
Articles

Kenyan Drake Brings Legitimate Speed To Cardinals Backfield
Arizona Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake enjoyed plenty of success in the desert in 2019 after being traded from the Dolphins. He nearly doubled his 15-plus mph rush rate when he came to the Cardinals, going from 14.9 percent of rushes in Miami to 26.8 percent in Arizona. Drake rushed the ball 123 times in […]
Keith Hernandez
12 Personnel Is Buccaneers Base Offense
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians said that 12 personnel, featuring two tight ends on the field, is "our base offense" heading into the 2020 season. Arians also likes 13 personnel with a third tight end in the mix. This doesn't come as a surprise at all after Rob Gronkowski came out of retirement […]
Keith Hernandez
Allen Robinson II Not Concerned About New Contract
Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson II is a candidate for a contract extension, but he's not really worried about that amid the coronavirus pandemic. Robinson is still due $15 million against the salary cap in 2021 as well. And because of COVID-19, things could look different for the salary cap, which could mean less […]
Keith Hernandez
Raheem Mostert An Elite Ball-Carrier?
San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert hit 20-plus mph on four rushes last season, putting him in elite company among ball-carriers, as only seven players reached that benchmark. And Mostert did it with fewer total carries than anyone. He averaged a maximum speed of 13.75 mph on his touches in 2019, which is the […]
Keith Hernandez
Lamar Jackson Listed As 2019's Most Explosive Runner
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was the most explosive runner in the league in 2019 based on runs of 10-plus yards (47), 10-plus run percentage (26.7) and 15-plus mph percentage (52.8). He did that on 176 total carries. Jackson was named the 2019 MVP in large part because defenses just couldn't stop him when he […]
Keith Hernandez
Coaches Can Return To Facilities Beginning Friday
A memo sent out to NFL teams on Thursday stated that, "Beginning tomorrow, June 5, coaching staffs may be among the employees returning to your facility." While this is a big step, NFL players still won't be allowed at team facilities, and it remains to be seen if they will be allowed to return at […]
Keith Hernandez
Eugenio Suarez, Nick Senzel Doing Well
Cincinnati Reds general manager Dick Williams said that third baseman Eugenio Suarez (shoulder) is 100 percent healthy and that outfielder Nick Senzel (shoulder) is also doing well. Suarez had surgery in January and has benefited from the delay of the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic. The 28-year-old (29 in July) should be ready […]
Keith Hernandez
MLB Rejects Players' 114-Game Plan
Major League Baseball has rejected the players' offer for a 114-game regular season this year with no additional salary cuts and told the union it doesn't plan on making a counterproposal, according to sources. The owners offered an 82-game regular season last week. MLB has no interest in extending the season into November, when they […]
Keith Hernandez
Panthers Release Seth DeValve
The Carolina Panthers released tight end Seth DeValve on Wednesday, citing a non-football injury, according to a league source. DeValve was a fourth-round pick by the Browns in 2016 out of Princeton. He played in 12 games (six starts) for the Jaguars last year, totaling 12 receptions on 18 targets for 140 scoreless yards. In […]
Keith Hernandez
Von Miller Still Made An Impact In 2019
Denver Broncos outside linebacker/edge rusher Von Miller had his first single-digit sack season since 2013 and only had 46 tackles last year, but while he wasn't as dominant, he still made an impact in his 791 defensive snaps with a disruption rate of 14.4 percent. His 52 quarterback pressures were 29 more than his next […]
Keith Hernandez
Adrian Clayborn Makes The Most Of His Pass-Rushing Chances
Cleveland Browns defensive end Adrian Clayborn had more sacks in one game in 2017 with the Falcons than he did in all of last year (four), but he was still very effective and made the most of his pass-rushing opportunities (282) in 2019. Clayborn tallied 35 quarterback pressures on his 282 chances, and he added […]
Keith Hernandez
Dont'a Hightower A Sneaky Pass Disruptor
New England Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower isn't your typical pass-rushing linebacker, but he had a 15 percent disruption rate in 2019 despite rushing the passer only 253 times last year. He finished with 71 combined tackles, 33 stops -- tackles that result in a successful play for the defense based on yards to go by […]
Keith Hernandez
Shaquil Barrett Was A Constant Problem For Offenses
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Shaquil Barrett, 2019's NFL sack leader with 19.5, had 5.5 more sacks in his first year with Tampa than he did in 61 games with the Broncos. He had 78 total disruptions last season and capitalized on his opportunities more often than anyone else. Barrett also played a ton of snaps […]
Keith Hernandez
Charges Against DeAndre Baker Could Be Dropped
New York Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker's attorney, Patrick G. Patel, said he still expects charges against Baker to be dropped, possibly by the end of the week. The 22-year-old cornerback is out on bail after being arrested in connection with an armed robbery in early May. In the meantime, Baker continues to train on his […]
Keith Hernandez
Aaron Donald Remains Highly Effective
Even though Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald ranked sixth on NFL.com's Nick Shook's top-10 pass disruptors of 2019, the five-time All-Pro is still one of the best all-around pass-rushers in the league. He played more total snaps (882) than anyone else on the list, which is why his 15.7 percent disruption rate is […]
Keith Hernandez
Giants, Jets Reopen Team Facilities
