film study – Syndication Server

Spencer Rattler’s preseason finale broken down by former Saints QB J.T. O’Sullivan

Spencer Rattler’s preseason finale was broken down by former Saints QB J.T. O’Sullivan. Coach’s film reveals some dangerous flaws in the rookie’s game:

Former New Orleans Saints quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan has launched a successful career as a media analyst with his “The QB School” YouTube channel, and he’s circled back to Spencer Rattler after reviewing the rookie’s preseason debut against the Arizona Cardinals. It was largely positive.

Rattler’s final preseeason action with the Tennessee Titans obviously excited a lot of Saints fans. He threw a beautiful touchdown pass and led several scoring drives. But it wasn’t perfect, and O’Sullivan found some dangerous flaws in this game after studying the coach’s film.

He says Rattler needs to do a better job protecting himself and his teammates. Tight end Michael Jacobson was roundly criticized for dropping an early pass from Rattler, but after reviewing the play from multiple angles O’Sullivan said that the inexperienced quarterback put his receiver in a bad spot with multiple defenders closing in.

“The arm talent, it’s an impressive throw, ripping it down the middle. But the decision is bad,” O’Sullivan explained, highlighting three Titans defenders ready to crash down on Jacobson at the catch point, “And this is how people get hurt. And I don’t love it. I don’t want to see it on film, ever. This can be an absolute death shot.”

He says Rattler should recognize the threat of the deep safety given where the route combination positions each defender. The collision jarred the ball loose for an incomplete pass, but it could’ve been worse. He added, “This is just one of those things, I’m telling you, in a locker room with perimeter players, wide receivers, tight ends and backs, they don’t want to see this stuff. Dangerous.”

It isn’t just his receivers Rattler needs to watch out for. He needs to keep his head and be aware of how he’s putting himself in danger out in the open field. Rattler has been eager to prove he has the mobility to make plays outside the pocket, and he did have some positive scrambles in the preseason. But he needs to understand when it’s time to tuck and run.

“Just run full speed out of bounds man. That’s a low football IQ, that’s an unsafe play. Protect yourself, get out of bounds. Preseason, you take an unnecessary shot,” O’Sullivan chided. “Go full speed out of bounds or slide and protect yourself, full speed. Boom. Bench press in the back, he hits him, it’s in bounds and he hits him, that’s a dumbass play by the quarterback.”

Everyone makes mistakes. O’Sullivan was clear about where this criticism was coming from. He wants to see Rattler enjoy a long, productive career and develop into a star quarterback. That isn’t going to happen if he’s getting blasted by linebackers in exhibition games because he wasn’t situationally aware. And while Rattler has the arm talent to make any throw, that doesn’t necessarily mean he should try every throw. There are times when it’s better to live another down and not put his receivers in danger. The rookie has a lot of room to grow and if he can learn from these mistakes, he’ll have time to meet that potential.

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Watch: Former Saints QB J.T. O’Sullivan analyzes Spencer Rattler’s NFL debut

Spencer Rattler is preparing for his second preseason game with the 49ers. Get ready with former Saints quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan analyzing Rattler’s debut:

Spencer Rattler is preparing for his second preseason game with the New Orleans Saints, who will kick off against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night. And you can take some time to get ready for his next action by checking into this film breakdown of his debut with the Arizona Cardinals.

Former Saints quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan has done great work analyzing quarterback play around the league, and he took time to review Rattler’s debut last week against the Arizona Cardinals. O’Sullivan developed a wealth of experience after being drafted by the Saints in 2002 and spending nine years in the NFL, plus a couple of years in NFL Europe and the CFL. These days he’s sharing film breakdowns for “The QB School” YouTube channel.

And for the most part he was impressed by what Rattler showed last week. The young quarterback’s arm talent and mechanics are clearly there. But he acknowledged this wasn’t a perfect game and there are things Rattler needs to improve upon. If he’s allowed time to study tape, get practice reps, and develop, he’ll have a real shot at meeting his potential.

One flaw he says Rattler needs to work on? Not bailing out of the pocket when there’s room to step up and find an open man. Another one? Throwing “muddy” balls to tightly-covered receivers with other opponents nearby than just the one trailing them. O’Sullivan points to Rattler’s lack of NFL experience as the cause for some poor decisions, and he says these are the kind of errors you expect a rookie to make — and hopefully learn from. He adds that Rattler’s arm strength gives him opportunities to make a play other quarterbacks wouldn’t try. Finding the balance between risk and reward is key.

