Offtopic/fun » Certainly it shouldnt be ranked in th

If there is a mantra being whispered around the Washington Capitals camp?this fall it is this: If not now, when? And the answer is, If not now, then look out.The Caps are coming off a dominating regular season during which they won the Presidents Trophy by an 11-point margin over the Western Conference leader?Dallas Stars.? Washington finished 16 points ahead of the second-place?Pittsburgh Penguins?in the Metropolitan Division. Unfortunately for the Capitals, a familiar playoff scenario played out when they were knocked off by the Pens, the eventual Stanley Cup champions, in six games in the second round.You can make an argument we were right there with them the whole way, general manager Brian MacLellan said in a recent interview. Anything can happen in the playoffs. Thats life. But, as MacLellan acknowledged, for a Capitals team that has never won a Stanley Cup and hasnt been to the conference finals since 1998 (which is also the only time theyve reached a Cup finals), its a painfully familiar storyline.Its a never-ending narrative with us. But I like where were at, he said.Best new facesMacLellan looked at his lineup, which includes the defending Vezina Trophy winner Braden Holtby and perennial goal-scoring champ Alex Ovechkin, and decided there wasnt much he lacked. And hes right.The big addition was third-line center Lars Eller, who was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens for a pair of draft picks. MacLellan thinks Eller has better offensive tools than he has shown thus far. He skates well, has good vision and is big and strong. Hes got a lot of great attributes, MacLellan says of the 27-year-old Dane.If he works out, the Caps will be as good as theyve ever been down the middle, where Eller will fall in behind Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov, with Jay Beagle handling fourth-line pivot duties. The departure of Jason Chimera, a solid third-liner, will open up more opportunities for someone like Andre Burakovsky, who now has a chance to prove hes got a significant top end offensively.Biggest unknownsWhen youre as good as the Capitals were for so much of last season -- they were second in goals allowed and goals scored per game, fifth on the power play and second on the penalty kill -- how do you get jazzed for another 82-game grind?We see this all the time with Cup winners or teams that fall just short. They need to find motivation to stick to the game plan and play correctly in October while looking ahead to April. Of course, one assumes that getting bounced early in the playoffs will be its own motivation, but its a valid concern with a team that was as dominant as the Caps were last regular season. The biggest thing we have to guard against is [thinking, Lets just get to the playoffs right now and see what weve got, MacLellan said.Other issues: Can Ovechkin stay as durable as he has been, given his rough-and-tumble style of play? And will Kuznetsov continue his arc toward stardom after a disappointing postseason and an up-and-down World Cup of Hockey?Sure thingsWell, there are sure things, like Ovechkin challenging to win a goal-scoring title, Holtby being in the mix for a second consecutive Vezina Trophy and the Caps being very hard to play against under head coach Barry Trotz.And, yes, Washington will still light it up offensively. But the other certainty is that if there isnt success this season, next summer will be a time of great change. Wings?T.J. Oshie and Justin Williams are entering contract years, as is homegrown blueliner?Karl Alzner. MacLellan had a two-year plan for this team when he brought in Oshie and Williams last offseason to get them over the hump. One down, one to go.PredictionNobody will be sleeping on Trotzs watch, and the rest of the coaching staff, several members of which were courted by other teams looking for head coaches during the offseason, is top-notch. So dont expect much of a regular-season drop-off for a Capitals team that will once again be among the leagues finest. First in the Metropolitan Division.Lakers Jerseys 2019 . But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach. Stitched Lakers Jerseys . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. https://www.lakersjerseycheap.com/ . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. Los Angeles Lakers Shirts . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. Cheap Lakers Jerseys . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game.Was Thomas Rawls 2015 breakthrough a signal that he has arrived as a member of fantasy footballs elite, or have fantasy owners merely manufactured that opinion from his limited sample size in the NFL?Rawls is ranked as our No. 20 player overall and No. 10 running back, though hes being selected slightly later in average drafts: 26th overall and 12th at his position. To evaluate the merits of selecting him that soon, we asked analysts Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft to debate some of the factors behind Rawls value.Rawls ongoing recovery from his ankle injuryBowen: Rawls rushed for 830 yards as a rookie in 2015 for the Seattle Seahawks, and he also led the NFL with 5.65 yards per carry -- this cat can play. But will the second-year man be back on the field for the start of camp? Im talking about actual practice, not some sideline show going through monitored drills and conditioning work with the training staff.The reports? Yeah, they look good for Rawls after suffering a season-ending ankle injury versus the Ravens in Week 14. Hes expected to be on the field, ready to roll. And even if Rawls is somewhat limited (or eased back into the fold by Pete Carroll & Co.), seeing actual camp reps should tell us plenty.Remember, reps are the key here. Those are critical to regular-season prep. Set the pads. Beat up the legs a little bit. Go through that period when the body starts to break down before recovering around mid-August. And if Rawls is getting those reps (even under the watchful eye of Carroll), fantasy owners should put a high grade on the Seahawks No. 1 back.Cockcroft: A broken ankle (including torn ligaments) ended Rawls mini-breakthrough 2015 campaign after Week 14, and the timing of his healthy return -- that is, a return to full health -- should have much influence on his fantasy draft stock.Is he fully healthy now? Will he be by the start of Seahawks training camp July 30? The Aug. 13 preseason opener? The Sept. 11 regular-season opener? Or ... gasp ... later?The offseason -- especially the weeks leading up to training camp -- is rife with player optimism in the health/fitness department. Frankly, we as fantasy owners always seem to assume the most optimistic outlooks when it comes to injuries. Remember Alshon Jefferys preseason injuries entering 2015?Thats why Rawls confident comments leading up to training camp shouldnt be taken to heart; these followed an offseason during which Seahawks coach Pete Carroll couldnt promise an uninterrupted training camp for Rawls. Its one positive step in a healing process thats no guarantee to be setback-free, and one that by all means should cause Carroll to play things conservatively with Rawls preseason usage.Preseason reps would prove extremely useful for a player who was afforded only seven full, uninterrupted starts (primary-back starts) as a rookie.Competition in the backfieldCockcroft: This is what compounds my previous concern -- the Seahawks seemingly tipped their hand concerning a need for depth behind Rawls during the NFL draft, selecting three running backs -- C.J. Prosise, Alex Collins and Zac Brooks -- who now stand as competition for snaps, along with 2015 returnee Christine Michael. All four likely enjoy one advantage: A fully healthy training camp to catch a coachs eye.In particular, Prosise presents the greatest worry. A converted wide receiver, the Notre Dame product was already ticketed to handle third-down duties, cooling any hope that Rawls mightve increasingly contributed in that regard in 2016 after he amassed 38 routes, seven targets and six catches during his final four full games last season. Carroll has already said he has big plans for Prosise; beyond receiving chores, a change-of-pace role behind Rawls, especially early in the season if Rawls isnt truly 100 percent, isnt unthinkable. Comparisons to David Johnson, one year ago at this time, arent entirely out of place, as Prosise possesses a similarly intriguing package of size and speed.A caveat: Prosise missed a good chunk of OTAs with a hip issue, so, like Rawls, his health needs be monitored when camps open.Michael and Collins, meanwhile, could factor in if Rawls isnt ready at the onset of training camp, and either could get significant opportunities during preseason games. Michael finished 2015 with 262 yards on 60 carries in a four-game span from Week 15 through the wild card round. He shed some weight during the offseason and was running with the ones during OTAs. Carroll, remember, proclaimed Rawls and Michael a formidable one-two punch early in the offseason.What Rawls owners dont want is any other running back behind him on the depth chart impressing in the preseasons early stages, tempting Carroll to shift his plans closer to a running back-by-committee arrangement. In an era where such a strategy is widespread, it might not take much convincing.Bowen: The Seahawks drafted three running backs this past spring. Thats a lot of attention to one position, right? No doubt.dddddddddddd And with