Tag: melvin ingram

Chiefs DE Melvin Ingram aspires to win Super Bowl, return to Kansas City in 2022

#Chiefs DE Melvin Ingram let reporters know that his goals are to win a Super Bowl and that he desires to stay in Kansas City beyond the postseason.

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The Kansas City Chiefs’ addition of Melvin Ingram has widely been regarded as the move that most helped the team turn its defense around.

But what exactly has led to Ingram’s success and impact in Kansas City? If you ask the player, he points to his willingness to buy into what Andy Reid and the Chiefs are selling.

“Just came in and bought in, just bought into what they already had going on,” Ingram told reporters on Wednesday. “That’s the best way you can fit in anywhere. Don’t try to come in and do your own thing. Don’t try to come and be somebody else, just buy into what they’ve got going on and come in and do what they need you to do.”

Before trading for Ingram back in November, Brett Veach had brought him in for a free-agent visit. He ultimately ended up signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, after having a taste of the culture in Kansas City, Ingram is intent on staying with the team beyond the postseason.

That said, Ingram is interested in staying in the moment, with his focus squarely on their next playoff opponent.

“I definitely have got a lot of desire (to stay in Kansas City),” Ingram said. “But that’s looking too far ahead in the future. I ain’t never been a person to looks far in the future. I’m just focused on the task we’ve got at hand right now and that’s trying to win another playoff game and taking it step-by-step, day-by-day, game-by-game. I’m focused on what we’ve got going on now, I ain’t really looking into the future.”

Over the past two months, Ingram has faced and defeated each of his former teams. While those victories were sweet, they were only checkpoints on the way to his ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl.

“I came here to try and win a Super Bowl and that’s what my goals are set on,” Ingram said. “Beating them, that’s not a goal that I had. It was just another team, another win, but I didn’t put too much emphasis on it.”

The next checkpoint: Ingram’s team will play host to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC’s divisional round of the playoffs. Ingram is keyed in on one thing for the game, slowing down talented Bills QB Josh Allen.

“Man, he’s one of the elite quarterbacks in this league, and you’ve got to try to cancel out every phase,” Ingram said of Allen. “You’ve got to play assignment football because when you’ve got a quarterback that can run, that can throw, that can do everything, you’ve just got to play assignment football and not try to do too much.”

Ingram wasn’t around when the Chiefs faced Buffalo back in Week 5’s loss. Just as he was a catalyst for the defensive turnaround, he’ll look to be the catalyst that turns the tides in the favor of Kansas City in the upcoming rematch.

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Tyrann Mathieu details how Melvin Ingram has helped Chiefs’ defense grow

#Chiefs S Tyrann Mathieu says that Melvin Ingram has helped the defense not just on the field, but in the classroom as well. | from @TheJohnDillon

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When it comes to adding talent in the middle of a season where a team is already a playoff contender, the Kansas City Chiefs couldn’t have done much better than they did with the addition of Melvin Ingram III. His presence has bolstered the Chiefs’ pass rush when they needed it most, enabling Chris Jones to slide back to the inside without compromising the edge rush that fans in Kansas City crave from the team’s defense.

Pundits have pointed to the acquisition of Ingram as the turning point in the team’s season since they traded a sixth-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for him ahead of Week 8. Some of his offensive teammates have praised him for the juice that he brings on the field, which we’ll surely see from the 10-year veteran on wild-card weekend.

Chiefs’ safety Tyrann Mathieu reflected on Ingram’s presence during his media availability time on Thursday, telling reporters that his impact has been felt both on the field and in the classroom.

“He just has a knack for really understanding blocking schemes and what offensive lines want to do, what coordinators want to do, and it kind of helps him anticipate what’s coming,” Mathieu said of Ingram. “I think anytime you have guys on the field that can really use their instincts to the defense’s advantage, I think it’s beneficial to the rest of us on the team. He’s a great leader, he’s a great communicator as well especially in the classroom with the coaches so he’s a guy that we feed off. Not just on the field, but off the field in the classroom as well so he’s been big for us.”

