A Blog on Josh: the Second Spofford brother

Let me just get one thing out of the way very quickly: this post is long overdue!  As most of you know, I have three brothers; Joe, Josh, and Isaiah.  I wrote Joe a blog on his birthday and Isaiah a blog prior to his knee surgery in March.  I have been waiting for a major life event for Josh, but I was at camp on his birthday and wasn't able to do it then.  Well, finally, I am digging some time out  to talk a little bit about the second of the four boys.

A True American

I typed the opening paragraph and then sat for thirty minutes trying to think of where I wanted to start talking about Josh.  Not because I don't have anything to say, but mostly because there are so many things that I want to say about Josh.  I think that rather than stick to my usual format, I will be jumping around a little bit to moments in my life that I feel provide a good illustration of Josh from my perspective.

I'm going to begin by talking about soccer.  Josh probably played the biggest direct role in my improvement in soccer.  While Joe was a role model for my play, Josh and I spent a lot of time working on my individual skills to make me a more effective player.  We often drove to Webber Field or Colby, and spent hours playing one-on-one, shooting free kicks, and finishing and serving crosses.  Prior to my high school days, Josh, Joe, and I played World Cup in the back yard.  Joe played goalie while Josh and I played one-on-one.  I am sure that Josh wasn't going 100% (unless I was really good), but he challenged me enough to keep the games close and push me to be strong on the ball and creative with my touches.  He even made the effort to include me on his indoor soccer team, even though I was in eighth grade and the rest of the team consisted of high school seniors.  I never said it in these direct words, but it meant so much to me, and obviously made me a better player.  I will note that I was one of the team's lead scorers.  As I got older, I remember how important it was to me when he would show up to watch me play in my varsity games.  I always kept an ear out for him coaching me up from the fan section, urging me to go by defenders on my own and challenging me to do better.

I don't mean to brag in saying that the Spofford boys are more skilled in most sports than the average family of boys.  We played all different sports all the time, and the practice paid off.  None of us devoted a ton of our time playing organized basketball, but we did spend countless hours in the driveway playing two-on-two.  Josh has always been my teammate.  Unfortunately for us, our opponents, Isaiah and Joe, are definitely more gifted in the athleticism department.  When I was younger, Josh was always left with the tall task of guarding Joe (who is hyper-competitive and rarely misses, especially when someone is right in his face).
Typical games usually go something like this:

• Josh and I jump out to an early lead as Josh sinks a couple of shots from the right side. (Keeping in mind this is make-it-take-it)
• After the first couple of makes, we miss a shot and its snatched up by Joe.
• Joe hits a couple of similar shots in a row with Josh right in his shirt (Josh begins getting frustrated)
• Joe fakes a drive, pulling me off of Isaiah, kicks to Isaiah, Zay makes an easy lay-up.        Score: 3-2
• Joe pulls up, misses one, I get the rebound
• I take it out to the point, pull up and make it
• I check it up with Isaiah, drive towards the hoop-- Josh looks wide open, so I throw a pass to him.  Somehow, Joe comes out of nowhere and snatches up the pass.  Back on defense we go. Josh and I haven't been doing much conditioning.  It is at this point we start to feel the fatigue.
• Joe gets it, passes to Isaiah, who does his signature sprint across the face of the basket and do a sideways fade (it is a terrible looking shot, but it's impossible to block and goes in more often than not)-- He makes it Score: 4-3
• Joe takes the ball out, makes two more shots in Josh's face (Josh's frustration level is a code  red-- Joe better not make his next shot) Score: 6-3
• Joe passes to Isaiah who pulls up-- the shot is not good-- an airball.  Josh and I breathe a sigh of relief, when suddenly Joe comes out of nowhere, grabs the ball out of the air, and slams it home (keep in mind we're playing on an 8'5" hoop-- Makes us feel like NBA players)
• Josh punts the ball-- Noah goes to get the ball and the game starts again. Score 7-3.
• Isaiah starts with the ball, passes to Joe who pulls up, but misses this time.  Josh gets the rebound.
• I drive to the basket, past Isaiah, makes a lay-up
• I drive, but run into Joe as a help defender.  I kick out to Josh who pulls up from mid-range and makes it! Score 7-5
• I check it up with Isaiah and pull up from the top of the key-- Score 7-6
• I pass the ball to Josh, he pulls up for the shot, but is blocked by Joe, who secures the ball, takes it out, shoots the mid-range jumper and sinks it (Josh begins getting heated again).  
• I make the defensive switch onto Joe because Josh is getting frustrated
• Joe rattles off two more jumpers in my face Score 10-6
• Joe passes to Isaiah, who tries to put it up over Josh, but is blocked.  I grab the ball, put it up, miss, but Josh grabs the rebound and lays it in Score 10-7
• Josh takes it out, I cut across the basket, catch the pass from Josh and turn it into a fade-away jumper-- I make it Score 10-8
• Joe begins to sense a comeback, so he switches onto me to lock me out.  Josh puts up a shot, but is off slightly, rebounded by Isaiah.  (At this point, Josh and I are very winded... we have to work out more...)
• Joe demands the ball from Isaiah and sinks the game winner in Josh's face.
• Josh grabs the ball and punts it again.
• Joe asks if we want to play another... Josh immediately says NO! 
• We go inside.

