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The Buffalo Bills front office has been busy as of late, looking for opportunities to improve the teams roster as well as its salary cap situation.

Among the tasks at hand have been adding to certain areas of need among position groups.

While weve seen a number of new faces join the team this offseason, some areas still require long term solutions.

With that, here are some roster needs the team must still address.

Inside Linebacker

Photo by Joshua Bessex/Getty Images

That Buffalo didnt pursue one of the top players at this position in the draft, or make a strong pursuit in free agency, could be very telling.

Its unknown whether Brandon Beane and company had a first round grade on one, or whether they believe the right player is in another draft or free agency period altogether.

What we do know is, for now, it appears they are rolling with the players on their depth chart rotation.

They may need to add talent to the position at some point, as its the lone area of need that saw no new additions during the offseason to fill the absence left by the departure of starter Tremaine Edmunds.

Defensive Tackle

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The one position that Brandon Beane expressed hed wished theyd found in the draft was at defensive tackle.

Free agent Poona Ford was brought in afterward as an addition for the season, but expect Beane to continue to look to add talent and competition to improve at the position.

It sounds like there may be unfinished business there.

Running Back

Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images

Even after signing Damien Harris, the team added Latavius Murray, both on one-year deals, those short term pacts could imply those roster spots in the running backs position group could be placeholders to a long term solution.

They also signed Fresno State RBJordan Mims as an un-drafted free agent.

Last years second round draft pick James Cook appears headed for RB1 duties, and Nyheim Hines figures to factor in as well. Harris is the big bodied back the team has missed.

Still, the short contracts suggest the Bills may still be looking for their long term RB2.

Offensive Line

AP Photo/Gary McCullough

Some strong additions to the position group rotation have the Bills O-Line replenished with new depth and talent by way of free agency and the draft.

Still, the starting five players who take the field may give indicate whether that depth is enough, and that talent sufficient.

This spot could go to an area like the the Bills pass rush as well, but for now with the offensive line talent yet unproven, it remains to be seen how strong that unit is yet. More additions could be coming.

Story originally appeared on Bills Wire

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4 roster needs the Bills still must address - Yahoo Sports

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Additions of note: two for WVU football and one for Best Virginia - WV News

Dalton Kincaid has gotten a ton of praise as the Buffalo Bills first-round pick.

OCyrus Torrence was supposed to be a first rounder but fell to the Bills in Round 2.

But how about Justin Shorter?

Sports Illustrated ranked Buffalo as the fourth-best team in the NFL following the 2023 draft. In doing so, all three prospects earned praise from the outlet.

Kincaid was touted as the drafts best playmaking tight end while some called Torrence the top-guard prospect. Shorter, a fifth-round prospect, was lower down the list in terms of receiver talent on draft boards, but SI likes his potential thanks to his height.

No, hes not short. Rather, Shorters 6-foot-4 frame puts him in contention as a potential red-zone threat thats tough to cover. A lot of work has to be done to fine tune his game, but Shorter could be a diamond in the rough.

Ahead of the Bills, SI does have a bit of a surprise. The Kansas City Chiefs sit in second, not first. The Philadelphia Eagles are named the top dog in the league and the Cincinnati Bengals round out the group.

SIs full breakdown on the Bills can be found below:

The Bills seriously upgraded their offense on multiple fronts and added a ton of physicality. Thats not just true about the second-round pick, guard OCyrus Torrence, but almost every one of their offensive players has an edge. First-rounder Dalton Kincaid is a tight endwide receiver hybrid. Justin Shorter, the wide receiver out of Florida, is also massive and is going to be a problem for smaller defensive backs.

Ranking the Buffalo Bills' 2023 opponentsBills to face Jaguars in London during 2023 NFL season2023 NFL draft: Justin Shorter named 'steal' pick for the Bills

Story originally appeared on Bills Wire

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Power rankings: Sports Illustrated likes all of the Bills additions on offense - Yahoo Sports

"These two have impacted my life and I cherish every last second with them," Brittany wrote on an Instagram photo gallery of the family

Heather Smith

Brittany Mahomes is enjoying a very special Mother's Day.

Patrick Mahomes celebrated his Kansas City Current co-owner wife, 27, on her first Mother's Day as a mom of two. The couple and son Patrick "Bronze" Lavon, 4 months, and daughter Sterling Skye, 2, were featured in a series of family snaps on his Instagram Story.

Brittany also posted about what the holiday means to her.

"Mom. Part of my purpose and my main priority. These two have impacted my life and I cherish every last second with them. They make all my days the best days. Never could I have imagined having two of the most perfect little additions to our family. I love them beyond anything I could ever say and I'm so so so thankful to be their mama. I knew becoming a mom was gonna be amazing but man have they have made it better than I could have ever thought," she captions a IG photo gallery.

