Throughout the Sean McVay and Les Snead era in Los Angeles, it has almost been a running joke on how much they have ignored the linebacker position. After paying linebacker Alec Ogletree in early 2017, the Rams cut him five months later. Over the next eight years, the Rams didn’t just not pay a linebacker, […] Throughout the Sean McVay and Les Snead era in Los Angeles, it has almost been a running joke on how much they have ignored the linebacker position. After paying linebacker Alec Ogletree in early 2017, the Rams cut him five months later. Over the next eight years, the Rams didn’t just not pay a linebacker, they hardly invested in the position at all. During the McVay era, the Rams never invested a top-100 pick on the linebacker position. Ernest Jones was taken with pick 103 and the only linebacker this regime has taken before the third day of the NFL Draft. When it came time to pay Jones, the Rams didn’t just trade him away; they got almost nothing in return. Jones ended up signing a three-year, $33 million extension with the Seattle Seahawks last spring. A lot gets made of the Rams passing on Creed Humphrey for Tutu Atwell in 2020. However, the pick after Atwell was Nick Bolton who has been one of the better, young linebackers in the NFL. In 2024, the Rams took a backup running back instead of arguably the best linebacker in the draft in Payton Wilson. The Rams made the Super Bowl in 2018 with an undrafted free agent in Cory Littleton leading the team in tackles. When the Rams won the Super Bowl in 2021, Troy Reeder was the team’s starting linebacker for much of the season. Reeder was also an undrafted free agent. Throughout the McVay era, the Rams have developed undrafted free agents at the linebacker position. Christian Rozeboom started many games in 2024. A big reason why the Rams moved on from Jones was because of the emergence of an undrafted free agent in Omar Speights. Even this past offseason when the Rams needed a linebacker, they signed Nate Landman to a one-year, $1.1 million contract. The linebacker that they drafted inside the top-200 was cut after the preseason. Chris Paul Jr. was cut in large part becauset he Rams were so impressed by an undrafted free agent they signed, Shaun Dolac. One exception was made in 2022 when the Rams signed Bobby Wagner in free agency. However, that was more about his desire to play for his hometown team than the Rams actively pursuing him. Prior to Sunday’s Week 12 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Rams announced a three-year, $22.5 million extension with Landman. Given how the Rams have handled the linebacker position, it’s partially what makes the extension somewhat surprising. Nobody would have been shocked that the Rams re-signed Landman, but there was certainly reason for surprise, especially with it getting done in-season. The Rams didn’t even wait for Landman to hit free agency. Getting the deal done early does benefit the Rams as Landman won’t have an opportunity to test the market for his value. Last season, the Eagles ended up waiting to extend Zach Baun and ended up re-signing him to a three-year, $51 million contract in March. Baun was an offseason priority for the Eagles, but they may have saved some money by getting that deal done in-season. According to Over The Cap, Nate Landman’s current OTC evaluation is close to $11 million. The Rams re-signed him for an average of $7.5 million and only $15.6 million of that is guaranteed. Landman got his pay raise and the Rams got a core piece of their defense re-signed on a team-friendly deal. It can’t be understated how much of an impact Landman has had for the Rams defense. Last season, stopping the run was a liability defensively. It’s a large reason why they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles not once, but twice. That was especially the case in the playoffs. Had the Rams been able to stop the run in the playoff game, they potentially go on to play in the Super Bowl. This season, the Rams held Saquon Barkley to 18 carries for just 46 yards. Christian McCaffrey has averaged less than three yards per carry in three games this season. Two of those games have come against the Rams. The Rams defense has allowed just a single 100-yard rusher this season and that was Derrick Henry. While some of that has to do with the signing of Poona Ford, Landman has impacted that as well. The Rams run defense is allowing 2.55 yards after contact per rush which is the fifth-best in the NFL. That’s despite playing light boxes at the second-highest rate. One of the reasons that the Rams have moved to more 12 and 13 personnel on offense is because of where the NFL has moved defensively. Defenses have swapped big, physical linebackers for smaller, more athletic players that excel in coverage. By using 12 and 13 personnel, the Rams can get teams in base and take advantage of those matchups, especially in the run game before creating chunk plays over the top through the air. That connects back to what the Rams are getting out of Landman. They are able to continue playing light boxes because Landman doesn’t disappear in the run game. He is PFF’s 12th-highest graded linebacker against the run and his 26 run stops rank fourth. Landman has a 9.9 percent run-stop rate which is sixth among linebackers. It goes beyond that though. The Rams struggled tackling at the second level in 2024. Troy Reeder had an 11.5 percent missed tackle rate while Rozeboom’s was 12 percent. This season, Landman’s 7.1 percent missed tackle rate ranks 12th. As a team, the Rams have a 5.7 percent missed tackle rate which is the best in the league. Last season, they had the seventh most missed tackles. The Rams re-signed
Why did Rams break trend of not paying LBs with Nate Landman?
Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase will be reunited Thanksgiving Night, and that’s something we should all be thankful for
Burrow and Chase. They go together like… name any classic combination. To have those two playing football together again in 2025 is something all Bengals fans should be thankful for. For only the third time this season, we’ll see the NFL’s best quarterback-wide receiver combo on the field together when the Bengals face the Ravens […] Burrow and Chase. They go together like… name any classic combination. To have those two playing football together again in 2025 is something all Bengals fans should be thankful for. For only the third time this season, we’ll see the NFL’s best quarterback-wide receiver combo on the field together when the Bengals face the Ravens Thursday night. “It’s good to have him back. You know what I’m saying?” Chase said this week about Burrow. “I’m happy I got my friend back out there. Glad he’s back. I know he’s excited for it. We’re not going to get a better game for him to come back.” Interestingly, Chase did not practice with Burrow last week. Therefore, since Burrow started going full last week, the two together will only have a limited number of reps together heading into Thursday night. Remember how limited reps impacted them through Weeks 1 and 2 in 2024? Then again, Weeks 3-18 were as prolific as we have ever seen from a quarterback-wide receiver duo. Baltimore is an opponent Chase knows well, and the Ravens have proven unable to even contain him, let alone stop him. Chase exploded for 21 receptions, 457 yards, and five touchdowns in two games against the Ravens. Here’s the crazy thing, though: Those are just two of the incredible games he’s had against the Ravens. Remember his rookie season in 2021? Chase had 15 receptions for 326 yards and a touchdown in two games against the Ravens that season. If Burrow and Chase go off on the Ravens again on Thanksgiving, it may be the most impressive performance of their careers. See More: Cincinnati Bengals News
Five former Colts named Semifinalists for Pro Football HoF Class of 2026
The Indianapolis Colts have five former players named among the 26 modern-era semfinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026: running back Frank Gore, defensive end/outside linebacker Robert Mathis, quarterback Philip Rivers, placekicker Adam Vinatieri, and wide receiver Reggie Wayne. Both Gore (2015-17) and Rivers (2020) had short stints in Indianapolis, and […] The Indianapolis Colts have five former players named among the 26 modern-era semfinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026: running back Frank Gore, defensive end/outside linebacker Robert Mathis, quarterback Philip Rivers, placekicker Adam Vinatieri, and wide receiver Reggie Wayne. Both Gore (2015-17) and Rivers (2020) had short stints in Indianapolis, and will be most remembered for their playing days elsewhere where they had the vast peak of their success and spent a much longer period of time. Gore as a workhorse running back for the San Francisco 49ers, and Rivers as the longtime starting quarterback with the Chargers franchise. That being said, both were memorable Colts, even for their limited time in Indy. In the instance of time here, I will highlight the three players from the five that will be most remembered as Colts: INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JANUARY 01: Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Robert Mathis (98) gets introduced before his last NFL game during the NFL game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts on January 1, 2017, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Robert Mathis Originally a 2003 5th round pick of the Colts, the undersized, yet tenacious 6’2”, 245 pound pass rusher went on to become one of the best hidden gems of Hall of Fame Bill Polian’s distinguished tenure in Indianapolis. Largely teaming up with Hall of Famer Dwight Freeney, as one of the best pass rushing duos of all-time, Mathis would become a Super Bowl XLI Champion, NFL First-Team All-Pro, 5x NFL Pro Bowl, and member of the Colts Ring of Honor. He finished his 13-year NFL career with 538 tackles (408 solo), 123.0 sacks, 1 interception, 18 passes defensed, 52 forced fumbles, and 17 fumble recoveries (3 returned for a touchdown) during 192 games (121 starts). His 52 forced fumbles are the most recorded in NFL history. ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 22: Adam Vinatieri #4 celebrates with Pat McAfee #1 of the Indianapolis Colts after kicking the game winning field goal during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on November 22, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)Getty Images Adam Vinatieri The undisputed greatest kicker in NFL history is a man who needs no introduction, as he was already Canton-bound (with that arch nemesis we won’t mention here) before joining the Indianapolis Colts franchise in 2006. During his lengthy 24-year NFL career, where he largely aged like a fine wine until he couldn’t physically kick anymore, Vinatieri would become a 4x Super Bowl Champion, 3x NFL First-Team All-Pro, 3x NFL Pro Bowler, member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, and is the NFL’s all-time scoring leader (2,673 total points). He converted 599 of his 715 field goal attempts (83.8%) and 878 of 898 extra point attempts (97.3%). Perhaps most importantly though, he’ll be regarded as the most clutch kicker there ever was and likely ever will be. Photo by Tim Umphrey/Getty Images Reggie Wayne One of the greatest wideouts in Colts franchise history, Wayne was remarkably consistent featuring smooth route running, incredibly sure-hands, and sometimes, even a flare for the dramatic. Nothing about Wayne was overly spectacular from an elite speed or athleticism standpoint compared to his peers by any means, but the total package of everything was highly impressive and incredibly consistent. He was truly a sum of his parts, much like Jerry Rice in that regard. He was “Mr. 3rd down” as a popular target for both former franchise quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck to help move the sticks and sustain scoring drives, especially during critical moments. Pairing with Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, he formed one of the greatest wide receiver pairings in NFL history. He finished his 14-year Colts career with 1,070 receptions for 14,345 receiving yards and 82 touchdown receptions—becoming a Super Bowl XLI Champion, NFL First-Team All-Pro, 2x NFL 2nd-Team All-Pro, 6x NFL Pro Bowler, and Colts Ring of Honor member. He has played the most games in Colts all-time history. See More: Indianapolis Colts News
Brock Bowers need to be focal point for Greg Olson
Here is a look at how the Las Vegas Raiders’ 2024 draft class fared in a 24-10 home loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 12 and what it means looking ahead to Sunday’s road game at the Los Angeles Chargers: Brock Bowers: Bowers played a season-high 96 percent of the snaps for the second […] Here is a look at how the Las Vegas Raiders’ 2024 draft class fared in a 24-10 home loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 12 and what it means looking ahead to Sunday’s road game at the Los Angeles Chargers: Brock Bowers: Bowers played a season-high 96 percent of the snaps for the second straight week. He was targeted none times. He was targeted 21 times in the past two games after being thrown to just three times in a Week 10 loss at Denver. Bowers responded with six catches with 55 yards. New Las Vegas interim offensive coordinator Greg Olson needs to make sure he gets the ball to Bowers as much as possible at the Chargers and for the rest of the season. Jackson Powers-Johnson: The second-round pick suffered an ankle injury in Week 10 and he is on the injured reserve. He reportedly might miss the rest of the season. D.J. Glaze: The third-round pick reportedly allowed two of the Browns’ 10 sacks as the entire offensive line struggled. He hasn’t been the biggest problem, but he may not be the 2026 solution, either. Decamarion Richardson: The fourth-round pick hasn’t played on defense yet this season. He did play 20 plays on special teams. Join the conversation! Sign up for a user account and get: Fewer ads Create community posts Comment on articles, community posts Rec comments, community posts Coming soon: New, improved notifications system! Tommy Eichenberg: The fifth-round pick from Ohio State didn’t play on defense for the eighth time this season, but he did play 29 snaps on special teams. Dylan Laube: The sixth-round pick returned one kicks for 24 yards. He did not play on offense. Jonah Laulu: Laulu, claimed last year off waivers from Indianapolis, played a season-high 86 percent of the defensive snaps a week after missing most of the game with a ribs injury. He didn’t produce much as he had one assisted tackle, but Laulu showed is toughness and he is a big part of this defense. See More: Las Vegas Raiders Game Information
Can the Dolphins make the playoffs this season?
