SB Nation Bay Area: All Posts by Alex Shultz

2013 BCS Championship: Te'o leads group of NFL prospects for Notre Dame

2013-01-07T00:04:53Z

On Monday, January 7, the no. 1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish will take on the no. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide in the BCS National Championship. Three months after the game is over, a handful of the Fighting Irish's most talented prospects will be embarking on a new challenge: playing in the NFL.

NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks ranked the top ten pro prospects in the big game, with five Notre Dame members on the list. Manti Te'o was ranked number two overall, behind Alabama offensive lineman Chance Warmack. According to Brooks,

Te'o is another standout performance away from cementing his status as the top defensive prospect in the 2013 NFL Draft class.

Scouts Inc., meanwhile, has Te'o ranked as the seventh overall prospect in the 2013 draft class.

Other players on the NFL.com list include tight end Tyler Eifert (No. 4), defensive tackle Louis Nix (No. 6), defensive end Stephon Tuitt (No. 8) and running back Theo Riddick (No. 9). Eifert is also ranked on the Scouts Inc. Top 32 list at no. 31 overall.

Cardinals vs. 49ers score update: Arizona trails San Francisco 7-6 at halftime

2012-12-30T23:01:31Z

Through one half of football at Candlestick Park, the Arizona Cardinals trail the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 7-6.

The Cardinals jumped out to a 6-0 advantage thanks to two field goals by kicker Jay Feely, from 35 and 31 yards respectively. But the 49ers struck back with a 49 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Michael Crabtree that gave San Francisco a 7-6 halftime lead.

Quarterback Brian Hoyer is 8-of-18 for 103 yards. Rookie wide receiver Michael Floyd leads the team with three receptions for 56 yards, while star receiver Larry Fitzgerald has just two receptions for 13 yards.

The 49ers have outgained the Cardinals in total offense, 232 yards to 156 yards. Arizona had an almost identical number of first downs, however. The Cardinals find themselves trailing by just one point thanks to two missed field goals by San Francisco kicker David Akers. They're looking to play the role of spoilers against the 49ers, as an upset win would complicate San Francisco's chances at the number two seed in the NFC.

49ers vs. Cardinals score update: San Francisco leads Arizona 7-6 at halftime

2012-12-30T22:50:59Z

Through two quarters of play at Candlestick Park, the San Francisco 49ers lead the Arizona Cardinals by a score of 7-6.

The 49ers failed to put up any points in a low-scoring first quarter that featured just a 35 yard field goal by Arizona kicker Jay Feely.

In the second quarter, Feely extended Arizona's advantage to 6-0 on a 31 yard field goal that completed a 10 play, 74 yard drive. Following a missed field goal by San Francisco kicker David Akers and a three-and-out by the Cardinals, the 49ers took the lead on a 49 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Michael Crabtree. The former Texas Tech standout has 116 yards in the first half. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick is 7-of-13 for 146 yards.

The 49ers drove into field goal range in the last few minutes of the half, but Akers missed his second field goal attempt of the game, this time from 40 yards out.

Panthers vs. Saints final score: Carolina defeats New Orleans in high scoring affair, 44-38

2012-12-30T21:47:00Z

In an NFC South showdown without playoff implications, the Carolina Panthers defeated the New Orleans Saints on Sunday by a final score of 44-38.

The Panthers were down 17-13 at halftime and trailed 24-13 early in the third quarter following a touchdown reception by tight end Jimmy Graham. But Carolina put up 28 straight points, all coming from running backs DeAngelo Williams and Mike Tolbert, which proved to be enough to hold off a late surge by New Orleans.

Winners

The entire Carolina Panthers organization, which recovered from a 2-8 start to win five of its last six games. Obviously, the Panthers wish they could've competed for a spot in the postseason, but the strong finish has to be encouraging going into next season.

Losers

Fans of hard-nosed, defensive battles. That was not the case in today's game.

Stat of the game

The Panthers put up 530 yards of total offense, including 273 rushing yards.

Fantasy studs/duds

DeAngelo Williams had 213 total yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries, and backup Mike Tolbert added three more touchdowns to go with 47 total yards.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees finished with 396 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. Three of his targets--Marques Colston, Darren Sproles and Jimmy Graham--finished with at least 50 yards and a touchdown.

