Tag: Defensive Line

Shelby Harris would love to stay with Broncos but wants a fair contract

Broncos defensive lineman Shelby Harris would love to stay in Denver but he also wants a fair contract.

Speaking with KOA’s Alfred Williams and JoJo Turnbeaugh in Miami during Super Bowl media week, Broncos defensive lineman Shelby Harris spoke about his pending free agency and the possibility of re-signing with Denver.

Harris (6-2, 290 pounds) indicated that he would like to return to the team but he won’t accept a hometown discount during negotiations.

“I want nothing more than to be back,” Harris said, via Anthony Rodriquez of KOA Radio. “But at the end of the day, I realize it’s a business — I’m 28. At the end of the day, I hate to say, it is about the money. I hope the Broncos can come with it. I hope the Broncos can make a market value offer. I would love to stay here. I’m not 24-25 where you’re probably going to get a third contract. At this point, who knows? I only have right now.”

Harris has been a brilliant player for Denver, totaling 122 tackles, 13 sacks, one interception and one forced fumble over the last three years. He has also broken up 16 passes, leading all defensive linemen with nine batted down passes in 2019.

“I don’t ever want to be like, ‘Oh, I don’t wanna come back to Denver’ — I would love to come back to Denver,” Harris said. “But at the end of the day, I gotta take care of my family, I gotta take care of my kids. This is about generational wealth. This is about making sure that my kids’ kids will be good. For me, that’s more important than anything.”

Harris is projected to have a market value of about three years and just over $35 million, according to Spotrac.com. It remains to be seen if the Broncos will be willing to pay him that kind of money. Over the last three seasons, Denver paid Harris a little more than $4.6 million.

[vertical-gallery id=631819]

3 Texans team needs heading into the 2020 offseason

The Houston Texans have areas they need to address in the 2020 offseason, including the offensive line, pass rush, and secondary.

After a 51-31 heartbreaking loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round of the playoffs, the Houston Texans’ season is officially over. The Texans ended the 2019 campaign 10-6 with their second AFC South title in a row.

The Texans head into the offseason with many holes and much room for improvement.

Offensive Line

bill-obrien-good-locker-room-texans-bounce-back-titans
Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

One of the biggest issues for the Texans this past season was the pass protection for quarterback Deshaun Watson. Coach Bill O’ Brien tried to address this issue early on by making a trade for star left tackle Laremy Tunsil and drafting offensive lineman Tytus Howard in the first round of the NFL draft. Even with these moves, the Texans still ranked 25th overall in sacks in 2019.

The right side of the offensive line struggled all year long, especially when Howard was out.

With holes on the right side of the line, the Texans may have the opportunity to go after guard Brandon Scherff in the upcoming free agency class as Washington failed to get a long-term extension done with him.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3

Notre Dame Offers Three Tuesday – First Up is ’21 Georgia Defensive End

Notre Dame becomes the 19th program to offer a scholarship with Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State and Nebraska being a few of the biggest programs in on the defensive end

Notre Dame’s 2021 recruiting class is off to a solid start offensively but has lacked bodies on the defensive side, having just one commit in the current seven body class.

Brian Kelly and the Irish appear to be trying to change that as a flurry of scholarship offers were made to 2021 defensive linemen on Tuesday.

Joshua Robinson, a 6-4, 225 pound weakside defensive end from Douglas County High School in Douglas, Georgia posted to Twitter about the latest scholarship he was offered on Tuesday morning.

Rivals ranks Robinson as the 18th best weakside defensive end in the 2021 recruiting class while Notre Dame becomes the 19th program to offer a scholarship with Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State and Nebraska being a few of the biggest programs in on the defensive end.

Robinson was the first of three defensive linemen to receive a scholarship offer from Notre Dame on Tuesday.

Why the Leonard Williams trade was Joe Douglas’ best move

Joe Douglas made a necessary move to help the future of the Jets in his first season as general manager.

