Tag: Mel Kiper Jr.

Tony Dungy sets the record straight on the ‘Tampa 2’ defense

A debate about the two-high safeties defense—or, as you may know it, the “Tampa 2″—broke out on ESPN’s Get Up thanks to Mel Kiper Jr.

A debate about the two-high safeties defense—or, as you may know it, the “Tampa 2″—broke out on ESPN’s Get Up after Mel Kiper Jr. said it should be outlawed because he wants to see more downfield shots rather than bubble screens and checkdowns.

“The NFL is getting ruined by these two high safeties,” Kiper said.

Dan Orlovsky was tasked with explaining what this alignment was, and credited former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Tony Dungy for creating it, stating that “2-high safeties has been around for a long time, Tony Dungy made the ‘Tampa 2’ defense famous down there.”

While Dungy and the Buccaneers may have made it more of a household name to a wider audience, the former Buccaneers coach made sure to set the record straight. “Thanks, Dan, for including me in the legacy of Cover 2, but the Tampa version wasn’t near the beginning of the story,” Dungy said on his X account in response to Orlovsky’s history lesson.

The Cover 2 defense was actually introduced to the NFL in 1973, by Bud Carlson and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dungy would say, and the Hall of Fame coach took the Tampa version right out of their 1977 playbook, which he received as a rookie DB for the Steelers.

Dungy spent time interacting with comments and giving a history lesson on the defense and suspected that the defense was heralded as “Tampa 2” simply because “people hadn’t seen it in a while.”

Aaron Rodgers makes a funny Mel Kiper Jr. joke after ESPN expert’s bizarre safeties rant

This was funny.

Mel Kiper Jr. made some headlines on Thursday when he ranted on ESPN about how the NFL is getting ruined these days by the existence of two high safeties.

He talked about how he misses deep shots (missing that Justin Jefferson score from Week 2) and wants to see safeties closer to the line of scrimmage.

On Thursday night, after Aaron Rodgers beat the New England Patriots that included a TD throw to Garrett Wilson, the QB was asked about how he and Wilson hadn’t connected much.

His answer: “The entire focus of all three defenses we’ve played have been taking Garrett away. It’s been Mel Kiper‘s worst nightmare. Been a lot of cover 2, you know?”

LOL. So he’s seen the clip!

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NFL draft guru makes ridiculous assert about NFL defenses

Mel Kiper is mad about NFL defenses evolving to slow down all the passing offense.

When it comes to the NFL draft, there are few guys who carry the level of credibility that ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. does. If you enjoy the massive amount of media coverage the NFL draft gets every year, you can thank Kiper for that.

But maybe, just maybe he should stick to scouting prospects. Kiper went on a tirade on ESPN’s Get Up about the growing trend in the NFL of using two deep safeties to mitigate the deep pass.

Kiper railed about how the league needs to ban two deep safeties for the good of the game and that it is somehow harmful to the NFL that teams haven’t figured out a new twist that really isn’t new at all.

https://twitter.com/NFL_DovKleiman/status/1836779102923010226

Most interesting is Kiper tries to justify his position by talking about the 70s and 80s NFL but this was a time when smash-mouth football was the norm and those deep passes he referenced were rare. The league has taken great steps in recent years to incentivize teams to throw the football more so we have no issue with defenses adjusting to a pass-happy league. Offensive coordinators are on notice to figure out ways to either force those safeties down into the box or move the ball without it.

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Mel Kiper Jr. went on a furious tirade about every single mistake the Panthers made with Bryce Young

Mel Kiper Jr. was FURIOUS about how the Panthers screwed up Bryce Young.

It happened a little early, but Bryce Young is no longer the Carolina Panthers starting quarterback. It’s a massive organization failure that the former No. 1 overall legitimately had no traction in just 18 starts. And it’s emblematic of how most NFL first-round quarterbacks have tried and failed lately. (Plus, Young might have just not been good enough.)

But ESPN’s NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. refused to let the Panthers off the hook.

In an epic tirade during Get Up on Tuesday, Kiper exhaustively went through every single mistake the Panthers made with Young. From trading the farm to get him, then throwing him into the fire, to hanging him out dry developmentally when his professional career was already kinda hanging in the balance.

Kiper hit on every point about the Young debacle in Charlotte, and he didn’t tell a single lie:

The Panthers screwed up with Young. There should be no reason to believe their next chance will be any better. As far as analysts like Kiper are concerned, this iteration of Carolina probably can’t be trusted with another young quarterback.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. grades the Bucs’ 2024 NFL draft class

See what ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. thinks of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2024 NFL draft class

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers added seven new players in the 2024 NFL draft, filling some of their biggest needs and bolstering their depth on both sides of the ball.