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Brittany Matthews/Instagram Patrick and Brittany Mahomes' daughter Sterling and son Bronze

Related:Brittany Mahomes Says Son Bronze Was 'Not Planned' but Reveals Special Occasion Where She Conceived

Brittany recently opened up about having help to keep her family of four functioning from day to day in an Instagram Story Q&A last month.

"Yes, I have help ," she answered a fan who inquired.

"And I'm very thankful for it! Chef, nanny, a virtual assistant lol, and our security team," she continued.

Brittany Mahomes/Instagram Brittany Mahomes and Patrick Mahomes with their two kids

Elsewhere, Brittany shared that with Bronze, she went into labor at 39 weeks and 3 days and that she was in labor for about five hours before welcoming her baby boy, noting, "pushed for 7 min and he was here ."

"His cord was wrapped around his neck two times and thankfully didn't affect anything," she wrote. "He was fine."

Story continues

Asked if Bronze was the result of a planned pregnancy, Brittany revealed the couple's son was conceived on their wedding night. She was later asked if she got to do any cute pregnancy reveals with her Super Bowl-winning husband.

"Nothing cute lol, both were 'oh s--t' moments ," she shared.

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Patrick Mahomes Celebrates Wife Brittany on First Mother's Day as a Mom of 2 - Yahoo Entertainment

The Tennessee basketball program added another sharpshooting guard to its roster this week, as Northern Colorado transfer Dalton Knecht has signed with the Volunteers.As a senior this past season, Knecht (pronounced: connect) averaged 20.2 points per game to earn the Big Sky Conference scoring title. The 6-6 guard also averaged a team-best 7.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Knecht shot 47.9 percent from the field in 2022-23, a top-five clip among Big Sky players in that department. He also connected on 38.1 percent of his 3-point attempts last season, good for third in the Big Sky, while making a league-high 77 triples.Hailing from Thornton, Colorado, Knecht started each of Northern Colorado's 32 games during the 2022-23 campaign, averaging 35.3 minutes per game. He earned second-team All-Big Sky honors and also was selected to the NABC All-District 9 Second Team."Dalton is just a terrific story of a guy whose hard work has enabled him to steadily improve his game," Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said. "He's grown nearly a foot since he started playing high school ball. And as he's grown, he's expanded his skill set as well. He's a proven scorer and was one of the top offensive producers in the portal, so he immediately gives our team a boost in offensive firepower."Knecht in 2022-23 scored in double figures in 28 of 32 games. He scored at least 20 points 18 times last season and showcased his explosiveness with a trio of 30+ point efforts."Beyond being a high-level shooter, his ability to put the ball on the floor and attack downhill with athleticism really drew our attention," Barnes added. "He's another guy who comes from a great family, and we're excited to welcome them into our Volunteer family."Knecht holds the potential to become an offensive catalyst within Tennessee's offense, especially from 3-point range. Overall in two seasons at Northern Colorado, he shot 37.3 percent from beyond the arc and averaged 14.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists spanning 67 games.Prior to his stint at Northern Colorado, Knecht spent two seasons at Northeastern Junior College in Colorado, garnering first-team NJCAA All-America honors as a sophomore in 2020-21 while averaging 23.9 points per game.Before enrolling at NJC, he attended Prairie View High School in Henderson, Colorado.

In addition to incoming freshmen Cameron Carr, J.P. Estrella and Cade Phillips, Knecht joins a crop of new Vols that also includes fellow transfer portal additions Jordan Gainey (USC Upstate) and Chris Ledlum (Harvard).

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Tennessee Adds High-Scoring Transfer Guard Dalton Knecht ... - University of Tennessee Athletics

Brady HendersonESPNMay 11, 2023, 06:00 AM ET6 Minute Read

RENTON, Wash. -- Jalen Carter and Tyree Wilson were both available when the Seahawks made the No. 5 pick in this years NFL draft, there to help fill the glaring need for impact players along Seattles defensive line.

But in addition to concerns about Wilsons foot and Carters makeup, the Seahawks didnt have either player rated nearly as highly as Devon Witherspoon. With Will Anderson Jr. already gone and no real desire to take a quarterback that high, the Illinois cornerback was the easy choice.

When the Seahawks were back on the clock at No. 20, they had their pick of any of the five front-seven defenders who would come off the board over the final six selections of the first round. But they were pleasantly surprised that Jaxon Smith-Njigba was still there and felt the Ohio State wide receiver was too good to pass up.

Those decisions typified the predominant theme of draft weekend for general manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll, especially over the first three rounds. Instead of drafting with their biggest roster deficiency in mind -- a tempting strategy that can lead to costly whiffs like L.J. Collier in 2019 -- they stuck to their board and took better players at positions of less significant need.