Few players in the NFL have had the impact on their team’s defense that Ingram has in Kansas City, but the work is far from over as the most important part of the schedule is just about to get underway. With everything on the line and so much at stake, Mathieu’s comments should instill some confidence that Ingram’s presence will be a gamechanger against his former team. Whether it’s something that happens on the field or in the classroom, Ingram should make a big difference against a Steelers offense that should be beatable if the Chiefs’ defense plays up to their full potential.

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Chargers EDGE Uchenna Nwosu fully deserving of contract extension

Uchenna Nwosu should be near the top of the Chargers’ priority list.

Now that the Chargers’ season has come to an end, the next thing on their to-do list will be to decide which pending free agents they’re going to re-sign.

Of the 20 players set to hit the open market, some of them made significant contributions in 2021 to warrant being brought back, including edge defender Uchenna Nwosu.

Nwosu spent the first three seasons with Los Angeles in a rotational role behind Melvin Ingram.

Despite averaging 35% of defensive snaps in 45 games, Nwosu still managed to make the most of his playing time – totaling ten sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 59 quarterback pressures, and 44 hurries.

The anticipation for Nwosu as the starter opposite Joey Bosa was high when factoring in the breakout year of Leonard Floyd that Brandon Staley contributed to in 2020.

While he showed flashes, Nwosu did not quite meet those expectations early on.

That was until the Week 13 win over the Bengals when Nwosu finished with seven pressures, four hurries, two sacks, a strip-sack which he recovered, and two quarterback hits when he raised plenty of eyebrows.

From that point, Nwosu made a steady impact down the stretch until the season debut against the Raiders, where he went out with a bang, finishing the game with seven tackles and four for loss.

Nwosu showed to be an integral piece when the team needed him the most, both as a pass rusher and run defender, and someone worthy of being a part of the team’s plan for the foreseeable future.

After finishing with a career-high 30 pressures and five sacks and set to be only 26 years old during the 2022 season, Nwosu’s best playing days are still ahead, and it’s Staley who wants to continue to maximize his talents.

“He’s got the toughness, versatility, and playmaking ability that really fits who we want to be on the edge… I felt like he was able to express his full talents in our system. Hopefully, we’ll be able to continue to work with him,” Staley said.”

Chiefs added a ‘Juice Man’ when they traded for Melvin Ingram

Box-score watchers beware! You can’t measure “Juice” and Melvin Ingram’s #Chiefs teammates say that he brings it.

It’s no secret that through the first half of the 2021 NFL season, the Kansas City Chiefs defense struggled. They were allowing yards and points at a rate that had them ranked as one of the worst teams in the league. It looked as if that would be the team’s fatal flaw throughout the season.

The team addressed the issue by trading for a 32-year-old Melvin Ingram, who chose to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers after having visited Kansas City during the offseason as a free agent. Ingram had just 18 pressures in seven games played with the Steelers, and he didn’t particularly look like a game-changer coming to the Chiefs.

As it turns out, he was the catalyst for a turnaround on the defensive side of the ball that would help bring about an eight-game winning streak. It wasn’t just a matter of on-field production for Ingram, though. He brought something intangible to the table that Chiefs players like Travis Kelce knew he had from years of facing him when he played with the Chargers.

“I think it was my first seven-eight years playing, I had to get him at least twice a year,” Kelce said. “But man, I’m glad he’s on our team, I’ll tell you that much. He just has the entire package. I said it when he came here, any time you add a ‘Juice Man’ or just an ultimate competitor like him, it doesn’t matter what spot you put that guy in, he’s got a great feel of being a competitor and just playing with teammates. That’s why he fit the mold so perfectly when he got here. Both his energy on the field and who he is on the field as a playmaker. It was just the perfect match. I’m definitely glad to have him here and not having to go against him twice a year.”