Every media outlet is already passing initial judgement on each team’s 2024 draft class, and ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. is a fan of what the Bucs did this past weekend.

Kiper had high praise for first-round pick Graham Barton, and sees potential in second-rounder Chris Braswell:

The Bucs had a balanced first two days of the draft. Graham Barton (26) is my top-ranked center, and he’ll immediately help a run game that ranked 32nd in yards per attempt (3.4) last season. While he played left tackle at Duke, he has All-Pro upside at the pivot. Chris Braswell (57) has been underrated for the past few months. The edge rusher isn’t the flashiest player, but he is an all-around defender with an interesting skill set as a pass-rusher. Tampa Bay has to get better on the edge in 2024.

Grabbing Jalen McMillan in the third round was Kiper’s favorite pick that Tampa Bay made in the entire draft, but he was a bit cooler on the Bucs’ other earlier selections:

Wideout Jalen McMillan (92) was a steal at the end of Round 3. He could be an outstanding No. 3 receiver as a rookie before taking on a bigger role in 2025. Tykee Smith (89) went about a round earlier than I thought he would. At 5-foot-10, he’s undersized, but he does have some versatility. It sounds like the Bucs will play him in the slot. Running back Bucky Irving (125) won’t blow away defenders with his speed, but he can make quick cuts between the tackles.

McMillan is my favorite prospect in Tampa Bay’s class, but Barton should step in and be a top-10 center as a rookie. The Bucs got better this weekend.

Time will tell if Kiper’s opinion on Tampa Bay’s selections lines up with their eventual on-field impact for the Bucs, but for now, he’s clearly high on what the team added at key positions.

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ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. names Commanders as one of NFL draft’s Day 2 winners

Kiper was impressed with the Commanders’ Day 2 haul.

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. loved the Washington Commanders’ selection of LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL draft.

On Saturday, the Commanders entered the second round of the draft with five selections — two in the second round and three in the third round. At No. 36, Washington selected Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton, who many believed should have gone in the first round.

While the Commanders have two standout defensive tackles in Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, Newton adds another stud to the mix.

Instead of using the No. 40 pick, Washington traded it to the Eagles for a pair of second-round picks and a fifth-round pick in exchange for No. 40 and No. 78. Instead of two second-rounders and three third-rounders, the Commanders now had three second-round selections and two third-round picks.

The Commanders used those picks to select cornerback Mike Sainristil and tight end Ben Sinnott.

So, what did Kiper think of Washington’s Saturday haul? He named the Commanders as one of his Day 2 winners.

I mentioned the Commanders’ trade with the Eagles above, and Washington ended up with three second-round picks. New GM Adam Peters landed a game-wrecker for the middle of his defense. He got the best slot corner in this class. And he got my second-ranked tight end, a player who could make plays in the pass game and block his butt off in the run game. This is a home run Round 2 class for the Commanders, who entered this draft with a lot of holes.

To finish out Round 3, Washington took wideout Luke McCaffrey, which was a reach based on my rankings. Still, Christian’s brother has the physical traits to be an intriguing flier.

All five of Washington’s Day 2 selections could help the Commanders next season, which is almost uncommon in recent years.

What did Mel Kiper Jr. think of Commanders’ selection of Jayden Daniels?

Kiper weighs in on Jayden Daniels to the Commanders.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. is the original NFL draft guru. When most think of the NFL draft, Kiper often comes to mind. While some may prefer other analysts, such as Daniel Jeremiah, no one person is more synonymous with the draft than Kiper.

Every year at this time, fans are curious to know: What did Mel Kiper think of my team’s draft?

The 2024 NFL draft kicked off with Round 1 on Thursday. USC quarterback Caleb Williams went No. 1 overall to the Chicago Bears, and LSU’s Jayden Daniels went No. 2 to the Washington Commanders.

North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye went No. 3, while Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon’s Bo Nix were selected at No. 8 and No. 12, respectively.

So, what did Kiper think of the Commanders selecting Dotson? He loved the move. Kiper had the following to say on Daniels and Maye:

It should go without saying that I liked the Commanders and Patriots getting their quarterbacks of the future at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively. Jayden Daniels will give a jolt to the entire Washington franchise, and he’s in a good spot to play well early. Drake Maye won’t have as good of pass-catchers around him in New England, but he’s the type of talent to build around. I have higher grades on Maye and Daniels than I did on Mac Jones in 2021.

