Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Locked On Patriots December 9, 2018 - Sunday Morning Tailgate

Episode Date: December 9, 2018

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Hey there everybody, welcome on into Sunday Morning Tailgate here at Locked On Patriots. Mark Schofield in the big chair, Sunday morning, December 9th, 2018. We've got a locked and loaded NFL slate upcoming today, which we're going to get you ready for. Also, we're going to do some DFS recommendations and a little bit later, some news notes, some tidbits left over. We've got Army-Navy to talk about. we've got some college football bowl decisions to talk about and a little bit of a personal note to close out this show for december 9th more on that in a moment before we dive into all of that however a reminder to follow me on twitter at mark scofield check out the work at places like inside the pylon.com pro football weekly the, The Score, Matt Waldman's Rookie Scouting Portfolio, Big Blue View, part of the SB Nation family of websites.

Chances are, friends, if there's an outlet that you read, I'm doing some work about this game we all know and love for them. Let's get into it, though. We've got the loaded NFL slate of games today. Obviously, the one that most of the listeners to this show are going to be tuning in for is that Patriots-Dolphins game. Patriots looking to avoid that Miami house of horrors that has just really sort of bitten them over the past couple of years. 1-4, I think, over their last five trips down to Miami, but they're

hoping to get to 10-3, making sure they stay ahead of teams like the Houston Texans for that number two spot and hopefully keeping pace with the Kansas City Chiefs. But got some news to get into. Stephon Gilmore, surprise addition to the team's final injury report. He was limited with an ankle injury on Friday, so that's going to be something to watch. I'd imagine that he goes, but still something to watch. However, the Vikings look, you know, Devontae Parker, Kenny Stills, those are their outside options.

The Patriots could probably, all things being equal, get by without Gilmore, but you really hope that he can go. Certainly makes life easier for the rest of the defense. As well as other injuries of note, or perhaps more importantly and more accurately, other injury removals. Rob Gronkowski has been removed from the Patriots Week 14 injury report with a back injury that he's been dealing with. That's good to see. Tom Brady, his

knee injury, he's also been removed from the Patriots injury report. So, Gilmore, one of their best and most important defensive players, he's a question mark, but Gronk, Brady, they're good to go. As for the Dolphins, Sabian Howard, he is out.

So he's out. That's something to definitely watch. Josh Gordon might have an advantageous matchup for him unless we see a lot of Mika Fitzpatrick shadowing him. Kenyon Drake, he was limited at their last practice on Thursday. That's going to be something to watch. Danny Emdahl, he's going to be good to go. Drake, however, he's probably going to go. Wasn't

listed on their final injury report, even though he was limited at Thursday's practice, so he should probably be good to go. Looking league-wide, however, some stuff you should be aware of if you're filling out some lineups. The biggest name out there, Odell Beckham, ruled out late Saturday afternoon for that Week 14 matchup against the Washington Redskins. That's something you're going to watch. For the Seahawks, Rashad Penny is now listed as questionable for Week 14. It's Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings. He practiced all week.

He was added to the injury report on Saturday. That's never a good sign, getting somebody added to the injury report this late in the week. Also for the Seahawks, Doug Baldwin. He's going to be a game-time decision. He's been struggling all year with injury issues. They have an extra day, so if you're in the fantasy playoffs and you're hoping to rely on Doug Baldwin,

you've got some time, but that's a tough decision. You might want to put somebody else because the last thing you want is to save a spot for Doug Baldwin and then get burned if he can't go on Monday night. That would be a tough thing to deal with. For the Texans, not to Foreman, not a lot to be active. Coach Bill O'Brien expressed some concern over his post-pup conditioning.

There's a chance that he could go, but that's more likely going to be a week 15, 16 type thing down the stretch run. Looks a little bit shaky here for this week. Stephon Diggs, he is good to go for the Seahawks. Already indicated that he's going to play. He was taken off the team's injury report on Saturday morning. He only had one session of practice before that game against the Patriots, but he was given a full go, early clearance. That's a very good sign.

You probably want to get him on your roster if you've got him. Jalen Mills sent to injury reserve. His season is now over. He went down in week 8. Has been unable to participate since. The team thought they had Brandon Brack, but instead he's going to go on IR. Arzul Douglas is going to continue to fill in for Mills the rest of the season.