“Playoffs? You kidding me? Playoffs? I just hope we can win a game!” Just a few weeks ago, Miami Dolphins fans would have been echoing the words of the iconic Jim Mora, former Detroit Lions head coach. However, after three wins in their last four games, things are looking up—but only slightly. As of today, […] “Playoffs? You kidding me? Playoffs? I just hope we can win a game!” Just a few weeks ago, Miami Dolphins fans would have been echoing the words of the iconic Jim Mora, former Detroit Lions head coach. However, after three wins in their last four games, things are looking up—but only slightly. As of today, the Dolphins playoff chances sit at a lowly 1%. Yes, just one percent. However, that can change very quickly. Via ESPN, the current NFL playoff picture looks like this. For the Dolphins to force themselves into the playoff conversation, they will likely need to win out. With seven losses already under their belt, just a single loss can eliminate them from playoff contention. However, this is more feasible than one might think. The rest of Miami’s schedule looks like this. Week 13: Sunday, Nov 30 | vs. New Orleans Saints (2-9) Week 14: Sunday, Dec 7 | @ New York Jets (2-9) Week 15: Monday, Dec 15 | @ Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) Week 16: Sunday, Dec 21 | vs. Cincinnati Bengals (3-8) Week 17: Sunday, Dec 28 | vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5) Week 18: Saturday, Jan 4 | @ New England Patriots (10-2) It’s worth nothing that the Dolphins currently have the 4th-easiest schedule in the NFL to close out the season, and they will certainly be favored to win their next two games, which would put them at 6-7 heading into the final stretch of the season. If they can pull off an upset victory in Pittsburgh, that puts the team firmly at .500. They will also likely be favored to win the following two games after that, with two more wins there putting the Dolphins at 9-7 with one game remaining. Ok, let’s pause for a second. Are the Dolphins really going to rattle off seven straight wins and push for a playoff spot? Probably not. But, is it a possibility? Absolutely. For the sake of argument, let’s say the Dolphins managed to pull this off. They would be up against the New England Patriots in Week 18, who currently hold the AFC’s No.1 seed. The Dolphins would almost certainly be huge underdogs here. Unless, of course, the Patriots had already clinched the No.1 seed, in which case they would rest their starters, giving the Dolphins a great chance to win. All else equal, if the Dolphins were to win out, according to The Atheltic’s playoff simulator, their playoff odds would sit at around 20%. Now, with some help from around the league, that number could jump to over 50%. According to The Athletic, the following games are the most crucial to improving the Dolphins’ playoff odds. Week 13 – Titans vs. Jaguars Week 14 – Eagles vs. Chargers Week 15 – Patriots vs. Bills Week 15 – Jets vs. Jaguars If the Titans, Eagles, Patriots, and Jets can pull off wins here, and the Dolphins win out, the Dolphins’ chances of making the playoffs would sit at 54%. In other words, Dolphins fans should be rooting against the Chargers, Jaguars, Bills, and even the Texans each and every week. The more results that fall Miami’s way, the higher their odds go. So, is it feasible, probable, or even remotely likely that the Dolphins will make the playoffs this season? No. But, they have a fighting chance, and each win takes them closer to that coveted Wild Card spot. As we’ve seen in the NFL, tanking can be dangerous. Teams willingly destroy their culture, in hopes of landing a high draft spot, only for that pick to flail out after a few seasons. But winning games, not accepting losses, and fighting each and every week can lead to something great down the line. The Dolphins have a chance to do that this season, and until they’re out of the race, there’s no reason to give up. Do you think the Dolphins can make the playoffs this season, or is it just a pipe dream? Should they tank for a higher pick? Let us know down below! See More: General
Lions, Packers injury designations: Graham Glasgow among 5 Lions OUT
The Detroit Lions (7-4) and Green Bay Packers (7-3-1) have declared their injury designations ahead of their Week 13 NFC North battle on Thanksgiving Day. Let’s take a look at the latest injury report and get you up to date with what we know. Note: Any changes from the last injury report will be bolded. […] The Detroit Lions (7-4) and Green Bay Packers (7-3-1) have declared their injury designations ahead of their Week 13 NFC North battle on Thanksgiving Day. Let’s take a look at the latest injury report and get you up to date with what we know. Note: Any changes from the last injury report will be bolded. Ruled OUT WR Kalif Raymond (ankle) TE Brock Wright (neck) C Graham Glasgow (knee) EDGE Josh Paschal (back, still on NFI) S Kerby Joseph (knee) Raymond injured his ankle in Week 12, and with a quick turnaround between games, he was unable to heal up in time for this matchup. Wright injured his neck in Week 12, and while he returned to the game against the Giants, he was estimated not to have practiced this week. Look for Ross Dwelley to step into the TE1 role, with help from Dan Skipper, and Anthony Firkser—who is on the practice squad but could be elevated or signed ahead of the game. Glasgow