Tag: 2021 NFL draft

Taking a look back at the Jets’ 2021 NFL draft class

The Jets released RB Michael Carter on Tuesday and we recap how the team’s 2021 NFL draft class has fared thus far.

The New York Jets are amid a two-game skid right now, being outscored by the Los Angeles Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders 43-18 in the last two weeks. The Jets held a players-only meeting on Tuesday, and running back Michael Carter was released shortly after.

We are now in the third year of Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas being the head coach-general manager duo for the Jets. The 2021 NFL draft was the first one Saleh and Douglas took part in together, beginning a regime that had fans in New York optimistic about the future.

With the offense struggling with Zach Wilson under center, and Carter being released, now is as good a time as ever to recap how New York’s 2021 NFL draft class has fared thus far.

Lions film Review: Derrick Barnes has been an A-plus run defender this season

Barnes has taken a very big step forward in run defense so far in 2023

One of the surprises for the Detroit Lions defense so far this year is how good linebacker Derrick Barnes has been as a run defender. Through two games this year, he’s only missed one tackle while playing 66 defensive snaps.

With 13 total tackles and a tackle for loss, he’s tied for the team lead in both of those categories. Coming out of Purdue in the 2021 NFL Draft, Barnes was a third-round pick and he’s currently the top ranked defender on the team. In week two, he earned an 85.4 PFF grade for the Lions defense.

Barnes being a consistent contributor in stopping the run has been a huge blessing for this Lions defense. He’s been a key part in helping the Lions only allowing 86.0 rushing yards per game (10th best in the NFL). Let’s dive into the tape and see some of the best run stops from Barnes so far this season.

Starting with one of the first tackles of the game from Barnes against Seattle, we’ll focus on the play above. Aligned in a ’10’, Barnes is playing as the WILL as the tight end (strong side) is to the left. Seattle comes out in 11 personnel (one tight end and one running back) while running the ball.

As Benito Jones (DT 94) gets double teamed, Barnes knows that Jones in good position to clog the A-gap so he trusts his technique and ability to scrape inside of the center. As the center attempts to get to the second level to block Barnes, you’ll notice how Barnes plays square to the line-of-scrimmage and he uses his inside hand/arm to dip and rip under the center.

Afterwards, he displays good lateral movement and speed to chase down the running back. This tackle was one of his seven tackles from Sunday against Seattle.

Moving to the next play, we’ll look at the play above where Barnes is aligned in a ’10’ again. The Lions have Jerry Jacobs (CB 23) down in the box so Barnes is shifted over a gap.

The Seahawks are in 12 personnel (one running back and two tight ends) and attempt a zone run that gets stopped immediately. Playing with patience, Barnes lets the interior defensive lineman in front of him make a decision on which gaps they’re going to shoot through. Then Barnes attacks downhill.

In the process, he fires into the play-side A-gap and meets the running back in the hole. This was another great tackle from him. Seeing this on a weekly basis so far has been so encouraging.

Lastly, I want to focus on a tackle from week one against the Chiefs that really stood out. Looking at the play above, you can see Barnes aligned in a ’10’ and as the pre-snap motion occurs from the receiver, he shifts into a ’20’ (head up on the guard).

While the Chiefs come out in 11 personnel (one running back and one tight end), you can see Barnes read the slot receiver (WR 4) as he sprints behind the offensive line on this split-zone run. Playing patient and square to the line-of-scrimmage, Barnes has his hands ready to attack. Most importantly, he’s able to get downhill and make the tackle on the ball carrier.

Prior to this season, there was some doubt on the type of player Derrick Barnes could be for the Lions defense. However, provided a spark to the second level of this defense. He’s on pace for 110.5 tackles this season and that’s with only playing 48% of the defensive snaps. As the Lions get ready to face a run first offense in the Atlanta Falcons in week 3, I’d expect Barnes to stay busy this weekend.

Amon-Ra St. Brown continues to turn heads during training camp

Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown continues to turn heads during training camp

Much like Dan Campbell doing burpees with his football team, there’s another tradition unlike any other during the Detroit Lions training camp. That tradition is wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown putting in more work than just about everyone.

It’s been a consistent trend every year where St. Brown stays after practice and catches balls from the JUGS machine. When he drops a pass, he punishes himself with push-ups. Today was no different.

After practice, St. Brown went to the JUGS machine, and he dropped the very first ball. But there were no drops after that. He went on to catch 201 balls in a row, and then he ended up doing 20 push-ups for the drop on the first ball.

He did all of this after showing that he’s got a tremendous rapport with quarterback Jared Goff. Not only did St. Brown catch the first pass of the team portion of practice, he had six passes thrown his way during the Lions red-zone drill. All six passes were touchdowns.