Sometimes the games swing in our favor, but that is about what it looks like!

Josh and Isaiah prior to Josh's first homecoming?

As a younger brother, I always wanted to be hanging out with my older brothers and be one of the guys.  With Joe being about six years older than me, the age gap was a little bit too great and I would often be left out of his plans (I obviously don't blame him for that... It makes total sense).  However, Josh (being a little closer in age) was much more accommodating in having me around.  He always kept me in the loop about what he and his friends were up to and how he was doing in the girl world, which really allowed me to feel included.  I can remember spending a lot of time with him while he sat on the computer listening to music and talked to people on AIM (AOL Instant Messenger for all you youngsters).  Although I didn't always go out to hang out with him and his friends, I always felt like I was in the loop (I was so cool!)  I can vividly remember when he taught me how to fast-dance (yeah, fast-dance... this blog is PG!) when I was in middle school (probably a little early for that).  If I am looking for life advice, Josh is always the first brother I turn to, because he was always there to give me advice when I was younger.  I will digress for just a second to point out a piece of advice Joe gave me that has stuck with me: "Noah, make sure to find a girl that laughs and smiles a lot!" (I think I did a pretty good job of that with Amy). 

So dapper!

Out of the four of us, there is no doubt or argument that Josh is and has always been the most stylish.  He (like myself) dedicates a decent budget towards shopping for new clothes and keeping up with the most recent styles.  I often find myself trying to imitate his style choices and it has helped me dress very well indeed!

When Josh is home on vacation, you will most often find him cozied up the recliner reading on his Kindle.  Josh has read so many books ranging from classics to modern day pop-culture reads.  He is definitely the most well-read Spofford.  He is also the most introspective of the Spoffords.  When he was young, he was often "in the clouds" as my Dad would say.  That imagination has allowed him to think critically and challenge normal conventions, which pushes people around him to keep up to his intellectual level and meet his standards (a quality that I am sure serves him well in the professional world).  This has been a double edged sword, because he has the capacity to do so many things, but has yet to decide the exact direction he wants to take these skills in.  He has thought about becoming a lawyer, nurse, librarian, or just furthering his degree in the field he is currently in.  When he commits, I am positive he will be extremely successful.

Josh and Sara on their most recent Maine trip

Josh, like the rest of my family, has been a blessing in my life and I'm so happy that he is one of my brothers.  He is a kind, compassionate dude with a real zeal for enjoying life in the here and now... a quality that I admire.  So even though it's a little late, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSH!! Hope you have an amazing, fruitful year!

