Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK Dan Campbell is glad they won’t have to tirelessly game plan for Aaron Donald this week, but knows the Rams young DL will present its own problems. For the first time in a decade, the Los Angeles Rams be without future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald. The eight-time Defensive Player of the Year opted to retire this offseason, leaving a massive hole along the defensive line that, quite simply, cannot be replaced by one man. For Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell, that’s a major relief. Between his time with the Lions and Saints, Campbell has had to help game plan against Donald six total times. And as he explained during his Monday morning press conference, it’s an exhausting job to account for Donald. “You needed to know where he was at, at all times, really on all downs,” Campbell said. “It was a constantly—you were shifting and motioning just for him, and you’re damn near doing it every play.” But the Rams have been proactive in planning for Donald’s exit. Last year they drafted Kobie Turner with a third-round pick, and he rewarded their investment with an impressive 9.0 sacks—most of any NFL rookie in 2023. They doubled down this offseason, drafting edge defender Jared Verse in the first round and defensive tackle Braden Fiske in the second. “It’s nice not to have to necessarily worry about (Donald), but the guys they have over there are young and hungry, high-motor,” Campbell said. “Man, they’ve got an influx of youth that’s pretty damn talented.” Detroit, of course, is relatively well-equipped to handle the Rams’ defensive front. Many expect them to have the best offensive line in football, and even with Donald last year, the Rams struggled to generate pressure in the Wild Card game against the Lions. While Jared Goff did take three sacks, the Rams didn’t do much else to disrupt his day. Goff finished 22-of-27 for 277 yards, a touchdown, and a 121.8 passer rating. Still, every new season presents new surprises. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned from Campbell’s first three seasons, he’s going to have the team ready for the Rams’ young defensive front, even if it’s without Donald.
Dan Campbell thankful Aaron Donald is gone, but knows Rams DL filled with youth
How much can Giants expect from Adoree’ Jackson vs. Vikings?
Adoree’ Jackson | Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images Jackson uncertain how many snaps he will be able to play in Week 1 Although it took until roughly a week before the beginning of the regular season, cornerback Adoree’ Jackson said Monday “I never thought the door was closed” to return the New York Giants. “No animosity, no feelings, no ill intentions on, I think, on my end,” Jackson said. “And then when I came in and saw everybody, it was like being at a family reunion.” Now that he is back, signing jut days before the regular-season opener against the Minnesota Vikings, how much can the 28-year-old legitimately expect to play on Sunday? Jackson admitted he “might be gassed” if he tried to play a full game. “I wouldn’t put a number of snaps how I can play right now,” he said. “We’re going to see this week, getting ramped up and working on my condition and seeing what I need.” Jackson said he has always focused on being prepared to play Week 1. “I know football shape is going to be a lot different from what I’ve been doing,” Jackson said. “But I always kept my mind set, focused on being ready to go Week 1.” Daboll wasn’t certain how much Jackson would be able to play Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Head coach Brian Daboll admitted Monday he wasn’t certain what to expect from Jackson right away. “We’ve got to get him out here and ramp him up and see where he’s at,” Daboll said. “We’ll take it day by day, see where he’s at and how much to play him, how much not to play him. “By the end of the week, we’ll determine what we’re going to do relative to roster, play time, all those type of things,” Daboll said. “You try to make it as competitive as you can make it. And we’ll play the guys we think give us the best chance.” Jackson said having been coached previously by Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen will help him make up for lost time. “Being able to know Shane and some of the things that he did when I was in Tennessee with him, understanding some of the verbiage may have changed, but easy for me to wire my mind onto how to compartmentalize what these defenses may be and some of the calls, so I think that’s helpful,” Jackson said. Cor’Dale Flott and Nick McCloud had been competing for the starting cornerback opposite Tae Banks that had been Jackson’s last season. In the end, the Giants decided to go back to Jackson. “Like we’ve always said, we’ll try to improve the team any way we can,” Daboll said. “Obviously, we’ve had a relationship with Adoree’. Shane has had a relationship with Adoree’. “He looked good in the workout and got something done. So, happy to have him aboard.” Jackson admitted that “I didn’t play to my best” last season. Daboll did say Jackson could “potentially” return punts if Gunner Olszewski (ankle) is not healthy enough. “Whatever may be needed,” Jackson said. “Any way to help this team.” Jackson will not wear the No. 22 he had his first three seasons, with rookie Dru Phillips now in that jersey. “Actually, it’s funny. Dru had asked me, did I want it back?,” Jackson said. “And I’m like, nah, you can keep it. I saw him making some plays in it. So I’m like, you got it. You look good in it.” Roster move The Giants announced a roster move on Monday, signing veteran FB/TE Jakob Johnson to the practice squad and released wide receiver Miles Boykin.
