Tag: Brian Baldinger

Baldy breakdown of Wyatt Teller: “That’s what help looks like”

Another great Baldy Breakdown of “The Union” (Browns OL) shows what help looks like and Wyatt Teller looking for work.

The Cleveland Browns went from one of the worst offensive line in the NFL to one of, if not the, best in the league. In one season, Andrew Berry, Kevin Stefanski and Bill Callahan turned Wyatt Teller into one of the best guards in the league as well.

One of the most important parts of what the Browns were able to do in just one season was to make sure there wasn’t a weak link among their starting five. That allowed Baker Mayfield to build confidence in what was happening in front of him instead of wondering if one or two (or three sometimes in 2019) blockers were getting beat badly.

Brian Baldinger, of the NFL Network and other media outlets, does a great job of giving quick film breakdowns on Twitter. He often calls the Browns starting line “The Union” for how they work together.

This “Baldy breakdown” may not be one that would make a highlight reel but is a great example of how Cleveland’s offensive line works together and made sure to keep Mayfield clean:

 

In a short video, you can see the mindset of “looking for work” that is part of all of the great offensive lines. Teller makes sure he is available for any looping or later rushers before giving Jack Conklin just enough help and making sure J.J. Watt feels him.

The awareness and physicality of Teller and the rest of the Browns offensive line set the tone for the 2020 season. Baldinger highlights a good example of it and the foundation the Browns will build on going into 2021.

The Touchdown Wire podcast with Brian Baldinger

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar talks with NFL Network, NFL Films, and FOX Sports analyst Brian Baldinger about the 2021 NFL season.

The Touchdown Wire podcast returns with special guest Brian Baldinger of the NFL Network, FOX Sports, NFL Films, and several other outlets!

Brian and I talked about:

  • His involvement with the CoachTube website;
  • What it was like working with Steve Sabol at NFL Films;
  • The most interesting schematic trends in the NFL today;
  • How Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff, and Carson Wentz will fare with their new teams;
  • The advent of quick game in the NFL, and how that’s changed how offensive lines work;
  • The toughest transitions for college offensive linemen coming into the NFL…

And much more! Follow Brian on Twitter at @BaldyNFL, where you can find his “Baldy’s Breakdowns,” and check out his work at CoachTube.

Watch the podcast on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inAe4JgDG3I

Listen to the podcast on BlogTalk Radio:

Feeds to Spotify and iTunes coming soon!

Brian Baldinger calls Landon Dickerson the ‘best offensive lineman’ he’s seen since Quentin Nelson

Brian Baldinger Compares Landon Dickerson to Quenton Nelson

NFL analyst Brian Baldinger thinks the Eagles might have gotten a steal and a future All-Pro offensive lineman in Landon Dickerson.

During a recent sitdown on NFL Network, the knowledgeable analyst had high praise for the former Crimson Tide star and Philadelphia’s 2021 second-round pick. While breaking down Dickerson’s traits, Baldinger compared him to Quenton Nelson, calling him the best lineman to enter the league since the former Notre Dame star joined Indianapolis.

“He was the best offensive lineman I had seen since Quenton Nelson… You look at him against the Elite Players that are now all in the NFL, and he didn’t have a problem.”

Dickerson was drafted as a center but has played the right and left guard position, and he’s being projected to be a guy that will finally challenge current guard Isaac Seumalo for the starting spot at left guard.

In losing Brandon Brooks and Andre Dillard to season-ending injuries last year, the team kind of fell in a hole when they couldn’t find the production they needed when both were unavailable.

The Eagles chose the strategy of drafting a rugged and versatile player like Dickerson, to avoid deja vu all over again.

Drafted 37th overall in the 2nd round, Dickerson was already favored by many following his rehab treatment from ACL surgery last December.   The rookie already has a mentor and supporter in Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland.

If Dickerson can regain his form, stay healthy, and absorb Philadelphia’s system, things could be interesting in the NFC East for years to come.

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How long can “the gold standard” Browns offensive line stay together?

The Cleveland Browns have “the gold standard” offensive line but how long can they stay together given contracts and age?

In one offseason, the Cleveland Browns turned a weakness into a strength. In 2019, the Browns had three out of their five positions on the offensive line struggling. Only veterans Joel Bitonio and J.C. Tretter played well and were seen as solid pieces for a few years.

Then Kevin Stefanski was hired as the head coach and Andrew Berry was hired to run the front office. The team then brought in Bill Callahan, considered by many to be the best offensive line coach in the NFL, to help fix the weakness found in front of Baker Mayfield.

When free agency opened up, Berry added Jack Conklin to fill one of the holes at tackle then used the Browns’ top draft pick to select Jedrick Wills to fill the other.

Callahan was responsible for fixing the right guard spot with a number of players that were left on the roster. In the end, Callahan and company helped Wyatt Teller have the best year of his career and solidify the Browns offensive line with five good to great players.

