Tag: NFL

How much progress has the Cardinals offense made in 2019?

After ranking at the bottom of almost every category in 2018, they a middle-of-the-pack team in 2019.

The Arizona Cardinals had a historically bad offense in 2018, leading to a 3-13 year and a complete makeover. Kliff Kingsbury was hired. Kyler Murray was drafted along with three receivers. They added offensive linemen and a pair of tight ends.

Let’s look at the progress they have made over the last season.

Overall offense

In 2018, the Cardinals averaged a league-low 241.6 yards per game and a league-worst 14.1 points per game.

In 2019, they are 20th in the league in yards, averaging 343.9, so more than 100 yards more per game.

They now average 22.5 points per game, which is 16th in the league. They have scored 25 or more points seven times this season and in six of their last seven games. They had one such game in 2018, and even in that game the defense scored one of the touchdowns.

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Robert Woods thankful for Rams’ support while handling family matter

Robert Woods spoke out about his family matter for the first time Thursday.

Robert Woods took a personal leave of absence from the Rams on Sunday, just a few hours before the team faced the Bears at home. He wasn’t in attendance at the Coliseum as he tended to a family matter, missing his first game of the season.

He returned to the team and practiced on Thursday, but his status for the Rams’ upcoming game against the Ravens remains up in the air. Neither he nor Sean McVay will commit to the wide receiver playing on Monday night.

After practice, Woods spoke out on his absence, keeping the details of his personal situation private.

“Just appreciate the Rams organization, allowing me to deal with my family matters, allowing me to keep this personal,” he said. “Came to practice today, first day back, it felt good to be back out there, being back with the guys and the team. Just taking it day by day, working towards being prepared for Monday night.”

Woods was asked how his coaches, teammates and those within the organization helped him through this situation, saying everyone reached out to him while he was away.

“Big time. Just being there, allowing me to just be supportive of my family,” he said. “Everyone in our organization reached out, supported my decision, supported me through this and still do.”

Woods declined to say exactly what happened that caused him to take some time away from the team, saying “it’s something I’m going to keep private – family, we’ll deal with it at home.”

It wasn’t a difficult decision for him to tend to the matter, putting his family above his occupation.

“Football is my job. My family is over my job. It wasn’t really a difficult decision,” he said.

When asked if he’ll play against the Ravens, he said he “planning on just taking it day by day, keep working towards that goal.”

Woods wouldn’t say whether the matter is behind him or if there are long-term concerns with the situation.

“Just working day by day, can only take it a day at a time,” he said.

The Rams could certainly use Woods against the Ravens on Monday night, and the goal is for him to play. However, if he can’t go, at least the offense will have Brandin Cooks back, who is returning from a concussion suffered before the bye.

Against a team like the Ravens, though, they need all hands on deck if possible.

Jalen Ramsey gets a lot of praise, but Rams’ other 2 CBs are thriving

Troy Hill and Nickell Robey-Coleman have been among the best CBs in the NFL since Week 6.

The Los Angeles Rams defense has improved dramatically since Jalen Ramsey arrived in Week 7. In their last four games, they’ve allowed just 44 points, which is the lowest total in the NFL. They’re also No. 1 in run defense in that span, ranking fifth overall against the run this season.

Ramsey has a lot to do with the Rams’ elevated play on defense – as does the level of competition in the last month – but he’s not the only one who deserves credit. The secondary as a whole is playing significantly better, led by Troy Hill and Nickell Robey-Coleman, surprisingly.

According to Pro Football Focus, they both rank in the top three of all NFL cornerbacks since Week 6 in overall grade. Hill has been the league’s best cornerback in that span, while Robey-Coleman ranks third.

In terms of coverage, Hill is ninth and Robey-Coleman is third.

Ramsey has played well this season, too, but Hill and Robey-Coleman deserve a lot of credit for their play, as well. Hill, in particular, has been targeted frequently by opposing quarterbacks simply because Ramsey is on the other side of the field.