So we’ll see what Rattler has learned over the last week of practice when he gets into Sunday night’s game with the 49ers. Expecting massive growth is unrealistic. But if Rattler can clean up his feet and get the ball out a little faster, that’s a win. We’ll be watching.

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Greg Cosell is impressed with Commanders QB Jayden Daniels

Some excellent insight here as Cosell goes in-depth on Daniels.

No one watches more NFL tape than Greg Cosell. The longtime NFL Films producer created the “NFL Matchup” show over 30 years ago, which has remained football’s premier Xs & Os show. The only complaint is it’s not long enough.

Cosell is a popular guest on the podcast and radio circuit and co-hosts a podcast with Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar.

Cosell recently joined the “John Keim Report” podcast, where he talked exclusively about the Washington Commanders. He also extensively covered rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

What does Cosell think of Daniels? First of all, he really likes him.

“He’s not just a runner; obviously, he’s incredibly dynamic, but I think as he’s played more, he’s a pocket quarterback,” Cosell said. “He leaves the pocket when, for the most part, it’s a last resort.”

The NFL has changed over the years with quarterback style, but being able to throw consistently from the pocket remains one of the most important traits for any successful NFL passer.

Remember, one criticism of Daniels ahead of the 2024 NFL draft was that he didn’t throw to the middle of the field enough. Analysts praised his deep ball but believed others, like Drake Maye, did a better job throwing between the numbers.

Cosell sees no issues here.

“For the most part, he lets the system work,” Cosell continued. “I thought one of the things that really stood out this year from his LSU tape was his willingness to work through the progressions and make progression-read throws. And particularly make throws in the middle of the field between the numbers. Which for a lot of quarterbacks coming from college to the NFL, John, and you know this, is an issue because the hash marks are closer. And sometimes it seems to young quarterbacks like there are 15 defenders on the field when they have to make throws in the middle of the field because it’s tighter. In college, you don’t necessarily have that issue because the hash marks are wider, and the defense has to stretch horizontally to deal with that, and therefore the middle is often wide open.”

What about his arm strength?

“He doesn’t have a power arm, but he can certainly make all the throws,” he said. “I just thought there was a calmness and a poise, composure to his game. He played effectively and efficiently from the pocket. And he made the kinds of throws you see in NFL games. He wasn’t one of those guys that built up his numbers throwing tunnel screens.”

Cosell doesn’t buy that Daniels became a top prospect because of his 2023 season. He started looking at him as a potentially elite prospect last summer based on his 2022 tape. Cosell also noted how good Daniels was as a true freshman at Arizona State, and he has continued to improve.

Another criticism of Daniels was that he threw to elite receivers at LSU. As we’ve stated before with Joe Burrow, that was a foolish criticism. Cosell used the same comparison.

There was a lot more in this conversation that we’d encourage you to check out, with more on Daniels and some good stuff on offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

You can watch the entire segment below.

Cosell’s opinion carries a lot of weight. He’s seen it all over the years and he studies every player — every throw. He views Daniels as a complete quarterback who can run.

Film study: How Matthew Stafford, new-look Rams match up against Buccaneers

Touchdown Wire’s Laurie Fitzpatrick breaks down how Matthew Stafford and the Rams match up against the mighty Bucs defense.

There is a lot of buzz around Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams.

A lot can happen between now and the playoffs, but right now, the Rams (2-0) seem like the biggest threat in the NFC to the defending Super Bowl-champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rams head coach Sean McVay upgraded to Stafford from Jared Goff at quarterback, and the offense already is flourishing as a result.

Where the Rams struggled in recent years, deep downfield, they now have an opportunity to attack.

This week will be their biggest challenge yet, as the mighty Bucs (2-0) roll into Southern California, with a formidable defense that boasts star linebackers Lavonte David and Devin White and impactful pass-rushers in Ndamukong Suh and Vita Vea. The Rams did catch a break with the news that outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul will miss the game due to a shoulder injury.

