Tag: Isaiah Wynn

6 Patriots that should take a major step forward in 2020

Here are six Patriots that should take a major leap forward this season.

The New England Patriots suffered some major losses this offseason.

Tom Brady, Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins and Danny Shelton lead the list of departed players. Bill Belichick didn’t make aggressive moves in free agency to replace these players — he didn’t make any moves at all to replace Brady. New England replenished the linebacker position in the NFL draft and even grabbed two tight ends to address that dire need.

Fortunately for the Patriots, Belichick always finds players to step up and replace the ones they lost. This year won’t be any different and here are six players who could take major leaps in 2020.

Chase Winovich, DE

(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

One of biggest steals of the 2019 NFL Draft was Chase Winovich out of Michigan. He was selected with the No. 77 pick in the third round and fit the Patriots’ mold perfectly. He’s a pass-rushing monster who has endless energy and craftiness that can’t be taught. Winovich played all 16 games last season — while recording 26 tackles, 10 quarterback hits and 5.5 sacks.

Van Noy and Collins accounted for 13.5 sacks last season and that void will give Winovich the opportunity to take over. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound edge-rusher has extremely good odds of grabbing a starting role and doubling his sack total in 2020.

Jarrett Stidham, QB

(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Jarrett Stidham is an obvious candidate to take a giant leap forward. He’s likely gonna go from a 2019 fourth-round pick to the quarterback who replaces Brady after two decades of dominance. Belichick proved his confidence in Stidham by deferring to draft a quarterback or select one in free agency.

Stidham had one of the best rookie preseasons under Belichick for a quarterback and he’s earned praise from people all around the league. Brady’s shoes could arguably the biggest to fill in NFL history, but Stidham has some experienced coaches around to guide him through.

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Every prime time NFL game featuring former Georgia football players

After the release of the 2020 NFL schedule, here’s a look at every prime-time game that former Georgia football players will appear in.

On Thursday, the NFL released its 2020 schedule, providing more optimism that a football season will take place come September.

With Georgia having added seven new players into the league via the NFL Draft, there’s going to be a number of UGA fans hoping for a chance to watch some former Dawgs play on prime-time television.

The Patriots, Cowboys, Chiefs, Packers, 49ers, Rams and Buccaneers will be featured most in prime time during the 2020 NFL season with five games apiece.

Georgia players on those teams:

Cowboys, Packers and Bucs do not have any Bulldogs.

Patriots: C David Andrews, RB Sony Michel, OL Isaiah Wynn

Chiefs: WR Mecole Hardman

49ers: TE Charlie Woerner

Rams: OLB Leonard Floyd, ILB Natrez Patrick, DB Tyrique McGhee.

Here is a list of every nationally televised NFL game featuring Georgia Bulldogs.

Some of these game are subject to a time change and some of the players signed as undrafted free agents. As of right now, these are the teams they are on.

For a full list of Georgia players and their NFL teams, click here.

Thursday Night Football:

  • Start time: 8:20 p.m. ET
  • TV channel: Fox, NFL Network
  • Live stream: Amazon Prime

Thursday Sept. 17: Browns at Bengals

Georgia players on Browns: RB Nick Chubb, RB Brian Herrien

Georgia players on Bengals: DT Geno Atkins, WR AJ Green, DT Tyler Clark, DB Shawn Williams

Thursday Sept. 24: Dolphins at Jaguars

Georgia players on Dolphins: OG Solomon Kindley

Georgia players on Jags: WR Chris Conley, WR Terry Godwin, DT Abry Jones, S J.R. Reed

Thursday Oct. 1: Broncos at Jets

Georgia players on Broncos: N/A

Georgia players on Jets: WR Lawrence Cager, OLB Jordan Jenkins

Thursday Oct. 8: Buccaneers at Bears

Georgia players on Bucs: N/A

Georgia players on Bears: WR Reggie Davis, DT John Jenkins, WR Riley Ridley, LB Roquan Smith, WR Javon Wims

