly abusing others, Marshall’s name was brought up.

Marshall addressed these people that accused the NFL of mishandling the investigation over the Pro Bowler beating his girlfriend, in a lengthy forum he held in front of the media on Thursday.

Say what you want about how Marshall may have been rambling on towards the end. The important part of what went down was that Marshall did what others have not done: admit that there is a problem.

The most compelling piece from the press conference was that Marshall pointed out what we all know but never mention. Marshall spoke about culture, not just the NFL culture, the overall culture of our society. As much as we do not like to admit it at times, abuse has become all too common in today’s society. Endless stories about men placing their hands on others go unreported. Whether it be a future Hall of Fame running back or the local barbershop owner, abuse crosses every social and economic line.

“I’m not going to raise my kids the way 90% of the players in the NFL were raised.”

Sit back and think about that for a second.

That was not some outlandish claim that a pundit, who has no experience in an NFL locker room, made. That was not a quote from some racist fan who does not comprehend what happens when the pads come off and the gladiators turn back into regular people. That is coming from someone who has gone to battle, as well as hung out outside the locker room, with these individuals. He knows firsthand what these guys are like and how they were raised.

Marshall has given us a peak behind the curtain. He was telling us something we all have seemed to forget the past few weeks; these athletes that we praise, are regular people too.

Marshall did not throw anyone underneath the bus or break the all holy “code of the locker room”. He did what no football player has done since the Ray Rice news broke. Marshall did not hide behind a statement written by his attorney while hiding from the same news cameras that have made him famous. Instead, he confronted the issue head on and utilized his very public image to bring light to an issue that continues to fade into the darkness.

Nick Kapetan hosts The Sports ReKap with his co-host DJ Vogt. The show airs every Tuesday from 6:00PM-7:30PM CT on MarquetteWire.org

Follow Us On Twitter:

Nick- @KapN93

DJ- @DvJ14

Like Us On Facebook

Be sure to visit Sobelman's this summer, the official sponsor of The Sports ReKap, and try their array of mouthwatering burgers. Visit their website: http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/

It is still over 8 months away but please start considering joining a Relay For Life team at your school next year. For more information on how to join a team at Marquette please contact Kristen Krawczyk at kristen.krawczyk@marquette.edu

The Sports ReKap is happy to announce the additions of Kevin Clancy, Nate Craft, Kevin Saad, Michael Felish, Chris Linskens, Matt Barbato, and Brendan Garrity as full-time contributors to the show. If you want to be a part of the show this year email Nick at nicholas.kapetan@marquette.edu.

Don’t Shoot the Messenger

By: Kevin Saad (@KevinSaad93)

This weekend against Clemson, Jameis Winston won’t play football for 30 minutes. In all honesty, he shouldn’t even be playing football based on what was uncovered over the last couple years. But thanks to a strategically botched investigation and a BCS run with a Heisman trophy that made fans forget about the past due to the glory of “Famous Jameis”, Winston has been able to keep his “free pass” card at FSU for the past year.

Even with the crab leg incident, Winston still seemed untouchable. Heck, you could even pass off the incident as being a hungry college student who was looking for food by any means. But I draw the line with this one.

No one forced Winston to jump on a table and yell “F*** Her Right In the P****” in a very crowded area on campus. This is nothing more than blatant stupidity and a superiority complex. You could push it off as “immaturity” and argue that he is “just a kid”.

Some FSU football fans have snapped back on Twitter at the people who tweeted the incident as it happened. These people argue that Jameis wouldn’t be suspended if it wasn’t for these “snitches” who ratted out their own QB.

In this situation, there is one extremely important thing that Jameis and his supporters are lacking: awareness.

Are these people aware that even though he is young, he is part of a culture where his every move is under the microscope? Is Jameis aware that the NFL is already under intense scrutiny from fans and sponsors due to the handling of foolish, hazardous actions of players just like him?

If I was to pull the stunt that Winston pulled on FSU’s campus this week, I’m sure a lot of people would have tweeted about me as well.  The only difference is I am a sports obsessed senior who really likes WingStop, while Winston is a celebrity QB only a few months away from a major pay day.

In life, you need to act differently in certain situations. You don’t walk into a job interview and brag about that keg stand you beasted through last week. Just like how at a party on Friday night you don’t want to be the guy dishing out accounting terms to start a conversation. You need to know the situation and when and where to make your comments.

In 2014 as a national icon, you should know that screaming something obscene in a public will get you in the headlines for the wrong reasons. These are the things that come with being a glamorous QB on the way to the NFL.