Last season, St. Brown earned a nod to the Pro Bowl after recording a career-high 106 receptions. The way he’s come out during a few days of training camp, it’s clear he’s on a mission to have another career year for the Detroit Lions.

Chargers 2023 roster review: Safety Mark Webb Jr.

If Mark Webb can stay healthy, he should make a strong push for a roster spot.

Training camp is approaching and with a few more weeks of dead time in the NFL offseason, Chargers Wire is documenting each of Los Angeles’ players before it kicks off.

A collegiate stud at Georgia, safety Mark Webb has spent his entire three-year professional career with the Chargers but hasn’t gained much traction since the team selected him in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL draft.

A big reason why has been his inability to stay healthy. In his rookie season, Webb missed nine games due to a knee injury. He dealt with the same issue in his sophomore campaign and remained on the practice squad.

Nonetheless, Webb has flashed when on the field, getting first-team reps on defense last training camp at money backer while Derwin James sat out while the team negotiated a contract extension.

Now fully healthy, Webb will have to fend off the likes of second-year Raheem Layne and undrafted free agent A.J. Finley for a roster spot.

If he doesn’t make the cut, Webb will likely be a practice squad stash if he isn’t waived and signed by another team in late August.

Contract (2023): $870,000 base salary, no prorated bonus, $870,000 cap hit.

Acquired: Webb was selected by the Chargers with the 241st overall pick in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Quote: Defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley on the Chargers’ depth at safety:

“Good competition. We have competition at every spot in the secondary, especially safety. You have Derwin James [Jr.], who can play multiple spots. You have Alohi [Gilman] that has played a lot of ball around here. You have JT [Woods], we have a lot of expectations for him this year. It’s going to be a really competitive group. Mark Webb [Jr.] is in that mix, Michael Jacquet, Raheem Layne. That group is very competitive. A lot of different skill sets in that group, which is what you need at safety.”

Highlight:

Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown remains motivated by his NFL draft slight

Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown remains motivated by his NFL draft slight even after two great NFL seasons

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It’s been no secret that Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has used his fourth-round selection from the 2021 NFL Draft for motivation. He remembers the 16 wide receivers taken before him as a way to stay sharp on the field. 

On Monday, St. Brown was interviewed on NFL Network’s Total Access with Mike Yam. During the interview, he was asked about his memory of the receivers selected before him.

He said, “I actually have my goals written down in my notebook. What I want to achieve every year. So, what I want to achieve this year going into the season, my personal goals, and then right below that I have the 16 receivers written down, where they went to college right below that. And so, I read that whole list three times before I go to practice every day. It’s something I’ll never forget. Something I make sure I’m always reminded of.”

While St. Brown was selected after players such as Ja’Marr Chase, Rondale Moore, DeVonta Smith and 13 others; he still has more career receptions than all of them. Through two seasons in the NFL, St. Brown has 196 receptions a figure that is tied with Michael Thomas and Justin Jefferson for most in NFL history. 

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During the rest of the interview, St. Brown talked highly of general manager Brad Holmes and how the front office “did a great job of drafting.” He talked about Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta and other weapons that are now part of the Lions offense. 

He admitted it during the interview, it’s safe to say that St. Brown still thinks about the 2021 NFL Draft. For the full interview, you can watch it here. 

Draft fact further solidifies Notre Dame as ‘O-Line U’

Is there any doubt that Notre Dame is ‘O Line U”?

Who is the real “O-Line U?”

If you’re basing it off success, then it’s not even a question the title belongs to Notre Dame. The Irish have a legit contender as the best at each offensive line position currently playing in the NFL.

With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ selection of Robert Hainsey at No. 95 Friday night, Notre Dame also joined very rare air as an offensive line factory.

Liam Eichenberg (Dolphins, 42nd) and Aaron Banks (49ers, 48th) going earlier in the draft set Notre Dame up for something that hadn’t happened in the last 20 years of the NFL draft.

So Notre Dame just accomplished something done once every 20 years or so.

Great news, but also further proof of the extend of the overhaul the Fighting Irish offense will be going through in 2021.

Related:

Instant Twitter reaction: Notre Dame’s Banks selected by San Francisco

Instant Twitter reaction: Notre Dame’s Eichenberg selected by Miami

Watch: Aaron Banks gets ‘The Call’ from 49ers

Hall of Fame coach compares Owusu-Koramoah to HOF linebacker

Who does JOK remind you of as a linebacker?

I get there are issues in terms of fit, but when we look back at the 2021 NFL draft in a decade I can’t help imagining many of us will have the following thought cross our minds:

“How the hell did 51 players get drafted before Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah?”

