Tag: Mike Danna

Former Michigan defensive ends showing out for Kansas City Chiefs

Two former Michigan football players are showing out in Kansas City’s game at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles.

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Wanna know how it feels to be in a Wolverine sandwich? Just ask Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.

Getting a surprise rookie debut on Sunday against the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, Herbert has gone toe-to-toe against KC, looking wise beyond his playing experience as the first game at So-Fi Stadium stays a close affair. Herbert led a 10-plus minute drive to retake the lead over Patrick Mahomes & Co., but instead of getting a touchdown, the Chargers had to settle for a field goal.

Why, you ask? Because of a big play made by former Michigan football defensive end Taco Charlton — his tenth career sack — with Mike Danna also right there.

Charlton was getting praise from viewers on his first performance in a Chiefs uniform.

It wasn’t Danna’s first action getting to the quarterback, either.

Danna made an impressive display of athleticism earlier in the game getting to Herbert with a huge sack.

Not to be left out, Frank Clark may not have any sacks, but he did have two tackles earlier in the game, but was suffering an illness which had him questionable to return.

3 Chiefs players returned to training camp practice on Friday

Three players returned to practice for the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday.

The Kansas City Chiefs were back at training camp for practice on Friday. They’ve only got a few more days of practice, so they’ll kick things into overdrive as they prepare to shift their attention to the Houston Texans in Week 1. The list of players absent from practice is starting to dwindle.

Here is the full list of players that weren’t at practice today:

  • DE Alex Okafor (Calf)
  • C Austin Reiter (Knee)
  • OT Yasir Durant (Head)
  • TE Deon Yelder (Groin)
  • OT Martinas Rankin (PUP)

Returning from injury on Friday was DE Mike Danna, DT Derrick Nnadi and WR Gehrig Dieter, noted by both the KC Star beat reporter Herbie Teope and The Athletic’s Nate Taylor. It’s not clear if each of the players were full participants in practice, but Chiefs VP of communications Ted Crews said they all practiced in some capacity. It’s a good sign that each of these players got back out there regardless of how much they participated.

Nnadi is someone the Chiefs desperately need healthy for Week 1 given the absence of Mike Pennel due to suspension. It’s also encouraging that Danna was able to get back out there after being carted off during practice with that calf injury. He was having a standout training camp before he got hurt.

Newly signed center Daniel Kilgore was at practice for the first time on Friday. Absent from practice was Chiefs starting center Austin Reiter. The timing of those two things seems too convenient, but the team says that Reiter is dealing with a knee injury. Perhaps the injury to Reiter is what precipitated the signing of Kilgore, but he has been practicing up until this point.

It’s worth noting that Reiter can save over $3 million against the salary cap if he were to be released or traded. Kilgore started a total of 13 games for the Miami Dolphins last season. This is obviously something to monitor moving forward. If Reiter isn’t healthy or is no longer on the roster, would Kilgore step in as the starter in Week 1? Would the Chiefs rely on second-year OL Nick Allegretti in the absence of Reiter? We’ll have to see how all of that shakes out.

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Injury update from Chiefs training camp: Chris Jones, Sammy Watkins return to practice

A pair of veterans returned to practice for Kansas City while a rookie was carted off the practice field.

The Kansas City Chiefs had another padded practice on Friday.

Here is the full list of players that didn’t practice today:

  • CB Lavert Hill (Hamstring)
  • DE Frank Clark (Illness)
  • DE Alex Okafor (Calf)
  • DE Demone Harris (??)
  • LB Damien Wilson (??)
  • CB L’Jarius Sneed (“Tweak”)
  • LT Eric Fisher (Concussion)
  • WR Tyreek Hill (Hamstring)
  • TE Deon Yelder (Groin)
  • TE Ricky Seals-Jones (Leg)
  • OT Martinas Rankin (PUP)

The good injury news surrounds the return of Chris Jones and Sammy Watkins, who both were out of practice for several days dealing with groin injuries. They’re both back in pads and at practice, in a limited capacity, easing both players back into action. This is good progress with the season opener being just under three weeks away. Fox 4 reporter Harold Kuntz captured video of both players in pads during individual drills.

Rookie DE Mike Danna, who has been one of the players drawing rave reviews out of training camp, suffered a leg injury during practice and was carted off according to The Athletic’s Nate Taylor. It’s never a good sign when the cart comes out for a player. He was the lone injury during the course of practice on Friday according to Andy Reid. Reid said that Danna, “tweaked his calf.” Danna makes the fourth defensive end out of practice. The only healthy defensive ends in Kansas City are Tanoh Kpassagnon, Breeland Speaks, Taco Charlton and Tim Ward.