The League Suite K: Fantasy Football 2015-16

The League: Suite K

Five years ago, I had the very good fortune to move into a Suite with seven of my best friends (see above).  I have written a little bit about the guys of Suite K, but that doesn't begin to express how grateful I am to have such a great group of friends!  One thing that brought us close back in the day was our affinity for sports, especially when it came to Fantasy Football.  Prior to our move in day we figured out that it made sense to all pitch in to buy a tv (see above) for our common room, then at the end of the year whoever won the league would have the privilege of taking it home.  For a group of college kids participating in our first competitive Fantasy league, we were pretty well organized (big credit to Josh, our commish).  Since that first season, our friendships have obviously continued, and our league is still as competitve as ever (four different winners in four seasons).  After leaving college, we have made sure to be in the same place for draft day.  The past two years we have rented places near golf courses and made a weekend out of it.  It is a real testament to our friendship that we can all meet up and still enjoy ourselves like no time has gone by.  Now I'll get to it, the 2015 Suite K Fantasy Preview.

History:
2011: 1st: The Champions (Kyle), 2nd: Gridiron Brothel (Ebb), 3rd: Washington Sentinels (Josh)
2012: 1st: Standish Mustangs (Kevin), 2nd: Washington Sentinels (Josh), 3rd: Foster the People (Ben)
2013: 1st: Defying Logic (Nick), 2nd: Julio's Foot (Noah), 3rd: Charles in Charge (Ben)
2014: 1st: Taco CHAMP (Taco/Rob), 2nd: Gridiron Brothel (Ebb), 3rd: Washington Sentinels (Josh)
Team Composition: 
QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, WR, TE, W/R/T, K, DEF + 6 Bench

Ben:
Roster:
QB: Tony Romo
RB: Joseph Randle
RB: Tre Mason
WR: Antonio Brown
WR: Dez Bryant
WR: Julian Edelman
TE: Zach Ertz
W/R/T: Brandin Cooks
DEF: New York Jets
K: Cody Parkey
Bench: Todd Gurley, Duke Johnson Jr., Le'veon Bell, Victor Cruz, Phillip Rivers, John Brown

My Take: His top two wide receivers could potentially be the top Wide Receivers in the League this year, which is scary.  Ben has historically put together really solid teams using strong a strong core of running backs (his philosophy has obviously changed a little bit).  Once Bell comes back from his suspension, I expect him to be as explosive and dangerous as he was last year.  Brandin Cooks looked like a world beater in his small sample size last year and preseason this year.  Ben clearly took some chances on high upside running backs, but if they pan out, this team will be hard to beat! 

Zay's Hot Take: "I don't know... It's okay... there are a lot of Cowboys on it."

Ebb:
Roster:
QB: Ben Roethlisberger
RB: Jamaal Charles
RB: Jeremy Hill
WR: Desean Jackson
WR: AJ Green
WR: Andre Johnson
TE: Rob Gronkowski
W/R/T: Andre Ellington
DEF: Philadelphia
K: Matt Prater
Bench: Brandon Lafell, Michael Floyd, Roddy White, Ryan Matthews, Charles Simms, Dwayne Allen

My take:  Ebb will clearly get a lot of points between his running backs this year, Charles and Hill should have huge years, just like they have in the past few years.  Gronk is head and shoulders better than every other TE if he can stay healthy which is a huge advantage.  If I had this roster, I would definitely be a little worried about my WRs and bench depth.  AJ Green is sneaky good every year (especially since its a contract year).  The other two starters have huge upside, but had sub-standard years last year.  It will be interesting to see if the talent shines through with this lineup.

Zay's Hot Take: "Their pretty good... If Roddy White and Ryan Matthews have good years he could make it pretty far............ and if Ben Roethlisberger doesn't *poop* the bed"

Josh: 
Roster:
QB: Eli Manning
RB: Marshawn Lynch
RB: Mark Ingram
WR: Calvin Johnson
WR: Alshon Jeffery
WR: TY Hilton
TE: Owen Daniels
W/R/T: Justin Forsett
DEF: Carolina
K: Mason Crosby
Bench: Matt Stafford, Golden Tate, Gio Bernard, Mike Wallace, Alfred Blue, Devonta Freeman

My take: Josh is Mr. Consistency in this league.  He is perennially in the playoffs and this year's roster composition looks solid yet again.  There is a good balance of talent between positions with players who could have huge years.  If Calvin and Alshon are healthy this year, Josh's team will definitely be a contender.  I have historically stayed away from Lynch year-to-year, but every year he comes back and Beast Modes his fantasy teams into contention.  Golden Tate is a must own for Calvin owners (especially if he gets hurt).  I would be a little worried about running back depth on the bench, but the starters are strong.

