Tag: Foyesade Oluokun

LB Foyesade Oluokun excited to do his part in helping Jags vs. AFC South’s strong rushing attack

The Jags are in a division with two of the league’s most gifted rushers and Foyesade Oluokun is excited to help the defense be more successful against them.

When the tampering period started, many fans of the Jacksonville Jaguars felt the team would mostly focus on the offensive side, but they took a pretty balanced approach. In the process, they were able to land the league’s leader in tackles, Foyesade Oluokun, as their second big addition, and it was clear from the jump that they had big plans for him.

On Thursday, the former Atlanta Falcon revealed what he thought would be his most important role within the defense, which will be to stop the run in an AFC South division that has rushers like Derrick Henry and Jonathan Taylor.

“I talked to [Defensive Coordinator] Mike [Caldwell], I said ‘What do you want to hang your hat on as a defense?’ Because obviously we have to be on the same page, him and I, with what he wants and me to portray that to the rest of the unit,” Oluokun said to the media. “He said he wants to stop the run. Obviously, we have a league or a conference where they run the ball well and it’s just more opportunity for me. I know how I feel, it’s definitely fun to go up against that kind of competition and that kind of talent. I tell myself a lot of times before I play a back that I feel like is good, if I go up against him, then I’ll be recognized, like I’ll get that respect and it’s just fun to play against those kinds of guys.”

Oluokun will be coming from an NFC South division that doesn’t have the rushers that the AFC South does, but certainly has some dynamic players at the running back position. During his time there, Oluokun went up against players like former Jag Leonard Fournette and Alvin Kamara, both of whom have immense talent and have been very successful.

Mike Caldwell will also be coming from the NFC South, and while he was a defensive assistant, he likely got a first-hand look at Oluokun before he became the coordinator for the Jags. Now, the two, who played on rival teams the past few years, will look to combine forces and Oluokun is hoping to gain Caldwell’s respect in the process.

“I think it’s definitely very exciting,” Oluokun said. “I had a long talk with him earlier today and just minds bouncing off each other, just seeing how he sees the game and it’s similar. It’s just really exciting to really feel like I’m a part of what he has in store. He has a lot of trust in me already, so I hope to keep earning his respect, and do what I need to do out there.”

When it comes to this free agency class, Oluokun will have many fans watching him because he’s going to be a new face in the middle of the defense with fan-favorite Myles Jack gone. It’s clear he’s excited for the challenge, though, and with Caldwell’s coaching, Oluokun may be able to make an impact in no time.

Grading every move in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ massive free-agency haul

The Jacksonville Jaguars are spending in free agency at a record rate. Laurie Fitzpatrick has tape and grades on all the signings.

Every year, there is always a team that goes all-in when free agency opens up. Last year, it was the New England Patriots; and this year, it has been the Jacksonville Jaguars.

With one of the highest caps in the NFL and a new coaching staff in town, general manager Trent Baalke, and head coach Doug Pederson decided to splurge. Over these two days, the Jaguars have seven new players on their roster and spent $259.5 million, with $155.25 guaranteed per ESPN’s Michael DiRocco.

Some of the big contracts were a bit questionable but that is nothing new for the Jaguars when they actually decide to go all-in in free agency. They filled some necessary needs on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.

Let’s go over each player and the grades weighing their contract and potential contribution.

Why Foyesade Oluokun is an upgrade at linebacker for the Jaguars defense

Touchdown Wire’s Laurie FItzpatrick dives into the film to examine how Foye Oluokun will help the Jaguars on defense

With the “legal tampering period” underway, the Jacksonville Jaguars were looking to make a splash as they were a team with most cap space entering the 2022 NFL offseason. So, on day one, they signed five free agents. One of those being linebacker Foyesade Oluokun, selected in the sixth round of the 2018 draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

New Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell will look to get the most out of the young linebacker, as he did with Devin White and Lavonte David as the Buccaneers’ inside linebackers coach from 2019 through 2021. Perhaps Caldwell saw Oluokun’s potential as he faced him twice a year in the NFC South.

Let’s dive into the film to see what Oluokun can bring to the Jaguars’ defense.

Texans shoulder consider signing LB Foyesade Oluokun in free agency

Pro Football Focus says the Houston Texans should sign Atlanta Falcons linebacker Foyesade Oluokun in free agency.

