Tag: LA Chargers

WRU is real, and the stats prove it

If you turn on just about any NFL game, you will see a few Clemson players on the roster. From superstars to the practice squad, the Tigers have been pumping out NFL talent for years. But it’s hard to argue Clemson’s best performance in producing …

If you turn on just about any NFL game, you will see a few Clemson players on the roster. From superstars to the practice squad, the Tigers have been pumping out NFL talent for years. But it’s hard to argue Clemson’s best performance in producing playmakers has been at wide receiver.

With the NFL season winding down, the Tigers have three former WRs with over 1,000 yards — Tee Higgins, Mike Williams, and of course Hunter Renfrow. And realistically, had Deandre Hopkins not been hurt, he probably would have joined them.

An impressive showing to say the least. Former Tigers Sammy Watkins, Adam Humphries, and Ray-Ray McCloud have been steady contributors to their teams all year as well. And rookie Amari Rodgers is starting to get more playing time up there in Green Bay. Next year, hopefully Justyn Ross will be adding to the Tigers’ NFL pass-catching club.

One thing is for sure, WRU is in good hands it seems.

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

Former Michigan State TE Matt Seybert signs with LA Chargers

Former Michigan State TE Matt Seybert is back with the LA Chargers after being waived earlier this week

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Former Michigan State tight end Matt Seybert is back with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Seybert was waived by the Chargers earlier this week, but on Saturday was resigned by the team. Seybert has been with the Chargers for most of the offseason and into training camp.

Seybert played for Michigan State from 2017 – 2019 and appeared in 20 career games.

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Bills’ Sean McDermott post-Chargers: ‘That’s the defense I expect’

Sean McDermott: ‘that’s the defense I expect. I expect that every week.’

Following the Bills’ 27-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Buffalo improved to 8-3, but this win was unlike others we have seen in 2020.

For most of the year, the Bills offense has carried the team, (or special teams if you count the Week 7 Jets game,) but in Week 12, Buffalo’s defense showed up when they were needed most.

Entering halftime, the Bills held a 17-6 lead, and from there, the offense only managed to add 10 more points, while also turning the ball over three times. The Bills had two fumbles lost and an interception.

The defense, while not perfect, held the Chargers’ fourth-ranked offense to only 17 points and forced rookie quarterback Justin Herbert to have one of the worst games of his young career. While perhaps a surprising effort to observers of the team, their coach said he saw what he is accustomed to seeing from this defense against the Bolts.

“That’s the defense I expect. I expect that every week,” Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott said via video conference following the game. “I think that it just goes back to… fundamentals, technique, spending time in the film room together. All those things is a big part of earning the right to win and they did that.”

The Bills managed to takeaway the ball just once, on a Tre’Davious White interception, but Buffalo pressured Herbert and cause him to miss throws that he doesn’t usually miss.

Essentially McDermott thought it was a full defensive effort from his team. He also hopes that it’s potentially momentum building one.

“I thought that was very impressive… I thought [defensive coordinator] Leslie (Frazier) and his staff did a great job during the week taking a good game-plan with good communication and the players embraced it.” McDermott said. “They spent a lot of time this week, that’s a good offense… they’ve been hot with weapons all over… and then to get that group back was a big jolt for them, in a good way and our guys rose to the challenge, so that’s what we’ve got to do every week.”

While there is still work to be done on both sides of the ball, having your defense show up in crucial moments, especially when your offense and quarterback are struggling, is imperative.

Leading that clutch defense for the Bills was another good effort from AJ Klein. His 14 tackles, three for loss and 1.5 sacks all led Buffalo, the linebacker still knows that it was a full unit effort by the Bills as well.

“Playing four downs of football and trying to create negative plays and I think we did that. We got a big turnover by Tre, we got pressure in Herbert’s face, so overall I thought we played really well,” Klein said via video conference. “It was good to see us respond.”

In the end, the win was not the prettiest, however, you don’t get style points in the NFL. 8-3 is 8-3 regardless of how you get there.

“It’s hard to win this league… it’s good to be 8-3,” McDermott added. “We came off the bye and got a win.”

As we come down the final stretch and head towards the playoffs, the Bills will hope to see more of this defense and not the defense that too often left us scratching our heads during the first half of the season.

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NFL announces the Chargers and Rams will be featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks

Chargers and Rams to be featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks for 2020

HBO’s Hard Knocks is returning to LA, as the NFL just announced the award-winning reality series will feature both the Rams and Chargers this summer.

Under fourth-year head coach Sean McVay, the Rams are just a season removed from a Super Bowl appearance and have a roster featuring an intriguing mix of high-profile players, established veterans, and free-agent acquisitions.

After an injury-plagued 2019 campaign, the Los Angeles Chargers are looking for a return to the winning formula that helped them finish tied for the AFC’s best record in 2018. Led by fourth-year head coach Anthony Lynn, the Chargers overhauled roster features young, rising stars on both sides of the ball, a new quarterback behind center, and an influx of veteran talent added this offseason.

Both franchises will also be debuting new logos and uniforms when they open their new, state-of-the-art SoFi Stadium home later this year.

HARD KNOCKS: LOS ANGELES kicks off its five-episode season this summer, debuting TUESDAY, AUG. 11 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), with other hour-long episodes of the first sports-based reality series debuting each Tuesday at the same time, culminating in the Sept. 8 season finale.

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If UGA was fielding a starting team based on current NFL players, here’s what it would look like

We assembled a starting lineup full of former Georgia football players who are currently on NFL rosters.