Joe Douglas didn’t make too many franchise-altering moves during his first regular season as the Jets general manager. That would have been a hard feat to accomplish given he joined the team after Mike Maccagnan ran the draft and signed expensive free agents. But the one move he did make that could have the biggest effect on the long-term future of the team was trading former 2016 first-round pick Leonard Williams to the Giants.

That trade netted the Jets a 2020 third-round pick and a 2021 fifth-round pick that could become a fourth if the Giants re-sign Williams to a deal, something the Giants reportedly began discussing soon after trading for the defensive end. It was a pivotal move for Douglas for two reasons: 1) Douglas acquired a top-70 pick, which could become an important piece for his first-ever draft class as GM and 2) shedding Williams gave the team opportunities to look at other young talents on the defensive line.

The Jets now have the 11th, 48th, 68th and 79th selection in the first three rounds of the 2020 draft. Considering all the holes on the roster, that 68th pick could end up being a starter for the Jets as early as next season. The addition of an extra third-round pick gives Douglas even more flexibility in the first two days of the draft if he wants to move up and grab the guy he wants. Either way, if Douglas drafts correctly that selection could play a major role for the Jets in 2020. Even better, they could get another top-120 selection in 2021 if Williams re-signs with the Giants.

Jettisoning Williams gave Douglas, Adam Gase and Gregg Williams the added bonus of checking out the rest of their defensive line depth. The Jets actually had a pretty deep line behind Williams, and his lack of production meant he wasn’t any more valuable than the cheaper players behind him. Guys like Folorunso Fatukasi, Kyle Phillips and Jordan Willis all earned a bigger role on the team with Williams’ departure, and then all even played better than Williams. Each had more sacks than Williams and combined for 11 quarterback hits.

The Williams trade didn’t really affect the Jets’ 2019 season, which is fine considering the team was 1-7 at the trade deadline. If anything, Douglas probably needed to make more moves to shore up his draft capital during a crucial offseason.

The Williams trade was the only one he made, and the only move that will help the Jets next season. The rest of his moves – save for signing tight end Ryan Griffin and trading for back-up offensive lineman Alex Lewis – didn’t pan out. Center Ryan Kalil played poorly and missed nine games after Douglas coaxed him out of retirement, and Douglas failed to find a long-term kicker solution between Kaare Vedvik and Sam Ficken.

It’s hard to completely evaluate Douglas’ first season as GM since he worked with a roster he didn’t build, but it’s encouraging to see how he saw the value in trading away a young, underperforming player for draft capital. The Williams trade will be huge in how the Johnson’s evaluate Douglas’ ability to run the team, and another early pick gives Douglas the ability to finally shape the roster the way he wanted to when he took the job.

Broncos select DL Javon Kinlaw in 2020 NFL mock draft

The Broncos land South Carolina defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw in this 2020 NFL mock draft.

In his latest three-round 2020 NFL mock draft for Draft Wire, Luke Easterling predicts the Denver Broncos will select South Carolina defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw with the 15th overall pick in the first round.

Here is Easterling’s commentary with the selection:

This defense has one of the league’s best edge-rushing tandems, but it could use a difference-maker for the interior. A rare athlete for his size, Kinlaw is a versatile, disruptive defender who would wreak havoc while opposing offensive lines are focused on Von Miller and Bradley Chubb.

Kinlaw (6-6, 310 pounds) totaled 35 tackles and six sacks as a senior. He also broke up two passes and recovered two fumbles in 2019. With Derek Wolfe, Shelby Harris, Adam Gotsis, Mike Purcell and Joel Heath all set to become free agents, Denver could certainly use more depth on the d-line.

After selecting Kinlaw in the first round, the Broncos go on to select an offensive tackle, wide receiver, linebacker and cornerback in the next two rounds of Easterling’s mock. To view the complete mock draft, click here.

