NFL 2018-19 season preview: Dickson set to explode, Mailata ‘bigger than Hayne’
AUSTRALIANS are ready to take the new NFL season by storm with Michael Dickson one of the most exciting rookies in the league despite being a punter. Plus, our season preview with the Patriots once again title favourites.
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New season, same old story.
Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are once again favourites to win the 2018 Super Bowl.
The 41-year-old looks like he could play at an elite level forever and it would surprise no one if he added a fourth MVP and sixth Super Bowl ring to his remarkable list of accolades.
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It’s been a typical preseason of upheaval for the Patriots.
Nate Solder, Danny Amendola, Brandin Cooks, Malcolm Butler and Dion Lewis are all out the door.
Julian Edelman is suspended for the first four games over performance enhancing drugs.
Top 2018 pick Isaiah Wynn lasted all of 10 minutes in the preseason, before wrecking his Achilles.
But the same constants remain. Brady, master coach Bill Belichick, superstar party boy tight end Rob Gronkowski along with Chris Hogan and a bunch of savvy veterans who know how to get the job done.
“I can see the end line now,” Brady said in a recent interview with tb12.com
“But I still feel like I have a lot to play for, a lot left to do in my career, and a lot left in the tank.
“It’s motivating to me to finish the right way — by being healthy and playing at a championship level.”
Let’s not forget last year’s champion Philadelphia Eagles, who take on the Atlanta Falcons in Friday’s season-opener.
The Vince Lombardi Trophy owners will be one of the teams to beat in 2018-19, with the return of Carson Wentz (ACL) to take the lead quarterback role from impressive Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles.
Expect Wentz — once he’s back at full speed — to resume his love affair with tight end target Zach Ertz, as both wideouts Alshon Jeffrey and Nelson Agholor get plenty of work, while running back Jay Ajayi continues to improve.
The LA Rams are tipped to be big improvers, adding an impressive cache of defensive talent, led by Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib and Ndamukong Suh.
Jared Goff is an improving young quarterback who has been the beneficiary of innovative coach Sean McVay, while Todd Gurley is arguably the best running back in the game and the addition of the aforementioned Cooks gives a great target out wide.
Expect the Big Ben Roethlisberger orchestrated Pittsburgh Steelers to be thereabouts with weapons like Antonio Brown at his disposal — but there’s a caveat. Star running back Le’Veon Bell could hold out for most of the season after the team slapped the franchise tag on him limiting him to a 1-year US$15 million contract offer — one that he’s not happy with.
Kirk Cousins returns to pilot a Minnesota Vikings team that finished 13-3 last season, welcomes back power runner Dalvin Cook and adds Sheldon Richardson to one of the best defences in the NFL.
Never count out Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers and which Blake Bortles will Leonard Fournette and Jacksonville get? The Jags have one of the most brutal defences in the league, but need more consistency form their quarterback.
ROOKIE WATCH
It’s all about Saquon Barkley in season 2018-19.
A transcendent talent, the 183cm, 106kg running back is expected to turn around a New York Giants team that won just three games last season. The former Penn State star has the ability to be a receiver from the backfield, making him one of the more unique weapons in the NFL — he just needs to hope quarterback Eli Manning discovers the ability to actually play football.
The eyes will also be on rookie quarterbacks Baker Mayfield, Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold and Josh Allen. Mayfield, the No.1 overall pick, has shown poise and promise in limited preseason play, but will start the season behind Tyrod Taylor in the Cleveland Browns’ pecking order.
As arguably the most NFL-ready quarterback to come out of this year’s draft, Rosen has looked sturdy for Arizona and will be locked in a battle with the oft-injured Sam Bradford for time running the Cardinals’ offence.
Have the Jets finally found a decent quarterback? Time will tell, but it’s been a long, long time since Joe Namath was running around. Darnold has had a ton of reps in the preseason, but will have to compete with new arrival Teddy Bridgewater, who is oft-injured, but a serious talent when fit.
Poor Allen plays for a Buffalo Bills side that allowed him to be sacked five times in a preseason game. The Bills traded AJ McCarron, leaving Allen to battle with Nate Peterman for the starting job.
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ADAM GOTSIS
Denver Broncos, defensive end
The Melbourne-born defensive end enjoyed a breakout season last year when he made 13 starts in Denver’s 16 games, making two sacks and 54 tackles.