not being able to play is a big blow to a unit that was already down Christian Mahogany. While everyone will surely be hoping to see Frank Ragnow (who is reportedly coming out of retirement to re-sign with the Lions) suit up, the odds are that it will likely be Trystan Colon. Paschal is now out of days in his injury evaluation window, and with him being downgraded to no practice the past two days, it’s fair to wonder if the Lions will elect to keep him on NFI and end his season or activate him to the 53-man roster. If activated, he won’t play in this game with an “out” designation. Joseph was basically ruled out by coach Dan Campbell on Tuesday, so this was an expected decision. The hope is that he could be returning to the field soon. ”To Kerby’s credit, man, he is rehabbing, he’s putting in the work,” Campbell said on Tuesday. “He knows the work he’s putting in now will hopefully keep us from having to ride this wave up and down. ‘OK, he’s back, now he’s not able to go.’ That’s kind of what all this is about, is man, getting him to a point (where) we strengthen some of these; stabilize some of this, the muscles in this area, and get him to where, ‘Alright, here we go, man.’ Doesn’t mean it’s going to alleviate some of the pain, but it’s going to make him feel a lot better, and he will be more than functional. He will be able to produce and be ready for the next week.” Questionable RB Sione Vaki (ankle/thumb) WR Isaac TeSlaa (hand) RT Penei Sewell (ankle) LT Taylor Decker (shoulder) RG Tate Ratledge (knee) G Miles Frazier (knee, still on PUP) EDGE Marcus Davenport (shoulder, still on IR) — Days remaining in evaluation: 6 CB Terrion Arnold (concussion) Vaki has had a difficult year with regard to injuries, but he’s been able to play through the past few games, and the expectation is that he can continue to contribute on special teams in his current state. TeSlaa will be counted on to play a bigger role this week due to Raymond’s injury. Look for the rookie to see an uptick in snaps and hopefully repeat (or exceed) his production from the last time he played against Green Bay. Sewell has been nursing an ankle injury the past two weeks, but he didn’t miss a snap last week and is expected to start against the Packers. Decker has found a groove for managing his shoulder injury and is expected to start at left tackle on Thanksgiving Day. Ratledge didn’t miss a snap in Week 12, and while projected to be limited in practices this week, he is expected to start at right guard this Thursday. Frazier is out of injury evaluation days, meaning the Lions will need to make a decision on his status for the season. It appears that he’ll likely be added to the 53-man roster, and with a questionable designation, could suit up in this Thursday’s game. Davenport still has about a week left in his injury evaluation window, but Campbell has hinted all week that the edge rusher could return. A questionable designation keeps that window open, and a move could be made in the coming hours. Arnold has been progressing through the NFL’s concussion protocol this week, but with Campbell not having a press conference on Wednesday, it’s unclear whether he has cleared them at this time. Not listed with an injury designation RB Jacob Saylors (back/knee) S Brian Branch (toe/ankle) Saylors has been banged up the last few weeks, but he’s managed to play through his injuries and contribute on special teams, most notably as a kick returner. With no injury designation, he’s good to go. Branch’s Week 11 toe injury lingered into this week, and he added a toe injury in Week 12, yet it doesn’t appear either injury will limit him in this game. He should be good to go. Packers’ injury designations Note: Starters are bolded. Ruled OUT WR Jayden Reed (foot/shoulder, still on IR) WR Savion Williams (foot) EDGE Lukas Van Ness (foot) DL Karl Brooks (ankle) Questionable WR Matthew Golden (wrist) LB Quay Walker (neck) CB Keisean Nixon (neck) CB Nate Hobbs (knee) Not listed with an injury designation QB Jordan Love (left shoulder) RB Josh Jacobs (knee) WR Christian Watson (knee) WR Romeo Doubs (wrist) WR Dontayvion Wicks (calf) RT Zach Tom (back) LB Edgerrin Cooper (foot/shoulder) S/NB Javon Bullard (ankle) See More:
Report: Lions center Frank Ragnow is coming out of retirement
It’s a Thanksgiving Day miracle! As teased by the Detroit Lions and later confirmed by multiple national reporters, All-Pro center Frank Ragnow is coming out of retirement after just a few months on the sideline. “Center Frank Ragnow is returning. Sounds like he’s in shape and ready to roll sooner, rather than later,” NFL Network’s […] It’s a Thanksgiving Day miracle! As teased by the Detroit Lions and later confirmed by multiple national reporters, All-Pro center Frank Ragnow is coming out of retirement after just a few months on the sideline. “Center Frank Ragnow is returning. Sounds like he’s in shape and ready to roll sooner, rather than later,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted. It’s a shocking development, as many have said that Ragnow was comfortable with his decision to retire after seven seasons with the Detroit Lions. In June, Ragnow suddenly announced his retirement, noting that the physical part of the game had taken its toll, and he was ready to start life outside of football. “These past couple of months have been very trying as I’ve come to the