The Bucs love to blitz — yet David and White rank third and fourth in the league among linebackers this season, respectively, in frequency of dropping back into coverage, according to Pro Football Focus. That means the pressure on Stafford could come from anywhere — stunts from the defensive line, or delayed blitzes from the outside linebackers or secondary. Stafford would be wise to stay in the pocket, read the defense and get rid of the ball relatively quickly in such situations.

Let’s analyze how the Rams offense already has evolved with Stafford and how it matches up with the Bucs defense.

Last year, Goff and the Rams struggled to let plays develop.

In the play above, the Dolphins secondary switches up the look. As the safety drops down into the route at the bottom of the screen, it forces Goff to sit in the pocket just a tad longer than he likes. As a result, he ended up checking the ball down to his running back.

McVay often had to adjust his looks to cater to Goff, who needed to rely on his receivers to get open. So the Rams used plenty of crossers, hitches and quick outs to give their receivers opportunities to make plays.

Unfortunately, it got to a point where Goff wasn’t able to complete those layups and convert critical third downs. Those struggles led Los Angeles to make the blockbuster deal to acquire Stafford, who has all the tools the Rams need to be successful.

Check out the differences between Goff and Stafford when rolling out of the pocket to throw downfield.

Unlike Goff at left, Stafford has the ability to remain patient in the pocket, slide up to avoid the rush and sling it downfield. He doesn’t try to overextend the play with his legs. He just trusts his arm and the offense.

Last week against the Indianapolis Colts, there were times where Stafford had to remain on his back foot and wait for a play to develop. Although Rams receivers have the ability to separate early, they’re at their best when the quarterback has time to allow them to get deep. This could cause a problem for ordinary defenses, but the Bucs know how to bring pressure from many directions.

In Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott, Tampa Bay racked up a total of 24 pressures, according to PFF. The Bucs definitely will want to generate pressure against Stafford as well, because of the frequency with which they drop the inside linebackers into coverage and have the safeties step up. That will give Stafford less time in the pocket and make it more difficult for him to go through all his reads.

Indeed, pressure will be the key to success for the Buccaneers on Sunday.

Against the Colts, as the pressure closed in on Stafford and the outside corners were in man-to-man coverage, the zone coverage dropped deep, forcing a checkdown.

The Bucs surely are aware of another statistic: Stafford loves throwing to the middle of the field.

Over the past two weeks, Stafford has attempted the majority of his passes over the middle. In the clips below, he spreads the ball around to Cooper Kupp over the middle, Tyler Higbee on a rub route and Robert Woods on a deep in-route.

If the Bucs are able to take away the middle by allowing short passes to the outside, they have a chance to force turnovers. That’s exactly how the Colts came away with one last week.

This game offers a delicious matchup of elite offenses, led by Stafford and Tom Brady, against star-studded defenses.

If the Bucs expect to win on the road this week, a lot will depend on their ability to confuse Stafford with a variety of pressure.

How the Jaguars can speed up Trevor Lawrence’s learning curve

Touchdown Wire’s Laurie Fitzpatrick breaks down film of Trevor Lawrence’s debut and reveals some fascinating trends.

Trevor Lawrence hasn’t experienced much adversity in his football career.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ rookie quarterback didn’t lose a single regular-season game in high school or college on his way to becoming the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 NFL draft. But the glare of lofty expectations comes with being the first pick in the draft, and Lawrence will be under the microscope as fans and experts closely examine his play this year.

Lawrence did face adversity in his NFL debut, a 37-21 loss to the Houston Texans in which he threw three interceptions.

But we’re here to help figure out why.

While viewing game film of the Jaguars-Texans game, I noticed something that could help shorten his learning curve at the NFL level: He benefited greatly from pre-snap motion. Conversely, he struggled when the Jaguars didn’t use motion before the snap.

Pre-snap motion can reveal a lot about the defense’s intent. If the defensive player lined up across from a player going into motion moves along with the offensive player, that means he is in man coverage. If the defender adjusts his positioning but doesn’t move from his original position, he is most likely in zone.

Take a look at how Lawrence fared with and without pre-snap motion in the Jags’ 37-21 loss to Houston:

• Without pre-snap motion: 20 of 37 for 213 yards, 100 air yards, no touchdowns, three interceptions, 37.3 passer rating.

• With pre-snap motion: 8 of 14 for 119 yards, 88 air yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, 124.7 passer rating.