[vertical-gallery id=630172]

Broncos claim DL Joel Heath off waivers

The Broncos claimed former Texans defensive lineman Joel Heath off waivers.

In addition to signing 15 players to reserve/future contracts, the Denver Broncos also acquired a player off waivers on Tuesday.

The Broncos claimed nose tackle Joel Heath, who was waived by the Houston Texans on Saturday. Denver will officially acquire Heath’s rights on Feb. 3, the day after Super Bowl LIV.

It’s an interesting move for the Broncos because Heath is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March. Denver might be planning to place a tender on the 6-6, 302-pound defensive lineman.

Heath entered the league as a college free agent out of Michigan State with the Texans in 2016. He played in 25 games in his first two years in the NFL, totaling 32 tackles and three sacks. Heath was plagued by injuries during the 2018 season and only dressed for two games this year.

Shelby Harris, Mike Purcell and Kyle Peko were the Broncos’ nose tackles this season. All three of those players are set to become free agents in 2020, but Purcell and Peko will be restricted free agents.

[vertical-gallery id=630172]

Alamo Bowl Comparison: Line of Scrimmage

Most games in college football are won at the line of scrimmage. Here is a comparison of Texas’ and Utah’s offensive and defensive lines:

Most games in college football are won and lost at the line of scrimmage. Having offensive lineman that can block and give time for plays to develop is just as crucial as getting pressure from your defensive line to disrupt what the other team is doing.

That will be no different for this year’s Alamo Bowl when Texas faces Utah. The Utes have some of the best units on the line of scrimmage in the country and have the opportunity to give the Longhorns some problems. Both units considered weaknesses for Texas, if they are not able to hold their ground, it could be a long night.

Here is a comparison of Texas’ and Utah’s offensive and defensive lines and how they matchup against each other:

Texas’ offensive line vs Utah’s defensive line

The second most sacked quarterback in the Big 12, Ehlinger has taken some shots from opponent defensive lines this season. The worst came against Oklahoma when the Sooners were able to record nine sacks from eight different players. The Longhorns offensive line has given up a lot but still has been above average throughout the season.

As for Utah’s pass rush, they have gotten to the quarterback 29 different times this season. Senior defensive end Bradlee Anae is second in the Pac 12 with 12.5 sacks after leading the conference last season. The run defense has also been excellent, only giving up 56 yards per game. After going quiet against a very good Oregon offensive line in the Pac 12 championship, the Utes will be looking for redemption.

Who has the advantage?

Utah’s defense was the best in the Pac 12 and it all started on the line of scrimmage. They have the advantage, but it is not like the Longhorns have gone against bad defensive lines all season. The offensive line for Texas should be prepared for whatever is thrown at them, but if mistakes are made, the Utes will capitalize quickly.

Quarterback Sam Ehlinger may have to do some scrambling throughout the game. Extending plays with his feet and running for a few first downs or finding receivers will be critical. Utah will more than likely have good pressure throughout the entire game, but if Ehlinger can be as clutch as we know he can be, Texas will be just fine.

Texas’ defensive line vs Utah’s offensive line

From a pass-rushing standpoint, the Longhorns have struggled this season, only having 22 sacks this season, the third-fewest in the conference. While the unit as a whole is young, it has still struggled this season, especially in the Big 12. With a defensive line led by senior Malcolm Roach, Texas has a tough test against the Utah offensive line.

The reason running back Zach Moss is having such success this season is because of space the Utah offensive line is giving him. A big, physical group led by left tackle Darrin Paulo, the Utes have one of the best offensive lines in the country. Only allowing 21 sacks this year, only one team in the Pac 12 gave up less. From a running perspective, they average 214 yards per game, the best in the conference. The offensive line has been the key to this success, giving Moss and quarterback Tyler Huntley the opportunity to make plays.

Who has the advantage?