I’ve thought he was a first-round talent since the end of the 2019 season and a year that saw him named the nation’s best collegiate linebacker didn’t exactly change any of that for me.

Count former Notre Dame color commentator and Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy among those who love the Cleveland Browns selection of Owusu-Koramoah:

Getting a comparison to one of the best linebackers to ever do it is quite the compliment.

Especially from the former head coach of that legendary linebacker.

Chargers 2023 roster review: WR Joshua Palmer

Joshua Palmer put together an impressive 2022 campaign, but will be pushed for playing time in 2023.

The 2023 season is just a month away, and with weeks of dead time during the quietest part of the NFL offseason, Chargers Wire is endeavoring to document each of Los Angeles’ players before the start of the team’s training camp.

The Chargers spent a good chunk of time without Keenan Allen and Mike Williams with their respective injuries last season. That led to Justin Herbert relying on lesser-known targets, highlighted by Joshua Palmer.

Palmer finished with 72 receptions for 769 yards. Weeks 9 and 11 were his biggest games, amassing 106 receiving yards in each contest. He established himself as a reliable target for Herbert.

This season, Palmer’s target share will take a dip with the addition of Quentin Johnston. But he is one injury away from resuming a more prominent role. Looking beyond 2023, if Allen or Williams isn’t back, Palmer should be a starter.

Contract (2023): $1,117,460 base salary, $254,919 prorated bonus, $1,372,379 cap hit.

Acquired: Palmer was taken in the third round with the 77th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft after playing collegiately at the University of Tennessee.

Quote: Wide receivers coach Chris Beatty on Palmer:

“He had 70-plus catches last year and really played every position. If Keenan was out, he was Keenan. If Mike was out, he was Mike. If both were in, then he had to adjust his game that way. He had some huge games, I think he had three 100-yard games for us last year and I think he made some big plays and really carried us in the second Kansas City game here at home. He’s got the ability to be fluid because he does have some Mike in his game with his size, but he’s got some Keenan with his twitchiness.”

Highlight:

Giants select Kyle Pitts in 2021 NFL re-draft

In The Athletic’s 2021 NFL re-draft, everything changes and the New York Giants end up selecting tight end Kyle Pitts.

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The New York Giants got outmaneuvered by two division rivals in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft when the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys traded with one another to keep the Giants from selecting Alabama wideout DeVonta Smith with the 11th overall pick.

The Cowboys traded the 10th pick to the Eagles for the 12th pick, allowing Philadelphia to select Smith. The Giants then traded the 11th pick to Chicago, who drafted Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields.

Dallas, at No. 12, selected Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons.

The Giants, at No. 20, took Florida wide receiver Kadarius Toney, who they eventually would trade away the next season.

In The Athletic’s re-draft of the 2021 NFL draft, none of the above transpires. Dallas stays at No. 10 and takes Virginia Tech offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw since Parsons is long gone, taken second overall by the Jets.

With Smith also gone — to Miami at No. 6 — Philadelphia selects Georgia cornerback Tyson Campbell at No. 12.

The Giants stay at No. 11 since there are no takers now that Fields is also off the board, taken third by San Francisco. They select Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, who is high on their board. In reality, Pitts was selected fourth overall by Atlanta.

In terms of pure athletic ability, Pitts is still a top-five prospect in this class.

The Falcons drafted him at the absolute start of the Arthur Smith-Terry Fontenot era with a long-term plan in mind. Pitts’ numbers haven’t been overwhelming through two years, but the situation around him is still developing. Right now, much of his path seems tied to an unproven QB in Desmond Ridder.

The Giants-Pitts connection makes a load of sense. It would have happened had Pitts fallen to them back in 2021. One huge question that many Giant fans are still asking is why they traded the 11th pick instead of taking Parsons for themselves. Instead, they find themselves lining up against him twice a season for the foreseeable future.

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All-time Notre Dame players drafted by Jacksonville Jaguars

Can you name the five Notre Dame players to be drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars?

The Jacksonville Jaguars have only been playing football since 1995 but have had a handful of Notre Dame players who they’ve called the name of during the 26 NFL drafts they have participated in.

Only one such player was selected in the first round and it’d be difficult to ever call any of the five stars, but here are the five Notre Dame players to ever be selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL draft:

1997 Renaldo Wynn, DE, 1st round, 21st overall
2001 Anthony Denman, LB, 7th round, 213th overall
2007 Derek Landri, DT, 5th round, 166th overall
2015 Ben Koyack, TE, 7th round, 229th overall
2016 Sheldon Day, DT, 4th round, 103rd overall

Related:

All of Notre Dame’s first round NFL draft picks since 1975