Notice a trend?

Let’s take a look at the tape to dig deeper into this topic and how it relates to Lawrence.

On the play before Lawrence’s first touchdown pass, the Jaguars offense lined up with a running back in the backfield and only one receiver at the top of the screen, leaving the safety to hang back in help. Once the running back motions to the outside, it forces a safety to shift down.

As the first quarter was winding down, the Jaguars’ goal was to find the defensive look with only one safety over the top of the defense. The Jaguars tested an empty backfield look earlier in the drive, and they uncovered that the safety came down to the line of scrimmage while the strong side of the defense stayed in zone coverage. (See below.)

On the touchdown, as predicted, the defense remained in zone coverage. Only tight end James O’Shaughnessey was accounted for because he was the only tight end that was actually running routes up to this point. That allowed blocking tight end Chris Manhertz to slip right through the defensive zones.

Understanding where the defenders are going to be helps identify whether receivers will be open, and all of this can be identified pre-snap with simple motion.

On the interception in the second quarter. There was no motion to force the defense to move or shift, which could have helped Lawrence identify the defensive coverage.

From first look, the defense is lined up right over the top of each receiver, which is a clear sign of man coverage underneath. As the ball is snapped, Lawrence takes a look to the left to make sure cornerback Vernon Hargreaves is dropping with his man, and sure enough, they are hip to hip.

By the time Lawrence scans back to his left side, Hargreaves is out of his view. Unfortunately for Lawrence, Hargreaves was able to make a read and a play on the ball, resulting in an interception for the Texans.

Lawrence’s second touchdown of the day resulted after motion from the tight end helped to identify the zone coverage. He also used play-action to keep the linebackers at home.

After the motion takes place and no defenders move, it’s an easy indication for Lawrence that the deep safety will have to make a decision on whom to cover — either the inside receiver running a post or the outside receiver running a fade.

Pre-snap motion can do wonders for a young quarterback trying to find his way in the NFL. If Sunday’s game was any indication, the Jaguars would be wise to use more pre-snap motion to assist Lawrence.

This could go a long way in helping Lawrence as he strives to meet the high expectations that go with being the No. 1 overall pick.

Join in on the conversation on YouTube with Ponytails Talking Pigskins as we break down Lawrence’s debut.

Film Study: How Jarrad Davis is finding success in his new role

Detroit Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis was demoted from his starting job three weeks ago, but he has settled into a new role and is thriving.

Three weeks ago, Detroit Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis was demoted from his starting job, and while it took a week to adjust to his new role, he has settled in over the last two weeks and has been playing some terrific football.

Davis was a four-year starter as an off-the-ball MIKE linebacker but he has always struggled with the staples in coach Matt Patricia’s scheme. Over the last two seasons, he was often guilty of misreading gaps, overpursuing plays, and his missteps would often put him out of position.

There is no doubting Davis’ athleticism, and his leadership has earned him love from the coaching staff — he is a team captain once again in 2020 — but after the first two weeks of the season, it was clear there were other linebackers on the roster who were performing better and he was benched.

Davis has been relegated to a fifth linebacker role and has only been on the field a handful of snaps — 15 in Week 3, 19 in Week 4, and 11 in Week 6 — but he is making those snaps count.

Over the last two weeks, Davis has been Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded Lions player, earning a 94.5 grade in Week 4 and a 95.2 grade in Week 6 — both in the elite range. Currently, Davis’ season grade of 81.1 is the 7th best among NFL linebackers with at least 85 snaps (He has 126 on the season).

So what has changed?

I took a look at all 11 plays from Davis game against the Jacksonville Jaguars and will break them down in this film study.

Setting the table

Davis didn’t enter the game on defense until the eight Jaguars drive and when the Lions were up 24-3 with 7:39 remaining in the third quarter. He played on five snaps on the eighth drive, one snap on the ninth drive, zero snaps on the tenth drive, and five more on the final drive of the game.

Snap 1

Drive	Down and Distance	Davis Position	LB Support	Coverage Scheme	Assignment
8	1st and 10	WILL	Tavai – MIKE	Cover 3	Man coverage versus Tight End

Play result: Davis covers the tight end well, Jaguars QB Gardner Minshew takes a shot downfield for an incomplete pass.

