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With right tackle Andrew Steueber injured the Michigan Wolverines are shuffling the offensive line

Embed from Getty Images Michigan Wolverines right tackle, Andrew Stueber has suffered a significant injury to his knee. The injury could have Stueber  out for an indefinite amount of time. The Wolverines are now shuffling the offensive line around to find the right combination.

Michigan offensive line coach Ed Warinner spoke to the media on Monday afternoon saying,  “We moved Joel (Honigford),” Warinner said, via The Michigan Insider. “He had been playing right guard. With (Andrew) Vastardis playing so well at guard/center, we felt very comfortable having Andrew Vastardis as a right guard and then bumping Joel out. Joel has only been there a couple of days but he’s looking real comfortable. That may be a better position for him. A year ago when I first got here I tried him out there, he struggled in the pass protection. Now, he’s over a year working that and some of his fundamentals we were able to develop with him, he’s really looked good out there in terms of that. That was the piece that kept him from playing tackle a year ago. Now, I feel real comfortable in his pass protection, he knows what’s going on and I think it’s going to be a good move for him. Vastardis is a solid guy inside.”

Injuries are never fun and can be difficult to overcome. The Michigan Wolverines are in good shape to man maneuver through some of the offensive line injuries due to very good recruiting and depth.

To lose a starter on the offensive line so close to the start of the 2019-20 College Football Season has made the Michigan coach’s and players adjust. The offensive line was going to be a really good unit for the football team this season and I believe it still will be.

More will be known about how fast the line can gel when on August 31 Michigan hosts Middle Tennessee for the season opener.

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A rumor has sent a rift through Star Wars fans

*Warning: This is a potential spoiler. Please turn away or take with a grain of salt.*

Embed from Getty Images A Darth Vader rumor has hit “The Rise of Skywalker” and has fans freaking out. Not in a good way. While this rumor may or may not be true, it does exactly what a rumor is designed to do. Divides the fans.

According to the rumor, the Darth Vader suit has been spotted on the UK “Rise of Skywalker” set.  The rumor is centered around the suit and Kylo Ren, it seems that Kylo Ren will be wearing the iconic Darth Vade suit.

Fans are unhappy. They do not feel that Kylo Ren is worthy to wear the suit of the greatest villain in cinema history. Star Wars fans on Social Media have been very vocal about the fact they do not want Ren anywhere near the Vader suit.

If it is true then it would link 1977 “Star Wars A New Hope” with the final film in the Skywalker saga.  What seems certain is that Darth Vader is indeed going to be in the film one way or another. Could be a flashback sequence or something similar.

The same rumor also has appearances of Qui-Gon Jinn and the Hutts in the JJ Abrams directed Episode IX. While the last two seem a long shot at best, the Darth Vader seems a bit more realistic. At least in theory.

Anakin Skywalker/ Darth Vader is the grandfather of Kylo Ren, there is not two-ways about it. So that alone makes the Darth Vader suit plausible. What seems out of place is that Kylo Ren would actually put the suit on.

Kylo Ren holds his grandfather on some pedestal. While I believe Emperor Palpatine is connecting with Ren  through Vader’s mask, I do not believe Ren would put on the suit unless he was directed to do so. I believe Ren has too much respect for his grandfather to put the suit on.

I for one hope this is a false rumor. It could end up being just that. Star Wars fans hope that is the case.

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ESPN votes the Detroit Lions most likely to go worst-to-first

Embed from Getty Images After simulating the upcoming NFL regular season 1 million times, the Detroit Lions have been picked as the favorite to make the jump from worst to first. Ever since 2002, at least one NFL team has made the jump from worst to first in its division every season outside of one. Last year, both the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears pulled off the feat.

When the NFL realigned the divisions back in 2002, 22 teams have gone from worst to first. An  impressive jump to be sure. The NFL prides itself of parity. 2014, was the only season that no bottom feeder went to the top.

DVOA,  simulated the upcoming season 1 million times. The Detroit Lions are viewed to have a 25.5% chance of winning the division and a 39.8% chance of making the playoffs after the extensive simulation.

“When a team declines as much as the Lions did last season, it usually rebounds a bit the next year. Our system also likes the talent the Lions have added this offseason,” the Football spokesman said when breaking down the upcoming NFL season.

“There are more reasons to be optimistic about the defense hidden among the numbers. The Lions are in the second year of a new scheme, and all else being equal, teams take a little step back in the first year of a new scheme and a step forward once they have more experience in it.” The spokesman added.

