Tag: Mark Brunell

Broncos coach Sean Payton is very proud of his Lions coaching proteges

Broncos coach Sean Payton is very proud of his Lions coaching proteges including Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn

Sean Payton is in his first season as the head coach of the Denver Broncos. That’s not enough time to set up a culture or create strong trends or rivalries for his new team. However, playing in Detroit will be a different story for Payton’s Broncos.

When Payton looks across the sideline to the Lions, he’ll see a plethora of coaches he helped mentor and guide into the positions they have today during his lengthy tenure running the New Orleans Saints. It obviously starts with head coach Dan Campbell, but the ties with the Payton-era Saints go much deeper.

Payton was asked about his ties to Campbell and the Lions in a press conference this week. As is his custom — a trait which Campbell clearly inherited from his mentor — Payton gave a lengthy and candid answer:

“There are so many ties for me with this staff. Obviously, I’ve been with [Lions Head Coach] Dan [Campbell]. I was in New York when we drafted him. When I went to Dallas, I convinced [Pro Football Hall of Fame Head Coach] Bill [Parcells] to sign him as a free agent. I signed him later in New Orleans as a player. I spent the better part of two or three years trying to hire him as a coach, and I was lucky enough eventually. He became assistant head coach, and I have tremendous respect for everything about him—what he stands for, and how he coaches. You have [Lions Defensive Coordinator] Aaron Glenn, who I hired. He’s the same way. He’s going to be a head coach. [He was a] fabulous player [and is a] tremendous coach. [Lions LB] Alex [Anzalone]—you have [Lions Quarterbacks Coach] Mark Brunell. There are a number of guys with a lot of ties. As a former head coach of theirs, you’re proud of them. You really are. Enough flowers (laughs).”

As transcribed by the Broncos media staff

It should make for an interesting matchup between teacher and students on Saturday in Ford Field.

Detroit Lions highlight coaching staff’s connections to New Orleans Saints

The connections between the Saints and Lions run deep on Detroit’s coaching staff. Lions’ social media highlights those connections.

The Detroit Lions connections to the New Orleans Saints run deep. Prior to the two teams facing off in Week 13, the Lions highlighted former Saints players now on the Detroit coaching staff. We’ve broken down the connections on each roster in depth here.

Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn may be best remembered by Saints fans for their time as Saints coaches, but they also once donned the fleur-de-lis on their helmet as well. Glenn and Campbell both played for the Saints in the final year of their career, 2008 and 2009 respectively.

Those two are joined by former Saints quarterbacks J.T. Barrett and Mark Brunell. Brunell was a backup quarterback in New Orleans in 2008 and 2009. His time overlapped with Campbell and Glenn. Barrett is the youngest of the four. He started his career with the Saints in 2018. Like Brunell, Barrett was with the Saints the same time as Campbell and Glenn. The difference is the two were coaches for New Orleans by this time. On Sunday, these four return to a place they once called home as coaches of the opponent.

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Week 13’s Saints-Lions game filled with familiar faces on both sides

Week 13’s Saints-Lions game is filled with familiar faces on both sidelines. Former college teammates Dan Campbell and Dennis Allen will compete head to head:

As the New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions prepare for their Week 13 matchup, there will be plenty of players and coaches with a history with their opponent.

Led by Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn, there are a number of former Saints on the Lions roster and coaching staff and vice versa. Here are all of the connections between the two teams:

Add Carson Wentz to long Washington QB list

What a brutal quarterback stretch for Washington.

Carson Wentz unfortunately joined the long list of Washington quarterbacks who experienced much disappointment.

In 1994, though he was drafted third overall in the draft, because Norv Turner wanted him, Heath Shuler was simply in over his head. He was a huge disappointment.

Jeff George was the mega-hyped free-agent signing by Daniel Snyder in 2000. But George disappointed, not improving the offense and was actually released early in his second season by Marty Schottenheimer.

Patrick Ramsey was a first round choice (32nd) in 2002 out of Tulane. In four seasons, Ramsey passed for 34 touchdowns and 29 interceptions.

Mark Brunell came in 2004, immediately revealing he was a shell of what he had been — a dynamic, mobile quarterback earlier in his career. Brunell did have some fine games in 2005 but was having difficulty staying healthy.

Jason Campbell was the 25th overall selection in the 2005 draft (Aaron Rodgers was taken 24th). Campbell often could move the team up and down the field until he reached the red zone, where he encountered problems.

Donovan McNabb came in a 2010 trade with the Eagles. If McNabb had been an efficient quarterback, why would Andy Reid have traded him to a divisional rival?

Rex Grossman loved to sling it as the 2011 starter, but the results were often not advantageous, so the owner traded 3 first-round choices and a second-round choice to select a Baylor rookie though he had won the Heisman Trophy, had not proven he could play in the pocket in college.

Robert Griffin III had a remarkably fun season in his rookie year, running the Shanahan zone-read offense. But following his bad knee injury, Griffin refused to run the offense that made him successful and never developed as a pocket passer in Washington or anywhere else.

