Tag: Blake Bell

Former Sooners OL Lane Johnson makes NFL’s Top 100 Players list

Lane Johnson has been a force in the NFL for almost a decade.

The National Football League is right in the middle of revealing their list of the Top 100 Players of 2024 as training camps begin. But the [autotag]NFL[/autotag] puts a unique twist on their list, revealing players in increments of ten and allowing the athletes to vote to make up the list.

On Friday, the first former Oklahoma Sooner made his way onto the list. Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman [autotag]Lane Johnson[/autotag] checks in at No. 41 in the rankings.

Here’s what NFL Network’s Coral Smith had to say about Johnson, who has spent his entire career in Philly.

“Johnson has been a model of consistency over his 11 seasons, as shown by the tackle’s identical Top 100 ranking to last year’s, emphasizing his steady nature on the Eagles’ powerful offensive line,” Smith said. “After earning a pay bump and extension heading into the year, Johnson proved he remains one of the premier tackles in the game, allowing just three sacks while recording a 80.9 player grade, per PFF, on his way to a fifth Pro Bowl.”

Johnson was selected as the fourth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, and he started his college football career at Kilgore College in Texas, playing quarterback and tight end. He transferred to OU before the 2009 season, and initially served as a practice squad quarterback during his redshirt season. He transitioned to the tight end position in 2010, before switching again to defensive end in 2011.

The pivotal moment in Johnson’s Oklahoma career came early in the 2011 season. Injuries had ravaged the offensive line unit, and he was asked to try out as a backup. His tryout went so well that he was promptly switched to offensive tackle, eventually earning the starting job. Johnson was a natural at right tackle and started twelve games in 2011.

Johnson was moved to left tackle for the 2012 season, helping lead the way for an offensive line that protected starting quarterback [autotag]Landry Jones[/autotag] extremely well in the pocket. That same offensive line paved the way for the “Belldozer” package featuring backup quarterback [autotag]Blake Bell[/autotag], which was very effective in both 2011 and 2012.

Since being chosen by the Eagles, Johnson has started every game he’s played in for Philadelphia. The right tackle has made five Pro Bowls and has been a first-team All-Pro twice. He was an integral part of the 2017 Eagles squad that won Super Bowl LII.

One of the finest players of the [autotag]Bob Stoops[/autotag] era in Norman, he’s been a steady force for eleven seasons in Philadelphia.

Why 13 (personnel) has become the magic number for the Chiefs’ offense

The Kansas City Chiefs are better in 13 personnel than any other NFL team, and that could be big trouble for the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.

When you think of the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense, a “spread-’em-out” ideology may come to mind with multiple receivers, and perhaps Travis Kelce as the only tight end on the field. But that’s not what this offense was in 2022 under offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, and that’s not what this offense was in 2023, or is in 2024, under offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.

Quite the opposite, and it’s not been gradual, the Chiefs are now the kings of three-tight end sets. 13 personnel, with one back, three tight ends, and one receiver, has become the team’s primary formational constraint. This is clearly something that comes from on high, i.e., Andy Reid.

In the 2022 season, Kansas City led the league in passing out of 13 personnel, and they were ridiculously good at it. Patrick Mahomes had 74 dropbacks out of 13, completing 49 of 64 passes for 716 yards, 326 yards after the catch, nine touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 152.1, which was just about dead solid perfect. Mahomes’ EPA throwing out of 13 was 31.95, which was absolutely preposterous — Geno Smith of the Seattle Seahawks ranked second at 12.36,

This season, Mahomes has also led the NFL in 13 personnel throws, though the results haven’t been quite as productive, which is a reflection of the entire Chiefs’ passing game. Mahomes has had 50 dropbacks out of 13, completing 28 of 44 passes for 380 yards, 188 yards after the catch, two touchdowns, two interceptions, a passer rating of 87.3, and an EPA of 1.81.