The New York Giants and New York Jets resumed operations at their headquarters on Wednesday in a limited capacity amid the coronavirus pandemic. A "small number of employees" returned to the Giants facilities. New York and New Jersey are among the states that have been most affected by COVID-19. New Jersey governor Phil Murphy didn't […]
Keith Hernandez
Josh Allen Will Face More Of A Test In 2020
Jacksonville Jaguars edge-rushing linebacker Josh Allen had an incredible rookie season in 2019, being selected to the Pro Bowl with 54 total disruptions and 10.5 sacks. He had a disruption rate of 16.2 percent and a sack rate of 3.1 percent, but how much of his success had to do with fellow pass-rushers Calais Campbell […]
Keith Hernandez
Nick Bosa Already Elite Going Into Second Season
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa made the Pro Bowl and was named the 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year while racking up the fourth-most quarterback pressures in the NFL (60) while finishing with a pressure percentage of 13.9, good for fourth-best in the league. The younger brother of Chargers pass-rusher Joey Bosa, Nick […]
Keith Hernandez
Robert Quinn Looks To Stay Successful In Chicago
Chicago Bears defensive end Robert Quinn earned his five-year deal on the free-agent market with an excellent season in 2019 with the Cowboys. Working opposite of DeMarcus Lawrence, Quinn pressured the quarterback on 14 percent of pass rushes, the third-highest rate in the NFL with a minimum of 250 pass rushes. He had 49 QB […]
Keith Hernandez
Wilson Ramos Working Out At Team Facilities
The New York Mets' Port St. Lucie spring complex officially opened to local players on Monday for the first time in more than two months. Catcher Wilson Ramos has been among the group of around half a dozen players to work out this week. The 32-year-old hit .288/.351/.416 with 14 home runs and 73 RBI […]
Keith Hernandez
Trent Taylor Running Routes
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Trent Taylor (foot) has been sprinting, cutting and catching passes from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo while the team waits for the green light to return to their practice facilities. Taylor missed all of 2019 with a foot injury, but he's been part of a group of receivers running routes for Garoppolo […]
Keith Hernandez
Emmanuel Sanders Looking Forward To Working With Drew Brees
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders said on NFL Network's Total Access on Tuesday that playing with quarterback Drew Brees will be similar to his days with Peyton Manning in Denver. "Like I said in '14, that's wide receiver heaven. To be back in the situation with another Hall of Fame quarterback and trying […]
Keith Hernandez
Harold Landry To See Less Playing Time?
Tennessee Titans linebackers coach Shane Bowen said that linebacker Harold Landry played too many snaps last season and that he needs to do a better job of watching Landry's snap count in 2020 in order to get the biggest bang for the buck. A second-round pick by the Titans in 2018, Landry has 13.5 sacks, […]
Keith Hernandez
Za'Darius Smith An Elite Pass-Rusher
Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith provided immediate returns after the Packers signed him to a lucrative free-agent deal before the 2019 season. He pressured the quarterback on 19.4 percent of pass rushes when lined up on the interior, which was the highest rate among all defenders rushing from the interior with a minimum […]
Keith Hernandez
Myles Garrett Listed As 2019's Best Disruptor
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett played in just 10 games last year because of a suspension, but when he was on the field he was the league's most efficient disruptor with a league-high disruption rate of 18.5 percent. The Browns had a 32.9 percent pressure rate with Garrett on the field, but without him, […]
Keith Hernandez
Players Not Expected To Return To Facilities Until Training Camp
NFL players aren't expected to return to their team facilities until training camp, according to sources. Most teams have reopened their facilities on a limited basis for essential employees during the coronavirus pandemic, but healthy players aren't allowed to return yet. Commissioner Roger Goodell informed teams on Tuesday that they must hold training camps at […]
Keith Hernandez
Phillip Lindsay Thinks New Offense Fits His Style Of Play
Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay, who is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons under two different offensive coordinators, thinks new coordinator Pat Shurmur's offense fits him even better. "I just think that it's what fits my style, and I've been able to adapt to every style, but I think that this style right here […]
Keith Hernandez
Timmy Jernigan, Texans Agree To Part Ways
Free-agent defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan had reached an agreement on a one-year, $3.25 million deal with the Houston Texans, but the two sides have agreed to part ways and Jernigan is not expected to sign with the team, according to sources informed of the situation. Jernigan didn't take a physical with the Texans and isn't […]
Keith Hernandez
James Conner Not Worried About Health After Cancer Scare
Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner, who is a cancer survivor, isn't worried about COVID-19 when teams eventually return to the field prior to the 2020 season. "I'm 100%," Conner said. "I had a weak immune system four years ago. It's not weak anymore, thank God. I'm OK. I'm young and healthy. I went through […]
Keith Hernandez
Luke Kuechly Officially On Reserve/Retired List
Former Carolina Panthers star linebacker Luke Kuechly officially was placed on the Reserve/Retired list on Tuesday, according to a source. By waiting until after June 1, the Panthers can spread Kuechly's salary cap hit over the next two years and save around $6 million against the cap in 2020. Only 29 years old, Kuechly was […]
Keith Hernandez