Tag: Jerry Tillery

Bears have FG blocked second week in a row – this time by the Vikings

For the second week in a row, the Bears had a field goal blocked.

It’s been a tough week for the Chicago Bears and their special teams. Kicker Cairo Santos had his kick blocked last week by the Green Bay Packers, which caused them to lose to them.

Fast forward one week later, Santos went to attempt a 48-yard field goal against the Vikings, and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery blocked Santos’ kick and Brian Asomoah II returned the kick 21 yards in favor of Minnesota.

The Bears had all week to sort through their kicking woes but the Vikings capitalized on a weak spot on the offensive line. Tillery appeared to be in the same spot where the kick was blocked a week ago against Green Bay.

Thanks to a successful Kevin O’Connell challenge, Chicago had to kick the field goal. Caleb Williams threw a 24-yard pass to Keenan Williams onto the Vikings’ six-yard line. But Allen didn’t have two feet in which made it fourth down and forced Chicago to kick.

CBS Sports recognizes Vikings biggest question mark in 2024

Everyone knows about the Minnesota Vikings’ questions at quarterback heading into the 2024 season, but could there be an even bigger one?

The Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback questions heading into the 2024 season garner all the headlines, and it’s a battle that folks will be watching all year long. But that’s not the only question mark the Vikings have heading into the season—and it may not even be the biggest, according to CBS Sports’ Jared Dubin.

Dubin recently took a look at each team’s biggest question mark heading into the season, and for the Vikings, he has his eyes on the situation at defensive tackle as the biggest area of concern, saying:

Harrison Phillips is a solid player, but the Vikes are counting on guys like Jerry Tillery, 2023 fifth-rounder Jaquelin Roy and 2024 seventh-rounder Levi (Drake) Rodriguez next to him. That is highly concerning, even with Brian Flores magicking things up for them. And we still don’t yet know whether they will have to start Sam Darnold for a while, or if J.J. McCarthy will hit the ground running.

Dubin does mention the quarterback situation at the end of his analysis, but it’s interesting to note that he’s more worried about the situation at defensive tackle. Minnesota was poor last season when it came to putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks up the middle, and that’s not likely to improve this season.

However, given Phillips’s potentially increased role and Brian Flores’s creative schemes, it may be less of an issue than Dubin believes it to be.

Vikings may have a plan to increase interior pass rush success in 2024

The Minnesota Vikings defensive tackles ranked at or near the bottom in pass rush in 2023. What’s the plan to improve that next season?

Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has certainly improved the Minnesota Vikings’ defense during his tenure with the team. But one aspect the team can still improve upon is its ability to get a pass rush up the middle. Last season, defensive tackles Harrison Phillips and Jonathan Bullard finished 176th and 185th out of 185 defenders who rushed the passer at least 200 times.

So how does Flores improve upon that performance? According to The Athletic’s Minnesota Vikings beat writer Alec Lewis, the team may have two solutions to the problem. The first could come in the form of free agent acquisition Jerry Tillery. Tillery, a former first-round pick, was the 88th-ranked pass rusher last season. Not on the level of Quinnen Williams, Chris Jones, or Aaron Donald (as Lewis points out), but certainly an improvement.

The other potential solution Lewis suggests is to increase the frequency with which the defensive line uses stunts. Last season, the Vikings were 27th in the league in defensive stunts, using them on just 23 percent of snaps per PFF. Contrast that with Flores’ 2021 Miami Dolphins team, who used stunts on more than 30 percent of defensive snaps, good for third that season.

Bringing in former Miami Dolphins EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel should help the Vikings improve that number if that’s the route the defense goes. Van Ginkel has shown good speed and agility during his years with the Dolphins, and he’s familiar with Flores’ scheme and what he wants out of his pass rushers.

Vikings first-round pick Dallas Turner should also be able to help on that front, as he “can be a menace as bender between the tackles,” as Lewis puts it. Those two additions to the Vikings front should allow Flores to increase their creativity, something he excelled at last season despite the poor pass-rushing performance up front.

Vikings may have interesting decisions to make at defensive tackle

Cut-down day in the NFL isn’t for another couple of months, but the Minnesota Vikings may have some interesting choices to make at DT.

We’re still in the early portions of the off-season programs, but if early indications are to be believed, the Minnesota Vikings may have some interesting decisions to make regarding roster cut-down day. Particularly when it comes to the defensive tackle position.

The Vikings are likely to keep only four, maybe five, defensive tackles on the roster, but they have a wealth of talent at the position, which could make the decision difficult for the coaching staff.

Harrison Phillips is one of the unquestioned leaders of the Vikings’ defense heading into his third season with the team. With Danielle Hunter gone in free agency, the Vikings will lean even more heavily on Phillips to provide the defense with veteran leadership. Phillips is a lock to make the roster and will likely see an increased role on the defense in 2024.

It’s beyond Phillips where things get interesting for the Vikings at defensive tackle. They have a number of potential players on the roster, but only a limited number of spots available. Upwards of six guys are fighting for, likely, three roster spots.

Jaquelin Roy was a rotational defensive tackle as a rookie in 2023 and played admirably in the limited action he saw. Roy, the rookie out of LSU, saw only one start in 2023, and the stat sheet wasn’t terribly impressive – just eight tackles, one tackle-for-loss, and one quarterback hit. But he was a solid contributor on defense and made more plays for the team than the box score would indicate. According to Alec Lewis of The Athletic, Roy will have “premium chances in training camp”.

Jalen Redmond, an undrafted free agent in 2023, was recently signed to a contract after being a standout in spring football. During his stint in the UFL, Redmond was one of the league’s best defenders while he was healthy.

That caveat, however, is the biggest concern about Redmond. He failed to catch on with the Carolina Panthers as a UDFA due largely to his inability to stay healthy. If he can stay on the field, there is a lot of untapped potential there.

Speaking of injury, the Vikings also have James Lynch who figures to be in the mix for a roster spot. Lynch has been with the Vikings for the past four seasons and has served them well in a rotational role.

Lynch saw action in several games two seasons ago, notching 20 tackles and one tackle for loss. Unfortunately, Lynch tore his ACL last season and missed the year and, according to Lewis, is “likely battling for a back-end roster spot”.

Then comes the youngster Levi Drake Rodriguez. The Vikings took Rodriguez in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL draft and have reportedly already begun turning heads.

According to Lewis, “the team loves him already”, which would seem to indicate that he’ll likely figure heavily into the mix for one of the DT spots. Rodriguez struggles against the run, and improving that has been a focus in the early portions of the off-season – and likely will continue to be all season.

Rounding out the position are two players the Vikings signed in the offseason to help bolster their depth and provide versatility: Jonah Williams and Jerry Tillery. Williams is a name that should be familiar to Vikings fans, as this will technically be his second stint with the team.

Williams was originally claimed off waivers by the Vikings in 2021 after being released by the Los Angeles Rams, but he was waived the next day. Now, Williams is back with the team after spending the past three seasons with the Rams. Williams may have a leg up, as he could also stick on the roster as a defensive end—his more natural position.

Jerry Tillery comes to the Vikings after two seasons with the Raiders. Tillery, a former first-round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers, has yet to reach the potential he showed coming out of Notre Dame, but according to Lewis he “is imposing, and you can understand why he was a first-rounder”. Tillery could also find a spot on the roster at defensive end.

We’ll have to wait a couple of months to see how everything shakes out at the position, but early returns suggest that the Vikings have a ton of talent at the position. Some good players will be left on the outside looking in – a good problem for the Vikings to have at this juncture.

Report: Vikings sign former UFL defensive star Jalen Redmond

The Minnesota Vikings have reportedly signed former UFL/XFL defensive tackle Jalen Redmond, as reported by KPRC2’s reporter Aaron Wilson.

The Minnesota Vikings have reportedly dipped into the spring football league ranks to beef up their defensive line by signing former XFL and UFL defensive tackle Jalen Redmond. The signing, reported by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, TX, will reportedly be made official sometime Tuesday.

Redmond starred as a disruptive defensive lineman at the University of Oklahoma before going undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft. He was signed by the Carolina Panthers, but injuries cut his attempts to make the roster short, and the team waived him in early August of that year.

In December 2023, Redmond signed with the Arlington Renegades of the then-XFL, now the UFL. Redmond once again struggled with injuries during the UFL season, but when he was healthy, he was highly productive for the Renegades. In just four games of the UFL season, Redmond stood out as one of the top defenders in the league, notching 18 tackles, five tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks.

Now Redmond will reportedly walk into a Vikings defensive tackle room that could use depth. Last year’s fifth-round pick, Jaquelin Roy, stood out at times last season and likely played well enough to earn the starting role. Behind him, however, are a lot of question marks.