The 2024 Eagles have to get their mojo back
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images The Eagles’ Camp Wonderland broke last week emitting stirring, and amazing tales of how good Jalen Hurts looked, and how the defense will be tighter under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, and how the offense will hum under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, and how no opposing defense stands a chance to stop the Eagles’ explosive offense. The Eagles actually should be good this season, among the best teams in the NFC, behind the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers, and NFC North powerhouses Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers. The one glaring problem still facing this team, aside from a dubious pass rush, is finding the intimidating quality they had for the last few years. That needs to be reestablished. Late last season, opposing teams were more wary of the Eagles’ frothing, fervent fanbase than they were the talent—and the attitude—on the field. Guess what, not much has changed, aside from the additions of Fangio and Moore off the field, and the glaring departures of future Eagle Hall of Famers Fletcher Cox and Jason Kelce on the field. The 2024 Eagles are a team that will need to separate itself from the 2023 team “that quit” last season. There is no other way around it, when faced with adversity, the coaching staff shriveled up, with head coach Nick Sirianni being partly to blame, as did the players themselves. They quit. The eye test blatantly showed that. Players were literally running into each other. Wasted timeouts came because the right personnel were not on the field. You had players holding their hands up in bewilderment questioning what to do on national TV. The cumulative record of the six teams the Eagles played in their 1-6 fall was 52-50 (which includes playing the New York Giants twice). Their 1-6 downfall marked a span in which they were outscored 214-132 (by an average of 11.7 points per game), while getting outgained 2,729 to 2,293, giving up an average of 389.8 yards a game and outgained by an average of 62.2 yards a game. The Eagles had the worst defense in the NFL the final month of last season. The defense gave up the second-highest amount of passing touchdowns in the NFL, only behind Washington (39 to the Eagles’ 35). For the season, the Eagles were 30th in the NFL in opponent red zone scoring percentage (TDs only) at 66.1%, and were No. 31 in passing defense, allowing an average of 252.7 yards a game. They were 30th in scoring defense (25.2) and allowed 51 touchdowns, the third-highest total in the NFL, behind only Washington (59) and Arizona (54). For a team that landed 11-7 overall, the Eagles became only the fourth double-digit winning team in NFL history to finish with a minus-point differential, at minus-18 (442/460) overall behind of the 2021 Las Vegas Raiders, who finished 10-8 with a minus-72 point differential (393/465), and the minus-34 difference posted by the 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers (321/355) that went 10-8. The Eagles finished ahead of the minus-10 differential by the 13-5 Minnesota Vikings (448/458) in 2022. Enough with the rehash. Were the 10-1 version of the 2023 Eagles more lucky than good? Can Cam Jurgens replace future NFL Hall of Famer Kelce this season? Did the Eagles take a large risk in basically replacing Haason Reddick, who along with Myles Garrett are the only two players with double-digit sacks in each of the last four seasons, with free agent Bryce Huff, who will be playing every down for the first time in his pro career? Left tackle Jordan Mailata, right tackle Lane Johnson and left guard Landon Dickerson are proven quality NFL linemen—the backbone of this team. Can Jurgens and frequently injured new right guard Mekhi Becton, a New York Jets’ castoff, uphold the Eagles’ stability on the offensive line for a whole season? There is only so much Jeff Stoutland can do. Defensively, Cox was the hammer opposing teams had to game plan for. Can Jalen Carter serve that role? Will he be good enough to play an entire season at a high level (we think he will), though how much help will he get from the make-or-break year former first-rounder Jordan Davis faces this fall? The Eagles have the best collection of offensive skill position players in their history. No past group comes close to Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, Dallas Goedert, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Who protects Hurts? Where do the holes develop for Barkley with Kelce not calling the line adjustments? The scary part is like last year, this team is built more to outscore the opposition than to stop it. It is a team in need of an attitude overhaul. That will have to come from Sirianni. For all the kumbayas that sprouted during the Eagles’ Camp Wonderland this summer, the 2024 Eagles need to make former Dallas Cowboys’ great and NFL Hall of Famer Troy Aikman recant the words he uttered with 10:44 left to play in their 32-9 playoff loss to Tampa Bay, when he told the nation that the Eagles were a … “a defeated team and they were when they came in. And there’s been no life to this group really throughout the entire ball game.” Being labeled “quitters” is a grime that does not easily rinse off. The 2024 Eagles have to get their mojo back.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73558898/2167821049.0.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "The Linc – List of NFL bold predictions includes one for Saquon Barkley")
