Tag: Defensive Line

Cowboys add 4th former Bears assistant to defensive coaching staff under Eberflus

From @ToddBrock24f7: Bryan Bing was the Bears’ assistant DL coach last year in Chicago. He’ll reunite with Matt Eberflus in the same role in Dallas in 2025.

The Cowboys defense in 2025 could have a decidedly Chicago feel to it, at least based on the most recent hires to the coaching staff on that side of the ball.

Whether or not that’s a good thing may depend on what stats are being considered.

The Cowboys on Wednesday named Bryan Bing the team’s new assistant defensive line coach, according to a report from ESPN’s Todd Archer. Bing most recently served in the same capacity for the Bears last season, which was his first in that role under then-head coach Matt Eberflus.

Since being named defensive coordinator in Dallas, Eberflus has brought several of his Bears defensive staffers with him, with Bing being the fourth so far.

Andre Curtis (passing game coordinator), Dave Borgonzi (linebackers coach), and David Overstreet (assistant defensive backs coach) have all rejoined Eberflus since he was named the DC in Dallas on Jan. 28.

With Bing and those assistants, Chicago’s defense allowed 370 points in 2024. That was good for a 13th-place ranking leaguewide and was, notably, nearly 100 points better than the Cowboys.

Yardage-wise, though, the Bears gave up the sixth-most over the course of the season, ending one spot- and just 17 yards- better than Dallas. The Bears were tied for second-worst in yards allowed per play, with 5.9.

And when it comes specifically to run defense, where Bing focused his efforts along the defensive line, Chicago finished neck-and-neck with the Cowboys, logging almost identical numbers near the bottom of the NFL in both total rushing yards allowed and rushing yards allowed per carry.

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The Bears gave up “only” 20 rushing touchdowns in 2024 (tied for seventh-worst), as compared to the league-worst 25 allowed by the Cowboys. And while the Cowboys’ red-zone defense was the league’s most porous, allowing a touchdown 75% of the time, Chicago’s was second-best with a conversion rate from opponents of just 46%.

Dallas did end the season with more sacks and a better pressure rate than Chicago.

Prior to last season with the Bears, Bing spent the 2023 season on a coaching fellowship in Indianapolis. That came after a seven-year college coaching career that took him to five different schools and culminated in two seasons as the D-line coach at Wofford.

Dallas’s assistant DL coach spot was filled last year by former Cowboys player Greg Ellis, Sharrif Floyd in 2023, and franchise legend Leon Lett for three seasons prior to that.

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Steelers’ 25-year draft history shows WR isn’t a first-round priority

The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t drafted a wide receiver in the first round in 19 years, making it unlikely they break that trend in 2025.

The 2025 NFL Draft buzz is beginning to pick up as the Senior Bowl has concluded, leaving much of the Black and Gold faithful wondering what their beloved Steelers will do to alleviate their receiver concerns.

Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka has been the biggest wide receiver tied to the Steelers’ 21st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but something fans may want to consider is that history does not support this speculation.

Since 2000, the Steelers have selected just two wide receivers in the first round—Plaxico Burress in 2000 and Santonio Holmes in 2006.

It has been a long 19 years since the Steel City used the coveted first round to find a wide receiver, as the Pittsburgh Steelers tend to use the later rounds to select their top receivers.

In the past 25 NFL Drafts, there have been six wide receivers taken in the second round by the Steelers—their number one targeted positional group from picks 33-64.

With that in mind, it is likely that the Pittsburgh Steelers draft a defensive lineman in the first round and choose to draft a receiver in the second round, such as TCU WR Jack Bech—who was recently named the 2025 Senior Bowl MVP.

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How much longer can Cam Heyward defy age heading into 2025 season?

Cam Heyward continues to defy age, but how much longer can the Steelers rely on him before finding his eventual replacement?

The 2025 NFL offseason must be treated with careful planning, great attention, and reflection if the Pittsburgh Steelers are to rebound from their disappointing five-game losing streak to end the 2024 season.

One of the most painful questions the Pittsburgh Steelers must ask themselves heading into the offseason, however, is how much longer they can rely on the sole efforts of Cam Heyward to uphold a weakening defensive line.

Heyward will be 36 years old by the time the 2025 regular season rolls around—just one year older than when legendary Steelers DT “Mean” Joe Greene retired.

Heyward put together one of his greatest seasons to date in 2024, but Father Time waits for no man. Ideally, he would be able to play at an elite level for another five years, but this simply isn’t realistic.

Ultimately, if the Pittsburgh Steelers care about staying competitive in the postseason—and there’s little evidence to suggest that they do—drafting his heir apparent in the 2025 NFL Draft would be the right move.

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Ex-Broncos defensive lineman retires after 90 games in the NFL

Former Broncos defensive lineman Mike Purcell has retired from the NFL.

Former Denver Broncos defensive lineman Mike Purcell has retired from the NFL, his agent, Cameron Foster, told The Denver Gazette‘s Chris Tomasson.