Where the Chiefs have upped their 13 personnel production this season is in the run game, and especially with second-year back Isiah Pacheco. Pacheco leads the NFL in 13 personnel carries with 53, gaining 226 yards, 140 yards after contact, and scoring one touchdown. Mahomes has also run eight times for 52 yards this season out of 13 personnel, so that’s something the San Francisco 49ers will want to consider in Super Bowl LVIII.

On Wednesday, I talked with Matt Nagy about the three-tight end sets, and why the Chiefs are the runaway leaders with all that. As Nagy said, the fact that they do it so much more than any other NFL teams is its own inherent advantage.

“Number one, we feel that we have a good set of tight ends who can do different things. When you’re in 13 personnel, are they receiving tight ends, or are they blocking tight ends, or are they both? We feel like we have a good mix there. So, it starts with personnel.

“The second part is, because there aren’t a lot of teams that do 13 personnel, a lot of defensive coordinators don’t have a lot of calls for 13 personnel. So, they’ve got kind of a limited menu  So now, you can do some different things. If a team shows a multitude of defenses against 13, we take a look at that and decide whether we want to go with it or not. We’ve been that way for a long time.”

Well, here’s the thing. The 49ers have faced three tight ends on just nine of their opponents’ passing attempts, with five catches allowed for 81 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 122.9.

The touchdown was a 31-yarder against the Seahawks in Week 14. The Seahawks motioned tight end Will Dissly across from left to right out of a wing alignment, and this was an interesting example of another way teams can use four-strong – to gain a favorable matchup for the iso receiver on the other side. With Dissly, Noah Fant, Colby Parkinson, and running back Kenneth Walker to the right, and with Fant and Parkinson then running intermediate crossers back over, DK Metcalf had an open one-on-one with cornerback Ambry Thomas as the backside iso. The 49ers could definitely see something like that on Sunday – also, one of the ways the Chiefs stress defenses with four-strong formations is to wind at least one of their tight ends back to the other side.

In the run game, the 49ers have faced rushing attempts out of 13 personnel just 13 times for 50 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown was a 16-yard Kareem Hunt run against the Cleveland Browns in Week 6. Cleveland motioned tight end Jordan Akins across from right to left, keeping David Njoku and Harrison Bryant on the right side. Receivers Donovan Peoples-Jones and David Bell were the ones who helped crack that run open for a 16-yard touchdown.

Based on what Nagy said regarding what defenses do (or do not do) against the Chiefs’ 13 personnel packages in the pass and run games, we should probably expect to see Kansas City to turn it all the way up to 13 in the Super Bowl.

In this week’s “Xs and Os with Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar,” the guys got into why the Chiefs’ 13 personnel stuff is so effective, and what the 49ers might want to try to work against it.

You can watch the “Xs and Os” Super Bowl Preview episode here:

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You can also listen and subscribe to the “Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…

…and on Apple Podcasts.

Sooners lead the way in Super Bowl participants

Oklahoma Sooners lead the way in number of participants in this year’s Super Bowl.

Oklahoma fans will have plenty of reason to watch this year’s Super Bowl regardless of their NFL fan affiliation. Even if you aren’t a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs or the San Francisco 49ers, multiple Sooners on both teams will battle for the right to be crowned Super Bowl LVIII champions.

The talented Chiefs are spearheaded by the league’s best quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, whom the Sooners know all too well. The former Texas Tech quarterback is the league’s best player, and despite his team not being the juggernaut it has been in the past, the team is one win away from its third title in four Super Bowl appearances.

Two former Sooners, All-Pro Creed Humphrey and Wanya Morris, anchor the offensive line that helps block for Mahomes. Morris has been a revelation this season for the Chiefs and looks to be a core part of the Kansas City’s future. Humphrey is considered one of the league’s best centers.

Joining them in the Super Bowl is Blake Bell, known to many in the OU fandom as the “Belldozer.” Blake Bell has carved out a reliable role as a backup tight end and special teams player for the Chiefs. He has ties to both teams in this game. It was the 49ers who drafted him in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

He caught a pass in the last Super Bowl these teams played against one another in 2019. Lastly, James Winchester is making his fourth Super Bowl appearance. He’s the most tenured of all Sooners turned Chiefs and has spent nine years as the long snapper for Kansas City.