There were a number of defensive players absent from practice. Reid described rookie CB L’Jarius Sneed as receiving a rest day due to a “tweak.” DE Demone Harris and LB Damien Wilson were also held out of practice according to media members in attendance at practice. Reasons for their absences were not provided.

Tyreek Hill was absent from practice, spotted working in the weight tent. He suffered a hamstring injury on Thursday. That injury is reportedly considered to be minor. Reid described Hill as day-to-day and said the injury “is not a tear.”

Second-year safety Juan Thornhill still was relegated to individual work. He’s going on Day 3 of not being cleared for contact and team drills. Andy Reid said on Wednesday that the team intends to ramp-up Thornhill’s workload as they go.

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Chiefs area scout Pat Sperduto explains selection of DE Mike Danna in 2020 NFL Draft

Kansas City Chiefs area scout Pat Sperduto is a big Mike Danna fan.

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The Kansas City Chiefs selected Michigan DE Mike Danna in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Danna joined Michigan by way of graduate transfer from Central Michigan. From the sound of it, Danna is someone that Chiefs area scout Pat Sperduto had his eyes on long before he transferred into the Big 10 conference.

“I wrote him last year when he was at Central Michigan because I thought he was a junior that was going to come out,” Sperduto said. “They had a really disappointing season in 2018, but he had 9.5 sacks in ’18 when he was at Central. I have a couple really good friends there and they thought he was going to leave so I had written to him. He would’ve been a draft pick last year as well.”

But Danna didn’t leave Central Michigan for the draft, instead, he chose to join the Wolverines. The decision wasn’t a smashing success for Danna. He appeared in all 13 games but only drew one start. His production wasn’t nearly what it was the previous season with the Chippewas. With only 38 tackles, three tackles for loss and three sacks.

Sperduto explained that his time at Michigan was able to show one thing: His versatility.

“His role at Michigan was a little bit different so when he gets to Michigan, and they do this with a lot of their players, they have multiple roles, they play multiple spots and his role there was unique for him,” Sperduto continued. “It’s something that he hadn’t done where he stemmed down inside and played over a guard a little bit and I think he’s probably more natural outside as an edge guy. He’s a great, great kid. Like a great kid. All of my friends that are up there said he’s one of their favorite kids and nothing but great things were said about the person at Central. And then it was the same when you walked into Michigan it was like he’s just rare character.”

One common thread with a lot of the players that Kansas City came away with during the 2020 NFL Draft was work ethic. They’re going after guys that have a reputation of being a hard worker, whether it is in the weight room, practice field or playbook.

“It starts with his character and his work ethic,” Sperduto said. “You can tell. He was one of the hardest workers at Central and then the same thing once he got to Michigan, he instantly put on weight. It’s just the reality of the business of college football Central Michigan might not have the same training table, the same things that Michigan has so he put on good weight and right away the same work ethic and the same character and the same practice habits. You watch him at practice at Michigan and he’s going just as hard if not harder because now he has to prove himself, in his mind, all over again. I think that’s kind of what we’ll get when he walks through the door. It’s funny because I actually shot him a text before the draft even started and said, ‘Hey it’s not where you’re taken. It’s what you do when you walk through the doors’. It’s funny that he’s one of our guys and you’ll notice him very quickly because that’s the type of kid he is. He’s just going to work his tail off.”

As for Danna’s fit in Kansas City, he won’t be making a switch to SAM linebacker like some thought, at least not in Sperduto’s eyes. He envisions Danna’s natural fit in the NFL at the defensive end position.

“I think his natural position is going to be as a defensive end for us and then the coaches, that’s their job as they find the best possible role for him,” Sperduto said. “I guarantee he’ll be a core teamer so Coach Toub (Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub) will love him. Then, however the defensive staff, Coach Spags (Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) and Coach Daly (Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach Brendan Daly) decides to use him, he’ll adapt to it. He’s a guy that’s going to adapt to whatever role you give him.”

Whatever Danna’s role will be in Kansas City, you can’t help but be excited given the way Sperduto talks about the person and the player.

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3 things to know about Chiefs new DE Mike Danna

Get to know the Kansas City Chiefs’ newest defensive end, Mike Danna.

The Kansas City Chiefs selected Michigan DE Mike Danna with their fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He will add depth to a Chiefs defensive line after the departure of Emmanuel Ogbah and presumed departure of current free agent Terrell Suggs.

Here are three things to know about the Kansas City Chiefs’ newest defensive end:

Photo by Andrew Weber/Getty Images

Danna spent three seasons playing at Central Michigan

Before transferring to Michigan during his senior season, Danna spent three seasons playing for Central Michigan. During that time, he accumulated 151 total tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, and 15 sacks. He wouldn’t become a premier player for the Wolverines, only accumulating 38 tackles, three tackles for loss and three sacks. Perhaps coach Jim Harbaugh used Danna wrong and Chiefs defensive line coach Brendan Daly see’s a path to more production in the NFL?