Carroll, there is going to be true competition. Hes proven in the past that the best guys are going to be on the field regardless of draft status, money, etc. Earn it.Now, the first expected threat to Rawls touches is probably Prosise. He has an NFL style when carrying the ball. Thats pad level on contact and the ability to find daylight. Hes a slasher with pro size, too (6 feet, 220 pounds). I like his game. Plus, hes going to get plenty of opportunities to impress Carrolls staff in practice time and preseason reps.However, regardless of what we have seen on the college tape with Prosise, or how he projects at the NFL level, making the jump to the league isnt that simple. Even if Prosise shows the team that he can run the rock during camp, can he make the transition to the NFL playbook, hold onto the football and do the dirty work? Im talking about pass protection, for example. If you cant block, or pick up blitzes, you dont play in the pros. Its that simple. And many talented backs couldnt get on the field as rookies because they allowed their quarterbacks to take shots under the chin. Thats trouble.This is where Rawls has the advantage after playing a year in the league and showing that he can handle the full-time responsibility of a top back. Yes, competition is good. And the best teams in the league want competition at every position. However, if Rawls is on that practice field during camp, fantasy owners shouldnt panic when they see some competition from a rookie who carried the ball for only one season in South Bend.Darrell Bevells schemeBowen: One of the main reasons I am high on Rawls heading into the season revolves around offensive coordinator Darrell Bevells scheme in Seattle. Its balanced. Its creative. And the running game is a priority. Zone and power. Get downhill. Pound the ball. Questions on that Seattle O-line? Yeah, I hear you -- its suspect.However, with Russell Wilson at quarterback, the game changes. And so does the defensive game plan. Im talking about the zone-read scheme, the ability of the Seahawks to essentially block an unblocked defender through the actual read. Thats the end-man on the line of scrimmage, the defensive end or outside linebacker who has to play the dive (inside zone) to Rawls or stay outside to stop Wilson should he keep itEasy to defend on the chalkboard, but with the threat -- just the simple threat of Wilson pulling the ball and getting to edge -- there are natural running lanes created. Coaches call it the bend when the running back takes the ball and pushes through the lane created by the defensive end staying outside to play the quarterback. And just as we saw with Marshawn Lynch in Seattle, Rawls has the vision -- and the burst through the hole -- to hit that bend and go. Hes a weapon. And he also can get through contact. Rawls led the NFL in 2015 with 2.68 yards after first contact. Hes got some juice in those legs.Given the numbers Rawls produced in 2015, the film he has to back up his game and his fit in Bevells scheme as a downhill runner with the vision to cut and find running lanes, he should be considered a second-tier RB1 for owners this season if his health checks out. And with the reports we are seeing on his injury rehab, Rawls is in line to have another productive year for Carrolls club.Cockcroft: The Seahawks offensive line was one of the leagues worst-performing units in terms of run blocking in 2015, and despite it enduring a lot of turnover during the offseason, its not necessarily that much better on paper. Certainly it shouldnt be ranked in the upper half -- Id argue even a top-20 O-line ranking is somewhat generous -- which is a concern for Rawls chances at repeating his lofty yards-after-contact numbers, especially if his season gets off to a slow start due to injury or limited preseason reps.Granting Rawls the benefit of the doubt, both in the health department as well as his possessing only seven games career evidence, is dangerous in fantasy draft terms. Hed have made my RB1 class without the injury question that probably influenced the Seahawks draft-day strategy; as is, hes a dangerous pick as anything more than a high-end RB2, and I dont like to build my fantasy teams around higher-risk players with my first few picks. I want to believe in Rawls, but doing so fully today isnt being completely realistic.That could always change, however, depending upon how things play out during the preseason. Rawls situation is one requiring a good amount of homework; his progress will need to be closely watched, and those who select him in early drafts will be keeping their fingers crossed that his August progresses smoothly. Today, there just isnt enough certainty that hell secure a role that puts him in position to thrive.? ' ' '