That sound approach earned the Seahawks high marks for their 10-member draft class, even though they didnt take defensive linemen and linebackers as early or as often as many predicted.

We really did feel like we took the best corner and the best receiver in the draft, Schneider told Sports Radio 93.3 KJR-FM. So obviously we felt really good about that.

The Seahawks have their most loaded secondary since the Legion of Boom days now that theyve added Witherspoon and veteran Julian Love to a group that already had Pro Bowlers Quandre Diggs, Jamal Adams and Tariq Woolen. With Smith-Njigba joining Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, they may have the NFLs best trio of wide receivers. And theres little doubt that theyve narrowed the wide gap between themselves and a San Francisco 49ers team that outscored them by a combined 46 points over a three-game sweep last year.

But the biggest difference between the two division rivals was the front seven of each defense, and after the Seahawks swapped out six of the 10 defensive linemen and linebackers who played at least 375 snaps last season, its worth taking a look at where that overhaul has left them at those positions.

Departures: Al Woods (cut), Shelby Harris (cut), Quinton Jefferson (cut), Poona Ford (not re-signed), L.J. Collier (not re-signed).

Additions: DreMont Jones (UA), Jarran Reed (UFA), Cameron Young (fourth-round pick), Mike Morris (fifth-round pick), Robert Cooper (UDFA), Jordan Ferguson (UDFA), Jonah Tavai (UDFA), Ifeanyi Maijeh (UDFA)

Returners: Myles Adams, Bryan Mone

This was the epicenter of the re-tooling up front, and for good reason -- the Seahawks had one of the NFLs worst run defenses last season and lacked a legitimate pass-rushing threat from the interior.

They made Jones the biggest free-agent splash of the Schneider/Carroll era with the expectation that he'll be that type of player. Reed isnt an obvious upgrade over Harris and hes only one year younger, but the Seahawks brought him back for about half the price.

With only four defensive linemen on their roster heading into the draft -- and one of them, Mone, coming off an injury thats expected to keep him out for well past the start of the season -- it wasnt by design that the Seahawks waited until Day 3 to address this position. Its how the board fell, with players they thought theyd have a shot at drafting going earlier than they expected.

That led them to Young (No. 123 overall) and Morris (No. 151).

Young, who projects as Seattles starting nose tackle, is an early-down run-stuffer whose play reminds the team of former Seahawk Ahtyba Rubin. At 6-foot-3 and 304 pounds, Young isnt as heavy as Woods, but Carroll called him as stout of a player as there was in college football last season.

When he puts his hands on people, they dont move, Schneider said.

Morris will be part of the rotation at defensive end. After playing all over Michigans defensive front then battling a high ankle sprain late last season, he trimmed down with an eye toward testing well at the combine. But then he bulked back up in anticipation of playing D-line in the NFL. The 6-foot-5 Morris sent the Seahawks a video on Day 3 of the draft showing him tipping the scale at 295 pounds, 20 more than he weighed at the combine.

He's a big guy, Schneider said. He's long and he plays hard.

The Seahawks had seven defensive linemen play at least 149 snaps last season. Excluding UDFAs, they only have five who will be ready by Week 1. So they could use at least one more veteran. But with their cash and cap constraints, dont expect anything more than a minimum-salary addition. Woods and Ford signed elsewhere last week, so theyre no longer in play to return.

Departures: Bruce Irvin (unsigned), Darryl Johnson (unsigned)

Additions: Derrick Hall (second-round pick), MJ Anderson (UDFA)

Returners: Uchenna Nwosu, Darrell Taylor, Boye Mafe, Tyreke Smith, Alton Robinson, Joshua Onujiogu

The Seahawks had good depth here, but needed another starter opposite Nwosu. Hall, chosen with the first of Seattles two second-round picks (No. 37), will compete with Taylor and Mafe for that job.

Hall was one of the most athletic edge defenders in this years class with a 4.55 40-yard dash and a 10-foot-7-inch broad jump. He was also a team captain and, as Schneider put it, Auburns alpha dog. According to the Seahawks website, the team gave him a first-round grade.

Hes stout, hes a penetrator, he really gets off, and hes really fast, Carroll said. ... Speed and power are really his strength, and he pursues the ball really well.

The 35-year-old Irvin is leaning toward continuing his career after more-than-capably stepping into a starting role in his return to Seattle last season, but hes an emergency option, as opposed to someone the Seahawks plan to bring back.

Departures: Cody Barton (not re-signed), Tanner Muse (not re-signed), Cullen Gillaspia (unsigned)

Additions: Bobby Wagner, Devin Bush, Patrick OConnell (UDFA), Cam Bright (UDFA), Michael Ayers (UDFA), Lamont Bishop (UDFA)

Returners: Jordyn Brooks, Nick Bellore, Jon Rhattigan, Vi Jones, Chris Garrett

The Seahawks are better at inside linebacker -- even if significantly older -- with the 32-year-old Wagner back in the fold to essentially replace Barton.