Zay's Hot Take: "Dannggg... he's got his wideouts on lock, and Marshawn... this looks like a team that going to be carried by their wideouts"

Kevin
Roster:
QB: Drew Brees
RB: CJ Anderson
RB: Joique Bell
WR: Emanuel Sanders
WR: DeAndre Hopkins
WR: Torrey Smith
TE: Jason Witten
W/R/T: Jarvis Landry
DEF: Buffalo
K: Adam Vinatieri
Bench: Eric Decker, Arian Foster, CJ Spiller, Antonio Gates, LeGarrette Blount, Cam Newton

My Take: On draft day, Kevin was without a doubt in the worst shape of all of us this year.  With that said, I think he had one of his better drafts this year.  It seems he was determined to have a bench of players that were unavailable week one, but clearly a lot of upside on the bench.  I think that Hopkins is going to have a monster year this year, being the only viable receiving option on the Texans.  I will be curious to see how the Broncos perform this year (it's hard not to wonder about Peyton's health after the second half of last season).  I would be worried about Jason Witten and Antonio Gates this year, as they are getting older and could be overtaken by younger TE's this year.

Zay's Hot Take: "They look okay... I don't know about having Torrey Smith in, he hasn't been very good in the last couple of years... It'll help if Arian Foster comes back though."

Kyle
Roster:
QB: Andrew Luck
RB: DeMarco Murray
RB: Alfred Morris
WR: Amari Cooper
WR: Steve Smith Sr.
WR: Keenan Allen
TE: Greg Olsen
W/R/T: Latavius Murray
DEF: Seattle
K: Dan Bailey
Bench: Jordy Nelson, Frank Gore, Chris Ivory, Vincent Jackson, Tom Brady, Reggie Wayne

My Take: Kyle took a huge hit with the Jordy Nelson ACL injury.  His team is still in pretty good shape, led by very strong running backs.  I think Amari Cooper will be the best rookie receiver in the league this year, which could be massive.  I would be worried about receiever depth, especially if Allen is a dud like he was last year, but the running back depth could lead to some beneficial trades. I am interested to see how Steve Smith will step up in his self-proclaimed final season.


Zay's Hot Take: "He's got good QB's, he could use that as leverage.  Hopefully Amari Cooper has a big year, because the rest of his wide receivers are not the best in the game... He has a lineup of aging wide receivers."

Nick
Roster:
QB: Aaron Rodgers
RB: Matt Forte
RB: Tevin Coleman
WR: Demaryius Thomas
WR: Sammy Watkins
WR: Larry Fitzgerald
TE: Travis Kelce
W/R/T: Melvin Gordon
DEF: Green Bay
K: Stephen "Beaver" Gostkowski
Bench: Ameer Abdullah, Kenny Stills, Darren McFadden, Matt Ryan, Anquan Boldin, Dion Lewis

My Take:  Any fantasy team with Aaron Rodgers can bank on a few games that he'll put the team on his back.  I think that Nick took a lot of chances that could pan out and be great or be not so great.  He lost Kelvin Benjamin to an ACL tear at the beginning of the season which was a really big his to his wide receievers.  If his rookie running backs thrive in starting roles, Nick will be competitive.  If not, he'll probably have to be a savvy waiver wire artist.

Zay's Hot Take: "Pretty balanced team, if Aaron Rodgers can make his receivers play for him.  He should be...... okay"

Noah
Roster:
QB: Russell Wilson
RB: Lamar Miller
RB: Jonathan Stewart
WR: Mike Evans
WR: Jeremy Maclin
WR: Julio Jones
TE: Jimmy Graham
W/R/T: Jordan Matthews
DEF: Houston
K: Steven Hauschka
Bench: Rashad Jennings, Martavis Bryant, Davante Adams, Eddie Royal, Carlos Hyde, Allen Robinson

My Take: To be honest, I was not too happy with my roster on draft day.  After further examination, I have talked myself into this lineup.  I think I have a strong group of receivers with plenty of depth at that position.  I am a little worried about my running backs, who could be good (but also could be terrible).  I am hopeful that Graham will stay healthy and give me a competitive advantage over my opponents at that position!