The late-great Terez Paylor used the term “Juice” to describe a player who “has the goods.” It’s the effort, leadership, energy and impact that a player brings, and in the case of Melvin Ingram, it can simply be described as infectious.

“The ‘Swag Champ’ man, when you bring a guy with that much ‘Juice’ and that much swagger about himself, a perennial all-star, I mean that makes everybody play better,” Kelce continued. “You saw it immediately, how much more fun the guys were having. Not that we weren’t on the track to getting better. We had a lot of guys figuring it out both offensively and defensively. But sure enough, when he came in, everybody started clicking even more.”

The Chiefs have certainly seen the “Juice” from Ingram countless times since he was added to the team. It’s the type of relentless effort that Kansas City hasn’t had since Tamba Hali was chasing down quarterbacks with a half-pint of blood dripping down his face. Fans saw it as recently as the Week 18 game in Denver, when Ingram willed a strip-sack of Broncos RB Melvin Gordon in a key moment of the game.

“Yeah, I mean he’s definitely a leader,” Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes said of Ingram. “He’s a vet, he’s someone that understands how to play the game and play it the right way. He’s a mismatch out there. He’s just as good against the run as he is against the pass. He can play every single down; he can go out there and play with his presence and kind of bring everybody along. He’s been a great addition to the defensive line room.”

As the Chiefs prepare to face the Steelers in the wild-card round of the playoffs, Ingram will get a second chance to go against his one-time former team. Kansas City won’t just be looking to him for sack production, but they’ll look for him to provide “Juice” in a game where they’re sure to need every ounce of it.

“He’s done a nice job for us,” Chiefs HC Andy Reid said on Ingram. “Every situation is different. He’s come here and he’s added some good senior leadership to the defense, along with the other good leaders that we have. It’s worked out well for him and we’re glad we have him.”

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Melvin Ingram sets up 86-yard scoop and score for Nick Bolton

The Broncos had the lead and were driving … and then they were losing

The Denver Broncos were looking to extend their lead in the fourth quarter on Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs at Mile High.

Eighty-six yards later, they were trailing.

Melvin Gordon was slammed by Melvin Ingram and fumbled the football.

Nick Bolton picked up the ball and took off. The former Missouri star only had to beat his former Tiger teammate, quarterback Drew Lock, on his way to the end zone.

It was no contest and Denver’s 21-20 lead suddenly turned into a 28-21 deficit after Patrick Mahomes ran in the two-conversion.

The play — good for 86 yards — was the longest scoop-and-score in the NFL this season.

Steelers HC Mike Tomlin opens up about trading Melvin Ingram to Chiefs

Facing the #Chiefs in Week 16, #Steelers HC Mike Tomlin discussed the rationale behind trading Melvin Ingram to an AFC contender in Kansas City. | from @TheJohnDillon

The Kansas City Chiefs’ move to acquire veteran pass rusher Melvin Ingram at the trade deadline in a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers was a pivotal point in their season.

The trade left many fans wondering how such a productive talent could land in the lap of a Super Bowl contender. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin shed some light on the situation that brought about the deal in November in his comments to media on Tuesday, telling reporters that Ingram didn’t fit in with where his team was headed.

“We didn’t weigh their circumstances, we weighed our circumstances,” Tomlin said. “Not only the tangible element of our circumstances, but the intangible quality that makes us a team. Like I mentioned when we moved him, we had an opportunity to get value for him and so that was entertaining and interesting to us. But also, to be quite honest with you and blunt, Melvin (Ingram) no longer wanted to be here. And for us, we prefer volunteers as opposed to hostages. And we believe that’s a formula that allows us to come together in ways that you can’t measure.”

Tomlin continued his statement on the matter by pointing out how far he feels his team has come despite significant adversity, and without the services of Ingram who clearly didn’t want to be a Steeler. He pointed out specifically that Pittsburgh’s win in Week 15 was emblematic of the culture he has created on his team, and that the need to maintain that part of the equation was more important than any gain the Chiefs might’ve gotten at their expense.

