Tag: John Simpson

John Harbaugh on potential offensive line changes: ‘We’re always going to play the best players’

The Ravens gambled on youth this offseason by letting both starting guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson walk in free agency while trading away right tackle Morgan Moses to the New York Jets. This decision looks quite questionable after an 0-2 …

The Ravens gambled on youth this offseason by letting both starting guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson walk in free agency while trading away right tackle Morgan Moses to the New York Jets.

This decision looks quite questionable after an 0-2 start to the 2024 season, with the most significant issue being a struggling offensive line with three new starters. This has led to questions about whether the team will change the starting lineup, particularly at right guard and right tackle. 2022 third-round pick Daniel Faalele has started both games at right guard to start the year, while versatile veteran Patrick Mekari has handled most duties at right tackle, with rookie second-round pick Roger Rosengarten rotated in on occasions.

Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh was asked if he would consider changing the offensive line following the team’s 26-23 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2.

“Yes, I’m just going to look and try to coach the guys and keep getting better with the guys,” Harbaugh said. “I’ll look at the tape, and we’ll see. We’re always going to play the best players; that’s part of it, if that is what your question is. We’ll always try to do that.”

Ben Cleveland is the obvious replacement at right guard if Harbaugh decides to bench Faalele, while Rosengarten would take over full-time duties at right tackle from Mekari. Cleveland has performed well when given the opportunity in previous seasons, and Rosengarten appears to offer more pass protection than Mekari.

 

 

Report card: Jets fall 32-19 to the 49ers

Report card: #Jets fall 32-19 to the #49ers:

The New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers clashed in a Week 1 contest to begin the 2024 NFL season.

The Jets (0-1) ended up falling 32-19 to the Niners (0-1). It was a game that had a lot of hyped around it and Gang Green mostly fell short.

With that, here is Jets Wire’ position-by-position report card grades for Week 1:

Aaron Rodgers finished only 13-for-21 passing with a touchdown and an interception. The giveaway was a tipped ball so we can’t put all that on him. However, his debut 2.0 did not live up to the hype. Turning the free play into a score was the QB’s best moment.

Breece Hall did have a touchdown to cap a positive first drive. After that, he did not get involved enough at all. The offensive line let him down in a big way. Hall did grab five catches in the passing game.

The entire Jets’ tight end group felt invisible. According to Pro Football Focus metrics, Jeremy Ruckert was the top-marked player in this unit at a 60.9 overall grade solely for blocking.

It was a two-sided coin for the Jets offensive line. Rodgers had time to complete some passes but the group was so woeful running that ball that the imbalanced game plan made it difficult on the passing attack. PFF’s top marks in the trenches were handed to Alijah Vera-Tucker (67.5) and John Simpson (66.3).

It was an abysmal effort from the Jets’ defensive front. Two sacks of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy came via the secondary. Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams only had one quarterback hit while pass rusher Micheal Clemons had a third sack.

Most notably was the poor tackling and failure to close any gaps or set an edge in the ground game as 49ers’ back Jordan Mason ripped off 147 yards on the ground. Unfortunately, Haason Reddick was not acquired to fix the run defense either.

The linebacker round out the front seven and they had their miscues against the run as well. At least their efforts in the passing attack were positive. All-Pro tight end George Kittle has had much better days, he had four catches for 40 yards.

The secondary held up their end of the bargain against the pass for most of the evening despite a poor pass rush helping them. No touchdowns in the air for Purdy, and the defensive backfield did their part in attacking the QB since Tony Adams and Sauce Garder had sacks.

The lack of tackling very much was found in the secondary, bringing this grade down.

Not much out of the kickoff return department. Thomas Morstead had a booming 60-yard punt, at least.

Ravens news: OC Todd Monken wants ‘an offense that’s a nightmare to defend’

Todd Monken wants ‘an offense that’s a nightmare to defend’

Year 1 of Todd Monken’s tenure as the Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator was a resounding success. His unit finished sixth in total yards, first in rushing yards, and fourth in points, while quarterback Lamar Jackson went on to win his second MVP award. With a full season under his belt now, Monken will look to build upon the sturdy foundation set last year.

After evaluating last year, Monken was asked what kind of identity he wanted his offense to have.

“Certainly you want to have an offense that’s a nightmare to defend,” Monken said. “I think that’s what we’re all trying to accomplish – [have] an offense that you’re capable of winning in a variety of ways. If you need to run it to win, you can run it to win. If you need to throw it to win, you can throw it to win. That’s all we’re fighting for – to be elite in all those areas. And then the last part of it is, are you leading situational football? Short yardage, red zone, are you not turning it over, you’re explosive [and] formatted. All those things that really dictate a game.”

