After incomes the doubtful honor because the worst group within the NFL final season, the Jacksonville Jaguars spent massive within the offseason and overhauled their teaching workers to turn out to be one of many league’s greatest mysteries in 2022.
Washington
Commanders’ keys vs. Jaguars: Start fast, be ready for surprises
Listed here are some issues to observe as Washington opens the season towards the Jaguars at FedEx Area on Sunday (1 p.m. kickoff):
Wentz begins a brand new period. Washington begins anew, with a brand new title and quarterback. The group traded for Wentz in March with the hope he would take the offense to the following degree and maybe present stability after years of fixing starters. Coach Ron Rivera and his workers consider he has the arm power, measurement, and rapport with teammates to steer the Commanders again to the playoffs. The query nonetheless is whether or not he could be constant.
Begin quick and clear up third downs. The Commanders struggled early in video games and on third downs in 2021. These points continued within the preseason. The Commanders had been stout defensively on first and second downs within the preseason, however they allowed opponents to transform 51 p.c of their third downs, the worst price within the league.
Rivera has harassed the necessity for gamers to remain disciplined of their roles, for the defensive position to remain of their rush lanes and set the sting, and for the entrance 5 to remain in sync with the again finish.
If the protection can get off the sector, Washington’s offense may have extra time, a necessity if the Wentz-led group hopes to complete extra drives. Final yr, Washington had the third-worst red-zone scoring effectivity, at 18.8 p.c, within the first quarter. However within the final three quarters of video games final yr, Washington ranked sixth, with a 67.6 p.c red-zone scoring price.
Washington’s protection can be with out two key gamers. Defensive finish Chase Younger is on the bodily unable to carry out record by way of at the very least Week 4 as he recovers from an ACL damage, however maybe the extra vital blow to Washington’s protection is the lack of security Kam Curl. Curl not too long ago suffered a thumb damage that required surgical procedure, and he was dominated out for the opener, leaving a void within the secondary. A seventh-round pick of Arkansas in 2020, Curl shortly emerged as a staple of the protection due to his versatility; he can play each security spots, can transfer within the slot, play exterior, drop down as a hybrid linebacker and blitz.
To compensate for his absence, the Commanders may take a committee strategy, with Jeremy Reaves, Darrick Forrest and Percy Butler more likely to see added time. Rivera cited Forrest as a participant who took a leap in camp this yr, and he is without doubt one of the group’s most bodily gamers on the again finish.
“He’s a downhill participant. He’s very lively. He performs along with his eyes fairly effectively. He sees rather a lot. I like his skill to run. He’s bought good quickness. He’s fast in a small space, confined space. And he can flip and run. I believe utilizing his ability set, utilizing Percy’s ability set, utilizing Reaves’s ability set, now we have a mixture of men that may go in and play.”
The scouting report on Jacksonville is unclear. Pederson isn’t the one newcomer to the Jaguars. Mike Caldwell is first-year defensive coordinator and Press Taylor is in his first season of coordinating the offense. The group signed high-priced weapons, together with extensive receiver Christian Kirk and Scherff, a lineman who ought to improve an offense centered on younger quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Washington is anticipating surprises.
“You must take a look at a number of various things,” Rivera stated. “You must take a look at the previous, and their associations with specific groups. So it’s a number of work, it truly is, particularly on the defensive facet. I believe watching what Jack and the workers has executed is strong. … I prefer to really feel now we have a reasonably respectable deal with, however there’s all the time the sudden, although. And I’d prefer to say with Doug, I believe there can be one thing a little bit sudden.”
Wentz is well-versed within the teaching fashion of Pederson and Taylor from their years collectively in Philly. His expertise of their offense ought to provide Washington loads of clues.
Washington’s run protection may very well be examined early and infrequently. In 5 of his eight seasons as a coach, relationship again to his days as Kansas Metropolis’s offensive coordinator, Pederson’s groups have ranked among the many high 5 within the league in speeding yards per try. This yr, the Jaguars get James Robinson again from an Achilles’ tendon damage, and he’s anticipated to tackle a heavy workload towards the Commanders. In 2020, earlier than he was injured, James recorded essentially the most scrimmage yards (1,414) and second-most speeding yards (1,070) by an undrafted rookie in NFL historical past.