The Linc – List of NFL bold predictions includes one for Saquon Barkley
Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links … Bold predictions for all 32 NFL teams in 2024 – PFFPhiladelphia Eagles: SAQUON BARKLEY LEADS THE LEAGUE IN RUSHING. Newly acquired running back Saquon Barkley‘s current career high for rushing yards in a single season is 1,312, which we saw him amass back in 2022. Now playing behind the Eagles’ offensive line, I not only expect him to have his best season yet but I am predicting he will lead the league in rushing. Christian McCaffrey led the league in 2023 with 1,459, which is realistic for Barkley to eclipse if he can stay healthy. Philadelphia’s offensive line has earned PFF overall grades above 80.0 in each of the past three seasons. Ten bold NFL 2024 season predictions: Packers win NFC North, but Caleb Williams for MVP? – The Athletic Eagles rebound and contend for NFC supremacy. After an impressive 2022 campaign and painful loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII, the Philadelphia Eagles never managed to recapture the magic in 2023. They opened the year 10-1, but things never felt quite right. Late in the season, Nick Sirianni’s squad collapsed. Those shortcomings have lit a fire under the Eagles’ young core players on both sides of the ball. The offseason hiring of Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator, plus the free-agent signing of former New York Giants rival Saquon Barkley, will help quarterback Jalen Hurts and his unit rebound in impressive fashion. Meanwhile, new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio should have a similar impact on a unit anchored by talented young linemen Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter and rookie defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. The Birds will reclaim their perch atop the NFC East and return to Super Bowl contention. NFL team previews 2024: Predictions, rankings, depth charts – ESPN+ Bold prediction for 2024: Jalen Carter will record 10-plus sacks, which is well beyond what my sack projections say. Last season the top three defensive tackles in “pass rush get off” — the time to cross the line of scrimmage when pass rushing — were Chris Jones, Carter and Aaron Donald, in that order. Carter has elite potential. Vic Fangio Defense 101: Part 4 – Runs Fits and Pressure Looks – BGN Fangio’s most common ‘blitz’ is known as a fire zone. There are many different ways of running a fire zone blitz, but the ‘standard fire zone’ will have three deep and three under coverage. This means three defenders are responsible for a deep 1⁄3 and three defenders are responsible for an underneath 1⁄3. Here’s a nice diagram from Shawn Syed. You can see that although it’s three deep, the safety may carry a receiver vertically because of the match rules. Remember, four verticals should never outnumber Fangio’s 3 deep defenders. Eagles vs. Packers: Five matchups to watch – PhillyVoice 5) Jalen Hurts (and Kellen Moore) vs. Packers DC Jeff Hafley. In the Eagles’ regular season finale last season the Eagles faced Wink Martindale and the horrid New York Giants, and there was no mystery to what the Giants were going to try to do to the Eagles defensively. They were going to blitz Jalen Hurts, early and often. The Eagles were wholly unprepared for it, as Hurts looked to extend plays by running out of the pocket and away from blitzes, trying to buy time for vertical routes to develop down the field before eventually throwing the ball away. As usual, there were no hot routes or other mechanisms to allow Hurts to beat the blitz by getting the ball out quickly. Against Todd Bowles and the Bucs in the playoffs, once again it was crystal clear that the Eagles were going to see a lot of blitzes, and sure enough, they did, with similarly bad results. A week ago, The Athletic’s Mike Sando published his yearly (excellent) “QB Tiers” article, and unsurprisingly Hurts’ ability to handle the blitz was broached. ”The word is out there, if you run zero blitz against Hurts, or show zero and back everyone out, he will panic,” one coach said. “That has to change. They lose Jason Kelce, who handled the protections, basically did everything, and you bring in a coordinator who likes to drop back. It will be interesting.” As noted above, the Packers’ defensive coordinator last year