Underperforming Saints offensive line has more tough sledding ahead of them

The New Orleans Saints offensive line has struggled this year, and they have more tough sledding ahead in the next two weeks | @southexclusives

The struggles of the New Orleans Saints offensive line has been the biggest storyline of the team’s season. The opposing defensive line has won the battle in the running and passing game, and it’s been the biggest impediment to the Saints offense. New Orleans has allowed a dozen sacks in just three games. The complaints about the line only grew after Derek Carr’s injury. 

Unfortunately, the Saints won’t get a reprieve from in the near future. Their next two games feature more difficult tests for the struggling unit. This Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers come to town. They have 9 sacks on the season with trench players like Shaquil Barret and Vita Vea who can wreck the game on any play. 

The following week the Saints travel to face New England Patriots defensive end Matthew Judon. Judon currently has the fourth-most sacks in the league and he lines up on both sides of the formation, so both Trevor Penning and Ryan Ramczyk are going to be tested.

Both games provide their challenges. It’ll be on the Saints offensive line to improve as they stare down two difficult challenges with a backup quarterback behind them. Highly-paid veterans like Ramczyk and center Erik McCoy can’t continue to be liabilities when they’re expected to be cornerstones.

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Rookie Malik Heath wants to be Packers’ new ‘goon’ at WR

Allen Lazard was the enforcer at WR for the Packers offense, but now he’s in New York. Malik Heath is ready to be Matt LaFleur’s new “goon.”

Matt LaFleur often called Allen Lazard the “goon” of his Green Bay Packers offense. Now that Lazard is in New York with Aaron Rodgers, LaFleur needs a new enforcer at the wide receiver position.

Undrafted rookie Malik Heath submitted his application with video evidence during Friday’s preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. On a quarterback keeper play, Heath blocked a Bengals cornerback completely out of bounds and eventually drew a penalty.

It was the definition of a “goon” play.

“They are looking for a goon, so I’m going to try and fill that role,” Heath said Sunday. “I’m going to try to do anything to make this team.”

Here’s the All-22 view of the play, via Ben Fennell:

Heath, who also caught three passes, said the block was one of the “most exciting” plays of his football career. The entire Packers sideline erupted as Heath drove the cornerback out of bounds, opening the backside for Sean Clifford to race for a big gain. The penalty tacked on 15 more yards, and the Packers finished the drive with a touchdown.

The block was the perfect example of the type of play style the Packers want in the run game.

In fact, LaFleur said blocking at the wide receiver position is an “important” part of the Packers offense even if it’s “not always the sexy thing to do” for a pass-catcher. It’s tough work that gets noticed by the coaching staff and can help a young, undrafted player find a role on a roster.

The 6-2, 213-pound Heath said he embraces blocking and the physical side of the game. He got experience blocking in the run game at Ole Miss and is ready to do more of it for LaFleur in Green Bay.

Assuming the Packers keep six receivers, it’s possible Heath is currently the front runner to be the sixth receiver on the 53-man roster. He was impressive during the offseason workout program, made catch after catch during training camp practices and now has an excellent preseason debut on tape.

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Joe Thuney offers advice on blocking for Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City #Chiefs guard Joe Thuney offered some advice on blocking for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. | from: @EdEastonJr

The secret to the Kansas City Chiefs’ success stretches beyond their marquee talent who are often publicized for their incredible exploits. A significant shift in recent years has been due to the Chiefs’ decision to fortify their offensive line to better protect quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Kansas City made a statement when they signed veteran guard Joe Thuney before the 2021 season. The investment in the offensive line gave Mahomes more time to operate and play his game, while a Pro Bowl guard with prior championship experience could show younger players the right way to get things done. Thuney gave insight on how he describes blocking for Mahomes during Friday’s post-practice press conference.

“I think [you have to] just play through the echo of the whistle,” Thuney explained. “It’s you never know what’s going to happen back there. When you’re blocking, and Pat’s [Patrick Mahomes] got the ball, he can make a lot of great plays happen and just, straight through the echo the whistle straight through it all and, you know, try and play with great technique and effort.”

Thuney has significantly adjusted his blocking techniques transitioning from the pocket passing style of Tom Brady to the improvisation of Patrick Mahomes. He has shown that veteran savvy to find the winning formula with two game-changing quarterbacks and is influencing the younger offensive linemen on the roster.

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Packers rookie Luke Musgrave getting crash course on blocking from Preston Smith

Blocking will be a point of emphasis for Packers TE Luke Musgrave, and veteran edge rusher Preston Smith is giving him all he handle to open training camp.

Luke Musgrave played almost 600 run-blocking snaps during his collegiate career at Oregon State, but the Green Bay Packers rookie tight end probably never saw a player quite like veteran outside linebacker Preston Smith.

Smith is 6-5 and 265 pounds, an elite athlete (9.8 RAS) and battle-hardened from playing over 130 NFL games.

Needless to say, Smith is giving Musgrave a crash course in the difficulties of blocking edge rushers in the NFL.