For a team that put up 44 points, opposing quarterback Cam Newton put up fairly pedestrian numbers. He finished with 248 yards, no touchdowns and an interception.

Did they cover?

New Orleans entered the game as four point favorites, but failed to cover in the defeat.

NFL inactives, Week 17: Cardinals vs. 49ers

2012-12-30T20:35:50Z

San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis will suit up Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Defensive end Justin Smith, however, remains out.

Davis sustained a concussion in San Francisco's matchup against the Seattle Seahawks and was doubtful to play earlier in the week.

In addition to Smith, who is out with a left elbow injury, the 49ers will be without the following players:

Linebacker Eric Bakhtiari
Running back Jewel Hampton
Guard Joe Looney
Safety Trenton Robinson
Quarterback Scott Tolzien
Defensive lineman Will Tukuafu

The Cardinals, meanwhile, will be without quarterback Ryan Skelton, who remains on the inactive list. Arizona will turn to Brian Hoyer to start, the team's fourth different quarterback this season. A complete list of the inactives for the Cardinals is below:

Wide receiver LaRon Byrd
Wide receiver Early Doucet
Guard Mike Gibson
Tackle Nate Potter
Fullback Anthony Sherman
Defensive end Ronald Talley

Kickoff for the game is set for 4:25 p.m. ET.

Cardinals vs. Bears score update: Arizona trails 28-6 after three quarters

2012-12-23T23:58:20Z

After three quarters of play, the Arizona Cardinals trail the Chicago Bears by a score of 28-6.

The Bears picked up where they left off early in the second half, as cornerback Charles Tillman intercepted quarterback Ryan Lindley deep in Arizona territory and returned the pass 10 yards for a score. It was the second touchdown of the game for Chicago's defense and Tillman's third touchdown on the season.

Arizona later replaced Lindley with Brian Hoyer, who was 3-of-6 for 51 yards in two possessions. The Cardinals as a team have 209 yards of total offense, but just 32 rushing yards.

Chicago's passing attack hasn't been much better, as quarterback Jay Cutler is 11-of-24 for 141 yards and a touchdown. Star wide receiver Brandon Marshall has five receptions for 63 yards and a score. Running back Matt Forte left the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury and will not return. He had 88 yards at the time.

Cardinals vs. Bears score update: Arizona trails 21-6 at halftime

2012-12-23T23:10:38Z

Through two quarters of play, the Arizona Cardinals trail the Chicago Bears by a score of 21-6.

The Bears put up the first offensive touchdown of the game early in the second quarter on a four yard run by Matt Forte. That score was set up by a 30 yard reception from wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

The Cardinals were able to cut the deficit to a one-possession game thanks to a 35 yard field goal by Jay Feely that resulted from a Chicago fumble on a punt return.

But Chicago struck back again on a two minute drill to end the half, as quarterback Jay Cutler hit Brandon Marshall for an 11 yard touchdown to make it 21-6.

Cutler finished the half 6-of-16 for 106 yards and a touchdown. Arizona quarterback Ryan Lindley was 17-of-28 for 141 yards. Forte has 85 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, while the Cardinals have just 17 rushing yards.

The Cardinals have actually dominated the time of possession so far, accounting for 20 minutes compared to 10 for the Bears.

Cardinals vs. Bears score update: Arizona trails 7-3 after first quarter

2012-12-23T22:17:37Z

After the first quarter of play at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, the Arizona Cardinals trail the Chicago Bears by a score of 7-3.

The Bears scored their lone touchdown of the quarter after a fumble by running back Beanie Wells deep in Arizona territory. Cornerback Zach Bowman scooped up the loose ball and returned it for a score.

The Cardinals recovered later in the quarter with a 49 yard field goal to make it 7-3.

Arizona has so far held Chicago's offense at bay, as Jay Cutler has yet to complete a pass in the game. Cardinals quarterback Ryan Lindley, meanwhile, is 8-of-11 for 73 yards. Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has also gotten into the action with three catches for 43 yards.

Arizona has the chance to play spoiler with a win over the Bears, which would make it even more difficult for Chicago to sneak into the postseason as a Wild Card team.