Tag: Jakob Johnson

47 days till Patriots season opener: Every player to wear No. 47 for New England

Here’s a list of every Patriots player to wear the No. 47 jersey number

The New England Patriots have reached the Day 47 mark in the countdown to their regular season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles on September 10.

So we’re continuing our ongoing series by listing every Patriots player that has ever worn the No. 47.

Fullback Jakob Johnson was the last player on the team to wear the number. The present-day NFL has nearly done away with the fullback position altogether, but Johnson found success as one of the few remaining throwbacks in the league.

He left the Patriots back in 2022 to reunite with former offensive coordinator and now Las Vegas Raiders coach, Josh McDaniels. There are at least 14 other players that precede Johnson on this list.

Here’s every Patriots player that has ever worn the No. 47 throughout franchise history (via Pro Football Reference):

Raiders make flurry of re-signings official, add former Broncos LS Jacob Bobenmoyer

Raiders add former Broncos LS Jacob Bobenmoyer, officially re-sign 5 others

It was a busy Saturday for the Raiders. Machine gun style, they rattled off several official re-signings by the team. They were as follows:

FB Jakob Johnson
T Jermaine Eluemunor
C Hroniss Grasu
DT Jerry Tillery
LB Curtis Bolton

In addition, the team announced the signing of long snapper Jacob Bobonmoyer, who appeared in 46 games the past three seasons in Denver.

Of particular interest among the returning players is tackle Jermaine Eluemunor. Though the journeyman veteran had been hinting at his return of late.

Prior to his proclamation that he and Kolton Miller would be “the best Tackle Duo’ in the league this season, he has simply been talking all along like he was going nowhere despite the team letting him reach free agency before making his return official.

The tackle position has been high on many team need lists for the Raiders this offseason, but Eluemunor has seemingly scoffed at the idea, pointing out that he settled in and played pretty well the latter half of last season.

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What condition the position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at RB ahead of free agency

Assessing Raiders level of need at RB as free agency approaches

We take a look at the running back position for the Raiders ahead of free agency to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Returning starter: None

Depth: Zamir White, Brittain Brown, Brandon Bolden, Austin Walter, Sincere McCormick
Free agents: Josh Jacobs, Jakob Johnson, Ameer Abdullah

Jacobs had an elite season in his last year of his rookie contract. And Jakob Johnson did some fine blocking work for him. After that, the Raiders got very little. Even with two running backs from the 2022 draft on the team in White and Brown.

Condition: Unstable

Why: Unless the Raiders re-sign Jacobs and/or Johnson, they are gone. Another option the Raiders need to consider is slapping the franchise tag on Jacobs. Either to keep him or trade him. Rather than just letting him leave in free agency.

White and Brown were drafted to be potential replacements for Jacobs if/when he left. But neither showed enough to say they are ready to take over the job. So, if they lose Jacobs, they’ll be back in the market for a running back.

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6 Raiders make NFLPA Players’ Top 5 at their position

NFLPA puts out their list of Top 5 at each position and 6 Raiders make the cut

This year, along with the NFLPA putting out their first ever Players’ 1st Team All Pro, they did something unique. Instead of doing a first and second team the way the AP does, they asked players at each position to give their top five.

Once they tallied up the scores, they put out a top five at each position. The Raiders saw six players make the top five at their position. Those positions are Running back, Fullback, Wide receiver, Edge rusher, Kicker, and Punter.

RB 1. Josh Jacobs (All Pro)
FB 4. Jakob Johnson
WR 2. Davante Adams (All Pro)
ED 3. Maxx Crosby
K 2. Daniel Carlson
P 3. AJ Cole

It’s notable that even though Adams was named number two behind Justin Jefferson that it was Adams who was named first team All Pro. So, these top fives don’t line up like a simple first team, second team, third team type of thing.

Raiders players who may have made the list in years past, but whose 2022 seasons were upended by injuries include TE Darren Waller and LB Denzel Perryman. Should they return to health and to form, they could push to make the team next season.

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Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 12 vs Seahawks

Digging into the tape to give out some recognition for another hard-fought OT Raiders win in week 12

For the second game in as many weeks the Raiders won a walk-off game in overtime. This one had much more scoring in the game itself, leading to the 34-34 tie at the end of regulation. It wasn’t always pretty, but there were some wow moments along the way and the Raiders once again came out victorious.

Ballers

RB Josh Jacobs

Now the reigning AFC Offensive Player of the Week. Jacobs had a monster game by any measure. But especially in terms of stats, where he finished with a career-high 229 yards rushing with two touchdowns along with 74 yards through the air to give him 303 yards from scrimmage and two scores.