The list of Sooners for the NFC Champions isn’t quite as long, but San Francisco has its own Crimson and Cream flair. Trent Williams, one of the league’s best players and a sure-fire Hall of Famer, will make another trip to the Super Bowl as he looks to cement his career with a ring.

Williams has been a dominant force even as he entered his 30s. His play has yet to diminish, and he’s the driving force behind an elite 49ers offense. Brayden Willis, a fan favorite from his time in Norman, will have the chance to win a Super Bowl ring in his rookie year after he was drafted in the seventh round last April.

That’s six Sooners set to play for a Super Bowl title—the most of any school in the country for the second consecutive year. While rooting interests may be divided, no matter what happens, multiple Oklahoma Sooners will be crowned champions when the dust settles on Super Bowl LVIII.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Bryant on Twitter @thatmanbryant.

7 former Jaguars set to play in Super Bowl LVIII

The Jaguars still haven’t played in a Super Bowl, but a handful of their former players are set to play in the big game in two weeks.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are still one of 12 teams that have never won a Super Bowl and one of four that have never reached the big game.

On Sunday, the Detroit Lions spoiled their chance to scratch themselves from at least one of those lists when they blew a 24-7 halftime lead against the San Francisco 49ers. Instead, it’ll be the five-time champion 49ers meeting the Kansas City Chiefs in Las Vegas in two weeks.

While the Jaguars will hope for better results in the future, a handful of former members of the team are set to compete for a chance at a Super Bowl ring.

Here are seven former members of the Jaguars who are set to play in Super Bowl LVIII (plus another two on the Chiefs’ practice squad):

11 former Oklahoma Sooners to watch during NFL Wild Card weekend

Want to know what former Sooners will be competing this weekend? We’ve got you covered.

The Oklahoma Sooners are known for putting players in the NFL. In fact, Oklahoma ranked in the top 10 for most players on an NFL roster on opening day this season and led the Big 12 in that stat.

The NFL playoffs are finally upon us with several former players who donned the Crimson and Cream playing this weekend. Whether it’s the redemption story of [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag], the continued Hall of Fame career of [autotag]Lane Johnson[/autotag] or solidifying his place as one of the top receivers in the game of football today in [autotag]CeeDee Lamb[/autotag], there are a ton of storylines for Sooner fans to watch.

So, without further adieu, let’s take a look at the former Sooners playing this weekend in order of when their game will be played.

No Kelce? No problem. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes finds Blake Bell for touchdown

Patrick Mahomes found Blake Bell for a touchdown on a slick sidearm throw that gave the #Chiefs a first-half lead against the #Lions.

Travis Kelce’s absence from the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 1 matchup against the Detroit Lions was a disappointing development this week, but quarterback Patrick Mahomes doesn’t seem too concerned.

Instead of dwelling on the loss of his All-Pro tight end, Mahomes has adapted as best he can, and found Kelce’s understudy, veteran Blake Bell, for a touchdown on a pretty sidearm pass late in the second quarter.

Plays like this are what make Mahomes so special. A precious few other quarterbacks can make this throw in practice, let alone in a real game. Mahomes makes it look easy, and that’s why he is the NFL’s reigning MVP.

With this marvelous effort, Mahomes has Kansas City in a position to take a two-score lead after halftime when they receive the second-half kickoff. Watch for Mahomes to continue spreading the ball around to the Chiefs’ unsung offensive heroes as he attempts to lift Kansas City to victory in Week 1.

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Best fantasy sleepers for Chiefs’ Week 1 matchup vs. Lions

These five #Chiefs could help win your Week 1 fantasy football games.

Fantasy football can be a fickle thing for fans at the beginning of a new season, and although Kansas City Chiefs players may seem like a safe bet to start in Week 1, they face a tough test against a stout Detroit Lions defense.