For the Packers, they get some good news on what's been a tumultuous week for them. Jimmy Graham with his knee and thumb injuries. He's going to play week 14 against the Falcons, as will Randall Cobb. He's been dealing with a hamstring injury, but he's ready to go. He's going to go week 14 against Atlanta as well. Michael Thomas, his ankle injury, not a concern anymore. He was removed from the week 14 injury report. He missed Wednesday's practice, not going to keep him out.

Probably a good option for him against that Tampa Bay Bucs defense, which we're going to talk about a little bit later. Deshaun Jackson, however, he is ruled out for Sunday. His second straight absence, he's had a thumb injury for the past couple of weeks now that he's been nursing. His return this year is actually uncertain. He would have been an interesting option in some leagues this week. However, Chris Godwin now, you might want to look at him in some season-long leagues as well as some DFS options. Pierre Garçon, he is out against the Denver Broncos.

Niners will start Marquise Goodwin, Dante Pettis, and Kendrick Bourne. Jeff Wilson also going in place of Matt Breida. That's going to be an interesting one to watch as well. Tyron Smith, he is questionable against the Eagles for that huge, huge, huge game on Sunday. Eagles, Cowboys might determine who wins that NFC East.

So there you go. There's a quick spin around the league. Some news, some notes, some stuff like that. Up next, DFS recommendations. And let's just say, I might be shutting this thing down at some point. More on that in a minute on this Sunday morning tailgate installment of Locked on Patriots. Mark Schofield back with you now

for Sunday morning tailgate. We're going to quickly do some DFS stuff by recapping last week. And as I teased a moment ago, look, when I thought about doing this little Sunday morning show, there were a couple of things

I wasn't really having in mind. One, you know, getting up early on Sunday morning or doing it late, late, late Saturday night, either way. Yeah, it crimps the style a little bit, but I do it for the love. But when I thought about putting in a DFS segment, I thought, look, you know, I watch all these games. I studied all this tape.

I should have a good feel of what's going down. Well, I've yet to have a week where I come back here and recap them and think, man, I just nailed it this tape. I should have a good feel of what's going down. Well, I've yet to have a week where I come back here and recap them and think, man, I just nailed it this week. And this following week, no exception. Look, out of the gate, crushed it. Our blue chip pick, the quarterback spot was Patrick Mahomes against Oakland.

9,500 on fair duel. I thought, hey, you know, this has got to be money. And it was. He was QB one overall last week in PPR formats. Nailed it, right? Well, then I said Case Keenum as your value pick. Well, he was QB19 in PPR formats, so didn't exactly nail it. At the running back spot, I thought Aaron Jones against that Arizona run D would be good value, even for a blue chip pick, 7,600 on FanDuel. Yeah, he was RB17.

And then LaShawn McCoy, I pointed out, look, his numbers have been better under Matt Barkley, but maybe with Josh Allen, that Miami run deal, which we've talked about this week, he'd be a good value play at just 5,700. There was a reason he was 5,700 on FanDuel. He was

RB32. Tyreek Hill. You figure no Kareem Hunt. They're going to be slinging it. Yeah, it's Oakland. Yeah, it's 8,400. He're going to be slinging it. Yeah, it's Oakland. Yeah, it's 8,400. He's going to be worth it. Wide receiver, 41. Then you say Corey Davis, the Jets.

They've given up a ton to wide receivers this year. Just 5,900 on FanDuel. Wide receiver, 16. Got it right with Travis Kelsey. So when we went chalk with two pretty chalky picks, Mahomes and Kelsey, we nailed it. Kelsey was tight end one. But Kyle Rudolph, yeah, tight end 16. So with that big asterisk, with that caveat, here are the picks this week.

Look, we're going to go some chalky stuff. Drew Brees at Tampa Bay. We've been streaming quarterbacks this year against Tampa Bay. Took a backseat the past couple of weeks. Tampa Bay's defense seems to be getting a little bit better. But Brees has had a little bit of a mini-bye. You hope that they're going to figure some stuff out. 8,500 and over on FanDuel.