Thursday Oct. 15: Chiefs at Bills

Georgia players on Chiefs: WR Mecole Hardman

Georgia players on Bills: QB Jake Fromm, WR Isaiah McKenzie

Thursday Oct. 22: Giants at Eagles

Georgia players on Giants: OT Andrew Thomas, LB Tae Crowder, OLB Lorenzo Carter

Georgia players on Eagles: RB Elijah Holyfield

Thursday Oct. 29: Falcons at Panthers

Georgia players on Falcons: RB Todd Gurley

Georgia players on Panthers: N/A

Thursday Nov. 5: Packers at 49ers

Georgia players on Packers: N/A

Georgia players on 49ers: TE Charlie Woerner

Thursday Nov. 12: Colts at Titans

Georgia players on Colts: K Rodrigo Blankenship, OLB Justin Houston

Georgia players on Titans: C Ben Jones, OT Isaiah Wilson, OLB D’Andre Walker

Thursday Nov. 19: Cardinals at Seahawks

Georgia players on Cardinals: OL Lamont Gaillard

Georgia players on Seahawks: DB Jayson Stanley

THANKSGIVING

Thursday Nov. 26: Texans at Lions (12:30 p.m. CBS)

Georgia players on Texans: OLB Davin Bellamy, WR Tyler Simmons

Georgia players on Lions: RB D’Andre Swift, QB Matt Stafford, DT John Atkins, TE Isaac Nauta

Thursday Nov. 26: Redskins at Cowboys (4:30 p.m. Fox)

Georgia players on Redskins: OLB Thomas Davis, S Maurice Smith

Georgia players on Cowboys: N/A

Thursday Nov. 26: Ravens at Steelers (8:20 p.m. NBC)

Georgia players on Ravens: LS Nick Moore, TE Eli Wolf

Georgia players on Steelers: N/A

Thursday Dec. 3: Cowboys at Ravens 

Georgia players on Cowboys: N/A

Georgia players on Ravens: LS Nick Moore, TE Eli Wolf

Thursday Dec. 10: Patriots at Rams

Georgia players on Patriots: C David Andrews, RB Sony Michel, OL Isaiah Wynn

Georgia players on Rams: OLB Leonard Floyd, ILB Natrez Patrick, DB Tyrique McGhee

Thursday Dec. 17: Chargers at Ravens 

Georgia players on Chargers: N/A

Georgia players on Ravens: LS Nick Moore, TE Eli Wolf

Friday Dec. 25: Vikings at Saints

No Georgia players in this game

Next: Sunday Night Football

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Patriots C David Andrews thinks Georgia football should be considered ‘OLU’

Patriots C David Andrews thinks it’s time for Georgia football to be called ‘OLU’ after having two more first round NFL Draft picks.

On Thursday night, Georgia had two offensive linemen selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Left tackle Andrew Thomas went #4 to the New York Giants and right tackle Isaiah Wilson went at #29 to the Tennessee Titans.

That gives Georgia three first-round selections from the offensive line in the last three drafts. Isaiah Wynn went in the first round to the Patriots in 2018, and then two went in 2020.

David Andrews, another former Georgia offensive lineman now in the NFL, actually went undrafted in the 2015 NFL Draft. But it did not take Andrews long to be hiking the ball to the greatest quarterback in NFL history and to become a two-time Super Bowl champion.

After both Thomas and Wilson became first round selections, Andrews tweeted that maybe it’s time for Georgia to be considered ‘OLU’ – meaning Offensive Line University.

Georgia has called itself RBU for years now thanks to all the running back talent UGA pumps into the NFL.

But I see nothing wrong with the addition of OLU.

Andrews also made an announcement of his own on Thursday, posting to Instagram that he has been cleared to play in 2020 for the Patriots after missing all of 2019 with blood clots in his lungs.

8 Patriots who need to step up in Tom Brady’s absence

Without Tom Brady, a few more Patriots will take on larger roles.

The New England Patriots are starting over new. No, not in the sense that they are having a fire sale on players or completely turning over the roster. Most of the team has never played without Tom Brady. Some have come from different places and have experienced other organizations, but this will be a learning moment for a lot of guys.

How will the Patriots adjust to the post-Brady era? Will they fall flat on their face and the run of success is ended with a Thanos-like snap? If they want to lessen the negative impact of Brady’s departure, these eight Patriots need to step up this season.

Josh McDaniels, OC

Behind Bill Belichick, McDaniels probably has the most to lose in New England this season. He’s spent four seasons without Brady – one in New England, two in Denver, and one in St. Louis. In his three seasons outside the organization, McDaniels’ offenses have never finished higher than 19th in points per game. And, in the one season in New England without Brady, the Patriots brought back a roster that just went undefeated in 2007. They finished eighth in points per game.

Now, McDaniels has a large challenge on his hands. He’ll have to prepare a new quarterback to start in 2020. Whether that quarterback is Jarrett Stidham, Brian Hoyer, Cody Kessler, a rookie, or another veteran, the offense will not run the same as it has in the past.