The team has indicated that Brooks will remain the centerpiece of their defense once hes healthy, implying that Wagner will no longer be an every-down player. But its not clear when Brooks will return from his January ACL tear. So for now, Wagner and Bush will be the two starters, with Jamal Adams moving up from strong safety to play linebacker in certain packages.

With the Seahawks declining Brooks fifth-year option for 2024, and Wagner and Bush both on one-year deals, their top three inside linebackers are scheduled to become free agents after this season. That made it noteworthy that they didnt draft any long-term replacement options.

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Did the Seahawks improve their biggest need in the offseason? - ESPN - Seattle Seahawks Blog- ESPN - ESPN

When Xavi was made Barcelona manager in November 2021, he found a squad that was lacking in confidence.

Barca had not won the league title in two and half years, and there were few signs they would be truly ready to challenge for one again soon.

Tough losses in the Champions League had left their mark on a group whose ambition was to compete among the European elite. There was still a sense of trauma around the comeback defeats suffered against Roma and Liverpool, in 2018 and 2019.

The 8-2 hammering by Bayern Munich in 2020, especially, was still living in the minds of established squad members whod experienced it all.

This made for an uncomfortable environment for the teams emerging players to develop and grow. It also meant there was a lack of discipline and focus, and intensity in training had dropped as a result.

When Xavi came in, he asked his former team-mate and great friend Sergio Busquets to give him a breakdown of the dressing room rules that were already in place. When theyd played together, Barcelona had multiple rules that defined the teams daily life. These included fines for being late, with times clearly set on when players were expected to show up for training.

They had all disappeared. The dressing room, six years on from Xavis departure as a Barca player in 2015, had no rules. He was shocked by this and wasted no time in re-establishing order.

Fines for being late were reinstated and would increase in severity for multiple offences. Xavi also demanded all his players arrive at training 90 minutes before the session started, so they could all eat and prepare together. He wanted players to have breakfast and lunch at the club, so the teams staff could have better control of diets.

The manager was far from alone in recognising things needed to change. While rivals Real Madrid completed a La Liga and Champions League double last season, Barcas final six games included dispiriting home defeats by Rayo Vallecano and Villarreal. Across the clubs leadership, there was widespread conviction that the team needed refreshing and reviving.

Progress towards this success hasnt been entirely seamless or without risk. As we will see, plenty of uncertainty and challenges lie ahead.

But now Barca have been crowned La Liga champions for the first time since 2018-19, and Xavi and his new-look side are celebrating.

Here, The Athletics Pol Balls, Laia Cervell Herrero and Dermot Corrigan examine the story of their title win in-depth and divided into three parts, starting with a look inside the dressing room.

Because if anything has marked the transformation between the Barca of recent years and this title-winning version, it has been a changing of the guard

Barcelonas leaders have sought to make way for new wisdom, leaving the past behind. The idea has been to let some younger players grow in importance while convincing other more senior professionals to take a step back.

The process began in pre-season when Xavi spoke to Gerard Pique, warning him that he wasnt going to play as much this year.

Pique thought he could convince Xavi otherwise and earn a place in the team, so he told him he was going to fight to earn a spot in the starting line-up. But the centre-back also said that when he himself felt he had no more to contribute at the elite level, he would leave.

Thats exactly what happened two weeks after a defensive blunder in Octobers key Champions League home match against Inter Milan. It had provided Pique with a reality check, and the defender announced his retirement from football in an emotional farewell at the Camp Nou on November 5.

His departure made room for a new vice-captain in the clubs official list of the three players below skipper Busquets. Joining Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto would be Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

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Having been at the club since 2014, Ter Stegens voice has been respected in the dressing room for a while, but his performances last year were not good enough. He knew that, but Xavis confidence in his No 1 never faded despite rumours and reports linking him with a move away.

The 31-year-old has been pleased by the approach the manager has taken with his leadership of the group. Having been at Barca for nearly a decade, Ter Stegen perhaps understands better than most just how far the club had drifted from its old standards.

Ter Stegens happiness and belief in the cause have been reflected on the pitch in what has been a remarkable campaign for him. Now he is one of the few squad members who feels completely comfortable in a public leadership role. Assuming that authority has also raised his own performances.

The German, who has been at the club since 2014, will be the subject of another article The Athletic will publish in this week following Barcas title success, where his spectacular contribution on the pitch this season will be examined in depth. With him in goal, Barcelona have conceded just 13 goals from 34 games in La Liga this season an average of 0.38 goals per match. He has kept 25 clean sheets the competition record for a single season is 26.

Ter Stegen has without doubt advanced to a new level under Xavi, but perhaps the most significant figure in achieving this important shift from the past, at least through the summer and first half of the season, was Robert Lewandowski.