The Bucs are still giving up points and yardage and all sorts of stuff to opposing quarterbacks, all sorts of stuff. You know what I mean there. You guys know what I'm talking about. And so I still think that streaming a quarterback against them makes a ton of sense. So we're going to go Drew Brees because after all, let's just remind the good fair-haired listeners, the good friends and men and women that listen to the show, what

the Bucs have been doing against opposing quarterbacks this year. What is it? Not good stuff, friends. Although they've gotten a little bit better because of their recent performance, but they're still going to have 22.1 points per game on FanDuel to opposing quarterbacks this year. Recent trend line has been a little bit better because of their recent performance, but they're still going to have 22.1 points per game on FanDuel to opposing quarterbacks this year. Recent trend line has been a little bit better,

so that is something to watch. If we're going to go cheap though, 7,500 Lamar Jackson at Kansas city. I think they're going to use him a ton. He's been playing well. You know, he's been basically in PPR formats around QB 11, 12,

13 each week. I think this might be a chance for him to break out. Chiefs giving up 21.9 points per game on FanDuel to opposing passers. At the running back spot, again, chalky pick. Alvin Kamara at Tampa Bay, 8,300 on FanDuel. I can't imagine that the Saints offense is going to lay two bad games down in a row. Plus, Tampa Bay giving up 26 points per game to opposing

running backs. They've given up six receiving touchdowns to running backs this year. If we go cheap though, 5,100. The cheapest player we're picking this week, Rex Burkhead at Miami. They've used him in a matchup way against the Dolphins. I'm thinking back to last year, a touchdown, receiving

touchdown he had on the goal line where they moved people around. I remember talking about that play on this very show. I like Burkhead against the Miami Dolphins. Going to the wide receiver spot, jockey pick here, Julio Jones at Green Bay. Green Bay Packers, bit banged up, coaching chains, all that kind of fun stuff. Yeah, he's $8,400 on FanDuel, but the Packers are giving up 33.5 points per game

to opposing wide receivers, fourth most in the league. Chalky pick, Julio Jones. Weather doesn't seem like it's going to be that big of an issue. So I think, let me just double check that here in a second. Yeah, weather, looks like it's going to be cold. Temperatures in the mid-20s around

kickoff, but it's going to be sunny. Sky's dry. Sun will shine overhead. So, you know, I don't think we worry about weather there. So, yeah, we're going to go Julio Jones. If you want to keep it cheap, though, Traquan Smith. He's just 5,700 on Fandle. We talked about Tampa Bay and what they've given up to running backs this season

in terms of wide receivers, 34.1 points per game. Yeah, Michael Thomas is good to go, but he'll probably draw the bulk of the attention. You'd expect Traquan Smith to get some targets and opportunities. I think he'll have a nice little game for you if you want to stay cheap. Finally, at the tight end spot, Travis Kelsey again. Until we see more from Gronk, we're going to roll with him. So we're going to go Travis Kelsey, $8,000 on Fandle. I think

you're going to be okay there. If you want to go cheap though, Vance McDonald at Oakland. The Steelers travel in West. Sometimes they struggle in those games. But the thing about the tight end spot, it's a weird week. It's been a weird year. But the team that's given up the most points per game to

opposing tight ends, there are two teams tied with 14.3. The Chiefs and the Raiders. So Vance McDonald might be in for a decent afternoon against the Oakland Raiders. That will do it for this week's DFS slate. Hopefully it pans out better than last week. Up next, a little discussion about

Army-Navy. We're going to talk Will Greer's decision to skip West Virginia's bowl game. And then we're going to end a little bit of a personal note on this December 9th. That's ahead on this Sunday morning tailgate installment of Locked on Patriots. Mark Schofield back with you now to close out this installment of Sunday morning tailgate here at the Locked on Patriots podcast. And it's time to talk a little Army-Navy.

And as I sort of said earlier in yesterday's show, look, Army-Navy is one of those bucket list games for me. It's a game that I've dreamed about going to. I've been, you know, a couple years ago, the game was in Baltimore. And my wife's law firm actually had their holiday dinner on the Friday night before Army-Navy. And we were staying in Baltimore. And we were running into, you know, Navy family members, Army family members. It was just fantastic because a lot of, we actually stayed in Baltimore that night.

There were a lot of people that were in town for the game, you know, family members of players from both teams, and it was fun meeting with and talking with these people, these moms and these dads, and, you know, knowing that their sons were part of this game and knowing that they were going to go see it the next day. It was just a fantastic night. A game that I always, it's a bucket list thing for me.

This version, as they always are, they're always like must, must, must watched games. Even though, you know, coming in, Navy on a down year, 3-9 coming in, 9-2 Army coming in. These two teams have sort of switched fortunes over the past couple of seasons. This used to be Navy was off to a really nice win streak, you know, over the past couple of years. But, you know really nice win streak over the past couple of years, but now Army's won the past couple of these games, including today's, well, yesterday's, when Army won 17-10, and it got off to a great start for Army. Five plays, 82 yards, and a touchdown on their open and drive.