realization that my football journey is ending and I’m officially retiring from the NFL,” Ragnow wrote in a social media post. “I’ve tried to convince myself that I’m feeling good, but I’m not, and it’s time to prioritize my health and my family’s future. I have given this team everything I have, and I thought I had more to give, but the reality is I simply don’t. I have to listen to my body, and this has been one of the hardest decisions of my life. The Lions organization has been absolutely incredible throughout this process, and I can’t emphasize this enough, how grateful I am for this team and all the fans. It was an absolute honor going to battle for you all.” Ragnow’s return comes as a huge development for a Lions team that could use some serious help on the offensive line. It’s unclear when Ragnow is expected to be activated and when he’ll be ready to play, but he will certainly be a big help for a Lions team that needs to win at least three or four of their remaining six games. UPDATE: Per Adam Schefter, Ragnow is unlikely to play by next week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, but Week 15’s game against the Rams is a “potential return-to-play date.” This is a developing story, and we’ll update as more information comes in. For now, let’s celebrate! See More: Detroit Lions News
The Honolulu Blueprint: 7 keys to a Lions Week 13 victory over the Packers
The Detroit Lions (7-4) and Green Bay Packers (7-3-1) will face off for the second time this season, this time inside the comfy confines of Ford Field on Thanksgiving Day. In their first meeting, the Packers took care of business in Week 1, executing a well-thought-out game plan and walking away with a convincing 27-13 victory. […] The Detroit Lions (7-4) and Green Bay Packers (7-3-1) will face off for the second time this season, this time inside the comfy confines of Ford Field on Thanksgiving Day. In their first meeting, the Packers took care of business in Week 1, executing a well-thought-out game plan and walking away with a convincing 27-13 victory. “Nobody likes losing. We don’t like losing,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said on Monday. “But you open the year, and we go out to their place, and they gave it to us pretty good. And a division opponent, you don’t want to start that way. […] That’s one of the blessings of playing somebody in your division twice: you get another opportunity. And so, we’ve got another opportunity in front of us at our place on a short week, and we’re looking forward to it.” While the Lions look forward, we are going to look back at our Week 1 Keys to Victory article to see whether the Lions followed it, whether it worked, how things are different, and what adjustments need to be made for Week 13. Packers base schemes For a detailed look at the opposing scheme, make sure you check out our complementary breakdown piece: Lions Week 1 Preview: Breaking down Packers’ offensive and defensive schemes. Key 1: Run right up the middle Did it work? Nope In Week 1, the Lions struggled to run the ball, telegraphing their running back usage. When David Montgomery was on the field, the Lions ran the ball up the middle on seven of his 11 attempts, gaining just 13 yards. Jahmyr Gibbs was consistently deployed outside the tackles, rushing outside on seven of his nine attempts, and he gained just seven rushing yards on his two attempts inside. As a result, the Lions’ rushers were hit behind the line of scrimmage on 73% of their attempts, with both backs being hit behind the LOS on eight of their attempts. On those 16 carries, the Lions managed just 1.6 yards per carry. What’s changed? The Lions run inside more and with greater success Since Week 1, when rushing between the tackles, Gibbs has averaged 54.9 rushing yards per game, with a 7.96 yards per carry output, while Montgomery is averaging 23.7 yards per game, with a 4.9 yards per carry average. Adjustments? Feature more Gibbs runs in between the tackles Despite needing to rely on Kayode Awosika at left guard, the Lions have continued their success inside. Since turning to Awosika, the Lions average 3.5 yards BEFORE contact when running inside—most in the NFL. Most of that success can be attributed to Gibbs, who has a league-leading 423 yards before contact, per Next Gen Stats. Now, some may point out that these numbers are a bit skewed by Gibbs’ 69-yard touchdown in overtime vs. the Giants and his 78-yard touchdown vs. the Bucs, both of which he was untouched. But as Next Gen Stats points out, even if you remove those runs, Gibbs would still lead the NFL with an average of 1.8 yards before contact per carry. Key 2: Bring the fight to Micah Parsons Did it work? Nope With Week 1 being Parsons’ first game with the team, Green Bay mostly deployed him on obvious passing downs, and he only saw the field on seven rushing plays. While he only managed to make one tackle on those seven run plays, the impact of Parsons being on the field still impacted the game, as those plays resulted in a total of -2 rushing yards What’s changed? Parsons plays nearly every snap now Since Week 1, Parsons has played between 68% and 90% of defensive snaps on a regular basis, which means the Lions will need to account for him more frequently. Adjustments? Double-team him and make another defender step up Parsons is currently tied for the NFL lead with 60 pressures (with