Alex Smith was traded for in 2018 to help fans forget Kirk Cousins passing for over 4,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. But Smith struggled, seemed to check down an awful lot, and sadly experienced a gruesome injury against the Texans.

Case Keenum was traded for in 2019 to replace the horribly-injured Smith. Keenum led the team in passing with only 1,707 yards. The other quarterback seeing action was Dwayne Haskins because Mr. Snyder insisted he would be the 15th overall selection in the draft. It was a dismal 3-13 season and Haskins was cut during the 2020 season.

Ryan Fitzpatrick was signed to be the veteran who would manage games and bring a winner to Washington.  He injured his hip and never played after the first quarter of the opener.

Washington was the third team for Carson Wentz in three seasons. Wentz never looked comfortable. All season he was a model teammate but a struggling quarterback.

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5 stats and facts to know for Commanders at Texans in Week 11

Washington and Houston have met a total of five times. Here are five stats and facts to know ahead of Sunday’s game.

The Washington Commanders [5-5] are back on the road with a short week to face the Houston Texans [1-7-1] in Week 11. Washington is coming off an upset of the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football.

The Texans enter Sunday’s game, having not won a game since Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Houston tied the Indianapolis Colts in the season opener. The Commanders have beaten both the Jaguars and Colts.

Washington and Houston don’t have a long and storied history. The two franchises have only met five times since Houston’s entry into the NFL in 2002. Washington won the first two meetings, while the Texans have won the previous three contests.

Here are five stats/facts to know heading into the Week 11 battle between the Commanders and Texans.

Commanders’ comeback win over Colts was historic

Remember the “Monday Night Miracle?”

The Washington Commanders made history last week when running back Antonio Gibson scored the 3,000th touchdown in franchise history. The ball was sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Commanders again made history in Sunday’s win over the Indianapolis Colts, although it was a bit different this time.

The Commanders were down 16-7 with around 11 minutes remaining in the game when quarterback Taylor Heinicke and the offense took the field. Heinicke led two scoring drives of 82 and 89 yards, respectively, leading Washington to a 17-16 win over the Colts.

According to Washington’s PR, via Elias, it was the first time in 17 years that the team overcame a nine-points or more deficit with five minutes or less remaining in the game to win since Sept. 19, 2005.

In case you didn’t remember, that was the game many Washington fans call the “Monday Night Miracle.” Remember, Washington trailed 13-0 late in the fourth quarter when quarterback Mark Brunell found Santana Moss for two deep touchdowns to stun the Cowboys on Monday Night Football.

Moss became a franchise legend that night.

Dallas safety Roy Williams went from a Dallas hero to a goat in less than five minutes. And another cool moment from that game was the legendary John Madden on the call.

You can relive that magical Washington memory by following this link.

While Sunday’s comeback win won’t remind anyone of the “Monday Night Miracle,” the comeback did bring back memories. If you’re curious as to why Washington hasn’t had a similar comeback that late over the previous 17 years, look no further than the franchise’s constant instability at quarterback.

As for Heinicke, he was surgical on those final two drives, completing 12 of 14 passes for 151 yards, had 15 rushing yards and completed both of his fourth-down attempts.

The “Monday Night Miracle” is one of the franchise’s top moments over the last 25 years.

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Throwback Thursday: Tom Coughlin’s Jaguars dominate Giants in 1997

In Week 2 of the 1997 season, Tom Coughlin’s Jacksonville Jaguars beat up on the New York Giants, defeating them 40-13 at Alltel Stadium.

With the New York Giants facing off against the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday, there comes to mind the obvious connection between the two franchises — Tom Coughlin.

Coughlin was the initial head coach of the Jaguars when they entered the NFL as an expansion team in 1995. He coached there for eight seasons and to this day remains the only head coach to leave with a winning record.

With Jacksonville, Coughlin went to the postseason four times from 1996-99 and advanced to two AFC Championship Games.

In 2004, Coughlin, after a year off, was signed as the head coach of the New York Giants. We are all aware of his 12 seasons here and the two Super Bowl wins.

Coughlin faced the Giants just once as the Jaguars’ head coach, in Week 2 of the 1997 season. The Giants were in their first year under head coach Jim Fassel and came into Jacksonville with a 1-0 record. The Jags were also 1-0.

The Jaguars were going with backup quarterback Steve Matthews that day since their starter, Mark Brunell, was sidelined with torn knee ligaments — an injury sustained via Giants linebacker Jessie Armstead during the preseason.

The Giants scored first on a Tiki Barber four-yard touchdown run. The Jags came storming back with 23 unanswered points to take a 23-7 halftime lead.

The second half was all Jacksonville. They outscored the Giants 17-6 and walked away with their revenge in a 40-13 rout. The Giants were shredded for 252 yards in the air from Matthews, who was hustled into the game during the week after Brunell’s backup, Rob Johnson, injured his ankle.