was Joe Barry. He was replaced this offseason by Jeff Hafley, formerly the head coach at Boston College. Hafley has a reputation for employing an exotic blitz package, though he doesn’t necessarily blitz in bulk. Heading into 2024, guess what! Defensive coordinators are going to blitz Hurts and the Eagles’ offense until they prove that they can consistently beat it, and that’ll very likely begin Week 1 against the Packers. ‘Brains and preparation’: How Kellen Moore’s teaching talent can galvanize the Eagles offense and Jalen Hurts – Inquirer The offensive coordinator excels at keeping the elements of the offense “simple without being simplistic,” Covey explained. In the big picture, the plays are still intricate, but Moore boils the read progression down to something of a hypothesis. If the defense is showing a particular coverage or pressure look, then the offense narrows in on its precise answer and eliminates the other options. “It’s like letting Jalen [Hurts] have an easy pattern of thought, easier reads, still complicated plays and stuff, but you simplify the read progression,” Covey said. “If they do this thing, you cancel out every other thought, because you know exactly what we’re gonna do. “Even as a receiver, you have a read progression. OK, if I see this guy here, I know exactly what they’re doing. If he’s not, then this.” Moore has labeled each play with the read progression. This helps the receivers with their timing and allows them to understand where the ball is likely going depending on the coverage. By doing this, Covey said that Moore is putting an emphasis on ensuring that the quarterback and the receivers are on
Rams introduced three major questions a week before regular season
Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images An optimistic and pessimistic take on the major Rams storylines ahead of Week 1 Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams uncharacteristically made headlines and introduced three major questions just one week before they open the regular season against the Detroit Lions. First, LA traded former team captain and starting linebacker Ernest Jones to the Tennessee Titans in what amounted to a mid-round draft pick swap. The Rams didn’t make that move out of motivation to accumulate draft capital—they wanted to dump Jones now. Then, there were two interesting takeaways later in the week when McVay met with reporters: Steve Avila will move back to left guard and abandon his transition to center, and Kyren Williams will be the team’s primary punt returner to start the year. Now, five weeks from now if the Rams are faring well we’ll never look back and reflect on these questions. But if LA is slow out of the gates and has a disappointing start to the season, there’s a good chance we’ll come back to these questions as a starting point of where things initially went wrong. Time will tell whether these moves were ill-fated or smart in the long run. For now, I’ll offer an optimistic and pessimistic take for each of these major storylines. Steve Avila moves back to LG; Jonah Jackson takes over at center Optimistic take: Beaux Limmer’s preseason breakout was strong enough that he pushed for first-string reps at center. Avila, as a result, cross-trained at his former position of left guard and was visibly more effective there than he was at center. Jackson recovered from injury in time to prepare before the opener, but based on his free agent contract he has to be among the five starting linemen. Pessimistic take: While there’s no fair way to measure it, we can only read between the lines and assume that Avila had a poor training camp while moving inside to center. Jackson recovering from his injury just a couple of weeks before the opener didn’t leave the team much time to experiment with alternatives, so they had to commit to him as the starter now in order to develop sufficient chemistry along the OL by the time the season starts. Proposed move to center significantly lowers Jonah Jackson’s value https://t.co/UAjfdDrL6J pic.twitter.com/zPeo3qWbDZ — TurfShowTimes (@TurfShowTimes) September 1, 2024 Ernest Jones traded to the Titans Optimistic take: Jones was a flawed linebacker, but then again there are only a couple of linebackers in the current NFL that don’t have significant holes in their game: Fred Warner and Roquan Smith round out that short list. The Rams knew Jones wasn’t at Warner and Smith’s level despite Jones asking for a contract that paid him in the same realm, and ultimately their partnership was unlikely to extend beyond 2024. The team may be able to offset Jones’ absence with some combination of extra safeties, Christian Rozeboom, Jake Hummel, Troy Reeder, and Omar Speights. Pessimistic take: Jones’ contract demands ended up in a rare lose-lose situation where the Rams were concerned about his frustrations bleeding into the locker room and possibly setting difficult precedence for the future. While it seems like a fair idea to let a player finish out the last year of his contract and move on in the offseason, that may be easier said than done. Kyren Williams named LA’s punt returner “Mostly it was Coach McVay’s decision…it was something that he came to me about early on about in training camp…it’s the Coach’s decision…”@RamsNFL RB #KyrenWilliams on the announcement that he’ll be returning punts this season.