The Poland internationals signing alone meant there was a feeling that a new era was beginning; a new symbol of quality and professionalism had arrived.

That initial inkling soon proved to be correct. Over the first half of this campaign, the striker single-handedly solved difficult games and it was surprising how little time he needed to adapt to life in Spain. He scored 13 goals in his first 12 La Liga games, the most of any new signing in the clubs history.

Some saw him as the perfect figure to help this Barca team transition into their new epoch. Others say that Lewandowski is doing the job Lionel Messi could have ended up performing had he stayed in 2021. Xavi actually compared his striker to Messi and Ronaldinho when describing how the player had lifted the squad.

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In the seasons earlier matches, it was common to see Lewandowski communicating with his team-mates on the pitch, giving encouragement and instruction. He was especially attentive with Gavi and Pedri, 16 and 14 years younger than him respectively. Off the pitch, he was even giving Gavi dietary advice and insisting that learning English would be beneficial for his career.

In February, when Lewandowski returned from suspension to score in a 2-1 victory over Real Betis, many of his team-mates embraced him in a hug. That was his 14th goal in 16 league starts, making him the competitions top scorer by three goals.

He is still La Ligas top scorer, but in the 13 matches following that Betis match he only scored six times, missing many good chances. As the goals began to dry up, his role as an on-field leader seemed to diminish.

Lewandowski is very competitive and driven, but a negative side of that showed during his tough spell in late winter and early spring, with his reaction not helping the overall chemistry of the dressing room.

Three weeks after the Betis game, Barca lost at Old Trafford against Manchester United and were eliminated from the Europa League. One moment in that match saw Ansu Fati take a shot instead of letting Lewandowski take aim (when it looked like the striker was better placed) and Fati missed. This wasnt the first time it had happened, and in the dressing room, Lewandowski ended up letting the young winger know of his frustration.

Barcas group dynamic has faced many other problems, too. Earlier in the season, Frenkie de Jong and Ousmane Dembele were angered by attempts to force them out of the club. Busquets and fellow veterans Pique and Alba were also upset when executives pressured them to reduce their salaries.

Franck Kessie has let it be known that he has been unhappy with the number of minutes played. Alba has clashed with Xavi as his role has been reduced this season following the emergence of 19-year-old Alejandro Balde.

And now, even with the title sealed, Barcelona are braced for further challenges.

Busquets is leaving, a truly pivotal figure who has spent 15 years with the first team. Lewandowski, who turns 35 in August, is the second-oldest in the squad by a month, after the departing Busquets. He will now become the clubs most senior player, and Barca are considering making him one of the teams captains although some dressing room members wonder whether he is the best candidate.

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The future of Alba, the clubs first vice-captain, is up for discussion too. Last week, the 34-year-old held talks with Barcas sporting directors and the club are open to the idea of reaching a mutual agreement for him to leave this summer.

But even though there are problems to be solved, Barca under Xavi are in a stronger position to deal with them thanks to the progress made this season.

There is plenty of promise and quality coming from the teams youthful players: Pedri continues to develop, Gavi has been key, Balde has emerged as first-choice on the left and Ronald Araujo, at 24, looks every inch the future leader The Athletic will publish an in-depth article on him this coming week, too.

And of the other faces that arrived last summer, Andreas Christensen has established himself as a key figure on the pitch, widely respected among his peers for the quality and solidity he brings to the teams back line. Despite this, he is another quiet presence in a dressing room that has few vocal characters.

Things are far from perfect. Just as the club will aim to refine the squad this summer, it is hoped that further improvement in the teams group dynamic can be achieved. The celebrations this week are sure to have a positive influence on that.

But over the course of this 2022-23 season, new leaders have emerged through a process shaped in no small part by a number of key arrivals and departures.

When Lamine Yamal made his debut for the first team aged 15, in April, Xavi described him as a player who can define an era at the club.

GO DEEPER

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Time will tell but, putting yourself in Yamals shoes, the Barca dressing room of today certainly feels like a more positive place to emerge with the kind of talent he has compared with two years ago.

Theres also the fact that Xavi seems to have found a way of getting the best out of his players tactically.

This Barcelona side did not need to be brilliant for significant parts of the season to win the league. Instead, they got there because they were starving for success.

Despite claiming top spot, there are still concerns over the squads depth of talent. Theres an agreement now among the backroom staff that more will need to be done in that regard especially in attack and soon.

But no one can deny that the groups collective effort this season has compensated for any lack of spark up front.

Leaving aside Barcas joint-record 11 (eleven) La Liga 1-0 wins and any debate on how entertaining Barca have been over this campaign, theres one clear fact: they have recovered one of the most basic principles of their DNA the urgent need to regain possession as soon as they lose the ball.

