Tag: Louis Riddick

Louis Riddick roasts Giants for organizational failures, handling of Daniel Jones

Ex-NFL executive Louis Riddick lit into the New York Giants for their long-standing organizational failures and handling of QB Daniel Jones.

“We’ve done everything possible to screw this kid up since he’s been here. We keep changing coaches, keep changing offensive coordinators, keep changing offensive line coaches. I take a lot of responsibility for that.”

Those were the words of New York Giants co-owner John Mara in January of 2022. He was publicly acknowledging that the organization had failed quarterback Daniel Jones and not the other way around.

Mara had previously shared similar sentiments about two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning, admitting that the franchise lost its way and essentially wasted the final years of his historic career.

Nearly three years removed from his comments on Manning and more than one year removed from his comments on Jones, nothing has changed for Mara’s Giants.

The franchise is still mired in staff turnover, injury, and inconsistency. They have one of the NFL’s worst win-loss records over the past decade and every issue that plagued them then continues to plague them now.

Entering the 2024 offseason, the Giants may or may not be ready to pull the plug on Jones just six games after signing him to a four-year, $160 million deal. Their general manager and head coach are firmly on the hot seat, and the past several months have been highlighted by circus-like dysfunction.

Louis Riddick, who once vied for the general manager job, has seen enough from these Giants. And although he is no fan of Jones, Riddick believes, as Mara once did, that the organization has failed their former first-round pick.

“Isn’t that amazing, how stuff can turn on its head? And you wonder why the Giants haven’t been able to make some headway in the (NFC) East and be true contenders? Because when you have this kind of thing that is happening within one calendar year, there’s no way you can make headway. There’s just no way,” Riddick said on Get Up.

“I just think it’s unfortunate. Look, I’ve never been a big, big supporter of Daniel Jones. I’ve always had my issues. But when you have this kind of flip-flopping and (these) kind of 180 turns away from people and these kind of structural deficiencies, no wonder you can’t make up any ground. No wonder.”

The Giants’ issues go far deeper than the player under center. They have persisted through multiple GMs, multiple head coaches, multiple coordinators, and a revolving door of personnel. Until they can diagnose the core cause for these failures, they will continue to waste the careers of their players.

[lawrence-related id=724703,724704,724698]

Louis Riddick says a certain Penn Stater is the guy to watch at this year’s NFL combine

Louis Riddick says Penn State DE will be the star of NFL combine

It’s combine week, so everyone will start if they haven’t already, diving into NFL draft mode as we watch hopefuls test themselves in front of NFL teams.

All the media personalities have descended upon Indianapolis, looking to gauge who stands out at this year’s combine.

NFL and college football analyst Louis Riddick believes a certain Penn State defensive lineman will be the week’s star. Of course, Riddick is talking about defensive end and projected first-round pick [autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag].

Riddick does admit that NFL teams have Robinson ranked all over the place but that testing at the combine for someone as athletic as Robinson can be a considerable boost.

Based on the tape, Riddick says Robinson owns the best first-step quickness out of any pass rush in this year’s class. Watching what Robinson does in all the combined events this week will be exciting.

All defensive linemen and linebackers are testing in Indy today, so we will know if Robinson backed up Riddick’s comments later this evening.

If Robinson does pop a sub 4.45 40-yard dash time, his stock will fly up draft boards.

Follow Charlie Strella on Twitter, Threads, and Instagram.

Former NFL exec makes strong case for Justin Fields to Pittsburgh

Louis Riddick thinks Justin Fields to the Steelers is a perfect fit.

Louis Riddick is one of the most respected broadcasters and analysts out there. A big part of that is because Riddick spent 13 seasons working in the scouting departments and front offices of multiple NFL teams. This is in addition to a seven-year NFL career.

So when Riddick spoke up about the potential fit of Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers, we listened.

Riddick called the fit “perfect” and noted how well the play-action game of new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith meshes with what Fields does well and the cast of skill-position players Pittsburgh has.

Many argue against Fields to the Steelers based on his struggles in Chicago. At the same time, they want to argue that Kenny Pickett has so much room for growth. If this is true why can’t the same be said for Fields? Pickett had many more weapons in Pittsburgh but failed to impress last season at all.

If the Steelers want Fields, it would require a trade but could give Pittsburgh their franchise quarterback.

Louis Riddick: Commanders should do everything possible to land Caleb Williams

Riddick believes the Commanders should do everything possible to land the No. overall pick.

When the Washington Commanders hired former Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury as their new offensive coordinator over the weekend, speculation began immediately about the future of Caleb Williams.