From three weaknesses to no weaknesses in one offseason leading Brian Baldinger of the NFL Network to have high praise for the Browns offensive line:

 

Baldinger also dubbed the group “The Union” for how they work together on the field.

While the team will have all five starters, and a solid group of depth players, back on the offensive line for 2021, the longevity of this specific group can be called into question.

Wyatt Teller is scheduled to be a free agent after this upcoming season.

Joel Bitonio, Jack Conklin, and J.C. Tretter can be free agents after the following season with Tretter having a very small dead cap hit if cut after the 2021 season as well.

Age could also start to catch up with the longest-tenured Browns offensive linemen. Both Bitonio and Tretter will play this season as 30-year-olds with free agency looing at the age of 32.

The Browns seem to have started to plan for the future in the draft.

Drew Forbes was drafted in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft but sat out last season as a COVID-19 opt-out. Nick Harris was drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft and seen as a perfect fit for a zone-blocking scheme when drafted. This year, the team drafted James Hudson in the fourth round.

Along with Wills, the Browns have four young guys who could be ready to take over if needed in the next few years.

With Callahan in place, the team has to believe in their own ability to develop players as they go. At some point, the Browns won’t be able to keep all of their players under contract especially at positions, like the offensive line, that can get quite expensive.

Teller may be the first domino to drop if the team is unable to reach an extension after this year. Tretter’s fate could also be determined this upcoming offseason with Bitonio and Conklin coming up the following year.

For 2020, the Cleveland Browns have “the gold standard” offensive line. While those five starters may not stay together for much more than this season, with Bill Callahan and young drafted players, the Browns might be well prepared for the future.

Brian Baldinger ‘surprised’ Giants didn’t draft an offensive lineman

NFL analyst Brian Baldinger admits he’s “surprised” the New York Giants passed on offensive linemen in the 2021 NFL draft.

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New York Giants fans and many pundits who cover the team (present company included) were surprised that general manager Dave Gettleman did not select an offensive lineman in this year’s NFL draft.

Count former NFL offensive lineman Brian Baldinger in that group. He attempted to apply some logic to the Giants’ only miscue last weekend in Cleveland.

“It surprised me a whole lot, because I thought they lost their best lineman in Kevin Zeitler. I know Nate Solder is coming back, but he’s never played right tackle, and they’re asking him to play there after missing a whole year … and he wasn’t very good there at left tackle,” Baldinger said in an interview on WFAN earlier this week.

“When I look at the roster, I like what I saw out of Shane Lemieux, but Will Hernandez looks like a guy who hasn’t improved since he was a second-round pick in 2018. Zach Fulton looks like he might come in and win a job, and Matt Peart showed flashes, but I would’ve thought they’d have tried to upgrade and create more competition. Maybe they think because they drafted and played three guys last year, and then they got Fulton and Solder in the building, that they had enough to work with.”

Giants general manager Dave Gettleman explained to the media that the opportunity to select a lineman did not materialize and that the team has a lot more confidence in the offensive line than the public and the media does.

Baldinger, a guard/center who played a decade in the league in the 1980s and 1990s, was a Duke product by way of Massapequa High School. He obviously has taken an interest in the career of another Duke product, Giants quarterback Daniel Jones. He offered a prediction for Jones this season.

“Daniel should have his best year, because it’s the best team he has had around him and they have stability,” Baldinger said. “I think Joe Judge did a great job and they really came on later in the season, but Daniel has to take care of the football. You can talk about the offensive line or the weapons, but at the end of the day, you have to stop turning it over — not for a week, but for long stretches. He just has to keep the turnovers to a reasonable margin; a lot less than it is now.”

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Watch: Brian Baldinger breaks down Derrick Brown’s bull rush vs. Green Bay

Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown notched the first two sacks of his NFL career last night against the Packers.

Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown notched the first two sacks of his NFL career last night against the Packers.

This wasn’t hard to see coming. While it doesn’t show up in the box score, Brown has had a lot of success generating interior pressure on opposing quarterbacks with his bull rush all season.

Watch Brian Baldinger break down his beast-like night in Green Bay.

Baldinger isn’t the only expert on line play who has taken notice of Brown’s progress lately. On Wednesday, Brandon Thorn shared a few choice clips of Brown’s bull rush wreaking havoc last week against the Broncos here.

This is correct. While Brown will have to eventually add to his pass-rushing repertoire in order to live up to his potential, for now that pure power is carrying him to a fine rookie season.

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WATCH: Brian Baldinger blown away by Stefon Diggs route vs. Steelers

NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger on Stefon Diggs vs. Steelers.

NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger was nothing short of blown away by Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs on one route in particular against the Steelers in Week 14.