GO DEEPER

The battle for Barcelona's soul and what two legends think of their changing style

The pressing system that has decided crucial wins has been a key part of the La Liga triumph and is something Xavi deserves praise for. When Pedri or Gavi couldnt find a telling pass or Lewandowski or Dembele couldnt break the deadlock, Barcas ability to win the ball back high up the pitch did the job.

No La Liga side has completed more high turnovers (possession won 40m from the opponents goal) than Barcelona, while their season average for passes per defensive action (PPDA) is the second-highest, behind Real Sociedad. PPDA helps to indicate how intense a teams press is by taking an average of how many passes opponents make before the defending team makes a tackle, interception, challenge, failed tackle or foul.

This has been the biggest constant in Xavis playbook. But in other aspects of his tactical approach, the manager has had to evolve.

After taking the reins back in 2021, he seemed committed to one thing above all: he wanted to provide width with two wingers.

Thats the main reason why, during his first transfer window at the club in January 2022, he pushed hard for the additions of Adama Traore and Ferran Torres. Its also why, last summer, even after convincing Dembele to agree to a new contract, the club signed Raphinha from Leeds.

Xavis plan at the start of the campaign was set: a perfect target man (Lewandowski) flanked by two silky wide players.

But not even two months into the season, it was clear this wasnt working as hoped. Two Champions League meetings with Inter Milan in October showed him exactly why change was needed as Dembele and Raphinha both endured torrid nights. The 3-3 draw at home to the Italians meant Barca were effectively eliminated from the competitions group stage on October 10 (again).

The following Sunday, the two players started again, swapping wings but disappointing once more as Real Madrid won the seasons first Clasico 3-1, in what was Barcas first league defeat of the season.

Raphinha did not start another game before the World Cup. Torres and Fati gained more minutes, but the effect wasnt much different. Then the mid-season break came; it was time to think.

During this period, a debate had been brewing among Barca observers. Who would have expected Xavi, a player who was arguably the most perfect representation of Barcelonas football, to prioritise his attacking trio rather than trusting in his midfield?

To many, it felt like Xavis Barca had closer links to how Luis Enriques team steamrollered opponents with Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez up front, rather than the symphonic style under Pep Guardiola, when Xavi himself was the chief orchestrator.

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At the same time, playing with two wingers on either side of Lewandowski meant being forced to leave out one of Pedri, Gavi, Busquets or De Jong.

So, Xavi decided to change strategy and to play them all.

The first test of this four-midfielder system came on October 23, when Barca beat Athletic Bilbao 4-0. But with the idea refined, it became a permanent part of the teams picture when La Liga resumed after Qatar 2022.

Januarys 3-1 victory over Real Madrid in the final of the Supercopa felt like the ultimate vindication and provided evidence that, yes, Barcelona could dominate their big rivals through possession. It was a statement of what Xavis team could do but their problem was maintaining it.

The team has rarely clicked so effectively since, and Madrids 4-0 victory at Camp Nou in their Copa del Rey semi-final second leg proved Barca to be far from truly dominant domestically.

That is why, when you speak to sources close to the Barca coaching staff now who, like others in this story, spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect either their positions or relationships they see their rebuilding job as only 50 per cent complete. Last summer was half the revolution; the other half is to come this year.

A replacement for Busquets and a new partner for Pedri are the main priorities. A right-back would be appreciated too, with Jules Kounde having to operate the role despite it not being his natural, preferred position.

And yet, there are multiple reasons to be cheerful about Xavis shift towards four midfielders, and what it means for the future.

Firstly, it provides the perfect position for De Jong. The 26-year-old spent his first three seasons at Barcelona trying to find his place, not quite fitting as a sole holding midfielder nor as an attacking No 10. This year, Xavi paired him with Busquets in a double pivot and it worked. De Jong was able to drop deep to receive the ball to then start his runs, cutting the opposition lines, and at the same time he was covered by his captain. De Jongs success in this role now informs how the team decides to replace Busquets.

Then there is the explosion of Balde, another star of Barcas season. The club has found a left-back who, at the age of 19, can cope with the pressure of being a starter at the Camp Nou. With four true midfielders in the starting XI, Xavi grants Balde the whole left channel to run while Gavi cuts inside.

Gavi has been the designated man for Xavi to operate as a false winger or the extra midfielder in the system. Apart from creating space for Balde to attack, his role also gets the best out of his dynamism, intensity and reading of the game, with the licence to press when required.

And Gavis position means Pedri can be at the centre of everything. This season has shown just how vital the 20-year-old is. Barca felt his absence keenly when he was injured between February and April.

