THIS WEEK IN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
Baltimore Raven’s Wide Receiver Jacoby Jones on the Cover of This Week’s Sports Illustrated
Plus: SI’s First Ever Off-Season Preview
(NEW YORK – Feb. 5, 2013) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver and kick returner Jacoby Jones, who opened the second half of the Ravens Super Bowl XLVII victory over the 49ers with a postseason record 108-yard kickoff return for a TD, is on the cover of the Feb. 11, 2013, issue of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, on newsstands Wednesday.
This is the first time that Jones, who appears above the headline: “Fear the Bird. Revere the Bird”, has appeared on the SI cover and the 12th time that a member of the Ravens has appeared on the SI cover. You can purchase this week’s cover here.
Jones, a New Orleans native who also caught a 56 yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco in the first half, set a number of Super Bowl records in Baltimore’s 34-31 victory over San Francisco, including most combined yards in a game (290) and longest play (his 108-yard kickoff return). Jones also tied a record with two plays of 50-or-more yards. Senior writer Peter King (@SI_PeterKing) writes:
“In the span of two game minutes, Jones had touched the ball twice, gained 164 yards, and scored two touchdowns.” (PAGE 31)
This week’s issue also includes the first ever SPORTS ILLUSTRATED NFL Off-season Preview. Our NFL experts provide solutions and fixes for all 32 teams as they head into the 2013 offseason (PAGE 59). Other features in the off-season preview include:
ARE YOU READY FOR MORE FOOTBALL?—PETER KING(@SI_PeterKing)
Anchored by Russell Wilson, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, the new crop of NFL starting quarterbacks are changing the belief that signal callers need time on the sidelines before taking control of the team. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED Senior Writer Peter King writes that the recent surge of young quarterbacks making an impact instead of the “carry-a-clipboard-for-years credo” shows a distinct change in the NFL game. King writes: “Learning curve? They don’t need no stinkin’ learning curve.” (PAGE 40)
In addition to rolling right away with young quarterbacks, teams have embraced a variety of changes, such as implementing schemes from the college game, embracing the no-huddle, pistol, and option offenses, and taking a chance on short quarterbacks (Wilson stands at 5’10 7/8”.) King says: “As running threats with great arms force defenses to change on the fly, Sunday’s game looks an awful lot like Saturday’s.” (PAGE 40)
Seattle head coach Pete Carroll, who took a chance on starting the short, young Wilson this season, is one of the examples of the new forward-thinking NFL. “When we gave Russell the job, I thought, Well, buckle up: it’s gonna be a Disney ride. It wasn’t conventional thinking. But conventional thinking, that’s not always what wins.” (PAGE 43)
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YOU GOT IT, OR YOU DON’T—TIM LAYDEN (@SITimLayden)
How do I get a franchise quarterback? This is the nonstop question every NFL team must ask if they don’t believe their signal caller can win it all. In this week’s SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, senior writer Tim Layden (@SITimLayden) examines the most prized currency in the league and explores… “When do you cut loose a quarterback and start over?” (PAGE 47)
Bill Polian, former Vice Chairman and General Manager of the Indianapolis Colts says: “You never forget what it feels like to not have a quarterback…It’s an ongoing thing. Every single minute you don’t have that guy, you think about it.” (PAGE 46)
The pressure intensified for General Manager’s in 2013 because of the immediate success of rookie QB’s Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Russell Wilson and second –year quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Because of their instant success this season, front offices and fan bases hope the draft can now help them find the next great quarterback who can succeed right away.
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED writer Andrew Perloff (@andrewperloff) complements the article by listing five current quarterbacks in which he feels won enough to tease and lost enough to have their G.M.’s consider change: Ryan Fitzpatrick (Bills), Tony Romo (Cowboys), Matt Cassel (Chiefs), Josh Freeman (Buccaneers), and Mark Sanchez (Jets). (PAGE 46)
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THE YODA OF THE YARD MARKER—ANDY STAPLES (@Andy_Staples)
After independently training two consecutive No. 1 NFL draft picks, assisting Johnny Manziel in procuring the starting quarterback position at Texas A&M and working with Ben Roethlisberger through his four-game suspension in 2010, George Whitfield is gaining a reputation as a “quarterback whisperer” in the football world. In this week’s SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, senior writer Andy Staples explores how this college hopping, former arena football playing quarterback coach has grown into the Jedi master to quarterback elite. Whitfield stresses that preparing QB’s for real game situations is the key to success on any level.
“There’s a notion with regard to training or practice that it’s always pristine. The conditions are always perfect,” says Whitfield. “O-lines aren’t some Great Wall of China at any level. Set [QBs} up for what they’re really going to walk into. You can’t set them up for the streets of New York when they’re really going to Guatemala.” (PAGE 53)
Whitfield’s small time operation in San Diego, California attracts big names from all over, and the list of aspiring students continues to grow. His teachings can cater to any QBs needs and the success rate of his trainees knows no bounds. With 2013 draft hopefuls such as Landry Jones and Johnny McEntee under Whitfield’s wing, who will be his next top student? Whatever a quarterback needs to survive in today’s game, Pep Hamilton (the newly appointed Colts’ offensive coordinator) says, Whitfield can find a way to teach it. “He’s a Jedi,” (PAGE 55).
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-SI-
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