The Ravens’ offense underwent some change this offseason, particularly on the offensive line. Both starting guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson departed in free agency and right tackle Morgan Moses was traded to the New York Jets. Veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (second on the team in receiving yards) also left in free agency.

Baltimore signed running back Derrick Henry to a two-year, $16 million contract, giving Monken a true workhorse in the backfield next to Jackson. Henry and Jackson could take the league’s best-rushing attack to an even higher level, further opening up the passing game.

The passing attack should once again heavily feature tight ends, such as Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, as well as wide receiver Zay Flowers in his second season. Fourth-year wide receiver Rashod Bateman will be relied upon more this season after back-to-back disappointing and injury-riddled seasons for the 2021 first-round pick.

Ronnie Stanley praises 2nd year offensive guard Andrew Vorhees

Ronnie Stanley praises 2nd year offensive guard Andrew Vorhees

The Baltimore Ravens decided to overhaul the offensive line this year by letting guards John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler go in free agency while trading away right tackle Morgan Moses to the New York Jets.

With three openings on the offensive line now, the Ravens are banking on young talent stepping up and solidifying the unit. One such player is second-year guard Andrew Vorhees who appears to be the favorite to land the starting left guard position.

Left tackle Ronnie Stanley was asked about his relationship with Vorhees.

“I think Andrew [Vorhees] is great,” Stanley said. “Ever since he got here, he’s been a student of the game and has just been trying to learn. Even the times he couldn’t really be on the field for practice, he’s been in all the meetings, he’s been here throughout all the offseason, and I come out … I’m very impressed with how fast he’s learning things, how fast he’s getting up to the speed of the game [and] how good of a shape he’s in. Everything is moving really fast for him., but he’s also adjusting really fast, and he’s getting better and better every day.”

Stanley was then asked if Vorhees was performing well with stunt handoffs on the left side of the line.

“Yes,” Stanley said. “There are going to be struggles and passing off twists. That’s why the defensive line runs those twists, because we have to be on the same page – the tackle and guard. Every single time we’ve run it, every single day, [Andrew Vorhees is] getting better and better. It gives me confidence as a tackle, knowing that the guard is going to make sure he’s stopping the penetration – and vice versa – each way it comes.”

Vorhees missed all of his rookie season in 2023 after falling to the seventh round of the draft due to a torn ACL at the NFL Combine.

Ravens OC Todd Monken talks about replacing three starters on the offensive line

Ravens OC Todd Monken talks about replacing three starters on the offensive line

The Baltimore Ravens decided to revamp their offensive line this offseason by letting both starting guards John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler go in free agency and trading right tackle Morgan Moses to the New York Jets. The Ravens will have to turn to inexperienced players to protect reigning MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Offensive coordinator Todd Monken was asked about setting the first unit of starters and how much offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris will help dictate its appearance.

“Joe [D’Alessandris] has a big voice in that, and we’ve got talent, otherwise we wouldn’t have made the moves we did,” Monken said. “We are still in the business of winning, so the part of that, is that we think those guys can play. We just need to let them go play, and they’re going to continue to develop and get better. All of those young players that have been draft picks that eventually get that opportunity; every player at one time that happens. Whether it was Tyler [Linderbaum] at center or Ronnie [Stanley], other players, they just need the opportunity. We’re excited to let those guys go play and continue to develop. They’re only going to get better, and we’re going to get better with them.”

Andrew Vorhees, Ben Cleveland, and Daniel Faalele appear to be the main competitors for the openings at both guard spots, while veteran swingman Patrick Mekari and rookie second-round pick Roger Rosengarten compete for the starting right tackle duties. Veteran Josh Jones, who Baltimore signed this offseason, is another name to keep in mind at both tackle and guard.

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John Harbaugh confirms Ravens are trying Daniel Faalele at offensive guard

John Harbaugh confirms Ravens are trying Daniel Faalele at offensive guard

The offensive line for the Baltimore Ravens is set to look quite different this season after losing three starters this offseason. The Ravens will have new faces at both guard positions and right tackle after John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler left in free agency and Morgan Moses was traded to the New York Jets.

One player initially thought to be in the mix for the opening at right tackle was Daniel Faalele. Faalele, entering his third season, has seen some playing time at both tackle spots through the first two years of his career. During training camp, however, Baltimore has experimented with the massive offensive lineman at guard.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh confirmed that the team was giving Faalele a shot at the position.