Williams, the USC quarterback projected to be the first pick in the 2024 NFL draft, is close with Kingsbury. Kingsbury spent the 2023 season as a senior offensive analyst at USC and developed a close relationship with Williams.

There’s only one problem: Washington holds the No. 2 overall pick. The Chicago Bears have the No. 1 pick.

So, for the Commanders to bring Williams home — he’s from Washington, D.C. — and reunite him with a coach he likes and respects, it must somehow convince the Bears to trade the top pick.

ESPN analyst and former NFL defensive back Louis Riddick weighed in on the matter as a guest on “Get Up” and said the Commanders must do whatever possible to land Williams.

“If you want him, even if Chicago doesn’t want him. you’re going to have to move to No. 1 to assure yourself that you would get him because someone else will try to come there and get him as well,” Riddick said. “And I understand why you would try and move for a young man like Caleb Williams. In particular, Washington, to assure themselves that they would get him. And that’s because, look, the guy, truly, truly from a passing the football perspective, from an off-schedule playmaking perspective, from a running perspective, I watch this young man do some things where you’re sitting there and you’re going, look, he has some of that kind of pocket presence, foot quickness, arm talent and then speed that goes above and beyond what Patrick (Mahomes) can do.”

Riddick isn’t the first person to compare Williams to Mahomes.

He is convinced Washington should do everything in its power to convince the Bears to move to No. 2.

“So, if you’re sitting there and you’re Washington, and you have Kliff Kingsbury, and Caleb is from the area, and he has a great relationship with Kliff already, and he’s putting on Instagram ‘My dawg,’ don’t overthink some things here,” he said. “We overthink a lot of things with football; we twist ourselves up a lot of times trying to get to a conclusion that we know ain’t the right conclusion. The right conclusion for Washington is do what you got to do to get this guy on your football team because nobody in your organization, and I mean nobody, knows Caleb like Kliff Kingsbury does…………..and if he gives his stamp of approval, then you move heaven and Earth to try and get in position to draft him because you ain’t going nowhere with the people you got — nowhere. Make it happen.”

It may be only one spot, but if Chicago trades the pick — and that’s a big if — the Bears will ask for the moon because they know the Commanders want Williams.

Louis Riddick wanted to hire this coach if he became Giants GM

If Louis Riddick had been hired by the New York Giants as their GM in December of 2017, he had his sights set on this legendary head coach.

There was quite a bit of news on the coaching front this week — not just in the NFL but in college football as well, with legendary coach, Alabama’s Nick Saban, announcing his retirement.

Prior to the Giants hiring Dave Gettleman as their general manager in December 2017, Louis Riddick was being considered for the position. The Giants, of course, went with Gettleman, which did not work out well for them.

As it turns out, Riddick had big plans for his head coach had he landed the Giants’ GM job. In fact, it appears Riddick reached out to Nick Saban proactively while still being in the running for the position.

This wasn’t the first time Saban’s name was connected to the Giants.

According to Bruce Arians back in 2018, Saban coveted the Giants head coaching job and there were also rumors that Saban nearly replaced Tom Coughlin when his tenure with the Giants ended.

It’s certainly an interesting ‘what if’ scenario, especially considering the way that the Gettleman era is remembered among fans.

It’s interesting to think about how Riddick would have fared as the Giants GM, especially if he was able to lure Saban away from Alabama.

[lawrence-related id=723127,723135,723117]

Social media reacts to Commanders firing Jack Del Rio

Social media reacts to Del Rio and Vieselmeyer’s firings.

The Washington Commanders finally made a move on Friday, firing defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and secondary coach Brent Vieselmeyer after losing 45-10 to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day.

This wasn’t about one game. Washington’s defense, which was supposed to be a team strength in 2023, is an unmitigated disaster. The Commanders have allowed 30 or more points in seven of the 12 games they’ve played this season and are last in the NFL in scoring defense by almost 2.5 points.

In every game, the Commanders have opposing wide receivers roaming free in the secondary, with defenders nowhere close. Washington allows multiple big plays per game and has struggled to apply pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

We took to X — formerly Twitter — to see what the fans and media were saying.

 

ESPN replaces Steve Levy with Chris Fowler on Week 2 Saints-Panthers MNF broadcast

ESPN is replacing Steve Levy with Chris Fowler on their Monday Night Football broadcast for Week 2’s Saints-Panthers game:

There’s another changeup coming for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” broadcast this season, and New Orleans Saints fans will get a first look at it in their team’s Week 2 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. ESPN is bringing back analysts Dan Orlovsky and Louis Riddick for their Monday night B-team, but they’re replacing Steve Levy with Chris Fowler. The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch first reported news of the switch.

