#defense

#defense

I found that across the seven mocks provided, roughly 85% of Dallas' first-round projections are defensive players. Surprisingly, linebacker appears most often, showing up in four different projections. Names like Sonny Styles, Cashius Howell, and CJ Allen surface repeatedly. When multiple analysts independently land on second-level defenders, it shows that evaluators see a structural need. Right behind linebacker is the secondary. Caleb Downs has appeared more than once as a potential first-round selection. I've seen other mocks lean toward versatile defensive backs or pure cornerbacks like Mansoor Delane.

The European Union's foreign policy and security chief, Kaja Kallas, has said she is working on a "new European security strategy" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The strategy will address "all dimensions of European security" to better deal with the threat of Russia and a more hostile geopolitical era.

Though I wouldn't go so far as to say it is the predominant "identity" of the Chicago Cubs of recent vintage, I do think it's important to note that the Cubs have typically sported one of the better defenses in baseball going back at least a decade. Defense was critical to the 2026 championship run, as a lot of the excellent pitching was really an excellent combination of pitching and defense.

Boston Red Sox Kiner-Falefa is a former Gold Glove winner, but doesn't have a lot of pop at the plate. The Red Sox are reportedly bolstering their infield with a versatile veteran just ahead of spring training. According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Red Sox have signed Isiah Kiner-Falefa to a one-year contract - with the former Yankee expected to log reps all across Boston's infield.

CHICAGO The Sharks have been one of the NHL's most surprising and talked-about teams so far this season. They've had some rough spells, for sure, but it's largely been one feel-good moment after another as they've become playoff contenders after two straight years of finishing in the league's basement. Now the Sharks are dealing with the other side of that coin: enhanced expectations and added pressure.

We did a lot of really good things in that game. I think we gave up six chances at five-on-five. You don't lose those games a lot of the time. We did a lot of good things, but the one area of the game we still need to improve upon is the costly turnovers that end up in goals or cost you in general.

If last offseason was about rebuilding the Chicago Bears' offense, this one is shaping up to be about stabilizing and reshaping the defense. A year ago, Ryan Poles attacked the offensive line from every angle, adding four new starters through a mix of the draft, free agency, and trades. The result was tangible progress. This offseason calls for a similar approach on the other side of the ball, where needs are both obvious and unavoidable. That's what makes this weekend in Mobile so important.

The Lakers closed the game on a 29-8 run from there, with Doncic thwarting his former coach, Jason Kidd's scheme to attack him on defense when the Mavs had the ball. "We counted after the game, he had six straight stops where they targeted him," Lakers coach JJ Redick said of Doncic. "Just a fantastic job from him. Then [he] makes the game-sealing defensive play with the charge on [Naji] Marshall."

"I was definitely hyped," Allen told ESPN. "I had Paul Pierce in my ear telling me, 'Get ready! You stick me every day [in practice]. You should be ready. Let's go! That's Kobe Bryant!'" The No. 25 pick in the 2004 draft was trying to soak everything in and get himself in the right frame of mind for the 54th game of his young NBA career.

Joe Sterling, one of the best three-point shooters in the country, tried to put up a three-point attempt from long range at the outset of the third quarter on Wednesday night at Sierra Canyon. He must have forgotten who was guarding him, because Brandon McCoy came flying like Superman to block the shot, then took the deflected ball, dribbled and delivered an uncontested dunk.