Snap 2

Drive	Down and Distance	Davis Position	Support	Coverage Scheme	Assignment
8	2nd and 10	MIKE	Tavai – WILL	Cover 3	5-yard drop Zone coverage

Play result: Davis drops 5-yards deep in the middle of the field and Minshew finds the running back in the right flat. Tracy Walker gets outside contain on the back and Davis shows his range, pursues hard, properly breaks down, and squares himself for the tackle. The Jaguars gain just 3-yards.

Snap 3

Drive	Down and Distance	Davis Position	Support	Coverage Scheme	Assignment
8	1st and 10	WILL	Tavai – MIKE	Cover 2 man	Man coverage versus Fullback

Play result: Davis shadows the fullback during his route and when Minshew hits the running back underneath, Davis breaks off his coverage, squares the back, and sticks the tackle, forcing a fumble that lands out of bounds. Jaguars gain just 2-yards.

Snap 4

Drive	Down and Distance	Davis Position	Support	Coverage Scheme	Assignment
8	2nd and 8	MIKE	Jones – JACK	Cover 1 Man	A-Gaps

Play result: Davis takes on the block from the center and holds his ground but he is not involved in the play as it goes to his left. Jaguars gain 0-yards.

Snap 5

Drive	Down and Distance	Davis Position	Support	Coverage Scheme	Assignment
8	1st and 10	WILL	Tavai – MIKE	Cover 3	Backside A/B Gap

Play result: Davis takes on the left guard, shows his burst with a quick lateral shift to his left, all the way over to the frontside A-gap, and makes the tackle on the running back. Davis’ stop is wiped out after Romeo Okwara was ruled offsides and the Jaguars accepted the penalty.

Snap 6

Drive	Down and Distance	Davis Position	Support	Coverage Scheme	Assignment
9	3rd and 10	JACK	Collins – MIKE	Cover 2 Zone	Pass Rush

Play result: Collins bluffs the left guard leaving him blocking air and everyone else in one-on-one matchups. Davis is locked up on the right tackle, uses a bull rush to walk him back into Minshew, who has to escape a collapsing pocket. When Michshew scrambles, Davis disengages the tackle with a stiff arm, dives for the sack attempt, but just misses. He was awarded a QB hurry.

Snap 7

Drive	Down and Distance	Davis Position	Support	Coverage Scheme	Assignment
11	2nd and 2	JACK	Collins – MIKE Ragland – WILL	2-3-6 Shell	Pass Rush

Up 34-16 with just 4:32 remaining, the Lions are in a 2-3-6 shell the rest of the way, with Davis asked to only rush the passer.

Play result: Davis is stalled by left tackle and Minshew throws an incomplete pass.

Snap 8

Drive	Down and Distance	Davis Position	Support	Coverage Scheme	Assignment
11	3rd and 2	JACK	Collins – MIKE Ragland – WILL	2-3-6 Shell	Pass Rush

Play result: Davis begins his rush upfield, stab-steps and drops inside the left tackle’s inside shoulder. Davis gets past him but the tackle gives him a shove in the back and it throws Davis off just enough to push him off his pursuit line. Minshew escapes the pocket and scrambles for the first down, but once again, Davis should get credit for a QB hurry.

Snap 9

Drive	Down/Distance	Davis Position	Support	Coverage Scheme	Assignment
11	1st and 10	WILL	Collins – Mike Ragland – JACK	2-3-6 Shell	Delayed pass rush

Play result: Davis drops back off-the-ball to the WILL, delays his pass rush, and is easily picked up by the right tackle.

Snap 10

Drive	Down/Distance	Davis Position	Support	Coverage Scheme	Assignment
11	2nd and 10	JACK	Collins – MIKE Ragland – WILL	2-3-6 Shell	Pass Rush

Play result: Davis rushes the right tackle but instead of making a pass rush move, he disengages and plays contain. Minshew throws an incomplete pass, but Davis didn’t have an impact on the play.

Snap 11

Drive	Down/Distance	Davis Position	Support	Coverage Scheme	Assignment
11	4th and 10	JACK	Collins – MIKE Ragland – WILL	2-3-6 Shell	Pass Rush

Play result: On the Jaguars’ final offensive play of the game, Davis lines up outside the right tackle and stunts inside through the frontside A-gap. Davis once again will get credit for a QB hurry but he misses his clean shot for a sack and Minshew escapes the pocket. The play is not over for Davis though, as he illustrates his relentlessness by getting up after his miss, pursuing Minshew with aggression, and forcing him to throw an incomplete pass.