This season, Hill has been targeted 39 times but he’s allowed just 20 completions (51.3%), one touchdown and a passer rating of 66.8. Ramsey has seen 50 passes thrown his way, allowing 32 catches (64%), one touchdown and a 93.2 passer rating.

The Rams took a big chance by trading away both Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib, showing a great deal of confidence in Hill to take over as a starter. He’s rewarded them with some outstanding play and coverage, making the Rams look smart for giving him to an extension through 2020 this offseason.

He’s become an important part of the defense and assuming things stay the way they have, he’ll be in the mix for a starting job next year, too.

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Tua Tagovailoa’s odds to go No. 1 plummet after hip injury

After suffering a season-ending hip injury, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is no longer the favorite for next year’s top pick

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was the favorite to be the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft ever since the 2019 draft concluded.

He appeared to be on the right track to maintaining that status atop the class, but a dislocated hip suffered against Mississippi State last weekend put an end to his impressive 2019 campaign.

Now, questions surround Tagovailoa regarding his durability and recovery from the serious injury. Formerly the front-runner to go No. 1, his draft stock has taken a major hit after getting hurt.

The question is, when will he get drafted now?

Given the rise of LSU quarterback Joe Burrow this year, Tagovailoa has been unseated as the class’ top signal-caller, so being the first pick is essentially out of the question. He will likely have to fight with Oregon’s Justin Herbert to be the second quarterback selected, but Tagovailoa’s tape places him firmly over the likes of Georgia’s Jake Fromm and Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts, among others.

Sascha Paruk from Sports Betting Dime had this to say on how Tagovailoa’s injury impacts the betting market:

Prior to losing to LSU and then dislocating his hip against Mississippi State, Tua Tagovailoa was the -150 favorite to go first overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. After the injury, he’s not even on the board. LSU’s Joe Burrow is now the odds-on favorite at -200, followed by Ohio State DE Chase Young at +150. Young’s odds to go first-overall are shorter than Tua’s new odds to even go in the top ten (+200). That’s despite trends strongly favoring QBs. A quarterback has gone #1 in eight of the last 11 drafts and four of the last five. Only two defensive players have gone #1 in the last 13 years.

Sports Betting Dime currently gives Tagovailoa 2/1 odds to be a first-round pick, with his favored range being within picks 11-20 at +150. He has +200 odds to still be a top 10 pick, as well as +300 odds to fall to the 21-32 range and the same odds to be selected in Rounds 2-7.

Previously their favorite to be the top pick, as well as carrying 13/1 odds to win the Heisman Trophy, Tagovailoa still has favorable odds to end up going in the top half of the first round.

With two first-round picks after their own selection, the Miami Dolphins could still be a realistic landing spot for Tagovailoa. Other teams outside of the top 10 that could be potential suitors include the Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers.

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2020 NFL draft: Chase Young scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Ohio State edge defender Chase Young

Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State

Height | 6-5

Weight | 265

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

Would it be cheating to just say “everything”?

Truth be told, there are very few things that Young doesn’t do well. He accelerates very well off the snap and possesses great short-area quickness, and his hip and ankle flexibility allows him to consistently rip and dip underneath offensive tackles at a high level. He has great range as a tackler and change direction fluidly in space. Young’s pad level as a pass-rusher is reliable, and he has shown that he can get inside hand placement on a pretty regular basis. His understanding of leverage helps him out tremendously.

Young rushes with heavy hands that pack a powerful punch upon contact but also move actively and quickly. He excels at exposing the set points of offensive linemen to find the best path to the quarterback and has the agility to bounce inside on outside rushes when a hole presents itself. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound rusher also has a lengthy and muscular frame that is well built for the physicality the NFL presents.

If you’re looking for production, then Young has that, too. He stepped in as a true sophomore and tallied 10.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for a loss in place of Nick Bosa in 2018. Young put together an even better performance in 2019, as he has 13.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for a loss through just 8 games this year. His ability to produce and dominate in a powerful conference like the Big Ten is encouraging for his prospects in the pros.