No one knows how things will work out for Daniels and the Commanders, but general manager Adam Peters must now continue to surround Daniels with a sturdy offensive line and playmakers.

Washington heads into Day 2 of the draft with five selections in the second and third rounds.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. believes Bills will trade up at 2024 NFL draft

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. believes the #Bills will trade up at 2024 NFL draft:

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. does not see the Buffalo Bills standing pat in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL draft.

The Bills are slated to select at No. 28 overall. However, Kiper said he believes the need for a receiver and having 10 total draft picks in his back pocket will lead the way for general manager Brandon Beane.

Kiper noted in his pre-2024 draft notes and intel that he thinks Buffalo will be making calls to get up the board. Exactly where? The insider doesn’t say, but it sounds like Beane could be making calls.

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Here’s what Kiper noted:

Buffalo Bills: Are the Bills really going to stay at No. 28 and let the wide receiver board shake out in front of them? I don’t see it. They have to get an early contributor to help Josh Allen. I wonder if they’d make a move into the late teens for Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU), who might be their No. 1 wideout as a rookie. I just don’t think they can afford to wait it out. Buffalo has two fourth-round picks and three fifth-rounders to use in deals.

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Where Jayden Daniels ranks among quarterbacks on Mel Kiper Jr.’s final draft board

Here’s where Jayden Daniels and other Tigers rank on Mel Kiper Jr.’s final draft board.

We’re just over 48 hours away from the start of the 2024 NFL draft, and that means it’s time for analysts and prognosticators to put forth their final predictions.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his final big board on Tuesday ahead of the draft, and when it came to LSU players, there weren’t a lot of changes from what we’ve seen over the past few months.

LSU quarterback [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] — the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner — is still ranked second overall and among quarterbacks behind only Caleb Williams. Meanwhile, Daniels’ favorite college targets [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] rank fifth and 17th, respectively, as well as third and fourth among receivers.

The Tigers don’t have as many mid-round prospects as we’ve seen in past years. That trio comprises the only LSU players in the top 75 with [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag] coming in at 78th overall followed by [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] at 92.

Those were the only players Kiper had in his top 150, though [autotag]Charles Turner III[/autotag] (No. 11 center), [autotag]Jordan Jefferson[/autotag] (No. 12 defensive tackle), [autotag]Omar Speights[/autotag] (No. 32 inside linebacker), [autotag]Ovie Oghoufo[/autotag] (No. 28 outside linebacker) and [autotag]Andre Sam[/autotag] (No. 30 safety) all cracked the positional rankings.

It likely won’t be as many players as LSU has seen drafted overall in some recent years, but it’s a top-heavy class for the Tigers, and Thursday’s Round 1 should be an eventful one.

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The final ESPN Mel Kiper Jr. 2024 NFL Draft big board has questions about Michael Penix Jr.’s health

Is Kiper right about this ranking?

We’re at the finish line of the 2024 NFL Draft season, with final mocks and a look at big boards from the experts.

That includes the final big board from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., who ranked a whole bunch of prospects, including the notable quarterbacks. He’s got QBs Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels at Nos. 1 and 2 and Drake Maye sixth overall. As for a sleeper like Michael Penix Jr., who our Christian D’Andrea pegged as a second-rounder in his latest 2024 mock draft?

Kiper has him 24th overall, with concerns about his health that go along with what he sees as A LOT of talent:

If you didn’t watch every game from Penix and the Huskies the past two seasons, you missed out. They had one of college football’s best offenses of the past decade, and Penix was the catalyst. He completed 65.4% of his passes in 2023, with 36 touchdown passes and 11 picks. He absolutely benefited from having an elite wide receiver corps — Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan and Ja’Lynn Polk all could go in the first three rounds this weekend — but when you study the tape, you see he has the arm talent, accuracy to all levels, decision-making and toughness to become a successful starting QB in the NFL.

The big question with the Indiana transfer going into the season: Could he stay healthy in back-to-back seasons? The left-handed thrower struggled with shoulder and knee injuries over his four years for the Hoosiers, though he was impressive when he was on the field. His offensive line certainly helped him stay clean over the past two seasons, as he was sacked just 16 times. Penix, who will be 24 years old when he takes his first NFL snap, leveled up as a deep-ball passer in 2023 — he had 46 completions on passes thrown 20-plus yards downfield, which ranked first in in the FBS.

There you have it! Make sure to check out our latest 2024 NFL mock draft from Christian D’Andrea, along with his big board with the best fits for prospects.