Tag: Asante Samuel

Chargers injury update vs. Eagles

Quarterback Justin Herbert returned to practice while four players did not.

The Los Angeles Chargers had their second practice ahead of the Week 9 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.

After being limited with a right hand injury on Wednesday, quarterback Justin Herbert returned to practice in a full capacity.

However, all four of the players who did not participate yesterday remained sidelined for the second consecutive day.

If cornerbacks Michael Davis and Asante Samuel Jr. are unable to play, Ryan Smith and Tevaughn Campbell would replace the two.

If Alohi Gilman can’t play, Mark Webb is likely to see an uptick in snaps.

If running back Justin Jackson can’t go, Joshua Kelley and Larry Rountree would split the carries behind Austin Ekeler.

The Chargers have their final practice on Friday before flying out to Philadelphia.

Asante Samuel doubles down on his opinion that Bill Belichick is ‘just another coach’

Asante Samuel went AFTER Bill Belichick’s coaching and GM methods.

Retired New England Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel fired off a short and anything-but-sweet message for Bill Belichick.

Samuel said Belichick is “just another coach” following his decision to cut Cam Newton on Tuesday. Belichick won six Super Bowls with the Patriots (and two with the New York Giants as a defensive coordinator), but Tom Brady’s departure has given ammunition to people like Samuel, who are rattling off hot takes about why Belichick isn’t one of the greatest coaches of all time. (Just to clarify: Belichick is one of the greatest.)

Because Samuel’s opinion was so surprising, ESPN’s “First Take” invited him onto the show to defend his opinion.

What do you think? Do you think there’s any truth in what Samuel is saying?

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Asante Samuel takes huge shot at Bill Belichick following release of Cam Newton

Asante Samuel clearly has his issues with Bill Belichick.

Cam Newton’s release from the New England Patriots was a surprise to many.

The 32-year-old was the Patriots’ starter in all three preseason games as he went head-to-head with Mac Jones in a quarterback battle. Despite the fact that Jones had an excellent preseason, Newton’s services still appeared to be valuable based off his knowledge and experience with the team.

ESPN’s Louis Riddick said what many people were thinking — Bill Belichick was cold-blooded with the decision. Former Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel agreed with that sentiment, and even took it a step further.

Samuel began by saying that Belichick ‘never surprises’ him.

He followed up and said Belichick “is just another coach” without having Tom Brady on the roster over the past two decades.

At the end of the day, he believes Jones will do great — but there was still a caveat in that statement that was directed toward Belichick.

The decision wasn’t popular to many people surrounding the league, but it was just another business decision by Belichick.

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Look: Chargers’ top draft picks receive jerseys

Rashawn Slater, Asante Samuel Jr. and Josh Palmer have arrived to Chargers headquarters.

The Chargers are gearing up for rookie minicamp, which begins on May 17.

The first-year players are starting to arrive in Los Angeles, including the team’s top three draft selections, Rashawn Slater, Asante Samuel Jr. and Josh Palmer.

The team’s official Twitter account posted a video of them holding up the jerseys with their numbers that they will be donning this upcoming season.

Check it out:

Derwin James pushed for Chargers to draft Asante Samuel, Jr.

The Florida State ties run deep.

Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. was selected by the Chargers in the second round, and while he may have been atop of their board already, a player already on the roster might have solidified their decision.

During the phone call between general manager Tom Telesco and Samuel Jr., Telesco revealed that safety Derwin James had been pushing for the team to select him prior to the draft.

“Derwin James has been lobbying for you for weeks,” Telesco told Samuel Jr.

“Yeah I know, that’s my guy,” Samuel Jr. responded. “That’s my guy right there.”

James’ response after the pick was announced says it all.

The two never played together since James’ last season was in 2017 and Samuel Jr.’s first season came in 2018. But despite that, the Florida State ties run deep.

James always made sure to return to his alma mater while Samuel Jr. was there for the three seasons, and he was key to the defensive back’s growth.

“The only person that really came back throughout the three years was Derwin James,” Samuel Jr. said at the time. “I feel like Derwin James, he explained to me how things worked and things of that nature.”

Now, reunited, James and Samuel Jr. will be integral pieces to a defense that’s looking to dethrone the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs.

2021 NFL Draft: Best Available Players for Day 2

Teams looking for defense early on Day 2 should be happy.

The first round of the 2021 NFL Draft wasn’t all that surprising, but there were a few names that slipped through the cracks in the second day of the draft. This happens every year, but it feels like the players available at the top of the draft are particularly strong.

There are a handful of available defensive players that can provide an immediate impact for their respective teams. A couple wide receivers that were projected for the first round of the draft are on the board as well.

Here are a few prospects that teams should be targeting as the second day of the NFL gets started.