Gotsis had an interrupted pre-season after historical rape allegations surfaced — charges were later dropped — and an ankle injury.
However, the pass rusher has impressed in the Broncos practice matches, getting a sack and making three tackles in Denver’s pre-season win over Washington a two weeks ago but didn’t feature in Friday’s (Australian time) win over Arizona.
Gotsis is still in line to start Week 1 against Seattle but could come off the bench due to his limited pre-season.
JORDAN MAILATA
Philadelphia Eagles, offensive tackle
“One of the best NFL stories is 2018”, “Bigger than Jarryd Hayne”. Jordan Mailata’s confirmation on Philadelphia’s 53-man roster for the upcoming season has completed an amazing transition.
Mailata, 203cm and 157kg, was playing rugby league last year but is now on the reigning Super Bowl champion’s roster as an offensive tackle after being snapped with the 233rd pick in the NFL Draft just a couple of months ago.
Sadly, Maitlata will be inactive for the Eagles’ season opener against Atlanta but should figure later in the season as he continues to work on his craft.
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While his introduction to gridiron was anything but easy, Mailata’s progress has obviously stunned Eagles coaches.
While Mailata might not suit up for Week 1’s clash against Atlanata, Philadelphia aren’t letting go of a “freak” athlete.
“It’s hard to find guys who are 6’8 and 360 pounds who can run like that and have the core strength that he has,” Philadelphia’s vice president of football operations Howard Roseman said.
JORDAN BERRY
Pittsburgh Steelers, punter
The Pittsburgh punter has had one game and one punt this pre-season.
Berry’s 36-yarder saw New England star Julian Edelman fumble and the Steelers recovered the ball in Week 4 of pre-season action while he averaged 42 yards on 12 punts in camp.
After a post-season hiccup with his work visa, the Melbourne product was then forced to compete for his spot on the roster.
Berry almost lost his visa in March but the Steelers’ early contract offer allowed him to stay in the states not just for the NFL off-season but more importantly his wedding.
When training resumed, the Steelers brought in Matt Wile to compete for the job but backed the incumbent Berry.
MICHAEL DICKSON
Seattle Seahawks, punter
After winning the Ray Guy Award for college football’s best punter, Dickson was drafted by Seattle with the 149th pick.
Not only has the former Sydney Swans Academy product (via the University of Texas) beaten Seahawks great and fan favourite Jon Ryan to the punting job, he’s “changing the game”.
Dickson led all NFL punters in yards per punt in the pre-season with his outing against Minnesota — 53.6 yard average on five punts — stunning coaches and experts alike.
Despite being a punter — a position rarely praised — Dickson’s pre-season form has seen him nominated as Seattle’s potential rookie of the year and a crucial weapon for coach Pete Carroll.
LACHIE EDWARDS
New York Jets, punter
Edwards returns to New York for his third season with the Jets and was named as a captain for the pre-season hitout against Washington.
With the Jets taking young quarterback Sam Darnold, its hoped Edwards’ job is a bit easier in 2018 after doing a power of work last season as the team struggled to just five wins.
In his final pre-season game — a loss to Philadelphia — Edwards had six punts and averaged 43 yards with two kicks downed inside the opposition 20.
Earlier in the pre-season the Melbourne native earned some high praise for Australian great Darren Bennett.
“Lachie Edwards is the unsung hero, he didn’t come through the AFL or the academy, and I think he’s the best out of all of them. He’s going to introduce a lot of new punts this year, which will surprise a lot of people,” he told the Herald Sun.
CAM JOHNSTON
Philadelphia Eagles, punter
Johnston missed out on Philadelphia’s Super Bowl win but will start for the Eagles in 2018.
In the champions’ final pre-season game — a head-to-head clash with fellow Aussie Lachie Edwards — Johnston launched five punts with an average of 55 yards with one downed inside the 20.
But the Geelong product’s biggest highlight was the 81-yard bomb in the pre-season opener, earning praise from coach Doug Pederson.
“He’s done a really nice job for us. Like I said, each punt is different. We’re also doing some different things with him with some situational punting and trying some different things. He can also sort of that run to the side and kick it in different directional things. We’re experimenting … which has been good.”
Originally published as NFL 2018-19 season preview: Dickson set to explode, Mailata ‘bigger than Hayne’
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