The Houston Texans will have massive turnover on their roster — such is the case when a team signs almost two-thirds of its roster to one-year contracts.

The Texans got tremendous production out of linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill, who led Houston with 108 combined tackles and 13 tackles for loss. Whether the Texans decide to move on from Grugier-Hill or complement him with another tackling machine, there is a free agent Houston should consider.

According to Brad Spielberger from Pro Football Focus, the one free agent the Texans should target in the offseason is Atlanta Falcons linebacker Foyesade Oluokun.

Oluokun set an NFL record with 192 combined tackles in 2021, and even with a 17th regular-season game helping his cause, averaging over 11 tackles/assisted tackles per contest is a remarkable feat of consistency and durability. He can also get after the opposing quarterback on the occasional pass-rush snap, with 36 pressures over the past two seasons. The former Yale Bulldog can be an every-down leader on this defense and wear the green dot — perhaps with general manager Nick Caserio calling the plays directly into his headset.

Part of the process for Caserio is to determine who among their current free agents will be able to stay in 2022.

“We have 31, 32 players that will be free agents so there will be a lot of new players that are going to be on the team next year,” Caserio told reporters on Jan. 14. “Some players that aren’t under contract for next year that played here last season that we’re going to have conversations with, with the hope of trying to bring them back into our program and help us moving forward.”

The Texans play the Dallas Cowboys in 2022 at AT&T Stadium. Oluokun has a penchant for causing fellow St. Louis John Burroughs High School alumnus Ezekiel Elliott to put the ball on the carpet.

Through his 64 games with the Falcons, Oluokun, a 2018 sixth-round pick, collected 462 combined tackles, 5.0 sacks, seven forced fumbles, five interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and a fumble recovery.

3 inside linebackers the Rams could target following trade of Kenny Young

The Los Angeles Rams could be making a move at inside linebacker following the trade of Kenny Young.

The Los Angeles Rams turned some heads following their win over the Detroit Lions in Week 7 by trading Kenny Young to the Denver Broncos. The Rams sent Young and a 2024 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round pick.

The timing of the move is definitely a head-scratcher as the Rams are looking like a Super Bowl contender and they aren’t exactly deep at inside linebacker. Also, Young is second on the team in tackles and has emerged as the best all-around inside linebacker on the roster.

The decision to move Young is a peculiar one that has some believing Les Snead is conjuring something up ahead of the trade deadline on November 2. With Young now gone, Ernest Jones and Travin Howard could see expanded roles alongside Troy Reeder.

If the team is confident in Jones and Howard, then there’s a chance that Los Angeles made the move to offload Young — along with restructuring Rob Havenstein’s contract — in hopes to land some depth in the secondary. But if the Rams made this move to find a new inside linebacker, here are four options the team could consider.

Giants vs. Falcons: 6 things to know about Week 3

The New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons square off on Sunday in Week 3, so here are six things fans should know.

The New York Giants (0-2) will play host to the Atlanta Falcons (0-2) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey this Sunday afternoon.

Here are six things to know about the Week 3 game.

Tyreek Hill makes the DK Metcalf play after swearing he wouldn’t

Tyreek Hill swore he’d never have to make the play DK Metcalf made on Budda Baker this season. Then, reality intervened.

The most remarkable play in the Seahawks’ 37-34 overtime loss to the Cardinals in Week 7 was Seattle receiver DK Metcalf’s chasedown of Arizona safety Budda Baker as Baker thought he was on the way to a pick-six of Russell Wilson. The 5-foot-10,. 195-pound Baker was on the way to just that, until the 6-foot-4, 233-pound Metcalf — who ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at the 2019 scouting combine — ended that threat with an unbelievable run-down.

After that remarkable play, Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill — who’s clearly fast enough to chase anyone down when on the field — was asked if he’d ever make that play if forced to by a Patrick Mahomes interception.

This was Hill’s response:

While that displayed admirable and justifiable faith in Mahomes’ abilities, Hill had to do just what he swore he never would against the Falcons on Sunday. When Mahomes threw his second pick of the day, the only person preventing linebacker Foyesade Oluokun from his own pick-six was Hill, who shot into the picture out of nowhere, punched the ball out, and kept Oluokun from the biggest highlight of his career.

Never say never, kids.