Purcell, 33, played high school football in Highlands Ranch and he went to college at Wyoming before joining the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2013. After four years in San Francisco, Purcell bounced between the Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs.

Purcell then spent a season playing in the AAF with the Salt Lake Stallions in the spring of 2019. The Broncos signed Purcell after the AAF season wrapped up and he went on to spend five years in Denver.

Purcell totaled 166 tackles, 14 quarterback hits, four pass breakups, three fumble recoveries, 2.5 sacks and one safety in 65 games (37 starts) with the Broncos. He was not re-signed following the 2023 season and Purcell then returned to the Patriots.

After being cut by New England last summer, Purcell sat out the 2024 campaign. He’s now hanging up his cleats with 90 NFL games on his resume.

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Cameron Jordan on why Saints had to make a change at DL coach

Cameron Jordan shared his views on former Saints defensive line coach Todd Grantham, and why change was needed to get more out of the unit:

The New Orleans Saints had a difficult 2024 season, to put it lightly, and one of the more notable issues on the team was the defensive line’s struggles. The unit was solid at generating pressure, and occasionally was around league-average in the sacks department. However, when it came to run defense, things got ugly. Here are some key stats that predominantly start with the defensive line:

  • Tied-15th fewest sacks accumulated (39)
  • 2nd-most rushing yards allowed (2,404)
  • Tied-7th most rushing touchdowns allowed (20)
  • Tied-3rd most 20-yard runs allowed (18)
  • 2nd-highest yards per carry allowed (4.9)

This poor performance led to defensive line coach Todd Grantham being re-assigned out of the position, and ultimately ended up moving on to become the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State.

Veteran defensive end Cameron Jordan of the Saints discussed Grantham and his points of emphasis at a few points throughout the season/offseason, and this continued recently as Sports Illustrated had chronicled his season, and heard more about their relationship.

Greg Bishop of Sports Illustrated paraphrased what Jordan had said regarding former Saints defensive line coach Todd Grantham, stating:

“All season, Jordan had stressed patience, while he tried to adapt to a new role — pass rusher primarily rushing from the interior. He says, more than once and for months, that his position coach, Todd Grantham, wasn’t focused on teaching players technique, tweaking form throughout a season, or development in general.” 

This would be followed up with more information regarding what he said after Week 9’s loss to the Carolina Panthers, the team’s seventh defeat in a row:

“At one point in another stinging defeat, Jordan says he told Allen and others he wouldn’t speak to Grantham anymore, that all communication needed to come from someone else. “I reached my threshold,” he says. “Threshold of — he doesn’t know what respect looks like, or he doesn’t know how to treat a man as a man. If anything, I’m a warrior. There’s ways to go about things respectfully.” 

Ultimately this is not the most surprising development to hear, as the progress of young defensive ends Isaiah Foskey and Payton Turner has been slow to nonexistent, and coaching plays a large hand in that. With neither player living up to pre-draft expectations, and a veteran stating the coaching focus was not on cultivating technique, it is fair to assume the Saints made the right move in letting Grantham walk.

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Falcons sign WR recently let go by Broncos; Bucs add ex-Denver DL

The Falcons signed ex-Broncos WR David Sills to a reserve/future contract and the Bucs added defensive lineman Adam Gotsis.

It didn’t take long for David Sills to land on his feet.

After having his practice squad contract with the Denver Broncos expire on Monday, the wide receiver signed a reserve/future contract with the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday, according to the NFL’s transaction wire.

Sills (6-3, 211 pounds) spent the last two years on Denver’s practice squad. Before that, he spent time with the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants. Sills has 13 career receptions for 123 yards in 16 games, including three appearances with the Broncos during the 2023 season.

Elsewhere on the ex-Denver player front, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed defensive lineman Adam Gotsis to a reserve/future contract. Gotsis (6-4, 290 pounds) was picked by the Broncos in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft. He spent the first four years of his career in Denver before stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts.

Sills was one of three practice squad players who did not receive reserve/future deals from the Broncos at the end of the 2024 season, joined by tight end Donald Parham and offensive tackle Cam Fleming.

The Broncos did sign 14 other players to reserve/future contracts.

Players that are not on an active roster at the end of the season are eligible to sign reserve/future deals. After signing reserve contracts, players officially join the 90-man offseason roster when the new league year begins in March.

Ex-Broncos practice squad free agents

  1. TE Donald Parham
  2. OT Cam Fleming

Broncos reserve/future signings

  1. WR A.T. Perry
  2. WR Michael Bandy
  3. TE Thomas Yassmin
  4. OL Nick Garguilo
  5. OL Will Sherman
  6. OL Calvin Throckmorton
  7. DL Matt Henningsen
  8. DT Jordan Miller
  9. LB K.J. Cloyd
  10. OLB Andrew Farmer
  11. DB Quinton Newsome
  12. DB Keidron Smith
  13. DB Tanner McCalister
  14. CB Reese Taylor

Denver signed 14 players to reserve/future deals last year, including running back Tyler Badie.

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Chiefs DE George Karlaftis shares credit for his performance vs. Texans: ‘A big team win’

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis shares credit for his performance vs. Houston #Texans: ‘A big team win’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ defense provided dominating pressure in their AFC Divisional victory over the Houston Texans. Defensive end George Karlaftis led the pressure, with three sacks of Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud didn’t want to accept all the praise during his postgame press conference on  Saturday.

“I don’t really like answering personal questions after such a big team win. But just trusting in my coaches and leaning on my vets,” said Karlaftis. “A guy like Chris Jones, a guy like Frank Clark, Carlos Dunlap, guys like Mike Danna, Charles Omenihu, Tershawn Wharton, I could go on and on. What I am is because of those guys – especially (Defensive Line) Coach (Joe) Cullen and (Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) Coach Spags and (Assistant Defensive Line) Coach (Terry) Bradden too.”

Karlaftis led the team with eight sacks during the regular season and carried over his momentum on a cold day at Arrowhead Stadium.

“When you get a sack, it’s a big thing, a big deal – both as a play and as a stat, but also for the morale,” said Karlaftis. “When multiple guys are able to do that when you have 8.0 sacks, that usually gives you a pretty good chance to win.”

The Chiefs defense made plays throughout the game, shutting down potential scoring drives. Karlaftis has become a force that warrants extra attention from offensive lines, which could affect the other pass rushers in the unit.

Zach Allen named NFL’s third-biggest snub for Pro Bowl

Broncos defensive lineman Zach Allen was one of the NFL’s biggest Pro Bowl snubs this season.

Can you believe an interior defensive lineman with 8.5 sacks didn’t make the NFL Pro Bowl? I can’t, and neither can NFL.com’s Kevin Patra.

Denver Broncos defensive lineman Zach Allen had a productive year, as noted above: 61 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 19 stuffs. However, getting him into the Pro Bowl wasn’t good enough. NFL.com released their ten biggest Pro Bowl snubs, and Patra puts Allen as the third biggest on the list.

From Patra’s story:

Pressure is production — unless you’re voting for the Pro Bowl, apparently. Allen has been a backfield menace this season, leading all interior defensive linemen with 65 QB pressures (ninth-most among all defenders). When an interior player is getting the kind of push Allen has provided this season, he wrecks games. The pocket-pusher has keyed Vance Joseph’s defense, eating up blockers and still producing; his 14 QB pressures when double-teamed are tied for fourth-most in the NFL. The 27-year-old sits third in sacks among all interior D-linemen with 8.5 (half a sack behind Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams).

Allen is an alternate for the Pro Bowl. A much bigger honor is his second-team All-Pro recognition, further confirmation that he should have made the Pro Bowl.

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Cam Heyward on why Steelers struggle to win playoff games

Cam Heyward isn’t holding back on the Steelers’ playoff struggles, calling out slow starts after another early exit.

Cam Heyward has truly turned back the clock in 2024, but it likely means very little to the Pittsburgh Steelers defender, as the team has once again failed to win when it matters most—in the playoffs.

The veteran defender sympathizes with Steelers fans and is equally frustrated himself, as evident when discussing the team’s playoff woes on his podcast, Not Just Football with Cam Heyward.

Heyward explained exactly why the team continues to struggle early in these playoff contests:

“Defense is not getting off the field—not getting three-and-outs. Offense not scoring any points.”

Touching specifically on the loss to the Ravens, Heyward continued to rip into the team’s performance:

“I thought the offense came out in the second half and played a lot better, but it was a hole that was dug pretty deep.”

There is no sugarcoating it—the Pittsburgh Steelers are a terrible first-half football team.

While it’s a start that the veteran DT is addressing the slow starts, but the bigger question remains on how to correct it—and hopefully it is answered in time for Heyward to win his Super Bowl before retirement.

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Will Chris Jones play this week? Injury updates for Chiefs DL

#Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones is dealing with a calf injury. Here are the latest updates. 

Defensive tackle Chris Jones is listed on the Kansas City Chiefs’ injury report ahead of the team’s divisional-round showdown against the Houston Texans on Saturday, January 18.

Will Jones be able to play this weekend?

Chris Jones injury update

Jones is still dealing with a calf injury but was a full participant in Kansas City’s practice session on Thursday.

In a press conference this week, Jones indicated that he should be able to play against Houston, saying: “I feel really good, I feel excited, ready to go play some football.”

How long will Chris Jones be out?

Jones is likely to start on Saturday, he has fully participated in this week’s practices and has not indicated he needs more time to recover.

Chiefs DT depth chart

Jones is backed up by two Super Bowl champion defensive linemen Mike Pennel Jr. and Derrick Nnadi, who have stepped up in big moments for Kansas City in the past.