“They brought me in here with one week of practice and said, ‘Hey, you’re going to be our number two guy.’ That just doesn’t happen in the NFL,” said Matthews. “I wasn’t going to let them down.”

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Lions training camp notebook: Day 13 wraps the pre-preseason slate

Here’s what I saw, heard and observed during the final Lions training camp session before the preseason opener

Wednesday marked the final day of Detroit Lions training camp practice open to the public. The fans in attendance on the beautiful morning after the rousing Hard Knocks debut did not get to see a great deal of heavy contact.

The 13th day of training camp was a lighter one for Dan Campbell’s Lions, who had one of the most physical and intense practices in years on Tuesday. Some fans grumbled about the lack of hitting, but Campbell stuck to his guns about keeping his players fresh and ready for actual games that matter.

Here’s what I saw, heard and observed during the final Lions training camp session before the preseason opener on Friday against the Atlanta Falcons.

 

Watch: Former Jags LT Tony Boselli receives his Hall of Fame jacket

Jaguars legend Tony Boselli had a special moment tonight folks.

It’s been a busy week for former Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Tony Boselli, who is currently in Canton to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. On Saturday, his bust will officially be revealed during the Enshrinement Ceremony, but Friday was a big day for Boselli, too, as he received his gold jacket.

Action News Jax reporter Ben Ryan was able to attend the Gold Jacket Dinner and posted footage of Boselli’s big moment as he took the stage and received his jacket. Former Jags quarterback Mark Brunell, who will be the presenter for Boselli in the Enshrinement Ceremony, was there to give him his jacket for what is a historic moment in Jags history.

When Boselli’s enshrined on Saturday, he will be the first Jaguar to go into the Hall of Fame. His well-deserved moment comes after he was the first-ever Jags draft selection in 1995 and was with the team until 2001.

Throughout Boselli’s tenure with the Jags, he was a three-time first-team All-Pro and a five-time Pro Bowler. Those were honors that eventually made him a 1990s All-Decade Player and also a member of the Jags’ Hall of Fame entitled the “Pride of the Jags.”

Boselli endured a long wait to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as he was a semifinalist for seven consecutive years. However, throughout that wait, the Jacksonville football community was vocal about getting him in and will finally get to see him get the moment he’s long deserved on Saturday.

Former Washington safety Matt Bowen enlightens listeners

Former Washington safety and current ESPN analyst Matt Bowen gives his thoughts on Carson Wentz.

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Former Washington safety Matt Bowen (2003-2005) is ALWAYS  informative and he did not disappoint when on the latest episode of the “John Keim Report” podcast.

Bowen said he immediately notices Carson Wentz’s size and strength in the pocket, his sliding out of the pocket, ability to extend plays, arm strength to attack the third level. Bowen feels sometimes Wentz plays to his own detriment, wanting so badly to extend a play, and go deep when he could simply complete the easier pass underneath.

Bowen continued that Wentz’s mechanics sometimes are not in sync, because he is trying to make the big play, and not take the layup that is present. “He is going to challenge opposing defenses. He is going to challenge tight windows…He has high-level tools and you want him to make those plays.”

According to Bowen, Wentz is definitely an upgrade over Taylor Heinicke, though he was quick to praise Heinicke as the Commanders’ backup. He expects offensive coordinator Scott Turner to call more skinny posts, more shots down the field, more max protection to throw deep, and he also expects Dyami Brown and Curtis Samuel (both injured in 2021) to be stretching the middle and deep of the field in 2022. He also believes Logan Thomas can (along with Brown and Samuel) be effective on mid-level throws and quick deep 18-20 yard throws.

“You are the leader of a football team when you are the quarterback, even if you don’t want to be,” said Bowen. Players are going to look to you, how you practice, how you prepare, what you do pre-game and post-game is important. It sets the tone for the football team and has to come from that position. Mark Brunell (Washington 2004-2006) was one of the best leaders, I’ve ever been around… You have to be able to talk to every player in that locker room. The quarterback in my opinion has to be the number one guy in the locker room.”

Bowen spoke of how one of his coaches at Iowa told his players, when you retire, you want your teammates and coaches to say two things about you. “One, you were tough, and two, you were a great teammate.”

He feels the Commanders will be in the mix for the NFC East next year, have an experienced, good head coach, good staff, Wentz is an upgrade and Thomas is that middle of the field stretch-option they really need. “Can they get consistent production and high-level play from the quarterback position? Can he make the plays in critical moments to win? Can he make the plays on third down and score touchdowns inside the 20?”

He volunteered he believes Kyle Hamilton could fill the hybrid role for Washington and be very effective. As for Landon Collins, he understands that Collins may actually not get a very good offer in the league, and could refuse to play the hybrid, get put in the post and be exposed in coverage. He was not predicting such, simply attempting to be empathetic, saying he knew what it was like to be cut in the NFL.