Ever since the start of the offseason and free agency the Detroit Lions have been trending upward. Throw in a very good, very solid NFL draft and the recipe for success is there.

Lions head coach Matt Patricia, has taken a softer stance in his second training camp. The former New England Patriots defensive coordinator, was brought in to bring a culture shock to a football team that desperately needed one.

Patricia, knew exactly what it takes to be a championship team. Having been gruff, blunt and difficult for players and media alike has changed this offseason.

Part of it is players now know what to expect. Last season Patricia sent clues to both his team and media by showing up late for meetings and press conferences. I believe that was by design to show who was in charge.

This season Patricia has laughed at practices, shown up on time and been kind to media members. Now the team can move forward.

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Star Wars Theory: Did Palpatine have a contingency plan if he died

Embed from Getty Images Palpatine told Anakin Skywalker that they would find the secret to stopping people from dying. In my opinion, Palpatine may have been plotting to possess Anakin to continue living in him after his body died. As we all know, Anakin/ Darth Vader  killed Palpatine by throwing him over the reactor railing on the second Death Star.

Any good leader is always two steps ahead of everyone. Which leads me to a  contingency plan that could have been put into play by Emperor Palpatine. This plan is focused around the First Order. I believe the First Order was put in place by Palpatine in the event he was overthrown or killed. As in the First Order of business was getting rid of the Resistance.

It has been confirmed, Palpatine has an elite fleet of Sith troopers and ships in the Unknown Regions waiting to be activated. It is possible the  First Order’s Stormtroops and their weapons as well as equipment may have been created in the Unknown Region which explains how they have such a robust army even though the Republic had been reinstated. Palpatine could have had this contingency plan waiting for a while.

Which brings us to the teachings of Darth Plagueis. Plaguies perfected transferring his spirit/soul and be able to live in another being. Palpatine learning under Plaguies learned this as well. Which leads us to Rey.

I believe Palpatine was living in Supreme Leader Snoke, with no true ties to the Force, Snoke knew enough about it because Palpatine was leading him. If this is indeed the case then it lends to “The Force Awakens” when Palpatine/Snoke feels a strong presence of the Force in Rey. Much like I believe he was wanting to use Anakin Skywalker, I think Palpatine realized Rey would be a perfect vessel to possess and return to full strength. Thus allowing Snoke to die.

In “The Rise of Skywalker” Kylo Ren is now Supreme Leader. This has been confirmed by Star Wars director JJ Abrams. Ren seems to be going back and forth between the Dark and Light side of the Force through the past two films.

Palpatine wants and needs someone who is fully committed to the Dark Side which is why I believe he will try to convert Rey. Kylo Ren, is not stable enough for the Emperor’s liking.

It will all play out soon enough.

 

 

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Filip Hronek looking to improve in his sophomore season

Embed from Getty Images Do the Red Wings have a special player on their hands? Defensive player Filip Hornek looks to be a top four defensive player for the Detroit Red Wings. During his 2018-19 rookie season, Hornek played in 46 games, tallying five goals and 23 points, his 19:57 average ice time was the third-best among all NHL rookies.

Last season only Rasmus  Dahlin (Buffalo Sabers) at 0.54 averaged more points per game among first year defensemen with at least 45 games played. Filip Hronek will start the season on the second pairing, but if Mike Green begins to have health issues again not too mention the odds of him playing 82 games is highly unlikely, Hronek could be playing top pairing minutes quickly.

At only 21 years old, Hronek looks like the real deal. His output during the 2019 World Championships saw Hronek put up  11 points in 10 games and was named  the best defenseman of the tournament, a strong 2019-20 NHL campaign for the Red Wings seems probable.

Filip Hronek could become a 40 to 50 points player for the Detroit Red Wings. His point totals could be somewhat elevated if Hronek quarterbacks one of Detroit’s power play units which again is something probable.

40 points would be close to his 2018-19 numbers 0.50 points per game in 46 games. The Detroit Red Wings need Hronek to step up and find another level to his game given his work ethic that should not be a problem. Hronek is expected to be one of the teams top defensemen moving into the future post rebuild alongside Dennis Cholowski, Jared McIsaac, and Moritz Seider. Becoming a two way threat on the blue line would help Detroit’s rebuild.

At  the end of the 2018-19 season, Hronek was the Red Wings’ best defenseman. After starting the season is Detroit, Hronek was sent to Grand Rapids to work on his passing and mental mistakes. Having cleaned that up he was recalled and his game took off.