“The blocking is definitely different. Going up against someone like Preston Smith…it’s different. They are fast, they are big, they are physical, they are on you quick,” Musgrave said after Thursday’s practice. “It’s great, I want to go against those guys because those are the (type of) guys I’m going to go against on gamedays.”

During each of the first two days of practice, Musgrave lost at least one battle in the trenches against Smith. The rookie is hopeful that the losses in training camp will get him ready for his first NFL season.

“They are making me better,” Musgrave said. “Preston, he’s an 11-year guy, he’s really good. I’m glad I’m going against him. At times, it’s frustrating, but it’s really good.”

Musgrave has consistently run with the No. 1 offense to open camp and is a near-lock to be a starter at tight end come Week 1. He needs to acclimate to blocking at the professional level, or there’s risk in being a one-dimensional player as a rookie.

Smith, a veteran leader on defense, is making sure the Packers’ first-team defense is giving Musgrave and the young offense everything they can handle during training camp.

“We’re just trying to do our better to help them get better,” Smith said. “We know we have a lot of young guys with a lot potential…we just have to make sure we’re the best competition so when we get to the season, they don’t see anyone better than us.”

WATCH: Best Brayden Willis highlights from Oklahoma

Willis was a standout Sooner last season, and put together a great highlight reel to warrant his selection by the #49ers in the seventh round

The San Francisco 49ers finally have a plethora of draft picks in the seventh round, with three selections set to take place in short order, barring a trade. They spent their first pick of the round on Oklahoma tight end Brayden Willis, who should have fun learning his craft under one of the best players at his position in the NFL, George Kittle.

Willis isn’t likely to be leaned on in San Francisco’s offense early in his career but could become a guy for the 49ers in the long-term. Check out his best plays at Oklahoma below to get a better sense of what he brings to the table as a rookie:

Former Ravens OL Trystan Colon-signs with Jets

The Ravens reportedly lost offensive lineman Trystan Colon to the New York Jets

The Baltimore Ravens lost a key piece of their offensive line to the New York Jets on Friday when Trystan Colon inked a new deal to move to the Big Apple for the 2023 season. Baltimore, which has been particularly quiet to this point in the first week of free agency, will need to make a corresponding move to replace Colon in short order or risk compromising the depth of their front five.

In Colon, the Jets will get a versatile lineman who can play at both the guard and center positions competently. That flexibility enabled the Ravens to get creative when injuries came up last season, though the 24-year-old lineman only made one start in their 2022 campaign.

By no means will this move doom the Ravens next season, though the overall attrition to their roster over the last week paired with the uncertainty surrounding quarterback Lamar Jackson’s disposition for 2023 is definitely concerning.

Ravens lose TE Josh Oliver to Vikings on first day of 2023 free agency

Ravens tight end Josh Oliver is headed to the Vikings after making the move on the first day of 2023 free agency

The Baltimore Ravens need to clear a significant amount of cap space to sign quarterback Lamar Jackson to a long-term deal. There have already been multiple moves that the team has made to get under the threshold for the salary cap, including moving on from star defensive lineman Calais Campbell.

Outside of clearing cap space, Baltimore also was never going to be able to retain all of their own free agents. That was the case with tight end Josh Oliver, who is headed to the Minnesota Vikings following two years with the Ravens.

Oliver was traded to Baltimore by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021 for a conditional seventh-round pick. He’s tallied 26 catches for 230 yards and two touchdowns over the course of his four-year career, and has blossomed into one of the best blocking tight ends in the league.

The Ravens can now turn the keys fully over to their two second-year tight ends in Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar, playing alongside Mark Andrews. Oliver’s presence won’t be easily replaced, but Baltimore has plenty of tight end depth to get the job done.

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Chiefs RB Jerick McKinnon breaks down intricacies of pass blocking

McKinnon has gained a reputation as a tough-as-nails blocker in the #Chiefs’ backfield, and broke down his mentality to reporters on Thursday. | from @TheJohnDillon

Jerick McKinnon has been the most impactful presence in the Kansas City Chiefs’ backfield this season, and it isn’t just his work in the ground game that has him turning heads.

Instead, his role as Patrick Mahomes’ bodyguard on passing plays has the nation talking about the ninth-year running back. He told reporters on Thursday about his mentality as a blocker and made it clear that his short stature gives him the drive he needs to fight off pass rushers who seek to penetrate Mahomes’ protection in the pocket.

“Passion…I got ‘little-man syndrome,'” McKinnon said. “Yeah, I got little-man syndrome, so I don’t know, maybe that’s what it is. And then like I was saying to someone earlier, it was something that I’ve never done in college, so obviously coming to the league, it being new and something I had to work at. (I) accepted the challenge and it has gotten me this far and (it’s) something that going to keep you around as a running back in this league. So, I take big pride in that area – more than running and catching the ball – for real.”

He continued his comments on the matter by saying that the key to successful pass protection isn’t necessarily about technique or preparation, but that his effort and desire to dominate his opponents gives him the edge on Sundays.