“I’ve been in conditions like this, too, the place you need to go in and also you need to management the tempo of play with a man like James,” Pederson advised reporters in Jacksonville this week. “On the identical time, if he’s feeling good and there hasn’t been any setbacks or something, then you definately simply go and also you simply roll with it.”
Damage report: Curl didn’t follow all week and was the one participant dominated out Friday for the opener. Tight ends Logan Thomas (knee) and Cole Turner (hamstring) are questionable. Thomas indicated that his first recreation again from damage can be both towards the Jaguars or in Week 2 towards the Lions.
The Jaguars listed defensive lineman Folorunso Fatukasi as questionable due to a calf damage, however the remainder of their roster is sweet to go.
Washington
Mount Washington Auto Road opening ahead of schedule for daily drives this season
GORHAM, N.H. – Has your car climbed Mount Washington? The Mt. Washington Auto Road is opening ahead of schedule for daily use.
The famous scenic 7.6-mile drive that takes visitors all the way up to the 6,288-foot summit of New England’s tallest peak will open for daily usage on May 11 at 9 a.m. Typically, the Auto Road only opens on weekends, weather-permitting, before Memorial Day.
“A strong ‘Spring Clearing’ effort by the MWAR Road Crew paired with less extreme weather conditions over the winter allow for daily operations to start two weeks early,” the Auto Road said in a statement.
While the snowfall may not have been extreme this winter, the Mount Washington Observatory at the summit did record a 150 mph wind gust in March.
History of Mt. Washington Auto Road
The Mt. Washington Auto Road bills itself as the “oldest man-made tourist attraction in North America.” It was first opened in 1861, with a horse-drawn carriage making the first trip to the summit.
More than 45,000 cars drive the Auto Road annually. It takes about 30 minutes to go up the mountain and another 30 – and driving is not recommended for those with a fear of heights. For those who don’t want to drive, guided tours are available.
It costs $45 for a car and driver to take the Auto Road to the summit and back. Adult passengers are $20 each and kids between 4 years old and 12 are $10.
Washington
In Arlington’s Green Valley, legends are remembered
Along the southern edge of Arlington, Va., it’s easy to miss the understated rows of brick homes that make up Green Valley.
The industrial neighborhood abuts the bustling dining and commercial center of Shirlington and includes the Washington and Old Dominion trailhead, a favorite waypoint for runners and cyclists. But it wasn’t until the 2022 renovation and renaming of Jennie Dean Park along South Four Mile Run Drive that the region drew meaningful attention to what Green Valley represents: a historically Black neighborhood with deep ties to local Civil Rights history and a number of lifelong residents who preserve its character.
Washington
Washington ranks in top 10 best states: US News
SEATTLE – U.S. News & World Report released its latest Best States rankings for 2024, and while Washington made the top 10, the state actually dropped several spots from last year.
The Best States project ranks states based on eight different factors, including:
- Health care
- Education
- Natural environment
- Opportunity
- Economy
- Crime and corrections
- Infrastructure
- Fiscal stability
So where does Washington stack up? 8th place, according to the rankings scorecard.
The area Washington ranked highest in was infrastructure, sitting #7 out of 50. The Evergreen State is the fourth best in the U.S. for its use of renewable energy and seventh for internet access, however the quality of roads and bridges ranks 26th.
Washington’s lowest ranking on the scorecard was crime and corrections at #39, as the report claims the state is the fifth-worst in terms of public safety.
U.S. News put Washington just after Vermont (7) and one spot ahead of Florida (9). The top U.S. state was Utah, which also took first place in 2023.
However, right behind Utah in the 2023 report was Washington at #2, apparently dropping six spots within a year. This was likely due to the state’s crime and corrections only ranking #19 last year, which has since dropped 20 spots.
In 2024, Washington’s other categories are ranked:
- #13 in Education
- #10 in Health Care
- #11 in Natural Environment
- #14 in Economy
- #14 in Fiscal Stability
- #37 in Opportunity
To view the full rankings, visit the U.S. News website.
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