“We’re going to give it a shot and see how it looks,” Harbaugh said. “Daniel [Faalele] has very good feet for his size. He’s a big man, but he can move his feet; he can also bend and create leverage. When you’ve got that kind of size when you’re coming off the ball and some of those combination blocks, we feel like he’s got a chance with Tyler [Linderbaum] to move people in there, so all of those things. He keeps working on using his hands. [When] things happen quicker, you have to get your hands up quicker, you have to get your hands on people a little quicker – he’s working on that part of it, too – so we’ll see how he adapts.”

Ben Cleveland and Andrew Vorhees are two other names in the competition for the open guard spots.

PFF ranks Ravens’ offensive line near the bottom of the league

PFF ranks the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive line 25th in the NFL

One of the biggest storylines for the Ravens this offseason has been the complete retooling of the offensive line. After losing both right guard Kevin Zeitler and left guard John Simpson in free agency and trading right tackle Morgan Moses to the New York Jets, Baltimore is set to have three new faces protecting MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson this season.

The only two returning starters from last season’s unit will be left tackle Ronnie Stanley and center Tyler Linderbaum. Stanley has struggled to both stay on the field and perform at a high level in recent seasons. Linderbaum, entering his third season, is the stalwart of the line now.

With so much uncertainty regarding the offensive line this season, it should be no surprise that many people are down on the unit, including PFF’s Zoltan Buday. Buday ranked the Ravens’ offensive line near the bottom of the league at No. 25 ahead of the upcoming season.

“For parts of the 2023 season, the Ravens’ offensive line looked like a top-tier unit,” Buday wrote. “However, the team lost three starters: Kevin Zeitler, John Simpson and Morgan Moses. And while Tyler Linderbaum is already one of the best centers in the NFL, Ronnie Stanley has not been the same since his injury in 2020. The rest of the offensive line will consist of either unproven young players or offensive linemen who flashed ability as backups but have yet to show they can repeat those outings as starters.”

Baltimore will rely on a combination of unproven players, Ben Cleveland, Andrew Vorhees, Daniel Faalele, and rookie Roger Rosengarten, this season to keep Jackson upright as they look to return to the playoffs and right the wrongs from last season’s disappointing end in the AFC Championship.

New Jets guard John Simpson saw biggest performance-based pay for 2023

New Jets guard John Simpson saw biggest performance-based pay for 2023

New Jets guard John Simpson earned himself some extra cash based on his performance in the 2023 season with the Baltimore Ravens.

The NFL announced the dollar figures from their performance-based pay program that gives players money based on their performance and salary levels each season. Simpson led all players by earning an extra $974,613 for 2023.

The performance-based pay takes into account a player’s total percentage of plays and his salary compared to other players on his team. In other words, it helps those who get paid less than others on their team while playing quite often for their team.

Jets safety Tony Adams also received $777,965 as a result of the performance-based pay.

Ravens HC John Harbaugh compares Josh Jones signing to John Simpson in 2023

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh compared the situation of offensive lineman Josh Jones to fellow offensive lineman John Simpson

The Baltimore Ravens haven’t made many additions during 2024 free agency, especially compared to their losses. While Derrick Henry has been their big splash, the team has made a few smaller moves, such as bringing in former Houston Texans offensive lineman Josh Jones.

Jones is looking for a fresh start and a place to prove his worth on the field. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh compared Jones’ situation to that of John Simpson, a former Baltimore lineman who was in a similar situation last offseason.

Both Jones and Simpson signed with the Ravens to try to revive their NFL careers after an inconsistent start.

Simpson parlayed his time in Baltimore into a $9M per year contract, and Jones is likely hoping his experience can be similar.

Contract details for new Jets guard John Simpson

Contract details for new Jets guard John Simpson

Over the Cap has the numbers on the contract for new Jets guard John Simpson.

Simpson’s deal is for two years and $12 million. Simpson gets $6 million guaranteed including a $3.5 million signing bonus and there are three void years to spread the cap hit over five years.

Simpson also has $1.02 million in per-game roster bonuses ($60,000 each game). Between that and his base salary of $1.49 million and a signing bonus cap charge of $700,000, Simpson will count $3.21 million against the salary for 2024. His 2025 cap charge will be $6.69 million. He leaves $2.1 million in dead money in 2026.

Not a lot of committed money to a player that likely slots into the starting lineup this season at left guard. Not a bad deal for the Jets and general manager Joe Douglas.