“You’ve just got have will, it’s just all heart and will,” McKinnon explained. “You have technique and all stuff like that to clean it up, but at the end of the day it’s one-on-one, so you’ve just got to have the will for it.”

Though he certainly does his best to make up for his slight frame, he knows that his stature puts him at a disadvantage against bigger defensive linemen. Still, for McKinnon, it is his insistence on excellence in pass protection that motivates him. He even admitted it in a way that might seem bizarre to some fans.

“I’m not going to lie, there are some big guys coming full speed,” McKinnon said. “You’ve got to be a little crooked in the mind, for sure. It’s what makes the game fun. Me and the O-Line, we always joke about it. It’s all aspects of the game for me that make it enjoyable — whether it’s running, catching, blocking, blocking downfield, whatever I can help the team do to be successful.”

With respect to what he does to prepare for his blocking assignments, McKinnon told the media that the time he spends with the Chiefs’ offensive linemen helps him ensure the protection of Kansas City’s franchise quarterback.

“Just staying on top of my keys, knowing what protections are called, the possible scenarios that could work out,” McKinnon said. “Just getting together with the O-Line and you know talking through things. Maybe some unscouted looks (opponents) might present. Just situations like that and making sure everybody is on the same page. Do whatever it takes to keep Pat (Mahomes) clean in the pocket and give those guys on the outside opportunities to make plays.”

Heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, McKinnon seemed to know that he would have his hands full in protecting Mahomes. Especially given the injury that the quarterback suffered last week, McKinnon left no doubt that his tough-as-nails mentality would remain a constant in the AFC Championship Game.

“For me, it’s going to be the same thing,” McKinnon said. “If he needs me, just be there, be available, have his back in pass protection – whatever it is. Keep him clean in the pocket.”

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8 things I learned from watching Lions vs. Vikings film

On Taylor Decker’s dominance, Aidan Hutchinson stepping up, WR blocking, great tackling, peak Jared Goff and more

The first viewing of the Detroit Lions’ 34-23 victory over the Minnesota Vikings was glorious in its own right. Sunday’s win marked the fifth time in six games Dan Campbell’s team prevailed, and it was an emotionally charged victory that breathed some real life into the Lions’ playoff hopes.

As is often the case, the film review strips the emotion and intensity from the game. I went back through and watched the game again twice — both the broadcast feed and the all-22 coach’s film. This was a great game to review with a lot of intricacies and subtleties much more visible the second (and third) time around.

Here’s some of what I took out of the film review of the Lions Week 14 win over the Vikings.

Saints’ Cesar Ruiz is finally coming into his own at right guard

His New Orleans Saints career didn’t start out as many hoped, but Cesar Ruiz is finally coming into his own as a dependable right guard:

It’s taken some time, but Cesar Ruiz is beginning to turn the corner. The third-year New Orleans Saints right guard didn’t exactly hit the ground running — his first two years in the starting lineup were full of frustration for him and his team’s fans, and his name was brought up in trade talks early in the offseason. But nothing came of it, and Ruiz has since gone on to play the best football of his pro career.

Right now, Ruiz ranks fourth in total snaps played at right guard (479) around the NFL going into Week 8, and seventh in pass-blocking snaps among players at his position (289). He’s been penalized just once all season, and that was on a bogus foul for being an ineligible receiver downfield (which didn’t hold up under postgame video review, but wasn’t a play that could be challenged during the game). Pro Football Focus play-by-play charting found he’s allowed just 5 pressures (2 sacks) on those reps in pass protection, which is kind of stunning. Ruiz is tied with Pittsburgh Steelers left guard Kevin Dotson for the fewest pressures allows among the top 21 guards (left or right) in total pass-blocking snaps.

The gulf between Ruiz at No. 17 and New York Jets right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker at No. 21 is just as wide as that between Vera-Tucker and the No. 22-ranked player in pass pro snaps played at guard (New York Giants right guard Mark Glowinski), hence the sample size. But let’s get back to Ruiz.

The former Michigan Wolverine is playing really well right now, and not just as a pass blocker. New Orleans is averaging 5.2 yards per carry as a team, and 5.8 on runs to the right side where Ruiz and right tackle Ryan Ramczyk are most responsible for paving the way. He’s moving well on both gap and zone running plays. It’s taken a lot of patience and some coaching changes — the Saints brought back Doug Marrone as their offensive line coach this spring, retaining Zach Strief as his assistant, with former All-Pro right guard Jahri Evans joining them for training camp as a coaching intern — but Ruiz is finally coming into his own.

So good for him. Sure, the Saints are 2-5 and struggling in some facets of the game, but Ruiz has been a surprising bright spot for them. He’s looking like a dependable player who can hold down his spot and continue to work well between Ramczyk and longtime center Erik McCoy, who just signed a multiyear contract extension. The Saints have a decision to make on Ruiz’s contract in March 2023 with his fifth-year option coming up, which Over The Cap estimates will be valued at more than $13.9 million for the 2024 season (those options must be picked up a year in advance). If Ruiz keeps this up, he’ll make that decision an easy one for New Orleans, and maybe earn a long-term contract.

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