Patrick Mahomes is obviously a lock to be a top quarterback in 2023 but might be without his top receiving option, tight end Travis Kelce, for the season opener. Isiah Pacheco is set to play but had surgeries in the offseason that may compromise his explosiveness early in the Chiefs’ schedule.

With this in mind, it makes sense to look to some of Kansas City’s more unheralded contributors to win fantasy games in Week 1.

Check out our top picks who could make a serious impact against the Lions:

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce’s status is in doubt for Thursday vs. Lions

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce’s status is in doubt for Thursday vs. Lions | @LazarczykLogan

Travis Kelce suffered a hyper-extended knee in practice, leaving his status for Thursday up in the air. Several correspondents have provided updates since the incident took place early Tuesday afternoon.

The Athletic’s Nate Taylor posted the background details surrounding the injury after speaking with Chiefs tight end Blake Bell.

“Blake Bell indicated that Travis Kelce’s injury occurred during a red zone period,” said Taylor in a post. “A usual part to the week’s final practice.”

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport posted an update on Kelce and the team’s expectations moving forward.

“Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce’s status is in doubt for Thursday night’s opener vs. the Lions because of his knee injury, but sources tell me and Tom Pelissero it’s not believed to be a long-term injury,” Rapoport reported. “They’ll wait for the swelling to go down and go from there.”

ESPN’s Adam Schefter followed up with early test results from Chiefs team doctors.

“After tests today, the Chiefs believe Travis Kelce’s ACL is intact, per source.” said Schefter in a post. “There is inflammation in his knee, and they will test it again Wednesday to determine his availability for Thursday night vs. the Lions.”

The news initially appears that Kelce is trending towards missing time, significantly diminishing the Chiefs’ chances of success. The positive outlook is that Kelce’s absence will not be prolonged, and he could return earlier than expected.

Chiefs TE Blake Bell ‘ready to roll’ following injury-shortened 2022 season

#Chiefs tight end Blake Bell says he’s “ready to roll” following his injury shortened 2022 season. | from: @EdEastonJr

Memories of preseason openers may not sit well for Kansas City Chiefs tight end Blake Bell who suffered a severe hip flexor injury in last year’s game. The veteran went down in pain during the game against the Chicago Bears, forcing him to injured reserve after undergoing surgery.

Bell spoke with reporters on Tuesday following practice about his injury recovery and bouncing back this year.

“I’m feeling good, I really am,” Bell said. “You know just trying to get back this offseason and trying to stretch to keep my body loose a little bit. I’m feeling good. [It was] such a freak injury and the doctors did a great job last year getting me fixed up. The trainers did a great job, too, as well so I’m feeling great ready to roll.”

The injury cost Bell all but three regular season games in 2022 as he revealed his frustration and doubt during the recovery process.

“It was hard,” Bell explained. “But you know, that was my goal each and every day is trying to get better and try to stay focused because some of those days you come in, and you’re like, ‘man, what am I doing?’ I’m not playing, but that’s how those injuries work. Man, you just got to keep your head down and keep fighting and work to get back on the field.”

Bell still scored a touchdown in Week 17 against the Denver Broncos, one of his two catches on the season. The veteran isn’t typically seen as a receiving option but provides solid blocking and discipline needed at the position.

Top quotes from Chiefs’ August 8 post-practice press conference

Check out some of the top quotes from the #Chiefs’ post-practice press conference on August 8:

The Kansas City Chiefs were back on the field Tuesday, looking to tune up their game plan at training camp with eyes set on their first opponent this Sunday on the field during their workouts at Missouri Western State University. Four Chiefs got in front of the podium for the team’s post-practice press conference, and each provided reporters’ updates while building up for the trip to New Orleans this weekend.

Steve Spagnuolo, Blake Bell, Nick Bolton, and Jaylen Watson spoke to reporters and provided valuable insight into their thoughts on training camp, teammates, and more.

Check out their top quotes below: