Tag: Defensive Line

Cameron Jordan on planning for a new-look Carolina Panthers

The amount of offseason turnover in Carolina can make it hard to plan for Week 1, so Cameron Jordan says the Saints are focused on themselves:

Bryce Young may still be at the helm, but the Carolina Panthers have new players in pivotal positions and new leadership at the top with head coach Dave Canales. That’s going to mean new challenges for the New Orleans Saints in Sunday’s regular season kickoff game.

We may see a much-improved quarterback. Not only does Young have a year of experience under his belt, he also has a new offensive mind leading the way. Canales alone has the ability to change Young’s fortune. It worked for Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield under Canales’ leadership.

The Panthers also added Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis up front. Defensive end Cameron Jordan alluded to these signings ahead of the New Orleans Saints showdown with the Panthers in Week 1. Jordan said the Panthers have “Darn near a whole new offensive line. For sure a new offensive coordinator. Everything’s sort of different.”

With the changes there’s only one focus, themselves. Jordan knows they have to game plan for a different version of Carolina but feels, “At the same time it’s about us. We’re going to have to play our calls, play our techniques. We have to focus on what we know we can be successful at.”

That’s often the case in Week 1 because of offseason changes to each team. That emphasis multiplies when the team brings in a new head coach.

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Broncos GM George Paton gushes with praise for DL Jordan Jackson

“Love the way he goes about his business,” Paton said of Jordan Jackson. “Smart, tough, athletic and I think he can keep getting better.”

After playing college football for the Air Force Falcons, defensive lineman Jordan Jackson was picked by the New Orleans Saints in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft. He spent his rookie season on the Saints’ practice squad and then signed a deal with the Denver Broncos in 2023.

Jackson (6-4, 294 pounds) failed to make Denver’s 53-man roster last summer but he was signed to the practice squad, where he spent the entire 2023 campaign. Jackson returned this year and impressed in preseason and won a spot on the active roster ahead of the 2024 season.

“We saw development,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said last week. “If we’re charting the early part of his pro career, we just saw a tick up. We saw it in practice, we saw it in the game. I would say we’re a little bit more one-gap driven now. I think that’s benefited him. In other words, he can get to an edge. So we were encouraged. He wasn’t a borderline decision.”

Jackson totaled two sacks in the team’s preseason finale, a performance that pleased general manager George Paton.

“Jordan has really improved since we got him, and I would say he’s gotten stronger,” Paton said last week. “He’s always had the athletic ability. He was a [project] of mine when he was at Air Force. We were going to draft him, but the Saints took him. So we monitored him, and then obviously we were able to get him on our roster. Again he’s been athletic.

“He could always rush, and now he’s gotten stronger, playing with better leverage and learning the defense more. He really fits what Vance [Joseph] is doing up front. He got better really each and every preseason game, and then obviously finished with a bang. [I] love the way he goes about his business. [He’s] smart, tough, athletic and I think he can keep getting better.”

Listed behind Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, John Franklin-Myers and Malcolm Roach on the depth chart, Jackson will begin the season as a rotational backup defensive lineman. The first step was making the 53-man roster. Now he has to prove he can make an impact on game days. Paton and Payton are confident Jackson will reward their confidence in him.

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Eyioma Uwazurike gets second chance with Broncos after returning from suspension

With his gambling suspension over, Eyioma Uwazurike made the 53-man roster. “He’s learned from it,” Sean Payton said. “He’s moved forward.”

The NFL placed an indefinite suspension on Denver Broncos defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike on July 24, 2023, after he violated the league’s gambling policy.

After sitting out his entire second season in the NFL, Uwazurike had his suspension lifted on August 5, 2024. Despite being out of football for more than a year, Uwazurike was welcomed back by coach Sean Payton.

“‘Enyi’ has taken full responsibility for his actions,” Payton said last week. “I feel like he’s learned from it. He’s moved forward, he’s shown remorse and been accountable. Since he showed up here, he showed up in shape. He’s only been here for three weeks. He’s not quite there — he’s rusty, but he’s big, he’s athletic, he’s talented and he plays hard.

“We thought the talent was too much [to waive him]. We love the kid. [He’s] a really good kid who made a mistake. We weren’t able to see him for a year, so when he showed up and he looked like he did, we thought that was really positive that he had been keeping himself in shape. We’re glad he’s here. He’s going to help us.”

Uwazurike made the team’s 53-man roster and while it might take a few weeks to get his legs under him, he should be ready to contribute later this season. Uwazurike dressed for eight games as a rookie in 2022, totaling 17 tackles and two quarterback hits. He’ll look to build on those totals in 2024.

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Taliese Fuaga continues to build confidence with each practice

Confidence continues to rise with Taliese Fuaga. His dominant rep against Chase Young at Thursday’s practice left media impressed:

Taliese Fuaga has shown promise the entire offseason from minicamp to New Orleans Saints training camp. The rookie then carried that momentum to the preseason game with the Arizona Cardinals, a performance for which he earned the praise of NFL analyst Brian Baldinger.

Most impressively, Fuaga did all of this while flipping from right tackle to left tackle. A back injury briefly held him out of practice, but he’s returned and may have just put on his most confidence-inspiring block yet. He stonewalled Chase Young at Thursday’s practice.

Saints News Network’s John Hendrix described the play by saying, “That Polynesian Power that Brian Baldinger talked about was on display. He stonewalled Chase Young and then he had just one hand out on him and Young wasn’t moving.”

Training camp is full of back and forth battles. It’s not about winning the rep. Young has won his fair share of reps. Young has been a wrecking ball all through training camp. Fuaga got this one in dominant fashion. To win the rep so convincingly against one of the stars of training camp means something.

The Saints’ recent offensive line selections have been less than enthusing, to say the least, but it seems they’ve hit on Taliese Fuaga.

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Patriots cut ex-Broncos defensive lineman ahead of preseason finale

Former Broncos defensive lineman Mike Purcell, 33, was cut by the Patriots this week.

The New England Patriots released veteran defensive lineman Mike Purcell on Wednesday ahead of their preseason finale against the Washington Commanders this weekend.

Purcell (6-3, 328 pounds) has had quite a football journey. He entered the NFL as a college free agent out of Wyoming with the San Francisco 49ers in 2013. After four years in San Francisco, Purcell had brief stints with four teams in 2017 before eventually joining the Kansas City Chiefs.

Purcell spent part of two years in Kansas City before playing for the Salt Lake Stallions in the Alliance of American Football in the spring of 2019. After standing out in the AAF, Purcell returned to the NFL when he signed with the Denver Broncos in April 2019.

Over the last five seasons, Purcell totaled 166 tackles, 14 quarterback hits, 2.5 sacks, four pass breakups and three forced fumbles in 65 games (37 starts) in Denver.

The Broncos opted to not re-sign Purcell when he hit free agency this spring and the lineman landed with the Patriots earlier this month. He earned just north of $14.7 million from 2013-2023, according to Spotrac.com.

Denver made big additions to the defensive line this spring by acquiring John Franklin-Myers in a trade and signing Malcolm Roach during free agency. Those two linemen joined a rotation that already featured Zach Allen and D.J. Jones.

With good depth at the position, it’s hard to imagine the Broncos bringing back a 33-year-old Purcell. If he lands elsewhere, 2024 will mark Purcell’s 12th season in the NFL.

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Wisconsin DL coach E.J. Whitlow: Badgers defensive line needs to earn trust

Wisconsin DL coach E.J. Whitlow: Badgers defensive line needs to earn trust

Wisconsin defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow met with the media earlier this week as the Badgers progressed through their first week of 2024 training camp.

Defensive line is one of the bigger unknowns entering the season, that due largely to sub-par 2023 performance, key departures from the room and two impactful transfer additions both coming from the FCS level.

Related: Everything to know about the Wisconsin Badgers defensive line entering 2024 season

Whitlow acknowledged that unknown, noting that the room is still working to build trust entering the season.

“Guys have to come out here with the right mentality and work on and off the field, in the weight room, doing all those little things right to earn that trust,” Whitlow said. “And have that trust, for your brothers that they believe in you and that we can roll guys so we can play the game the way it’s supposed to be played.”

His next line sums up where the position stands entering training camp:

“Everybody in the room has a piece of the pie, if they earn it.”

In other words: There are available snaps to go around to everybody, but those snaps won’t be won without the requisite performance level, approach and consistency.

Those in the room specifically include redshirt senior James Thompson Jr. (29 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, 2 pass deflections in 2023), redshirt sophomore Curt Neal (13 tackles, 1.5 TFLs in 2023), redshirt senior Ben Barten (13 tackles, 1.0 TFLs, 1.0 sacks, 1 pass deflection in 2023) and transfers Elijah Hills (Albany) and Brandon Lane (Stephen F. Austin).

The group looks somewhat deep and effective if both Hills and Lane can translate their previous production to the Big Ten level. Both had strong careers before transferring to Wisconsin, though didn’t face Big Ten-caliber offensive lines every week.

That’s where Whitlow’s comments directly apply. Thompson Jr. is cemented as the room’s leader, with Curt Neal gradually developing and both Barten and senior Cade McDonald set to play rotational roles. The wild cards are the two transfers. If everything is handled correctly and the two both earn legitimate snaps, the position may not be as big of a weakness as most believe it to be.

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2024 Preseason Previews

Big Ten Team Previews: Indiana Hoosiers — Purdue Boilermakers — Illinois Fighting Illini — Northwestern Wildcats — Minnesota Golden Gophers — Nebraska Cornhuskers — Iowa Hawkeyes — Rutgers Scarlet Knights — Maryland Terrapins — Michigan State Spartans — USC Trojans — UCLA Bruins — Washington Huskies — Michigan Wolverines — Penn State Nittany Lions — Ohio State Buckeyes — Oregon Ducks — Wisconsin Badgers

Big Ten Position Previews: Quarterbacks — Running Backs — Wide Receivers — Offensive Lines — Tight Ends — Defensive Line — Linebackers — Cornerbacks — Safeties

Wisconsin Position Previews: Quarterback — Running Back — Wide Receiver — Tight End — Offensive Line — Defensive Line — Outside Linebacker

Wil Lutz had a perfect reaction to D.J. Jones’ comment about kickers

Broncos defensive lineman poked fun at kickers earlier this week and Wil Lutz took notice.

During his media availability earlier this week, Denver Broncos defensive lineman D.J. Jones was asked if he has to prepare differently to get himself ready physically now that he’s in his eighth season in the NFL.

“Oh yeah,” Jones said. “If anyone tells you, ‘No,’ they’re lying — or they’re a kicker. You have to hone into the details as far as your body goes and if you’ve had any surgeries or anything. You have to take care of things before you come out here.”

Andrew Mason of DenverSports.com shared a clip of Jones making that statement on Twitter/X, and the video was spotted by Broncos kicker Wil Lutz, who had a perfect response:

Lutz (30) has been in the NFL since 2016, one year longer than Jones (29). Good-natured jabs aside, Jones realizes Lutz has to take care of his body to play in the NFL as well. We can’t blame him for poking fun at kickers, though, it’s one of football’s oldest locker room traditions.

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Broncos cut defensive lineman, sign tight end Hunter Kampmoyer

The Broncos signed TE Hunter Kampmoyer and waived DL Brandon Matterson on Friday.

The Denver Broncos signed tight end Hunter Kampmoyer on Friday, the team announced. To make room for Kampmoyer on the 90-man offseason roster, the Broncos waived undrafted defensive lineman Brandon Matterson.

Kampmoyer (6-4, 243 pounds) entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Oregon with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021. He spent most of the last three seasons on L.A.’s practice squad, dressing for two games. In two regular season appearances, Kampmoyer played four snaps on offense and eight snaps on special teams.

Before joining the Chargers, Kampmoyer hauled in 20 receptions for 224 yards and four touchdowns in his final three years with the Ducks (32 games). He now joins Denver’s TE room which already includes Greg Dulcich, Adam Trautman, Lucas Krull, Thomas Yassmin and Nate Adkins.

Kampmoyer was one of seven players who worked out for the Broncos during minicamp in June. One month later, the TE now gets his shot.

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Mike Danna explains his decision to re-sign with the Chiefs during free agency

Mike Danna explains his decision to re-sign with the Kansas City #Chiefs during free agency | @EdEastonJr

Many teams will lose players, and continuity at certain positions during the offseason changes during free agency around the league. The Kansas City Chiefs were fortunate enough to retain their core defensive line unit, and they look forward to maintaining dominance in the 2024 season.

Chiefs defensive lineman Mike Danna’s yearly improvement has paid off for one of the league’s top-tier units. On Wednesday after practice, he spoke with reporters about his camaraderie with teammates and desire to stay in Kansas City.

“We’re a big family, man. Those are the guys,” said Danna. “We always have communication, open communication. As soon as everybody got back together, we didn’t miss a beat. So it’s a blessing to be back in that room, man, and we gotta get after it.”

Danna agreed on a three-year deal to remain with the Chiefs during the offseason. The former fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft has spent his entire career in Kansas City, growing each year in the system.

“This is where I birthed my career, started as a rookie, and there weren’t really too many other teams I really had in sight,” said Danna. I wanted to be back home with the guys, and it just felt like home, and that’s all I can really describe it as.”

Danna took advantage of his first opportunity with consistent playing time. He started all 16 games he played in 2023 and finished with 6.5 sacks. The coaching staff has praised him for his consistency and work ethic.

Broncos roster series: No. 99, DE Zach Allen

Following a five-sack campaign in Year 1, Broncos defensive end Zach Allen looks to build on that total this fall.

Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series concludes today with a look at sixth-year defensive lineman Zach Allen, No. 99.

Before the Broncos: Allen (6-5, 285 pounds) entered the league as a third-round pick out of Boston College with the Arizona Cardinals in 2019. He played four games as a rookie before suffering a season-ending neck injury. Allen returned to play 13 games in 2020, including seven starts.

Allen later emerged as a full-time starter in 2021. In his final two seasons with the Cardinals from 2021-2022, Allen totaled 34 quarterback hits, 9.5 sacks, 12 pass breakups and one interception.

Broncos tenure: Allen signed with Denver last year, reuniting with Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who held that same role in Arizona from 2019-2022. In his first season in Denver, Allen recorded 60 tackles, 24 quarterback hits, five sacks, one pass breakup and one forced fumble in 17 games.

Chances to make the 53-man roster: Lock. Allen is set to lead the team’s defensive line again this fall as one of Joseph’s starting defensive ends.

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