If Jameis ever wants to take a snap in a NFL stadium, he needs to get this through his head. And to the people who are accusing the Twitter users of snitching out Winston, I only ask one thing of you: take off your FSU jersey for a moment and see with a clearer lens.

Not everyone on campus cares about football. Maybe these Twitter users weren’t trying to get Winston suspended or snitch on him because they envy him for his fame or future wealth.

Maybe they were just taking to Twitter to talk about how shocked they were over what they just witnessed: a future NFL quarterback that has managed to dodge rape charges and theft but still thinks he can get away with anything.

 

Be sure to follow Kevin on Twitter (@KevinSaad93) and tune into his radio show, The Beef, on St. Joseph's University Radio every Friday from 6:00PM-7:30PM CT.

The Sports ReKap, hosted by Nick Kapetan and DJ Vogt, airs every Tuesday from 6:00PM-7:30PM CT on MarquetteWire.org.

Follow Us On Twitter

Nick- @KapN93

DJ- @DvJ14

 

Like Us On Facebook

Be sure to visit Sobelman's this summer, the official sponsor of The Sports ReKap, and try their array of mouthwatering burgers. Visit their website: http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/

It is still over 7 months away but please start considering joining a Relay For Life team at your school next year. For more information on how to join a team at Marquette please contact Kristen Krawczyk at kristen.krawczyk@marquette.edu

The Sports ReKap is happy to announce the additions of Kevin Saad, Kevin Clancy, Nate Craft, Michael Felish, Chris Linskens, Matt Barbato, and Brendan Garrity as full-time contributors to the show. If you want to be a part of the show this year email Nick at nicholas.kapetan@marquette.edu.

 

Now That's More Like It

By: Nick Kapetan @KapN93

Raise your hand if you thought this would happen. Go ahead, don't be shy.

If you truly believed that the Chicago Bears would beat the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night, then you should be deemed as the next great NFL analyst. You deserve all the recognition possible. Most people walked into work today and boastfully proclaimed "I told you so" when they were as doubtful as the rest of us.

Football is unlike any sport. With 16 regular games, every contest is a must win. Every game presents the opportunity of swinging momentum, and the chatter around the team, into a different direction.

After the Bears week one loss to the Buffalo Bills, many people were reaching for the panic button. Pundits that predicted that Chicago was not the real deal were anointing themselves as football prophets. All hope that this year's team would be a dark horse to make the Super Bowl was lost. Then, Sunday night happened.

Now let's get this straight. Just like how people should not have overreacted after one loss, labeling the Bears as a complete team after one win is not appropriate. There still remains incredible holes on both sides of the ball.

The depth chart took a major hit this week and general manager Phil Emery will be scrambling to infuse pieces into the current roster. However, this team might finally have a guy who is capable of doing that effectively. Just look at the contributions some of his acquisitions made in San Francisco.

For the Bears to have shocked the world and beat the 49ers, one thought that everything needed to go right. Well everything did not go right on Sunday night, but many things did.

Jay Cutler threw four touchdowns with zero, yes that's right, zero interceptions. Instead of relying heavily on tossing deep passes, Cutler meticulously tore up the 49ers defense through dump off throws to running back Matt Forte.

Brandon Marshall, who was hobbling around all week in practice, caught three touchdown passes and once again proved that he is the elite receiver the franchise has been missing for decades.

Martellus Bennett had seven catches while being the middle of the field threat the Bears lacked the last time they played in San Francisco two years ago.

What happened two years ago provided a compelling narrative this past week and many believed it would serve as a precursor for what Colin Kaepernick would do this week. That ended up being far from reality.

Newcomers Jared Allen and Willie Young provided much needed pressure, as well as awe-inspiring dance moves. Rookie Kyle Fuller had his coming out party and picked off Kaepernick twice. Heck, even Shea McClellin recorded a sack.

Kaepernick looked more like an inexperienced rookie than someone who received a mega-deal. He, like the rest of us, must have been surprised with the overall showing by the Bears on both sides of the ball.

While this week will feel much better than last week did in Chicago, it still is only week three. Plenty of football to still be played. However, no one would blame you Bears fans, for being a tad bit more optimistic about the season after what you witnessed Sunday night.