The flagship network made a splashy move last year by poaching both Joe Buck and Troy Aikman from FOX Sports, and they’ll continue to be the A-team on most Monday nights (they’re also handling the Browns-Steelers game in Week 2, which kicks off after the Saints and Panthers). But there are three double-headers on this year’s NFL schedule, so we’ll be seeing a lot of Fowler, Orlovsky, and Riddick on those broadcasts.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. What about Week 1? The Saints will open their season at the Caesars Superdome on Sept. 10 against the Tennessee Titans, with Chris Lewis, Jason McCourty, Ross Tucker, and Amanda Guerra on the call for CBS Sports.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Louis Riddick says Commanders offense is going to be ‘exciting’ in 2023

He also predicted a fun season in 2023.

ESPN personality Louis Riddick praised the Washington Commanders when they hired Eric Bieniemy.

The former NFL safety and longtime personnel executive has become one of the primary faces of ESPN’s NFL coverage with his excellent analysis. After watching the Commanders’ preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns, Riddick thinks Washington’s offense will be “exciting” in 2023.

“This offense is going to be exciting now,” Riddick said. “All the people who said in Kansas City, ‘well, Eric doesn’t call the plays, Andy [Reid] calls the plays, it’s all Patrick Mahomes, it’s not Eric Bieniemy.’ Wait til the end of this year, I have a feeling you’re going to be singing a different tune.”

Riddick also likes second-year quarterback Sam Howell, Washington’s weapons, and Bieniemy’s ability to bring the best out of Howell.

“This offense is exciting because Eric has them right now concentrating on really trying to throw the football and spread the ball around to see what he can find out about Sam Howell to see whether or not he can be the face of the franchise going forward……………and tonight he looked like that guy.”

“Once they started getting into rhythm and started giving him some pass protection, this is an offense that looks like they will be able to put up points with anybody, provided that the offensive line continues to develop and gives their quarterback protection.”

Riddick wasn’t done showering Bieniemy and the Commanders with praise.

“I’ve always been excited about Eric Bieniemy,” he said. “He told me back at the combine he was excited about Sam Howell, and now I see why. This is going to be a fun season in Washington. About as fun as it’s been there in a long, long time. And a lot of that has to do with the kind of fresh perspective Eric Bieniemy is bringing to this team, particularly the offense for sure.”

So many people have been hesitant to predict success for Washington’s offense in 2023. Most of it centers around Howell and the offensive line. While the offensive line got off to a slow start Friday, it improved on the third drive. Bieniemy can scheme ways to protect Howell, allowing him to get the ball in the hands of his playmakers like Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Curtis Samuel and others.

A fun season in Washington? On offense? That would be a lot of fun.

Louis Riddick names Seahawks NFC’s sleeper team: ‘This is their year’

Last year he was far ahead of the curve.

[anyclip pubname=”2103″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8036″]

Perhaps no other NFL analyst is higher on the current version of the Seattle Seahawks than ESPN’s Louis Riddick. Last year he was far ahead of the curve on this group, dubbing Seattle a “sleeping giant” after the Russell Wilson trade at a time when most people were expecting them to tank. That didn’t happen and now Riddick is even more bullish on this team heading into the 2023 season.

Last week Riddick was a guest on the Rich Eisen Show and he named the Seahawks his NFC sleeper team nobody wants to talk about. Riddick credited general manager John Schneider for putting this team together as well as keeping them competitive for a long time. Watch.

More Seahawks Wire stories

7 rookies who could start multiple games

Seahawks Mount Rushmore: Quarterbacks

100 photos from Seattle’s 2023 offseason

How ESPN’s NFL Draft coverage could look after Todd McShay’s layoff

ESPN will have a massive gap in its NFL Draft coverage with Todd McShay gone. Who will fill his shoes?

NFL Draft fans saw a jarring shift in ESPN’s coverage on Friday as longtime draft analyst Todd McShay was laid off amid a series of staffing cuts at the network.

The New York Post‘s Andrew Marchand shared the news on Friday of McShay’s departure.

McShay had been with ESPN since 2006 and been primarily associated with the network’s NFL Draft coverage alongside Mel Kiper Jr.

His layoff puts the network’s NFL Draft coverage in a different space, as new faces could ascend to a more prominent role during the year and especially on draft weekend.

While McShay will be a popular free agent for other sports media companies looking for one of the sharpest minds in the business on the NFL Draft, it’s worth wondering how things will look at ESPN in his absence.

Kiper will most likely continue his role with ESPN until he decides to retire, while a few other names will likely take on expanded roles.

You can likely count on seeing ESPN guys like Mike Greenberg, Booger McFarland and Rece Davis during draft weekend, but who will you hear from year-round?

These three people figure to have expanded roles at the network on broadcast and online.