The Vikings signed former Chargers and Raiders defensive lineman Jerry Tillery in the off-season to provide some depth behind Roy. They also signed undrafted free agent Tyler Manoa. Redmond will likely compete with Manoa to stay on the roster and may find himself in the rotation at the position—if he can stay healthy and perform.

Raiders officially release 4 including QB Jimmy Garoppolo, Hunter Renfrow

QB Jimmy Garoppolo and Hunter Renfrow among 4 Raiders officially released

With the start of the new league comes a house cleaning of sorts. The Raiders first official act in that regard was to release four players from their roster.

Out are:

QB Jimmy Garoppolo
QB Brian Hoyer
WR Hunter Renfrow
DT Jerry Tillery

None of the players were released were with a June 1st designation, which means the Raiders clear some $22 million in cap space. Most of which coming from the Garoppolo ($11.26 million) and Renfrow ($8.2 million) releases.

That money is being sent directly to the additions of DT Christian Wilkins, QB Gardners Minshew, and TE Harrison Bryant. Along with the re-signing of C Andre James.

Garoppolo was signed last offseason to a two-year deal and ended up starting just six games before being benched for rookie Aidan O’Connell.

Renfrow had a Pro Bowl season in 2021, becoming just the third Raiders receiver ever to catch over 100 passes (103). He signed a new deal and then fell off the past two seasons after Josh McDaniels took over as head coach.

Tillery was never really all that effective. And new GM Tom Telesco had already cut him with the Chargers two seasons ago, so you know he wasn’t a fan either.

Hoyer…lol.

Raiders to release DT Jerry Tillery

Raiders to release DT Jerry Tillery

The house cleaning in underway in Las Vegas. Hours after the news of the expected cut of QB Brian Hoyer, comes another unsurprising cut. That of defensive tackle Jerry Tillery.

The former first round pick was signed by the Raiders midway through the 2022 season after being cut by the Chargers under GM Tom Telesco. Despite a largely underwhelming final eight games with his new team, they brought him back for another season on a two-year deal.

He didn’t make much of an impression last season which was the first of his two-year deal, and now he’s once again headed for unemployment. This time under (checks notes) GM Tom Telesco.

Tillery’s release brings with it $2.3 million in cap savings with $1.87 million in dead money.

Tillery’s release means the Raiders have none of their primary DT rotation under contract for next season. Bilal Nichols, John Jenkins, and Adam Butler are all set to become free agents. It’s a position that was due an overhaul and is in much need of in infusion of talent.

What Condition the Position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at DT ahead of free agency

What Condition Raiders Position is in: Defensive tackle

With free agency under a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ defensive tackle position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Starters: Jerry Tillery, ?
Backups: Byron Young, Nesta Jade Silvera, Marquan McCall
Free Agents: Bilal Nichols, Adam Butler, John Jenkins

The past two drafts the Raiders have used four draft picks on the defensive tackle position and have little to show for it. They got no starters out of it and one of the four (Young) was on the active roster all of last season. Veterans Bilal Nichols and John Jenkins started every game last season with Jerry Tillery appearing in all 17 games, starting six.

Condition: Critical

Three of the four interior defensive lineman who were regular parts in the rotation last season are set to be free agents. Only Tillery remains and he wasn’t even a regular starter due to his deficiencies against the run. Adam Butler played well enough to earn a return. If they bring him back, they would still need to add one more talented interior lineman. If they don’t, they would need a couple.

5 potential Raiders offseason cuts

5 potential Raiders offseason cuts and cap ramifications

There is a bit of house cleaning that needs to happen this offseason for the Raiders. Currently they have around $38.8 million in cap space. That lands them at 12th most in the league. But they can do better. 

Cuts aren’t always about cap savings, to be clear. But sometimes it’s either the main reason for the cut or a nice byproduct. Should they make all five of the cuts below, the Raiders would save an additional $13.86 million to bring their space under the cap to $52.64 million. That would jump them up to 8th in the league as it currently stands.

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 15 rout of Chargers

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 14 route of Chargers

What an insane game this was. Four days earlier, the Raiders were shut out 3-0 by the Vikings. Then they come out in this one and not only score a touchdown on their opening drive, not only score 21 points in the first quarter, not only go up 42-0 in the first half, not only scored 49 points before the Chargers scored for the first time, but scored a franchise record 63 points in a 63-21 trouncing of the Chargers.

That was one heck of a run-on sentence.

So, you might just see a heavy dose of Ballers this week. I wasn’t even sure there’d be a Buster, but in the end I found one. But just one.