#NFL #Rams @Kyrenwilliams23 pic.twitter.com/hE6VaAYPoc — Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) August 30, 2024 Optimistic take: The Rams know the more that Williams has the ball in his hands, the better off the team is. We saw Cooper Kupp returning punts during the prime of his career, and Los Angeles isn’t known to invest in special teams positions. Williams is probably being asked to fair catch and field the ball cleanly unless he sees an opening, so the physical toll he’ll take in this expanded role could be minimal. Pessimistic take: We can’t lose sight of Williams’ 2023 breakout being a surprise. Coming out of Notre Dame, draft analysts had concerns about the back’s athleticism and long speed. Perhaps a strong campaign last year was more attributable to a strong offensive line than a breakout individual performance by Williams. The addition of Blake Corum looms large, especially considering Corum was selected two rounds earlier, has better college pedigree, and a strong athletic profile. Could Williams taking over as the punt returner be an effort by the Rams to keep him involved because his role could be diminished in 2024?
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‘24 Fantasy Football Draft Guidlines
A list of fantasy football draft projections for the ‘24 season. With the regular season quickly approaching, exactly a week away, fantasy football season is upon us. It’s time to strategize for your draft. Depending on your league settings, you will have to approach your draft with certain guidelines, such as the best positions for each round, and how many players are in each position. There are several different types of fantasy leagues, but I’ve only been involved in two types in the last several years, both Points Per Reception (PPR). You have a traditional league, with a regular lineup, including D/ST and a K, but you also have leagues with a flex player, along with a super flex player, and this is where you have to pay attention early in the draft. So, the question is, where should you draft different Bengals players? Traditional: Burrow – Rounds 4-6. In traditional leagues, most quarterbacks aren’t drafted until the middle rounds, but Burrow is an obvious starter. Chase – Rounds 1-3. The only reason I give multiple rounds for Uno is simply due to the current situation. Unfortunately, do we know if he’s going to play in week 1 or further? No. If he does play, he’s an obvious round 1 choice. Higgins – Rounds 2-3. Higgins signed his franchise tag, and he has reported and played. He will be playing this season, and he will make an impact like normal. Yoshi – Rounds 6-8. You could draft him earlier, but Yoshi is not a big name yet, so you could very easily steal him in a later round. I’m expecting a big year for Yoshi, as he fills the role for Boyd. Burton – Rounds 8+. It’s been obvious that Burton is a very talented receiver, but there are simply too many starters ahead of him. He could be a potential late-round pickup. McPherson – Rounds 9+. McPherson is an elite kicker, and he can put up points. You have to be careful drafting kickers too early or too late. You don’t want to skip over solid players to get a kicker, but you also don’t want to wait too long to get a kicker. D/ST – Rounds 8+. The defense and special teams is similar to the kicker. You can’t draft them too early, but you definitely can’t draft too late. I think the Bengals are a top-10 defense, and I believe they will put up points with turnovers. Brown – Rounds 3-5. You have to remember there are still some teams with one primary back who will get 95% of the carries. Those players will be your round 1-3 players. But Brown is a versatile player and he is a dual threat on the ground and receiving. Moss – Rounds 3-5. I would put him and Brown in the same rounds. I think he and Brown will both capitalize this year and put up points. Gesicki – Rounds 7-9. I don’t think he will be picked early by many people, but if you look at tight ends track records with Burrow, it’s very positive. This is Gesicki’s third team and I believe he will surprise some people in the red zone. He will be a good late-round tight end. FLEX/SUPER FLEX: Not much changes for the Bengals switching to a flex league, simply because the Bengals are a multi-tool team. They use everyone versus some teams that primarily use just a few players. I may change one player. Burrow – Rounds 3-5. I’m keeping Burrow in about the same area, but you can pick him a round or two earlier. Burrow is on a revenge tour and he has weapons, he will put up points.