Jarrad Davis is relentless.

4th down and Davis is at the JACK. He stunts inside and while he misses the sack (that will come with more experience), he gets up and pursues Minshew, forcing the timetable. pic.twitter.com/Pr3FLn3cak

— Erik Schlitt (@erikschlitt) October 20, 2020

Summary

Davis’ 11 snaps were split between the WILL (4), MIKE (2), and JACK (5) and he found success at each spot. Both of Davis’ tackles came from an off-the-ball position, one at the WILL and one at the MIKE, while he also managed to get credit for three QB hurries on five rushes from the JACK and one from the WILL.

Of course, some of his production can be attributed to the situations in which he is taking the field, but production is production. The Lions had 21 pressures on the day, Okwara had the most with four but he rushed the passer 35 times. Davis was second on the team and got his three on just six pass-rush opportunities.

Davis has shown more patience in coverage, has done a nice job squaring up for tackles, and discovered a couple of pass rushing moves for his toolbelt. He is still earning back his playing time, and while the Lions waited until they were up three scores before deploying him on the field, he is proving he deserves more playing time.

What Chiefs are getting in new C Daniel Kilgore in 3 plays

Get to know the newest offensive linemen for the Kansas City Chiefs with these three plays.

The Kansas City Chiefs have added a new center to the mix, signing veteran center Daniel Kilgore to the roster on Thursday. The team continues to add salty veterans to the offensive line, adding nearly 4,000 snaps of experience over the span of nine seasons with Kilgore.

The team went through plenty of attrition along the offensive line in 2019 on their way to Super Bowl LIV. Having a number of veterans in the fold provides the team with plug and play options throughout the grueling season.

Here’s a look at three plays that show what exactly the Chiefs are getting in their newest player:

Solid awareness

I wanted to point to a play, like with my Adrian Colbert review, where Kilgore indirectly helped the Chiefs by making a good play. This was two plays prior to the Mike Gesicki touchdown for the Dolphins that gave them the lead over the New England Patriots in Week 17 in 2019. Kilgore is playing center, wearing No. 67 for Miami.

I’ve noticed that Kilgore is always ready for whatever tricks the defense tries to throw at him in pass protection. He makes good IDs on blitzes, twists and stunts. I was really impressed with how he passes off the nose tackle and picked up the blitzing Dont’a Hightower here. He gives Ryan Fitzpatrick just enough time to make the throw to former Chiefs WR Albert Wilson.

It might seem like a really ordinary play from Kilgore, but when you consider the types of pressure looks that Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense will see this year, it’s important to play on your toes.

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The Last OG: Cowboys’ Zack Martin only looks up to Larry Allen, and he’s closing in fast

John Niland. Blaine Nye. Herb Scott. Nate Newton. Larry Allen. To think, Zack Martin stands among these all-time greats and has an excellent chance of sitting atop the totem of best offensive guards in Dallas Cowboys history. Martin has spent six …

John Niland. Blaine Nye. Herb Scott. Nate Newton. Larry Allen.

To think, Zack Martin stands among these all-time greats and has an excellent chance of sitting atop the totem of best offensive guards in Dallas Cowboys history. Martin has spent six seasons in the league, yet he is as decorated or more honored than almost every hallowed name on that list. With six Pro Bowls to his name, he’s already tied for second-most at the position within the franchise with Niland and Newton. He stands alone in second place with four First-Team All-Pro designations.

Only Allen’s incomprehensible 11 Pro Bowls and seven First-Team All-Pro nods stands in front of him, and Martin’s level of play indicates that if he wants to add another seven or eight years to his resume he could threaten those marks, too. Allen is by and large seen as the best offensive lineman in Cowboys’ history. He was named to two different All-Decade teams and the NFL’s 100th anniversary squad. Martin has that kind of opportunity.

The Notre Dame tackle was drafted in 2014, and after spending just 60% of the decade in the pros, he was named to the 2010 All-Decade team himself. If his play in 2019 is any indication, he stands a great chance of making the next one. According to Pro-Football-Reference’s Approximate Value metric, Martin’s 2019 was his best yet, earning him a 15 on the season.