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Falcons 2021 mock draft: Atlanta lands FSU CB Asante Samuel Jr.

The 2021 NFL draft is just two days away but for Falcons fans, the last 10 days have felt like a puzzle with too many pieces.

The 2021 NFL draft is just two days away but for Falcons fans, the last 10 days have felt like a puzzle with too many pieces. Let’s break down what I believe to be the most likely scenario for Atlanta in my final mock draft of the year.

Falcons 2021 mock draft: Atlanta lands FSU CB Asante Samuel Jr.

The 2021 NFL draft is just two days away but for Falcons fans, the last 10 days have felt like a puzzle with too many pieces.

The 2021 NFL draft is just two days away but for Falcons fans, the last 10 days have felt like a puzzle with too many pieces. Let’s break down what I believe to be the most likely scenario for Atlanta in my final mock draft of the year.

Prospect for the Pack: Florida State CB Asante Samuel Jr.

Draft profile for Florida State CB Asante Samuel Jr., a potential pick for the Green Bay Packers in the 2021 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers will enter the 2021 NFL draft hoping to find a few more valuable pieces to add to an otherwise talented roster after winning 26 regular-season games and making the NFC Championship Game in back-to-back seasons under coach Matt LaFleur.

Between now and the draft, Packers Wire will periodically break down one top prospect capable of landing in Green Bay later this month.

Up next is Florida State cornerback Asante Samuel Jr.:

What he can do

– Play excellent zone coverage. He does a great job of processing the action in front of him and reading the quarterback’s eyes to get himself into favorable coverage position

– Has the fluidity, footwork and route recognition to stay connected to receivers in man coverage

– Make plays on the ball. He broke up 29 passes and intercepted four in three seasons at Florida State

– The little technical things that good cornerbacks do like getting hands on receivers to feel their route breaks in man coverage and crowding routes to the sideline to limit the receiver’s route-running space

– Can potentially play slot and perimeter cornerback

– Has enough speed to carry the average starting NFL receiver down the field

– Very fluid athlete. Stays low in backpedal and swivels hips easily. No wasted movement in his footwork

– Willing tackler, although a little inconsistent

– Doesn’t have the size, length or strength you’d want for press-man coverage. Can get pushed around in the run game and in coverage at times

How he fits

Samuel looks like a plug-and-play starter in a zone-heavy scheme, which is exactly what the Packers are expected to run under new defensive coordinator Joe Barry. For the new scheme, he should be an immediate upgrade as the No. 2 cornerback opposite Jaire Alexander.

NFL comp

Asante Samuel Sr. It may seem like a lazy comparison on the surface, but their athletic profiles are strikingly similar and their skill sets bear some resemblance, too. Both Jr. and Sr. are/were undersized ball-hawking cornerbacks with great instincts and relatively average explosiveness at their size.

Where Packers could get him

If the Packers want Samuel, they’d probably have to take him at No. 29, trade down, or trade up from their second-round draft slot. He’s widely expected to be a top-50 pick.

The fit makes sense from a need and scheme translation standpoint, although Samuel seemingly falls short of the Packers’ desired cornerback measurables. At 5-10, 180 lbs. with a sub-8.0 RAS, he doesn’t have the size or athleticism they typically covet at that position. It’s possible they’d make an exception to address one of their biggest roster needs, however.

Highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZLfWEUioUA

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Packers meet for second time with Florida State CB Asante Samuel Jr.

The Packers are among a few teams that have met with Samuel at least twice during the pre-draft process.

The Green Bay Packers are among a handful of teams that have met with Florida State cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. at least two times during the pre-draft process, according to Justin Melo of The Draft Network.

The Packers are clearly making sure they gather all the information available on one of the top players at a premium position.

Samuel is a potential top 50 pick and the son of long-time NFL cornerback Asante Samuel. The Packers have a need at cornerback entering the draft, helping underline the team’s interest in getting a full profile of a player like Samuel before the event starts later this month.

Samuel is smaller (5-10, 180) and lacks elite athletic testing numbers, which could hurt his chances of landing in Green Bay, but the Packers might roll the dice if they are comfortable with the player and person. With no combine or in-person meetings, the virtual meetings provide teams with valuable opportunities to learn about players.

It’s possible the Packers could see Samuel as a similar player to Troy Hill, who thrived as an undersized but tough and sticky nickel corner for new defensive coordinator Joe Barry in Los Angeles.

While at Florida State, Samuel played in 32 games. He broke up 29 passes and had four interceptions. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst was in attendance for Florida State’s pro day last month.

Pro Football Focus ranks Samuel as the site’s 31st best player in the class, making him a potential option for the Packers late in the first round.

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