Weaknesses

Young doesn’t have a lot of weaknesses, but that’s not to say he doesn’t have room to improve. He could stand to build some lower-body strength and get better at rushing with his weight underneath him, as doing so would benefit his power game. He can get better at avoiding being sealed off in run support and eating gaps in run support. His counter game could also be improved, as he finds himself stuck at times if he doesn’t win the initial battle at the point of contact.

Young was also suspended for two games in 2019 for accepted an unauthorized loan from a family friend. While the situation isn’t severe and shouldn’t affect his draft stock, teams will likely ask him about the suspension leading up to the draft.

Bottom Line

An athletic, ferocious, polished and productive pass-rusher, Young is a well-rounded prospect with a very high ceiling at the next level. Even with his suspension, he should be selected very early in April.

Projection: Top 3

Rams vs. Ravens: 4 key matchups to watch on Monday night

Cory Littleton and Taylor Rapp will play key roles in Monday’s game.

(AP Photo/Mike McCarn)

The Los Angeles Rams’ season could ride on Monday night’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. They desperately need a win – and a signature one, at that – and none would be bigger than beating the red-hot Ravens.

Containing Lamar Jackson will be priority No. 1, but there will be several other matchups within the game that could decide the outcome.

Here are the four biggest matchups to watch in Week 12.

Cory Littleton vs. Lamar Jackson

(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

It’ll take a complete team effort to slow down Jackson, but a lot of the responsibility falls on Littleton. He’ll likely be asked to spy Jackson, as will Taylor Rapp and maybe even a cornerback like Nickell Robey-Coleman. Littleton’s role in this game will be huge when it comes to stopping the run, which is a staple of Baltimore’s offense, of course.

Few players in the NFL have the speed to keep up with Jackson, but Littleton’s instincts and anticipation can help limit the big plays made by the electric quarterback. Making the correct read on zone reads is also critical, and could be the difference in a 20-yard gain or one for 5 yards.

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Colts’ linebacker on the Deshaun Watson fumble that wasn’t reviewed: ‘I had it’

He said he got it but there was no review.

Did Deshaun Watson fumble with just under two minutes left in Thursday’s Houston Texans win over the Indianapolis Colts?

It sure looked like there might have been a Colts recovery or at least a stoppage of play for a review by replay officials. But nope! The Texans kept the ball and NFL fans couldn’t believe there wasn’t a review.

The league’s Twitter feed for NFL Officiating delivered an explanation after the contest, saying “there was no clear visual evidence of a recovery by the defense” but that the ruling on the field was indeed a fumble recovered by the offense.

That’s not what Colts linebacker Darius Leonard thinks. From the Indianapolis Star:

“I punched it out,” Leonard said. “I punched for it, got it out. I had it, and after that, they said it wasn’t a fumble.”

On the replay, the ball comes loose and looks like it comes up into Leonard’s arms, with Watson grabbing for it as both go to the ground.

“Deshaun said I hit it out,” Leonard said. “Right after the play, he said it.”

Officially, we’ll never know if that’s true.

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Stopping Josh Jacobs, Darren Waller among 4 keys to Jets defense vs. Raiders

The Raiders feature two talented young offensive players – Josh Jacobs and Darren Waller – that could wreak havoc if the Jets can’t stop them.

The Jets return to Metlife Stadium on the heels of a great defensive performance in a win over the Redskins. Though they ended up allowing 17 points – which is coincidentally tied for the fewest they’ve allowed all season – the Jets defense had only given up three points before Washington scored twice in the final 10 minutes.

Gregg Williams’ crew will look to continue its hot streak against the Raiders, a team that sits in the middle of the pack in scoring (22.5 points per game, 17th in the league). They’ll need to rely on their dominant run defense as well as locking down two of Oakland’s young offensive weapons – running back Josh Jacobs and tight end Darren Waller. Cincinnati shockingly held the Raiders to only 17 points thanks to six sacks and two takeaways, and the Jets should be able to do at least that in Week 12.