Georgia continues to be one of college football’s leading producers of NFL talent, with seven players being taken in the 2020 NFL Draft.

At almost every position does Georgia have an NFL star — linebacker and running back being the most notable.

From veteran passer Matthew Stafford to new Falcons back Todd Gurley, to rookie kicker Rodrigo Blankenship, former Georgia Bulldogs look to put up big numbers again in 2020.

We’ve gone through an exercise of picking the best at each position to field a starting team of former Georgia players, all from a current pool of those currently on NFL rosters. 

Remember, free agents did not make the team.

So, let’s get it started shall we?

Next … QB

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Eagles Miles Sanders was only RB in the NFL to lead his team in deep receiving yards

Miles Sanders was only RB in the NFL to lead his team in deep receiving yards

The Philadelphia Eagles entered the 2020 NFL Draft with a desperate need for speed and athleticism at the wide receiver position.

A glaring need for the Eagles, this stat from Pro Football Focus explains in a nutshell why Howie Roseman was emphatic about retooling the skill positions.

According to PFF via statistics from Pro Football Reference, Eagles running back Miles Sanders was the only running back in the NFL to lead his team in deep receiving yards.

Sanders led the Eagles with 165 yards on receptions of 20+ yards downfield last season, better than names like Christian McCaffrey and the Chargers Austin Ekeler.

Sanders led the Eagles with 8.1 yards per target and finished behind the Chargers Austin Ekeler, who averaged 9.2 yards per target, but finished behind his teammate, Mike Williams (11.1 yards per target).

In all, Sanders was targeted 63 times, catching 50 balls for 509 yards, 19 first downs, and 420 yards after the catch.

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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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CeeDee Lamb, Kenneth Murray high-graded draft picks in 2020 NFL Draft

Oklahoma may have just supplied the two best steals in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft,

Oklahoma may have just supplied the two best steals in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft,

Bleacher Report released their grades on first round picks, giving both the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Chargers A’s for their picks.

CeeDee Lamb by the way of a miracle was there at No. 17 for Jerry Jones to take. Bleacher Report gave Lamb an overall grade of ‘A’ but had a few questionable grades when they broke down Lamb’s report card.

Despite comparing Lamb to Randy Moss on 50/50 balls, Bleacher Report says that Lamb suffers a “concentration drop” in key games. They graded his catching as an A+/C. Lamb’s blocking also came into question despite Sooners fans being able to recall a handful of plays off the top of their heads.

Kenneth Murray also received an ‘A’ grade from Bleacher Report. The middle linebacker is comparable to All-Pro Seattle backer, KJ Wright. One downside to Murray’s game that will need to be addressed is his man-coverage abilities.

Bleacher Report predicts that the Chargers will iron out his few wrinkles and that Murray will be a three-down linebacker for the Bolts for years to come.

Lamb and Murray were two of just 11 ‘A’ grades handed out by Bleacher Report for the 32 first round picks.

Recapping All Notre Dame NFL Draft Picks

Cole Kmet “stays home” during quarantine and lands with hometown Chicago Bears.  Just how bad have things gone at tight end there that he’ll be counted on to fix?

This weekend saw six players from Notre Dame selected in the 2020 NFL Draft with another hand-full being signed to free agent deals.  Who landed in the best places to find success and which of the later picks or free agent signings will have the best chance of making a roster?

In our podcast with myself and Jeff Feyerer we discuss the landing spot of every Notre Dame player this draft season.

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Cole Kmet “stays home” during quarantine and lands with hometown Chicago Bears.  Just how bad have things gone at tight end there that he’ll be counted on to fix?

Did Chase Claypool get selected by the best franchise in football to get drafted by if you’re a wide receiver?

How much did Julian Okwara’s injury effect him falling to the third round and how many stories were better this weekend than him getting to play pro ball with his brother in Detroit?

We also analyze the rest of the picks:  Troy Pride, Jr., Khalid Kareem and Alohi Gilman before breaking down all of the undrafted free agents as well. Take a listen and on Apple Podcasts go ahead and hit subscribe.  Hope you enjoy what you hear and we’ll be doing this a lot more in the near future.

(Any feedback we are happy to take on Twitter at @NickShepkowski and @JF_Fey)

Watch: New LA Charger Alohi Gilman College Highlights

LA Chargers draft pick Alohi Gilman is far from a perfect safety but it doesn’t mean he won’t be remembered at Notre Dame as a recent hero.

Alohi Gilman was selected in Saturday’s sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers.  Gilman joins a strong Notre Dame precence in southern California as he’ll play alongside former Fighting Irish stars Drue Tranquill, Jerry Tillery and Isaac Rochell.

Gilman is far from a perfect safety, hence why he was selected in the sixth round.  However, he’s about as opportunistic of player Notre Dame has had in recent years.  I’ll forever associate Gilman with being the safety valve that made the most-needed of plays en route to a 12-0 regular season.

Struggles against Vanderbilt could have led to an embarrassing loss had it not been for Gilman forcing a fumble with Vanderbilt appearing to be about to score.  To close the regular season it was Gilman forcing a turnover while trailing against USC that changed the entire direction of the game.

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I’ll admit that I like the potential of Notre Dame’s safeties entering the 2020 season more than most and think they have the chance to actually be a better unit this season.  However, that doesn’t mean for a second that I won’t miss seeing Gilman in this shade of blue and gold, two very memorable years flew by watching him for Notre Dame.