The 6-foot-4, 315 pound dominator in both run blocking and pass protection has allowed eight sacks, per Pro Football Focus… in his career. He pitched a shutout in 2019 and only committed two penalties, both in the first week of the season.

To put his pass blocking prowess in perspective, over his six seasons he’s faced 3,711 pass blocking snaps. He’s only allowed 95 pressures and only committed 18 penalties. To put his run-blocking acumen in focus, Dallas has boasted the NFL’s leading rusher (yards per game) four times in Martin’s six seasons, and the outright leader on three occasions.

Since 1987 there have only been 16 guards with two or more first-team All-Pro designations. Martin’s one of four players on this list with less than 10 years experience, and was the earliest entrant at three years prior to Indianapolis’ Quentin Nelson joining. Of the 10 on this list eligible for the Hall of Fame, five are already in and that doesn’t include Newton, a bona fide snub.

Draft Stuff

Here’s a look in the past at Dane Brugler’s spot-on analysis of Martin coming out of Notre Dame.

SUMMARY: A three-star high school recruit, Martin was mostly offered by Big Ten and other Midwest programs, enrolling at Notre Dame in 2009 and redshirting. He earned the starting LT job in 2010 and held that post for the last four seasons, never missing a game for the Irish over his career – 52 career starts (50 LT, 2 RT).

Martin has quick, controlled movements and is already at a NFL pace. He sets up quickly to extend and absorb contact and routinely appears one step ahead of rushers – very smart and seasoned. Martin lacks elite lateral quickness and length and can find himself bending too much at the waist, which is why he does his best work in a phone booth and in short-areas. He won’t test off the charts physically, but he’s very consistent, versatile and durable with the competitive temperament and graduate level intellect for the position – borderline top-15 prospect who should be able to hold up at tackle, but projects as an All-Pro guard and is best suited inside.

Nailed it.

Martin was part of an iconic draft class in 2014. Taken with the No. 16 pick, he’ll always be linked with QB Johnny Manziel because owner Jerry Jones played up the club’s interest in the Texas A&M wild card, but he’s more accurately a contemporary of DT Aaron Donald. The two will both enter Canton one day and could warrant consideration of best ever at their positions. Also in the draft class, DE Khalil Mack, wideouts Mike Evans and Odell Beckham, Jr. and of course Cowboys teammate DeMarcus Lawrence.

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Salary Breakdown

The Cowboys wisely rewarded Martin with a new deal prior to the 2018 season, at the time making him the highest-paid guard in league history. The new money averaged out to $14 million per season.

Only one player has since signed a bigger long-term deal

7-Year, $93.341 M ; $40 M guaranteed
Year	Base Salary	Prorated SB	Roster Bonus	Cap Hit
2018	$2,000,000	$4,000,000	$0	$6,000,000
2019	$10,000,000	$4,000,000	$0	$14,000,000
2020	$11,000,000 ($8,000,000)	$4,000,000	$0	$15,000,000
2021	$11,000,000	$4,000,000	$0	$15,000,000
2022	$11,841,000	$4,000,000	$0	$15,841,000
2023	$13,500,000		$0	$13,500,000
2024	$13,000,000		$1,000,000	$14,000,000
TOTAL	$72,341,000	$20,000,000	$1,000,000	$93,341,000

Videos and Film Study

There is no better OL savant than Duke Manyweather. He joins Dan Hatman to break down Martin’s two 2019 games against Eagles DT Fletcher Cox.

More film study from the guys at Cover 0.

Martin was a Top 60 player in the NFL’s countdown last year, he’ll likely rank higher in 2020.

This is part of our Countdown to the Regular Season player profile countdown. Up next is OT Brandon Knight.

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WATCH: Highlights, film study of Cowboys newest CB Trevon Diggs

The Dallas Cowboys are working their draft board to perfection thus far in the 2020 NFL Draft. After watching a top-10 player drop to them at No. 17 in WR CeeDee Lamb, they had to feel a bit of pressure to trade up and select a star defender. …

Instead, they remained patient and waited it out at No. 51, just to have another player they highly regarded land in their lap again. Often mocked to them in the first round, Alabama corner Trevon Diggs made his way to the middle of the second round where the franchise gladly takes him to eventually take over for the departed Byron Jones.