Zay's Hot Take: "You have a good receiving corps... and with Lamar Miller's carry... rate up this season, it should be a strong showing."

Taco 
Roster:
QB: Peyton Manning
RB: Adrian Peterson
RB: Eddie Lacy
WR: Nelson Agholor
WR: Randall Cobb
WR: Odell Beckham Jr.
TE: Martellus Bennett
W/R/T: LeSean McCoy
DEF: Arizona
K: Justin Tucker
Bench: Stevie Johnson, TJ Yeldon, Pierre Garcon, Isaiah Crowell,  Brandon Marshall, Doug Martin

My take:  There's only so much you can say about this roster.  It should be illegal to have a roster this good!  Top to bottom (minus TE) it is so good.  He could potentially have the top 2 fantasy RB's and WR's in the same season.  He absolutely has the best chance to be the first one to repeat as champ of the League Suite K. (Thank goodness I only play him once this season)

Zay's Hot Take: "This team is nasty... WHAT!?.... I'd say this is the best looking team in the league... on paper."

Here's to a great Fantasy Season!

Until next time!!

NFL 2015-16 Preview: AFC East

I know "they" call baseball America's past time, but let's be real, everyone knows that America is actually captivated by the NFL.  No matter how many mistakes the players and the commissioner make off the field, this organization is a cash cow that continues to grow in value and in viewership.  Whether we are watching because we have a stake in a fantasy league (or five), we love the game, or we enjoy the company and delicious snacks, Sundays are football days.  Now, there are only two weeks until the Patriots kick off against the Steelers and I am absolutely stoked.  Since leaving camp, I have stayed up to date with Hard Knocks (this year it's about the Texans, who are basically coached by the guys who have left New England), I've watched a least a little bit of nearly all of the preseason games (which is brutal at times), and I've even finished watching Ballers (a show starring Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson as a former NFL player turned financial manager on HBO).1    
With all that said, I am stoked for kick-off, and this is my preview on how things will play out this year!2
AFC EAST:

Overall: As with most years in the past decade and a half, it looks like this is the Patriots division to lose.  However, that statement is not to discount the other teams in this division, who all added significant pieces to their puzzles.  In the off-season, there were some coaching changes, some major player acquisitions, and some minor signings, but it is clear that the other three teams just want to find a way to finally dethrone the Patriots dynasty.
1. New England Patriots (Last year: 12-4, 4-2 divisional, Super Bowl Champs)
It is hard to pick against the New England Patriots to win the division.  During the off-season, they lost Vince Wilfork, Brandon Browner, Shane Vereen, Kyle Arrington, Alfonso Dennard, and most painfully Darelle Revis.  It is clear that the secondary is not nearly as strong as it was last year.  Fans will likely see a lot more zone coverage, as the Pats no longer have Revis and Browner as shut down man-to-man corners.  To make up for that, they will rely on a dominant front seven to make sure that quarterbacks aren't given as much time to get rid of the ball and force bad decisions.  On the offensive side, a lot of the early success will be dependent on the ultimate decision on the Deflategate decision and whether or not Brady's suspension is upheld.  There have been more than enough words spilled about that, so the only thing I will say is that the world needs to do a better job coming up with scandal titles... Watergate was an actual name of a place.  I believe that there are enough offensive weapons to allow Garoppolo to have success, but he is certainly no Tom Brady just yet.

As long as Rob Gronkowski stays healthy and the offensive line does not regress their well-oiled machine should roll on.  I would look for Brandon LaFell and Danny Amendola to fill larger roles this year as long as they can keep the same form that they had during last year's playoff run.
Prediction: 13-3, 5-1 Divisional

2. Buffalo Bills  (Last Year: 9-7, 4-2 Divisional)
After doing a lot of flip-flopping about who I think would get the number two spot in the AFC East, I have come to the conclusion that the Bills are a very likely candidate.  Their major offseason aqcuisitions this year were fiery head coach Rex Ryan and slippery running back LeSean McCoy.  Both of whom come to the team with very impressive resumes.  Despite being a Patriots fan (admittedly jumping on the bandwagon in the early 2000's) I recognize that Rex Ryan is without a doubt one of the best coaches in the NFL, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.  He is a defensive whiz and has fallen into the hands of a team with an absolutely stifling defense who ranked first in opponents average scoring per drive last year.  I can only imagine that they are just going to get better this year.  Their defensive line is arguably the best in football anchored by Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus, and former number one pick Mario Williams, expect them to get to opposing quarterbacks a lot! 