The first TD came on a toss from 30 yards out to give the Raiders their biggest lead of the day at 21-13.

The Seahawks answered with a touchdown drive of their own to bring it back to a one-point game. With just over five minutes left in the first half, the Raiders looked to Jacobs to sustain a long drive. After a couple five-yard runs early in the drive, the Raiders found themselves in 4th and two. Jacobs got the ball on a toss and picked up seven yards to put the Raiders in field goal range, allowing them to score to take a 24-20 lead at the half.

Down 34-27 with just over five minutes left in the game, the Raiders would need to once again drive for a score. This time a field goal wouldn’t cut it. The third play of the drive, Jacobs caught a pass for 14 yards to put them at the Seahawks’ 33-yard-line. A few plays later, he put the Raiders in first and goal at the ten and they went on to score the game-tying touchdown.

Jacobs did his part to put the Raiders in scoring position to start overtime, with three runs for 24 yards, but it stalled at the 38-yard-line, and Daniel Carlson missed the 56-yard field goal attempt.

The defense held to give Jacobs another shot and he took that opportunity and ran with it…86 yards to the house on the first play of the drive to end the game.

His big game helped him become the league’s top rusher at 1159 yards. Already a career-high with five games still left.

WR Mack Hollins, WR Davante Adams

The first long pass play of the game went to Hollins on third-and-four on the Raiders second possession. It went for 20 yards to put the Raiders in business at the Seattle 23-yard-line. Three plays later they tied the game at 7-7.

The first big play for Jacobs had involved Hollins and Adams. Down 13-7 in the second quarter, with Derek Carr already throwing two interceptions, the Raiders offense needed a spark.

A couple nice Adams catches gave them two first downs to put them at the Seattle 36-yard-line. Then Jacobs got the handoff up the middle, the Seahawks sold out to stop him. With the defense committed, Jacob pitched it back to Carr on the flea flicker, barely getting it back to him as defenders swarmed him.

Adams and Hollins played it perfectly, with Hollins acting like he was blocking, and Adams slowing up as if he was a decoy. The moment the pitch back happened, Adams picked up speed, drawing a double team from the the only remaining Seahawks left in the secondary. So when Hollins peeled off his blocked he was completely uncovered with plenty of open field in front him for an easy 36-yard catch and run for the score and a 14-13 lead. That play was a clinic in how to execute a successful flea flicker.

Down 34-27 late in the game, the Raiders needed a TD drive. That drive started with an incredible one-handed grab by Adams up the right sideline. The defender was holding Adams’s left hand down, so he simply reached up and snagged the pass with his right hand and pinned it to his chest for a 28-yard grab. A few plays later he caught a pass in the right flat, broke a tackle and picked up a first down at the 22.

Still tied at 34-34 in overtime, Jacobs broke through for his 86-yard touchdown run. And he hit the next gear and ran away thanks to a downfield block from Hollins.

FB Jakob Johnson, RT Jermaine Eluemunor, C Andre James

Hollins wasn’t the only one to help open things up for Jacobs on that game-winning run. The initial hole to get him to the second level was opened by Eluemunor and Johnson. They gave him the daylight, and Jacobs took it from there.

That was Jacobs’s second TD of the game. His first TD came on a toss in the second quarter. Once again Johnson was there to clear a path for him as was James.

James also laid key blocks on a couple big runs by Zamir White to set up a game-tying field goal in the third quarter. While Eluemunor blocked for Jacobs on another couple nice runs, one of which was on the first drive of overtime.

DT Andrew Billings, DE Maxx Crosby, DE Chandler Jones

Carr’s two interceptions in the first quarter, put the defense in a tough spot to try and stop the Seahawks from scoring. But in between, they did some good work. In particular, Billings shot up the middle to get a run stuff for a loss and share of a sack. Jones and Crosby helped with the sack by getting around the outside, forcing Geno Smith to step into a quickly closing pocket.

It was a new game at 27-27 in the third quarter, and the three-and-out that came afterward was completed in part because Jones did a nice job disguising. He made it look as if he was coming on the rush and after one step. turned to follow the tight end, thus closing off the outside for the screen, stopping it in its tracks and forcing a punt.

Jones’s final act falling on a fumbled handoff to stop what would have been a scoring drive for the Seahawks, and giving the Raiders the ball back.

The Raiders offense couldn’t capitalize on the turnover this time. When the Seahawks took over on downs, Billings and Crosby teamed up to sack Smith.