The best part of Brady’s game has been deciphering defenses and knowing just where the hole will be. It would be unfair to expect that of the next quarterback right away. It will be McDaniels’ job to make it easier on his quarterback and the rest of the offense. If he can do that well enough, the transition might not be as difficult.

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Could Patriots left tackle Isaiah Wynn be in for a position change?

Patriots tackle Isaiah Wynn could move positions to fill a hole potentially left by an impending free agent.

During the 2018 NFL draft, the New England Patriots were looking to upgrade their offensive line. They had just lost their longtime left tackle Nate Solder to the New York Giants in free agency, so it was clearly the biggest hole on the roster. With their first of two first-round picks, the Patriots drafted offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn out of Georgia.

The scouting report on Wynn was that he was undersized. He had played both guard and tackle in college, and while he was athletic, it was said he may be better suited for an interior position. Right guard Shaq Mason’s contract was up at the end of the season. Some suggested that Wynn could’ve been a longterm plan to replace him or that he could start over third-year left guard Joe Thuney. But, at the time, it was all but guaranteed that Wynn was going to play offensive tackle due to the obvious need.

Then, the very next day, the Patriots made a trade for San Francisco 49ers tackle Trent Brown. It was set to be a training camp battle to decide who would stay as the starter. However, Wynn would suffer a torn Achilles in the 2018 preseason to end his rookie season, handing the job to Brown.

Less than two weeks after Wynn’s injury, Mason received a monstrous five-year, $50 million contract extension, effectively ending the guard future of Isaiah Wynn.

After a tremendous 2018, Trent Brown cashed in on the first day of free agency with the Oakland Raiders. With Wynn still recovering, the Patriots tried to bring in veteran free agent Jared Veldheer, but he retired prior to the season. After Week 1, the Patriots brought in journeyman offensive lineman Marshall Newhouse who needed to start more than half the season when Wynn suffered a toe injury that kept him out for nine weeks.

When he’s been on the field, Wynn’s been coming along. He’s hasn’t been great, and he hasn’t terrible. That’s pretty much what’s expected out of a young offensive lineman who essentially missed the first season-and-a-half of his career.

For reference, Wynn graded out at 69.9, according to Pro Football Focus, which put him 19th at the left tackle position. PFF grades aren’t everything, but they can help. What they’re not accounting for is the poor play of the rest of the Patriots’ offensive line (with the exception of Thuney who was named to the All-Pro Second-Team). It’s the one unit that really needs to be on the same page, and it was evident that that was not the case this season.

Now, Thuney is heading to the open market this off-season. He’ll likely get a huge deal because of his consistency and availability. It would be surprising to see Belichick pay top dollar to both of his guards. So, it looks like the Patriots would be in the market for a guard this off-season. Could Isaiah Wynn be that guy?

His smaller frame and experience playing left guard at Georgia could make him a great candidate. Moving him to guard could allow for more mobility and deception with pulls on the offensive line. Mason is already great on the move, so adding Wynn’s skill set could make that a dangerous combination.

If the Patriots want the prototypical 6-foot-5-and-above offensive tackle, Wynn’s versatility, allowing him to kick inside, would give them the freedom to go after their guy. Belichick may go out in the draft and take Louisville left tackle Mekhi Becton (6-foot-7) in the first round. He could sign Eagles tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai (6-foot-6) in free agency. Of course, this is all decided by Belichick, and maybe more important, offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia.

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Julian Edelman jokes with Isaiah Wynn in Instagram post

Julian Edelman has been a strong source of motivation for the Patriots. 

Julian Edelman has been a strong source of motivation for the New England Patriots.

Whether it’s on the field or with his social media posts. Left tackle Isaiah Wynn may have taken this motivation too seriously, according to Edelman’s Instagram post on Thursday.

The 12-3 Patriots are looking to clinch a first-round bye with a victory against the Miami Dolphins at home on Sunday.

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Julian Edelman returns to practice; Isaiah Wynn absent for Week 15

The left tackle missed practice.

The New England Patriots were without left tackle Isaiah Wynn at practice on Thursday during Week 15 in preparation for the Bengals in Cincinnati on Sunday. Wynn, who was not on the injury report on Wednesday, is dealing with an eye issue.