Here are four keys to the Jets defense vs. the Raiders.

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This is when Tom Brady and the Patriots are at their very best

Tom Brady lives for moments like this.

This is the online version of our morning newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning.

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are 9-1, which is tied for the best record in football and good for the top spot in the AFC.

They’re coming off a big road win over a tough NFC team that beat them in the Super Bowl a few years ago.

And they’re hearing lots people on the outside voice concerns/doubts about an offense that has been struggling a bit as of late.

Brady himself has seemed extra surly since Sunday’s win over the Eagles.

All of which means one thing – Brady and the Patriots are going to explode at home on Sunday and blow out a Dallas Cowboys team that is good, but far from great.

It’s just what they do, haven’t we all learned that by now?

The Patriots enter Sunday’s game 6.5 favorites, which makes sense when you see that Bill Belichick coaches the Patriots and Jason Garrett coaches the Cowboys. But the Cowboys are becoming the sexy pick by many to at least cover that spread.

Which has to be music to Brady’s ears.

Last year the GOAT used a somewhat fictional narrative that nobody believed in the Patriots to lead his team to a sixth Super Bowl title. Right now you have to believe he’s sitting at home with in his UGGs, carefully working on implanting a new chip on his shoulder.

It’s what he does and it’s worked every day since the Patriots used a sixth round pick on him way back in the 2000 NFL Draft.

Has the 42-year-old QB slowed down a little bit this year? Maybe, but he’s also working with a lot of moving pieces and new faces.  He and Josh McDaniels have likely been spending many extra hours this week looking for ways to put up huge numbers on Sunday and shut everybody up yet again.

Making things easier for them, as has been the case all year, is that this team’s defense is absolutely stacked. And they also get to play their first game at Gillette Stadium since late October.

All I will say is this – if you’re gambling on Sunday, you might want to think twice about going against Brady and Belichick. This feels like another time that they remind everybody that this dynasty is far from dead.

And when they do, you shouldn’t be surprised.

We’ve seen this story a million times over the years.

This very time right here is what Brady lives for.

Thursday’s biggest winner: Russell Wilson.

Our Steven Ruiz broke out his updated NFL QB rankings and they’re a lot different from the preseason, as there are many new faces starting under center this late in the season. But there is a familiar face at the top of these very rankings – Russell. Wilson. See where your team’s QB ranks.

Quick hits: NHL stars try to name princesses… Let Giannis shoot the 3… Lizzo’s weird Vikings reference… And more!

Crosby
Crosby

– Spend some of your Friday watching this fun video of NHL stars trying to name Disney princesses. Sidney Crosby steals the show.

– Our Mike Sykes explains why NBA teams should happily allow Giannis Antetokounmpo to shoot 3-pointers.

– Stefon Diggs is investigating Lizzo’s mysterious Vikings reference on ‘Truth Hurts.’

– The Texans linebackers showed up to Thursday night’s game in costumes and got roasted by NFL fans.

– This rugby player’s hilarious rant about a horse is some must-see stuff.

(Follow me on Twitter at @anezbitt. It might change your life. Just don’t tell me about your fantasy team.)

Behind enemy lines: 5 questions with Bengals Wire

Get the inside info on the Bengals this week.

Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier in the season, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cincinnati Bengals 27-3 and now it is time for the rematch. We reached out to our friends at Bengals Wire to go behind enemy lines before this week’s game.

Can the Bengals rally with six games to play or is the season a lost cause?

Lost cause. The team has admitted it too in going with rookie passer Ryan Finley over Andy Dalton. He’s a little more mobile, sure, but coaches have flat-out admitted this is about evaluating for the future now. Considering they’re in the running for the No. 1 pick, that’s probably a great idea. Zac Taylor traded up to get Finley so they need to see what he’s got. Otherwise, there are far too many injuries to overcome. We’re looking at one or two wins, tops.

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