After the Raiders tied it up at 34-34, the defense still needed a stop. The Seahawks had 1:54 left to score. They got one first down and then found themselves in third-and-10. Cue Maxx Crosby who shot in to get another sack and send the game to overtime. Second straight week he did that.

As is often the case, Crosby clearly got stronger as the game went longer. In OT, the Seahawks got the ball with a chance to win it, but instead went three-and-out. On third and five, Crosby flew around the edge, using his wingspan to grab Smith’s throwing arm with the QB barely getting the pass off. All he that did was save a few yards as the pass went into the turf and the Seahawks punted it back. You know what happened next.

LB Denzel Perryman

The man who deals with the coverage criticism probably a lot more than he should, made the Raiders’ biggest play on defense in coverage. As middle linebackers are asked to do from time to time, he dropped back to patrol the middle zone and watch the quarterback’s eyes. That put him in the right position to pick off Geno Smith’s pass and return it 25 yards to the Seattle 30. And the Raiders converted the takeaway to the touchdown in one play to take a 21-13 lead.

Come the third quarter, the score was tied up at 27-27 and Perryman shot into the backfield to make a tackle for loss, leading to a three-and-out. It was still tied up heading into the fourth quarter and Perryman chased down Kenneth Walker trying to find round outside to stop him for a 13-yard loss.

Perryman finished with a team-leading nine tackles, two for a loss, along with his interception.

LT Kolton Miller

Kept the left edge clean and free from blindside pressure to give Carr plenty of time. That’s most of his job and he did it perfectly.

Honorable Mention

QB Derek Carr — He spotted the Seahawks with two scores early with two interceptions in the first quarter. But kudos to Carr for shaking it off and throwing three touchdowns to help send the Raiders to overtime. The first and third TD’s to Abdullah and Moreau were absolute dimes for throws too.

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Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 5 vs Chiefs

Raiders made a game of it with the Chiefs. But fell short in the end again. So let’s look at the game’s Ballers & Busters

Monday Night was a much closer game in the end than most thought it would be. The Raiders jumped to a 17-0 lead and twice were within one point late. But in the end, that one point deficit was where it would stay and the Raiders would fall to 1-4 on the season.

Ballers

RB Josh Jacobs

Once again, Jacobs was running with a mission against a Chiefs Run D that was best in the league coming into the game. Jacobs made mincemeat of that top ranked run D.

His mission was never more evident than early in the second quarter when he followed up a 13-yard run with a 21-yard run that ended with him plowing through the safety. Jacobs had already scored the Raiders’ previous TD from one yards out and those two runs set up the Raiders’ third score to go up 17-0.

Late in the third quarter, Jacobs followed up another 13-yard run — he created himself with a broken tackle — with a 37-yard run. The Raiders had long since lost the lead and the field goal off that run brought them back within one at 24-23.

Jacobs’s second TD of the game brought the Raiders back to being down one late at 30-29 before the failed two-point conversion. That’s where it remained on their final drive which started with a couple Jacobs eight-yard runs; the second of which gave him a new career-high for a single game, breaking his previous mark (144) he set last week vs the Broncos.

His last run went for five yards on third-and-one, setting his new career-high at 154 yards. Unfortunately, the Raiders went away from him on their next third-and-one and fourth-and-one and the game was over on consecutive incompletions.

DE Maxx Crosby

Every play Crosby made was a big one. It started with a wicked inside spin move to get the sack to end the Chiefs’ first drive. The next drive he made a run stop for no gain and it ended with a missed field goal.

The second quarter featured Crosby’s second sack of the game. That one moved him into a tie for the league lead in sacks (6). Though it wasn’t enough to keep the Chiefs from scoring their first touchdown of the game.

After the Chiefs had completed the comeback to go up 24-23, the Chiefs were back on offense looking to extend their lead. That drive started with Crosby making a run stop for a loss. The Chiefs would still get the touchdown, but on the two-point conversion attempt, the Condor would get pressure on Mahomes and get his long arms up to bat down his pass attempt.

DE Chandler Jones

For the first time this season, Crosby had some help from the other side. Jones didn’t manage to get his first sack as a Raider, but he put plenty of pressure on Mahomes from his side of the line and made some run stops as well.

Jones helped set up Crosby’s first sack with a run stop on first down and pressure resulting in an incompletion on second down. He then broke up a screen pass on the next drive and two plays later the Chiefs would miss a field goal attempt.