Zimmer’s Interview & the 2024 Vikings Roster
In this compelling episode of Two Old Bloggers, Dave Stefano from Vikings 1st & SKOL provides an in-depth look at Mike Zimmer’s recent, revealing interview with the Star Tribune. The former Minnesota Vikings head coach opens up about his firing, his relationship with players, and his new role as the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys. Discover the emotional and professional turmoil Zimmer faced, his coaching philosophy, and his views on key team decisions and players like Kirk Cousins and Eric Kendricks. Additionally, the episode offers an extensive analysis of the Minnesota Vikings’ roster cutdown day, examining the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, offensive linemen, defensive lineup, and special teams. Key focuses include standout performances, potential trades, and future prospects for the team. Finally, the episode ranks the 10 most important Vikings players for the 2024-25 season, reflecting on their potential impact and the challenges ahead. Tune in for a detailed and engaging discussion on one of the most notable NFL coaching stories and a thorough breakdown of the Vikings’ roster strategies and key players for the upcoming season. Zimmer’s Revealing Interview: Unpacking the Anger and Bitterness The spotlight shines brightly on Mike Zimmer this week. An in-depth interview conducted by Mark Craig from the Minnesota Star Tribune has uncovered Zimmer’s deep-seated feelings of anger and frustration stemming from his unceremonious firing in January 2022. That firing also included General Manager Rick Spielman. Their departure marked the end of an era for the Vikings, replacing long-standing pillars with new hope. Zimmer described his departure as being “crushed and angry,” airing grievances over the culture he fostered, the neglected relationships, and a lack of mutual understanding with Spielman. One of the key points raised was Zimmer’s frustration with the team’s direction, particularly with the allocation of resources, which he felt skewed heavily in favor of a quarterback-centric strategy at the expense of his stout defense. Reflecting on his firing, Zimmer painted a stark picture. “Everything’s going to absolute dog doo doo in the building. I taught my kids, that life is a series of choices, and it is, and the decisions you make on those choices have ramifications,” Dave remarked. Zimmer controlled his choices and could have reacted differently. Despite these hardships, Zimmer is back in the game, now serving as the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator. However, the interview raises questions about his current state of mind and emotional well-being. Why now? What motivated this outpouring? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure—Mike Zimmer still has a lot to say. Comprehensive Vikings Roster Analysis Now let’s turn our attention to the Vikings roster for the upcoming season. With several key changes and strategic decisions, there’s a lot to unpack here. Quarterbacks The quarterback situation is critical for any NFL team, and the Vikings have made some curious choices this year. Sam Darnold stands at the helm as the starting quarterback. Known for his potential and inconsistencies, Darnold will be under heavy scrutiny. Nick Mullens serves as the backup quarterback, bringing a reliable if unspectacular presence. Brett Rypien has been added as the emergency third QB. J.J. McCarthy, unfortunately, is on season-ending IR due to a torn knee meniscus. Coach Kevin O’Connell has emphasized the importance of McCarthy’s development for the future, stating, “We’re focusing on QB development and they didn’t want to focus it on with Hall as much. But they want to focus it on with J. J. McCarthy.” This highlights long-term planning, which could be pivotal for the team’s success down the line. Running Backs The running back room is equally compelling: Aaron Jones headlines the unit and is expected to bring a consistent running threat. Ty Chandler will play a supportive role, providing depth and versatility. C.J. Ham remains the reliable fullback, crucial for both blocking and short-yardage situations. He will also remain the special team’s captain. Interestingly, Myles Gaskin has been designated to handle kick return duties but is currently on the practice squad. “Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was asked who’s going to do kick returns and he said Myles Gaskin is. He’s earned it. He does a lot more of everything. More than Kene [Nwangwu] does,” making him a versatile asset as the season progresses. Wide Receivers Wide receivers are always a focal point for any successful offensive strategy, and the Vikings are no different. Justin Jefferson continues to be the standout performer and the primary offensive weapon. Jordan Addison has shown great promise but is currently recovering from an