A return to tidbits because I have been writing about Jon Jones in my sleep. The summer will have less of these articles because there is less of a spread of topics to cover. However, I am always writing something so that just means more focused topics.
- UFA Shaun Dolac signs with the Rams
- St. Pauli Survive
- Titans Updates
- Jon Jones
If there’s something you want me to talk about or ask me, I have an email! Feel free to shoot other Tidbit topics to this email: esirfacelive@gmail.com
- UFA Shaun Dolac signs with the Los Angeles Rams
Once again, a magnanimous talent from the Buffalo Bulls has been disrespected. 2024 MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Shaun Dolac1 went undrafted. Dolac led the NCAA in tackles in 2022 but got hurt 4 games into 2023. Still, Dolac had an immaculate 2024 season. Leading the MAC in Solo Tackles, Assists on Tackles, and TFL. He immensely improved in coverage, coming down with 5 INTs for UB this season. Shaun Dolac was a 1st Team All American in 2024.
Dolac is an interesting story, he walked on at the University of Buffalo as a local product out of West Seneca East high school. One of the last of the class from the Lance Leipold era. Dolac transferred to Utah State for a semester, but came back to Buffalo to finish his career with the Bulls.2 It was unusual but, in the story, he had this to say:
In my years of watching small programs build, like Appalachian State or Boise State, you need guys like this. Guys who buy in, and guys who see what the team can be. Helping you take one step along a much larger journey. Yet, maintaining a chip on their shoulder that they want to win now. Dolac’s belief in the team and choice to return was validated in the season’s success. The Buffalo Bulls went 9-4 with a 26-7 win over Liberty in the Bahamas Bowl. Besides Dolac and other graduating Seniors, most of the team stayed as well.
Dolac managed his role as MLB with intuition and high levels of awareness. Aligning his fellow players and communicating while being able to still get in the backfield quickly. Dolac has a lot of the mentals that I think are required for an NFL MLB. If he can make the roster, he has the work ethic to earn an NFL pension. He may not be a hall of famer, but he will be some kid’s inspiration for becoming a hall of famer. A real workhorse!
- St. Pauli Survive
We are so alive, this is absolutely thrilling. I did not want to get my hopes up for this season but St. Pauli has been up to the task. Both with smart player acquisitions and just scraping out points. Finishing the season with 32 points in the Bundesliga does not mean they are safe next year. In fact, I really hope to see further pushes from the team to make improvements. Specifically on attack. St. Pauli as a team only scored 28 goals and their leading goal scorer had 6 goals (Morgan Guilavogui). Guilavogui is only at the team on loan right now. Since Guilavogui is 27, he may not be the permanent answer, but he is the best we have now. Building around him for a season or adding depth to attack is a must. Work should be done to the team if they want to continue to stay up.
However, I want to take this moment to recognize what this is. An outstanding success and a realization of a long-term goal. As always, the goal should be championships. However, in a pragmatic world, you cannot beat Bayern Munich in the league table on your first season in the Bundesliga. In fact, remaining in the Bundesliga at all is incredibly difficult. Because of goal difference, St. Pauli was essentially safe going into the last match. However, on points, the team behind them only needed one more win. It’s a very difficult league top to bottom. Having a squad with an average age of 26 years old stay in the Bundesliga means you may be able to be in the Bundesliga for an extended period of time. This is not a triumph, it’s a moment in time to breathe. It’s a time where you can watch the sun rise on a new era. A romantic sense of hope can be with you, and you don’t have to think about the Titans.
- Titans Updates
With the 1st Overall pick the Tennessee Titans selected Cam Ward to presumably take over at QB. Cam Ward is really fun and extremely competitive. He would have made the playoffs with Miami (FL) if he had even a semblance of a defense against Syracuse.3 The Titans signed Xavier Restrepo at WR as a UFA as well. This feels positive because the Titans need something to give Ward stability in the start of his career. Restrepo is the all-time leader at Miami (FL) for Receptions (200), Receiving Yards (2,844) and Receiving TDs (21). Speaking plainly, if he halves those numbers for the Titans in the next 4 years, he would have 50 more catches, 400 more yards, and 9 more touchdowns than Treylon Burks. The bar is not high to be a successful Titans wideout. Also, in a reforming offense, it is important to have good WR and QB chemistry. This feels like it is a successful move for the Titans. We just need to see what Restrepo looks like in preseason and if his route running can compensate for the higher speed of the NFL. However, I have faith. Undoubtedly unearned faith, but faith nonetheless, that this move will be a step forward.
The Titans lost 5 one-possession games last year. Truly, in snakebitten fashion as well. It felt deserving that we ended up with the number one pick, yet you could tell there is something on this team. There is a reason they were in close games at all, they had fight and grit. I think the Titans can flip a couple of those one-possession games this season. I think Cam Ward will prove to be a difference in those games as well. I also think we will still be drafting in the top 10 though. I don’t want to heap expectations onto this season at all. I want to see what we have under Cam Ward. Just taking stock and giving him a chance to get through an entire NFL season. Just trying to develop the player and doing your best to compete. That would be nice.
- Jon Jones
I want to preface this tidbit by saying I am going to return to this topic at a later date. The story about his arrest being found after his retirement was announced and then the subsequent release of the footage of his arrest, have made for an interesting watch for me (to say the least). Jones deserves a center piece, focused on the saga he developed this time around. However, here I want to talk about one of my favorite things: legacy.
A lot of people consider Jon Jones the “GOAT” in MMA. Typically, I refrain from thinking in such ways about athletes because there is really no way to properly determine that. Your GOAT will be different than someone else’s. The argument is inherently circular because greatness is circumstantial and different to everyone. Greatness could be winning. It could be the things you overcame to succeed at all. It could be stats that you piled up. The athlete’s persona will also play a factor. Greatest trash talkers, or how they promote, or how they handled big moments.
In MMA, there are some stats but it is not nearly to what other sports have gotten to. It is still very much a sport that you need to watch and understand. An art not a science, if you will. Yet, some of you bozos think, because someone has “never lost” they just get to be the GOAT. That is preposterous. Greatness is respect. Greatness is being honored. Greatness is immortality. Greatness is legacy.
So, dear reader, I beg you to think of Jones’ legacy. The legacy of how he has cheated other athletes. The legacy of arrogance and ducking better fighters. The legacy of cherry picking worse than Floyd Mayweather. The legacy of wasting other athletes primes to call himself champion. We could talk about “outside the octagon” issues but you don’t need to. When you compare Jones to Khabib, compare him to Demetrious Johnson, or compare him to Islam Makhachev, he is shown to be what he really is, a sheep in wolf’s clothing. I hope Jon enjoys fighting Jake or Logan Paul in 2 years.
Sources
1 – https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/shaun-dolac-1.html
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