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Lastly, it leaves Barca more balanced at the back. With no natural right-back, Kounde has stepped in. The Frenchman cant shine as a relentless overlapper, but the four-midfielder system with Balde pushing up sees the teams shape evolve from a 4-3-3 to a 3-2-2-3 (see graphic above), with Kounde becoming one of the three centre-backs. Its a position where is at his best.

After 18 months at the helm, along with many bumps in the road, one Super Cup and now with a first La Liga title, Xavi has found the course he wants his club to follow. But he knows the real job is not yet done.

Surely this summer cant be anywhere near as dramatic as the last?

Last summer, Barca president Joan Laporta and his closest advisors knew that something big and dramatic was needed to shock the club (and team) back to life.

There was a problem though. Barcas finances showed losses of 161million (140.4m; $174.7m) over the previous 12 months, adding to the already desperate situation Laporta inherited in early 2021 from previous president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

So they came up with a plan.

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Financial levers was the term given to the series of asset sales that would, it was hoped, set off a virtuous circle of higher revenues, more new signings, more trophies to celebrate, and more income to pay off the debts, as Barcelona borrowed from their long-term future to strengthen their here and now.

In June and July, the club sold two different sets of future TV rights to US financiers Sixth Street, and a share of the clubs Barca Studios arm to crypto firm Socios.com, raising 767m in total.

This allowed for 10 new players to be added, including headline signings Lewandowski, Raphinha and Kounde. Despite the clubs deep financial issues, its wage bill rose by 27 per cent for 2022-23 to 656m.

Laporta and his board felt such a short-term boost was necessary, and the drama continued as Lewandowski and Raphinha could only be registered with La Liga after another 100million was secured via a fourth lever (palanca in Spanish) just 24 hours before the season began. Kounde was registered even later, with La Liga already started.

The Camp Nou was packed on opening day, although the new-look team stumbled to a 0-0 draw at home to (bogey club) Rayo.

But Laportas lever-pulling had succeeded in enthusing the Barca fanbase. The Camp Nou had been a very downbeat place during 2021-22, with an average attendance of just 55,026 although restrictions on capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic played a small part.

There were 81,104 fans at the stadium for the Rayo game, and that figure kept rising to 92,605 for the visit of Almeria just before Novembers break for the World Cup. Blaugrana socios were using their season tickets again, while fans from outside Catalonia were drawn to see Lewandowski and company in action. This brought in much-needed matchday and merchandising income.

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How Barcelona won La Liga: Old-school rules, new hunger and a changing of the guard - The Athletic

The New Orleans Saints undoubtedly have some work to do after finishing out the 2022 season with an overall record of 7-10, despite the fact that tied every team in the NFC South for the second-best within a disappointing division that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9) ultimately came out on top of.

Many of the teams woes are centered around offensive performance that leaves much to be desired to say the least as the Saints came out at 19th in total offense at the conclusion of the season with an average of just under 334 yards per game.

Heres a look into three questions the team needs to answer on the offensive side of the ball:

Can Pete Carmichael get things going?

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Some were calling for the replacement of Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael ahead of the season, something that is not exactly unreasonable considering that the Saints were more than lackluster in just about every statistical category under the sun. The Saints did make the move to part ways with run game coordinator and tight ends coach Dan Roushar, but kept Carmichael on board.

The team has shown bright spots on defense, but this is a team struggling to play complete, complementary football because of an offense that cant steadily produce. Take the fact the Saints finished 19th among NFL teams in total offensive yardage and 22nd in scoring the lowest total for both categories in nearly 20 years as prime examples of just how much things need to change.

There are various places to potentially point the blame to, but the Saints have acquired or return some notable talent like Michael Thomas, Derek Carr and Jamaal Williams to give Carmichael more to work with generate firepower.

If he cant at least get some momentum going, it would be expected that he would be on the hot seat and rightfully so.

Can new additions at quarterback meet expectations?

Sean Gardner/Getty Images

The New Orleans Saints simply have never been the same at quarterback since Drew Brees, one of the greatest to ever play the position, retired back in 2021.

Its clear the Jameis Winston is not the answer after the ups and downs hes shown both with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints, projecting as a player with a ceiling as a viable backup and no further up in the rotation consistently. And the addition of Derek Carr certainly surpasses the heights of what an Andy Dalton can bring.

One of the biggest questions within a question here is just how good Carr will be with a change of scenery. The former Las Vegas Raiders signal-caller finished out last season with a 60.8% completion rate, 3,522 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and 14 interceptions a ratio the Saints should hope to see cleaned up moving forward. Despite some of the positives Carr brings to the table, thats the biggest quibble with him hes turned the ball over an uncomfortable amount even when hes had the talent around him to deliver to.

The passer has finished out just two of his nine NFL seasons with less than 10 interceptions, with a low of six picks back in 2016.

Carr took a lot of the criticism for some the rough patches the Raiders offense had, and whether or not that was warranted will be proven in how he performs with the Saints when hes handed the reins this season.

Regardless of whether he pans out or not, its plausible to believe Carr is reaching the back end of his career considering he will have played a decade in the NFL by the end of the 2023 season. With that, something intriguing to look at is his fellow Fresno State alum, Jake Haener, who was arguably highest value quarterback pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Underrated because of his size and the unjust lower-level competition narrative he faced because of playing out his college career in the Mountain West, Haener didnt garner serious national attention until he far and away stole the show at the Senior Bowl this offseason.

Haener could not be more impressive with an incredibly high football IQ and the ability to rally his teammates behind him, and he has displayed accuracy at all levels of the field with adequate arm strength and the ability to pin the ball into even the most seemingly impossible places down the sideline.

Hes already all the rage as the Saints open rookie minicamp something that should not surprise anyone who has consistently kept up with him and he should be considered a very real candidate to become an eventual NFL starter.

How will wide receiver play shake out and who will emerge?

AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

Michael Thomas is getting healthy thats important and hes obviously the No. 1 guy to take into consideration here. But it takes more than just one wideout to make an offense consistently roll, especially in the case of injury to the player at the top of the depth chart.

The Saints group of wideouts for now moving into the upcoming season also includes the likes of Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, TreQuan Smith, Bryan Edwards, Keith Kirkwood, Kirk Meritt, A.T. Perry, Malik Flowers, Shaquan Davis, Sy Barnett and Kawaan Baker.

Olave rose to the occasion in a great way in the absence of Thomas last season as he was thrust into the top role, reeling in 119 receptions for 1,042 yards and four touchdowns in just his rookie season. This bodes well for the future as one of the leagues rising receivers and a target a quarterback like Carr can consistently rely on.

Looking at the 2023 NFL Draft, the team picked up who could potentially be one of the biggest steals of the event with the sixth-round selection of Wake Forest wideout A.T. Perry. He finished out last season with 81 catches for 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns on 129 targets as the most prominent figures in the Demon Deacons passing game.

He should be expected to be utilized as an X-receiver in the NFL and will compete for snaps with TreQuan Smith, Bryan Edwards and Shaquan Davis.

Story originally appeared on Saints Wire

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3 questions the Saints must answer on offense - Yahoo Sports

The highly anticipated second season of HBO Maxs House of the Dragon is currently being filmed in the U.K as the producers, writers, directorsand actors look to continue the story of familial civil war. The show is an adaptation of George R.R. Martins novel Fire and Blood and will unfold the escalating storyline established in season one.

Although season one had ten episodes, a spokesperson from HBO said season two will have eight episodes due to an artistic choice. Writers and producers will write season two while mapping out season three. This executive decision has sparked controversy among fans, as many felt they could not connect with the characters adequately because of season ones short length.

Martin originally advocated for more episodes so the lore can be fully developed on screen andthe errors of Game of Thrones do not carry over. It is reported that he is heavily involved in the series development,particularly with writing and brainstorming.

HBO has ongoingly announced new additions to the cast, such as highly anticipated characters Alys Rivers and Cregan Stark.

HBO said that Simon Russell Beale, Freddie Fox, Gayle Rankinand Abubakar Salim will be joining the returning cast members for season two. Beale will play Ser Simon Strong, the great uncle of Larys Strong and Castellan of Harrenhal. Fox will play Gwayne Hightower, the brother of Alicent and son of Otto. Rankin will play Alys Rivers, the illegitimate daughter of Lyonel Strong who is also called the witch of Harrenhal. Finally, Slaim will play Alyn of Hull, a rumored illegitimate son of Laenor Velaryon.

As fans wait for the casting of Cregan Stark, Jeyne Arryn and Daeron Targaryen to be announced, theories are circulating around the elimination of Addam Velaryon, the older brother of Alyn of Hull.

Velaryon is an important character in the Fire and Blood novel, which means that the character will likely appear. Much like his younger brother, it is rumored that he is an illegitimate son of Laenor Velaryon.

The shows writers and producers will have the creative liberty to fill in plot holes and make changes as they see fit.

Ryan Condal, the executive producer, mentioned that the new season will contain five new dragons, stirring up excitement and anxiety. The introduction of new dragons to the tale means only one thing: war.

Although the Writers Guild of America is on strike as of May 2, the series production will continue.

WGA and The Writers Guild of Great Britain told WGA members to stop working on projects under the U.S union. In an interview with Variety, a production source said these actions wont impact the production. HBO can continue filming House of the Dragon in the U.K because of completed scripts.

However, its unclear how HBO will approach scripts that may require rewrites.

It is predicted that House of the Dragon season two will grace the screens of HBO in summer 2024. Prepare to return to the land of blood, familyand thrones, otherwise known as Westeros.

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The Latest Additions to House of the Dragon - The Ticker