The defensive line has been a weakness for Texas this season while Utah’s offensive line has been one of their strengths. The Utes have the advantage going into the game as it is one of their strengths against one of Texas’ weaknesses, but the Longhorns have an opportunity to flip that.

The matchup between the Longhorns defensive line and the Ute offensive line will be one of the most critical in this game. If Texas is able to get constant pressure, it will disrupt everything Utah has planned offensively. Limiting Moss and forcing Huntley into some early throws would give the Longhorns a great chance to win.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Broncos DL Dre’Mont Jones named AFC Defensive Player of the Week

Broncos defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones has been named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Denver Broncos rookie defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after his standout performance against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, the league announced Friday.

Jones has been battling an ankle injury and was a game-time decision for last week’s game. He played through the injury and totaled five tackles and 2.5 sacks in a 27-17 win.

“I was pleasantly surprised,” Broncos coach Vic Fangio said of Jones winning the award. “I was happy for him. Again, he was the guy that had the workout before the game.

“We didn’t really know if he was going to play or not. If you were a betting man during the week you would have bet that he wouldn’t have. He really wanted to play and it was nice to see him get rewarded.”

Jones (6-3, 281 pounds) was selected by Denver in the third round of April’s draft out of Ohio State. He has recorded 14 tackles, 3.5 sacks and one interception this year. Jones has also broken up two passes.

Jones is just the third Broncos rookie in franchise history to win a Defensive Player of the Week Award and the first since Von Miller in 2011.

“It [means] a lot to me, especially because of the history behind it and being the third rookie to do it,” the defensive lineman said Friday.

[vertical-gallery id=629941]

Broncos DL Dre’Mont Jones nominated for Rookie of the Week award

Broncos defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones has been nominated for the Rookie of the Week award on NFL.com.

After a standout performance in a 27-17 win over the Lions last week, Broncos defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones has been nominated for the Rookie of the Week award on NFL.com.

Jones totaled four tackles and two sacks against Detroit in Week 16, the first multi-sack game of his career. The Ohio State product has now totaled eight tackles, three sacks and one interception this year. He has also broken up two passes.

Jones is probably a longshot to win the award because he faces some tough competition from the offensive side of the ball. Jones’ competition includes Giants QB Daniel Jones (352 yards, 5 touchdowns), Eagles running back Miles Sanders (156 yards, 1 TD), Raiders receiver Hunter Renfrow (107 yards, 1 TD) and Titans linebacker Derick Roberson (two sacks). Daniel Jones is the clear favorite to win the award this week.

Fans can vote for Jones this week at NFL.com/Rookies. Two weeks ago, Broncos quarterback Drew Lock was named Rookie of the Week following a three-touchdown performance in a win over the Texans on the road.

[vertical-gallery id=629941]

Broncos make 2 roster moves

The Broncos have placed defensive end Adam Gotsis on injured reserve and promoted offensive tackle Quinn Bailey from the practice squad.

The Denver Broncos will place defensive end Adam Gotsis (knee) on injured reserve this week, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. To take Gotsis’ former spot on the 53-man roster, undrafted rookie offensive tackle Quinn Bailey will be promoted from the 10-man practice squad.

It’s a disappointing end to the season for Gotsis and it might also mark an end to his career in Denver. Gotsis (6-4, 287 pounds) was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft out of Georgia Tech. He never quite lived up to his draft status.

Gotsis was a regular starter from 2017-2018, totaling 79 tackles and five sacks during that time. He didn’t appear to be a great fit in Vic Fangio’s defense, though, and he was benched four games into the 2019 season.

Gotsis earned $3,937,904 during his four years in Denver and he’s scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March. Given that he was benched this year, it would be surprising to see Gotsis re-signed in 2020.

Bailey (6-6, 323 pounds) appeared in 43 games during his time at Arizona State and spent the first 16 weeks of the season on the Broncos’ practice squad. Denver now has an opening on the practice squad.

[vertical-gallery id=629497]