Tag: leadership

Chiefs OT Jawaan Taylor praises QB Patrick Mahomes’ leadership

#Chiefs right tackle Jawaan Taylor praised quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ leadership after Saturday’s practice. | from: @EdEastonJr

The protection of reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes remains a priority for the Kansas City Chiefs as they seek improvement on their offensive line each season. The departure of left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. in free agency may have seemed like a reason for fans to panic, but general manager Brett Veach viewed it as an opportunity to adjust both starting tackle positions in the offseason.

The Chiefs added Jawaan Taylor from the Jacksonville Jaguars to help solidify the right side of their offensive line. Taylor spoke to reporters after practice on Saturday about adjusting to Andy Reid’s system and his respect for Mahomes after nearly a week of workouts in St. Joseph.

“[He is] just [a] great leader, man, he brings that energy every day and, you know, he holds everybody accountable.” said Taylor, “If you mess up, we’re gonna redo it, you know, and even in walkthroughs and learning periods, we slow it down, and we get to learn the offense. So that’s helped me a lot with the walkthroughs and, you know, learning the things I like doing here.”

Taylor played his first four seasons with the Jaguars, emerging as one of the better right tackles in the NFL. Kansas City also added Donovan Smith in the offseason to play on the left side of the line, so Taylor only needs to make minor changes to his game in his first year with the Chiefs.

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Chiefs LB Nick Bolton embracing leadership role on Kansas City’s young defense

Bolton, who is just 23 years old, is embracing his new role as a salty veteran on the Chiefs’ defense. | from: @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs defense hasn’t received the same praise as the team’s offense over the past few seasons. Most casual observers usually view them as the lesser of two units without those realizing the defensive improvement that has taken place over the last few seasons.

The Chiefs’ top playmakers on defense include All-Pro defensive lineman Chris Jones and rising linebacker Nick Bolton, the latter of whom has been vocal about a perceived lack of respect for the unit, and has vowed to play with a chip on his shoulder.

Bolton is entering his third season, and despite his youth has emerged as a key leader in the middle of Kansas City’s defense. He spoke to reporters after practice on Sunday about his place in coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s system and the odd feeling of being viewed as a salty veteran at such a young age.

“I definitely want to be the best person I can be to help our team win. From a leadership role, man, [I’ll do] whatever the guys need me to do.” Bolton explained. “That’s kind of what I’m here for. I [will] be helping them learn, [the] young guys coming in, just to give them the opportunity to learn the scheme, how fast they can learn it kind of helps us out helps us be better man. So that’s just kind of my role here. Again, I’m just trying to make myself the best person I can be and especially helping the guys around me.”

Bolton finished amongst the NFL leaders on tackles last season but was shockingly left off the Pro Bowl roster. He has experienced so much in such a short time that rookies view him as an elder statesman in the team’s linebacking corps.

“Yeah, it’s kind of crazy; a lot of young guys don’t believe I’m 23 years old, man. I tell them I’m 23, and they look at me like I’m crazy. Well, I found out one of the young DBs may call and say, ‘Yes, sir’ My man, I’m 23 years old. Man, you’re probably older than me,” Bolton joked. “But again, those guys have bought in and invested. You can tell I watched the rookie training camp they had before we got here, and you can see those guys. They’ve been learning. They picked up where we left off at OTAs, and I’m proud of them for that.”

Bolton’s maturity in understanding he’s an essential voice in the locker room should help solidify things in camp while the Chris Jones situation unfolds.

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Chiefs LB Nick Bolton excited to get back to work, expand his leadership role

Nick Bolton told reporters on Monday that he’s excited to get back to work and expand his leadership role in the #Chiefs’ defense. | from @TheJohnDillon

Kansas City Chiefs fans were quick to take a liking to linebacker Nick Bolton when the team drafted him in 2021, but none could have predicted that he would play such a crucial role for the team during their Super Bowl LVII win.

Now entering his third professional season, Bolton is a tested veteran and the keystone in the middle of Kansas City’s defense. He spoke to reporters on Monday as Phase I of the offseason program began, explaining his expectations for the 2023 season. It appears the Chiefs’ coaching staff will be asking just a little more of him as the team looks to defend its championship title.

Asked specifically about where he saw growth in himself last season, Bolton made it clear that his rise to leadership in Kansas City’s defense was one of his most cherished accomplishments.

“I think my leadership role is ever evolving,” He explained. “It’s kind of just one of those things that just keeps growing as we keep going and I’m loving it. So I feel like that’s the next challenge going into this year – I’m trying to up my level of communication (and) leadership – that’s one of the biggest thing I know that’s going to be needed for this season.

“And also, man, just being around the guys, being around your brothers is something you miss. You don’t really realize until, boom, it’s over with and you just got to experience a couple of months by yourself, and you miss those guys. So, getting back in the building with those guys, man, it’s going to be fun. I’m excited for when we get back in the building.”

Clearly, Bolton’s enthusiasm to get back to work with his teammates is a good sign for his trajectory as the team’s defensive leader. Kansas City will need him to make good on every ounce of promise that he has shown in 2023 if they intend to remain the reigning Super Bowl champions for another season.