Aidan Hutchinson), per Next Gen Stats, despite teams doubling him 21.3% of the time. There’s little doubt of his pass rushing prowess. However, the Packers’ defense is slower and less effective when Parsons is off the field or taken out of the play. For example, when Parsons gets pressure, quarterbacks need to throw the ball within 2.81 seconds; outside of Parsons, that number drops to 3.06 seconds. Rashan Gary, who plays the opposite edge, is having success with Parsons drawing attention, but his time to pressure is 3.25 seconds. And on average, the Packers have needed 5.0 seconds per sack this season, the fourth-longest average time to sack in the NFL. While a game-changer as a pass rusher, Parsons is a solid but average run defender. While the Lions’ rushing focus should be inside, look for the Lions to try to use Parsons’ aggressive nature against him and deploy trap and wham blocks when they want to kick runs outside. Key 3: Follow your OL “rules” Did it work? Nope The Lions were slow to adapt to the Packers’ disguise and interior pressure in Week 1, allowing four sacks and 15 pressures. What’s changed? Nothing, they still apply The Packers haven’t changed much with their approach to their defensive front; the Lions simply need to execute better. Adjustments? More 6 OL (Jumbo) sets After losing tight end Sam LaPorta for the season, the Lions have shifted away from 12 personnel (1 running back and 2 tight end sets) and toward more 11 personnel and Jumbo sets. In fact, over the last two weeks, the Lions have used 12 personnel on only one snap while increasing their Jumbo sets by deploying Dan Skipper 20 times, including 15 snaps last week. Here’s Next Gen Stats on the
Vic Fangio talked about the many moving parts of the Eagles’ secondary
The Eagles defense were struck by several injuries late against the Cowboys that contributed to their comeback and the eventual Philadelphia loss. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio spoke to reporters on Tuesday and talked about some of the rotating parts of the secondary and how they’ve been affected by injury, as well as what he’s seen […] The Eagles defense were struck by several injuries late against the Cowboys that contributed to their comeback and the eventual Philadelphia loss. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio spoke to reporters on Tuesday and talked about some of the rotating parts of the secondary and how they’ve been affected by injury, as well as what he’s seen from the Bears’ offense and Caleb Williams as a scrambling quarterback. Here’s what the DC had to say: On the safety position Fangio said that Sydney Brown has been doing a good job in practice with the reps he gets. “He’s done a good job staying in tune in the meetings and the walkthroughs, and I’m excited to see how [Sydney Brown] does.” Still, Fangio does expect to have Reed Blankenship, and that leaves Brown as the next man up with rookie Andrew Mukuba out. The DC acknowledged that Mukuba had been playing a lot better as the season went on and was avoiding big negative plays, so it’ll be tough to lose him. The DC said that Andre Sam is a guy who has stood out in training camp the last two years, and there’s a chance he’s elevated. On the CB position Fangio said that he chose to move Cooper DeJean to the outside and put Michael Carter at nickel when Adoree’ Jackson went down because he thought that was the best combination. He acknowledged that DeJean got beat a couple times, but thought he was tight in coverage, but just got beat at the catchpoint against good receivers. “It’s going to happen.” The DC also said it’s possible that they use that combination again if Jackson isn’t on the field, which it looks like he will be. Fangio also explained what he’s learned about Carter and why he’s comfortable with that combination. “I think he’s a good player, good natural football player. [Michael Carter] understands the game. He’s got good instincts, got good technique to his game, he’s quick. We’re pleased to have him. Carter has also been considered their fourth safety the last few games, so he’s someone they consider to be flexible. “You always have to be ready for adjustments. You saw it the other day, we lost a couple guys and if that game had gone into overtime, [Michael] Carter [would] probably [be] playing safety and Cooper [DeJean] would be back to nickel and Kelee [Ringo] would have been at corner. Fangio also later said that Jakorian Bennett has been getting some reps in practice, but has been doing pretty good in his return from IR. Still, the DC doesn’t think they will truly know how he can contribute until he gets out there and plays. On the Bears’ offense “It’s a great scheme. They do a great job calling the game, mixing it up, marrying their run game and their pass game. They’re highly ranked in a lot of areas, and I don’t think it’s any accident. They’ve got really good players and it’s a great scheme and a great play caller.” He also noted that head coach Ben Johnson does a good job of mixing things up and packaging things well together. Fangio noted that they play multiple personnel groups and are under center a good bit. “Kudos to him and his staff for bringing that young quarterback along who I don’t think ever played under center in college. He’s doing a great job, and they have fought through any of the pitfalls of that and now they’ve