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WATCH: Highlights of new Chiefs DE Mike Danna

Get familiar with the newest defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Kansas City Chiefs selected Michigan DE Mike Danna at pick No. 177 in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Danna is an interesting player. He spent four seasons at Central Michigan before transferring to Michigan in 2019. He’s a highly-motivated and underrated athlete, failing to receive an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine. At 6-2 and 252 pounds, he’s undersized compared to what Steve Spagnuolo typically likes at the defensive end position. Turn on the tape and it’s easy to see why they like him.

Check out some highlights of Danna (No. 4 Michigan / No. 57 Central Michigan) below:

Michael Danna selected in fifth-round of NFL Draft

The transfer from Central Michigan has found his home in the NFL.

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Don’t call it a comeback!

As NFL mock drafts were in full swing, none of the seven-round mocks we encountered had Michigan defensive end Mike Danna on their boards. However, that’s not how the Super Bowl champs see it.

Danna was one of two eligible Wolverines to not get an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine last month, despite his reputation of being an athletic freak. And with his pro day being canceled due to the novel coronavirus, Danna had little opportunity to prove himself.

However, Kansas City didn’t mind, looking at the tale of the tape and selecting Danna with the No. 177 pick in the fifth-round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

According to ESPN, here’s the outlook on Danna:

Danna spent his first three seasons at Central Michigan before transferring to Michigan in 2019. He shoots his hands inside and flashes the ability to walk offensive tackles back to the quarterback as a pass-rusher. He needs to develop better counter punches, and because he is on the lighter side, he gives ground at times. But he does have quick hands and fast eyes, and he gives good effort in pursuit. Danna grades out as a reserve edge defender in the NFL who will need to carve out a role on special teams.

Danna will unite with star KC defensive end Frank Clark, another former Wolverine who has been a standout in his career.

He’s the fifth Michigan player off the board, with Cesar Ruiz, Josh Uche, Ben Bredeson and Khaleke Hudson all having been selected in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Report: NY Giants showing interest in Michigan DE Mike Danna

Despite little-to-no mention of him in any seven-round mocks, one NFC East team is interested in the former transfer DE, per a report.

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One of the more perplexing things this offseason has been the lack of seeming interest in Michigan defensive end Mike Danna, who transferred into Ann Arbor after spending the bulk of his career at Central Michigan.

In three years of play in Mount Pleasant, Danna compiled 151 tackles, 27.5 for loss and 15 sacks. In his sole year with the Wolverines, as a reserve, Danna managed 38 tackles and 3 sacks.

Yet, despite being a Pro Football Focus mainstay, and a freak athlete to boot, Danna didn’t get an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine and wasn’t able to participate in an organized Pro Day, as Michigan’s was canceled on the eve of the scheduled March 13 event, due to concerns over the novel coronavirus.

While he hasn’t made any NFL seven-round mock drafts that we’ve seen, according to one report, there’s a team in the NFC that’s potentially keen on making Danna a third-day pick: the New York Giants, according to NJ.com.

As first reported on the GiantsExtra Text Service, the Giants have been in close contact with Michigan defensive end Mike Danna, according to an individual with knowledge of the team’s plans.

Danna has communicated with members of the front office, and the coaching staff has been impressed.

Given that there’s been little talk about Danna in the 2020 NFL Draft, that there’s any report signifying that he could end up somewhere, it’s a good sign that he has a shot to either be drafted or scooped up as an undrafted free agent.

For now, Danna will have to wait just a few more days to find out his future, as the first-round of the draft begins on Thursday night, and will be conducted virtually due to COVID-19 mitigation measures.

LOOK: Former Michigan DE Mike Danna shows off freak athleticism

The former Wolverines DE showed off why the NFL made a mistake by not inviting him to Indianapolis.

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It was egregious that former Michigan defensive end Mike Danna didn’t earn an invite to this year’s NFL Scouting Combine.

Though eleven former Wolverines make the trek to Indianapolis, considering that Danna — who has been widely praised by scouting website Pro Football Focus in his career — didn’t get a chance to show off his skills seems negligent, to say the least, considering that his freak athleticism will have teams swooning once they get a glimpse.

Matters made worse, the novel coronavirus pandemic canceled Michigan’s Pro Day, so Danna didn’t even get the normal opportunity that any outgoing players get in front of league scouts and coaches. So, he showed off a little on Twitter.