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Zay Jones: The Jaguars follow ‘great leader’ Evan Engram

Evan Engram has made an impact beyond his record-breaking statistics in his first season with the Jaguars

Evan Engram broke franchise records in his first season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, setting all-time best marks in receptions and receiving yards for a tight end. His impact on the team has gone beyond his production as a pass catcher, though.

“This guy is a great leader,” Jaguars receiver Zay Jones said of Engram during an interview the pair did with NBC’s Maria Taylor along with receiver Christian Kirk. “Evan really is a natural leader in the way that he speaks to the team. The way he just evokes his emotion.

“I don’t think it’s disingenuine, I think when he speaks, he really means it and a lot of people follow what he does and the types of things that he does. He leads by example and so when someone like that speaks before the game it’s like … I got people beside me that I know are gonna play with me.”

Engram, 28, joined the Jaguars in the offseason on a one-year, $9 million contract. It didn’t take long for coaches to start raving about the work ethic and character that the tight brought to the young team.

“He’s very unselfish,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson told reporters in December after a win against the New York Jets. “He works extremely hard in practice. He wants to be good. He loves being coached and it shows on the field. He’s a really good teammate to have and leader of the team.”

The question in upcoming months will be what effort the Jaguars will make to keep Engram in Jacksonville. It’d be surprising if the team didn’t want to keep the impending free agent, but his value on the market has certainly risen after posting career numbers.

If a long-term deal isn’t the answer, the franchise tag could also be a logical move for the Jaguars. That’d guarantee that Engram is with the team for at least one more year with a price tag likely around $11-12 million.

Chargers’ Renaldo Hill heaps high praise on Drue Tranquill

Renaldo Hill said that Drue Tranquill has been a steady presence as a leader for the defense.

In a season where the Los Angeles Chargers have faced their share of adversity, linebacker Drue Tranquill has been a rock for the team through good times and bad.

Defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill went out of his way to address Tranquill’s leadership abilities in his comments to the media on Thursday.

“He has continued to build as a leader,” Hill explained. “Obviously, we needed more this year than any time just because at the times when [S] Derwin [James Jr.] is out, Joey [Bosa] is out. Having somebody that has command behind the ball, making sure he that gets guys lined up and knows the defense in and out.

“We knew those moments would make us stronger and he received it well. He didn’t shy away from it. Those are the things that you want in a leader, to take charge when it’s time to take charge. It could have been at that point of the season where it could have went either way, but having good leadership to take control of those situations, I think that is what Drue [Tranquill] has been able to bring to this ball club.”

Tranquill has shined as the man in the middle of the defense, leading the team in tackles with 140, and has nine tackles for loss. He’s also been viable in pass coverage, with four passes defended and an interception. Additionally, Tranquill has come on as a blitzer, as he’s third on the team in sacks with five.

Tranquill will be a free agent after his season, and what he’s shown on the field should garner a new contract with the Chargers.

With just one game left in the regular season, Tranquill’s steady presence in Los Angeles’ linebacking corps will be an asset for the team heading into the win-or-go-home part of their schedule.

Sean McVay reflects on impact Bobby Wagner has made on him amid 2022 skid

To hear McVay tell it, Wagner’s steady presence has been one of the brightest spots in the #Rams’ dismal 2022 campaign

As the NFL’s defending Super Bowl champions heading into the 2022 season, the Los Angeles Rams had sky-high expectations that they could not meet. Whether because of injuries, a lack of execution, or tough breaks, the Rams have found themselves just a game ahead of the last-place spot in the NFC West with two weeks remaining in the season.

All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner signed with Los Angeles in the offseason in the hopes of chasing a ring with the Rams this year, and has gotten a raw deal in that regard given how the season has played out. Nonetheless, head coach Sean McVay told reporters on Sunday that Wagner’s steady presence has been a boon for him personally amid Los Angeles’ 2022 skid. When asked if the linebacker has made an impact on his outlook for the future, he answered in the affirmative.

“I have,” McVay explained, “because this has been anything but ideal and really, it’s the first time when you look at it in this role where there’s been failure and in a lot of instances or we’re not getting the results that we want and that weighs on me a lot because you want it to be like what today is for these players, for these coaches and you want to be able to do the things that you can impact within the framework of your role and it takes everybody, but that’s where just seeing the way he’s handled it has been helpful for me in what has been a really challenging, difficult year.”

Few teams have ever repeated as Super Bowl champions in back-to-back seasons, and the Rams would have been hard-pressed to capture lightning in a bottle two years in a row. If it weren’t for Matthew Stafford’s season-ending injury back in Week 13, the team might have had a shot at the playoffs, but even then, they have seemed a shell of their former selves for most of the year.

Wagner has proven to be a leader for the team both on and off the field and to hear McVay tell it, his veteran presence has helped buoy the Rams through some supremely challenging situations.