Widely viewed as a pivotal part of the Detroit Red Wings rebuild, Filip Hronek looks like a player who will be in Motown for some time to come.

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Detroit Tigers top pick Riley Greene compaired to Ken Griffey Jr.

Embed from Getty Images He is just 18 years old. Yet, one of the Detroit Tigers most prized prospects is being compared to a Hall of Fame player. Starting his professional baseball career at the instructional Connecticut Tigers, Riley Greene lasted just 24 games. Because he was simply too good for the league.

Riley Greene has been promoted to Grand Rapids to the West Michigan Whitecaps. In his first game with the Whitecaps, Greene doubled, had an inside-the-park home run and 3 R.B.I.’s. He was not done. As of Saturday Greene is hitting .306

Coming out of high school scouts reported Greene did not have the speed to play center field. Yet the same night he debuted Riley Greene chased down a hit in the gap, splayed out for an amazing diving catch.

Scouts have changed their tune. Riley Greene is the total package. One scout said “It has been a small sample size, but the polish to his game is more than I expected.” Greene’s play and speed has pushed another Detroit Tigers top prospect (Parker Meadows) to right field.

One long time MLB general manager said “Riley Greene is a generational player. You can see the skill set and it compares to Ken Griffey Jr. Same smooth swing, makes consistent contact with the ball and can run down anything in the out field.”

It is one thing for fans of a team to compare players, it is another thing all together when a long time well respected general manager makes the comparison.

It is still early in the process, but the Detroit Tigers appear to have the next face-of-the-franchise player. Before the Tigers 2019 first round draft pick ever played a game, he was tabbed to arrive in Detroit in 2023. Given his current trajectory Tiger and baseball fans will not have to wait that long. I think 2021 is a more realistic time frame.

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Anthony Mantha is ready to breakout for the Detroit Red Wings

Embed from Getty Images When the 2018-19 NHL season was nearing it’s end. Detroit Red Wings Anthony Mantha was on a roll. Mantha had achieved a level of consistency in his all around game that had eluded him. In the last eight games, Anthony Mantha had 8 goals and 15 points, and came alive on Detroit’s power play. It looks like Mantha is ready to take another step for the Red Wings.

This past spring, Anthony Mantha played in the IIHF World Championship. The big forward put up 14 points in nine games for Team Canada. Mantha had just finished his Red Wings season with a third 20 plus goal season, then turned in a fantastic tournament.

Through the first 3 season of his career, Mantha has been plagued by both injuries and inconsistency in his play. Often a target of Detroit Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill. Everyone can see the possibilities Mantha has. He looks ready to take the next step.

This coming NHL season, the question is once again, is this the season Mantha joins his Red Wings teammates, Dylan Larkin and Andreas Athanasiou in the 30 goal club, or another 20 plus goal season.

If Anthony Mantha can stay healthy and consistent the 30 goal plateau will be within reach. Playing on Detroit’s top line with Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi gives Mantha the talent he needs to advance his game. Yet, when top Red Wings prospect forwards Filip Zadina and Joe Veleno are ready, Mantha could slide on a line with Athanasiou and one of the top young forwards.

The sky is the limit for a player like Anthony Mantha. A big, fast player with a wicked one-timer. Anthony Mantha is perhaps the key player in the Detroit Red Wings rebuild. A rebuild that is nearing it’s end.

The Red Wings who the past two seasons were blown out in many games. Are in much better position to compete and they should not be blown out this coming season. If Anthony Mantha can find the back of the net 30 times, it sets the Detroit Red Wings up for a playoff run in the 2020-21 season.

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Star Wars: How Kylo Ren, Darth Vader, Supreme Leader Snoke, Darth Plagues and Emperor Palpatine are connected

Embed from Getty Images “The Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural,” Palpatine told Anakin Skywalker. This is the quote that will serve as a backdrop. One that will link five major Star Wars characters to paint a bigger picture.

In “The Force Awakens” we know Kylo Ren is drawn to the mask of Darth Vader. In my opinion this goes beyond family. In Charles Soule’s Darth Vader comic series it ends with Darth  Momin performing a  Force ritual that got interrupted by Jedi. The imbalance in the Force caused Momin’s ritual to go wrong, and his spirit was trapped inside the mask he wore. That mask became one of Palpatine’s treasured possessions, and one that would end up on the head of Anakin Skywalker.