 Nick Kapetan hosts The Sports ReKap with his co-host DJ Vogt. The show airs every Tuesday from 6:00PM-7:30PM CT on MarquetteWire.org

Follow Us On Twitter:

Nick- @KapN93

DJ- @DvJ14

Like Us On Facebook

Be sure to visit Sobelman's this summer, the official sponsor of The Sports ReKap, and try their array of mouthwatering burgers. Visit their website: http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/

It is still over 8 months away but please start considering joining a Relay For Life team at your school next year. For more information on how to join a team at Marquette please contact Kristen Krawczyk at kristen.krawczyk@marquette.edu

The Sports ReKap is happy to announce the additions of Kevin Clancy, Nate Craft, Kevin Saad, Michael Felish, Chris Linskens, Matt Barbato, and Brendan Garrity as full-time contributors to the show. If you want to be a part of the show this year email Nick at nicholas.kapetan@marquette.edu.

Week 2: Trying To Shock The World

 

By: Nick Kapetan (@KapN93)

Nobody is giving the Chicago Bears much of a chance. Matched up against the well-rounded San Francisco 49ers, while being banged up on the offensive side of the ball, the Bears have to pull off nothing short of a miracle to leave California with a win.

Everything is stacked up against the Bears in week two. Their top two receivers, Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery are questionable for the game and even if they do play, will be limited on how much they see the field. Third string receiver Josh Morgan most likely will not suit up as well.

Chicago is also coming off of a deflating week one loss at the hands of the Buffalo Bills. Their defense, with all of the new shiny parts added this offseason, was horrendous against the run. This week their job does not get easier as they face another two-headed, running back monster. Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde must be licking their chops as they prepare to face the 30^th ranked defense against the run.

If EJ Manuel was able to cause havoc for the Bears last week, how on earth will they be able to stop Colin Kaepernick. Nobody needs to be reminded on how Kaepernick destroyed the Bears two years ago in what ended up being his coming out party. The read option, which Kaepernick runs so effectively, has given the Bears defense fits under coordinator Mel Tucker, and will continue to do so Sunday.

Yes, the 49ers defense is as banged up as the Bears offense is. San Francisco will be without Aldon Smith and NaVorro Bowman while cornerbacks Tramaine Brock and Chris Culliver have been dealing with injuries. Still, the offensive firepower that the 49ers feature should make up for the points that the defense will allow.

If the Bears are going to pull off the upset, Matt Forte must be utilized more often. Head coach Marc Trestman must deviate from his game plan and hand the ball off to Forte late in games when there is a less than sizeable amount of yards to go.

Trestman admitted this past week that his play calling deserved to be criticized, especially that head-scratching call to have Cutler throw the ball on 3^rd and 1, that eventually led to an interception.

Especially with a number of weapons out or limited this week, Forte should receive more than 20 carries against the 49ers, something that has only happened four times during the Trestman era. While dump passes to the running back are effective a majority of time thanks to Forte’s ability to create in space, defenses begin to anticipate and eventually stop him in his tracks.

Sunday night could be a nightmare for the Bears. Starting 0-2 would cause fans, and of course the media, to start searching for the panic button. This test will allow the nation to see how Cutler does without his plethora of resources, and how he reacts to adversity.

If the Bears jump out to a fast start, it is not quixotic to believe that they could shock the football world. The problem is that for this to happen, everything needs to go right. Basing judgment on what one saw last week, that is not going to happen.

Score Prediction: 49ers 33 Bears 24

 



 Nick Kapetan hosts The Sports ReKap with his co-host DJ Vogt. The show airs every Tuesday from 6:00PM-7:30PM CT on MarquetteWire.org

Follow Us On Twitter:

Nick- @KapN93

DJ- @DvJ14

Like Us On Facebook

Be sure to visit Sobelman's this summer, the official sponsor of The Sports ReKap, and try their array of mouthwatering burgers. Visit their website: http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/

It is still over 8 months away but please start considering joining a Relay For Life team at your school next year. For more information on how to join a team at Marquette please contact Kristen Krawczyk at kristen.krawczyk@marquette.edu

The Sports ReKap is happy to announce the additions of Kevin Clancy, Nate Craft, Kevin Saad, Michael Felish, Chris Linskens, Matt Barbato, and Brendan Garrity as full-time contributors to the show. If you want to be a part of the show this year email Nick at nicholas.kapetan@marquette.edu.

Nick Roach Has Finally Found A Place To Call Home

By: Nick Kapetan (@KapN93)

Nick Roach’s road to where he is today has been anything but easy.

The linebacker, who will begin his second season with the Oakland Raiders after he is cleared to return from the concussion he sustained, has clearly become a leader on a rising defense.