While just about anyone in the maize and blue locker room would tell you that Danna was the freakiest athlete in there — perhaps more so than enigmatic players such as Donovan Peoples-Jones — you have to believe it to see it. So, seeing a 260-something pound defensive end jump like he’s DPJ should get some people’s attention.

On top of being a freak athlete, Danna was productive as a rotation player. He notched 38 tackles and 3 sacks in his sole season as a Wolverine after spending the bulk of his career at Central Michigan.

10 Combine snubs the Lions should keep on their radar

Identifying 10 players from the 2020 draft class that were not invited to the NFL Combine but should still be on the Detroit Lions radar.

The NFL has released the 2020 NFL Combine participants list, and despite it containing 337 players, there were a few notable names not invited to Indianapolis for the event.

Just because a player didn’t receive an invite doesn’t mean the NFL isn’t still paying attention to them. Last year, players such as David Blough, Kevin Strong, and C.J. Moore were not invited to the 2019 NFL Combine, yet still earned a spot on the Detroit Lions active roster and contributed in significant ways throughout the year.

Here are 10 players who were snubbed from the 2020 NFL Combine that should still be on the Lions radar.

Reggie Corbin, RB, Illinois

After a 2018 season that saw him average an astounding 8.5 yards per rush and eclipse 1,000-yards rushing, Corbin saw his production drop in 2019, which likely let to him being left off the invitation list.

Corbin’s (est. 5-8, 201) speed, ability to set up defenders, and natural lateral movement skills are all easily at an NFL level, which makes him a perfect candidate for a team that uses a running back by committee approach. If the Lions don’t retain J.D. McKissic, Corbin could be a potential replacement.

Tavien Feaster, RB, South Carolina

Feaster (est. 5-11, 222) played three years at Clemson before transferring to South Carolina ahead of the 2019 season. With solid straight-line speed — especially for a back his size — and the ability to catch passes out of the backfield, there should be some appeal from NFL teams who are looking for a bigger third-down back.

Kevin Dotson, G, Louisana

Dotson (est. 6-4, 324) will likely be the first player drafted who wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine, potentially even in the third or fourth round. Dotson is a powerful interior offensive lineman who is a force in both the run and pass game, earning a spot as an AP first-team All-American and grading out as Pro Football Focus’ top interior offensive lineman.

The Lions are familiar with the Ragin’ Cajuns’ program — they drafted Tracy Walker from there in the third round of the 2018 draft — and met with Dotson at the East-West Shrine game last month. He’s firmly on their radar.

Tyler Clark, DL, Georgia

Georgia’s scheme gives Clark (est. 6-3, 289) the needed 2-gapping experience — nose tackle John Atkins came from the same program — and his body-type, ability to shed defenders and get into the backfield makes him a candidate for the Lions’ big defensive end role. That spot is currently occupied by Da’Shawn Hand and the aforementioned Kevin Strong, but the Lions will be on the lookout for more depth on the defensive line.

Bravvion Roy, NT, Baylor

Speaking of defensive line depth, Roy has nose tackle size but is more of a pass rusher than anchor at the 0-technique. He brings a different style of play than what the Lions have in Damon Harrison and Atkins, but there’s some appeal to having a player like him in the rotation.

Mike Danna, EDGE, Michigan

A favorite of PFF from his time at Central Michigan, Danna (est. 6-2, 257) earned a 27-percent pass-rushing rate with the Chippewas, but he saw his play drop off a bit in 2019 playing in the Big Ten and in a rotational role along the Wolverines’ deep defensive line. In the NFL, Danna will likely begin his career as a pass-rushing specialist with upside and special teamer.

TJ Brunson, LB, South Carolina

Brunson (6-1, 219) was one of only two players to participate in the Senior Bowl, yet not receive an invite to the Combine. He is undersized for the Lions scheme, but his aggressiveness and ability to be physical against the run could earn him a role on special teams. If the Lions decide to move on from Miles Killebrew, Brunson could be a player who could compete to fill the vacancy.

Levonta Taylor, NB, Florida State

Taylor (est. 5-10, 186), a former 5-star recruit, was a big get for the Seminoles out of high school, but injuries and inability to stay at one position have impeded his draft stock. In the NFL, Taylor won’t fit every scheme, but for the Lions, he would fill a developmental nickel corner/safety role.

Jared Mayden, S, Alabama

Mayden (6-0, 201), the other Senior Bowler not invited to Indianapolis, is a reliable tackler capable of playing on defense as a corner/safety option in the slot but his path to the NFL is likely on special teams where he shined in college.

Myles Dorn, S, North Carolina

Dorn (est. 6-1, 198) is a rangy defender who can play deep as well as in the box. His game is drenched in aggressiveness, instincts, high energy, and is a reliable tackler which will make him a natural special teams player in the NFL.