Kelvin Hopkins Jr. runs for a 10-yard touchdown, and that was basically the score for the first half. This is a 7-0 game at halftime. Army with a lead, and the problem were turnovers. You know, they, Zach Abbey threw an interception late in the first quarter. Then Army had a 14-yard drive that missed a field goal, but then you see punt, punt, punt. Army turns it over on downs, and then you get, you know, Navy can't do anything.

They just have two plays to sort of finish things off. Second half, you know, Navy goes three and out on their opening drive. They just get eight possessions, and then Army with another long, you know, 14-play, 64-yard drive, eight minutes and 19 seconds. They run off the clock there, and they get a field goal to make it 10-0 and then David decides they're going to try to open it up again they take over late in the third quarter

Zach Abbey gets intercepted for the second time Mike Reynolds picks him off for Army. Army turns it over on downs but then you get another turnover Garrett Lewis fumbles it for the midshipman. Army takes over. They can't do anything with it.

Coming back, Army finally gets a quick touchdown. Garrett Lewis runs for a one-dodger touchdown. Big play on that drive. Malcolm Perry a run for 43 yards down to the Army 5. They get it to 10-7. They force the 3-0. Navy's defense forces the 3-0. So with 4.35 left, Navy has the football at their own 34.

They're down 3, 10-7. They get a chance to sort of put together a drive, but they struggle. Garrett Lewis runs for a loss at 2. Garrett Lewis again throws a pass to Malcolm Perry for a gain of 5, but they get on 3-7 a false start penalty. 3-12, O.J. Davis throws a pass that's incomplete to Garrett Lewis. And finally, Zach Abbey sacked on fourth and 12. He fumbles, recovers by Army. Army goes down four plays, 22 yards, touchdown, 17-7.

Then Navy sort of kicked a field goal, but that didn't really matter. The game was well in hand by that point. But always a fantastic game to watch. I love watching these flex bone teams. I love watching this option type stuff. I love the sort of assignment discipline offenses that both of these service academies run. And all these service academies run

that sort of flex bone type stuff. So I love watching it. I love the traditions at the end of the game, sending the alma maters and all that stuff. Navy had the same first this year. Army gets the same second because they win. Always a fantastic experience. Hope you got a chance to watch at least some, if not all, of Army-Navy. One that I do want to talk about. Will Greer has decided to forego West Virginia's bowl game

and prepare himself for his draft process and experience. And I got to say, I more than understand it. I more than understand it. I think unless you are a team that is playing for a national championship, there's no sense in playing. It's an exhibition game. And for a team like West Virginia that knows that they're going to have to replace Will Greer, it's a chance to get your potential starter for next year on tape. And so I'm totally fine with Will Greer skipping their bowl game. It doesn't mean anything for them.

Get yourself ready for the Senior Bowl. Get yourself rested up. Get yourself good to go. I'm fine with this. If we start seeing players skip playoff games, then I think we start to see a little bit of problem. But unless you're playing for a natty, get yourself ready for the draft experience.

Finally, as I teased out today, December 9th, 2018, a bit of a personal day, my daughter Simone turns five today. So while all of you are enjoying the Patriots getting their game underway against the Miami Dolphins, I'll be bouncing at Sky Zone, doing a little bounce party for our daughter's birthday.

She's actually throwing a conjoined party. What do I mean by conjoined? Her and one of her best friends, they decided, look, the birthday's around the same time. Why don't we throw the party together? It'll be nice for the parents. They don't have two parties during the holiday season. They come to one. They knock out two kids' birthday parties.

Done, right? That's a fun little idea. And so Simone is going to be excited to be bouncing with her friend and pretty much her entire class. It's going to be super fun. I'm going to be bouncing on trampolines, probably blowing out an ACL. Hopefully not, because I will have to come back and watch this game. And I got a show to do. Two shows on Sunday for the love. But happy birthday, Simone. I know you will probably never hear this, but you're an amazing, amazing, amazing little girl.

You make me so happy. Your smile lights up every single room you walk into. You are just full of life and joy and love. And I'm so excited to watch you grow up. You have been so amazing. That will do it for today's show. I will be back later today, later tonight, hopefully with a glorious victory installment

of the Locked on Patriots podcast. Until then, keep it locked right here to meet Mark Schofield in Locked on Patriots. Thank you. Thanks for watching!