If the offensive side of the ball is able to score some points, this team will definitely win some ball games.  Buffalo's big question mark on the offensive side of the ball will definitely be the the quarterback.  Ryan announced a couple of days ago that Tyrod Taylor will be the starter for the Bills for Week One.  Taylor has extremely limited time on the field in the NFL after having spent the last two years backing up Joe Flacco.  This certainly doesn't mean he can't play (Flacco is a really good quarterback).  The Bills will definitely look to use Taylor's threat of running to open up space for playmakers Sammy Watkins and LeSean McCoy and not become a one dimensional offense.  As I type this, I believe that I am talking myself into the Bills possibly making the playoffs this year.  A point of intrigue will be the use of Percy Harvin, who has a crazy good upside if he can get into a system that is able to utilize him correctly.
Prediction: 11-5, Divisional 4-2 

3. Miami Dolphins (Last year: 8-8, 3-3 Divisional)
The Miami Dolphins used their off season to drop a big wad of cash on defensive stalwart Ndamukong Suh, who has spent his early career sacking quarterbacks (before and after the whistle).

 Their below average defense should be significantly bolstered by that signing.  Their secondary took a hit with the injury to Louis Delmas, but they, like the Patriots, will rely heavily on their pass rush to mask a weaker secondary.  On the offensive side of the ball the Dolphins should have a lot of success. This will be a make or break year for Ryan Tannehill, as he has teetered on the edge of elite and good for the past couple of years.  Miami got rid Mike Wallace, which should help the offensive chemistry.  They will be relying on young, talented wide receivers, Davante Parker, Jarvis Landry, and Kenny Stills to help get the job done down in South Beach.  Lamar Miller should be the primary running back down there after a breakout season last year.  I would suspect the Dolphins will take a big step forward this year, especially with a seemingly weak schedule to start the season. If they can gain positive momentum early, they may be able to carry it into a difficult second half of the season.  
Prediction: 9-7, 2-4 Divisional

4. New York Jets (Last year: 4-12, 1-5)
Sorry Jets fans!  While I do think that this year's Jets team will take a step forward after a couple of off-season acquisitions and a solid draft, it is hard to fathom a giant step forward will be in order with Ryan Fitzpatrick (Sorry, Ryan) or Geno Smith playing quarterback.

Exhibit A

  The Jets did make some strides towards developing a stronger offense, bringing in Brandon Marshall, who had a down year last year after many very productive seasons, so they'll obviously hope he comes in and makes a big impact (I doubt it).  They will also be led by offensive coordinator Chan Gailey who does come with a good offensive mind.  He has experience coaching Fitzpatrick and will look to capitalize on Fitz's strengths until Smith comes back from his broken jaw.  In order for the Jets to find success offensively, a lot will ride on keeping a healthy team.  From a talent standpoint, their skill positions (other than QB) don't look terrible with Chris Ivory at running back and Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall splitting the majority of the catches.  Their schedule isn't the easiest, but if they are able to string a couple of wins together, maybe they can build from that.  One thing that they definitely have going for them is that they boast a very formidable defense.  Their biggest additions came with the signings of Darelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie to significantly improve a leaky secondary.  Revis proved last year that he is still one of the leagues best man-to-man defenders, shutting down some of the league's best wide receivers.

  They also have a very young, but talented front seven with Wilkerson, Richardson, and first-round draft pick Leonard Williams (if he gets healthy).  I believe that they will make strides towards a bright future, but with a tougher division and a difficult schedule, I don't think it is the Jets time to shine yet.
Prediction: 6-10, 1-5 Divisional

1Ballers isn't actually as bad as I thought it would be, it's quite entertaining (if you like football and Entourage, it's right down your alley).
2 Obviously I'm not going to get everything right and I haven't spend a million hours doing research, so take these with a grain of salt.