Having learned how to achieve the ability to live on through studying his master Darth Plaguies work. Palpatine killed him. Or so we are lead to believe.

The  connection between Snoke and Palpatine, is interesting. Palpatine was killed by his apprentice Darth Vader, Snoke is also killed by the very person he had been grooming as well Kylo Ren. Darth Nihilus and accent Sith Lord, became so corrupted by the Dark Side he just became a spirit who was able to live in a mask and robe. This coupled with the teaching of how to cheat death from Plaguies lends it’s self to Emperor Palpatine saving himself as he was thrown over the reactor chamber in “Return of the Jedi.”

Like Darth Plaguies, Palpatine could use his spirit to enter people and control them. Someone like Supreme Leader Snoke. Once he no longer need Snoke he allowed Kylo Ren to strike him down.

In “Return of the Jedi” Vader asked Luke Skywalker to take the mask off so he could see him through untainted eyes. Kylo Ren smashed his mask after he took it off and was conflicted between the Light and Dark Side of the Force.

With “The Rise of Skywalker” set to hit theaters this December, In my opinion we will find that it has been Emperor Palpatine calling the shots the whole time. Including using the possessed Darth Vader mask to control Ren.

 

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Michigan State football needs a running back to step up

Embed from Getty Images For the Michigan State Spartans, a program that has long prided itself on running the ball they have struggled to do that recently. Last season in rushing offense the Spartans were right around 124.8 yards a game finding consistency was a significant reason. Connor Heyward’s 157 yards in the win over Maryland was the only 100-yard rushing game of the season. That’s the only time a Mark Dantonio coached team at Michigan State has managed just one 100-yard game from one of its backs.

Brad Salem was the running backs coach when Le’Veon Bell was rushing for 1,793. Salem spent the last six seasons as Michigan State’s quarterbacks coach. Salem is now returning to leading the running backs as part of the staff shuffling that also saw Salem become the Spartans’ offensive coordinator.

Last season senior LJ Scott missed all but five games with an injury, forcing Connor Heyward, in his first season starting at running back, and freshman La’Darius Jefferson, a high school quarterback, to try to move the ball on the ground.

Heyward showed enough, leading the Spartans with 529 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards a carry. This season Elijah Collins, now a redshirt freshman, joins the mix at tailback.

Connor Heyward is sure he can become the go to ball carrier in Salem’s new offense, one that has yet to be revealed to the fans and media. However it shakes out with starter and depth chart, the Spartans need more productions for the teams ball control offense.

There is no telling this early in fall camp what the Michigan State depth chart looks like, or if it rotates to give every back a shot with the first team. The Michigan State Spartans also need better production, more consistency and better health from the offensive line.

In a week or two we should have a better feel from what the Spartans depth chart will look like heading into the 2019-20 College Football season.

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The Detroit Red Wings need Danny DeKeyser to stay consistent

Embed from Getty Images Missing 27 of the first 47 games with two separate hand injuries that required surgery, Detroit Red Wings defensemen Danny DeKeyser  played in the fewest games of his six full NHL seasons. His play improved when he returned. The the Red Wings need him to stay consistent.

In the 2018-19 NHL season, DeKeyser averaged 1.8 blocked shots per game, second on team and first among defensemen. He also led the team in average ice time 21:58 and averaged 2:31 on penalty kill, third on team among defensemen. DeKeyser’s plus-minus rating was minus-5.

 DeKeyser showed improvement and more consistency during an injury-plagued season that cost him a total of 30 games. His skating and mobility enabled him to move the puck out of his zone more efficiently and quicker than he had the previous three years. Added strength allowed him to win more puck battles. Danny DeKeyser had his best season since 2014-15, but he still was not as strong as he was his first two full NHL seasons.

The question that needs to be asked is, was last season as good as DeKeyser can get at this point of his career or can he return to the form he played at during his first two NHL seasons?

DeKeyser  showed growth in terms of consistently defending last season. Danny has been good at different times in his career. Last season DeKeyser looked stronger, in the physical battles along the boards. He knocked people around way more. Some believe he is becoming an elite defender in the league, what was once envisioned for him   and now believe he is becoming.

This season the Red Wings are hopeful Danny DeKeyser picks up where he left off last season. He figures to be paired with Mike Green or Filip Hronek. Whoever he is not paired with on the top line will slide to the second line defense with Patrik Nemeth.

Those four defensive players should make up Detroit’s top four on defense.