“To do the things we were able to do last week — to smile collectively in the face of adversity and do what’s required to get out of the stadium with necessary wins,” Tomlin continued. “That’s more of a function of us and the things that we value and less about Kansas City, the things that they needed or the prospects of playing them later in the season.”

While his statement on Ingram seemed pointed given how little coaches tend to talk about former players, Tomlin won’t have long to keep him in the forefront of his mind. Now in his fourteenth year as the Steelers’ skipper, he will face one of the most formidable opponents of his career in the Chiefs with the chance to win a share of the AFC North lead with a win.

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Chargers QB Justin Herbert looking to continue to shine bright under primetime lights

Chargers QB Justin Herbert was born for prime time.

Quarterback Justin Herbert has solidified himself as a legitimate MVP candidate in his sophomore season.

Herbert currently ranks fourth in the NFL with 294 passing yards per game, third with 30 passing touchdowns, first with a quarterback rating of 67.35, and tied for first with five game-winning drives.

When the Chargers meet the Chiefs on Thursday night, he will have a great opportunity to further make his case, as Herbert has proven to shine bright under the primetime lights.

In Herbert’s four career games in primetime, he is 97-of-145 passing for 1,182 yards, 12 touchdowns, one interception, and a rushing touchdown.

The last time Herbert faced Kansas City came back in Week 3, where he put together an impressive performance – finishing with four touchdowns.

However, since then, the Chiefs’ defense has done a complete 360.

Amid their six-game win streak, Kansas City has allowed just 9.6 points per game, which ranks second in the NFL. In addition, the unit has been stingy, posting 15 takeaways in their last five outings.

Herbert should benefit from the return of Keenan Allen, who missed last weekend’s win over the Giants. However, he will be without his blindside blocker, Rashawn Slater, who was ruled out with COVID-19.

If we know one thing about Herbert, it’s that pressure rarely phases him. But against a team like the Chiefs, who are one of the best at getting to opposing quarterbacks, Joe Lombardi will need to draw up a solid game plan.

While not an ideal scenario, the Chargers can mask his absence and make life easier for Slater’s fill-in, Trey Pipkins, with extra blockers, moving the pocket, and simplified half-field reads.

A win led by Herbert not only allows the Chargers to control their destiny en route to the first AFC West title since 2009 but increases the chances of him being recognized as the league’s most valuable player.

Chargers’ causes for concern vs. Chiefs

A look at some causes for concern as the Los Angeles Chargers gear up to face the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chargers are hosting the Chiefs in the most crucial game remaining on their schedule on Thursday night, as both teams are neck and neck in the race to be crowned AFC West champions.

Los Angeles should be feeling optimistic, but there are also reasons why they should be feeling wary heading into the Week 15 bout.

 

How the Chiefs’ defense went from Legion of Whom? to Legion of Boom! overnight

The Chiefs went from having one of the NFL’s worst defenses to one of the NFL’s best literally overnight. How on earth did this happen?

Before 2021, the last team to hold its opponents to less than 10 points per game in four of five games was the 2014 Seahawks, in their third of four years leading the NFL in scoring defense — something no other team has done in the Super Bowl era.

Last Sunday, after holding the Raiders in a vise in a 48-9 beatdown, the 2021 Chiefs became the first team to accomplish that four-in-five stretch since the Legion of Boom pulled it off. Steve Spagnuolo’s defense held the Packers to seven points in Week 9, the Raiders to 14 points in Week 10, the Cowboys to nine points in Week 11, the Broncos to nine points in Week 13, and the Raiders to nine points in Week 14. Outside of the Broncos, that’s a bunch of generally high-powered offenses that turn very normal when they meet this defense.