got a quarterback that is executing their offense the way they want to.” Fangio later called QB Caleb Williams a high-level scrambler, similar to how Jaxson Dart is with the Giants. He noted that those two probably do it better than most. “We’ve talked about how good their offense is, and now with [Caleb Williams], there’s going to be plays where you have to defend a second play that he’s creating with his scrambling. He’s a high-level scrambler, he’s strong, he’s fast, he’s got good instincts when he is scrambling. It’s tough.” Other notables Fangio didn’t think the pass rush was terrible against the Cowboys. He noted they didn’t get the sacks they’d want, but that’s not the only barometer of the pass rush success. Brandon Graham could get more snaps inside — he had two against the Cowboys — because he can rush well from there and last week they needed to get guys breaks. The DC admitted that with Nakobe Dean playing very well, he deserves to be on the field, which in turn means there are fewer snaps for rookie Jihaad Campbell. He noted that Dean has a good feel for blitzing and can be physical when needed, or slip a guy when needed. On Dean’s interception being negated by a penalty: ”Yeah, they subbed, which allows us to sub and give us time to sub. The umpire was actually going up to the line of scrimmage to hold up the play and for some reason didn’t. That one, I’m not sure really what happened there, but they subbed so we should be able to sub, and we didn’t get off in time.” See More:
NY Giants coach Mike Kafka unfazed by the President calling him ‘crazy’
It isn’t every day a football coach, especially an interim one, gets called “CRAZY” by the President of the United States. That is what happened to Mike Kafka of the New York Giants on Sunday when he made a hotly-debated fourth-down decision late in an overtime loss to the Detroit Lions. Asked about being harpooned by the President, Kafka didn’t seem to mind the second-guess. Rather, he seemed to enjoy the attention. “This is one of the coolest things that, I mean just for me, being in this position, you get the opportunity to make tough calls. For me, that’s awesome. I love it,” Kafka said. “You get it down the wire, two-minute, end of game, when you got to make a tough call, that’s where, to me, I feel like that’s a huge responsibility and something I enjoy doing, I like being that point person to do that. “So, everyone’s going to have an opinion. That’s okay. That’s okay. I’m going to do the best I can for myself, for the team first, to give us an opportunity to win the game. And whatever that call, whoever it was, a player, a coach, my aunt and uncle, my dad, like I heard it from everybody. And that’s okay. They can have their opinions, and I respect that. But I’m going to do what’s best for the team, try to do what’s best for the team.” Kafka wants an aggressive “let’s go win it” mentality. “Whether it’s winning the game on the last play of the game, being aggressive, going for two if we get an opportunity, whatever that situation is, that’s where we got to thrive and that’s where we got to turn the table in terms of our team is when it’s nut cutting time, when it’s time down at the end of the game, when we got to make a play, we’re going to be aggressive to go make the play to win it,” Kafka said. “And I want our guys thinking that way. I don’t want our guys thinking like, hey, we shouldn’t do this or do that. Like, let’s go win it. And that’s going to be our mentality. “So when we get down there, that’s really how we’re prepping. That’s how we’re practicing. And that’s how we’re talking with the players. That’s a language that we’re using across really the organization and across the team.” Kafka downplays Malik Nabers’ criticism President Trump wasn’t the only high-profile person to criticize Kafka’s end-of-game decision-making on Sunday. Giants star wide receiver Malik Nabers, on IR with a torn ACL, tweeted and quickly deleted comments wondering if the Giants were actually trying to lose the game. “I didn’t see the tweet,” said Kafka, adding he has not spoken to Nabers about it. “I didn’t see what he said, so I don’t necessarily have a comment on it, but I just, I think players can obviously respond any way they want to anything they want,” Kafka said. “But if it’s something that’s detrimental to the team, we’ll address it in-house and talk through it and move on.” Kafka did also reveal that Nabers is back with the team as he continues to rehab from his knee surgery. He had spent the first few weeks rehabbing in Dallas. What is the plan for Jaxson Dart? Somewhat like last week, the Giants are in limbo at quarterback. Jaxson Dart is practicing, and he was a full participant on Wednesday, but still has not cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol. Kafka said both Dart and Jameis Winston will get reps until the Giants get clarity from the independent neurologist on whether or not Dart will be cleared to play. Kafka was clear that Dart will play against the New England Patriots on Monday if he is cleared in time. “If he’s ready to play, like just any player, if they’re ready to play, then we have a plan for him, then we’ll put him in,” Kafka said. “He saw the doctors the doctors that he needed to see last week, and he’ll see the doctors that he needs to see this week and just continue to keep on progressing through.” See More: