Tag: Dan Orlovsky

ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky floats Bill Belichick-Patriots rumor

Could Bill Belichick’s next destination and team already be lined up?

NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky has seemingly heard rumblings that New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick already has his next job lined up for next season, and it isn’t with the Patriots.

When appearing on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Orlovsky wouldn’t go into specifics, but he did indicate that he heard speculation that Belichick and the Patriots were parting ways after the season.

It’s been a rough go for the Patriots in 2023. The team currently sits with a 2-8 record and is projected to land the third pick in the 2024 NFL draft right now. It’s an ideal spot for a Patriots team that needs several pieces on offense in order to contend in the AFC.

Belichick has already achieved the milestone of his 300th victory this season. Now, another team may be in the market for his services. The Athletic’s Diana Russini reported this last weekend, and Orlovsky elaborated on the theory.

“I have heard that’s going to be the case, and it’s kind of, who knows the likelihood of it? But I’ve heard that’s going to happen. And I’ve heard the location is kind of already determined, as well,” said Orlovsky. “I’m not giving [names] — I just have heard that. …It’s people who know what they’re talking about.”

This would certainly be a change for both New England and Belichick alike.

One has to wonder if a new voice in charge would benefit the organization. Orlovsky’s words are a bit of a tease at the moment. With that being said, there has been enough smoke around these rumors to at least entertain them.

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Ex-NFL QB says Mac Jones reached out to him for help

Ex-NFL QB admitted Mac Jones was one of multiple quarterbacks that have reached out to him for help.

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones reached out to former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky for advice recently. Orlovsky spoke about the interaction when appearing on WEEI’s “Jones and Mego”.

“I’ve had guys reach out to me and ask for it,” Orlovsky said. “…Mac had reached out awhile back and had kind of said, ‘Hey, if you see anything good or bad, let me know, please.'”

Orlovsky played eight seasons in the NFL and had his best year in 2008, when he threw for 1,616 yards and eight touchdowns.

Jones has been struggling this season.  He has thrown for 1,641 yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions. It has been a bumpy road for the Alabama product throughout the course of his NFL career.

It’s certainly worth noting that Jones reportedly sought outside help from Alabama last season, and it didn’t go over well with the Patriots. One has to wonder if there would be any sort of ramifications from this situation.

It’s also important to keep in mind that Orlovsky didn’t provide a timeframe. So Jones could have asked for help at any point. Orlovsky also mentioned helping multiple quarterbacks behind the scenes, which means Jones isn’t the only one that’s sought his help.

It’s no secret that Jones wants to work hard to improve his game. However, the results have just not been there as of late. Jones will need to bounce back if he wants to change the trajectory of his career and help the Patriots have a productive season.

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ESPN’s Ryan Clark breaks down Bills new defensive look vs. Bucs (video)

ESPN’s Ryan Clark breaks down #Bills new defensive look vs. #Bucs (video):

The Buffalo Bills defense have lost some key pieces in the last couple of weeks, with injuries to Tre’Davious White, Da’Quan Jones, and Matt Milano resulting in various second- and third-string players seeing their snap counts vary at their expected and alternate positions.

The tinkering on the defensive front happens throughout an NFL season, as injuries are always possible. To lose multiple key pieces across all levels of the defense is unlikely, but sometimes it happens.

Sean McDermott, who took over defensive coordinator duties this offseason, had looked at different ways to line up and include his extremely talented defenders on the field and players that can make big plays to disrupt the offensive timing for throws and tackle running backs behind the line of scrimmage.

In Week 8, the Buffalo defense lined up in a unique formation with three safeties on occasion. ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky pointed out how the Bills lined up in this formation against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and how the formation allows for Buffalo’s talented safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde to both be on the field while having a third safety, Taylor Rapp, drop into the linebacker role during passing downs.

And the former NFL quarterback asked guest Ryan Clark for this thoughts on the new personnel during ESPN’s NFL Live program. Clark played 12 years as a safety in the NFL across various defensive schemes and formations, and definitely knows a thing or two about winning. The NFL veteran started as safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers for five years, including during the 2008 season when he won Super Bowl XLIII.