The third possession went three-and-out and it was all Jones. Starting with a run stop at the line and ending with a hit on Mahomes to force an incompletion.

Those efforts helped the Raiders build their 17-0 lead to start the game.

T Kolton Miller

Miller didn’t give up any sacks or hits on Derek Carr and as far as I can tell, he didn’t give up any run stuffs either. In addition, he had blocks on several Josh Jacobs runs including his first touchdown run and a 21-yard run in the second quarter that set up the Raiders’ third score.

FB Jakob Johnson

Doing a fine bit of lead blocking for Jacobs was his fullback, including leading the way for Jacobs’s 37-yard run in the third quarter.

WR Davante Adams

Derek Carr went bombs away to Adams several times in this game. The first one went for a 58-yard touchdown. The next two were underthrown and Adams came back for them, forcing a pass interference. The second of them happened in the end zone, setting up their second touchdown.

The next long ball was easily the best pass and catch between Carr and Adams since they became Raiders teammates. Adams got behind two Chiefs defenders and Carr placed it perfectly in his hands in-stride for a 48-yard touchdown.

It was the last two passes to Adams that ended the game. The first would likely have set up the potential game-winning field goal, but Adams didn’t finish the catch before stepping out of bounds. The final pass, Adams and Hunter Renfrow ran into each other. The pass was way long, but it wouldn’t have mattered considering Adams and Renfrow were on the ground. It was a terrible way to end an otherwise great day for Adams who had three catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns.

LB Divine Deablo

Deablo finished with a team leading ten tackles. On the last two Chiefs drives alone, Deablo had three run stuffs, one for a loss. His last tackle helped lead to the Raiders stopping the Chiefs on their final drive and keeping them from just running clock to give the Raiders offense one more shot.

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Two former Vols make 2022 preseason debut

Two former Vols make 2022 preseason debut.

A pair of former Tennessee players made their 2022 NFL preseason debut in the Hall of Fame game.

Defensive tackle Kendal Vickers and fullback Jakob Johnson appeared for Las Vegas in its 27-11 victory against Jacksonville in Canton, Ohio.

Vickers, played for the Vols from 2014-17 after redshirting in 2013. He recorded two tackles and one sack against Jacksonville.

With the Raiders since 2020, Vickers has recorded 10 tackles and two sacks.

He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and competed in training camp with the Titans and Pittsburgh (2019).

Johnson played against Jacksonville and did not record any stats.

He is in first season with the Raiders after playing for New England.

Johnson played for the Vols from 2014-17.

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Jakob Johnson kicks off training camp with Las Vegas

Former Vol Jakob Johnson kicks off training camp with Las Vegas.

Former Vol Jakob Johnson is taking part in training camp with Las Vegas.

Las Vegas practiced Tuesday in Hendersonville, Nevada. New head coach Josh McDaniels comes to the Raiders from New England, where he served as offensive coordinator.

Johnson and McDaniels joined Las Vegas at the same time.

In three seasons with the Patriots as a fullback, Johnson recorded 13 receptions, 83 yards and one touchdown, The Stuttgart, Germany native played for New England from 2019-2021 after entering the NFL in the International Player Pathway Program.

He was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent April 6, 2019 after playing professionally in Germany for the Stuttgart Scorpions.

Johnson played tight end and linebacker for the Vols from 2014-17.

Las Vegas will play in the Hall of Fame game against Jacksonville Aug. 4. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. EDT and the game will be televised by NBC.

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How fullbacks are valued (and devalued) in today’s NFL

Touchdown Wire’s Laurie Fitzpatrick discusses the fullback position and how fullbacks are used in today’s NFL.

Over the last two decades, the fullback position has become an anomaly. Only a few teams in today’s game even have them on their roster let alone giving them consistent reps. On average, fullbacks that do see the field are only out there for 25% of their offensive snaps throughout a season.

In the early decades of the NFL, fullbacks were a critical part of the offenses, but when coaches started finding more efficient ways to score, they no longer relied on power on the ground to convert first downs and touchdowns. They went to the air instead. The more points, the better.

Today, almost no fullbacks even get selected in the draft. There has only been one fullback drafted over the last four years — the Baltimore Ravens selected Ben Mason in the fifth round in the 2021 NFL draft; and he was waived in less than a year.

They do say that history repeats itself, and since there is a need for faster and lighter linebackers, the fullback position may find its way back onto rosters in an attempt to counter defensive speed, with power.

It’s time to go over the top fullbacks around the league right now, how they help their offenses win in the modern NFL, and where those trends might be going.