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Ogbonnia Okoronkwo details defensive leadership amid Texans’ 2022 struggles

Okoronkwo told reporters that the #Texans’ defense is trying to stay positive amid the team’s slide to a 1-7-1 record heading into Week 11

It seems that the Houston Texans have had every possible factor working against their favor in 2022, but hopes remain high that the team can at least secure their second win of the season before the playoffs start. Though they won’t be competing in the postseason in January, Houston is focused on improving their game heading into a rebuild next season and can gain valuable insight into team leadership before constructing their roster in 2023.

Defensive lineman Ogbonnia Okoronkwo told reporters about the team’s defensive leadership on Tuesday when asked about how the unit is doing amid the Texans’ skid to their 1-7-1 record. Though his comments were relatively brief, he emphasized that the defense is doing its best to stay optimistic about its future and is setting its sights on growing together as a team.

“I think we just try to keep everybody together and make sure everybody’s heads are up,”  Okoronkwo explained. “Just try to stay as positive as possible. Just try to get back to work and just try to do something different or try to do a little bit more. Just try to encourage everybody.”

It certainly can’t be easy for Houston’s defenders to put their bodies on the line every week to be met with consistently bad results at the final whistle. The Texans’ offense on the other side of the ball has been notoriously inconsistent to this point in the season and is struggling to produce points at a significant enough rate to help the defense maintain pressure in all four quarters.

For all of its faults, Houston’s defense was able to put together a competent showing in their outing on Sunday, but couldn’t limit the damage enough to provide their floundering offense enough of a cushion to pull out a win. They will face a serious challenge on Sunday against a Washington Commanders team that upset the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles in Week 10 and will need to maintain their positivity in the face of severe adversity in a game where they are likely to be overwhelmingly outmatched.

Jalen Ramsey on his part in leading the Rams’ secondary in face of injuries

Ramsey has been a key figure in the Rams’ defense for years, and will need a big performance against the 49ers to help his team win

Los Angeles Rams’ cornerback Jalen Ramsey is known across the league as one of the premier players at his position. After years of shutting down opponents with a rare consistency, Ramsey has been tasked with leading the team’s secondary in 2022 in the face of multiple injuries.

With young talent across the board on the back end of Los Angeles’ defense, Ramsey’s experience is a premium for the team, especially heading into a tough divisional matchup like they’ll face on Monday night. Reporters asked Ramsey about his part in getting the fresh blood up to speed, and he intimated that he is trying to limit the disadvantage Rams might have with so many players out.

“I talked about it a little bit last week,” he explained. “I want to make sure that we don’t lose a step so everybody in the secondary is strong. Being one of the leaders in the room I’ve got to make sure that my game is strong so they can feed off my confidence and my energy and my play out there.”

His role in Monday night’s divisional matchup will be one of paramount importance to Los Angeles’ hopes of keeping their lead in the NFC West. Though he won’t be able to win the game on his own, the Rams are built to compete on offense, and should be able to keep pace with the San Francisco 49ers barring a total defensive meltdown.

To that end, Ramsey will serve to keep the Rams from letting their opponent run wild on shot plays that could run up the score quickly. Their defensive strategy will likely be one of pure damage control, especially as they will be playing on the road in a hostile environment.

If they can sneak out of Levi’s Stadium with a win, Ramsey’s role as a mentor on the team will be all the more cemented.

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Kevin Stefanski says Jacoby Brissett’s leadership has been a boon for Browns through three weeks

The #Browns’ head coach said Brissett was one of many key leaders on the team.

In recent years, the Cleveland Browns have sometimes seemed to be a rudderless ship. Whether because of coaching, leadership in the locker room, or discord in the front office, the team has struggled mightily to get themselves on any sustained course for success, and seasons have been wasted.

This 2022 campaign has a different feeling, though, and the Browns’ win over the Pittsburgh Steelers was an example of their seismic shift toward legitimate contention. Coming off a disappointing loss in Week 2, the team regrouped and put together a winning game plan to beat their divisional rivals handily in primetime.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski has certainly done his part to architect a new culture within the organization, but his comments to the media on Friday tell a story of an unlikely hero who has been integral to the team’s early success. He told reporters that his bridge quarterback, Jacoby Brissett, has been the steady hand at the helm of the Browns that they have needed, and that players and coaches alike are starting to take notice.

“I think you guys know Jacoby,” Stefanski explained, “Know how he operates, how he carries himself and those types of things. I think that does have an impact on your football team when your quarterback is like that. I would also tell you we have a bunch of leaders on this team. We met. We talked like we always do every single week. I think those guys understand the role they play with our team and setting the direction.”

Leadership was one of the deciding factors in Cleveland’s decision to cut Baker Mayfield loose earlier this year, and the team is clearly looking for their quarterback to have certain qualities moving forward. Brissett has been an unlikely hero for the team so far this season, and with his help, the Browns will continue to develop and reach their full potential by the time their permanent starting quarterback takes over later in the season.

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Legendary Texas cornerback Rod Babers weighs in on quarterback decision

Rod Babers believes Quinn Ewers won the battle by winning over his teammates.

Rod Babers was not surprised by Steve Sarkisian’s quarterback decision. Continue reading “Legendary Texas cornerback Rod Babers weighs in on quarterback decision”