On a unit that is loaded with veterans, Roach stands out because he is the face of an up and coming linebacker core. Being in the same meeting room with the future face of the defense Khalil Mack, as well as Sio Moore, means that Roach has the day-to-day task of teaching these youngsters everything he knows. He is the one that has the opportunity to ingrain life lessons into the minds of these two.

There is an enormous difference between Roach and the budding linebacker duo. Mack was a highly touted first round draft pick in 2014, while Moore was selected in the third round of the 2013 draft. Roach on the other hand: entered the league as an undrafted free agent, had to put in his dues on a practice squad, rode the pine for a period of time with the Chicago Bears, was inserted into the starter’s role for only emergency purposes, started next to one future Hall of Famer as well as a Pro Bowler, battled through injury, regained his starting role, then lost it in the end, all while earning the respect of his teammates along the way.

Even after this six year odyssey with the Bears, Roach was not seen as a part of Chicago’s future.

Now one season after the decision to let Roach walk, the Bears realize that they made a mistake. While a revolving door of players attempt to pick up where Roach left off, the Wisconsin native is proving that he is an NFL starter.

Roach and the Bears were never meant to be. The contributions the linebacker made on a weekly basis were overlooked because he had to play third fiddle to Urlacher and Lance Briggs. When something went right, the two men that were a part of the Monsters of the Midway were patted on the back, while when something went wrong, Roach was the one who had fingers pointed at him.

From a distance, it seemed as if Roach was never fazed by the lack of positive attention.  It always appeared that the man, who was once passed over by every single NFL team during the 2007 draft, was just glad to have a chance to play in the league.  

Coming from one of the most overlooked college football programs in the country, Northwestern University, Roach flew under the radar. While Northwestern as a whole was not fantastic during his time on campus, Roach still was a force for all four years as he competed in what was, at the time, a respectable conference. A broken leg that he suffered towards the latter part of his senior season played a large factor in Roach not being drafted.

Still, someone should have taken a flier on Roach, but nobody did. This just added fuel to the fire. Roach was determined to still make a name for himself in the league, despite his initial rejection by all 32 teams.

In 2009, he did just that. During his third year in the league, Roach finally saw his first substantial chunk of playing time. He recorded 75 tackles and two sacks, which went incredibly unnoticed by many. That year would be a precursor for the rest of his time in Chicago.

Nobody really gave Roach credit for what he was able to do while he was playing in a position he was not accustomed to. A middle linebacker by trade, he was told early on that if he wanted to see the field, he would have to transform into an inside linebacker. That he did.

Six years after that experiment started, while there were enormous bumps along the way, Roach realized that the position change was best for him.

Even though Roach is back at his natural position of middle linebacker with the Raiders, putting in countless years playing on the inside, made him a more versatile player. Roach even had the chance to sniff some time at his former position as Urlacher’s multiple injuries towards the latter part of his career meant that Roach would have to step in, in a moment’s notice. Heck the man would even take Briggs’ place on the outside on occasion. Talk about a hybrid.

While he will never admit it, it must be refreshing for Roach that he finally is in a situation where he does not have to look over his shoulder in fear of having his starting role taken away from him.  In Oakland, he was given a fresh start to make a consistent impact. Now that he is a grizzly veteran, Roach can teach the youngsters a thing or two about perseverance.

Oakland, I hope you will fall in love with Roach, if you have not done so already. The man will give it his all each and every day. If you need any evidence, his 112 tackles and 5.5 sacks last season should be all the proof you need.

 

 Nick Kapetan hosts The Sports ReKap with his co-host DJ Vogt. The show airs every Tuesday from 6:00PM-7:30PM CT on MarquetteWire.org

Follow Us On Twitter:

Nick- @KapN93

DJ- @DvJ14

Like Us On Facebook

Be sure to visit Sobelman's this summer, the official sponsor of The Sports ReKap, and try their array of mouthwatering burgers. Visit their website: http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/

It is still over 8 months away but please start considering joining a Relay For Life team at your school next year. For more information on how to join a team at Marquette please contact Kristen Krawczyk at kristen.krawczyk@marquette.edu

The Sports ReKap is happy to announce the additions of Kevin Clancy, Nate Craft, Kevin Saad, Michael Felish, Chris Linskens, Matt Barbato, and Brendan Garrity as full-time contributors to the show. If you want to be a part of the show this year email Nick at nicholas.kapetan@marquette.edu.