We liked Diggs as a prospect so much, earlier in the day we discussed the possibility of trading up for him.

At 6-foot-1-plus, 205 pounds, Diggs is an extremely physical and strong corner with length and speed. He lined up mostly at left cornerback, which will be interesting as Jones was almost exclusively lined up on the right side, which means that Chidobe Awuzie was on the left side. Regardless, he’s a press-man corner who has good ball skills.

Again, you can't teach this kind of athleticism. Combine that with his length, and Diggs has the chance to be a formidable player on the outside at the next level. 🔒 pic.twitter.com/Y3BqML6Na9

— Jonah Tuls (@JonahTulsNFL) December 22, 2018

Highlight Reel

Rushing touchdowns, fumble recovery touchdowns, pick sixes, forced fumbles, exciting punt returns. You name it, he does it.

Film Study: Vs Arkansas (2019)

Diggs returned an interception for a touchdown in the second quarter. You’ll see some of the tackling deficiencies in this game.

Film Study vs Mississippi State (2019)

Diggs checks in with four tackles, including one for loss and a pass deflection in this contest.

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What does new Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins bring to the table?

The New Orleans Saints may have brought in a serious upgrade to their defense by claiming ex-New York Giants CB Janoris Jenkins on waivers.

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The New Orleans Saints were able to make a bold acquisition late in the season this week by claiming Janoris Jenkins on waivers from the New York Giants. Jenkins was one of Big Blue’s most-experienced defenders and a cornerstone of the defensive secondary, but a recent ankle injury and social media mess made him available. And the Saints didn’t hesitate to take a shot on him.

But what are they getting? Jenkins has a reputation as a gambler in coverage, often betting on his athleticism and aggression to win at the catch point. That strategy has worked in 2019 — he’s already tied his career-high for interceptions (4, with 14 total passes defensed), which is more than any every other Saints cornerback combined (3). But Jenkins has also drawn plenty of penalties (6 accepted), which trails only the player he’s likely competing with for a starting job in New Orleans (Eli Apple, who has been flagged eight times). Unlike Apple, Jenkins creates as many positive plays as negative moments he’s at fault for.

And that’s an upgrade for the Saints. The stats don’t tell the whole story with him, so we ran back the tape on his 2019 games to see if it holds true. And after doing that, we’re left asking: what were the Giants thinking waiving him, and how did he slip all the way down to New Orleans?

Jenkins is a smart player who consistently gets his head around on downfield routes. Saints defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen preaches the need to communicate, saying that a loud defense is a confident defense, and Jenkins embodies that philosophy. He’s constantly checking with the depth of his safeties behind him and waving teammates into position when they’re moving slowly. He shows a good awareness of route combinations and often makes the right decision to pass his man off and pick up a receiver as they move into his zone.

And when Jenkins is in position to compete for a pass, he often gets a hand on the ball. It’s a credit to his opponents when they’re able to beat him in those contested-catch situations. When he’s able to get both hands on the football, he rarely drops it.

He isn’t a perfect player. Jenkins is 30, and doesn’t enjoy the same athleticism he possessed when he was younger. There are moments where opponents are able to get a step on him and he can’t recover — it happened twice early in Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when Mike Evans put space between them on an 18-yard crossing route during the opening drive. That first Tampa Bay possession ended with a 21-yard touchdown pass when Evans flashed past Jenkins when he was in off-coverage over the slot.

And there are frustrating plays when Jenkins commits a foul for no reason. In Week 13 against the Green Bay Packers, Jenkins drew a defensive holding penalty on third down when the pass fell incomplete to another part of the field. He wasn’t beaten on the quick out route, but grabbed a fistful of his receiver’s jersey too far downfield, wiping out what would have been a good play for the Giants defense.

So it’s fair for fans to mute their expectations of this addition. Jenkins is a talented player whose best football is behind him, but he can still help this team pursue a Super Bowl win. Even if he still draws penalties at too-high a rate and slips up in coverage sometimes, Jenkins’ penchant for heads-up plays and his expansive NFL experience is worth giving him a shot. Saints coach Sean Payton described the addition as a low-risk, high-reward move, and the game tape supports that take. We’ll see soon whether things go as planned for Jenkins and the Saints.

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