Just in an overall sense, Diggs was impressive with 10 catches, 130 yards and a touchdown in the 26-15 victory. But one route in particular against Steelers cornerback Cam Sutton caught Baldinger’s attention in one of analyst’s weekly “Blady Breakdowns.”

“I have never seen that before,” Baldinger said.

Check out the route here:

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Watch: Brian Baldinger breaks down Falcons’ 3rd-down defense

The Atlanta Falcons lost to the New Orleans Saints in Week 13, dropping to 4-8 on the season.

The Atlanta Falcons lost to the New Orleans Saints in Week 13, dropping to 4-8 on the season. Defensively, the Falcons struggled to get off the field on third down. The Saints converted eight third-down attempts, which was arguably the difference in Sunday’s game.

Brian Baldinger of NFL.com broke down a Saints conversion on third and 17 at the start of the second quarter. At the time, the Saints held a 7-3 lead, with the ball on Atlanta’s 41-yard line.

Baldinger noted the massive gap in the Falcons’ defense that left 10 yards open between the first and second level. This allowed New Orleans to have plenty of room to complete an easy check down and get into field-goal range. With the defense playing that far back to guard the sticks, the corners should not have went into a back pedal, as Baldinger notes in his breakdown video below.

While the conversion had no effect on the outcome of the game due to Saints kicker Will Lutz missing the kick, it’s concerning to see the defense fail to execute just one week after their best performance of the season.

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Baldy Breakdown: Giants’ Matt Peart has serious upside

In the latest Brian Baldinger breakdown, we examine New York Giants rookie OT Matt Peart and his long-term potential.

The New York Giants benched first-round left tackle Andrew Thomas in Week 6 against the Washington Football Team, citing disciplinary reasons.

Thomas allegedly showed up late to a Saturday night meeting, which he acknowledged in a statement through the team.

“I was late for our meeting last night,” Thomas said in a statement. “Coach Judge always talks about actions have consequences, and I take responsibility for my actions and the consequences. It won’t happen again.”

Head coach Joe Judge confirmed Thomas’ statement while meeting with the media on Sunday.

“I want to make clear, this wasn’t performance based at all,” Judge told reporters. “I’m not going to go too far into detail, but what I will say is Andrew violated team policy. There was nothing disobedient, disrespectful or malicious in what he did, but he made a mistake and there’s consequences for mistakes. We’ve got to make sure that we go ahead and we handle that the right way. That being said, I thought that Andrew did a really good job of accepting it, staying ready, performing when he got in the game.”

Thomas’ benching paved the way for third-round offensive tackle Matt Peart to start, and he later received additional offensive snaps.

In his brief film review of the game, NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger focused solely on Peart, who he feels has tremendous “upside.”

As Baldinger alludes, most of Peart’s issues are basic. He doesn’t stay square long enough and occasionally dips his head, but those are fundamental issues that can be fixed with good coaching.

As it pertains to Peart’s talent, there’s no denying it. He’s built like a quality offensive lineman, has long arms and is as strong as an ox. Once he gets more experience and cleans things up, watch out.

Peart at left tackle and Thomas at right tackle? Maybe, baby…

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WATCH: Baldy’s Breakdowns highlights Marshon Lattimore’s game-winning stop

New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore was highlighted on Baldy’s Breakdowns and NFL Next Gen Stats for his Mike Williams tackle.

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Few football games were decided by inches as strongly as the New Orleans Saints’ win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night. The Saints needed a couple of bounces to go their way to pull it off after trailing L.A. 20-3, almost literally — a would-be game-winning field goal for the Chargers instead bounced off the upright, ending regulation and sending the Saints to overtime.

And Marshon Lattimore came up with the day’s biggest tackle in the final minutes, stopping Chargers receiver Mike Williams just shy of converting a first down. NFL analyst Brian Baldinger talked up the highlight reel-worthy moment in his weekly film study, pointing out the size disparity between Lattimore and Williams and saying, “The part of this play that’s amazing is he’s not even going to let (Williams) move forward. He’s driving him backwards, slamming him into the turf.”

“It’s like vectors,” Baldinger continued. “Mike Williams can’t get north-south when Lattimore’s driving him east-west. And then (Lattimore) changes his body to slam him backwards. That’s a great tackle, helps preserve a win for the Saints.”

Just how impressive was that stop? NFL Next Gen Stats gave Williams a 73.4% percent chance of converting a first down after he caught the ball, which would have extended overtime and given the Chargers a shot at winning the game. But Lattimore came through with the play of the game to send his team into the bye week with a win:

It was a great play, but Lattimore must start playing better before it’s time to tackle his opponents. He’s given up too many passes in coverage with lapses win focus or miscommunications with his teammates. That’s been an ugly trend throughout his NFL career, and he’s quickly running out of time to get it corrected. Hopefully the Saints make it an area of focus when they come out of their Week 6 bye.

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