Julian Edelman, meanwhile, was upgraded from a non-participant on Wednesday to a limited participant with shoulder and knee injuries on Thursday. He was among seven limited: LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (knee), DT Byron Cowart (head), C Ted Karras (knee), CB Jason McCourty (groin), WR Mohamed Sanu (ankle) and DT Danny Shelton (shoulder).

QB Tom Brady (elbow) and WR N’Keal Harry (hip) were listed on the injury report, but were full participants.

New England kicks off against the Bengals at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

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8 Patriots miss practice with an illness in Week 13

Stephon Gilmore and Dont’a Hightower were among those absent from practice.

New England Patriots are famous for placing players on injured reserve with the “Foxborough Flu” to stash those player for the season. But in practice on Wednesday in Week 13 ahead of game against the Houston Texans, New England seemed to have a legitimate case of the Foxborough flu.

Safety Patrick Chung, linebackers Jamie Collins and Dont’a Hightower, tackle Isaiah Wynn, cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and Joejuan Williams, tight end Ryan Izzo and guard Jermaine Eluemunor were absent from practice due to illness. Chung also had an injury designation (heel/chest).

Tackle Marcus Cannon, who was dealing with an illness last week, was limited in practice on Wednesday. Linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley (knee), receivers Phillip Dorsett (concussion), Julian Edelman (shoulder), Matthew Slater (hamstring) and Mohamed Sanu (ankle), safety Nate Ebner (ankle/back) and cornerback Jason McCourty (groin) were limited.

Safety Devin McCourty said a handful of players were sent home with a sickness.

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Bill Belichick praises Isaiah Wynn ahead of potential return

“Yeah, he’s working hard. He’s always ready to go.”

Tom Brady may have a new blindside blocker when the New England Patriots play the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.

Patriots left tackle Isaiah Wynn is eligible to return to the game day active roster this weekend after coming off injured reserve earlier this week. As we saw with receiver N’Keal Harry, who was a healthy scratch in his first week after returning from IR, the Patriots don’t always rush their players back into action. Belichick wouldn’t commit to playing Wynn on Sunday.

“Isaiah always works hard,” Belichick said during a press conference on Friday at Gillette Stadium. “He did a lot of scout team work to get timing back, so working against the defense. Yeah, he’s working hard. He’s always ready to go.”

Wynn would replace tackle Marshall Newhouse, who has been serving as the team’s left tackle in Wynn’s absence. Belichick praised Newhouse’s play on Monday, but the left tackle has struggled while allowing consistent pressure to get to Brady over the last few weeks. Wynn’s return would be a welcome sight for the offense. But his presence on game day will depend upon how his body is responding to his increased workload at practice this week.

“We’ll see how it goes today,” Belchick said. “We’ll see how things turn out after the first two days. Sometimes, when guys do a little more, they are good. Sometimes, they are a little sore, so maybe there’s a little — I don’t want to say setback. But maybe things doesn’t always come together as quickly as it might in other cases.”

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Bills playoff picture: Patriots’ Isaiah Wynn activated from IR

Buffalo Bills 2019 opponent, the New England Patriots, are getting Isaiah Wynn back for Tom Brady.

This year hasn’t been a season to remember for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

The 42-year-old has recently admitted he’s frustrated with the way his team’s offense is performing. A lot of the Pats’ successes are because of their defense, not Brady.

That’s different than much of his career but truthfully, it’s not all on the QB. He’s without several playmakers he could’ve been with, such as Antonio Brown, Josh Gordon and Rob Gronkowski. His offensive line is a wreck, too.

But that second group is getting a jolt of life.

Former first-round pick Isaiah Wynn was activated off the team’s injured reserve list this week, according to Patriots Wire.

Wynn was placed on the injured reserve list with a toe injury after New England’s Week 2 victory over the Miami Dolphins. Wynn also missed his entire rookie season due to an Achilles injury.

Wynn will slide in at Brady’s blindspot, left tackle. In his brief playing time this year, Wynn has graded at an “above average” mark via Pro Football Focus’ grading system with an overall grade of 72.8.

Former Bill and current Patriots, Marshall Newhouse, was filling in for Wynn. He currently grades at a much lower 61.0 overall.

At 7-3 overall, the Bills can still catch the Patriots for the AFC East crown. New England sits at 9-1.

While that could seem unlikely, there’s still to factor in that those two teams will faceoff in what could be a pivotal Week 16 meeting in New England. That game was already flexed into a primetime kickoff slot, a 4:30 p.m. kick on Saturday.

Earlier this year, the Bills fell 16-10 to their divisional rival.

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