Interestingly enough, the Chiefs’ defense bottomed out in the second half of the 2020 season, dropping from 14th to 29th in Defensive DVOA, and the uptick wasn’t nearly as significant in 2019, the team’s Super Bowl-winning season, when the defense moved from 16th to 11th. This season? The Chiefs ranked 28th in Defensive DVOA in Weeks 1-9, and only the Patriots have a better Defensive DVOA since Week 10. They’re third in Defensive DVOA behind the Patriots and Cowboys since Week 6, so this isn’t an in-season blip that can be ignored.

This is a new level of greatness for a defense that has been able to take risks because the Chiefs’ offense was so explosive. Which makes this turnaround even more impressive, because for the most part, the Chiefs’ offense has been anything but. That offense has seen a nice uptick from 11th to fourth in the second half of the 2021 season, but the second half of the season also includes a two-game stretch against the Cowboys and Broncos in which Patrick Mahomes failed to throw a touchdown pass. If the second half of the season didn’t also include a two-game roll against the Raiders in which Mahomes threw seven touchdown passes and no interceptions, it’s hard to say where the 9-4 Chiefs would be.

(Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports)

Where the 9-4 Chiefs are right now is at the top of the AFC West, one game ahead of the Chargers, who they face this Thursday night. The Chargers beat the Chiefs, 30-24, in Week 3, but Justin Herbert and friends will face an entirely different threat this time around. That defense is the key to the team’s six-game winning streak after a 3-4 start, and it’s worth investigating what changed, and why this is no flash in the pan.

The Kansas City Chiefs are now led by their defense, as if 2021 wasn’t already weird enough.

How the heck did this happen?

6 key things to know about Chargers’ Week 15 opponent: Chiefs

Highlighting important things to know about the Chargers’ opponent ahead of the Week 15 matchup.

The Chargers are set to take on the Chiefs on Dec. 16 at 5:20 p.m. PT in hopes of securing the sweep and sitting atop the AFC West.

Here are six important things to know about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the Week 15 bout in primetime:

Red-hot

The Chiefs have found their stride after winning just three of their first seven games. After Sunday’s 48-9 win over the Raiders, Kansas City has won six straight games.

A big reason why…

The Chiefs have turned things around, primarily due to their defense. In their first eight games, they allowed 437.4 yards per game. Since Week 9, Kansas City has allowed just 9.6 points per game, which ranks second in the NFL. In addition, the team has done an excellent job of creating turnovers, posting 15 in their last five games.

Former Charger has made a difference

The Chiefs knew that their defense was an issue early on in the season, which is why they went out and brought in Melvin Ingram, who started the season with the Steelers. The move has paid dividends. The trio of Ingram, Chris Jones, and Frank Clark has been a terror in opposing backfields. In five games, Ingram has 14 pressures, ten hurries, four run stops, and two sacks.

Could be missing a key piece

The Chargers could catch a slight break, as Chris Jones was placed on the COVID-19 list on Tuesday. Arguably one of the Chiefs’ best defenders, Jones has seven sacks, six tackles for loss, 14 quarterback hits, and five pass breakups.

Checking in on Patrick Mahomes

Mahomes isn’t playing at the same caliber as he did in the 2019 and 2020 seasons. He has accounted for 12 interceptions this season, tying the amount he threw in his rookie season. There are a few factors for his down year, less explosive plays, dropped passes, and defenses properly game-planning for him. Nonetheless, he had a reassuring performance last Sunday against the Raiders, finishing with 20 of 24 passes for 258 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions and averaging over 10 yards per attempt for the first time since Week 2.

What about his weapons?

Even the Chiefs’ offense isn’t as lethal as they were in the prior seasons, they still have the same skill players that need to be accounted for. Tyreek Hill recently set a new career-high in receptions (90) and surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the fourth time in his career. Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Darrel Williams have combined for over 800 yards rushing, while Williams is also a reliable receiver. Struggling recently, Travis Kelce still has 73 catches for 875 yards.