Clark also highlighted to Orlovsky that the defensive scheme seemed to be a game plan for the Buccaneers specifically, given their inability to run the football and reliance on quarterback Baker Mayfield to beat opponents through the air.

You can watch the full clip of Clark and Orlovsky analyzing the Bills’ defense here following a segment on the Bills’ offense by Orlovsky:

3 causes for concern as the Bills face the Buccaneers in Week 8

3 causes for concern as the #Bills face the #Buccaneers in Week 8:

The Buffalo Bills are looking to get back into the win column as they welcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers home to Highmark Stadium to start off Week 8 of the 2023 NFL season.

Buffalo will be looking to make a statement after a disappointing loss to a division rival last week, the New England Patriots. While this can be an opportunity for Buffalo to win, there are never any easy games in the NFL and Thursday will not be easy.

Here are three causes for concern for the Bills (4-3) against the Buccaneers (3-3):

Dan Orlovsky on what the Seahawks offense does as well as anyone

Watch: Dan Orlovsky breaks down a couple things the Seahawks offense does as well as any team, including how they use tight ends.

Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron has his flaws as a play-caller. For the third year in a row Seattle has the worst screen attack in the league, there are far too many runs on first down and third down in general has been a disappointment.

All that being said, he deserves credit where credit is due. Heading into Week 6 the team ranks just outside the top five in points scored per game in the league. One big reason why is how effective they’ve been in 12 personnel – where they have the highest EPA/play in the NFL.

Earlier this week on NFL Live, ESPN analyst and former pro quarterback Dan Orlovsky broke down a couple things this offense does as well as any team, including how they use tight ends. Watch.

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NFL Week 4 Awards: Mike Tomlin has no answers for his disappointing Steelers

Mike Tomlin’s team is treading water and he doesn’t know what to do.

We’re used to watching the Pittsburgh Steelers with gold and yellow glasses.

They are, traditionally, a marquee NFL franchise, marketed like a heavyweight team every year. And for the most part, under Mike Tomlin, they’ve almost always been respectable. They’ve literally never had a losing season under him. Call it a hunch, but that remarkable streak seems like it’s in jeopardy this season.

On Sunday, the Houston Texans — with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, mind you — humiliated the Steelers in a 30-6 win. Pittsburgh had no answers for an inexperienced quarterback, and its offense could never get off the ground against a young Houston team that is supposed to be rebuilding. When Tomlin was asked about making “changes” to prevent another outcome like this from happening, he professed something would shift.

But I’m not quite sure what strings he can pull to make these Steelers look respectable. (Warning: NSFW language in the tweet and video below.)

Kenny Pickett might be out for a while with a knee injury. Is Mitchell Trubisky really going to be that much of an upgrade for Matt Canada’s uninspirational offense? Is a defense that lets everyone cut it up over the top really going to be that much better with rookie Joey Porter Jr. in the fold?

The fact of the matter is that Tomlin’s Steelers don’t seem like they’re good enough to contend with the AFC’s big boys anymore. Deep down, I feel like he probably knows it. Deep down, another season straddling around .500 should probably be considered a massive accomplishment for Pittsburgh this year. This is a flawed roster with a flawed process that really needs to take a good look in the mirror and realign its expectations.

And who’s to say Tomlin even has a good answer for the Steelers’ issues outside of anything obvious? He hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has missed the postseason as many times (3) as it’s qualified over the last six years.

The 2-2 Steelers are without a paddle, and I’m not sure Tomlin can rescue them this time.

ESPN’s Laura Rutledge confirmed Dan Orlovsky was, in fact, wearing pants in awkward TV shot

These were probably not the best pants to wear on live TV!

With the Jacksonville Jaguars dispatching the Atlanta Falcons in a (mostly) drama-less 23-7 affair Sunday, there wasn’t much to write home about from London. Well, except for the time the ESPN+ camera appeared to show an unflattering shot of Dan Orlovsky’s beige pants.

You might be saying: “I’m sorry, what?” Let me explain.

Based on an unfortunate camera angle, it almost seemed like the announcer — who was in the booth with Louis Riddick and Chris Fowler — wasn’t wearing pants for a moment. That couldn’t have been further from the truth as the camera really was playing tricks on our eyes, and Orlovsky came fully dressed to work.

Orlovsky’s colleague, Laura Rutledge, would hilariously confirm on Twitter that Orlovsky was indeed wearing pants. (Even though the lining on his pants is plainly visible.)

This is how Orlovsky clarified his fashion decision in response to former NFL player Chris Long:

There have been a lot of fashion faux pas in professional sports and commentating. This one from Orlovksy would have been wild if it was actually true.

ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky urges Bills to commit to having Josh Allen under center (video)

ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky urges #Bills to commit to having Josh Allen under center (via @SharifKeaton):

The Buffalo Bills are 2-1 through three weeks of football and have shown over the past two weeks that they are a team to be reckoned with. In light of how well the Bills have been playing recently, one former NFL quarterback urges Buffalo to commit to a certain action if they want to get to the Super Bowl this season.

In a video posted Sunday on X, Dan Orlovsky, former NFL QB and current ESPN analyst, gave his thoughts on the Bills following their 37-3 win over the Washington Commanders.

In the lopsided win, Buffalo put up 386 total yards of offense while holding Washington to just 230 yards and five turnovers.

Allen didn’t have his sharpest performance, but he did throw for 218 yards and one touchdown before the game became a blowout. While Allen did complete 62.5% of his passes in the game, he also committed a turnover and was very close to committing another one.

Orlovsky believes that he has the solution to opening up Allen’s game:

“Bills, fans, organization, I feel like I’ve said this for two years. When they (Bills) consistently commit to putting Josh Allen underneath the center and using play-action pass, that offense can play with anybody.”

See what else Orlovsky had to say down below:

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NFL Week 3 Awards: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce weren’t enough to keep the Bears on TV

The Bears are so awful that even Taylor Swift can’t keep attention on them.

The Chicago Bears continue to reach new levels of futility. And their descent into darkness doesn’t seem like it’s ending any time soon.

On a visit to the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, the Bears were, quite literally, ran off the field after a half. Matters grew so grim for Chicago that Fox decided to switch off their game (a nationally televised matchup!). Mind you, dear reader, this was a game that featured Taylor Swift (and her budding romance with Travis Kelce) as well as football’s best quarterback, Patrick Mahomes.

That’s right. The Bears — the NFL’s worst team — are so dreadful that the producers of a major American sports network decided they weren’t worth keeping on the TV for the sake of live shots of one of the world’s biggest music stars. Talk about an awkward situation for the league’s charter franchise, which has now lost 14 consecutive games dating back to 2022.

If Chicago loses three more games, they’ll be tied for the seventh-longest streak in NFL history since the NFL-AFL merger in 1966. If they lose six more games, they’ll be tied for the third-longest losing streak. And if they unthinkably lose out the rest of the season — 14 games! — they will be owners of the worst losing streak the league has seen in almost six decades.

Call it a hunch, but I have a feeling many network executives will want the Bears off TVs in the coming weeks. They’re just not worth the trouble right now.

NFL fans all had Dan Orlovsky jokes after Gardner Minshew stepped out of the end zone for a safety

This embarrassing club now includes Dan Orlovsky, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Gardner Minshew.

Every week, NFL quarterbacks manage to remind us of the atrocious hair-pulling play they’re capable of. But the arguably worst position to be in is channeling former long-time backup Dan Orlovsky — who once infamously stepped out of bounds in the end zone for a safety.

The Indianapolis Colts’ Gardner Minshew has now joined this notorious club.

As the Colts tried to mount a road comeback against the Baltimore Ravens, Minshew found himself trying to mount a drive from Indianapolis’s own end zone. And when he finished his drop back on a third-and-long play, Minshew seemed to forget he didn’t have all that much room to work with — to disastrous results.

The veteran backup clearly stepped out of bounds and gifted the Ravens a safety, which ended up being crucial in a 19-19 affair that went to overtime.

Oof:

After Jimmy Garoppolo joined this club last year, Orlovsky was no longer alone in his embarrassment anyway. But the NFL analyst still celebrated Minshew adding his own unfortunate lack of awareness to his resume:

Good for Orlovsky. You knew, eventually, he wouldn’t be the only person to have that end-zone safety blemish on their rap sheet.