ankle injury that could sideline him for the initial weeks. That was proceeded by his July DUI processing through the legal system which can result in a suspension. Jalen Nailor, Brandon Powell, Trishton Jackson, and Trent Sherfield round out the group, providing both depth and unique skill sets. Tight Ends The tight end roster is equally important: Josh Oliver, Johnny Munt, and Nick Muse will hold the fort until T.J. Hockenson returns. T.J. Hockenson is expected back mid-season [the New York Jets game in London at the earliest] after healing from an injury. Coach O’Connell remains optimistic, noting, “Hockenson is looking like he’s on the mend, ready to go. We’ll see him in week five.” Offensive Line For the offensive line, staying intact and developing chemistry is crucial: Key Tackles include Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw, with high expectations surrounding their performance. The Interior Line remains an area of concern, with a focus on Garrett Bradbury to solidify the center position. Bradbury has a lot riding on his ability to set pass-protection schemes and elevate the unit’s performance. Defensive Line & Edge On the defensive side, many eyes will be on how the trenches perform: Interior Defensive Line features Harrison Phillips, Jonathan Bullard, Jerry Tillery, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Taki Tiamani, and Jalen Redman. The mix of veteran presence and youthful promise could spell success. For the Edge Rush, Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner are set to bring the heat. Their performance will directly impact the defensive strategy and overall success. Secondary The
Miami Dolphins starting center Aaron Brewer will practice ahead of season opener
Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images Mike McDaniel doesn’t commit to Brewer playing against Jacksonville Jaguars. Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel spoke with the South Florida media ahead of the team’s Monday practice in preparation for their week one contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars. During his availability, he was asked for an injury update regarding the squad’s starting center, Aaron Brewer. McDaniel delivered good news by saying that Brewer would practice this week and that his practice participation would include snapping the football — a noteworthy development considering Brewer hadn’t practiced with his Dolphins teammates since suffering a serious laceration on his dominant hand during a joint practice with the Atlanta Falcons last month. Will Brewer start this week against the Jaguars? McDaniel stopped short of guaranteeing that, but did say he felt good about where Brewer was at and assured those listening that he felt “great” about his starting offensive line, including any “contingencies” who may have to play in case of injury. Brewer signed a 3-year, $21 million contract with Miami this offseason — replacing former starter Connor Williams who suffered an ACL injury last season, but signed a contract with the Seattle Seahawks late into free agency this offseason. The Dolphins are surely hoping Brewer can live up to the standard that Williams set with the club, allowing for a seamless transition and continued success for their intricate offensive scheme.
Miami Dolphins name Tua Tagovailoa and seven others as 2024 team captains
Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been a team captain each season since Mike McDaniel became coach of the Miami Dolphins. The Miami Dolphins introduced their 2024 team captains on Monday, including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, cornerback Jalen Ramsey, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, linebacker David Long Jr., fullback Alec Ingold, left tackle Terron Armstead, and defensive tackles Zach Sieler and Calais Campbell. Reppin’ the C this season pic.twitter.com/CQxiKkjBwt — Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) September 2, 2024 Tagovailoa, who signed a 4-year contract extension last month, wasn’t named a team captain during Brian Flores’ tenure as head coach but is now entering his third straight season with the ‘C’ on his jersey. He joins Hill and Armstead as three-time team captains in the Mike McDaniel era. Ingold has been a team captain for the last two seasons. Safety Jevon Holland, cornerback Xavien Howard, and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins were team captains in 2022 and 2023. However, under first-year defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, Sieler and future Hall of Famers Ramsey and Campbell have been chosen as defensive captains. Let us know what you think: What can we expect from Calais Campbell entering his 17th season? Should we be concerned that Jevon Holland isn’t a captain as he enters a contract year? And are there any other top players you believe were left off the list?
